memorization

I PRAY I am dedicated to teaching my kids Scripture like Steph. You have to watch this video of her middle child reciting all (yes, all) of Psalm 1.

(sorry for the random, short posts this week... it is still hard/painful to type)

My sister is coming to visit this weekend! We are SO excited!

...and I'm going to have her change my wound dressing. I'm pretty excited about that too.

3 down!

David is finished with his second semester of grad school! I am SO proud of him for working so hard and never complaining (seriously, never). He usually puts in close to 50 hours a week at work and then goes straight to class 2 nights a week! He's taking 3 classes this summer (yeah, 4 nights a week second term...) and then he'll be halfway done! I am so thankful for his work ethic and selfless attitude, and I don't tell him that enough.


Love you, babe!

After a day back at work... my hand hurts. especially to type.

one cyst lighter

Backless gown.

Nausea and passing out.

IV with sleepy drugs.

Not remembering anything at all involving surgery.

Sweet friend to spend the afternoon with.

Sweet puppy to snuggle on the couch while watching DVR-ed shows with.

Swollen fingers.

Pain, but not too much.

Amazing husband who brings home ice cream Snickers ("like RoundHill", he says).

Lots of sleep this weekend, for sure.

Ganglion cyst-less hand: one can hope.

back

at home last night.
at work today.
at the hospital tomorrow.

Yeah, hospital. I'm having my stupid ganglion cyst surgically removed tomorrow. The thing flairs up and hurts really bad sometimes, but other times its no problem. Of course it's not problem today. I always end up feeling like I'm making this stuff up. BUT I'M NOT. Promise. Anyways, I know it's not a big deal procedure, but they are making me feel like it is. The whole, no eating or drinking after midnight tonight, no fingernail polish, no contacts, no clothes (yikes), putting me to sleep junk seems like a little much, right? It's a bump on my hand folks! Oh well.

I had a similar cyst on my lower eyelid in high school (sounds ugly, right?), and the plastic surgeon just numbed it up and cut it out. It didn't look very big - you probably wouldn't have even noticed it if you saw me - but when it came out, it was huge (well, huge for being a bump on your lower eyelid). I was hoping this experience would be similar, but it's looking like an ordeal. I guess I'll take what I get and enjoy a day of reading slash sleeping slash whatever I want from dinner (according to David :)) [and pain maybe?? no idea.].

But I am SO glad to be home!

gone again.

I'm in Knoxville for a workshop. We're done for the day, I'm using free internet at Starbucks, and I can't read any blogs or get on facebook, and that's a bummer.

I miss my boys, but I do... get to sleep in a big bed by myself, order room service for dinner, read and read and read because I have no distractions, go to bed as early as I want (not that that is any different at home) and sleep in longer than usual because I just have to walk across the street to "work" tomorrow.

I hate being away from home, but I'll take the break every now and again.

O.H.I.O.

I always come to my Monday weekend update blogs a little overwhelmed. I know a few people out there like to read it (ok, just my mom), but I always feel like I'm just dumping a load of [crappy] pictures and a laundry list of what our weekend entailed. And don't worry, I'm getting ready to do that again, I just wanted to let you know that I don't necessarily think it's the best way to do things... but here I go anyway!

We got into town late Thursday night with a sleepy doggy. Unfortunately he slept the whole ride up and was wide awake when we were ready to crash.

Friday morning David bribed me and Sara with pancakes for breakfast so we could all hang out together, and we had a great time! Sara has lived in Thailand for almost 2 years, but we happened to be in town while she was around for her spring break. I LOVE this girl and it was so fun catching up and hanging out. I'm glad she'll be home for good in June so we'll get to see her more often!

David didn't get to see Sara last summer when she was in town (I did, though :)), so he was really excited to hang out with her this time. They have been friends since elementary aged Sunday school, and I'm so thankful!

(Just a random picture... though it's gross of me, David's hot and it was a beautiful day.)

As I mentioned earlier, the reason for our trip was Mattearley's wedding. We had SUCH a blast spending time with Matt and his entire family. We felt so loved and included as a literal part of their family. His parents raved about David and really blessed us with their kind words. So many people in Matt's family have been praying specifically for Dave (as Matt's roommate) for years and years, and we shed a few grateful tears as we were reminded of God's grace in our lives!

The afternoon of the wedding we spent playing putt-putt with the Earleys (yep, me, Dave, Matt & his parents hit the course!), and it was SO fun. I usually hate putt-putt, but this time it was actually enjoyable. I played better than I typically do, and even beat David on the back 9 and lost only to him! It was kind of a joke though because I probably would have done just as well with a blindfold on. I executed no skill whatsoever, just got lucky about 12/18 holes.

On to some wedding pictures...

David and Matt's dad

Arrington has a little girl, Stevie, who is precious. She loves Dave and now me too! She had some serious energy and insisted we only take silly pictures.

It was cool to have all of the Marines there in their dress blues. They did the sword thingy (Dad- what's it called??) on Matt & Arrington's way out of the ceremony. (Isn't her dress beautiful??)

Another perk to the Earley wedding was getting to hang out with our good friend, Jordan! I was so thankful he was there since David had to sit with the wedding party at the reception.

(slouchy mcsloucherton, I know...)

One of the sweetest parts of the reception (other than David's fabulous speech! seriously, he was awesome!) was Matt's dance with Stevie. She was working on a final meltdown, but calmed a bit for this precious moment. Matt is such a wonderful daddy, and it really has been special to watch him love this little girl.

The rest of our weekend (of BEAUTIFUL weather) included playing with Brianna, riding the 4-wheeler, letting Harley roam at his leisure and get disgustingly dirty, eating Skyline, painting pottery, watching Miami baseball (ie- teaching Brianna how to trash talk), walking uptown, eating ice cream and sitting on the porch enjoying family. It was perfect.

...I guess in retrospect, I'm glad to be chronicling life. Granted, life for us right now isn't anything spectacular or particularly noteworthy, but it is our life and we love it. We are so incredibly blessed and keeping up with this blog is a way for me to be reminded of that. Plus, even if I don't maintain this forever (which is likely), I really think I'll be glad to have a record of this time and these events in our lives.

off again!

Sorry for the messy blog... I'm antsy for a new layout but can't really find what I'm looking for on the usual places. I want clean, simple and not three columns. I'll keep looking slash figure out how to make it myself!

Anyways, thanks for praying (at least Blair prayed :)). She's out of surgery and recovering nicely in ICU. I know the family appreciates your continued prayers!

David and I are off again in just a little while. His friend Matt(earley) is getting married tomorrow, so we're heading off to Ohio again! This is our last trip until our vacation in May (cruise to the Bahamas with the Bourke side! thanks for graduating from college, Ashley! we can't wait!), and we're looking forward to laying low for a few weeks.

I am looking forward to doing some reading in the car. I'm working on this:

(recommended by Becca, she said it changed her life).

And hopefully getting started on this:

(recommended by Jamie, she said it changed her life).

So I've got some life-changing to work on (but of course I already knew that).

I'm also looking forward to going here with my sister-in-law and favorite niece. Oxford, here we come!

If you're out there now...

... pray.

My co-worker's sister-in-law (Becky) had an aneurysm in her brain and they are operating now. Please pray.

10 facts about the Masters, awesome steak, and Mama Mia

...and lots of fun with our other family- the Bryants!

under the sea

We hung out with Anna last night!

I've said it before, but I love this girl! I've also said it before, but I love living in a town that friends come home to for holidays! Thanks for being great, Anna. Oh, and thanks for folding my laundry :).

everybody loves steak

We had a blast this weekend with the Geyers and Johnsons in town. I have tons of pictures, and I'm sure they will be annoying to format, so hang on!

We got to hang out with this little girl ALL weekend! Modeling future? Perhaps.

Our first stop on Friday (since David and I both had the day off!!) was to the Creative Discovery Museum. Though it was a little crowded since all of the schools were closed, we still had a great time!

We met up with the Rochas for dinner, and Brianna became fast friends with Becca. She's such a friendly kid- she becomes friends with everyone!!

Saturday was... cold. We had planned for several outdoor events that didn't work out quite as well as we thought, but we ventured out regardless. We played at White Oak Park and then went to Signal Point to show off the view (and take lots of pictures).

While the boys napped/watched golf, Brianna dyed Easter eggs!

After doing some shopping, more napping and lots of eating, we spent Saturday night watching the NCAA Hockey National Championship. Miami lost in overtime, but it was exciting to see them on the big stage (is it the 'big dance' for hockey too?). Brianna was less-than-thrilled... aka she screamed bloody murder each time we cheered (we were 'lelling' too loud).

Then, EASTER! We all got fancied up and headed to church Sunday morning (we were rocking the self-timer this weekend... not awkward at all).

Brianna came home to a surprise- the Easter bunny had been there! She hunted for eggs all through the yard, but took time to shake each one before deciding if she would keep it or not.

Our first married Easter and our FAVORITE niece Brianna!