summer happenings

we had a fun family adventure last weekend. 

the weather had finally cooled off a bit, enough to leave the windows open for a few days (thank you

 Lord!), and i had never been so excited about clouds before!  we woke up on saturday, had a nice

 pancake breakfast with strawberries and whipped cream (jake makes the BEST pancakes), and

 decided to go for a walk.  there is an old railroad nearby that used to run from where we live in PA

 all the way down to Baltimore.  its been out of service since the 50's but has a little gravel path next

 to it that is great for bikers and runners.  i am ashamed to say that this was my first time actually

 walking along it! 

we walked for a little ways then stumbled upon a tavern.  on a whim, i said we should eat lunch there,

 so we did.  we had the BEST creamy crab soup, a delicious chicken quesadilla,

and Eden's grilled cheese was pretty darn good as well.

it was a beautiful day. 

and we got some cute family pics too :)

we spent a week in michigan for the 4th of july.  it was so

relaxing

peaceful

refreshing

and i was so spoiled.  i did not make dinner the entire time i was there.

i may have washed, like, 6 dishes.

and there was always someone to babysit :)

 (love my family!)

jake and i had a few great dates down at Lake Michigan.

one morning we went to the lake and just took some pictures.

jake skipped stones.

i sat on the beach.

then we got hot chocolate (jake) and a chai latte (me) and some

really unhealthy pastries.

it was beautiful.

it was pretty hot back home while we were away, and it got hot in MI too,

but we swam in the lake almost every day.

i can't even describe the color of Glen Lake.

think Carribbean blue

white sandy beach

cold, but refreshing water.

it was glorious.

lately

summer is finally here.  and i am LOVING it.  leaving windows open, walking outside without shoes, sitting on the front porch watching the sun go down...
every year when summer comes, i marvel that i ever made it through winter.  how do we survive being kept indoors for soooooooo long?
Here are a few things that have kept us busy the past couple months:
(ps - leave me a comment... you're not allowed to read this unless you do!)

• birthday parties
• picnics
• baby showers
• Hershey Zoo and Chocolate World
• fixing up a dresser for Eden's overflowing wardrobe ... A $20 craigslist find - woohoo!

BEFORE

AFTER

• gardening - this year we're going to have tomatoes in abundance!  also cucumbers, sweet onions, chives, strawberries, and sweet peas

   LOVE this girl

• Cracker Barrel stop on the way to the Outer Banks... such a great weekend with dear friends!

• First time at the beach!

• Packing... Seriously this girl has more clothes than Jake and I combined (all hand-me-downs, thank you Lord)

 

• Reading in the clothes hamper

• Watching the Memorial Day parade from our porch :)

 

Finally finished the butterflies above the crib and i LOVE it!  thank you pinterest :)

• we have been going on some serious 2 mile walks.  every day.  included in our route is a major hill, which, in my opinion, classifies as a small mountain.  Eden loves it. I love it when we reach the top :)

lately I've been practicing a grateful heart.
its really not a hard accomplishment, once you start acknowledging all the good things God has done in your life.
He has really taken care of us these past few years, blessing us abundantly,
providing all our needs, patiently walking us through the times of uncertainty and drought.
its in these fruitful seasons when you wonder why you ever doubted the goodness of God.
but I don't want to have faith only when we've reached the promised land.
I want to have faith for the entire journey there.
and I'm finding that faith comes easier when we choose to remember everything He's already done in our hearts, in our lives.
what can we do but thank Him?
He makes everything beautiful in its time.

...look at the birds of the air,

they do not sow, 

or reap,

or store away in barns,

yet our Heavenly Father feeds them.

are you not much more valuable 

than they?

the answer is yes, you are SO much more valuable.
He is attentive to His children.
are you attentive to Him?