thursday ramblings

wonderful morning for a long run. not sure where this weather came from but i'm diggin' it. i don't typically run rails to trails but i did today. amazingly i hit every traffic crossing at the perfect time. no cars! it was fun. the crossing guard by wynnton school told me to run an extra mile for her. i did not.

when i left the house at 10:15am jay and gabe were both still in bed. love my boys! i'd already run 10 miles and enjoyed an hour of breakfast/quiet time before they even opened their eyes.

i have a candle in my office that smells like vanilla cookies (whatever those are) and it makes me hungry.

my mom baked cookies yesterday for the sweet family that is (hopefully, pretty positive!) going to buy our condo. jay ate all of them.

i've learned a lot in this buying a house stuff. i've learned to paint trim carefully without painters tape. i've learned how to scrub baseboards and walls. i've enjoyed painting and laughing with friends and family. gabe has been amazing through the whole thing too. he just hangs out and watches. what a cool baby.

ps - i have scrubbed baseboards before...

i write one person (at least) a day a hand-written note of encouragement. yesterday, i got one. it wasnt hand-written but it was just what i needed. thanks kelsey!

gabe loves our porch swing. he loves to watch cars go by. yesterday we sat out there for a while and i sang to him while he watched the cars. he's so chill. i really cant get over how much i love him.

my mom is one incredible gal. she has worked so very hard at our new house. she is the hardest working person i know. no joke. she is always doing something. keeping grandkids, taking care of my grandmother, cooking for someone or something at church, cleaning, painting, praying...she never stops. i admire so many things about her. mostly her unwavering heart for God. she has such a hunger for Him. i love it. hopefully i can hang out at her mansion in Heaven. i have a feeling i'll be living in a tent. ha!

i am about to purchase my 12th bridesmaid dress. and it so SOOOOOOOOO darn cute!! i cant wait to get it! my friend ashley is getting married in october. i couldnt be more thrilled for her. i am so proud of her. proud of who she is, how hard she worked in college & now as a nurse. she has lived a life that i know honors God. she is gorgeous inside and out. she comes from such an amazing family. i am thankful to be her friend and honored to stand beside her as she marries chase. what a great guy. i pray only Gods best for them.

it's only 11:12 and i'm really, really ready for lunch.

i follow several blogs. i enjoy reading them so much. one is biblical homemaking. i might have to stop reading hers! why??  b/c i ENVY her!! she is ridiculously cute, she has the BEST clothes (which she only buys at unbelievable prices), she has a head of red hair to die for, and she's got the cutest figure. i really wish i learned godly things from her. instead i just want to be her...ha ha.

the past couple days i've been thinking about my cousin a lot. i love her so very much. we email and text most days. she is a teacher in florida. now she's counting down the days til summer break...then i get to hear about her laying by the pool for 2 months!

i love a lot of things about my cousin. she's hilarious!! great sense of humor, she loves her parents & genuinely enjoys them (as do i!), she loves college football every bit as much as i do, she is a faithful friend, she prays for me, she listens to me, she is someone i can share secrets with, she's kinda like the sister i never had. i wish she lived closer. then we could share clothes :)

what i wish/pray for most for her is a godly guy to come into her life. she's got some fabulous guy friends. but i (sometimes impatiently) await the guy that God has chosen for her. my prayer is that he would come into her life and invite her into his peaceful, godly, spirit-filled life! i am boldly asking God to work in both of their lives to have them meet at HIS perfect time and just bless the mess out of them :)

i love my job. i am so thankful that i get to know students that want to live lives of integrity. what a fabulous life God has blessed me with.

new things that make me smile:
the show duck dynasty
gabes attempt at crawling
having a porch
new running shoes
knowing that TAs are almost out for summer!
gabe eating carrots, squash and oatmeal = super cute
my brothers glasses
113 days til college football
pregnant friends
the thought of jay learning to garden & sew
fun, fabulous backdoor neighbors
part-part time staff

amen.