I Moustache You A Question....

My cousin's husband turned 30 and she threw a surprise party for him.... with a moustache theme!  Partly because it was just a funny theme and partly because he secretly wants a big moustache:)  We had lots of fun sporting our face decorations!

My mom and dad

There was also a photobooth to capture memories of the night.

Just a fun time!

Coolest. Thing. Ever.

Last night I went to an outdoor concert at a friend's house.  Somehow she heard this guy sing somewhere and liked his stuff.  He does house concerts so she put her name on the list about two years ago.  A few months ago he sent out an email saying he would be in the area and would she still be interested in hosting a concert?  So she said of course!  And it was awesome.  The night was beautiful, the music was great and the company was good, too.  The picture is dark but you get the idea of the setting we had.  A-maze-ing.

I had gotten there early because a) I wanted to be a good friend and help get set up and b)it was kind of like having a backstage pass!  Although since he does these house concerts, pretty much everybody has a backstage pass because he just hangs out with everyone who's there.  By the time the night was over I was a groupie and got a picture with him before I left:)  He was pretty cool!

And here's the hostess with the mostest!

This was one of my favorite songs of the whole night.  It's basically about spending our money on things that matter rather than things we don't need since it's not really ours in the first place.  The story line is a person going into the store but putting their money back in their pocket.  They eventually send it to where it will go toward orphan care.  Such a great night!

Life Changes

Well my week certainly did not go as planned.  A couple weeks ago I told my boss that I would be quitting my job within the next month.  I didn't know for sure when- probably around the end of August.  I was going to work full time at the elevator through harvest again and then after that?  I didn't know where I would end up.  I was going to look for jobs here in Illinois and also back in Alabama.  I was reeeaalllly excited about the thought of moving back to Alabama. 
Now, if you may remember, I had applied to the Occupational Therapy Assistant program at my local community college for the second time back in January.  And for the second time, I didn't get in.  But I was really okay with that.  I had completely moved on from it and was very much so looking forward to whatever else might happen (hoping it had something to do with living in the south).  So imgaine my surprise Monday morning when my phone rang and I heard the voice on the other end say "Hi, this is so and so from the ICC Health Careers Department and you've been accepted into the OTA program!"  Uhhhhh...... WHAT?!?!?!?!?  I was completely unprepared to hear that.  She kept going on and on about how exciting this was and congratulations and stuff.  But all I could think of was that MY plans were all of a sudden coming to a screeching halt and MY life was doing a 180 and I was NOT ready for that!  So I spent the day being extremely overdramatic/crying/playing poor me.  But God.  He ever so kindly reminded me that this is a great opportunity and MY plans maybe weren't what he deemed as best for me.  I don't know the reason behind all the inconvenient timing, but he has also helped me get pretty excited about this new path.  I'm not really thrilled about becoming a poor college student as I enter my thirties, but here I am.  And I absolutely know that God will provide.  And to top it off?  I still get to work at the elevator.  Only part time, but still enough to make me happy:)
The next two weeks will be kind of a whirlwind, trying to fit in all my different things to get done for the program and finishing up at work, but here we go!

Random

Random #1

Earlier this week I had a great responsibility.  I was elected to babysit my niece's cat, Bella.  Now, generally I'm not a huge cat fan.  But Bella is still in her cute little kitty stage so all was well.  There was one night though where she escaped to her hiding spot underneath a giant pine tree.  I spent about five minutes on my knees saying "heeeeerreeee kitty kitty kitty" until I thought to bring her food bowl over to the place she was hiding.  Sure enough, she couldn't resist and within about 20 seconds I had her safely back in my hands.  I think I'll be re-elected for the job again in a few weeks when they go visit family in Michigan.  I gotta admit, she is kinda cute...

Random #2

Tuesday night I got home from work to find my dad taking a nap.  In the kitchen.  The carpet had gotten a good shampoo that morning so everything was misplaced.  It was funny though to see him sleeping there:)

Have a great day!

The Bruise

 Out in Denver, my cousin decided to punch me one night.  Hard.  Out of the blue.  Just for the fun of it.  I guess he was reverting back to the days of being a pesky younger brother?  Not really sure.  But it hurt. 

At first I was a little dissapointed at how little of a battle wound I had from the incident.  Just a very light bruse.

But things progressed nicely.

Pretty soon it was big and ugly and everyone was asking about it.  I even had a client who was concerned I was in an abusive relationship and wondered if she should call a hotline for me.

It's healing slowly, but over two weeks later, I still have a good story to tell!

Escape to Denver

Going to the Aquarium with Jared:

Otters

       Cute lil seahorse

Big ol fish.  Glub glub.

Mermaids are real!

Shark tank- I think it was my favorite exhibit.

Cool jellyfish

Me and Jared standing in front of a huge shark jaw that you can't see because the photographer was way to close.

Out for ice cream and/or supper after church.

Next up... The Science and Nature Museum with Boni, Mike, David and Jared:

Smiling for the camera!

 The Geico gecko

 Trying to lift a (fake) anaconda.  That thing was HEAVY!  The heaviest one on record is 232 lbs.  Now that's a big snake!

 Mike and Dave ready to watch the 3-D IMAX:)

Then, checking out a little place with Boni demonstrating life on the prairie:

 We loved the little school house!

 Wearing the dunce cap:(

More friends:)

These got out of order.  The teepee's were at that prairie place, too.

 Using a yoke to carry water buckets.

 A good time was had by all!  I'm so grateful to Ed and Boni (my uncle and aunt) for their hospitality.  I love to visit them!

Celebrating Independence

Some nights I just LOVE Roanoke.  Tonight was one of those nights.  Strolling the Cruise-In on Main Street, seeing lots of people we know, getting ice cream, watching fireworks.... gotta love that small town goodness:)

Enjoying the company of good friends-

Watching fireworks with sheer amazment-

Or a little apprehension at first!

I was always the apprehensive child.  I wanted to see the fireworks but I HATED the loud boom they made!  You could usually find me sitting in the car, peeking out the rolled up windows with my fingers in my ears.  Now I love the boom!  Happy 4th everyone!  Enjoy celebrating your freedoms!