Friends

One of the best things about summer is that I often get to see people I haven't seen in awhile! Lately Elizabeth has gotten to hang out with many of my bestest friends. Here are a few pictures from summer lunch dates and the like.

Aunt Julie went to high school with me and now lives in Chicago. It was a fun surprise to have her stop by during her time in Texas.
Aunt Sarah is living in Italy and sharing the love of Jesus with people there. This picture was snapped just before Elizabeth spilled Sarah's coffee all over them both. (Atleast it wasn't hot!)
Aunt Tressa has been my best friend basically since birth! She is now a volleyball coach and teacher at Rockwall Heath High School. This picture was at her very first volleyball tournament; those girls are blessed to have her as their coach!
Aunt Martha and Maegan (3 months) came to Fort Worth for a visit! They now live in Pensacola, Florida where Matt, Martha's husband, is in the Air Force. I think Elizabeth and Maegan are going to be great friends too!!!
This is Elizabeth and her best friend Kyleigh! She is sometimes annoyed with Elizabeth, but also plays with her a good bit too!

Running Makes Me a Better...

Running is something I have always loved to do, but I have been on somewhat of a hiatus for a couple of years. When we moved to New Jersey, it was not safe for me to just go running, then when we returned to Texas, I was a rather large pregnant woman, and then after having Elizabeth, with crazy schedules and such, I just didn't have it in me. Now, however, I have dream baby who goes down between 8:00 and 9:00 sleeps until 9:00 the next morning on a normal day! Justin doesn't have to leave for work until 8:00, so this leaves me with an early morning window of opportunity. Although 6:30 am seems quite early when I don't have to get up, I feel like a whole new woman when I do! I have started off slowly, just running a couple of miles, but it is such sweet time! From the sunrise to the wind against my skin to the sound of the birds, my senses are awakened to God's beauty in this time. It seems that during the rest of the day, I am much more consumed with my "to do list", and I miss out on the good stuff around me. I had forgotten how much God uses my running time to convict me, teach me, and love on me, so running makes me a better follower of Jesus. When I return home, I am able to make breakfast for Justin and spend a little time with him before he leaves for work, so running makes me a better wife. After Justin leaves for work, I get to have some Jesus time in the word and get things done around the house, leaving me more time to actually get on the floor and play with Elizabeth later in the day, so running makes me a better mommy!
Not that running is magical or anything, it is just what God has given me as a tool to start my day and in effect, make me a more productive follower of Jesus, wife, and mommy. Thanks God for your good gifts to us!
I'll leave you with a few pics of course!!!

Flowers Get Thirsty Too

Elizabeth has a new favorite thing... giving the flowers a drink. It goes something like this, sometime between breakfast and lunch Elizabeth eyes the makeshift watering can kept by the back door. She makes her way over to it and lets me know it is time!!! Regardless of what else may be going on, at that moment, the flowers become our priority! We fill up the plastic pitcher and out we go. The planter box in our back yard is just the perfect height for Eliz to cruise around and "help." She loves to feel everything she can get her hands on and is quite fond of the feel of flower petals. Here are a few pictures of flower time!



We are so thankful to have such fabulous parents! At the end of July my parents took us on a trip to beat the heat in the mountains of New Mexico. We drove 9 hours in my grandparents all too cool conversion van, but it was all worth it. The deer came to visit Eliz nightly and she gladly waved and "talked" to them. Justin and Daddy played golf and went fly fishing. I got to read over half of a book not concerning baby stuff and got a pedicure. Nothing fancy, but a much needed break from the craziness of our daily lives. Justin was also able to prepare for his sermon without the stress of school and work. Thanks Momma and Daddy!