Old friends. Good times.

I often wish that I could somehow capture a moments in time to put in jars for safe keeping. Then I could take out a particular memory and re-live it whenever I like. I wish I could have bottled up this weekend forever. I was so happy when my friend Ashley said she was going to come for a visit! We live about 4 hours apart, so any time we get together is precious. Saturday we decided to head to the beach for the day. It was nice for both of us not to have a schedule or anywhere we had to be...for the whole day!

We had a great time shopping and eating by the beach. It was definitely a perfect day! The breeze was cool and the sun was warm. Wouldn't it be wonderful to have such lovely weather whenever you wanted? Hehe. Just before sunset we went out to the ocean to snap a few photos. I know people got quite a show watching me run back and forth from my tripod after setting self timer! Haha! We were jumping, laughing and just being goofy! I'm sure it was quite entertaining. 

At some point we remembered all the ghetto fabulous photo shoots we did in college! Haha! Neither of us had cameras our first year so we used disposables! Oh the horror! (That was before cameras on phones were any good.) After laughing about that for a while I said, "Well, we still do that now...it's just a little bit more legit!"

Haha. There is always silliness when we get together! If only you knew the things we did in college...

I couldn't have asked for a more beautiful day with my friend. The sunset wasn't too shabby either. I couldn't help but take a few photos of the cotton candy clouds. (Just so you know, I hardly did anything to these photos. It was that beautiful!) I feel so blessed to have such a wonderful friend in my life. I remember praying for a friend before I left for college. Little did I know she was the roommate chosen for me. We hit it off immediately. Since then we've grown a lot together and we've been through so much...good and bad. Every time we get together it's like we fall right back were we left off, no matter how long it's been.

The older I get, the more I appreciate the friendships I have. After college life gets busy and people move, so it takes a lot more effort to invest in relationships. It's so worth it though! When you're married it's easy to just have your husband. Jonathan is my best friend, but it's also good to have other godly women to share life with from time to time. Plus, there are just some things that only a girl can really understand! I am so thankful to God for Ashley. Friends like her are a gift.

A little beach celebration

A few weekends ago, me and a few of my friends went to spend the day at the beach. We were celebrating my friend Leigh's upcoming marriage. In fact, she is getting married this weekend! How wonderful.

It was a perfect day of relaxation! We ate a little lunch, talked, walked, looked at magazines, read and took a dip in the ocean. The waves were very strong that day though! I almost lost my beloved fedora...I found it but it is beyond fixing. (Sad day.) A few of the girls lost their sunglasses to the tumult of the waves as well. All in all, it was wonderful to be with the girls for a day. Everyone lady need a girl day once in a while!

Oh I almost forgot! (Cue funny story.) The night before this little celebration, I broke out in a weird rash on my lip. It's happened to me before and it was horrible. My lips were one huge rash. Pleasant, I know. Anyway, my sister and I got up at 6 to get ready and make it to minute clinic guy that Saturday. We finally found one after riding around town forever. Stupid me failed to remember that I would need a shot in the butt, and wore a one-piece! Ha! The poor (male) nurse! I said, "Um, I am going to have to change!" Ha! When he came back in my sister and I had changed suits and outfits! So funny. We laughed about that forever!

Anyway, I know Leigh will be a beautiful bride this Saturday! I hate to miss such a God-honoring and gorgeous wedding, but we are headed out of town. (I will reveal Friday. Bonos points if you guess where!)

Young, in love & engaged!

So there is some exciting news for my family...my brother Matt is engaged! For the past two years, my brother has been traveling with a ministry called Life Action. They travel all over the country hosting revival summits. He plays guitar and sings in the worship band. His girlfriend Kellie joined the team last year. However, they are now home and moving on to the next step in life. They are the sweetest couple. I couldn't be happier about having his new fiance as my future sister! Before I get to the proposal I want to share a bit of their love story.


My brother first noticed this lovely young lady in the youth group. I think Kellie was still in middle school, but don't quote me. Everyone knew that they liked each other, but at the advice of my parents they decided to just be friends. It was still obvious that they had a little bit more than friendship. Still, my brother's heart was set on her so waited and watched. (He started writing songs about her too. They are so sweet!) They both had some growing to do. During this waiting time Kellie became great friends with my sister. 


Over the years their friendship grew. After a couple months of college, my brother still wasn't sure where the Lord was directing his life. Then Life Action came our our church and he knew that was what he should do...for the time being. Finally, they made it official just before Matt went off to travel with Life Action. I know that wasn't easy on Kellie. Long distance is never easy! After another year of traveling together, my brother started making plans for the future. He was thinking about moving from Florida to Chicago for school. We all knew there was no way he was going to far without Sure they both are young, but they know and they've always known. They're ready for this kind of commitment. 


Now on to the proposal...


Today is my brother's birthday, so he and Kellie went out for a birthday lunch. My family just so happens to be vacationing at the beach, so of course he picked a nice restaurant on the water. After a lovely lunch he took her to a quiet beach. After walking for a while, the beach cleared. There was no one to be seen for miles. Perfect! I don't know the exact words, but Matt said all kinds of sweet things and finally that he was ready to commit his life to Kellie. (Cue the "awe") Then he bent down on one knee...and well, you know the rest! 


I couldn't be happier! They are two amazing and godly people and I know they will have a God-honoring marriage! 


Let the wedding planning commence! 




Fun fact: My brother and I both got engaged on our 21st birthday! 

summer withdrawals

I grew up less than 20 minutes from the beach. Let's just say that I didn't know how lucky I was. Sometimes my family would grab a pizza and head out to the beach for the evening...sigh. I miss those days. I love to breathe in the atmosphere of the beach. The sun and sand just ooze with relaxation.

I love...

the sand between my toes...

the texture of the shells...

the sky over the dunes at sunset...

the funny seagulls... 

even though they steal your food...

and poop on your head.

I love the palm trees...

going on long bike rides...

the sound of the waves...

and the cute ones you get to be with. :)

Oh the beach! I really am having beach withdrawals this summer. It's already July and we've only been twice! (Still I know that for some of you mid-westerners, twice would be more than you normally get!) I hope I get to take advantage of the beach's beauty while we still live 1 1/2 hours away, because who knows where we'll be in few years! Carpe diem! Seize the day, or in this case the summer!

Are you guys having any summer withdrawals?