broom, broom, pow....

olivia and i (and our friend sabrina) headed to brownwood, tx to make another camp visit to see mark. this time it was youth camp and mark was a bible study leader, video guy, and on the technical team for worship (doing sound, lights, and stage set up). we had a great time hanging out with his group of teenagers, participating in worship, cheering on his team during rec, spending time with some of our most favorite people, riding on the golf cart, and just getting to spend some good quality time just the three of us (that doesn't happen often).

just the 3 of us about to eat a "tasty" camp dinner...

mark's team this year was "supermarket sweep," as in the lifetime 90s game show where they ran through the supermarket filling their carts with foil wrapped ham, laundry detergent, and other expensive items. his group carried brooms, pushed around shopping carts, and cheered "broom, broom, pow!" (think black eyed peas, boom, boom, pow!). it took me days to get the chat out of my head...

the sign...

his team, "supermarket sweep"

we had so much fun! i am just sad i didn't take my camera and take more pictures of all the smiles that were on olivia's face. she is glad daddy is home from his crazy summer schedule, but she keeps asking him when he will go back to camp so we can go and visit.

so far away...

so i have been thinking about this post for quite some time, but i have not had the words (probably still don't) to express my thoughts, but here it goes...

my precious friend and fellow gemini, misty, and her little family are moving so far away... el paso to be exact. they are beginning a new chapter as her husband begins an exciting new career. i have known this day was coming for months, but in my silly way dealing with sad things i just pretend it isn't really going to happen. funny, that never really works out for me. so this morning they loaded up the last of their belongings and began there journey west to their new home. i did speak to misty a couple of days ago and refused to say good-bye just that i would talk to her in a couple of days and be on plane soon to come and visit. as i sit here tonight and really think about what it means for her to live so far away, i am going to miss so many things about misty not living in the same town as me... sharing our latest marshall's find, dinner dates to amigos, play dates, knowing i have a friend to depend on to watch my kids and loves them for who they are, lazy days where our kids play and we sip diet coke and witness the chaos, sitting in the park while the kids play talking about anything and everything that's on our minds, knowing that if misty is there i don't HAVE to bring the camera because she will capture every moment and email me the best pics of my kids, and seeing her sweet smile. the great thing is we can still have our long chats during nap time and she is only a plane ride away!! i am confident that friends like misty are a precious gift and we will continue to remain close, but i am going to miss her being a car ride away. i am going to miss her girls. i am going to miss her sweet husband (we don't see eachother often but i know him so well).

one last thing i have to share... olivia's preception of el paso being so far away...

o and lil

we were driving around town and she noticed the multitude of balloons at every car dealership. often when she sees balloons she thinks about releasing her pacifiers in balloons (over a year ago!!). anyway, she said "mommy, where do the balloons go when they go up in the sky? where did my pacificers go?" i responded, "they go really far away." olivia is of course not satisified with this response so she asks, "where is really far away?" i think for a moment and say, "i don't know." she is quiet and i can tell she is trying to make sense of all of this and she says, "i think really far away is el paso. maybe lilli and lola will find lots of balloons and my pacifiers at their new home." i just smiled and then swallowed the big lump in my throat thinking about our sweet friends being so far away.

so misty and company, know that you are dearly loved, you will be greatly missed, and will be in our daily prayers. we love you all!!

just a few thoughts...

so about a week ago in my post, "unmotivated" i mentioned sharing a few of my recent opinions and thoughts. so here they are...

WARNING: there are TONS of run on sentences and probably a bunch of misspellings in this post... sorry!!

1. jon and kate and the divorce... so sad!! that is how i feel- heartbroken. so strange since i don't know these people, but i have watched the show from day one and have loved every moment until the BIG moment weeks ago when they announced the sad news- they were splitting. i had heard all the rumors and had read every article in every hollywood gossip magazine, so i knew it was coming, but there was still a small part of me that thought maybe it wasn't going to happen. i wanted so badly for them to defy the odds and make it work, but no! they are getting a divorce. i hate it for them, for their kids, and how it changes everything. i know this is so dumb, but i pray for them often. i pray that their children will be protected from the consequence of divorce. i pray that jon and kate's hearts will heal. i pray that they will make their family the biggest priority and not be distracted by others opinions. all that said, i am still a fan of the show, yet still very sad and disappointed.

2. so you think you can dance... are you watching it?? if you answered no, you are missing out! it is like american idol for dance. the auditions are a wear out, but the finalist that make it on the show are AMAZING!!! i am not a dancer, no nothing about dance other than the multiple dance recitals and drill team shows that i attended for all my dancing friends back in high school, but i can't get enough of this show. each week the dancers are asked to perform a different style of dance and each week they shock me with their talent. they have a short time to learn a dance (usually not in their trained style) and then perform it. no style is off limits- baliwood, russian folk, classical ballet, broadway, jive, ballroom, the list goes on and on. tune in to fox and check it out! i think you will love it!

3. reading... my friend mary inspired me months ago with several different blog post about some great books she was reading. my other friend christine and her husband have given up tv for a year to read more and write- that has inspired me as well. so i am so disappointed that i have not completed even one book yet this summer. i have so many on my list (even purchases them) and if i ever get to the end of one of them i will let you know. every book i read makes me think and shapes me in some way, such is why i love it so much. i am hoping for less distractions and more quite moments to read and enjoy! i'll let you know. wish me luck on finding those quite moments. :) i know the first thing is to watch less tv. i am going to do that, just not jon & kate or SYTYCD. :)

4. a great quote... "God created the world out of nothing, and so as long as we are nothing, He can make something out of us." Martin Luther. i am sure i read this on one of my friends blogs, honestly i don't remember but i love it!!! recently the lord has really been challenging me with this thought so expressed by Martin Luther.

well, that's it for now. thanks for reading if you made this far. nothing profound, but just me!

camp...

mark at camp...

olivia loving EVERY minute of being with daddy AND being at camp...

jack and i smiling to see daddy...

mark has been serving at children's camp this week with our church. mark loves everything about camp and was thrilled when we came to visit him. like with baylor, good food, and all things that mark loves he wants our children to love them too. so this year olivia got to stay for an afternoon, all night, and through lunch the next day at camp with daddy. mark says that it is his way to spend "quality time" with olivia during his crazy summer schedule, but i know he really wants her to adopt his love for camp. they ate tons of sugary snacks and food with no nutritional value, rode around on his golf cart, sang and danced for jesus, and stayed up way past bedtime- basically had sooo much fun! i think it is great and such a sweet memory for them to share. even though jack and i were just there for a short time we had a great time too! daddy comes home tomorrow, but then in 1 week he is headed to youth camp. olivia is already talking about our visit. :)

o & j + water = :)

since it has been so hot we have been spending lots of time in the water.

at the lake...

or in the pool...

water always brings a smile and a little relief from the heat!

happy b-day daddy-o!

oh how we love you!!

you make us laugh, you provide for our family, you make us feel safe, you love us so well, you show us what it means to live for jesus, you are so generous, you are incredibly talented, you are a natural leader, you are an encourager, you are our biggest fan, you are supportive, you are compassionate, you are understanding, you are the BEST!!! we hope you have a super birthday!!

with a grateful heart...

so on my birthday i told you about 30 things that i love, one of which is my friends and family. those friends and family made me feel so special on my 30 birthday. i have celebrated with dinners, gifts, lunch dates, pedicures, facebook messages, and sweet cards. i truly am so lucky to have so many thoughtful and generous people in my life. each celebration was special and memorable, but our dear friend ivy hosted a dinner to celebrate both mark and i turning 30. she along with drew, ben, katie, aaron, sabrina, emily, and randall hosted a really special evening with good food, fun games, and it it ended with a precious and priceless gift...



it may look like just a book, but no... it is a book that describes mark and i from their perspective. mark and i were humbled by their words and felt so grateful that we have such special friends that would create such a personal and precious gift. we will treasure it for a lifetime!

so for me, my 30th birthday has been one of the best! it is with a grateful heart that i say "THANK YOU" to everyone who made it is such a special birthday for me!!