Update from the swing

So it's the 18th of September, and I'm comfortably sitting on my nice new SWING eating ice-cream on the back porch of the beach house. It's a mini-vacay. And I am so blissfully happy. I could cry. I don't know if anyone understands my obsession with the beach. With salt air. With the ocean. It makes me happy. It completely fills my heart and it clears my head. I love it. And so I take any chance I can to get down here. I think maybe it's awe. Of this great huge powerful body of water that could easily take me away.. but it doesn't it stays on its rthyms. It's tides. That are determined by the moon. Which all takes place because our God is incredible. I think thats what it is. I just love it so much. It also has a lot to do with the fact that I have always considered the beach my other home, and I have grown up just as much here as Florence, in my opinion at least. But enough rambling. I have pictures!!! I love pictures. 

 SO first, last Wednesday the 10th was a really, well frustrating, for lack of a better word, kinda day. I was tired and irritated and I almost broke down on the way to church because I just.. I don't even know.  I was praying that God would turn my attitude around and that I would improve my mood. It wasn't really happening at that moment. t went anyways, and was hanging out upstairs with Tait when I hear her scream "Oh my gosh WHATTTT" and I turn and TAYLOR KNUDSEN WALKS IN THE DOOR. Isn't it crazy how God works? I was so frustrated/angry/sad that day and He sends my best friend home from columbia. For the record she didn't just come home, it WAS her dad's birthday. But she managed to surprise me and oh what a sweet surprise. I was so thankful for her, especially in that moment. Having a best friend in college is hard, let me assure you. Thank goodness for Carolina football games. Her brother claims I see her more than he does, which is pretty true.

SURPRISE

So then Thursday night I babysat for an absolutely adorable two month old. So fun. And he slept most of the time.. it was good. And Friday we had another home WF game! I love how it worked out that we have so many home games this year. This week's theme was "NASCAR", but as Matt Tyler informed me, we looked more like old NASCAR from the 60's. Hey, whatever works right? It was a good game and a sweet victory. Even though it POURED rain earlier that day, it cleared up by game time and we only had a slight drizzle. I still rocked the rain boots though.

Anna S, Anna K, Alana, & Abbey. Just realized all our names
start with A. That's cool.

NASCAR and victories and cheerleaders, specifically Hailey

So that was Friday. Saturday we headed up to Williams Brice, a little anxious, but a lotta excited. And that rain? IT WAS SO WORTH WINNING. It's been a while since I've heard our stadium that loud and excited and it just made me so excited over the possibility of going there next year. I really wish I would've taken some kinda picture that day. But I didn't. Naturally. I wore a really cute dress. From the Pink Hanger, which has transferred ownership and is a great place to shop. (: SO since there aren't any pictures I'll continue on. Sunday was church. Monday I did my usual Monday things, and then I realized at four that I could totally cook dinner.. So I did! While it definitely could've been better (sometimes things don't go as well as I would like them to) it was still pretty good. Maple glazed salmon and fresh cut green beans with a balsamic vinaigrette. And I made pumpkin cookies. I cheated and bought the pre made kind but they were SO GOOD and on sale so that's not too bad right?? I don't know where my love for cooking came from, but I really do love to do it. I have memories of sitting in Nana's kitchen helping her (more like getting in her way) but I know she loved it when I "helped" and she still loves to have me sit in there when she's making anything. It's a lot more fun now though since we share recipes. More like she loves to share with me. I doubt I will EVER be able to cook like her, but I do try. My mom loved to cook too. LOVED. I find an incredible amount of joy in finding her notes, her handwriting in cookbooks and on little notecards. I miss her so much and finding these little things just make me happy.

If your parents grew up in Flo, you probably have at least 3 of these.

Tuesday was my second week of EFM, and it was great. MUCH less chaotic than the first. We are beginning to figure things out, to get organized, and the kids are settling back into our usual routines. It's the hugs, the "you'll be here next week right Miss Alana??", for heavens sake its the Miss Alana's. Oh these kids.

Drawing pictures.

And so Wednesday came, church and all. Thursday was an early dismissal, I got out at 9:30 and then picked up my sweet Gracie at 12:30. After lunch and a quick Hobby Lobby trip, I dropped her off at dance and then came back to myself. Packed an overnight bag an headed down to the beach with the fam. We ran some errands (including buying a LOVELY new rug) and then ate some oysters. I love oysters. All three of us do. Soooo delicious. And then we came to our second home, our retreat, our little house at the beach. And I ended up here. On the back porch, with my book, my SWING, and the breeze. Even though I'll be back in Florence tomorrow, I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts. Nothing quite like that salt air.