What Do They All Have in Common?

A Caramel Frappuccino

For lack of a better word...STUFF

And pretty purple nails

I'd have to agree and say that they all look pretty random ( I will admit that I had fun messing with them in the photosmart studio :) BUT they share one commonality:  My last day home :)

Yup, today I got a Caramel Frappuccino from Starbucks (delicious as usual), painted my nails purple ( and also painted the cream carpeting...), and packed all my junk up (where it all comes from I have absolutely no clue) because tomorrow I leave to go back to Greensboro!  We'll be leaving around 8 so we should be moved in by early/late afternoon.  Can't wait!

Slowly Subtracting Children

As of today, mom will have one less child around the house! (Until I leave in a week, and then she will be minus 2 :)  Meg, Mom, and Dad left for Asheville around 11:30 this morning and Meg will move in to her dorm tom.  She doesn't have near as much stuff as I did when I went which is a good thing since mom traded in the suburban through the cash for clunkers program and got a Honda Fit (she loves it); the amount of storage space in it is just a liiitle less than the suburban.  

Steven Update: He will be the lone child around the house as of next Thursday and I think he's pretty excited about it; mom may have her qualms though (praying for no butting of heads between them and that he has a great senior year).  He has his first football scrimmage today, playing middle linebacker, so I hope things go super great with that. 

And me: Prepping to go back to Greensboro on the 20th, and also doing lotsa paperwork for my study abroad application which is due Sept. 15th.  It is going to be quite a busy year, but I am kinda glad I will only be at UNCG for one semester because that means second semester will be a little more lax.  

There is one movie and one book I have read and watched over the past couple of weeks that I have really enjoyed and would recommend (you will def. need a kleenex or two ).  "The Time Traveler's Wife" is the name of the book (the movie actually comes out on Friday and I can't wait!).  And the movie I watched today and yesterday is "P.S. I Love You" (which is also a book).  Both were really touching love stories and were written and produced quite well; it wasn't the same old love story that often gets repeated over and over.  

Haircut!

I am officially feeling 20 pounds lighter!!  I got my haircut on Thursday and it feels amazing to have short hair again; it gets really hot in the summertime with it so long and I was def. ready for something new. I was needing to get it done before I go back to G'boro which is looming around the corner......3 weeks!

Good Times

Today is the day my best friend leaves the OBX to live in Lynchburg with her new hubby; it's an exciting time but it's sad too.  I know it's extra hard for Cathy since her parents are moving at the same time and she is leaving behind a church family and friends. We have had tons of fun together in the past 4 years or so between going through and graduating high school together, junior and senior prom, beach days, youth group, some rough times, and most recently, her wedding!  I love ya girl :)

Not my Strength

I love it when God throws mini storms in my way, because it has really taught me to be thankful and not rely on my own strength (and I think that many times, the little storms are preparing us for an impending hurricane...).   

Thankful item # 1:  AIR CONDITIONING; our air conditioner broke last week and we just got it fixed today.  You don't realize how comfortable AC makes your life until you don't have it, and I also learned, I could survive without AC and prob. get used to being without it.  

Item # 2:  BEING SICK; I have been struggling with a summer cold/sinus thing since last week, and I am used to going, going, going all the time, helping out, working 40+ hours 6 days a week, and getting 7-8 hours of sleep a night.  Whenever I get sick, I have to teach myself to rest a little more than I'm used too, and God often gives me that nudge telling me "you know, you can't do life without me, I'm your strength source".  There's always a reason for the storms of life.

I want to send out a Congratulations to Mr. and Mrs. Camas Frey who got married on Sunday, July 19th!  The wedding was beautiful, the first one I've been to on the Manteo waterfront.  

Wedding!

Alright, time I hopped back on the blogging wagon :)  Time flies by so quickly (It's July 15th already!! I have to go back to college in like a month, say what??) My best friend got married last week!  It was a beautiful wedding (the fastest ceremony I've been to yet), and I am so happy for Mr. and Mrs. Chris Maulden-Congratulations!  My mom was busy taking pictures while we were getting pictures taken outside by Rich Coleman and Tom Lee, and she got some pretty good ones:

The Beautiful Bride

Bride and Andy

Claire, Mother of the Bride

Me

Claire and Momma

Amazing cake baker, Jenette, and bridesmaid, Brandy

Sister and Nephew of the Bride, Leslie and Kane

Photographer, Tom

Me and Bethany (So happy BG was able to make it!)

Bro and Sis

Funny pic :)

The handsome Groom

Me and Momma

Bye!

I think mom should put nursing on hold and pick up photography for a while, what do you think?  

We hit another fantastic milestone this past week: Steve got his driver's license!! (Yay and Yikes) It's great for him to be able to take himself places but I know mom worries about him; he is a boy.....in possession of a driver's license....with the capability to operate a motor vehicle....ALONE.  So I completely understand her fears.  Speaking of driving, our cars have really been taking some hits lately; I tore the bumper off the Highlander (which my dad was able to put back on, thank goodness), then the Honda wouldn't start (got that fixed for $ 25, so it's running now) and then on Monday, mom couldn't get the suburban started as she was getting ready to leave work in Norfolk.  I ended up driving to Norfolk to get her so the car could be towed back to the beach (not a cheap trip at $300) and then we found out that the problem was the fuel pump (also not a cheap fix at $600).  I am praising God though because  despite the time and money we have had to put into all 3 cars in the past 2 weeks, they are all working currently :)

Milestones and the Death of an Icon

The summer seems to be flying by as I am spending most of my time out of the house working and staying busy.  Megan and mom went for Megan's orientation at the beginning of the week; everything went smoothly with no issues.  We HAVE been having some issues with the cars this week though.  I was backing out of the driveway on Wednesday when I hit the rear end of the suburban, leaving 2 scratches on the 'burban but taking the entire front bumper of my dad's highlander :( Sooo the car is driveable (good) but the bumper will need to be replaced to the tune of $500? (bad).  And to add to that, Megan couldn't get the Honda started yesterday so it's sitting in the parking lot of Capt'n Franks until Steven can get over there to take a look at the spark-plugs; hopefully that will be a quick fix.  Any and all prayers concerning vehicles and money associated with that are amazing and appreciated.

I did hit a milestone this week (besides getting into my first car wreck in my own driveway) when I actually cooked dinner for Steve and I!  I never cook (I love to clean, can't hardly cook) so this was a pretty big deal, but it turned out great.  I made portabella mushrooms stuffed with a ricotta and mozzarella cheese filling, with tomatoes slices on top; I also seared up some tasty fresh green beans.  Good stuff :) 

Cathy and I accomplished alot of wedding stuff in VA on Wed. which was very exciting, and I got my dress for her wedding in the mail the other day-it's beautiful.  Tom., I am throwing a lingerie party for her which should be lots of fun.  Can't wait for the wedding!!

And on a final note, I was really shocked to hear about Michael Jackson's death on Thursday, and I know others were too.  I have never really listened to his music or been all that into him but from watching the news and listening to those that grew up with his music, I've realized how much music really shapes people's lives.  I feel like the media coverage surrounding Jackson's death and life could rival that of the presidents who have passed in recent years; he has had that much of an influence on people's lives, plus his controversial life has left many questions and many mysteries.