spectacular sunsets & a spectacular senior

the sunset was absolutely spectacular last night.

undoubtedly one of the most breathtaking i've ever seen.

it was the perfect weather to have the top down on the beetle

so caroline & i thoroughly enjoyed our ride at sunset.

we listened to the Glee soundtrack

& then i taught her the words to "have you ever seen the rain".

a little classic rock appreciation moment thanks to Creedence Clearwater Revival.

it was my favorite thing of yesterday.

we had to stop & pick up some supplies so she could create a model of a plant cell.

we had continued to watch the colors of the sky blow our minds.

as we walked into hobby lobby, i wanted to ask for the microphone 

& announce something along the lines of...

" attention shoppers, put down your craft supplies,

 go outside

&  be wowed by the amazing sunset".

but i refrained.

when caroline & i walked out

it was still stunning.

while my humble canon would not have captured its grandeur

i would have loved to be shooting with that sun as my backlight.

we stood on the sidewalk for a second

& i encouraged her

to give God a hand.

so we stood there

& applauded God 

for His own masterpiece.

you know, i doubt the sunset really has to be all those shades of marvelous

but He is an artist

& i think sometimes He loves to blow our mind

with something like a splendid sunset

to remind us He's in control.

~~

i love my abby!

she & her mama are two of my most favorite people.ever.

i told you that bailey, savannah & i headed over 

& invaded her Homecoming evening
with silly antics, goofy jokes & paparazzi style obnoxious photography.

that's what friends are for anyway!

she & her bestfriend were stunning!!

i love few things more than capturing the laughter

& giggles of teenage girls.

abby, you beautiful girl

you were you own version of spectacular

& you blew our minds!

don't ever let anyone tell you anything different.

love you sweet girl!

oh & ps

the boys have a bit of a tradition

which involves shopping at the local thrift shop

for their attire.

 The heavens declare the glory of God,
   and the sky above proclaims his handiwork.

Psalm 19.1

rise & shine

i woke today around 3:50.

after laying there long enough to review all the things i need to do today,

i gave in & silently slid out of bed.

it's a full week around here~

caroline now dances a couple nights

& tumbles on one.

emi & madi are cheering at three games this week

thankfully no competition is on the calender.

their homecoming dance is this weekend.

loads of photos to edit.

not one, but two cars are headed to the shop.

you get the picture 

& your week is probably even more stacked!

i have a dozen or so posts in my drafts, most of which are from the summer that no one will want to read as we enter the beloved season of autumn. 

but in an attempt to keep up with my journaling, i may need to subject blogger to a few flash backs. i apologize in advance.

i also got bit by that crazy 365 bug in january

which....i think most sane folks abandoned ship on long long ago.

so mixed in with some random august/september highlights,

i have some of those random shots to share too.

one of my favorite facebook moments was the following:

i'll take a blog recognition anyday!

favorite blog comment ever:

"Unlike usual, I don't actually have something really funny to say. I just want you to know this may be my favorite blog post ever. I loved being home. I loved seeing everyone and cheering on Madison and Emily. And especially laughing with all the Pauls. Thanks for making this weekend so amazing and being such a wonderful mom. I miss you already and cannot wait to be home again. I love you!"

savannah 

pre or post "high cholesterol" status? you decide.

goodnight moon.

congrats on team captain, madi!

 a pretty day of mail.

my favorite smoothie.  blueberries, greek yogurt, spinach, flax seed, protein powder, & a little agave.

 

new treats.

blackberry farm granola. 

had my cholesterol checked (non-fasting).

it was high.

hoping it was off a little. even though i had just left a kickboxing class

i had also just enjoyed chickfila...fries. 

guilty.

obviously not eating enough of this.

sweet treats from sweet friends.

 just realized how many of my photos are about food.

 

 she picked out a new necklace.

& likes to pretend they're real glasses.

 

 we love our jeanne oliver designs around here.

summer things soon to be traded out for fall.

my constant companion.

time flies.

 

 all creatures great & small.

 

 

a big honor.

one last swim.

found a highlighted verse in one of the bibles belonging to dan's father.

with the date he married his bride right beside.

psalm 126.3

the lord has done great things for us,

and we are filled with joy.

a rich legacy of love indeed.

hope your day is wonderful

&

that you got more sleep than i did!

bracelets, mustard seeds & waxing poetic

 

i've received several emails/comments regarding the bracelets the girls & i often wear.

allow me to first share about one in particular.

emi was given a very special gift before she left for Peru.

one of my best friends prayerfully & financially supported her.

they also gave her this bracelet from waxing poetic

it's extra sentimental to me

(even though it's emi's)

because 'faith' is stamped on the coin.

 emi's faith was both tested and enlarged this summer while she was there. 

(shared about here, here and here)

the friends that gave this to emi are the ones that held her, day after day

when she was a newborn

& i was a new single mom.

that same precious friend sat with me the evening gregg passed away

and many, many days afterwards.

that precious friend and her family reminded me symbolically 

to remain faithful.

 to have faith, even if only the size of a tiny mustard seed.

so it seemed even more precious to me that 15 years later,

emi would be heading out to another country

where not only my faith, but primarily her faith would grow.

& that her faith would draw others to the Lord.

~faith~

i found this one  this summer (for myself) the week we moved savannah into the dorms at uga.

it's a regular player in my wrist adornment inventory.

anyway...just wanted to introduce you to Waxing Poetic
&
just maybe if you're in a place where faith to move mountains seems like an unattainable goal
it all starts with a mustard seed.

let me know if you pick out a piece. i love hearing fun jewelry stories :)

 matthew 17.21

“I tell you the truth, 

if you had faith 

even as small as a mustard seed,

you could say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’

and it would move. 

Nothing would be impossible.”

a front row seat

the details & events over the last 24 hours have had the Lord's hand all over them.

i'm blown away
i'm tickled & excited
i'm emotional
i'm fully engaged in watching this story unfold

i'm sitting on the front row watching the characters of a little story that is unfolding before my eyes, come together in ways that can only be described as a God thing.

i don't want to use jargin or churchy terms that sound ridiculous or preachy or lofty and distant.
what i do want to share with you is that you & i do indeed have a God who sees our tears & hears our prayers. whether we chose to recognize His hand in our lives, He is there my friend.
oh He surely is.

 He's woven into the tiniest of details in your life. He loves to give his children exceedingly more than you or i could ever even dream of asking. & sometimes He gives to those who may not have even had a chance to ask for a particular gift.

sometimes He chooses simple things to whisper in our ear
& sometimes He allows a big thing. maybe only a big thing to the eye of the beholder, but when He does allow a big thing, i encourage you to sit back and enjoy the show. and don't forget to be wowed.

sometimes what may wow me wouldn't faze you at all.
sometimes in our culture we need the fastest, the shiniest, the breathtaking, dare i say the phenomenal to wow us.
but sometimes it's just the relatively simple act of kindness that comes from the obedient heart of one person. just one person. one person who acts out of obedience to the simple whisper of the Lord, yet wows a handful of people. & those people, young people in this story, will have eternal benefits.


when a story like this unfolds, you may say ~that's so cool or  what a wild coincidence.
you may dare to call a situation like this a miracle
but
i'd love for you to sit with me on the front row & simply be wowed.

you'll have to save your ticket for this feature show for just a little while.
i wish i could share more but my sweet girl wants to do that.
far be it from me to steal her thunder.

i'm studying the life of Jonah in bible study right now. a bible study i didn't even think logistically would work for me. a bible study has changed my heart & inspired me in so many ways already.
& it's only week 1.
it's a study about God asking something from one man, Jonah.
& through this story, we see how God changes destiny for not only Jonah but an entire people group.

that's what i'm watching from my front row seat today.
it's just a glimpse
but it's an encouraging glimpse of how kindness and obedience can potentially change the future and the heart of another person.
of course i don't know the ending
& the ending of many of these type stories won't be played in their own full length feature until we're in Heaven. but i'll see it one day. i know that for sure.

but for now
i'm fired up excited overjoyed & emotional as i watch just a glimpse
from
my front row seat

won't you join me?


to be continued....