Toes in the water......toes in the sand

Well..... my computer is being worked on so I haven't been able to update lately.  We had a wonderful time at the beach.   I love doing nothing for an entire week (not getting dressed, putting on makeup, having an agenda, etc).  My entire family went.  Each day we woke up, and mama cooked us breakfast.  Then we were off to the beach for the day.  One morning Matt and I got up to see the sunrise. We were at the beach at 5:30.  I took my devotion book and we read it early that morning.  It suggested how important it is to take time away from the world and it's busyness and make time for God.  It was so appropriate while we were the only ones sitting on the beach so early in the morning with nothing going on.  If you haven't got the devotional Jesus' Calling by Sarah Young, you are missing out.  I read it daily and I feel like God is speaking directly to me each morning.   It is amazing to see God's wonders If you have never taken the time to see the sunrise or sunset at the beach, I suggest that also.   I also enjoyed reading on the beach this year as well. I am not a big reader, but there is something about the beach that puts me in the mood to read a good book.  This year, I enjoyed Simply Jesus.  It was a great read.  Then we would come in for the evening.  I love to cook, so most nights I took charge of dinner to give Mama a rest.  Then we ended the night playing card games most nights, going for ice cream, or taking a stroll on the beach.  I am so happy that we had the opportunity to go.  I look forward to going back next year!!!  Well, I hope you get to put your toes in the water....toes in the sand at some point this summer.  I am a beach loving girl!!!!  Here are some pictures from our week.

Charleston Gettaway

I have a lot to share.  We have been busy the last week.  Matt was supposed to go on a chartered fishing trip in Charleston Saturday (7/12), but because of the rain, it was cancelled. So we decided to go on and spend the weekend with Ty, Rollins, and our nieces.  We had such a wonderful time.  We got there late Friday night.  We were lazy Saturday morning.  Then Saturday afternoon, we went out on the boat.  It is fun to experience Charleston, but it is also amazing to experience it from the water.   Campbell, Harrison, and Gray are cool girls.  We love hanging out with them.  It is hard to believe how fast they are growing up.  Gray is so ready for us to get a baby.  She has had lots of practice with her baby dolls.  She even thought that maybe we would surprise her by bringing a baby with us on our visit.  She loves babies!  I can't wait until she can hold our baby.  It will be so exciting!!

 Harrison and Campbell rocking their shades. 

 

 Girls just want to have fun!! We are just missing Gray.  She was in charge of taking the pictures.

Here is the one and only GRAY!!:) She is a funny girl.

 Ha, Ha, Ha!! 

The captain!

We left out of Charleston and headed to Edisto for a relaxing week at the beach with my family. 

Feeling blessed beyond measure!!

Sweet Summertime

  So if you have read our story you know that Matt and I are experiencing life and waiting with our eyes wide open.  We are on the road of adoption.  We hope to not wait too long.... but we are going to enjoy this season of life of two while we wait.  I am a teacher, so summertime is the most wonderful time of the year!!  Here are some of the things that we have been up to.  (prepare ...I am trying to rewind time and catch up~ it might be lengthy).  The purpose for my blog is a written record of life.  I hope to enjoy looking back and seeing all that happened and seeing God's hand in it all.

My summer started off at school.  The first week was spent packing my "stuff".  This girl loves some stuff.  I am excited about a new job next year.  I have felt that God was leading me in a different direction for a while.  It is awesome to witness his guidance when I actually sought after his will.  I am so sad to leave the wonderful school that I am at....but I know God has big plans for me whatever I am doing! The second week, I had reading workshop training all week.  It was a wonderful week and I left with lots of knowledge.  Then.....let the fun begin.  It was officially summertime. 

I started my week off by celebrating Matt's dad's retirement.  It wasn't a big to do.  We just hung a banner and I made cupcakes to celebrate. If you know me....you know that I absolutely love a party, bringing out a platter, planning, and then of course cooking or baking.  I love food. Then we went to dinner. 

 I wasn't wanting to hang the banner inside....but guess what.... it was raining.  So we did the best we could. 

 I tried to make the cupcakes have the golf look.  The flags say "Happy Retirement". 

The next day was Matt's 35th birthday!!  I have wanted to have him a birthday party for two years now and Matt wouldn't have it.  He does not like attention.  So this year, I told him we were having a party.  We just had family over.  We grilled out and had a great time.  Happy Birthday Matt!!!

 We are so blessed with wonderful family!! We are just missing sweet Emma who refused to look at me for her picture!  I'll get her next time!!

 We had hamburgers, baked beans, pasta salad, slaw, watermelon, cream cheese cupcakes with cream cheese icing and strawberries. I think everyone left stuffed!

 Matt felt a little silly while we sang to him.... but he wasn't getting out of it!

 What a great night. 

I have also started a ladies bible study at our house this summer.  We are doing One in a Million by Priscilla Shirer.  It has been wonderful.  I don't have pictures but look forward to Monday nights every week.  We also had a great fourth.  Even with all the rain.  We had great friends over for supper and then we headed to the lake to watch the fireworks Saturday night.  We got to spend another night with great friends.  I am not good at remembering to take pictures.  Hopefully I will do better now that I have a place to put our pictures.  When it came time to create our profile books for our adoption, I quickly realized that I do not take enough pictures.
This morning I read Hebrew 12:1-2 and loved it.  Until next time I will be running the race God has set before me and I will try my best to fix my eyes on him.

“Since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.”  Hebrews 12:1-2