Lonestar Lagniappe

Hubby, Me, SIL Janel, Brother Jason holding Joanna, Dad (sweet mustache!) holding Jonah, Mom (do I look like her?) holding Libby, SIL Lana and Brother Justin...(thanks for the pic  Lana  - I stole it from you!)   FFFRRRIIIIIDDAYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Ok, so I'm a little bit more excited about this Friday than normal.   Why?  Hubby and I are going to a NEEDTOBREATHE concert tonight!!!!  (They are SO SO SO good live!)  and then we are headed to the beach (Seacrest Beach, FL to be exact) for 7 days starting tomorrow!  Can I get an AMEN?!  ( AMEN! )  So, naturally I am pretty stoked for today.  Ok, now on to today's letters, cuz that's what we're here for, right? Dear Hubby:   Thank you for arranging our trip to the beach!  It worked out just perfectly this year, and God knows we need a good vacation.  I am glad you work so hard - but I am also glad we get some time off together! Dear Ever Expanding Family:  ...

I ran accross an article tonight on RELEVANT Magazine that I really enjoyed.  I have always struggled with loving what I see when I look in the mirror, but how can I doubt that God thinks I'm beautiful when He looks at me? (See the verses referenced in the article.) "Mirror Wars" I hope you take the time - about 5 minutes or so - to read this article.  Be encouraged - we are fearfully and wonderfully made! xoxo

My apologies for the blog neglect!  ( I seem to be saying that a lot lately, huh? )  I just started a new job ( more to come on that at a later date ) and have had several other things going on...and have just been so tired.  Honest!  I am currently editing my photos from my totes adorbs nephew's 3rd birthday party.  Until I get those posted ( sometime this weekend ), find yourself encouraged through all the tragedy rocking our nation lately ( love and prayers to Boston, Mass and West, TX ).  We serve a loving God whose heart, too, is breaking. God is good - all the time. All the time - God is good. Happy Friday! And check back soon for some cute pics of 3 year old! :):)

Hi again! :)  This is my first DIY post.  I will go ahead and tell you - I am super creative and love to craft, but I am not good at taking photos or documenting the process!  (I am hoping to take a photography class this summer, so hang in there with me.) I don't exactly know where I got this idea from, honestly.  Usually, I could say Pinterest or another fun blog that I follow.  But right now, I think I saw a silhouette painting on Pinterest and decided to put my own twist on it.  At any rate, it was very easy and fun!  I did not take pictures of all the steps, only the finished product - I will do better next time.  What you will need: See-through frames (I got 3 frames total, all from Marshall's.) Black scrapbook paper (I used a paper that is not textured - that is a personal preference, though.  You can also use felt.) An X-ACTO knife. A picture that you like, that you will derive your silhouettes from. A computer and printer ...

It's that time again - FRIDAY!!  I am linking up with Ashley over @ The Sweet Season Blog for Friday's Letters.  It's been a while! beach! beach! beach! :):) beach! beach! beach! (photo not edited - look at those colors!) Dear April:   Yay!  You are here!  You are going to be a fun and busy month.  New job, Hubby traveling, nephew's birthday, NEEDTOBREATHE concert and....THE BEACH! Dear Beach Vacay:   The countdown in ON !  We are so excited to be headed your way again this year.  Now, weather, don't let us down! Dear Hubby:   I have not properly thanked you (on my blog, which I'm pretty sure you don't read!) for being such a great mover!  We moved in a record amount of time thanks to your planning...and muscles!  So, thank you!  You rock. Dear Weather:   You are confusing both me and my allergies.  40 degrees and 75 degrees in the same day?  Then rain?  Then super hot and muggy?  Ugh....

Whew!  I'm back!  Please excuse my absence...I have been abnormally busy these past few weeks, and since I'm not a great 'regular blogger' anyway, it's taken me a while to get back into the swing of things! So, to catch you up on life, here is a really quick update! New Apartment/New Part of Town We have moved!  Why?  We are going to start house-hunting here in a few months (woohoo!).  Basically, in order for us to afford a house in Houston in a good/safe neighborhood, a good school district, and a good location for Hubby's work, we would have to be rich!  I know, sounds like a #firstworldproblem. We previously lived in a ~990sq ft apartment in Houston.  (see pic below)  It really was a great apartment with great amenities and in a good location for life (church, going out to eat, shopping, etc), just not ideal traffic-wise for Hubby's job.  We loved our 2 years there.  I'll get the hang of my panoramic view one day! Check out...