Ahh. It felt good to write that. A friend and I have been talking recently about blogging as therapy. It's terribly hard to think about putting your thoughts and feelings out there for people to read...to judge, but it is incredibly helpful to get words out of the pit of your stomach and onto a medium that you can read back and be an observer to your own life. Sometimes you're anxious to get all of the happy out on 'paper' (thankfully like our life lately!) but other times, you write about grief and times when the clouds won't clear. I've got an ongoing post that will never see the light of day, but it's so interesting for me to watch the realness of my feelings at exact moments, and weeks later, discover how they changed or morphed into a different view or perspective. I'm not sure why I'm writing all of this... I think the emotion of written words is still hot in my chest....
Anyway, back to our lovely 4th of July vacation! (how about that blunt segue?!? (related- segway is spelled segue! WHO KNEW??? Thank you spell check and english dictionary for educating me today!)
After a few days with my folks, London and I packed the car, (in the POURING rain - thank you Jesus for letting it rain on a day we were driving and not waiting impatiently to play outside!) and headed east to Perry, FL to visit with the Brett family. The drive was long, but I finally convinced London that taking a nap would make the time go by faster. I sold that idea til I was blue in the face but she finally took the bait and took a quick snoozer. We still had a long way to go after she woke up and by the time we got to the turn to Perry, baby girl looked like this..... she's a bored artist at heart.
I might've gotten a little bored too and bought into London's suggestion that creepy, naked baby drive for a while. The silly giggles from the back seat were totally worth it!
We pulled into the Brett's driveway just as the sun started poking out of the sky. (tip of the hat to the Big Guy in the sky again!) I stood in amazement at the thousand foot tall pine trees. Everything here was incredibly green and beautiful. It's a gorgeous area of world down there!
The cousins were... whatever the degree above 'so happy I could pop' is about seeing each other!
They all slept in the same room together and London was SO EXCITED that when I finally went up to bed, I heard her in their room whispering. I went in to fuss at them but Caden & Liz were long ago asleep. It was the first time ever that Lu was so excited she couldn't sleep. She had been laying there talking to herself for hours! :) I told her I'd lay with her until she fell asleep. We ended up with her in my nook, listening evermore intently as I read a C.S. Lewis book to her. :)
We ended the night with her telling me that in the morning we would both go shopping and buy great big, white dresses and marry each other because we loved each other so much. She said that Caden would be her prince and Unc (Barry) would be my prince then we would all walk down the aisle and then London and I would marry each other. So there's that. :)
The next morning we went out on Mr. Gary's boat. I can't even begin to tell you of his patience with all of us and how he made everything we did just perfect. He is the most selfless man I've ever met. He emits protection. Just being in his presence makes you feel secure and well taken care of. And I loved sitting in our assembly line with Lala and Mrs. Joan, making sandwiches for the lunch break, chatting like we've known each other our whole lives. Mrs. Joan is the kindest, most easy to be around, lady in the whole world. Then there's sweet, beautiful Amy, Lauren's sister. Amy is a MILLION good times rolled into every visit. She is so joyful and outgoing and such an open book. We talked about all kinds of topics and I never heard one negative word even slip off her tongue. Every word she spoke was not only not unkind, but life giving. The way she sees the beautiful in everyone stopped me in my tracks. What an incredible encourager she is. I know that her friends treasure her. What lucky people.
I read a quote the other day and thought, 'that's exactly it. That's how the Brett's live.' It's by AW Tozer
and says, "There are rare Christians whose very presence incites others to be better Christians. I want to be that rare Christian.'
We left our visit and that's exactly how I felt.... I want what they have. I want that peace that permeates my soul and spills over into every hour of my life. I want my very disposition to be one that leaves people refreshed and feeling overwhelmingly loved. I want to be a better person after being around these sweet people.
They showed this sweet girl a marvelous time! We all had a blast out on the ocean! They were working with Caden, teaching him to use fins and a snorkel and he did incredible!! Little finned fish was swimming all over the ocean! He was having the best time ever!!
Snack Break!
London found a new best friend in Uncle Ryan, Amy's husband. She wasn't so sure about him at first but he was relentless in his quest to be friends. He filled her love tank up so full, I'm pretty sure it will never run dry! She squealed and howled and giggled being with him! :) What an incredible guy! So thankful that he just took it upon himself to shower her lavishly with affection! That makes me tear up just writing it. What a sweet, sweet man he is! We are so very blessed.
These three have spent the last month wearing out their new catch phrase... Best Cousins.. instead of Best Friends, you know. Makes me want to right die of happiness. They have a handshake and everything... {croak. Im dead.}
Me Mommy and Capt'n G (Captain G Daddy got upgraded to a better nick name!)
The. Life.
Saturday night we celebrated with an early bday party for these two darling things! SIX YEARS OLD. Can you believe it?? Where has the time gone???
The sweet Brett's bought London a present so she would have something to open also. They got her this weapon ribbon to dance with. I was TERRIFIED she was going to bust Lauren's granddad's head wide open. She whipped this thing around mere centimeters from his melon a few good times. I was a worried wreck! London LOVED it though! Thank goodness no one got smashed!
Whoops! My pics are out of order! Two darling girls snackin'!
Unc and Caden scalloping! Caden caught two!!
Most of the rest of these pictures are from Amy's amazing camera! There are a ton, so get ready but I couldn't choose just a few! There were too many cute ones!
Seriously. My word.
Greatest picture ever taken. Hands down.
LOVE this one.
This face. Umm.
Barry bought the fixings for some margarita's but Mrs. Joan didn't have a blender. I decided to try to rig up her food processor and get away with a make shift blender. I hit the power button and we immediately had a HUGE mess on our hands! The point of this story is I act like I know what Im doing but it's safe to assume I don't. Also, stop me before it gets to the margarita's all over the kitchen floor stage. About two days later I got a 'look what I found' text from Mrs. Joan with a picture of a blender buried back in one of her cabinets! :) Good times!
So great! The intensity! I love this kid!
Love this one too!!
Putting lipstick lips on Uncle Ryan's cheeks!
This is the arm swinging intensity that was headed straight for Grandpa's head. Good grief.
Lala doing the 'skip bop'! I love this woman so so much!!
Thank you Brett's for a truly wonderful visit! Good entertainment, fabulous company, and great for the soul. We value and honor every one of you and are thankful for your influence in our lives! WE LOVE YOU!
