Decatur, Alabama

After the wedding, I went home with Katie to spend a few days getting to know her hometown. It was so special to be with her and to get to finally see the places I have heard so much about! Now I can truly picture her at home.

There is quite a bit of my father in me...on my first day there I noticed some painted chickens. Katie didn't know what they were exactly so we decided to investigate. I convinced her to go on an adventure with me to find them all. We ALMOST succeeded. I think a few had been taken down. It was a fun way to sight see around Decatur.

Here are a few pictures from the trip:




If you are interested in our entire chicken tour:

Avanti Italia Reunion

The big event at the end of July 2011 was my dear friend Amy's wedding. Amy was one of the girls who was with us in Italy when we were part of Avanti Italia. I grew very close to those girls. We try to have a reunion once a year, but it usually works out more like every two years. As often happens with families, our gatherings usually center around an important life event - weddings and babies being born! There are six of us so it is hard to get us all together. The last time we were all together was Marilee's wedding in 2009.

This particular reunion even more special is that our fearless leaders Gary and Jennifer for there as well! We had such a great time together. The only thing that made me sad was that Jeremy was not able to be there with me. Here are a few fun pictures from the weekend:

July 2011

A personal note

I seriously should be getting up off the couch and crawling into bed. I am exhausted. But I just wanted to stop by this blog, in case their are any readers left.

We have been very busy! Every time I think we have been busy, we redefine the word "busy." Jeremy and I are both worn out and probably need to be scaling back. This weekend we are supposed to be having a garage sale, but since it is the only weekend in a 2+ month span that we don't have some commitment outside the house, we are going to take it easy. Well, as easy as I can while frantically grading last minute papers and making sure everything is correct in the computer for report cards. It makes me very tired to think of the weeks to come, because we are approaching conference time, which means I will have meetings with parents morning, noon and night for a couple weeks. It is emotionally exhausting and cuts deeply into time otherwise used for lesson planning and grading which will probably mean many more late nights at the school.

I have over committed myself this year, but I just can't find anything that I am willing to trim out. I guess I am literally "asking for it." So I really don't deserve your sympathy, but I do ask for your prayers. Peace, good nights' sleeps, energy and productive, smooth days would be wonderful.

I am also still really struggling with who God wants me to be and what his plan is for my life. I honestly never, ever wanted to be a teacher for life. There are several other things I would much rather do with my life, two in particular that are deep desires of my heart. I just don't know what the right thing is to do. So please pray also for my own inner peace, guidance and contentment no matter which direction my life takes (or I guess if I just stay right here as well.)

I would also like to ask you to specifically pray for missionaries tonight. Those preparing to go, those on the field and those struggling with the return "home." My mind has been with them a great deal lately and I wish so much there was something more tangible I can do. Perhaps I will come up with something, but in the mean time, I ask for your prayers. Pray for missionaries in general and then specifically for any you may know.

Thank you for listening, goodnight.

15 days til Jeremy’s birthday

29 days til we get to see some sweet Italian friends

55 Days til Breaking Dawn

61 days til I get to hug my babies again

Before and After

Some dreams of mine

(in no particular order)

· EVERY item in my house would have a specific assigned place

· My entire personal hygiene regimen would be all natural

· I would actually learn how to use the manual and program functions on my camera to get the types of pictures I want

· Our bedroom would feel like you had just walked into the most amazing room in the most amazing Tuscan villa you can imagine

· I would actually have the motivation/belief in myself to become the teacher I want to be

· I would actually have the motivation/skill to become crafty and make things for my home and family

· The clothes would magically wash themselves

· My front yard would turn into the magical garden paradise in my mind without all the massive amounts of money and work it is going to take