if you don't have anything good to say

Let's be clear about something: I have a fake tan.

Well, partially.  I've been trying to lessen the effects of my farmer's tan by using that foaming tan stuff they have in every aisle at Wal-Mart.

While it's been working rather nicely, I mistakenly left a glob of it on my ankle the other day...resulting in a shameful little patch of brown that will henceforth reside beneath these sandals.

What I'm really trying to say is that I don't have anything to say.  God's working, I'm changing, and all is well even when it's not.

Happy Summer.

"...narrow is the gate and difficult is the way which leads to life, and there are few who find it." (Matthew 7:14 NKJV)

weekend pictures...midweek

Okay, so I realize that you've probably all seen these on instagram already, but posting them two or three times can't hurt one bit.

1. Friends.  I love you, Morgles.

2. Mom and her baby.  We went to see Madagascar 3...and I'm telling you, it is worth every kernel of popcorn.

3. I want to always be in love with my husband.

4. My babysit-ee gave me a concert...what a sweetie!

5. Flowers + sun = what I mostly take pictures of.

6. Refer to 5.

7. Brother and I went for a walk that included a lot of laughing, possibly illegal playing-on-elementary-school-playgrounds, and pondering the meaning of the name 'hopscotch'.

8. And speaking of sweeties (4.), look at this one!  Woooeee she's a cutie!

just breathe

via pinterest

Earlier today, I was walking my dog to the park.  The wind was warm and there weren't too many people out.  I had just crossed the street and was trying to make my dog go left instead of right, when a car pulled up beside me.  Curious, I turned around to see a girl of about 8 or 9 years hop out, her smiling eyes on Zoe.  She wore a thin little blue dress that barely covered her orange swimsuit, and her choppy hair was blonde and tangled.

'May I pet your dog?' she breathed, eyes still fixed on my 5 lb canine.

'Of course,' I replied, amused at her fascination.  As soon as Zoe noticed her, it was all tongue and tail and please-please-please-rub-my-belly from there.  Sure, listen to the stranger, ignore the owner.

Meanwhile, her mom rolled down the window and thanked me for stopping.

'She saw your dog and just had to pet it,' which was, of course, followed by the usual 'how old is she,' 'she's four,' 'wow, full-grown and so tiny' conversation.

It didn't seem like Little Miss Sunscreen was interested in leaving anytime soon, so I let her continue to awkwardly lift the dog and tenderly kiss her fuzzy head.

She was so happy.

There was nothing in the world right then that could have possibly made her happier.

I think I saw scars on her arms.  Her teeth had gaps.  Her hair was shorter than most girls prefer it.  Who knows what that precious young soul had seen in her few years?

Yet, none of that mattered, because that was then and this is now.

As we said our goodbyes, part of me wished I had stayed longer.  But I think God set me up with that sweet little girl to remind me...just breathe.

summer

I have to say that summer just gets my blood pumping.  The thought of sun and ice cream and sweet, warm night air just makes me smile a little without even trying.

Recently, my family and I had the chance to get away for the weekend.  We stayed in a little cabin tucked into the hills of New Mexico, surrounded by a brilliantly clear sky and hundreds of aspens.  There were s'mores (lots), coffee (lots and lots), wind (too much), and Apples-to-Apples-playing late into the night.  In the morning, the sunlight filtered so perfectly through the trees, it seemed like a fairy forest.

It was just what we needed...a little r&r.

But all that time away got me thinking.

This is just so wonderful, so perfect.  What if something bad happens tomorrow?  What if this is my last day on earth with these precious humans I call my own?  What if, what if, what if. Oh, how it sours the moments of happiness.

But, no.  I found that it was no use.

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don't get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow.  God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes. Matthew 6:34 (MSG)

So bring it on, summer.  This is going to be a great summer.  And even with what good things you bring, God will always bring something better.

in the back

Hey bloggy world!  Wellllll, that was a nice little hiatus.  Did we all like that?  Good, now back to business.

First on today's agenda: SUMMER.  Memorial Day is just around the corner and so is pool/popsicle season.  Somebody say "cannonball!"

Second on our list (why I keep saying we, who knows): Currently I am staring at my checkbook and wondering why there are so many entries from DSW.  Apparently one can't have too many sandals...(?)

Third:  I have indeed spent a whole lot of time in my backyard.  I think about that a lot.  It has seen all of 16 years with me, and I guess I'm just grateful it's always been there for me.  For better and for worse.  Just like a good hubby.

Did I just compare my backyard to a husband?  I might need prayer.

some may call it luck, fate, or even an act of God, but these brownies are perfect

Me and brownies go way back, but this recipe from foodwishes.com really takes the cake.

1/2 c butter

1 1/8 c sugar

3/4 c cocoa

1/4 t salt

1/2 t vanilla

2 lg eggs

2/3 c flour

1 c chocolate chips

Melt butter over med-low heat until melted and hot.

Whisk together sugar and cocoa in a large bowl; add melted butter.

Add salt, vanilla and one egg; whisk.

Beat in the second egg.

Mix in the flour with a spatula; when almost blended, add chocolate chips; finish mixing.

Bake in an oiled 8x8 pan at 325 for 30-35 mins, until a toothpick comes out slightly dirty.

They should turn out dense and fudgy, not at all light and cakey.  Just the way I like them.

you're the best, kid

A couple months ago, I got into a minor fender bender on my way to work.  As I pulled over and got out to face the lady who'd forgotten she had brakes, I was mostly just shaken up and ticked off.  Not knowing what to do in the event of a car accident, I just took a picture of her license plate and pulled back onto the highway.

As I called my mom and merged into the heavy 7 a.m. traffic, I noticed that I had gotten right behind a semi truck.  Normally I would've passed it as soon as I could, but I was so ruffled by the accident and worried about my head which was starting to throb that I didn't bother going around it.

Several exits passed and still I was tailing him.  It was getting annoying, but there was no way I was going to switch lanes.  That meant side-swipe exposure.

Soon, my exit approached and Mr. Semi's right blinker started flashing.

Well that's funny.  I wonder if...no, he couldn't be.

I needed to make a right turn after the exit.  He turned right.

Left.  Ditto.

Right again.  Okay, this is weird.

Ohp.  Yep.  OF ALL THE PLACES HE COULD HAVE BEEN GOING.

As he put on his flashers and tried to back into the driveway, I carefully went around him and turned into the adjacent parking lot.

I didn't think crossing the street would be so dramatic:  The truck was only halfway into the parking lot and as I passed I heard a honk, then glanced at the driver who was looking at me with his hands in the air.  I kept walking, all the while thinking oh my gosh can this morning get any weirder.

Still unsure of how to lose this 18-wheeler that was obviously out to get me, I heard the window roll down and the driver call, "I'm sorry ma'am; it wasn't you!"

I finally made it into the building and clocked in (ironically, only two minutes late).  Fast-forward an hour or so, I kept bumping into the truck driver who had somehow been assigned to my life for the day.  He was middle-aged, short, stocky, and was rocking black glasses and a soul patch.

"Oh no, it's that same little girl again!" he said the first time.

"Gaahhh I keep running you over," he said when his dolly almost creamed me in the walk-in.

When the stock was all unloaded from the trailer, I ran into him one last time.

"You're the best, kid.  Pound it."

"What's your name?" I asked.

"The name's Glenn, kid.  I'm from California.  Hey, take it easy."  And he was gone.

I've never seen him since.

Every time that supplier delivers to our store, I always look to see if Glenn is the driver.

But I don't think I'll ever see him again.  Somehow I get the feeling God sent me an angel to keep me sane that day...and I'll never forget it.