Tuesday, August 21, 2012

July Catch-up

Wow, August is almost over, and I haven't blogged in weeks!  

July was a busy but fun-filled month.  I will update you with mostly pictures...


Our weekend "stay-cation"... 
We got a Groupon for a Tempe resort to get some much-needed time together. 
We read, relaxed, swam, talked, and explored downtown Gilbert, where we found the cutest restaurants!




Next up... iCon
iCon is Antioch's international church planting conference, which happens every other summer. 
It's over a week long of worship, speakers, rest, reunion with friends and family, and just an awesome time to be refreshed.  Our whole team road-tripped up to Winter Park, Colorado (a 14-hour drive) after church on Sunday.  Yes, we drove through the night!  Let me tell you... I'll take a 14 hour plane ride in coach--next to the bathroom--over 14 hrs in a Suburban.
Andy and I had so much fun and felt so privileged to be among hundreds of faithful, obedient, selfless men and women who have given their lives to serve Jesus all across the world.
scenery from the roadtrip... this is Utah

hmm, this must just be in Arizona

Colorado

Winter Park Resort


me, Amy, and Kristen--reunion of sweet friends!






powerful worship sets every morning!

sweet, sweet Mary Pierce of http://www.thefamilypierce.blogspot.com

sweet Noah Hollingsworth
Hey, I know that girl!  LOVE Gracie Goo.

driving back through Utah

fun times in the car


We got back from Colorado on a Tuesday night.  I worked at the hospital on Wednesday, then we went to lifegroup, left early and took the redeye to Boston!  
We were so excited to see family and friends!
My beautiful cousin (really, second cousin) Chelsea of Chelsea Gwynne Jewelry got married to her best friend on July 28th.
Our good friend Courtney Trahan also got married on July 28th!
The great thing was that Courtney's wedding was at 11 am and Chelsea's was at 4pm.
Yes, we wedding-hopped!
little brother Nick had a friend's wedding to go to in Houston, but
we were so glad to catch dinner with him before he left!

sweet Ginger

lots of Weisses in town for Chelsea's wedding

on our way to the first wedding

Andy's best friend growing up, Matt Plummer (here, with wife Cassie of  Cassandra Plummer Photography) moved to
Boston the summer we moved to AZ!  Sad.  But so fun to see them (she photog'ed the wedding) thriving in Boston.
They are a popular and well-loved couple at CFCF already!

Making my rounds with the babies.  Here's Lydia Little!  (The Little Family

me and the beautiful bride, Courtney

The Shanahans

Asher and Lily--so sweet

Now, back to downtown Boston for Chelsea's wedding!

me, Victoria, and Caroline--we haven't all three been together in over a year!

cousin Abbey

Chelsea and Michael Baum
Caroline, Victoria, Andy, and Kyle (cousin)
Finally, some more pics from time at church and time with family. 
we miss Lauren Jackson!

love Amy!

me and mom

with Nanny


cousins


Sweet Jenny came up to Marblehead for lunch.  Don't mind the awkward poses...
this picture took some finagling due to the sunlight and the way the deck was set up!

Thursday, August 9, 2012

Happy Three Years!

Andy and I celebrated our Third Anniversary yesterday! 

August 8, 2009
was the day we said, "I do" 
to committing our lives to one another, 
to uniting as one as a reflection of Jesus' love for His bride, the church, 
to loving one another in sickness, health, good, bad, for richer or poorer, 
to putting each other's needs in front of our own, 
to being separated only by death.


Three years isn't really all that long in the grand scheme of things, 
but I love celebrating each year, no matter how little or how many.
Love triumphs over evil always. 
We pray and hope to have a love for one another
that will conquer evil and bring life and hope to those around us.
We occasionally have to choose this love, 
but we are committed for life and so thankful for our marriage.

I am thankful to have a best friend to walk through life with. 
This past year has been tough at times, 
and Andy has been my champion and my partner in it all.
As we celebrate our three years, 
I am finding myself wanting to cherish the time we have left just
husband and wife;
no kids.

I will take this time as a blessing and enjoy it!

At our dinner out 
(Monday night the 6th because lifegroup is Wednesday nights)
we told each other our favorite moments from the past three years
and what we love about one another.
I thought the conversation might not last very long
because we do this activity every once and awhile, 
but our conversation lasted through dinner.
We have a lot to say about each other.
We have a lot of fun memories together.

I love him!