cats and a green couch.

bye bye bundt cake.

a 

BIG

"Thank You" 

goes out

to my

mom-in-law,

who recently made

the best bundt cake in the entire world 

for us.  

I'm not even the sweets type, but this..... 

this cake was out of this world.

(blueberries were substituted for raspberries, for those curious)

new bed cover.

Out of necessity, we recently bought a new bed cover-- 

I've been having a terrible outbreak of skin problems (eczema/allergies) for the past 6-8 months, and it's recently ballooned out of control. Over these last few months, I've rid my closet of all clothing that is not 100% cotton (and, unfortunately, that meant giving away some of my most treasured articles of clothing).

Since the problems are still persisting, we switched our 100% polyester bedding to cotton, as well.

It hasn't solved all of my problems (hopefully it's helping), but it's a fun change in the decorum.

Besides, it seems to be a big hit with the kitties (though that's not helping matters either)!

summer LOVE.

A few weeks ago, Christopher & I marked our third wedding anniversary.  In celebration, we took our first vacation together since our honeymoon and, I must say, the timing of this little "holiday" was a Godsend.

It was much-needed.

This summer has been a time of growth for Christopher & I, both individually and together.  After three years, we've become all-too-aware of our own shortcomings and downfalls, and we've been seeing it within each other as well (marriage's "mirror effect", shall we say).  Instead of running from difficulties, we've been facing them and working through the discomforts.  Individually, together, with family, friends and the church.

We've been learning that marriage isn't easy and it isn't always fun, but it's rewards can be great.  (Though you hear it all the time and--by intuition--you know it's true, it takes a while for it's truth to settle in and become real).

Instead of focusing on and allowing ourselves to become bewildered by the most recent failed marriages that we've witnessed, we're looking towards those strong and God-centered examples of marriage that have surrounded us for our entire lives--our parents, grandparents, aunts & uncles, the Chappell's, the Figleys....

We're banishing our pride (which was telling us "we can figure this marriage thing out all by ourselves") and instead we're reading books and renewing our faith.

I am so thankful to have Christopher by my side as my husband and my closest friend.   Neither of us are perfect--far from it, in fact--but together, we can learn.  Together, we can help each other become the people that we should be.  The people that God wants us to be.

Love (III) - a poem

Love (III)

Love bade me welcome, yet my soul drew back,
Guilty of dust and sin.
But quick-ey'd Love, observing me grow slack
From my first entrance in,
Drew nearer to me, sweetly questioning
If I lack'd anything.
"A guest," I answer'd, "worthy to be here";
Love said, "You shall be he."
"I, the unkind, the ungrateful? ah my dear,
I cannot look on thee."
Love took my hand and smiling did reply,
"Who made the eyes but I?"
"Truth, Lord, but I have marr'd them; let my shame
Go where it doth deserve."
"And know you not," says Love, "who bore the blame?"
"My dear, then I will serve."
"You must sit down," says Love, "and taste my meat."
So I did sit and eat.


written by George Herbert 

(The above photograph was taken by Christopher.)