Fun Times with Sweet Friends

We had such a fun weekend with our friends in Louisville.  We began the weekend staying with Brandon and Ashley (we didn't take a single picture with them--poo!).  We went to their church, Fellowship Louisville and had a great time catching up and hanging out with their sweet daughter and weimereiner, Cooper.

We had dinner at Laura and David's house and spent and spent a couple of nights with Laurin, Aaron and their girls!

Our last night in town was our 7th wedding anniversary.  Bear and I went to dinner, just over the bridge, in Sheperdsville, IN at Rocky's.  It is a good Italian restaurant.

We truly enjoyed a restful time just hanging out with friends.  Below are a few photos from the weekend....

St. Patrick's Day

My sweet friend, Beth, (whose birthday happens to be today), gave me a beautifully framed poem, words written in green and a clover enclosed at the bottom.  It's always on my bathroom counter and I overlook it many days.  Today, however, being St. Patrick's Day, I stopped to read it and wanted to share it with you.

Christ with me, Christ before me,

Christ behind me, Christ within me,

Christ beneath me, Christ above me,

Christ at my right, Christ at my left.

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

~The Shield of St. Patrick

After some research, I found that this is an exerpt from the Shield of St. Patrick.  Read it in it's entirety, sometime when you get a chance.  I find when I read this exerpt that it is conviction because I have to ask myself, "Do people see Christ when they see me?"

Things I Love About Spring

I know it isn't really Spring yet, but it is March and that makes me think....SPRING!
This is my most favorite time of the year! Here are some things I love about this season...

• sitting on a lawn chair in the backyard sunning and reading a good book. i am so motivated, for some reason, by the sunny skies and warmer air to get out, kick my shoes off and read or study outside.

that is, if Charlotte doesn't steal my chair first! :)

• 
  
  fresh spring air that is usually condusive to a nice jog.  i break the shorts out, to the dismay of neighbors and other patrons at Shelby Farms. i must begin to get those "sidewalk chalk sticks" some color!

• 
  
  blooming flowers.  they are so pretty! this year i have even more of a reason to adore those lovely Hibiscus trees we have at our home. i can't wait to admire them this spring...from the front porch.  all winter they have been safe in the warm haven of our humble abode, one in the den and one in the dining room.  not only have they been able to thrive and occassionally flower in mid-winter but our lovely pups have also enjoyed eating the soil from the pots! thus, we have to vaccum our carpets almost daily to keep our house from looking like a nursery.

• i love the sound of birds in the air and children at play. it represents new life to me. i also no longer feel so bad for those children as they wait on the corner for the bus so early each morning.

• i enjoy getting to wear clothes i have stored away during the winter. flip flops, peep toe pumps, fun toenail polish, springy skirts.

• it really brightens my day, in the spring, to drive with the windows down, the sunroof open and sip on iced cofee after a long winter.  even on the way to work, it helps to breathe life into what would usually be an ordinary commute.

I am assured that whatever season I am in, whether it be the coziness of Winter or the pleasantries of Spring...

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease,

For his compassions never fail. 

They are new every morning;

Great is Your faithfulness,

"The Lord is my portion," says my soul,

"Therefore I have hope in Him."

Lamentations 3:22-24