Notice anything?

The first thing you may have noticed is my lack of blogging. Really? This is only my fourth post this month….I think.

Then, all of my blog posts only include flowers, one cute dog, fishing, and other outdoorsy things.

My summer has been taken over by MY LAST SEMESTER OF GRAD SCHOOL! Can I get a ‘Hallelujah!’ or ‘Praise the Lord’???? Geez….I would say that it’s been a long road, but it has really only been a year, which in my opinion is busting it to finish this thing for that small, but helpful pay raise! I probably tell Colby a gazillion times a day that I am absolutely sick of doing school work. That’s sad to say when you’re a school teacher.

In relation to all of this, my comprehensive exam is this Friday! Say what?!?!? So, my entire last year of work is riding on this one test. How unfair is that? That’s the way of the graduate world though, so I must push through. On top of that, my first two chapters to my research proposal are due. Luckily, it isn’t as bad as actually submitting it to a real review board for a real study that is going to be conducted. {Abby, you have my utmost sympathy}

As a result of this taking over my life, I have had no desire to really sit at the computer and share what’s happening in my world. That means I certainly have no desire to do any home projects around here. Trust me, there are plenty. Before long, Colby is going to kill me for bringing in “junk” to fix and make beautiful. Hopefully, after this is all over, I will have some energy to put forth on them.

In the mean time, you’ll just have to deal with more fish and plant photos. Sorry! The family farms are my favorite escape from the world!

Bream buster = Bass! Pure luck!

Please ignore my get-up! The boots came in very handy, so I could get closer to the water. It was so mushy around the edge of the pond, and I am the kind of girl that does not want any mud near my feet. Ugh!

Note to self: Get my butt out there and pick some blueberries! Every person needs a stock of blueberries in the freezer. You never know when you’re going to need them!

Seriously? Can you end a day with a prettier sky? The photo doesn’t even do it justice either.

Hope you all are getting along alright! Keep enjoying that summer!

One Great Dad

He was the main man in my life for twenty-two years, and he is still right at the top of my list. He’s the man who walked me down the aisle to give me away. He held me up when I thought I was going to melt into mush at the last moment all because of one million memories of us that came rushing back before I was going to say “I do”.

No one can ever take the place of my dad. If you know my dad, you know why I love him so much. He’s one of the most caring and funniest guys I know. I wouldn’t trade our early morning or late night chats to and from work for nothing. It’s always a treat to get his phone call. I don’t know if he will ever realize how much I love him, but it is beyond words.

Happy Father’s Day, Dad! You’re the best!

{10 Things}

{One}

School is out for summer, and I can’t tell you how much I’m enjoying going to bed whenever I want and waking up whenever I want. It’s what I love about summer break the most. I think the bed gets more and more comfortable each and every day.

{Two}

School isn’t technically out for summer completely. I’m finishing up my graduate degree, which is great in theory. In fact, knowing that I should be finished by the end of this semester thrills me. There is nothing I want more than to not open a college textbook again. This process has been hard since I’ve tried to finish everything in a year’s time. If all goes well, then I will have accomplished this goal by July 24th. Hallelujah! Praise the Lord!

In the mean time, put me on the prayer list….seriously. I’m going to need it. I’m overwhelmed at the moment.

{Three}

Professional development has been taking place since school has been let out. PD = extra cash. PD = extra stress on grad work. Once again, prayers. I need them.

{Four}

I’m loving the Bachelorette this season. I’m a Bachelorette junky, and I was delighted in knowing that Emily was coming back to be the Bachelorette. I was crushed when her relationship didn’t work with Brad, but I’m glad it didn’t. If it would have, we wouldn’t be enjoying a terrific season with her and all of these fabulous guys. Arie is one of my top picks right now, but I’m sure some others will come into play.

{Five}

Looks like we’re building a fence for our new little guy. If you haven’t seen him, then you don’t read the blog. Haha! You would think we were having a kid of our very own with how much I’ve been bragging about him. Lord, help this blog when we do decide to have our own kids.

{Six}

The boys went bowfishing last night and racked up. My BIL shot a 20 pound catfish that was huge! It’s hard for me to believe that I swim in the same river that these guys are hanging out in. Ugh! I’m just glad they keep to themselves and out of sight. That’s the good thing about swimming in a river that isn’t more than knee high during the summer.

{Seven}

I woke up this morning thinking I had professional development only to get to the school and realize that it wasn’t until tomorrow. Geez! What luck! Clearly, I was a tad bit tired and unorganized in that matter. If you looked at my iPad calendar, you would think the opposite, but somehow those dates got mixed up, and I lost out on several hours of sleep that I could have desperately used after waiting on the boys to get back safely.

{Eight}

Does anyone around the Brewton area know of an upholsterer that can do a decent job? I bought a rocking chair that needs some new fabric and to be re-puffed. I’m trying to pick out some fabric, but I’m going to need someone to do the work. I’ve heard of a company in Mobile, but I’d like to find someone a little closer. Any suggestions out there?

{Nine}

Snickerdoodle cookies from the deli have been my dessert of choice lately. Go get you some and see if you agree!

{Ten}

And….last but not least….Colby and I are on the lookout for some land. We would like something around the Brewton city limits. I’m still up in the air of whether we want to buy or build one day, but we’re just praying that the Lord will provide with the perfect option for us. I know if we put our trust in Him that He will provide, but I’m not going to lie and say that it’s easy to just stand back and wait things out.

So, that’s my ten things! What’s going on with you?

Visitation Rights

We’ve been given another opportunity to see our new member of the family, and I was so excited that they were big enough to have out in the yard and play with. This really gave me the chance to get some great photos of the little guy!

We still haven’t officially named him yet, but we’re getting closer to a final decision.

In addition to our little fellow, we had some fun play time with my MIL’s dog, too. She’s getting the brother!

I think it’s funny how these dogs are so different from each other, yet they come from the same litter.

Just a few more weeks, and we’ll have them home! I am beyond excited!

A New Addition

Yesterday, we got a chance to meet the newest addition to our family. He’s a sweet little baby, but not the human kind.

Meet our little man…

We’re still tossing around names for the little guy, so Colby and I decided that we’d announce his name once he is officially home with us. Right now he’s three weeks, so he’s got a little while to go before he joins us. I can’t tell you how much in love with him we already are.

For those of you who might be wondering, he’s a Red-Tri Australian Shepherd. Basically, that means that he is red, white, and has a touch of tan/copper color on him.

The best thing? He already loves his mama!

When he gets older, he’ll look something similar to this guy here. Just as a side note, their hair is usually much longer, but they had just been cut short for this lovely hot summer weather.

I can’t wait for him to finally be with us. Colby and I have never owned a dog together, so this should be interesting. Fun fact….we’re getting a fence because of this sweet little guy. When we see him again, he’s probably going to be a big fur ball, and I can hardly contain my excitement.

Until then….

To My Love and Two Years

On this very day two years ago, I was preparing for one of the biggest moments in my life. On this day, I married my love, who has been more than amazing to me.

His support is never-ending.

His love for me seems to grow each and every day.

He eats my cooking {even when it is chicken….again}.

He makes me enjoy life more and shows me how to live life to the fullest.

He helps make my seriousness disappear and just let loose.

He’s the reason for making me laugh on a daily basis.

He loves me just the way I am.

Happy Two Year Anniversary, My Love!

Our second year of marriage has been even better than the first. I’m sure this is a trend that will continue on throughout our marriage. Thanks for all you do for me! I couldn’t do it without you.

Photos By the Wonderful Julie Cottrell

Just a Dreamin’….

Do you ever think about where you might live if you didn’t live where you do now? From time to time, I think about it. It’s mostly when I’m dreaming of taking a vacation somewhere that isn’t going to happen. This time the dreaming is more than likely due to my addiction to Nicholas Sparks books in their relaxing setting of various locations on the North Carolina coast.

Here’s my opinion about books. I love to read them, but then I hate when the story is over. I seem to put every emotion I have into a book and am so let down when the book ends despite if it had the ending I had hoped or not. I re-watched The Vow this weekend, and the ending wasn’t quite as awful as I remembered in theaters. I guess I was too into it during the theaters, too. Anyhow…in the movie, Leo asks Paige what her favorite book is and how it makes her feel when she first reads it. When the book’s over though, you wish you could get those feelings and excitement back that you had from first reading it. That’s exactly how I feel when I read a book. If you’re looking for a good read, my suggestions are all Nicholas Sparks. So far, I’ve read Safe Haven, The Rescue, The Lucky One, The Choice, Dear John, The Notebook, and The Wedding. All will pull at your heartstrings in their own different ways. Right now, I’m reading A Bend in the Road. I’ll let you know how it is.

All of that is beside the point though….I’ve gotten a bit off track.

If things were different in your life, where would you dream of living? What makes you dream of living in that place?

For me, it’s the coast of South Carolina. There’s so much to love about it. Where do I even begin? Prepare yourself because this list is going to be totally random, but all things that have drawn me in.

{1}      Live oaks….everywhere. It just makes everything a bit more romantic when you’re in the midst of low hanging

           branches of a live oak tree.

{2}      A combination of southern comfort food and seafood. Geez? Is there anything more scrumptious than shrimp and

            grits?

{3}      Historic charm. It’s in the architecture & the atmosphere.

{4}      The coast. Oh, how I would love to live by the water and watch the boats come in and out. Sail boats in particular.

           I’m in love with them really.

{5}      Small town feel. Just like where I live now, I’d want to live in a part of the coast that reflected small town living

           where there are hole in the wall places to eat and everyone knows your business, but friends and family are still the

           basis of everyday living.

Can you blame me? Doesn’t it look like the perfect place to live? Charleston is beautiful, but it isn’t exactly where I’d want to live. Somewhere close by with a slow-paced life sounds just perfect though. It’s all dreams though. It might be my next vacation spot though. I’ll be the first to tell you that I do not adapt well to change, so moving to a place where I knew no one or where anything was would completely terrify me. Instead, I’m quite satisfied here in my small town close to my family and friends. After all, those are two aspects of my life that will always come first.

It doesn’t hurt to dream though!