What we've been up to...

Summer is definitely here and in full swing! We have been enjoying long days outside full of working in the garden...

...and enjoying the fruits of our labor!

 Having barking competitions with Jake...

 ...and slip-n-slide contests.

 And the award for Cutests Slip-N-Slider goes to...

Bryson!

(although Daddy was a very close second!)



Sunday Delight

Prefer the given.

Sounds easy enough, right?

I am reading a book called "Momumental; Adventures in the Messy Art of Raising a Family." In her book the author Jennifer Grant mentioned that one of her college professors introduced the idea to "prefer the given."

She writes, "Coined by British author Charles Williams, the phrase means choosing to appreciate what we have instead of being dissatisfied with the grace and other gifts God gives us.

In other words, if winter is a northerner's lot in life for half the year, what's the point in wishing it were otherwise?"

For some reason this really struck me today. I definitely try to stick to this philosphy, but sometimes the hustle and bustle of every day life gets in the way. It is easy to forget how blessed we are, especially if we fall into the pit of comparrison. Lets face it- sometimes the grass does look greener on the other side. But looks can be so deceiving.

I am so thankful for the life, though not always easy by any means, that God has chosen to give me. As I go through this week, I will be working to prefer the given.

Happy Sunday!

Sunday Delight {on a Tuesday}

Last Friday, the Ruple family lost an amazing woman, mother, grandmother, and friend. Although I didn't get to spend a ton of time with MeMaw, she always made me feel like a part of her family. I am so thankful for the family she raised, the family that is now my own.

We spent the weekend with them celebrating MeMaw's life and we had a truly wonderful time. That is almost weird to type- but it is true.

Bryson had a great time with Uncle Clay and Uncle Joe, and of course with Granny and Grandpa. Spending time with his cousins was just the icing on the cake. The way the Ruple family handled the passing of MeMaw is a true testament to the woman she was. MeMaw also got to meet our baby Caroline on the day she would have been six months old. What a treat to meet her great grandmother on this special day! While we grieve the grandmother that was lost, we look forward to the day when we will all be together again. I am so grateful to be a part of this family.



Sunday Delight

Conversation in the truck on the way home from church:

Me: "Ooh, Bryson! Did you color this picture?"

B: "Uh huh. It's the ark."

Me: "Do you know what was in the ark?"

B: "An elephant."

Me: "And what else?"

B: "A Noah."

Haha!

Love that kid so much...

Happy Sunday!



Who Knew???

Three words.

Squash. Vine. Borers.

Who knew these tiny little disgusting grubby things even existed? Who knew they could RUIN your entire plant before you even knew they were there? Who knew that some people don't even attempt to grow squash/zucchini in Texas because of these horrible little creatures?

Well I sure know now. Oh the joys of gardening.

One day I noticed that the squash leaves were a little bit droopy. I watered them and by evening they had perked up. I thought that it might have been the heat.

The next day they were droopy- and so were my zucchini plants. One quick Google of "droopy squash leaves" gave me an instant answer.

Squash Vine Borers = Dead Squash and Zucchini = Very Sad Day

Jason admiring the root system- wishing he could get grass roots that looked like that!

 These plants were overtaking my garden, and it looked so bare without them!

Since then I have planted a few things in their place including one zucchini plant. I have loved having fresh zucchini for zucchini chips and homemade zucchini bread (SOOOO good!). We will see if the Borers return...

Oh the dramatic life of a gardener. :)

Waco Zoo

A few weekends ago we didn't have any plans for the weekend. We slept in late on Saturday {well, late for Bryson- which means 7am!}, and then decided to visit the Waco zoo! We had heard so many wonderful things about it but had never actually been before.

We made it to Waco in about an hour and a half and then ate an early lunch at Taco Cabana. Bryson was so excited to see the animals!

Here is Bryson with a huge wad of gum in his mouth. Gum is definitely his new favorite thing and he is always asking for it.

 Near the entrance there was a beautiful river with more turtles than I have ever seen. We bought fish food and Bryson had a blast throwing it through the fence and watching the fish and turtles.

 There was also one huge albino catfish! Jason estimated that it weighed about 25 pounds!

 Buffalo!

 A HUGE tortoise!

This zoo seemed to be just about the right size. We got to see all of the animals, feed the fish a few times, and then go back and see Bryson's favorite animals again. We were in the car and headed back to College Station by mid-afternoon. Bryson slept the entire way home.

It was a great Saturday adventure with lots of sweet memories made.

Sunday Delight

"Hope" is the thing with feathers

That perches in the soul-

And sings the tune without words

And never stops- at all.

-Emily Dickinson