I Want To Talk To You About THESE People:

Sometimes friends move away, drift apart, and 5 years later it's like you never even knew one another. Don't act like it isn't true. It's easy to keep a friendship vibrant when you live a twenty minute car ride and a coffee shop away from a great conversation. 

It's easy for me to know that Jeri's Saturday afternoon consisted of intently looking for a dog named Logan, a back massage that was longer than five minutes and a weird (but interesting) potato pastry. She's moving to Chicago, though. 

Jessi moved, too. She's somewhere in Virginia surrounded by new friends, a new church and has a new bedroom. We spent many late nights talking, secreting and crying in her old bedroom. Her old church was a five minute ride from my house. And, I know all her old friends. 

And KYLE. He's making a year of memories that I won't ever understand. He's doing a good work for a God who told him to go, change and be changed. But, I don't get to see him grow in it. I don't get to hear how his life is being changed by the daily, divine appointments he's making. 

Thank God, these people are not my friends. Lest, there may be no hope.

These people are not just my friends, they're not just the people I laugh with or value most - they are family. Family sticks together. In different parts of the world, in different cities of our country, my family sticks together. My family is irreplaceable.

Carolina is the new one, and yet, it's like she's always been here. She gets all of our jokes, she's cool with pregnancy packs AND she loves dogs. I don't know what kind of deal Michael had to make with the Big Man to grab such a life-long winner. But, Michael is smooth like that. He knows what he wants and he does whatever he can to keep it. You know what Michael might be one day? My kid's math teacher. Oh, and his teaching mentor just happens to be my old math teacher. He's not politically correct, so he doesn't mind shading in stick figures and laughing at how my stick figure looks different from the rest.

Scooter lives in Atlanta. But, he still includes me in fun birthday surprises for Emily. He still makes time for his family even when he's only here for a weekend. He doesn't mind mixing up some Michael's Hats and cramming 5 people into his Mustang. And, when he was all mopey and broken, who showed up? Family. We brought cookies and company. Emily is a gem. And, he's lucky to have her. She grabs life with her whole heart and isn't afraid to let you know it. She's making life plans and letting us all have a part in them. She values her family's opinion. And, I'm pretty sure she's making all the right choices. 

And, Chris. He's what holds me all together most times when everyone else happens to be caught up in their own world. He's funny and quiet. He's passionate and reserved. He's the perfect walking paradox. Chris is like the whirlwind of security that I've always needed. He puts up with my obsession for perfection, he adjusts the sheets and blankets exactly to my necessary specifications before we go to bed, he suffers the beach for me even though he burns, and he loves me when I'm ugly, when I'm mean, when I'm unlovable. 

You don't get this kind of life every time. You just don't get this group of people.

"Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather is one of those things that give value to survival."
- C. S. Lewis

Just a Little Tufting

After purchasing a few essential sewing items at JoAnn's Fabrics (the machine was given to me by my aunt),

I embarked on a pillow project! The pattern I used was on Amy Butler's website under Free Patterns : The Hourglass Pillow

http://www.amybutlerdesign.com/products/free_patterns.php


The Help

My momma came over and helped keep things organized...

(And laugh. A lot.)

Step-By-Step

The Result

My pillow is done after a half hour of measuring and cutting, dinner, and another hour of sewing!

traveling stretches the soul.

I haven't really posted any pictures from Italy (other than my mobile uploads while I was there), so, here you go!

These are some of my favorites:
This one is actually from London. Fish N' Chips!
Welcome to Venezia!
 Rialto Bridge
 
 The view from our window.
 
 Our favorite pizza place!
 It's just a palace. No big deal.
 San Marco Square. You know, the one with all the pigeons.
 
 
 "Something Strange Happened Here"
 Tiramisu
 Bellini. You. Don't. Even. Know.
 Creme Brulee.
 Venetian Showers <3
 The Snack Bars were our favorite! Cappuccinos every day.
 Lasagna.
 
 
 Snack bar #2
 
 Ravioli
 PIZZA.
 Snack bar #2
 Rialto in the sunshine
 
 
 
 
 The Rialto Market
 
 She makes bread
 

I can't wait for our next adventure :-)

books can be surprising.

Boundaries in Marriage by Henry Cloud and John Townsend

I bought this book in an attempt to put my marriage with Chris on the defense. You know, in case things start to get ugly (or, something). I, personally, have always struggled with boundaries - overbooking myself, taking on the responsibilities of others, never ever saying "no". I expected this book to do two things: 1. Remind me of my weaknesses and the ways I should be aware of/try and fix them, and 2. Shed light on any problems/bad habits (if there are any) that Chris and I are creating.

So, here I go. I'm ready to read and be enlightened. Books (at, least the ones I read) have a tendency to surface even the tiniest of weaknesses - even the ones I didn't know I had. So, imagine my surprise when, as I read my book (mind you, I'm only 40 pages in), I start to realize how good I have it.


The two men writing this book are explaining marriages in terrible heartache, tragedies and resentment. These marriages, however, all had one thing in common: A lack of boundaries. The couples couldn't communicate, they blamed their spouse for their own actions, one became controlling, the other tried to fill her inadequacies as a person with her husband. All of these couples took a wrong turn somewhere. That, or they never were on the right road to begin with.

"When two people are free to disagree, they are free to love. When they are not free, they live in fear and love dies."


This quote is talking about the mistake couples perpetually make - the "I'm right or ELSE!" syndrome. The "or ELSE" part is where the problem begins. The "or ELSE" means "there are consequences if I don't get my way". Unfortunately, the dominating personality always wins that battle.And, the destructive mentality sticks once it succeeds in an argument. As humans, we're selfish in nature. But, as spouses we're commanded to be loving, kind and considerate. So, where's the hang up? Where does the disconnect start?

 "We must be free to say no before we can wholeheartedly say yes."


After reading this section of the book, I came to an exhilarating conclusion:  We don't live in this fear. As individuals, Chris and I are free to express ourselves, our concerns, dissatisfactions, hopes, emotions, and ambitions to one another - EVEN when we don't agree. The fear of one another does not live here. We're on the right road. But, that doesn't mean that we won't take a wrong turn. So, even thought I can't completely relate to the first part of this book (the third part looks like a doosy: "Resolving Conflict in Marriage - Three's a Crowd"), I'm going to make myself aware. I'm not gonna mess this up.