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Tuesday, July 31, 2012

Farewell July - You Will Be Missed!

I can't believe that we are already through July.
Over halfway through 2012.
Over halfway through the summer.

It seems like you just blink and the days are gone.

July was good for us.
July was good for me.

July marked the first month I have had any energy at all since my diagnosis 18 months ago.
July marked our Independence Day as a nation.
But Independence Day also marked 6 months of remission for me.

July marked my 33rd birthday.
A birthday I feel so blessed to have been here for.
The day after my birthday also marked my one year anniversary since my last chemo treatment. 

July also meant family trips to the lake and carload nights at the drive-in.
Good times on a budget - my favorite.

July meant rain, which our state so desperately needed.
And watching my boys play in it without a care in the world.

July meant service and sacrifice as my hubby and oldest set out on a mission trip.

Sadly, July also meant tragedy in the state I call home.
First with the wildfires in Colorado Springs.
Then with the Aurora shooting.
Our hearts continually go out to all those who have been affected.

July meant memories and lots of them.

I am grateful for this July and more importantly, the blessing that God provided in it for my family.
I am continually humbled by his goodness and grace in my life.

~{***}~


I hope your July was just as good as mine was. If you get a minute, drop me a note and let me know about your month.

Blessings,
Andrea

Birthday Celebration Part 3: {dinner & dessert}

Okay, I promise. This will be the LAST post about my birthday. But a lot happened this year and this is also a big way in which I document our life. So, bare with me.

After floating the river, we went to dinner with some friends. We went to The Stonehouse - definitely in the top 3 of my favorite places to eat in our town. It was a lot of fun with good food and great conversation. And guess what? I didn't take one photo! Can you believe it?

After dinner we went to our friends' house where they provided the dessert.
And it was sooo good.
Can you say Oreo ice-cream cake?


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It tasted as good as it looked! 

Thank you to all my family and friends for making my special day happen. 
A special thank you to my hubby. 
Not just for my birthday. 
But every day.

Related Posts:


{mitch+audra} ~ est. 7.31.2010

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Today is my little sister and brother-in-laws 2 year anniversary. 


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It is hard to believe that it has been 2 years already.

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I love seeing their happiness and joy....

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....as they build their life together. 

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Happy Anniversary Mitch and Audra.  

Love you two. 

Monday, July 30, 2012

Photo of the Day: {birth order}

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{birth.order.6.2012}

My children constantly make me laugh. If I would have tried to intentionally get them to walk this way there is no way it would have worked out.

Someone would have been complaining about how it is not fair that they were born after another person and would have wanted to petition God for a "re-do". Ultimately, at least one of them would have ended up in tears.

Yet, I look up and there they are. In their birth order. Perfectly spaced. Not one complaint. Not one tear.

Sunday, July 29, 2012

Birthday Celebration Part 2: Floating the River

My husband is one of kind that is for sure. (Those of you who know him are probably shaking your head in agreement.) First, he loves me on a whole other level that I didn't even know was possible. I feel so very blessed by this man each and every day. So, things like my birthday and our anniversary - he seems to take great joy in because it is another opportunity to show me his love. And it really is amazing.

My hubby does not like to do the ordinary. In fact, if it is something that he thinks would be expected he won't do it. For example, roses on Valentine's Day. That would be a big no-no in his world. Instead, this last year he wrote this giant note out on poster board using different kinds of candy.

Back to my birthday.... He always tries to think of creative and original things to do and this year was no different.

This year he announced that he was taking me to float the river on my birthday. It sounded like fun. I love the outdoors just as much as he does. Okay, not in the survivor man, drop me off in the middle of no-where with only a pocket knife and I will walk 20 miles type of way but in the ohhh, isn't that lake so pretty and look at that butterfly type of way. Don't get me wrong, I am not trying to make myself out to be a girly-girl because that is certainly one thing that I am not. But there is still a bit of an extreme between what my husband enjoys out of the wilderness and what I enjoy out of the wilderness. (As you can probably tell by the photos I take.)

Anyway, so we are on our way to float the river. We get on the river and this transformation began to happen in my heart. First of all, it was so stinking quiet! I don't get quiet. I have four children - quiet does not exist. Then there was the fun of working together rowing, avoiding being sucked under and dying, that kind of thing. Just kidding. There was rowing together but it was all pretty mild and not life threatening in any way.

Then, there was the picnic lunch. He was so sweet. He packed all of our favorites and we sat under a big tree just off the river and actually had adult conversation and, again, we just enjoyed the quiet. It was amazing and truly a moment I will cherish in my heart for the rest of my life.

On the river again, we made our way the rest of the way down. Almost to the end a friend of ours went by with a group of people and they all yelled happy birthday to me. It was sweet.

We finally go to the end and I swam in the river for a few minutes until my mom picked us and the boat up. It was amazing and definitely one of the very best birthday expenses I have had in 33 years. Thank you Jason for arranging it all and to my family for providing all the extra stuff like dropping off, picking up, and babysitting. Love you all!

These were just a few pics I took/had taken. I didn't take my camera with me because I was afraid it would get wet. I really wish I would have once we were on the river because there were some really amazing photo opportunities....maybe next time.

[the.beginning]
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[the.end]
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Sunday Scripture: {Philippians 1:6}

Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

~ Philippians 1:6, NLT

Saturday, July 28, 2012

Photo Series: {Mountain Rain}

A couple of weeks ago we spent a Saturday at one of the lakes we are so fortunate to live by.
We got their early.
And at about 2:30pm the rain kindly signaled our departure.

Here are some photos I took of the rain after we left.
{The beauty of mountain rain.}



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