life lately.

Wow. I have really missed my blog lately. With the end of the school year, two big weddings and working this summer, I have been swamped.

So where to start...I guess I'll start with "a weekend." Two weeks ago, Stephen's dad went to the ER for chest pain and ended up having to have a double by-pass. By God's grace, the surgery went smoothly and doctors were able to fix everything. But heart surgery is a long recovery so Stephen and I went to Houston to help out the family, mainly his three younger siblings.

It ended up being such a beautiful blessing! I absolutely loved serving Stephen's family along with him. We moved furniture, hauled off tree limbs, took the kids to get haircuts, picked up dinner, took shifts visiting his dad in the hospital, did laundry, entertained the kiddos. It was jammed pack and so perfect. I know the circumstances under which we were there weren't great, but it brought us all together for a few days and the Lord was doing work! He is just too cool.

I didn't capture very many moments over the weekend because we looked like ^^^ all weekend, haha, but I did manage to snap those two. That's his little sister, Jordan, and little brother, Jake. Brandon really isn't interested in taking pictures! 

The weekend after we got back from Houston, our good friends Chelsea & David were getting married in Louisiana! Luckily, we were able to take off work on Friday and head to Lake Charles. Stephen & I were both in the wedding and it was tons of fun! 

On our way to the dinner rehearsal.

At the dinner...(little blurry!)

On Saturday, all the bridesmaids got hair and make up done (while the groomsmen relaxed and played at the pool). Jessika, my friend from HS, got to do mine! Chelsea was a very sweet and calm bride --- that's always a plus! 

We headed to the venue from the hotel around 3 to get dressed and start taking pictures at 4. Chelsea and David did a first look. Chels said it was totally worth it! I still don't know if I could do it or not...but it was nice to get all the pictures finished before the ceremony. Chels looked absolutely stunning and David looked so happy -- congrats Mr. and Mrs. Rudd!!! 

The Bride pre-ceremony!  

On our road trip home I thought this was quite appropriate...although I didn't share it -- maybe next time, David! 

David & Chelsea,

Thank you for including Stephen & I on y'all's big day. We had an absolute blast and loved being able to celebrate along with you on the day you became husband & wife! Love you both! 

may highlights.

Y'all it's still raining. There are currently 37 counties in Texas that have areas of flooding! It's been a crazy amount of rain this month. At least we now have plenty of water!

Here are a few highlights from May:

• Skye and Derek came through town earlier this month! We played Top Golf together. It was my first experience and I didn't miss the ball as often as I thought I would. So glad Skye is back on US soil!
• Watermark had their baptismal Sunday service. There were like 500 people getting baptized! It was a really awesome to hear the baptizies (I don't know if that's a word!) testimonies. After the service, everyone headed outside to get baptized and enjoy a free lunch!
• One of the service companies that Stephen works with had a crawfish boil! It was nice to not drive 6 hours to eat a mud bug.
• Allie O. got married! The O'Neals have been our family friends forever. It's so weird to think little Al is married, but I'm so happy for her and Cory! Congrats! I was so blessed to have all of my family together for Memorial Day weekend. It was long overdue!

Not pictured:

• Hannah and her family were in town for a baseball tournament. We were able to hangout and have a cookout at her Uncle George's! I could definitely get used to her being in town more often. :) Actually...I think I could get used to any of my Louisiana family/friends being in town all the time!!

Only ONE MORE WEEK of school left!!! For some reason this year has really drug on and on. I was asked to write curriculum for my school district so I'll actually be working all of June BUT I will be working with adults. Praise the Lord! I don't have to see a teenager until August. Woo woo.

Lots of fun trips coming up this summer -- be on the lookout for those posts in a few weeks!

september highlights.

Ah.....sigh. It's fall, y'all. The season of cool weather, football, gumbos, and pumpkin everything. The season that brings the most joy to my heart! I'm officially done with the most stressful month of work -- and it wasn't half as bad as last year. Praise!

Here are a few highlights from the ninth month of the year:

• I got to spend another fun weekend with my girl Hannah! We went to Dallas and had dinner with the Chabot's, did the usual yoga sesh and had dinner at our favorite Greek place. 
• L Rut invited me to the Women's Conference at American Airlines. There were so many great speakers (Jesus, help me learn a lesson from these wise women) and Matthew West even wrote all 11,000 of us women a song! It was great. 
• Before the conference, I got to go on a sunrise run and it was beautiful. Every morning run is always so freeing for me.
• Stephen and I made a quick trip to Louisiana for my high school friend, Jessika's, wedding! She looked so gorgeous and happy!

Not pictured:

• Stephen took me golfing with him one Sunday evening. And by "took me" I mean he let me ride around in the cart with him. My favorite time of day is the hour before the sun sets so it was fun to be out on the course. If only I could swing a club AND hit the ball....

There are so many things on my fall bucket list! 

Carve pumpkins, 

go to the Arboretum, 

make a good gumbo 

and an apple pie 

maybe even hit the Texas State Fair again...

Oh, I hope we can make it all happen :) 

home sweet louisiana.

Oh, how lovely it was to be home longer than a weekend! I planned my trip around three events, a friend's bridal luncheon, a friend's graduation from PA school & an anniversary. There's always something to celebrate!

The first few days I was home was nonstop appointments and catching up with my favorite people. I got to spend time with Mrs. Susie, Alex, Brother Truett, Mrs. Sherry, & Courtney & Ella. I can't believe it was this time last year we were anxiously awaiting Ella's arrival and now she will be a year old soon! Courtney, you and Nehemiah are doing an awesome job - Ella really is a piece of sunshine.

Ella loves blueberries.

In the evenings, my parents have a routine of driving the Ranger out to the airport to watch the sunset, walk & let Pecos (their new pup) run all of her energy out. My favorite part about this routine is the quiet - one thing I miss most about home. It was great to be able to spend some quality time with my parents! Mom & I got to cook together, we visited my Mawmaw, & I got to hangout with my dad & eat lunch with him almost everyday. Also while I was home, my parents celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary - what a testimony to a Christ-centered marriage! For my mom, the most meaningful way to celebrate was to renew their wedding vows in the chapel they were married in. I love you, momma & daddy!

FBC Shreveport

Well you know it's not a trip home unless I get at least 3 good workouts and prayer time with my girl, Hannah. There is never a dull moment with this faithful friend of mine. We got to do some much needed yoga, pray together & had a movie night, watched Notting Hill & made pumpkin pancakes. It was so great to get to spend a week with her. Then on Saturday, I celebrated my friend, Chelsea, at her bridal luncheon. We've been friends since 4th grade and soon I'll watch her say, "I do." So excited for her and David as they prepare for marriage!

yogis4life.

celebrating Miss Chelsea Clay.

Stephen came home too for a few days. I'd been dying to meet his grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. Reed. So I was real happy when he agreed to go to Oberlin for a day. I didn't snap any pictures as I had intended :(. We spent the afternoon visiting with them and they prepared an amazing meal for us - basically, it was like Louisiana Thanksgiving. I have a much clearer understanding now of why Stephen has such high expectations for my cooking...he's grown up with Louisiana chefs!

While I was home I made the sad decision to let my pet turtle, Rafael, be free. I really didn't want to see him go, but I know he was real tired of his little box I forced him to live in. So we let him go in a pond on the golf course & I know he's much happier with his life now.

last few moments with my turtle-friend.

The last few days of my trip were spent with my lifelong friend, Eleni. We celebrated her graduating from PA school! I am always terrible about taking pictures when her and I get together because it's just nonstop talking. I did manage to snap two photos while we were at a coffee shop though! We got to have dinner, shop & walk in the park when we weren't doing grad. festivities. Eleni, you're going to be an awesome PA & congrats on your new big girl job!

proud of this girl!

As a child, I definitely overlooked the beauty in my small hometown. The beauty of everyone knowing everybody. The beauty of everything being within a 5 mile radius of your house. The beauty of quiet. The beauty of being able to hear dozens of birds singing out of your window.  The beauty of a slower pace of life. The beauty of simple living.

I'm thankful for every moment I spent with my family & my friends these past two weeks. I feel refueled & refreshed as I prepare for year three of teaching!

june highlights.

June was a beautiful month in many ways for me. I finished my second year of teaching (gasp!), I was able to spend time with my whole family and got to spend Father's Day with my daddy.

Here are the other highlights from June:

• My high school friend, Adam, married his beautiful bride, Caroline. The ceremony was sweet and beautiful and Adam cried the entire time. It was awesome.
• Celebrated Stephen's 24th birthday. We had dinner together and I ordered him an ice cream cake. He insisted on taking a video of me singing happy birthday to him- thankfully shortly after it was deleted haha. 
• Stephen's momma came to visit us in Big D! She had been trying to plan a trip all year and we finally made it happen. It was so great to have her here for a few days. 

Not pictured:

• Katelyn and I's trip to Italy!!! I couldn't include our trip to Italy as only a highlight. Italy posts are soon to come!

I am very thankful for this season of rest, recharging and relaxing.

may highlights.

April showers... bring May flowers!

Here are a few highlights from the fifth month of the year:

• Earlier this month, Stephen, friends from church and I went to the drive-in movie in Fort Worth. It was soooo great! We saw Million Dollar Arm. Watching a movie in the bed of a pick up truck is much more fun. The picture above is intended to look like a selfie, but Stephen actually snapped the photo.
• Mr. and Mrs. Cole said "I do!" Had a lovely time with my girls. We unintentionally all wore florals.
• Had a double-date with the Chabot's in Trinity Grove at Luck. Food and drinks were superb & Lauren is a beast at Connect Four.
• My kiddos drew me some pretty pictures the other day. Apparently, I am the "Belvin Bee" and "The Belvin-fly." They are so sweet & creative!
• Skye sent me the photo above on Memorial Day with the caption "Two thumbs up for freedom!" This girl has the courage, strength and trust that I wish I had. I'm already counting down the months until she's back! Love you, Skye, & I'm so proud of you!

Not pictured:

• Hannah always comes to visit in perfect timing. We got to hangout earlier this month, eat Greek, managed to get wine on the house, & hot yoga too!
• Adam and Caroline say "I do" today so those pics didn't make the May post --- no worries I'll get em' here eventually. :)

Can you believe 2014 is almost half way over?!

october highlights.

Y'all. The tenth month of the year has already come and gone. I cannot believe it! How fast the time flies. Here's a few highlights from the cool, sunny month of October.

• My cousin, Amber was in the DFW area for business and we got to have dinner!! It was fantastic to get to catch up with her about life. She is such a good mom, sister, daughter, friend, and cousin. Love you, Amber!
• I signed up for my first half marathon (that I've been wanting to run for four years now). Pumped about it.
• My precious friend, Ilianna asked me to be her bridesmaid! So excited to celebrate her and Andy's wedding festivities. 
• And another picture from my weekend at Baylor...just because it was much needed and I can't describe how much fun I had with my girl, Hannah. BFFs. For reals.

Not pictured:

• My parents visited me the beginning of this month! We just spent time together and watched football -- it was great.
• I'm really starting to love my kids AND they are starting to love me too! Jesus answers prayers. O, how unworthy I am of His Grace. 

july highlights.

July was full of fun! Here are a few highlights.

• My sister came in town for the Fourth of July & brought her new puppy, Skyler.
• Mrs. Susie & I dressed exactly alike on accident for a workout. Everyone thought she was my mom!
• I bought a china hutch at an antique store for $325!!!
• The engagements that I took for Nick & Kate were a hit I think because Kate used one for their "Save the Dates!"
• Hannah and I went to dinner and a movie. We got tickets to see Turbo, but about 15 minutes into it we were bored to death so we left and snuck into The Heat. Worth it. 

Here's to goodbye July and goodbye Louisiana! Hello Texas! :)

home for the holidays [because I live at home of course].

Christmas break was lots of fun! I got to be with my family for Christmas. My sister, Katelyn, came home! She lives far away in west Texas so it was way over-due to get to spend some time with her. We celebrated Christmas with my brother, Grant, sister-in-law Shelley, and my 2 nephews on the 21st. Momma cooked the good ol' dinner complete with a ham. On Christmas Eve, my family and I went to the Christmas Eve service at First Baptist and on Christmas morning we opened presents at home. The older I get the less I care about the gifts and the more I am thankful for the time with my family and closest friends. I worshiped the Lord early Christmas morning and just thanked Him for allowing us to be able to celebrate together. The day after Christmas, mom, dad, Katelyn, and I went arrowhead hunting on one of my dad's customers' property. I went thinking that it was highly unlikely that we would ACTUALLY find arrowheads. Boy, was I dead wrong. All four of us found MULTIPLE arrowheads! It was crazy cool.

My best friend, Eleni, since 4th grade got married on December 28th. It was bittersweet. I have had many friends get married this past year, but nothing compares to your best friend since 4th grade. It was SO weird and awesome at the same time. She decided to save money and not get a caterer---which means lots of work if you are a bridesmaid. Haha. I am not complaining. It was so fun for all of us to work together. On the day of her wedding, all the bridesmaids and groomsmen worked to set up the reception. We worked for a solid three hours. Nonstop. Not one person complained nor argued. Maria (Eleni's sister--who made Eleni's WEDDING CAKE!!!) and I were talking on the drive back to the hotel after the wedding about the whole event. We both agreed that it was tons of fun even though it was hard work. We also both agreed that the only way, in the entire universe, that one is able to walk away from throwing a whole wedding and working with 20 other people to set it up (and tear it down) is if one is filled with the Holy Spirit. And that right there is Gospel. Period. Eleni and her new husband, Colin, have some pretty amazing friends. I am just saying---because they do! They are also pretty amazing themselves. Congratulations, Mrs. Eleni Sallinger!

My other best friend, Stephen:), was in for 3 weeks. He and I got to spend more time together this break than we have in a very long time.  We spent New Year's together at one of our friends' lake house. We watched the LSU bowl game---they lost to Clemson. Sad, sad day. And shot fireworks. I felt like such a kid again! I, the grandmother that I am, even stayed up until MIDNIGHT. It was well worth it. :) We also watched the new Batman movie together on Christmas day. I was so confused throughout the entire movie, but still thought it was legit. He left this past Tuesday to finish his last semester at LSU. So excited for him getting ready to graduate and start his new big-boy job (and I do mean BIG-BOY)!!!

Hannah is another precious friend of mine that came home for break. She is about to start her last semester at Baylor. This girl is such an encouragement to me. We like to go on prayer runs together. What is a prayer run you may ask? Welp. We run and pray out loud to our Savior! It is incredible. Today we went on our last run because she leaves in the morning to head back to Waco for the spring. I am going to miss her, but so thankful for the past few weeks that we have had together.

My Christmas break was perfect. I got to spend it with precious family and precious friends. 

My family.

Sister.

A few of our arrowheads.

That is the beautiful bride, E, in the middle:)

New Year's Eve with Stephen

Shooting skeet.