Summer is Wrapping Up

Author: Emily

Since Michael is out of town on vacation with his family now (more on that next month) and since he so sweetly updated the blog for June, it’s my turn to write again.  :) 

We spent the 4^th of July swimming, grilling out, and playing football in the pool with friends.  The food was delicious and the weather was perfect.  Unfortunately, we didn’t go see fireworks this year since I had to work a 12 shift the next day (I know, I’m a party pooper), but we’ll see about next year.  :)

<3

Me and Beth poolside

Me and Caitlin - she came to visit for the 4th!

Michael and Austin

I love my silly husband :)

I had an opportunity to travel back to Indiana to celebrate my sweet friend, Courtney, and her marriage to her now husband, Cody.  These two bring me so much joy and I was honored to give Courtney a “charge” during the wedding.  I had never done a charge before, but it was a blessing and joy to challenge Courtney to marriage and to reflect on the magnitude of the covenant she was making with Cody.  It was a beautiful wedding (yes, I cried), and I am so excited for what God has in store for them as they step into full-time ministry this coming fall. 

Me with the BEAUTIFUL bride

I was so thankful to be able to spend time with my Momma and little sister, Allison, while I was back in Indiana for the weekend.  They picked me up at the airport in Indy and drove me to Fort Wayne for the wedding where we shopped and shopped and shopped.  We had so much fun, and laughed the weekend away.  I also had the opportunity to see Karla in Indianapolis before my flight left town.  She came to meet us for lunch at P.F. Chang’s (sooo good), and it was a bitter sweet time.  Sweet because I was with my Momma and sisters; bitter because I knew I would be saying goodbye to them within the hour as I had to return to Houston.  That’s really starting to get old.

Lunch with my favorites at P.F. Chang's :)

Another highlight of the month was getting to spend a Friday date day together since I have Fridays off for the time being.  Michael was such a sweetheart and took me to see the final Harry Potter.  If anyone knows my husband, you would know that he does not care for Harry Potter… at all.  He’s only read half of the first book and never seen any of the movies.  He loves to read, but fiction is just not his thing.  However, he did enjoy the movie, and afterwards I clandestinely mentioned that it might be cool for me to read all the books again and come up with a character/plot web connecting all the books together.  If anyone knows my husband, you would know that he looooves strategic planning and making webs is his thing.  Maybe, just maybe, this will lead him to read the Harry Potter series.  ;)  Following the movie, we took our first trip to the Museum of Fine Arts.  I think I was expecting to see a lot of paintings, but the museum is full of historical artifacts which was exciting for me because I love learning about where things come from and imagining who once held or used those artifacts.

http://www.urbanebloc.com/review-harry-potter-and-the-deathly-hallows-part-ii/

Finally, at the end of the month we had an exciting weekend where we entertained three important guests (some of our close friends from college)!  Brennon came to visit us this past Friday, and Bethany and Anna were in Texas on a road trip and came to visit this past Saturday.  It was so fun for Michael to have guy time with Brennon and for me to have girl time with Bethany and Anna.  Along with eating a lot of good (but bad for you) food and showing them around the city, we were also able to fit in some disc golf, too.  By the way, I wore flip flops while disc golfing (ALWAYS a bad idea), stepped on an ant hill, and was bit by tiny little black ants.  My feet still itch. 

Michael and Brennon at Hermann Park

Me, Bethany, and Anna at Freebirds

Kind of weird to end on that note (I know you really care about what’s going on with my feet), but I think that’s about it for this month.  We would really appreciate prayer for the Lord to prepare us for a busy season coming up within the next couple of weeks.  I will be completing orientation while Michael starts school back up at the same time.  Please pray that our walks with God will remain our number one priority, that we would honor Him in everything (especially in our marriage and while at work), and that He would give us endurance when things are hard and grace for one another.  Please let us know how we can be praying for you.    

With much love,

Emily (and Michael)


P.S.  Forgot to mention that July 23 marked one year of us living in Houston!  It's crazy how the time flies and we feel so blessed by all we've learned and experienced since being here.