The Good Stuff!

Life is good. One thing we do often and really love is have people over, usually on Sunday afternoons, to cookout and fish and play games and just hang out. Something about these get-togethers fills my heart with joy! I always have the out-of-body moments while everyone is hanging out and I just sort of look around and find joy in the fellowship that's going on. SO- here are some pictures of a get-together we had a few weeks ago.

Yes, Dane decided to go grandpa on us. and yes, he wore them like this all day. Gotta love him!

Everyone just hanging out outside - taking a break from horseshoes and fishing!

Country

My wonderful girl friends. Don't know what I'd do without them!

Country Cam fishin' it up.

 So, this is Frances in action throwing attempting to throw a horshoe. It was both hilarious and a little sad (haha love you Fran!). But atleast she's serious about it, I mean she's throwing her entire body into it. Best picture of the day so far!

Just doing a little fishing :)

These two love each other, a bunch. Haha (notice we have no furniture.... update: we now have a couch and a love seat! Thanks, Dad! We are still in awe of having living room furniture.)

Whitney had so much fun, she literally fell asleep at the table. Cool.

So, if you haven't noticed, we LOVE to fish. I mean, come on, our backyard is a pond. It really is such a blast! It's a good reason for people to come over and hang with us, too.

I've been really stuck on this passage from Ephesians. You know how you can read a passage, and months later come back and read it again and it mean something different for you? Well, that's how this passage has been for me. If you're the type, check it out. This passage really instills fear of the Lord in my heart that, like the end of the passage says, reminds me that He can do so much more than I can.

¹⁴For this reason I kneel before the Father, ¹⁵from whom his whole family^[a] in heaven and on earth derives its name. ¹⁶I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, ¹⁷so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, ¹⁸may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, ¹⁹and to know this love that surpasses knowledge—that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God.
 ²⁰Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We're blessed. Beach pictures to come next! Love y'all.

Ok, I am determined to have a big 'ole picture post, but it just isn't gonna happen today. SO - I figured I'd update y'all on what we've been up to.

We had an AWESOME 4th of July at Perdido Key with the Lesley family.  They took care of us and really loved on us, and we had such an awesome time. I have a lot of pictures to share--so that post will be coming soon! We ate incredible meals, went to the Florabama one night and danced, hung out around the pool, went fishing a little, and just relaxed. I read a lot too.... man it's nice to have some time to really get into a book! Needless to say, our vacay was short but so needed!

We came home Monday (after a short visit with the Speed family in Enterprise....gotta love them!!) and Tuesday we started right back in the real world. I started my LAST 2 CLASSES OF MY UNDERGRAD and I'm SO ready for them to be finished already. Lots of work and class time to come in the coming month, but I don't care when I'm this close to being done! Dane has been staying busy with odd jobs and job applications. Yesterday (Thursday) was our 2 month anniversary! Yay! We didn't do anything special, just hung out at home and got some things done. I will say, it was nice just to be at home with Dane. I think I've come to love our time at home together more and more each day. I love being on the run and staying busy, so I never thought I'd already be at this point of loving doing nothing but being at home!

We said our goodbyes to Allan and Jane Gray this week too. It was sad, I must say, but they are off to really do some incredible things in California (Allan starts seminary in the fall). Also, Jane Gray passed her boards today and is officially a Registered Dietician! CONGRATULATIONS JG! We have watched this woman study day and night for weeks and weeks. "Diligence" doesn't even begin to describe her work ethic. We're so excited for her and Allan! Please keep them in your prayers as they transition into a new chapter of life. There's no doubt that they will do incredible things for the people they encounter in the next 4 years.

Things have started looking up for us. It's odd because it's nothing that we see being done, but it's just a feeling. The stresses of unemployment come and go, but overall we are making it and, personally, there's not one thing I would change about it. We still have no idea what God's opening up for us, but I know His hand is in it and it will be satisfying in a way only He can create. Just please continue praying for us!

I know this post was long and boring. Pictures to come ASAP! We love you all!