so happy together

Source: etsy.com via Lisa on Pinterest

lately i've felt so loved. and it seems like i've fallen in love with my husband all over again. he just makes my heart smile...

and i never want to take that for granted... ever.

life is too short...

today you are you

*****

because i'm not some disney princess

i'm not elizabeth bennett or carrie bradshaw

i'm not even anne shirley. i'm not my fabulous older sister, bess

or that skinny girl at the beach i saw last week

i am not that girl from that fabulous blog who travels the world

i am me and you are you

and some days i just need that reminder

Officially Summer

Well folks, summertime is here officially. I'd say unofficially, summer arrived weeks ago. But officially, the calendar tell us those hot, dog days are here to stay.

Summertime: Billie Holiday

After a day of working this past Sunday, Shane and I made our way through the thick evening heat to mom & dad's for a small & quiet impromptu father's day celebration {officially my fam is celebrating his special day this coming weekend because my siblings were scattered}, but my oldest sister decided to surprise him by driving down and cooking him a steak dinner just to show some extra love {since officially it was father's day}. So Shane and I decided to make a slight detour after picking me up from work to get in on the little celebration. We arrived in time for dessert: blackberry cobbler, one of my families all time favorite.

The blackberry cobblers my mom makes are special in that each one holds special memories. Memories of my childhood summers when the time was just right to head across the pond to the "coastal field" {as we always called it} for some blackberry picking. I can remember mom waking my 4 sibling and me up just before daybreak {usually with a frown and a grumble on our breath}, explaining she'd thank us when we were through. So groggily we'd pull on our old jeans and tennis shoes and head to our field where the wild blackberries grew. After giving us each a small container we'd start a'pick'n just as the sun came over the horizon. Sometimes the bushes would be heavy with large plump fruit, other years when it had been very dry they'd be slim pickin's literally. I especially remember my inner competitor coming out in seeing if I could fill my container the fastest or how many times I'd empty it into the larger bucket usually sitting close to mama. And of course there was the shouts of triumph to the group as one displayed an especially large and juicy berry prior to popping it into our mouths without remorse. But we'd always walk away a couple hours later with a few scratches, a couple bug bites, many stained fingertips and a sense of accomplishment. Then it was back to the house to wash them and, for the majority, pack them away in the freezer for another time.

Its been many years since I've been blackberry picking. And our coastal field no longer holds our wild back berry bushes but large chicken houses built by my uncle. So when mama explained that she'd used her last berries from the freezer on this pie, there was a little tug on my heart as I realized that I was eating the last bit of fruit from our labors. At that moment I wished mom had gotten me up early a couple more summer mornings. But my heart and memory thanked her too, as I she said we would & have many times over, as I took another bite, this one perhaps even sweeter than the last.

happy weekend

I apologize....

I just thought this was hilarious... and very interesting...

I'm a sucker for a Cinderella story.

Happy weekend!

breaking blogger silence

So i guess its about time for me to break my blogger silence that has been going on for... well... awhile now. what have i been up to? here goes:

Shane and I had a marvelous 1 year anniversary down in Savannah last month. I'm thinking its my new happy place. I love the old historic building and the charming square gardens that are on every other turn. Its so romantic. We took a horse carriage tour and then an evening trolley ghost tour as well & I loved introducing "my Savannah" to Shane. I've just about decided that if i had to live anywhere else than my beloved Mountville, I'd choose Savannah. This trip we stayed further back off the river at our cozy bed and breakfast, The Azalea Inn, and I think I liked it much better. I could walk those old charming backstreets any day. {I'm ready to go back tomorrow}

Here we are finishing dinner one night at the underground Alligator Soul ! Yummmm.....

Yes, Savannah was definitely a highlight this past month for my family also experienced a bit of heartache recently as well. Not the end of the world kinda of stuff but when a family is as close as mine, when one member experiences troubled times, we all do. But Jesus is good through the good and bad... and time really does have a way of healing as well.

{I want you by: Kelly Clarkson}

Its been hot hot here the last couple of days with thunderstorm (with even hale last night). I recently broke out my Kelley Clarkson All I Ever Wanted CD and have been jamming while on the road. I love that girl! She can SANG!

Summertime food is here! The last couple nights I've made this stuffed zucchini:

and this lime {i used lemon}, avocado & shrimp salad {but made it into a sandwich with roll & a bit of lettuce}:

other interesting info includes: getting cussed out by a man yesterday in the publix parking lot for not putting my buggy up in front of his 8 year old daughter who was in a catholic school uniform {and just FYI: i usually put my buggy up but it was SO hot and the buggy holder was way across the parking lot from me so i didn't... hate me, whatever} I wanted to roll my eyes, flip him a finger, and fly out of the parking lot... but then i remembered I have a Jesus sticker on the back of my car so I couldn't... instead i just gave a sigh, smiled and drove off. Situations like that always throw me for a loop.

Good Friday

******

Because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive in Christ, even when we were dead in transgressions- it is by grace you have been save.
Ephesians 2:4-5

Everyone have a lovely Good Friday & Happy Easter!

Because He Lives!

One year ago...

~ Happy 1 year Anniversary to my best friend~

"Grow old along with me! The best is yet to be!"

~Browning