Friday, July 11, 2014

Girls Weekend

This was Miley and I's first girls trip.  We were both so excited.  I was so excited to just focus on Miley and really talk and listen to her.  



 Ryan and Lou were so sweet to have us.  I absolutely love Knoxville.  My sister and husband live in the heart of Knoxville, and from their condo we can walk everywhere which is my favorite thing to do.
We were walking back from dinner, and Ryan said we needed to get out the cake.  I did not even realize that this was their wedding anniversary.  I felt so bad, but nothing phased them.  We just joined in.  
 Ryan made us fell very welcome.  





 Sushi!


 Tupelo Honey was so good.  

Such a fun few days.  

Saturday, July 5, 2014

Birthday Fun

We went to Barista Parlor for breakfast.  This is one of my favorite places to get coffee and a sausage biscuit.  



 We went for a walk at Shelby Bottom Park.  I know people say they love to run, but I love walking.  I love how you talk, hold hands, point and look at things, and simply be quiet together on a walk.  


Then we had dinner, swimming, and fireworks at Melanie's house.  I love this Fourth of July Tradition.  


Thursday, July 3, 2014

Simple Pleasures

Over the past two years, Michael decided to fully commit to his photography career.  He has been part time at his machine job, and therefore, he brought in a part time income.  All this to say, the last two years have been tight financially.  My greatest struggle with life and God is patience.  Financial patience is the ultimate kicker in my mind.  I have been so frustrated by it, and poor Michael has dragged me along kicking and screaming.  I am starting to finally see the big picture.  I knew there was a big picture, and I knew I would eventually see it, but I did not know when that "eventually" would be or even what it would look like.

Yes, we are still tight financially, but I have started to see how much we appreciate the "simple pleasures" as a result of our tightness.  We have had to be creative with our time and money, and I feel like we are actually better for it.  I feel like God wanted us to slow down and enjoy each other and not get so caught up in the "stuff" of the world.  My life has become focused around the "simple pleasures", and it has become less about shopping and things I want to buy.

I did a little research on the "simple pleasures" of life, and I loved this list:  http://www.marcandangel.com/2008/03/23/the-30-most-satisfying-simple-pleasures-life-has-to-offer/.

I wanted to add my own two pleasures:

31.  Kayaking down the Caney Fork River with good friends.



 We spend the day talking and listening to the river.





32.  Gardening in the sunshine with your family.

 Our corn is massive!

 This is so cool!  The butternut squash forms a yellow flower, and then below the flower the squash forms, and, the flower falls off.