I know just how this poor dog feels. It's Monday...and I'm already exhausted and ready for another weekend. Except, the bad part is, I don't foresee a weekend of "rest" in Chris and I's future for quite some time. It's a little overwhelming to look at the calendar and see something on it for every weekend straight up until the end of November! But, let me tell you, we have some exciting things coming up which make it all worth it! We will be visited by my parents, going to the beach,cheering on Wake at some football games, attending several weddings, celebrating some birthdays, throwing wedding showers, attending a retreat, and traveling to PA. I'm exhausted just thinking about it! But, have I mentioned lately how truly blessed I am?? A little tiredness is certainly worth all the fun we're going to have over the next few months!!

yummmmmmm

I love to bake. And I have a huge sweet tooth. So, it works out well. I had gotten pretty good at the basic baking stuff but I really want to learn to decorate cakes...kind of like this:


Ok, just kidding. This is a cake from Cake Boss (which I'm completely obsessed with by the way!). But in all honesty, I would love to learn to decorate cakes, cupcakes, etc. I've been on a baking kick lately- blueberry dump cake, cupcakes, coffee cake, cookies, etc. I even tried my hand at fondant! It came out pretty well but I haven't tried actually using it on a cake yet. It's just sitting in my refrigerator. I'm sure I'll blog about it when I actually try to use it...it could be a disaster! It's made completely out of marshmallows and powdered sugar and let's just say I looked like a snowman when I was done making it! The powdered sugar was everywhere, I had melted marshmallow in my hair. But, it was well worth it! So, if you have any good baking recipes, send them along! I'd love to try them. I think this will be my next experiment:

Psalms 119:105

"Thy Word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path"

I remember learning Psalms 119:105 when I was about 8 years old in Pioneer Clubs at Owls Head Baptist Church. We were all made to memorize this verse. I didn't know what it meant and probably didn't really care too much...I was more concerned with my gymnastics lessons and finally learning to ride my bike. But now, 18 years later, the verse has re-surfaced and has impacted my thinking in a powerful way.
I have had the privilege this summer of being part of an in depth study of Psalms 119. I'll be honest, by the time we got to verse 105, I was a bit burnt out. The Lord knew I needed some refreshment. Lately I've been wondering where I'm suppose to go in this world. I just haven't felt content with where I am...in a lot of different aspects of my life. I have an amazing husband, a secure job, really a great life....but I just have felt this nagging feeling of discontentment. I want to know what I'm suppose to be when I grow up! I want to see the future and know exactly how things are going to play out. But, then came Psalms 119:105. The Lord does not promise to be this huge beaming light that shows everything; He simply promises to light our path one step at a time. My prayer is that He will help me to focus on the NOW and not on the future so much. He's a lamp not a floodlight.

home is where the heart is...

Words cannot express how much I loved our vacation in Maine. I loved the beautiful coast, the beautiful weather, spending time with my WHOLE family, showing Chris where I grew up...and I could go on all day long! I know the Lord has placed Chris and I in NC and I am more than satisfied to live in such a great place but I do have a special place in my heart for Midcoast Maine. I already look forward to visiting again next summer. Pictures can describe the trip better than words so here you go!

We had a great weekend, mostly spent at the ball field! Chris had a tournament all day in Huntersville on Saturday. It was a HOT Saturday but we had fun anyways. They ended up going 3-1 and came in 3rd place but might have won it all had it not gotten rained out! Yesterday (Sunday) we went to church and both really enjoyed hearing Josh Hill preach! He keeps getting better and better every time he preaches. We had a nice lunch with some friends, grocery shopped, and then spent a lazy afternoon at home enjoying watching the storms. I beat Chris for the first time EVER in rummy, it was great! Pure luck, but still great :)

We leave Thursday for Maine, I am SOOOO excited! I can almost smell the ocean already!!! I am just praying that God will give up safety and just make the trip fly by! It shouldn't be too bad since we're breaking it up into 3 days but it's still a long time to be in the car. If you think of it, say a quick prayer for us!

Sweeter than chocolate...

This summer I'm doing a Bible Study on Psalm 119 called Sweeter Than Chocolate. I am only on the first week and it's been SO great already. The psalmist just wants more than anything to be righteous and follow the law of the Lord. It is his delight and his only happiness! We learned this past week that the word "blessed" in the first stanza of the psalm is literally translated "happy happy"! Nothing makes the psalmist more happy (happy!) than to follow the Lord and his commandments. It has really made me ponder what makes me happy and what I value. I think I so often find happiness in things like family, friends, being successful at my job, etc. that I forgot that happiness really comes from living a life that honors the Lord. Talk about conviction! So often I "wander" from the Lord's commandments and don't even realize I'm doing it. Thank goodness that we serve such a forgiving Lord! I am looking forward to the next 6 weeks of Bible study...I've only read vs 1-16 so far and have already been blessed! Did you know that Psalm 119 is the longest book in the Bible with 176 verses! I have a long way to go :)

"How can a young man keep his way pure ? By keeping it according to Your word. With all my heart I have sought You; Do not let me wander from Your commandments. Your word I have treasured in my heart, That I may not sin against You."
~Psalm 119:9-11

It's been a while since I blogged...so I figured it was about time. I don't really have much to say though, life's been just the same ole' same ole' lately. We had a nice 4th of July weekend, did lots of relaxing! It's always hard to come back to work after a long weekend. I am SO excited for our trip to Maine in a few weeks, it's been a while since I had a week in Owls Head! Here are some things I'm looking most forward to:

~quality family time~
~early mornings on the beach~
~LOBSTER~
~seeing old friends~
~meeting baby Daniel!~
~walking the breakwater~
~the rocky shoreline~
~hiking in the Camden Hills~
~the Smiling Cow~
~the slow pace of vacation~
~Dormans ice cream~
~The Brown Bag~
~did I mention family time?!?~
~and most of all, introducing Chris to my favorite plan on earth!~