just us gals.

I got to hang out with my sister and mommy for a couple hours this evening, and, oh, what bliss it was. I've learned that the moments that are seemingly insignificant are the ones that end up meaning the most. They came to visit Teesh and I at our cozy little home, and we just sat on the couch and talked and laughed and caught up in-person about things we've talked about on the phone over the last few weeks. It was the perfect Tuesday night.

There's just something about a mother/daughter/sister bond that can't be replaced.

"Now I know why all the trees change in the fall; I know you were on my side even when I was wrong. And I love you for giving me your eyes, staying back and watching me shine. I didn't know if you knew, so I'm taking this time to say that I had the best day with you today."

-Taylor Swift

tent camping.

I haven't been tent camping since I was about ten years old. We used to go with daddy and Shannon all the time, but the moment we started using Ma and Pop's pop-up camper was the moment we stopped sleeping in tents and sleeping bags. I love all the luxury that comes with sleeping in a camper, but the only thing better than sleeping in a tent is sleeping right beneath the stars.

Teesh and I got to break out all of our brand-spankin'-new camping gear this weekend at Lake Hartwell. His parents planned this trip for the whole family several months ago, and it's hard to believe that the weekend has already come and gone. The weather was beautiful, the water was refreshing, being in Clemson made me smile really big, and the company wasn't so bad, either. :o)

I'm sure you can already guess what my favorite part was. That's right...hanging out with my husband in my most favorite place: creation. I took over 200 pictures this weekend, but these are the ones I like best. Let's hope we get to break out all our Coleman gear again sooner rather than later.

"I got into an argument with a girlfriend inside of a tent. That's a bad place for an argument, because then I tried to walk out and slammed the flap. How are you supposed to express your anger in this situation? Zipper it up really quick?"

-Mitch Hedberg

it's that time again.

happy first day of school, HUSBAND!

this is just a preview of what my kiddies will go through one day... :)

and this is just to remind all the single ladies on campus that Mr. Handsome is off limits these days. ;)

birthdays.

I love birthdays. In fact, I like to allow myself an entire birthday month. And I think everyone should do the same. :o)

Today is a very special birthday for several people that I am blessed enough to call friends, but two of them in particular are two of the most special people in my life. I'd like to brag on them for a few minutes, if you don't mind. I promise you'll enjoy reading about such incredible, God-fearing ladies.

First up: my baby sister.

Melanie Elizabeth Henderson.

There aren't many people you can act like this around without even the thought of judging you comes to mind. :)

Twenty years ago today, I was given the opportunity to be a big sister to the chunkiest baby our family had ever seen. Little did I know that that teeny little thing I met on August 22, 1991 would grow up to be my very best friend, one of the very, very few people that make me question how I could ever survive in this world without. She was my first husband (yes, I said husband), my confidant, my heartbeat when mine forgot how to beat for itself, my partner in crime, my fellow interpretive dancer, my connected-at-the-hip-at-all-times baby sister, and so much more. She loves Jesus more than anyone else I know, and she puts every ounce of trust that she has in Him and Him alone. I admire her for so many things, but her determination and innocence are my favorite. No one works harder than this gal, and no one else has a heart so full of love, even when she isn't exactly sure how to show how much she cares. I don't know why the Lord chose me to be the one to do life with the best sister he ever created, but I sure am thankful he did. 

Happy birthday, Mellywhack.

Until the day comes when you meet and marry the man of your dreams, I can promise you that no one on this planet will/could ever love you more than your big sister does. I'm proud of the woman of God you have become and are continuing to become every single day. And even if you never did anything in your life to make your self proud (which is HIGHLY unlikey), I'd still be proud to call you my baby sister.

Next up: my best friend not bestie.

Whitney Anne Barnett.

This was from the first summer we ever spent as best friends. I don't think there was a single night that we didn't stay together. I wish all my summers could be like that.

Whitney and I had pre-calculus class together our junior year of high school. It was one of those things where we met and instantly fell in for each other. Love at first sight; not in a romantic way, of course, but more in a "I've waited all my life to find someone who is the same as me and I'm pretty sure that we're going to be best friends forever" sort of way. Since then, we've added six years under our belt. The best kinds of friends are the ones that you don't have to talk to every day, because no matter how much time passes or how much you change as an individual in the process, nothing between you two ever changes. That's how we are, anyway. We talk several times a week, or at least we try to, but even when we don't talk, we always just pick right back up from where we left off. Whitney is one of the few people in my life that I can really and truly categorize as a lifelong friend, and I can't imagine me ever not having her as my best friend.

Happy birthday, Whitney Anne!

I couldn't have hand-picked a better friend for me to share my tears, laughter, inside jokes, and heart with these last six years, and I am so excited for all the things we'll do together over the next fifty. It's your golden year, and I know that it will be your best one yet. If I loved you anymore, my heart would explode into a million pieces!

"It takes a long time to grow an old friend."

-John Leonard

one month.

That's right, ladies and gentlemen. Teesh has been my HUSBAND and I have been his WIFE for ONE MONTH.

YIPPEEEEEEEEE!

It's everything I ever imagined, but it's also so much more. I love that he's the last thing I see before I go to sleep and the first thing I see when I wake up the next morning. I love that I've come home to dinner already on the table four times. I love that I haven't burnt anything yet. I love that he greets me after work at the door if he's already home. I love to watch him raise his left hand and see his ring. I love to ride the golf cart around the course and let him continue to help me perfect my golf swing. I love sitting on the couch while he sits in his recliner and we just look at each other and swap goofy faces and smiles. I love watching the Braves and the Panthers play late at night. I love that he helps me make up the bed every morning before I go to work, even though he doesn't have to be up for another hour. And I love that I walked into our home this afternoon to find a dozen red roses waiting for me on our coffee table.

There are so many things I love about our new life together, but the thing I love most is simple, really. I just love that it's ours. Ours and no one else's.Yepp, that's the best. :o)

"The only thing I regret about being married to you is that I cannot ever again have that moment of asking you to be my wife."
-The Little House on the Prairie

pictures tell the best stories.

1. our wittle Zacky is going to college. 2. and we celebrated him by having the biggest, juiciest steaks my mouth has ever tasted. 3. Teesh and I may live together, but we still enjoy a good old-fashioned date night. 4. showing off our rings may never get old. 5. isn't this the cutest family in the whole world? they're our favorite. 6. I could eat this baby boy up! he was born the day before Teesh and I got engaged and now he's about to be a year old. I loved him then, but I love him eeeeeeven more now. 7. our first Panthers game of the season! it was raining, but it was worth every sniffle this morning when we woke up! 8. our double-daters who we love veeeeeeeery much. 9. mmmmmmmmmmmmm. 10. no words for how much this girl means to me.


I hope the beginning of your August was as cheerful and pleasant as mine was. :)

snapshots.

Lots of people have been asking about our new home, and I'm ashamed that it's taken me this long to share our cozy little loft with the world. I hope you find it as quaint and perfect as we do.

Enjoy!

bedroom.

dining room table.

living room.

flowers from our wedding. :)

a touch of homey-ness.

our "office".

kitchen.

bathroom.

It's perfectly suited for the two of us. We've been so blessed to have such a wonderful first home together--everyone says in-laws aren't so fun, but I beg to differ. Mine are pretty incredible, and I wouldn't trade them for anything in this world. :o)

I love everything about it, really. The porch, the view, our new furniture, our hand-me-downs, all of it. But if I had to pick my favorite part about it, there's no question of what it would be...

Out of everything, this is what makes it feel most like home. The simple things mean the most, don't ya think? :)

"Be grateful for the home you have, knowing that at this moment, all you have is all you need."
-Sarah Ban Breathnach