Lord of the Rings, Chocolate Gravy, and Name Dropping.{InstaFriday...on a Monday}

This happened this week.
It was too hot outside to do much else.
Man...I sure wish my legs were as tan as InstaGram makes them out to be.
I love pedicures but have a love/hate relationship with the massage chairs you sit in.
Love the massage..hate the jiggle.
It really is disturbing.
I just go to my happy place and tell myself that the guy doing my pedi doesn't notice.



112 degree weather is the perfect excuse to stay home all day.
And do some organizing.
Nothing drives me battier than a fridge in chaos.
See that upside down ketchup bottle in the bottom of the door?
It makes me twitch.



There...that's better. ::exhale::
My mom saw this picture and called me to tell me that she didn't really see a difference.
I love her for it.
Really I do.



My little sister finally got engaged.
By finally I mean it is about time they did.
Not "we were fearful she'd be an old maid" finally.
My mom felt I should have clarified that on InstaGram.
I love her for it.
Really, I do.



We had Ashten over after church Sunday.
She had never seen Lord of the Rings.
Wha?!
No wait...there's more.
She had also never had chocolate gravy.
I know...it's disturbing isn't it.
That poor, poor girl.
We took care of both in one day.



We had a fabulous Fourth.
Water sponge ball fights.
Hot dogs on the grill.
And Ol' Glory on my plate.
My mom made this.
And I really do love her for it. :-)



Who knew cherry tomatoes could steal your heart?
They have.
Every morning they greet me like little ruby red pearls strung on green.
Little miracles.
I can't help but sing this song every time I hang out in my garden.



Random fact: That cello player? I know her. Meet Cara.  She accompanied me on a Sunday morning for worship once. I got so lost in her cello solo during the bridge that I almost forgot to come back in. I big puffy heart love a cello.



While I'm shamelessly name dropping, let me mention this guy.
His name is Rhett and he's about to be all kinds of famous.
I had the privilege to lead worship with him for most of 2011.
Before he went and got all "I've got to go on tour" on us.



He's amazingly talented...and sings 'How He Loves' like no one else in my book.
See, I had to snap a photo...it's that good.
To this day I cannot sing Revelation Song without hearing his South Carolina twang harmonizing with me "you are my everythang".

He has a new album that he is promoting "When Mercy Found Me" and I'd love for you to head over to his Facebook page and Twitter page and show him some love...would ya?
Heck have a listen while you're there.
He's a swell guy and his music is....real, raw, and authentic.
In other words, rare.
I'm super proud of him and you can tell him I said so.

This is the real reason I live in Nashville...so that ridiculously talented folks like Cara and Rhett can make me look good.



When I was a kid I remember thinking that new shoes made me run faster.
Now I'm 36.
I don't run.
It's the cheap shoes I'm after.
They just fit better don't they?
$12 Crocs.
Thanks Shoebuy.com





"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"

Texas "T"

"Oil is expected on the beaches of Destin within the next 72 hours" -City of Destin

This is the email alert we received while playing on the beach with our kids today. My heart sank in my chest.

I began to pray for a miracle. "Lord please protect these beautiful beaches. You are sovereign and mighty to turn all of this around if it is your will. Show us your Glory."

My husband and I both became solemn. Neither of us could find the words really. We didn't have to. I knew he was thinking the same thing that I was.

All these years. Six to be exact. All the memories. From sand covered pacifiers and pack -n- plays to boogie boards and temporary tattoos. From diapers to texting.

Year after year our kids have grown up here and we have made some of the most wonderful memories as a family on these sugary white beaches.

Now they face such uncertainty.

Such devastation.

I won't even burden you with my thoughts on this disaster. It all just seems like a lot of pointing of fingers and no solutions to me at this point anyway. I'm sure we all feel the same helpless/frustrated/ticked off feelings. Ranting on here won't change anything. There will still be gallons upon gallons of oil being pumped into the ocean every day with no end in sight. That's the reality. That's the reality of the marine life and human life along the shores of the Gulf. I will leave here this weekend and go back to life as usual. They will not be as fortunate. And my heart is genuinely broken for them tonight. I pray that somehow they will know that God is still in control and take refuge in that truth.

Tomorrow is our last full day here.

And we will treat it as though it may be our last.

For a while at least.

We plan to soak up the sun.

The laughter.

The memories.

The coconut cream pie.

And continue pray.

"My every mortal breath, is Grace and nothing less"