Colorado!

We LOVE when we get to visit Colorado.  Every time we go, I fully expect to have to talk about moving there on the airplane ride home.  

We flew in Saturday morning so we could go to Coleman's wedding Saturday night.  It was a really great wedding (despite the rain).  The ceremony had so much truth and meat, and anyone that knows Coleman will not be surprised that it was full of personality and fashion statements.  Coleman and his groomsmen looked straight off The Sartorialist blog (which everyone should be checking out if you don't already).  

Jenny & Luke Smith, Stephen & me, & Coleman with his lovely bride Kalee.

We worked at the Ranch (see below) with Brian and his wife Kira- it was so great to see them!

Jenny and me- she was smart and brought a jacket.

Sunday brought us an impromptu trip to the Ranch (Lost Valley, for those who aren't familiar).  I'm so thankful for this place.  I worked here the summer after I graduated from Samford, and it proved to be a life changing experience.  I met my wonderful husband there, learned spiritual lessons that I'll NEVER forget, and met some of the most incredible people.  Enjoy some pictures (again, despite the rain):



This was my first time to experience cattle at the Ranch.  They weren't there my summer because there was a major forest fire the summer  before.  These little beaut's were super cute- would have loved to spend a summer with them.

I love my in law's!  They were wonderful hosts.

I mean how gorgeous are Colorado Springs and the Garden of the Gods?!

Summer Reading

I HATED summer reading growing up.  I basically refused to do it.  Somehow I've moved passed my magazines only lifestyle, and I am reading my brains out this summer.

This was my first Nicholas Sparks experience (besides crying my eyes out during The Notebook movie), and I really enjoyed it.  It's just a happy story.

My grandmother had this book, and I felt an obligation to read it, now that I am a Carolinian.  It is a long, descriptive novel about the Revolutionary War.  I've read better books, but it was fun to recognize the places she talked about.

Now this has been my show stopper of the summer.  If you haven't read this book, you HAVE to.  It is culturally, spiritually, and emotionally relevant.  I've never cried at a book before; I BAWLED through this  book.  SO good.  Stephen is reading it now, so maybe he'll do a review soon.

This is a book for like Third Graders.  I fell in LOVE with Clementine.  Her thought process made perfect sense to me, which is a little scary.  I also read The Talented Clementine.  I'm looking forward to reading any others in the series.  If you're looking for a quick, giggle out loud read, pick this up.

The following are two Paula Rinehart books.  She's a Christian counselor and author/speaker.  I'm really enjoying her.  I just started this first book about casual sex's impact on women, and I really enjoyed Strong Women, Soft Hearts.  I highly recommend it.  I'm about to start another of her books, Better Than My Dreams.  I'll let you know what I think.

Nursery Part I

I've finally started working on our nursery...just started.  Don't get excited.  While I'm working on it, my guest room looks like this:

First glimpse of the nursery to be:

As you can tell, I have a LOT of work to do.  Hopefully this will be a really fun before and after!

Check out my rocker:
It's vintage :) and that's being nice.  It's going to be great.  Stay tuned!