Summer Highlight Reel

This summer has been pretty busy around these parts!  Between Memorial Day and the 4th of July, Steve and I traveled every weekend but one!  So time has really flown.  Here's what we've been up to so far this summer, one picture at a time.

three years

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares The Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."  

- Jeremiah 29:11

Wedding Vignettes

Steve and I will celebrate our third anniversary on Tuesday.  It's hard to believe that it has already been three years!  As we approach June 16, I find myself thinking back to memories of our wedding day.  It was a great day.  I know I've written about our wedding a little bit before (see here and here) but today I'm remembering a few of little fun vignettes that took place throughout the day - those behind-the-scenes moments that I look back on now and just laugh.

+ Our rehearsal dinner was at a local BBQ joint and honkey tonk.  The groomsmen somehow decided to challenge each other to eat the spiciest pepper that the restaurant had - all at once.  Watching their faces as the heat hit each one was quite entertaining.

two years

"There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  For fear has to do with punishment, and whoever fears has not been perfected in love.  We love because He first loved us."

-1 John 4:18-19 (esv)

the thankful project day 9: a photo

{Linking up with Kenzie at Chasing Happy}

November 9th: A Photo.

{The first moment of this most exciting and important journey of life called marriage}

first anniversary

One year ago today...

"So they are no longer two but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let not man separate.”

-Matthew 19:6 (esv)

 

Happy first anniversary, Stephen.  I love you and look forward to seeing what God has in store for us in many years to come.  May we never cease to grow in our faiths together and in our love for each other and for Christ.

"Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; itdoes not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth.  Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.  Love never ends."

-1 Corinthians 13:4-8a (esv)

a father's love

There's something like a line of gold thread running through a man's words when he talks to his daughter, and gradually over the years it gets to be long enough for you to pick up in your hands and weave into a cloth that feels like love itself.

-John Gregory Brown

This year, Father's Day falls on my first wedding anniversary.  It was a year ago that my father walked me down the aisle, kissed me on the cheek and passed my hand to my new husband. 

One part that I will forever treasure in my heart from that special day was the father-daughter dance.  My dad took dance lessons for several months leading up to the trip and every time I was in town for wedding planning, he and I would set up an ipod speaker in the garage and practice our country waltz.  Neither of us had performed a choreographed dance before (minus those ballet lessons I took as a kid), but turns out my dad is quite the dancer! 

On the morning of our wedding, I was nervous.  I don't think it showed, but my dad could tell.  So he took me aside and we danced through our little dance in the quiet of my parents' bedroom.  It was all I needed to set my mind at ease.  My dad is just that good - he knows his daughter and just how to love on her at the right time.

That night, we danced to "I Loved Her First" by Heartland.  As the music played, my dad glided me across the floor with ease and grace.  Spinning around the dance floor, I truly felt like a princess. 

 

Those four minutes of dancing with my father are forever etched in my memory as one of those moments in my life when I felt just how much he loves me. And my father's love - such a unique, eternal, protective, everlasting love, a small reflection of my Heavenly Father's love - well, it blew me away. 

This year has not been an easy one.  Living far away from my parents has been difficult at times.  Married life is not always as simple as it may seem.  Life has thrown some curveballs my way and sometimes all I want to do is crawl onto my dad's lap and cry, just like I did when I was 5.  But I am so blessed and thankful that I know my father's love, just like my Heavenly Father's love, is abiding and unchanging.  My dad will do anything for me.  He has shown me Christ's love for my entire life - and that doesn't stop just because I am married and live far away.  The love of my father is steadfast and true.

And for that, I truly am the luckiest girl in the world. 

Happy Father's Day, Daddy.  I love you.

weddings, tacos and andrew luck

This past weekend was great.  We headed back down to Houston for another wedding - this time, one of my dear friends from college, Jessie, got hitched!

Jessie and I first became friends at Rice U. when we lived at Brompton Apartments.  She has such a kind heart and I'm so happy she has found her Stephen, who is her perfect match.  The wedding was beautiful and Jessie was such a gorgeous bride!  Sadly enough, I didn't take many pictures over the weekend and the ones I did take were on my phone. Oops.  But my roommate did so if/when I get more I'll add them!  

The weekend was jam-packed with great memories.  Here are a few of the highlights:

-Staying with my college roommate and looking through tons of old pictures

-A trip to Rice Village, complete with an awkward drooling pig fountain

-Lots and lots of Mexican food.  Seriously - Steve managed to have Mexican food at every.single.meal.  Only in Houston... 

-Reminiscing on the good ole' days with the old college crowd   

-Delicious brunch at the Hobbit Cafe (the entire restaurant is LOTR themed!)

-Seeing Shelby multiple days in a row (I miss my little sis like crazy)

-Late night taco trip

-Baker kids reunion

-Going to my old college church with my little sister 

-Soaking up that Texas sunshine

-And of course, catching up with old friends at the wedding!  

One of my favorite things about weddings is the chance to reunite with old friends.  I was lucky to have a great group of close friends in college.  Even though I left TX after graduation and don't make it back home very often, any time we all get back together is so much fun.  

Such a great weekend.  Oh, and did I mention that Andrew Luck just happened to be on our flight back to Indy??  The perfect end to a great trip.  

full heart

I'm back from the best weekend ever in Houston, and my heart is oh so full!  The weekend was packed with sister bonding, a birthday celebration, a tour of my alma mater, sunshine, late bedtimes, reminiscing over the "old days," a brunch double date, introducing Steve to more Houston staples, a gorgeous wedding, a beautiful bride and a hilariously fun reception, (way too much) tex-mex food, and sharing countless hours of stories, smiles, and laughter with my girls.  Best. Weekend.  Ever.

I'll post later in more detail about the trip but I think the whole weekend is summed up quite well by this candid captured by the hubby:

Love these girls.  Never a dull moment :)

Now I'm off to catch up on sleep and get ready for the week.  I hope you had a great weekend!