Summer Loving

This summer has gone by so quickly! I started the summer at a conference for work in Orlando, Florida. Below is a picture of my view from my room.

 

 

 

 Of course, a summer isn't complete with out a trip (or 2, or 3) to Dallas. We spent a weekend in Dallas visiting the Arboretum. They had an amazing exhibit this summer, so we were excited to see it.

Dad is an official Master Gardener now, so naturally, he needed a new gardening hat to celebrate. He did a little fashion show at North Havens. We all took a vote, and he ended up with the bottom left hat. :)

No trip to Dallas is ever complete unless we see our best friends, the Langlois. Paaty was working, but we were able to see Miss Julia, Chris and his padres for a brief time over lunch.

Deedee was able to get to pat her grand dogs for a couple of hours on a hot Sunday afternoon.

 

The above are more pictures from the Arboretum in Dallas.

 

This was a picture before one of our date nights in July.

David's older brother Tim and his wife Amanda moved from Shreveport, Louisiana to Waco, Texas. We spent an evening out with them before they left town.

We couldn't go an entire summer without some goofy pictures of us. I mean, what fun would that be?! I love this man so much!!

 

In the middle of July, we got to spend a day with David's sister Christine and our nephew, Austin. It was too short of visit, but we were thankful for the time we did get to have with them!!!

 

We have had an absolute blast hanging out with family and friends this summer. We are looking forward to the fall and football season now! Go DAWGS & Hook 'em Horns! :)

Birthday Time

 

I absolutely LOVE birthdays, and celebrating my hubby's birthday is no exception! David turned 34 on August 15.

 

David's birthday was on a Wednesday this year. Right now, Wednesday's is one of his days off, so to make his day 'extra' special, I took the day off to be with him. We spent the morning lounging around the house. After lunch, we headed to Shreveport, for some birthday shopping and a nice dinner. David got a new pair of tennis shoes, an otterbox iPhone cover, and some other miscellaneous gifts. We had dinner at Sushiko, which is a great sushi restaurant, at the Boardwalk in Bossier City. He had a birthday cupcake from Buttercups in Shreveport. They are to DIE for! (Buttercups was on Food Network's Cupcake Wars & won!) After dinner, we went to church. It was a low key day, but one that was filled with love and laughter.

Here are some of the things that David is looking forward to this next year:

-GRADUATING FROM SCHOOL with Bachelors AND Masters Degrees!!!!!!
-Beginning a year of "lasts" (i.e. last fall quarter, last time he had to buy a parking decal, etc)
-Studying & passing his CPA exam
-Going to Louisiana Tech football games
-Spending Thanksgiving in Decatur with his parents
-Celebrating our 6th year of marriage <3 p="p">-Being in Indiana with family at Christmas
-Going on weekend trips to various places
-Planting another garden in the spring
-Never having to go to school again!

I am so honored to be a part of this next year of David's life. We are both simply beside ourselves with excitement for what God has planned for us. We have no idea what the future holds, but we know exactly who holds our future!!! We are drinking from the saucer, because our cup is overflowing. :)


 

Leaving a Legacy

On August 9, 2012 we got a call around 4:20am that Gramps had passed away. It was bittersweet. Just a mere 7 days before, I was in Indiana spending time with him. I have so many wonderful memories of my Gramps. Words can not express how thankful I am to have spent one of his last weeks with us on earth, in Ramsey with him. For that, I am blessed. 

 

 

Gramps had such a celebration of life at his viewing, funeral and grave side service. To live in a town that doesn't even have a stop light, he had people from all over the state, and country come to say good bye. He was the first volunteer fire chief for Ramsey, and all of the fire/EMT professionals came to honor and remember him. He had a fire truck escort from the funeral home to the church, and then to the grave side service. It was so amazing to watch so many people honor and remember my Gramps. I was so very proud. At the grave side he had the 21 gun salute and the trumpet play. The flag was folded in dignity and with respect. He loved his country, his state, and his community. He was constantly helping others, and always willing to pitch in. He was a faithful member of Unity Chapel UMC and sang in the choir. He always wanted people to sing to the Lord with "Gusto"!! He would say "sing it like you mean it!"

I know the hand of blessing is on my family, because the generations before me have set the standards of living high. Gramps is no exception. He was a founding member of the Ramsey water company, and served as a United States Rural Postal carrier for over 40 years. He was an amazing example of what a husband is to be, and had a 63+ year marriage to Granny. His laughter and sense of humor was contagious. His smile would light up even the darkest room. He was the best Gramps a girl could have ever asked for. 

I will miss him dearly, already do, but I have the lessons and memories he has taught me to carry me through. He is in Heaven looking down, and I know one day I will see him again. He will forever be my Gramps. I will always love you.