Kansas Lauren and Melissa's Bridal Luncheon...

Hi friends!!!!! Oh man, you know your behind on blog things when your bloglines shows that someone has posted 15 times since you've been out of town!!! CRAZY!!!! Then your computer won't come on and when it does it keeps turning off. uuuugggghhhh. Needless to say, editing my pictures has been SLOW and PAINFUL!


But I do have the first part done. Bare with me the next few days as I try to get posts up about vacation so that I can get to write about things on my heart...I was able to really write while in Arkansas surrounded by beautiful breath-taking mountains! ha! That is all to come.


As you know, Lauren from Kansas City came to spend several days with me!



I picked her up at Love Field and I must say that she was super sweet...very honest and to the point!! I LOVED IT!!!! We both thought this weekend was about girls getting together but God had other ideas. By the time we were in the car, headed for downtown, I knew He was up to something and I was game for whatever was on His agenda!

We went to eat at The Spaghetti Warehouse and I proceed to ask her to start from the beginning and tell me her story. All of it! We ate really good while we talked! YUM!

side note----Now how did Lauren find my blog......I assumed from Kelly's blog because that is how most of my readers find me. ha! Well fun thing is she had never even read Kelly's blog so I was able to introduce her to Kelly.....which was so fun for me!

Her friend, Courtney at teamgusy.blogspot.com

had been on bed rest during her pregnancy when Kelly's Harper was born (they both actually had babies about the same size). Courtney found Kelly from Angie's blog and then she found my blog from Kelly's. She told Lauren about me and the rest is history! Isn't the blog world crazy!!!! I love it!

We didn't really know a lot about each other minus what we had read on each others blogs. We spent Thursday night sharing our hearts and talking about the Lord. He began to really speak through me to her and I was just so glad to be used! Any kind of discipleship is what I have been called too. It was just a double portion of grace for me!

Friday we woke up early and headed to Canton for First Monday Trades Day! IT WAS HOT but started raining hard by lunch time!

yall are gonna think i am crazy but I paint....i teach art......i love to buy painting during my travels. Well last month, when i was in canton with the family, I spotted this huge jewel. Looked dirty and tired but under that I knew it would be beautiful once I cleaned it up. Well, they lowered the price and I walked away last month. Went back this month and offered $40 for it and they SAID YES!!!!!!!!!! I STARTED JUMPING UP AND DOWN!!! I WAS SOOOOOO EXCITED!!! They are a couple from Spain and that is all I know! They are in my bedroom now but I find it funny/weird for them to be staring at me hahhahha jk

while walking around we ran into several of my old friends including Renee!!!! one of my oldest Canton friends and college roommate! SHE LOOKS AMAZING!!!!!! long, long hair and I was like "girl, you are lookin good!"

This is her super cute son Cooper!!!!!

oh that face! He looks just like Renee's dad but with the blond hair like his daddy! Renee and I grew up going to Church together and she married Brandon who my dad coached in football! Renee, it made my day to hug your neck! You just glow friend! It had been way to long! I love you and so proud of you!!!

Friday night we rested and then did the first week of our Ruth Bible Study group questions! IT was the best convo we had all weekend. Things Father was showing us and teaching us. It was an excellent time in the Word! The presence of the Lord was so thick in that living room that by the time I got down on my knees to pray for her I could hardly breathe. I love how He chases us down sometimes.... makes us hear the hard things so that we can live in freedom! Our God is good and worthy of Praise!!!



Saturday morning we slept in and then went for a long walk. We got dressed and headed to downtown Waxahachie so Lauren could see it. It was sadly dead...i thought it would be happenin since it was July 4th weekend....no. We ate a late lunch at the Catfish Plantation, checked out some old homes, and then came back to rest while I did some packing for my trip.

I am not ever in town during the 4th so I was not sure what my town did to celebrate. Well they had a battle of the bands and fire work show on that sat night. Let me just say it was interesting hahahhahahhahahaaha. Poor Lauren, it will probably go down as her worst July 4th ever hahahhaha. bless heart heart

Sunday was church and it was a great service. The pastor continued his series on Gen and it lined right up with some thing that Lauren and I had talked about that weekend. I love how God sends multiple confirmations, about things, to us so that we know He is at work! Things just started making big connections!

We spent the day being lazy and talking. I got packed to be gone for 2 week. We were up early monday morning to get to the airport and then I headed to the parents where I spent the day relaxing and lingering on the porch as dad grilled hamburgers!

Lauren, I am so glad that you came to stay. I know it wasn't what you expected but there is no doubting that God anointed our time together! I know that you saw my most serious side and less of my fun side but know that God had big plans for our weekend and He wasn't interested in me being cute and funny! He spoke boldly to us both and I know without a shadow of a doubt that He is jealous for you and has big plans for you as you seek Him! It was an honor to be apart of it. I don't understand it all but I am praying for you. Thank you for trust me enough to be open and honest with you. I so look forward to watching Him move in your life!!!!

Tuesday we drove to Memphis! Nice easy trip but went through A LOT of rain! When we got there Mom and I went for ride on our bikes! It was a fun evening!The next morning I went to the gym at Germantown Baptist with Daddy Bob! We walked 2 miles and he flirted with all the ladies hahahahhaha! so funny!

Then it was time for Melissa's Bridal Luncheon!!!!!

Here is the Bride!

The luncheon was at this super cute tea room.....

The hostesses Aunt Greta and mom

Aunt Greta, Mom, and Aunt Chris

Jennifer and I got to finally meet!!!! Isn't she the cutest thing ever and soooooo funny in person! Hard worker too! That girl was the best Matron of Honor I have EVER SEEN!!!! She is a fellow blogger and I had been praying for her for a long time! It was nice for me to hug her neck!!!!

My beautiful cousin Ashley (that is getting married in Dec and moving to Tyler, Tx sooo excited) with Sage...the little girl she nannies for!

Sage was the cutiest thing ever!!!!! She just leaned on the table and posed like this all on her own! I thought i would die from the cuteness!

Jone's sign I had made for Melissa and Dustin

My Mom prayed before we ate. I don't know if there was as dry eye by the time she was done! I was crying ha! The woman can pray a mighty prayer!!!!

Then after we ate my mom had prepared a little something to say...words of advice and things her mother would have told Melissa if she was still alive! I cried again. It was just precious! MOM DID SOOO GOOD!!!!!



Cousins!!!!

and here are a lot of pictures we took with mom's, bridesmaids.....

Melissa with her Aunts



After the luncheon mom, aunt chris, melissa and I all went to get pampered!!!!

the beautiful bride about to get her nails done!

the three of us relaxing while getting a spa pedicure

look at that ring! Dustin did so good ha!

and our beautiful toes!



after we were relaxed...Mom and I met with Dad, Daddy Bob, and Ruby for dinner at the Piccadilly for dinner. Mom and I were a few minutes behind them, on the way home, and when we turned down their street we saw my Daddy Bob riding my bike hahahahhaha..............

DOES HE NOT LOOK SO CUTE OR WHAT???????????? Oh i just love him!!! This picture below brings me great JOY!!!!



By the end of the day we were sooooooooooooooooooo tired! But it was fun and wonderful!!!!


Here are a few phone pictures from these days that i put up on twitter........

Fun Fun! Ok I know that was long. What's new ha! I will post the parent's friend dinner party and Melissa's wedding pictures tomorrow...then the lake pictures the next day! Be patient with me...you know I love pictures and I am so long winded. I am just into the details ha! Hope you enjoyed! Have a great Tuesday evening!!!