Grandma and Grandpa's House

burn baby burn!

My Grandparents have this 8923859 year old toaster that burns toast if you don't watch it and eject it manually. Today marks week two of our stay with them and until this morning I had not burned a single piece. We're talking smoking, crispy, solid black toast. 

Blessed to have a Grandpa who wants to eat it anyway. 

bookworm.

Grandma and Grandpa's favorite computer game is called bookworm. My Grandpa's laptop is kept open on the counter at all times and throughout the day-- as we all walk by we love to pause life and find words in the jumbled mess of tiles. 

garden.

Life is simpler at Grandma and Grandpa's. Though busier than ever life is slower paced and I find lots of meaning in doing simple tasks like laundry. I cannot wait to begin piecing our new house together but moving out of my Grandparents is going to be bittersweet. Brady and I are truly enjoying ever moment of our time with them.

They have the most beautiful garden. They make due with the space the have and they've created something wonderful. They grow flowers in their front yard and tomatoes in the back. 

My Grandma was excited to show us how wild berries began growing in their yard. Deliciously tangy, I love picking the ripe ones in the morning. It fills a desire in my heart that I discovered recently. I really have an interest in things that grow. I am glad that the Lords timing is a little inconvenient sometimes. If closing on the duplex had been easier we wouldn't be sharing this time with them now. Today I am grateful for unanswered prayers. 

Faithful stewards of the things that they have been given-- my grandparents spend a lot of time working in their yard. It inspires me to get off my butt and do something. They keep themselves busy with meaningful tasks and take pride in their accomplishments-- it inspires me to take more pride in my own. 

day to day. 

We seem to have been doing  a lot of running back and forth lately. I enjoy the late night and early morning rides on the windy country roads. Driving through the country is a spiritual experience. There is great opportunity to sing, reflect, and worship the creator of the divine eye candy that surrounds me daily (Brady Williams... I kid. I kid.). 

  

Avey has adjusted to our new helter skelter life well enough. She likes to play with her toys, watch her Einsteins, take lots of mini naps, and be held. 

sneak peak of our new home :D

Brady and I like to sit around and talk about how awesome she is. 

sew.

Yesterday my Grandma taught me how to patch jeans and today I am learning how to hem. Maybe they'll adopt us and we'll stay with them forever. 

Why Are You Dating?

The birthday festivities continued into the weekend. We danced, we dined-- it was marvelous. Afterward Brady and I headed to my parents for yet another game night. I stayed downstairs with the high schoolers reveling in their teenage drama and the fact that they'll look back one day and have a face palm moment. 

Was I really ever so naive to believe that I knew everything?

I know that when I was 16 I whole heartedly believed that I was ready for adult responsibility. That I could get married, settle down, start a family-- and I could have. But I'm glad I didn't. I was still figuring out who I was at 16 I don't know how I intended to contribute anything meaningful (other than feelings) to a relationship.

My parents got married when they were young and unestablished. For so long I believed that was how you were supposed to do it. By the time I was 18 I felt like an old maid--it depressed me because I felt like I was supposed to have my life all pieced together by then... much like my parents. What I failed to take into account was my parents relationship in their first 6 years of marriage. It was terribly hard. Divorce was contemplated. Two kids that hadn't even figured themselves out entered into an adult union.

Growing up was forced instead of gradual. 

God inevitably intervened and my parents are still together but if he hadn't. Things were headed downhill fast. There is no telling where we'd all be today. There probably wouldn't be seven of us. I know I wouldn't have the same view of marriage that I do today.

My point-- there is so much pressure, when you're a girl in high school, to date, to be in a relationship, to find your "soul mate". My perspective--the perspective of a former teenager-- I don't think it's smart to date in high school-- if you're looking for a spouse. I think it is best to wait until your hormones have calmed down and your brain is running the show instead of your heart (Jeremiah 17:9).

Sure. There are people who meet in high school, get married, and spend the rest of their lives together. I'm not saying it doesn't work. I just think it makes it harder in the beginning. It absolutely makes it harder to stay pure. If you meet the love of your life when you're a freshman you better be walking pretty close to Jesus because the next four years are going to be rough and at 14 you don't really have the option to marry instead of burn with passion (1 Corinthians 7:9). At 14 there is pretty much only burning.

When I was 16 I had a boyfriend who I wanted to marry. It would have been awful if we did. We were two completely different people-- though we sure did love each other a lot. Love is not enough to make it work. If there are no common goals or interests-- if Christ is not the center of your relationship and life. It doesn't work. Don't even let your heart go there (Proverbs 4:23).

"In whatever man does without God, he must fail miserably or succeed even more miserably." *George McDonald

There was a four year period of time where I struggled to move on. The heart is really a deceitful, wicked, thing (Jeremiah 17:9). I almost missed out on the best thing that has ever happened to me because of it. I was still talking to my ex when I met Brady. I very quickly realized that if I wanted to be in a healthy relationship with anyone I had to permanently sever ties.

It wasn't easy and that is why I love speaking to the younger generation about these things. Because I've been there. Because my parents have been there. Because history loves to repeat itself. Because no matter how much that 14 year old boy tells you he loves you--you are still not ready to marry him and he is still not ready to marry you. And if neither one of you are in a position to get married-- why are you dating?

Strawberry Flavored Cigar and a Corona

monday.
We started off the week with a visit from a good friend. This friend and I have been through the ups and downs of life taking us in separate directions. Our relationship suffered, then got better, and now we are apart of a beautiful support system for each other. Sister's got my back.



I live vicariously through her adventures. I do not have time to go to Africa, or India, or Russia but Zuzu does and her stories enrich my life and the lives of those around her. Avey is in love.

grandma.
The boys go in these game spurts. This week has been a juicy spurt. I have spent more time at my parents house this week than I've spent at my own.

Proof.

Sister figured out how to suck her thumb. It is the cutes thing I've ever seen!

Cutest butt you ever saw!

adulthood.
My baby sister turned 18 yesterday. I remember how disappointed I was every time my mother told me I was having a brother. I remember crying real tears when she told me she was pregnant with Tristan and that it would be their last baby. The Lord knew that two girls were more than enough for our family though. We're a lot like my parents. I am very much like my father and Bethany is just like our mom. My sister and I have not always had the best relationship but with each passing year we grow just a tad bit closer.

We had a girls day to celebrate. We did things that most 18 year old girls enjoy. We started the day with a shopping trip.





Bethany hammed it up while my mom and I oohed and awed over her tiny body and superb sense of fashion.





Little one was the perfect baby while we gabbed about boys and picked out swimsuits. She just smiled and laughed like she knew just what we were talking about. One day...





Bethany loves The Cheesecake Factory so we dined in luxury. I don't know how but my bill was only 7 bucks. That never happens! Bethany talked about buying cigarettes but I suggested she buy flavored cigars-- if anything. The girls I used to work with smoked them frequently and I remembered how they'd always come in off their smoke breaks smelling like grape jolly ranchers. She was stuck on the idea and I'll admit I was a little excited. I had never smoked anything before.



Obviously I know smoking a flavored cigar and drinking a 7oz beer with our feet in my parents swimming pool isn't the epitome of cool but I sure did feel it. I laugh at myself sometimes. Because I am silly and honest and a good girl to my core.



Avey conked out on the car ride. Her age was showing.
 

She didn't get to snooze for long because we decided to make a pit stop at Adriatica--one of my favorite places-- Brady proposed there.

 

At the base of that tower... but that's another story.
 











Fussy britches decided it was time to head back to my parents place. My mom is such a killjoy sometimes. KIDDING! Avey was tired, hungry, and ready for a decent nurse. She had been such a good baby all day. Who was I to say no?

After nursing Avey to happiness my sister and I ventured into the backyard. Me with my baby beer and her with the cigars.





When it was time to go inside we felt giddy, silly and drunk off the night. It was one of the longest times I had been away from Avey and I realized that it's time. I'm ready to venture out without her now. I am ready to go on a date with my husband and let my parents have her to themselves for a couple hours.

I'm not just ready. I need it. At first I felt bad but now I just feel sane. It's funny how much insight a strawberry flavored cigar and a corona will give you.
 

The birthday festivities continue tonight with my sisters "twin"-- as she calls him. My cousin Gabriel was born the day after Bethany. In the same hospital. They are both graduating soon. It's exciting! There has been so much to celebrate this week. I don't want it to ever end.