This evening after dinner and again after bedtime I ran around outside with the camera just to see what I could find. Thank you so so so very much to those who have been praying for me and my health. I still have a long way to go but I can always tell how I’m doing by whether or not I am writing and taking pictures and both of those are happening more often now:)
So here’s a summer evening at our house. The one of Grammy and Papa was taken a week or so ago.
Coffee date with my loves this morning
Our lives are made in these small hours
These little wonders, these twists and turns of fate
Time falls away but these small hours
These small hours still remain
-Rob Thomas
Never say never. Why haven’t I learned that yet?
My brother in law convinced me that it would be a big adventure to go to the downtown coffee shop where Kopi Luwak is served and just try it. He has that ebulliant personality that can make anything seem like a big adventure plus his birthday was coming up and what better time for an adventure? Thus, Saturday morning a few weeks ago found us all (Mom, Dad, Kathy, Taylor, Kyle, Kids and I) in said downtown coffee shop for the big taste test.
Here is Taylor with his birthday present:
The verdict:
It was good.
But not memorable. Not as good as Pike’s Place. Certainly not as good as the Italian Roast that Kathy and Taylor buy from World Market.
And certainly NOT WORTH what we paid for it! (We split the cost)
It was verrry mild and none of us like our coffee that way so that may have had something to do with it.
I would like to report that Mom and Dad stayed true to the end and refused to taste it. When we pointed out to Mom that “everybody” was tasting it she retorted, “If all your friends jumped off a bridge would you jump off too?”
Let’s hope our kids turn out like Grammy and not like bridge jumping moi:)
Fun times!
What a fun weekend we had of celebrating Kyle’s birthday. Thanks to family and good friends Kyle and I had some dinner and movie dates and then on Sunday night we had a fun family party. Our little Pixie made the heart banner in the second picture as a special birthday surprise about two weeks ago and was sooo excited to finally get to hang it up:) We love you Kyle and always thank God for you!
I hope these capture a little bit of the essence of warm tide pools, time to get re-acquainted with books that are old friends, carefree moments on the porch, shells brought home to marvel over, wild blackberries on the path to the beach, sea grass blowing in the breeze, and all that makes a beach vacation so magical.
In the first collage notice Mr. Gator hanging out right there by the side of the golf course pond (bottom right). Creepers!
The second collage is from our morning at Hunting Island Lighthouse. Kyle took the top middle pic from the top of the lighthouse and the three specks on the path in the middle of the pic are the kids and I waving at him:)
below: Pike’s Place Seattle
Coffee: Starbucks Pike’s Place with a shot of mocha. Perfection.
Baby: my new nephew Zebulon!
Book: A Year in the World by Frances Mayes
Verse: Romans 8:38
For I am persuaded, that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor things present, nor things to come, Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.
Artist: Charles Van Sandwyck
Quote: (Vance reporting in to Kyle after his shots at the Doctors office last week ) “I big dude. Not cry.”
Pic: Bear comforts Bree at the grocery store after her hopes of being the owner of a cheap stuffed bear were crushed by me
Sometimes when I am having the most fun I forget to grab my camera. Luckily I have an iphone now for those camera free moments (thanks Beloved)! So here is the past weekend in iphone pics:
My beautiful lifelong friend Lauralin, who I am pretty sure has visited me every place I have lived, came to spend the weekend with us. There’s nothing like BFF therapy and there’s nothing like seeing your kids form friendships with your best friends:) I loved seeing them all read together! Also a highlight of the weekend was celebrating Independence Day with my Mom and Dad, Sis and brother in law. I’m not sure when the last time was that I was privileged to spend the 4th with family.
The best moments in life are not planned and so often creep up and catch you by surprise. My favorite moment from this 4th of July was watching a gorgeous fireworks display with my little Bear from his bedroom window right before tucking him in. The two of us had left the church picnic early after hours of fussing and fits on his part. Now right at the weary end of our day God wrapped His arms around us and gave us a happy ending as we heard fireworks start to sound outside. We opened the window and Bear pressed his chubkins little cheek against mine, wrapped sturdy baby boy arms around my neck and oohed and ahhed with delight over his first fireworks show. “Yook Mama, oh Yook!” he said over and over again. How quickly the less than stellar parts of the day were redeemed! Thanking God for my boy and my country my mind sort of photographed and framed those sweet minutes.
These are especially for a certain patient every-day-blog-checking brother:)
We spent this morning in Aunt Kath’s garden harvesting peas and then having a picnic. I wish summer would magically never end!
We just had a wonderful visit with Kyle’s parents last week. I loved this pic of Bear and his Pawpaw Dave.
babies + spring = two of God’s best ideas!
We live by a lake now so we’re getting to see lots of new baby turtles and ducks.
First 3 pics: operation baby turtle rescue (he was on the sidewalk)
