The Best First Date...

It didn't exactly start out as a first date. We were friends who hadn't seen each other in a while, but had grown very close... he wanted to travel (the bait) and needed a navigator (the hook, line, and sinker I bit into...)

We're on our way to Lake Placid - the first stop (we're still friends here)... 

Lake Placid was quiet and nice... we did all there was to do in an afternoon and decided to take a hike on a local trail... I almost froze to death (totally worth the frostbite that has prevented my fingers from blogging these last few months)... I almost fell, he grabbed my hand (still friends)

We left Lace Placid and went to Albany... dinner was nice (still friends)

The next day I learned something about Luke... he's the nicest person EVER! I was pretty confident of this before the trip, but then he held an umbrella over my head all morning while we traipsed through the rain so I could take pictures (still friends)... 

a church in the center of the city that we both thought was nice (still friends - so I probably thought it was nice and he thought he should be nice - still friends)

The Empire State's capital building. Lovely right? (still friends here too) 

We decided to head to Maine via Vermont and New Hampshire (still friends)... 

we came up with a new slogan for NH -- "Not quite as cool as Vermont"

(still friends)

We liked Vermont a lot (we've since returned)...

We arrive in Portland, Maine but not before stopping to watch a Nebraska Cornhuskers (one word) football game in New Hampshire, which ended up not being televised therefore we got back on the road after eating and I GOT to stream live updates on my BlackBerry (yup, still friends)

Nebraska scored, what Luke would later refer to as an "inconsequential field goal" and I squealed with delight (still friends, but I have a suspicion that this may have been the turning point)...

Portland, Maine... a comedy club and a whole lotta fun... this is where the Good Lord starts really smiling on me... the comedy club was packed so we had to sit very closely... I don't know what the jokes where, but I could tell you how much daylight was between us (still friends)...

it POURED rain, possibly some snow, that night and we walked in it... being helpless I had to hook my arm on his and let him lead the way... (STILL friends)...

We enjoyed a lighthouse and some coastline in Portland (still friends)...

beautiful picture, huh? (still amigos)

aren't the colors rich and lovely? (buddies)

Romantic? (nope- we're pals)

Picturesque! (Still friends)

I've officially started filling out a change of address card to live in Platonic-ville when... 

a

glimmer

of

hope...

I look horrible in this picture because I was going through one of those weird -- I'm not going to fix my hair because if he doesn't learn to like me the way I am it will never work anyway crazy feminist phases.

(I know what you're thinking -- and no, we're compadres here too!)

Once again we hit the road - this time we stopped in Kennebunkport, Maine (because we live like the Kennedys - except that we're friends)

The weather was cool, but beautiful. I obviously love this picture so much I made it my blog title. 

(friends)

He was so nice to let me take all the pictures I wanted and chase sea gulls to my heart's content! 

(buddies)

(pals)

I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt I wanted to be friends with him at this point... best friends... like the really really good kind... the really really good kind that date each other... 

(still buds)

beautiful sunset, beautiful beach... (please hold my hand!!! argh, still friends)

The best part of this story is... 

1. We're still friends

2. We're not just friends

3. The fact that he was such a gentleman the entire time made him the most trustworthy person I've ever known. 

4. I love my best friend - I am blessed beyond measure! 

Donkey!

Normal people have normal pictures -- pictures of themselves smiling and happy, usually on a beach or with friends. I, on the other hand, ALWAYS go for the laugh...

Mary's neighbor has a giant Donkey (yes, I do mean Donkey and not donkey because it is Donkey from Shrek) on their front porch...

when you own something like that you're asking for me to make it a photo opp...

Enjoy... (**I would like to apologize to my friends, family, and Luke for being associated with me)

Yes, I do realize if I ever wanted to have a political career this photo would HAVE to be on all the posters.

The Return to the Blogosphere...

I am resolving to be better about blogging. I'm resolving to it so much I updated my background and title. Nice, huh? Both of these pictures are from a trip Luke and I took to Maine... lovely. 

I'll blog more tomorrow - PROMISE!

271

271 miles... that is the distance between Waco, TX and Natchitoches, LA. Several people have commented on how much I've driven (and will again for Christmas) these sometimes long and always barren miles through the east Texas piney woods. The most recent trip was a painful one... when I arrived my Dad expressed his regret for all the miles I've logged lately. I think they're easy, especially when you put them in the context of our lives over the last 26 years...

518... that's the number of miles from Natchitoches, LA to Marshfield, MO. For all the summers of my life my Dad and Carol have made that trip.... most of which they drove all the way up and picked up my brother and I, brought us back to Louisiana, then turned around one or two weeks later and did it again to bring us back to Missouri. Maybe you don't understand the gravity of this... EVERY summer for 15 years my father sacrificed his entire vacation to drive 2072 miles to see his kids. Imagine not taking a real vacation for 15 years just to see your kids. Now that's love. So, the very least I can do is make a mini-pilgrimage home from time to time. This song always reminds me of our summers...

Highway 20 Ride - Zac Brown Band

(see the widget in the side bar to listen)

Thanks Dad! I love you!!

Driving Home

A few weeks ago I went to Louisiana. I met my cousin, Layna, there to help my grandmother (and my Dad and aunts and uncles for that matter). My granny recently had surgery for a pacemaker that didn't go well... so Layna and I met there to clean and sort and organize and just generally pitch in. I love Granny and the memories I made that weekend will last a lifetime. I also learned a few very important life lessons in my alone time with her. They aren't blog appropriate, but I assure you she taught me the importance of making "permanent" decisions. 

On the way home I got to see some of the most beautiful Texas skies.... enjoy! 

Now a storm is moving in... 

I will never understand how mankind can look at the heavens and not KNOW there is a God.

Quilting

I haven't blogged in forever! Let me catch you up on the quilting stuff... 

Here is the second block from the red/white/blue block of the month quilt:

This is a really really ridiculously cute wall hanging (or table runner or whatever else you want to use it for) that I made for Natalie. She loves America like I do and this is so country/chic/cute how could I not give it to her??? (and her love language is gifts - so I love you Nat!):

Contentment!

Photo Credit 

This is water off a duck's back... it's very zen. ;)  My former boss, and still dear friend, Brad "Poppa Bear" Kendrick is the master of water off a duck's back. Like a little grasshopper I wander to the hill he sits on everyday and hope to glean some understanding of life. Most days I miss, but every once in a while I hit it out of the park. This isn't one of those days, but God hit it out of the park for me today... 

I've been praying about my attitude. Most of the time my external attitude is ok, but internally I don't feel so optimistic or so joyful... and I rarely feel content. Yikes, right? Because when you lose your peace, you lose the battle. Satan sets us up to get us upset... hmmm. So, I've been praying for an "attitude of gratitude" and make a conscious effort to be more positive. I'm a firm believer in that fact that everyone has the ability to check their emotions and attitudes at the door, each and every day (yes some days it is hard than others). 

Well, today I was on my way to work and a dear friend (and co-worker) called me... because the fire alarm went off and he just wanted to make sure I wasn't there yet and not stuck inside somewhere. Isn't that kind? 

I was annoyed with myself because I was running a little late... but then something happened in the car... I was sort of working out my day with God... and singing loudly (and horribly) with the radio... and it hit me... I am so content I can hardly stand it! 

Let's rewind for a second... this past weekend was Tax-Free Weekend in TX. As I was leaving work on Friday my boss asked if I was going to buy anything and I said "no, 8.25% isn't really a big sale and I honestly don't need anything" and he said something that, honestly, annoyed me at the time "Wow, that's a good place to be in life." Why was I annoyed? Because my attitude about being "successful" still sucked as of Friday. That's just me keepin' it real. 

I mulled over this conversation all weekend... you know what? It all came together this morning in the car... do I have debt? Yes, and it stresses me out in a way I can't describe. Do I own a home? No, and I long for a place to live where I can paint the walls. Am I married? Nope, and not even dating! Do I have children? I hope we all know the answer given the previous question!! Am I at my dream job? Probably not. There are a lot of things I don't have or do have that I may want (or want to get rid of). BUT, there is nothing that I need. All of my needs are met... I have food in tummy, a roof over my head, a reliable car (and let's all pray that holds out for 5 more years!), clothes for my body (probably more than I need), and most importantly... I have something to do (my job), something to love (my friends, my family, my Lord), and I serve a good God. I felt such an overwhelming sense of blessing (or Hakuna Mattata for you Lion King fans) that I felt so full I could burst!!! 

In the last few months I have had the unique and wonderful blessing of adding new people, activities, and opportunities to my life. Several of these things contributed to my abundant blessing feeling (God alone was my sense of contentment - the rest is just bonus, baby!)... and I counted them as blessing, BIG TIME, this morning. I realized something later... remember that "little" covenant I made with God at the end of June? I have been pretty good about keeping it... and all of those amazing new blessings have happened in my life since then! You know why? Because when you make time for God, He makes time for you (and all the things that truly matter in you life)! 

This is me, praying that you are all peaceful ALL DAY EVERY DAY!!! 

*Side Note #1: I am truly and deeply grateful for all of my blessings not listed - i.e. the old blessings, like my dear friends and family!!! 

**Side Note #2: A few "bad things" happened today and none of them phased me. Yay Jesus!