It's Been a Busy Few Weeks!

I have been meaning to blog for several weeks but life has been SO busy lately! 

First of all, I am completely packed and ready to go, except for those few last minute things!  I will spare you the boring details that go into packing your entire life into 3 big suitcases and 2 smaller carry-ons!  

Here's what else has been happening around here: 

I went to Fort Worth for a weekend in late July and spent time with several friends and my sweet cousin! I only got pictures with my friend Gianna though.  Over the weekend I stopped at Bucee's twice and ate breakfast tacos twice so it's safe to say it was a pretty successful trip.  

Gianna and me at Kent & Co. 

My dear friend Carolyn threw me a Houston farewell party the last weekend in July! It had a "Blue Bell" theme because Blue Bell ice cream is one of the things I am going to miss most.  Carolyn did SO much to make my party special and I was so grateful!  

Carolyn and me 

My family in Kingwood threw me another farewell party this past weekend, headed up by my sister and her mother-in-law Ellen.  The food was amazing!  At both parties, I was able to chat with and hug so many people that I won't see for a long time. It was such a blessing!  

Me and Ellen 

My sister's mother-in-law Linda gave me the sweetest gift I have received in a long time. She created a personalized prayer journal for me!  It gives me a prayer for each day of the week and journal paper to write my own prayers.  She also gave me a copy of the book Fervent which I had been wanting to read all summer (and she had no idea)!  It is all about prayer.  

Also, I sold my car ("Gracie") to Linda and her husband Varner.  I love when a car can stay in the family! 

This was taken right before they drove away with Gracie! 

My last pic with Gracie!  

She has been a wonderful car for the past 2.5 years!

My brother, his wife and kids came to town for a week of family fun. It was the BEST!  

Me and my sister-in-law Kelly with our matching glasses! :) 

And my brother photobombing us as he ate chips and salsa.  

My sister's daughter + the triplets = The Quads

These girls were big fans of chips and queso! 

Lot of dress up when they are together! 

Ice cream sandwiches for dessert on the porch swing! 

TONS of pool time together! 

We enjoyed a family beach day with cousins in Galveston.  

Matching headbands with my oldest niece! 

There is nothing better than seeing kids have fun at the beach.  Of course, per family tradition we enjoyed fried chicken, cherries, chips and sodas for lunch!  

My sister, brother and me! 

My sisters and me!

My dad is retiring in the fall so my siblings decided to throw his retirement party a little early so we could all celebrate together!  

Y'all.  My dad has been practicing pediatrics for 41 years!  I am so proud of him of him for serving this community with excellence in his profession. 

But more than anything, I am proud of his character, how he lives out his faith each day, and the way he loves and cares for his family and friends. My dad always puts himself last and everything he does is for other people.  He is simply the best and I am so grateful to be his daughter! 

I am so blessed that my brother and sister married people that I love so much because I feel like there are five "kids" in our family.  We all love our dad so much!  My dad and brothers make me laugh more than anyone else in the world! 

Also my 4 siblings are the only people on this planet that fully understand what it means to be a daughter/son to my mom.  I know that even my siblings' spouses feel this way - to be loved, nurtured and parented by her is a blessing that none of us can adequately  put into words. We miss her each day but at these important moments (like my dad's retirement or me moving across the world), I think of her more than ever.  I could never explain how God makes it possible to experience my mom's love even more strongly now that she is in heaven.  All five of us do our best to live our lives individually and as a family in a way that honors God and honors the parents who made us who we are.  

God has blessed my summer so abundantly and there is a part of me that is sad to see it go.  But I always love this back-to-school time of year.  It is just going to look very different this year! 

I have had a lot of people ask how I am feeling lately and the best way to describe it is that I am ready to get this adventure started!  I have been praying about it since November 2015 and talking about it since February 2016.  It is now time to GO!  

I am excited, nervous, happy and ready!  I know there are challenging days ahead but I have an abiding sense of peace that comes with being in the center of God's will and following in obedience.  

Every hug, email, text, card, phone call, Facebook comment or message has meant so much to me!  I feel so cared for and supported by both of my church families, and all of my family and friends! Thank you to everyone who has showered me with your love, prayers, support and encouragement this summer.  More updates to come soon!