catching up.

Of course when I started this blogging thing I never intended to abandon ship for a month and a half! Nevertheless, here's a smattering of thoughts and happenings from life over the last few weeks...

a *good* read: One night last week I stayed up till 2am reading--and anyone who knows me knows I am not a night owl. And even as much as I love to read, and even if it is a brilliant book, I usually find it impossible to hold my eyes open. However, this was not the case the other night. I went to bed thinking I would just read the usual 3.2 pages of one of the 6 half-finished books on my nightstand [The Shack, A Prayer for Owen Meany, The Power of a Praying Wife, The 60 Minute Marriage Builder, The Spirit of Loveliness, & Here's to Hindsight] before I nodded off. I picked up Here's To Hindsight: letters to my former self, (the random book by an unfamiliar author I had just recently grabbed on clearance at the bookstore at church one Wednesday night before Bible study...it is a very bad thing for me to have even 5 minutes to kill anywhere near a bookstore), and could not put it down. Here's to Hindsight is by Tara Leigh Cobble, a Tennessee born and raised indie musician who loves Jesus, and who, as I quickly discovered, has a real knack for speaking truth. Her book--the way she told her story-- is just as real and both painfully and refreshingly honest as it gets. I saw myself on many of the pages. I could go on, but if you're up for a read that will challenge, encourage, and even entertain you, Here's to Hindsight is a definite "must read" and read again. Check her out: www.taraleighcobble.com

p.s. I'm liking her music too...

*dirt* under my nails: I'm itching to plant some flowers! I'm hoping for a warm and sunny weekend soon so we can get to work on and in our yard. Just this week our backyard has been invaded by lots of clever impostors (i.e. pretty weeds). But I've been glad to see them because that means no more dead, blah winter! I really do have a hatred for the cold. Hopefully, I have inherited by mom's and my aunt Cherri's (mom's big sister) green thumbs. They both have always loved flowers, being outside, and making things grow. And as I get older, I am more and more grateful that they see making their yards a lovely place to be as something that is fun, therapeutic, and never finished. In other words, I'm glad they have never hired out the lawn mowing and pansy planting. I'm usually off work on Fridays, and as of right now, the forecast is predicting sunny and 70 degrees...let's hope they've got it right (you never know with Memphis weather), and I'll be off to the greenhouse for some seeds and plants!

Consider how the lilies grow. They do not labor or spin.
Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these.
Luke 12:27

This is a photo from Jones Greenhouse in Slayden, MS. My mom's best friend Katey along with the rest of her sweet family owns and runs this top-notch flower-growing place. My mom worked there when I was little. Love this picture.

turning *one*: Our niece Taylor (Paul's sister's little girl) will be celebrating her first birthday on the 26th of this month! Like they say, time really does fly, and she just keeps getting cuter and more fun to watch! She's almost walking...I think she can do it, she just likes to see us all make fools of ourselves trying to get her to! ha! She can say "Paul"--it comes out more like "Pah," but she definitely recognizes him. We're still working on "Ray Ray." :) She already knows how to point to her ears, feet, and belly, tell you a secret, and blow you a kiss. We tend to think she's genius, but we may be partial. I can't wait to see her dig in to her cake!

@ 6 months