Really? Was that really the last time I blogged? Where in the world have I been?! I don't even have any good excuses! Amy has a newborn and 2 other little ones and she's blogging... Elizabeth has a newborn, a toddler, a big move and a new job and she's blogging... Jane has 6 kids and she's blogging... I am inspired!
Okay, so what have I been doing since June 16?
Hmm... There was Father's Day, for sure. I revelled in my "housewife-ness" and took the opportunity to get crafty! I made all of our Father's Day cards and had so much fun doing it! Here are a couple of pictures.
A couple of days later, Trevor cut a hole in the ceiling of our garage so that we could get cable... oh, and because he needed to scope out the attic space above the garage so that he could begin making plans for his "man space". (Thank you, Rush Harvey!)
Don't worry. The hole got bigger than that... but, I'm tellin you what, it was pretty amazing when Trevor shimmied up into that hole off the ladder. His last words were, "I think I'll only have one chance at this." He got his torso in and then commenced with a little wiggle action and (voila!) a whole new world was opened up to us! It was definitely exciting... and now I get to watch CMT whenever I want! Not to mention, Bear Grylls, International soccer, TLC, the Food Network, HGTV, NatGeo...
To celebrate the 4th of July, Trevor and I drove to Kansas City to spend the weekend with Creighton, Nikki, Canon, Whitby, Cosmo and Apollo Alexander. As it always is when we are able to be with these dear friends, it was refreshing to our souls.
Here's Trevor, or, as Cosmo called him - "Treasure", and the children as a "Trevor Sandwich"...
And here we are at the Deanna Rose Children's Farmstead... a little piece of heaven one earth...
The goats aren't shy...
Chapmans and Monkeys...
Me and my soul sister...
A couple of days after we got home from Kansas, our sweet friends from Belize came to stay with us for a few days. They are Liz and Emilio, Hadassah and Bella Zabaneh and we love hosting them! They came last summer as well and we always have so much fun together.
Trevor and Bella being adorable...
Darling Hadassah...
One day somewhere near the middle of July, I spent a wonderful day golfing with my dad. Well, he golfed. I was the cheerleader, moral supporter, water girl and arm candy. We met a couple of charming young entrepeneurs on the golf course. They must have been 7 or 8 years old and they had a whole operation going. They sold Capri Sun, water bottles and used golf balls that they fish out of the water hazards. They also had donuts but, when I asked, the little darlings made it very clear that the donuts were not for sale. My dad purchased 3 high quality golf balls and a capri sun and told the kiddos to keep the change. As we drove off in the cart, one of them yelled, "Thanks for the tip!" They were really adorable. Later, we had lunch in an old railroad depot in downtown Frisco that was absolutely charming. My dad and I enjoy each other in this totally wonderful way. It's hard to describe... Of course, he treats me like an adult and we absolutely level with each other... but he is still my Daddy. I know that there is still a place for me on his lap. I know that he is ready to rescue me at the drop of a hat. I know that he still sees me as his little girl. There is so much security in that for me... and, yet, he respects me as an adult and trusts me as a friend. Hmmm... what a treasure he and my mother are.
Okay, so this is an old photo but I was looking for one of my mom... My dad and my brother are way thinner now. I'm currently far less sunburned and Trev's hair isn't quite so long as it is in this photo... but this is a GREAT picture of my mommy.
So, more recently, as in a couple of weeks ago, I went back to Kansas by myself. (Trev had to work!) I had an amazing time being with the monkeys, hulu-ing with Nikki Jo, assisting her at the National Worship Leader's Conference and meeting famous people! See below.
A sleepy morning with Cos...
Play time at Target...
Sound checking with Mac Powell of Third Day...
Hanging with my def posse at the National Worship Leader's Conference...
I also got to meet Dave Crowder and I was proud of myself for shamelessly and sneakily stealing the set list that he dripped sweat on throughout the whole concert. Dave signed it for Trevor and wrote "Sorry we missed you"... I thought that was very kind. :) I was sad to leave Kansas but the adventure had to continue.
After spending one night at home, I left again to visit my Yaya and Pop in Paris, Texas. Yes, there is such thing as Paris, Texas... They even have a mini Eiffel Tower. The distinction, however, is that Texas' Eiffel Tower has a red cowboy hat perched atop. My Yaya is very proud of that monument and constantly refers to Paris, Texas as "the second largest Paris in the world".
The Texas version...
I got to spend three days alone with Yaya and Pop, something that probably hasn't occured since early in my High school career! They took good care of me. We shopped and watched movies and made pancakes and went out for ice cream... I truly felt a little bit like a kid again! It was precious time... absolutely precious.
When I got home from being in Paris, I was delighted to simply be home for awhile. Trevor and I celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary that weekend and into the following week... :) It is a personal conviction of mine that birthdays should last a whole week. I've applied that conviction to our anniversary as well. We have SO much to celebrate and SO much to be grateful for! It truly takes a whole week to do it justice!
This was the best anniversary yet... I am continually amazed at how much deeper and more poignant our love becomes as the time goes by. On the day that I married Trevor, I thought my heart would burst for all the love that was there. Now, when I look back on that day, I think, "my goodness... it was only the beginning..." I didn't think I could love him more. I didn't think it could be better than it was on that perfect, blissful day... and, yet, I am even more captivated, more smitten, more cherished, more full of love than I've ever been. God, you are the giver of good gifts! Hallelujah!
