Showing posts with label ejm. Show all posts
Showing posts with label ejm. Show all posts

Sunday, October 16, 2016

(42/52) CALIFORNIA IS ALWAYS A GOOD IDEA...

you know what's a great treat?
1) a weekend date in california
2) enjoying traveling together
3) exploring new places and revisiting old favorites
4) evan having a conference and getting to tag along
5) family that the kids love so much they barely missed us


our flight may have been delayed well into the middle of the night,
but we found $3 travel pillows, made it safely, and so did our bags.


the weather may have been a rainy and foggy mess,
but that didn't slow down our adventures one bit.


i may have come face-to-face with america's largest slug,
but i looked it in the eyes and pretended to be fearless.


we hiked down the hill from our b&b- mountain home inn, and straight into muir woods.
on our misty walk through the woods, we were wowed by creation and God's creative details.



next stops were to sausalito, point reyes, and mt tamalpais.
through the fog we uncovered dinner, cheese shops, and seashores.



we made our way across the bay and into san francisco.
a quick check-in at our our hotel there, then right back across the bay for our incredible alcatraz tour.


monday morning the sky cleared and evan's conference began.
we spent our days differently but similarly both learned new things.


ev learned helpful businessy things through his meetings.
i learned the history of the cable car and the best bagel spots.]


see you (again) soon california.

Sunday, August 21, 2016

(34/52) LOVE LOOKS LIKE THIS...


love looks like:
celebrating 40 years of marriage
on a new england vacation.


love looks like:
scooping up your grandkids for a visit and 
recreating your anniversary trip for them back in abilene.

love looks like:
squeezing in as many colitvare, coffee,
and cookie dates as possible in a week.


love looks like:
enduring the august heat on a patio
for dinner at your favorite restaurant together.

love looks like:
a sister and cousin who hand deliver these kids back home
and stay for swimming, snow cones, and talent show fun too.

all of me loves all of you.

Sunday, July 10, 2016

(28/52) DOZENS UPON DOZENS ...


a dozen years since we said "I DO."
a dozen anniversary celebrations.
a dozen years choosing life together.
a dozen years choosing to love.
a dozen years of thankfulness for his steadiness, wisdom, character, and fun.
here's to dozen and dozens more to come.

Sunday, May 8, 2016

(19/52) I LIKE YOU...

there's no need to complicate it,
dress it up or overstate it.
life is not the mountaintops, it's the walking in-between,
and i like you walking next to me. cause i like you.
(lyrics by ben rector)

Sunday, May 1, 2016

(18/52) THE BIG THREE THREE...

i now know where mae's sparkly round eyes came from.
and graham's perfectly mischievous smile.
what a treat to me to have 13 years of knowing you and celebrating your birthday.
what a gift that 3 kids think you're the greatest thing in the world.
i'm so glad for 33 years of you.
happy birthday ejm.

Sunday, February 7, 2016

(6/52) LET'S GO TO LEGOLAND, FLORIDA...

It's been almost two months since Adelaide and Graham opened an envelope
that announced their extra-special birthday present this year.
Last week it was finally time for their exciting trip...
They woke up early Friday morning and headed to the airport with Evan.
Their flight took them from Texas to Florida, the Cadillac rental car took the three of them
the rest of the way to their weekend together at LEGOLAND!

They arrived in Winter Haven, checked into their adventure room at the Legoland Hotel,
dropped off their bags, then walked the few steps over to the park for the rest of the afternoon.
There were no lines and maximum fun was packed into those few hours before closing.
They scouted everything out and made a game plan of what to repeat on their full park day Saturday.
In the park there were rides to be ridden, incredible creations to be viewed,
minifigures to be traded, Granny's apple fries to be eaten, and so much more.
Back at the hotel there was a pool to swim in, a treasure chest to be opened,
a disco elevator to ride, a Lego class taught by a Master Builder to attend,
buffets to be eaten, and a pajama dance party to participate in.
They both went on their first ever rollercoaster this trip,
and then proceeded to ride every one they could find multiple times.
Project X and Coastersaurus won for their most favorite rides.
Sunday came quickly and they headed back home from their whirlwind adventure.
All three gave Legoland park and hotel such excellent reviews
and came home brimming with stories over all the fun details of the trip.
Happy 8th and 6th Birthday to our most favorite Lego builders.
Your imaginations and excitement are so fun.

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

T-E-X-A-S...

It's been a few (eight) years since Evan and I had season tickets to UT football games.
This year we returned and going to games together is just as fun as I remembered.

then: we lived in Austin so travel time was much shorter
now: we get road trip time and a game date

then: cousin Carlee wasn't even in high school
now: we get to watch her as a senior and her final season cheering at UT

then: we liked cheering with others we love too
now: we like cheering with others we love too

then: I loved every time they played "March Grandioso," the sea of burnt orange,
 the end zone backflips for total points, interceptions, and Evan
now: I love every time they play "March Grandioso," the sea of burnt orange, 
the end zone backflips for total points, interceptions, and Evan

Friday, September 4, 2015

A ZOOM LENS ON MARRIAGE...


ZOOM IN
and see two lovebirds sitting on the beach soaking up some sun.
ZOOM OUT
and see how we were surrounded by munchkins on all sides, 
running a makeshift beach concession stand of stockpiled candy, 
burning up from the beach bags of stuff on our laps,
wondering when the freshly potty-trained munchkin will need to race back to the house,
and avoiding the reality that it was time to put sunscreen on all again.
snapshots of marriage can capture the smiles and moments together.
but not pictured are the sacrifices, the prayers, the commitment, the growth,
the going to work each day to provide, the laundry, the cooking, the decisions,
the priorities, the forgiveness, the teamwork, and the love.

this year on our anniversary all five of us were in san antonio for a few days
where we happily tagged along on evan's business trip.
we splashed at the pool and went out to eat for dinner,
just like we had in st lucia eleven years ago on our honeymoon.
but this time we were in texas and with three extra hilarious family members.
eleven years ago we said i do.
this year i continue to hope for a marriage even more beautiful than our wedding.
we are two imperfect people striving to trust a perfect God and grow along the way.

thanks to my anniversary surprise from evan and the talent of jamie wells,
i now get to see this painting each time i walk into the kitchen.
it is a reminder of my favorite bouquet which i held over a decade ago,
but it is also a reminder of countless marriage moments since.

many things have changed along the way, but this hasn't changed a bit-
there is no one in the world i would rather be next to.