Visions of Things to Come...

I am excited because we have some really fun stuff coming up that I can't wait for. We have about three weekends in a row of pure fun so I am hoping that the working part of life in between flies by.

#1. Fourth of July!

I love this strange holiday. Not to take anything away from the significance of the actual day, but it seems like an excuse to hang out by the pool for yet another day which is fine by me. Not to mention the great food and fireworks...I know I'm almost 25 but I still love fireworks.

#2. Drew P's Birthday!

Drew's 25th birthday is just around the corner. I am almost as excited as if it were my own...I love when he has days that are all about him. He deserves it once in a while! We decided to make a weekend trip to Austin with some of our friends so it should be a ton of fun. I am still thinking of what I will get him for his birthday gift...I have a few ideas!

#3. Trip to Grapevine!

Drew and I will be headed to Grapevine the next weekend to visit his family. We haven't seen them in quite a while so we are really excited about it. I think we are going out on the lake and having a barbecue so this will only add to the summer fun factor.

I feel so blessed to be able to do all of these fun things. It is so important to appreciate the small things in life even though it is so easy to overlook them. I am guilty of this myself and I am constantly trying to take time out to really look around and experience every aspect of life. I am even more blessed that I get to experience life with Drew by my side...he makes life so much better than I could have imagined.

Have a great Sunday evening!

Sweet Escape

Well, Drew and I are finally home in the Sweet Land of Sugar after an amazing week away. We had such a blast. It seems like we did everything you could ever want to do on a beach trip from lounging on the beach to building sand castles. The ocean was so beautiful....even after as many times as I have been, I am still so amazed by the beauty of it all. The ocean seemed endless and as we sat on the perfect white sand, all we could see was fun in every direction. We stayed in an absolutely beautiful area....very unique. It was definitely a resort area but it was mostly made of of houses and not a lot of big condos or hotels and the best part is that it was right on the beach. I have a love for palm trees as I believe they sum up what "tropical" should be so I was excited to see that the beach was full of them.

In one of my earlier posts I wrote about how much I was looking forward to seeing my step-brother, Erik, and how much I was hoping we would get along. We did...we had a total blast together and everyone came out alive and with stories to tell. It is so cool to see him all grown up (even though it made me feel old) and I loved hearing all of his stories about the Army and so on. He definitely keeps us entertained to say the least.

This was also Drew's first vacation with my family and all I can hope is that he still loves me after the week of chaos that ensued. Don't get me wrong, the vacation was fun to the extreme...but everyone's family is a little crazy/weird/insane sometimes and mine is no exception. I am a total beach bum so getting me to participate in any beach-type sporting event is a stretch. I did pick up the Frisbee a few times, but outside of that my days were spent floating or swimming all while partaking in tropical drinks. That is my downfall. Then there was Erik, who is pale in the truest sense of the word so he either has to sit under an umbrella (where he somehow still gets burned) or wear layers upon layers of sunscreen accompanied by a T-shirt and hat. My step-dad, Kevin, had a motorcycle accident a while back so he was still out of commission for any beach sports. And then we have my mom....she is hilarious. She spent most of the vacation cleaning and shopping for everyone else and occasionally sitting down by the ocean with her wine. I love her but I wish she could learn to relax a little and ENJOY vacation!!! She deserves it. All that being said, I must repeat...I hope Drew still loves me and my crazy-A family. ;)

Anyway, I am exhausted and need immediate sleep. There is so much more to write about but I had to at least write a little. I am ashamed to say that I missed my blog...I need an intervention!

Bring on the rain...

I know a lot of you out there will probably strongly disagree with me, but I love thunderstorms. The kind that you can see moving in from a distance…they seem so powerful and sudden. They remind me of when I was a kid and we would all sit in the garage to watch it rain. We would wait it out as long as we could (or as long as our parents would allow) and then inevitably, one overly powerful clap of thunder would boom and send us all running in different directions and to the safety of our homes. I remember feeling so brave sitting in the midst of rain and lightning…I also remember thinking you had to have on rubber shoes or you would surely get struck. How cool I thought I was… :)

It must really be thunderstorm season because today and yesterday have both brought downpours to Texas. As I sit at work, I am whole-heartedly wishing I could be home snuggling on the couch with a big blanket. I could watch some Food Network since I am shamelessly addicted and spend some much needed time with Drew. But no…I am stuck in the office with lights flickering and thunder roaring and I secretly wish that my computer would blow a fuse (if it is possible) so I could head home. But even if I left it would probably take me two hours to float home in Houston traffic so I will wait it out. I have quite a bit left to get done before tomorrow anyway since I am leaving for VACATION for a whole week (!!!) It would do me good to stay a little longer.

In other news, Drew is still thinking about what he wants to do career-wise. We certainly appreciate the prayers everyone has sent our way…it helps more than you know! We are learning to be patient and to have faith always. Good things come when you least expect them and besides we have so many things to be thankful for already.

T-minus two days until Destin so I probably won’t be posting too much more for a while (unless I think of something off the wall and ridiculous I want to share). Hopefully, we will return with great pictures and fun stories…maybe even a tan!

P.S. I love reading everyone’s blogs so keep posting!!

Update

One more thing...I forgot to update everyone on Drew's new wedding band! I know it is nothing to devote a whole blog entry too, but I couldn't resist putting a few words at least. Since it was lost on the river trip Drew has been ring-less...but not anymore! We got a new one over the weekend and it looks so good on him! My sweet husband looks more offically mine again... :) I think I will get it engraved sometime soon, but for now I just wanted him to have one.

I am crazy...I know.

Have No Fear....

“Even if your hands are shakin’, And your faith is broken,
Even as the eyes are closing, Do it with a heart wide open”

I am so proud of Drew. He is my inspiration….he lives with such a happy heart and an optimistic perspective, something I need more of in my life. He can make me laugh in the midst of my worst moments and reminds me constantly what it is to be loved unconditionally. I have no fear when it comes to him and no doubt that he will always be my safe place and point of encouragement. He has been wanting for something lately though…and I want more than anything for him to have it. He has a job much like many of us…it exists to pay the bills but there is no real passion behind it. Drew is very devoted to making it the best it can be but I can tell so easily it is not what he wants. He is one of lucky the ones….he has a talent so amazing that I believe it must be used and this is what I have been praying for everyday.

Drew is an artist at heart and his work is beautiful and the type that makes a person wish they could draw, paint, design, anything! I, for example, can only draw a stick figure and would never attempt anything past that. His degree is in the Arts field so he has spent many years perfecting his craft and I can see how happy it makes him when he is “creating.” We have been talking about this a lot lately and have both decided it is time for him to make the transition, take the jump if you will, toward a new career. It is scary at times to consider a change in any amount, but this time it will be worth it. I don’t know if he has decided on a particular path yet, but even the passion that he displays in talking about the next step inspires me. I worry about stability and having “enough” but when you think about it…God will provide. Now is the right time to start doing things with a heart wide open.

I look forward to the coming months when I can happily report about a new job for Drew. I know it will happen. Until then we will enjoy every minute of this journey and I will continue to be proud of him throughout.

Have no fear….do what you are passionate about and love those around you with all of your heart. It will make all the difference.

I Didn't Make Mac & Cheese...

I am dreaming of white sands and beautiful blue water today. I am at work and should definitely be working, and I have been, but all I can think of is getting to this beachy paradise. Next Friday I will be embarking on the infamous “family vacation” to Destin, Florida. I know for sure that it will be a complete blast but there are always those tiny thoughts that something could go terribly wrong. Nothing too terrible of course (as I pray for a safe drive and safe trip) just the usual events that arise due to having my brother Erik around. Erik is a rare breed…he can be completely hilarious one minute and then completely exhausting the next. Don’t get me wrong, I love him to pieces, but he is surely a rare breed. Since the time I was about 13 or so he has been terrorizing me with events such as chasing me with ice picks when I wouldn’t make him macaroni and cheese or leaving ransom notes on the bathroom counter for me to read when I would get out of the shower. One time in particular the ransom note was held against my cat, which Erik had evilly locked in a duffle bag and shut in the closet for me to buy back. I have to admit that I did…I bought my cat back for $10 out of fear that Erik would kill him if I didn’t. How hilarious he thought he was. Looking back I am almost sure that he would never have hurt me (notice I say almost) but at the time I half-way hated him.

Things have changes since then though…he hasn’t tried to kill me or anything else in at least 6 years so I would say all is well. Haha. My little brother isn’t so little anymore as he recently decided to join the United States Army. I believe it is his mighty destiny; he is already so proud and that makes me happy. He caught all of us a little off guard with his decision but we are all very proud of our soldier-to-be and will always keep him in our prayers.

So back to the trip…this will be the first time I have seen Erik since Christmas. I am anxious to see how he has changed after the intense training he has been through lately. For those of you who know Erik, he has always been a slight beanpole…a cute little beanpole, but a beanpole nonetheless. The last pictures that I saw of him showed a different brother, a man almost. I was a little emotional thinking of how grown-up he is now; I am very much looking forward to seeing him for vacation. I think this will be the best family trip yet since Erik and I get along these days and because my sweet husband will be coming along. Another plus is that one our friends is stationed at the Air Force base in Destin so we will get to see him as well. It should be good. I can’t wait in fact…I have already started getting my stuff together to pack, I dream daily of Pina Coladas and for the first time I am overly excited about a family vacation. Destin or bust!

Go LOVE today...

I am left speechless at the overwhelming number of absolutely amazing things that God has allowed me to have. When I look back and think of the worst times in my life, I am calmed by Him knowing what others have had to endure. Needless to say, I am blessed beyond belief. I was reminded of this so often over the past week and have searched for ways to bring some of what I witnessed into my everyday life. My aunt, who I call Chi-Chi (no idea why), was visiting from Washington. This is the aunt who used to let me run wild when she was in town which was in huge contrast to my mom’s endless rules…I am an only child, who can blame her? This is the aunt who lovingly dressed up like Minnie Mouse for one of my birthday parties. I am talking a full on mascot outfit in Texas weather. Ok, I know my birthday is in December but that means nothing…there have plenty of Christmas morning’s that I went outside to try out my new toys in shorts and tank tops. This is also the aunt that lost her one and only, beautiful, God-given angel less than a year ago. That is the part I cannot get passed, my heart is still broken for her.

I remember the exact moment that we found out that my cousin, Kari, had gone home to the Lord. My mom and I had just picked out my wedding cake and were on our way home. We had separate cars since we had met up after work and she was behind me. The next thing I realized, my mom had stopped her car on the side of the road and when I looked back I just saw her slumped over in the driver’s seat. Of course I thought something was wrong with my mom so I turned around and pulled over. She was crying and screaming…I had NEVER seen her like this before. She told me that Kari had been found dead and that was all she could get out. We eventually got home and my mom took the next flight to Washington to be with my aunt…she stayed for almost a month.

I felt guilty so often, and still do, because as much as I wish it could have been different, I didn’t know my cousin all that well so in turn, I felt like I wasn’t feeling what I should. It didn’t sink in really until this past week when Chi-Chi was in town; this was the first time I had seen her in five years. When I went to my mom’s to visit early in the week I could sense an uneasy feeling. It was like it upset my aunt for me to be around, maybe because she saw my mom and I together and it made her want her daughter, her Kari. She saw how my mom and I could laugh at old stories and cook dinner together and she missed that. It made my mom feel guilty for having me there because she could see how it hurt my aunt. At first it hurt me to have these feelings coming my way but I had to take a step back to see that it wasn’t about me. I can’t imagine what on earth it must feel like to lose a child. I don’t even have one of my own yet but I think this feeling extends to everyone whether it is a child, a parent, a spouse, a friend etc. Somehow I know in my heart that the worst of these would be to lose a child and I pray everyday that I will never know that kind of pain. God holds her hand everyday to walk her through this valley… I know without a doubt that both my aunt and my mom love me more than anything. I also know that you have to love the people in your life every part of every day. I am guilty of being the wife that says “I love you” to Drew 1000 times a day but I want to leave no doubt. I don’t want a day to go by that he doesn’t know that he is my life and someday when we have kids I will do the same to them.

I have a few friends from the high school days that have little ones of their own now…we don’t really keep in touch that often but because I am a “facebook/blogger creeper” (haha) I know a little of what goes on in their lives. They are great mothers and I pray for them every night that their families will be safe and love will overflow in their homes. My aunt will miss Kari for the rest of her life but I know that someday they will see each other again and that calms my heart.

Go out there and LOVE today…

Delicious!

Today I feel like eating a Pink Panther Bar. Anyone who has had one of these delicious treats knows how ridiculously refreshing they are…I haven’t been able to stop thinking about it…the pink ice cream, gumball eyes. Who am I kidding; I am probably the only person around this joint that has ever had one. The reason I want one is because they remind me of summer fun. The REAL kind of summer fun that you have when you are a kid and you wake up at the crack of dawn, play outside until someone physically makes you come in to eat dinner, and then go outside again until you fall asleep in the middle of swinging or playing four-square. Those were the days…

These days I am lucky if I have enough time on the weekend to spend even a few hours outside. It seems like I spend all week working and the weekends are reserved for cleaning the house, doing laundry and other even less exciting tasks. But not this weekend…I’m going to find a Pink Panther Bar. It’s almost scary, but the Ice Cream Man still makes his rounds in old Pecan Grove. It’s even scarier that it is the SAME Ice Cream Man that I remember as a child (or at least a relative of his because they look like they are on the same level of freakiness. Let’s just say I wouldn’t let any child of mine visit his treat truck without my immediate supervision.) I have heard reports that he sells the infamous bar that I am in search of so I might just take advantage of it and buy myself one. Drew will be supportive as he already knows of my love for strange and unusual ice cream bars. Once I went to Washington, D.C. with my mom and let me tell you, it was ICE COLD outside. In the midst of all the T-shirt and knock-of handbag stands, we came across a snack bar of some kind and guess what they sold?? Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle Bars. I am ashamed to admit that I ate not one, but two. They weren’t as good as the PPB but much better than the Super Mario. If you are ever in the area, grab one and take it on your tour of the White House…you will be glad you did.

River Roundup

Oh, what a life! So I have to start by saying that I survived the Great River Float of ’08. Drew and I had such a genuinely amazing time with all of our friends (the best set of friend’s in the universe I might add). I am secretly wishing I could just become a full-time river floating expert but then again, that might take away some of the fun. I learned a few things from this mighty adventure…

1). Those Coach sunglasses that I adored…should NOT have been taken on the river.
2). Even if you have had a few (or more) drinks, it still hurts when you wipe out on jagged rocks
3). Franzia should be taken off the market
4). It’s not the end of the world if your husband loses his wedding ring in the rapids of the lovely Guadalupe.

That last one took a while to sink in. I realize that it was ridiculous to assume that the very ring I exchanged with Drew on our wedding day would live on forever, but some small part of me hoped it would. In reality, it can easily be replaced. I thought it was so cute how all of Drew’s friends (a great group of GUYS) were very linked in to our situation. Several of them commented how the ring doesn’t make the marriage and that the most important part is the way you love someone. See ladies…there ARE great guys out there. I can say that meant a lot to me. So, in the coming days I will need to make a trip to the jewelry store and buy a replacement. Men are rough on rings so maybe this time (at least for now) I will opt for a less expensive version of the original.

The best part of the entire week was being surrounded by great people. It is easy to feel a little lost in Houston without many of our friends, but every time we get the chance to meet up with them I am reminded just how blessed we truly are. These are the kind of friends that you can be away from for weeks or months but when you finally get together it just clicks back into place. I love re-living hilarious stories from the past…even if I have heard them far too many times. My friends and I are completely guilty of telling the same stories over and over and expecting people to laugh. The coolest part is that they do…every single time.

Needless to say, the river trip was a much needed getaway and I am so thankful that everyone got the chance to meet up again. Here’s to the next time….

“And DON”T bring the Franzia”