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Monday, August 29, 2011

277/365

Happy 30th Anniversary, Dad and Mom!

I just want to say how thankful I am for my parents. God has blessed me with such incredible role models. Tonight to celebrate we {Carrie, Dan, Daniel, Rachael, Kathryn, Benton, Dad, Mom and MYSELF} went downtown Greenville to Trio's for dinner-- :) I mean, what a BETTER way to spend your romantic 30th anniversary than with your great children and grandchildren?!!


Benton was kissing the mouse.... Mice on Main- downtown Greenville

Daniel wanted to kiss it also. He was scared to touch it at first. The boys hoovered around the "mouse" for the longest time before they had the nerve to touch. They thought it was going to move :)

They are best friends. Ask them!


After dinner we went to Luna Rosa... Carrie took this picture, and I thought it was priceless.
A picture TRULY is worth a THOUSAND words!

What a fun night. I am so thankful for my parents and the example they have been to me. 30 years... that's ALOT! And they love each other more today than they did day 1. That's amazing! Thanks to the Lord for giving me such amazing parents!

Sunday, August 28, 2011

269/365

Phew- thankful for Sunday. Love my church... thankful for a merciful God who loves ME. :)

Saturday, August 27, 2011

268/365

Happy Wedding day!!!!

Beautiful, BEAUTIFUL wedding followed by a fun reception at the Arts Center in Anderson. So thankful for God bringing Luke and Sydney together, and I look forward to getting to know Sydney better over the many years to come!

The morning started early with a run on 81 (Sarah Lou even skinned her knee she was so excited about the day ;)), and then I helped with hair and make up from 9:30-1:30. The girls all looked BEAUTIFUL, and Sydney was striking!

The boys {the wedding coordinator was a school teacher and kept referring to the groomsmen at 'boys'... so funny} all arrived to the church around 1:30, and they then took pictures and relaxed the rest of the afternoon until the wedding at 5.

Sarah and I spent the afternoon with Grammie getting ready and having fun. Life is always fun with that lady!














Friday, August 26, 2011

267/365

This weekend my twin cousin is getting MARRIED! When we were little, I believed we were twins. People would tell me it wasn't possible, and I'd get mad at them, because {WE. ARE. TWINS.}. So, now that I'm 23 I realize that despite the fact that Luke and I were born 20 minutes apart in the same hospital, delivered by the same doctor, we are not technically twins. {tear}

All that to say, this weekend is a weekend our family has been waiting for- new additions {especially GOOD additions!!!!} are always welcomed with anticipation in this family!

Here are a few pictures from the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday night.

Beautiful cousins Sara Margaret and Katie

Luke and Sydney practicing their vows

Grammie and Dad

Daniel and Benton were ring bearers.... Will and Monroe held candy to try to coax them down the aisle! (Thank the Lord for SMARTIES!!!)

The deeeelicious cake at the rehearsal dinner... Luke graduated from Clemson. 

Grammie and all of her namesakes.... Lots of Sarah's and Louises in this picture!!

Best picture all night... Owen, Clint's hand and me. GREAT to catch up with the Halls!

Thankful for these two!

This is the best sister-in-law a girl could ever ask for right here! I am SO happy Monroe and
Katie were able to come in town for a few days!!!!

Thursday, August 25, 2011

266/365

Tonight we had a girls night... complete with our newest member, Katie Lou. :) I am so thankful to have all my sisters and mom right here in Clemson with me. We are truly blessed to have each other!

Katie and Rach

Katie and Katie :)

Mom, Carrie (and baby GIRL) and myself

Katie Lou LOVED girls night, though she slept through most of it!

We went downtown to the Lazy Goat for dinner, then walked around Falls Park. It was
a ton of fun-- they had the music on the lawn (or whatever it's called), so there was live music and there were people everywhere. Made for a fun evening!

Katie sandwich! This little girl is so much fun. She smiles ALL of the time!!

Proud Gigi happy to have this little one along!
We ended the night at Luna Rosa (a favorite of all of us)... Kathryn was so happy to be here.
This big night just wore her out!!! SO much fun!

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

264/365

Back to work... and Kathryn came to work today! She had a lot of fun playing with all of the MetLife Snoopy's that we've collected over the years.....

(picture to come)

Thankful for this time we have with all of the family (minus Matt) this week. Looking forward to Katie and Monroe coming tomorrow!!

PS. I apologize for filling your inbox with updated blog entries.......... :)

Monday, August 22, 2011

263/365

Yes, still playing catch-up from my week with no internet (Inny Inny... caught me!) :)

I just wanted to share a couple of pictures from the burn near the camp in Arizona. It was incredible to see the vastness of the fire...

This is on the road up to camp... trees were all charred.


When I saw this I thought of these verses...

 Isaiah 61:1-4 The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
   because the LORD has(B) anointed me
to bring good news to the poor;[a]
   he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives,
   and(C) the opening of the prison to those who are bound;[b]
2(D) to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
   (E) and the day of vengeance of our God;
   to comfort all who mourn;
3to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
   (F) to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
(G) the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
   the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
(H) that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
   the planting of the LORD,(I) that he may be glorified.[c]
4(J) They shall build up the ancient ruins;
   they shall raise up the former devastations;
they shall repair the ruined cities,
   the devastations of many generations.


The fire is a picture of my life, and I am so thankful that the Lord took the devastation and mess that I had created (because even our best efforts are as filthy rags in the eyes of a perfect God) and has restored my heart into something beautiful... beauty that is found in the blood of Jesus Christ alone. And the entire purpose of this continual restoration is the glory of Christ! If you could see scars from the fire there in AZ, you can't help but acknowledge the power of our Creator- incredible.

What a GREAT week in Arizona. There are so many other pictures I'd love to share of the house (Master bedroom, guest room, kitchen) but they will have to wait. :)

Sunday, August 21, 2011

262/365

Thankful for the time we've had to visit Matt and Rach... and little Benton and Katie Lou :)










Saturday, August 20, 2011

261/365

BEAUTIFUL scenery... I'm thankful for that! Matt and Rach have the most BEAUTIFUL yard. :)






AND... the yard is just as beautiful at NIGHT as it is during the day!!