Another Summer

Another summer has come and gone.  

Another summer for the memory books....

 or blog!

I always seem to compare a season or time, to the time from the year before.  I like to compare and contrast .....to see what life has brought or how it has changed.

Most of the time, things change and developed for the better.  And despite some circumstances (a few hiccups over the last few months, and missing loved ones so much), this summer remains the same.  Many wonderful memories made!

This time LAST summer, Troy's best friend John and his wife visited from Maryland.  They brought with them exciting news....

A few weeks ago, they traveled to Louisville for another summer visit.....

and this time brought with them the sweetest 7 month old that ever was!

It was somewhat emotional for me to see Troy with his best friend's little one.

A 17 year friendship filled with memories to last a lifetime.  And to think.... that really...the memories have only just begun.

John and Nina left baby Max with grandparents for the very first time, to have dinner with us that evening.  How nice!?

Troy and I absolutely could not get enough of Max.  And now.....after being with him....Sunday night phone updates and occasional photos just aren't enough anymore :(

We love you John, Nina & Max and pray often that life brings you back to Louisville (FOR GOOD!!) very soon!



Another summer brought another 4th of July picnic....

And another chance to compare memories from one year to the next....

And another summer's end brought a new school year.

I LOVE back to school pictures!



Will & Max...

Cooper & Cameron......

Nate....

And I even got to see a photo of Lorielle.....who went from a senior with her new car last year....

to a college freshman with a new dorm room (and sorority!) this year....

As sad as back to school is....   I love the first day photos!




And summer isn't all about comparing old memories..... but also making new ones.


A summer evening barbecue with best friends....

(and an excuse to use my cute summer dishes!  Thanks Mom for surprising me with my matching bowls!)

An evening of food, friends....  and catching lightening bugs in a ruffly pink nightgown.... was a new summer memory...  and if I have anything to do with it- a new tradition.

This summer brought lunch dates.....

..outlet shopping trips....

....many evenings out with friends....

....  5ks and new memories for Mom & I.....

.....lots of time with our little ones....

....dinners with the family........

......lots of summer date nights, just the two of us.....

...... dinner parties, our first gala......

.....and even a sighting in the local paper.....

...in which I wasn't at all excited about....

Whether comparing memories or making new ones......  once again, we had a beautiful summer!

But even with all of the memories and enjoyable times.... without a doubt.....  our biggest blessing of the summer was an answered prayer.

Between dinner parties, get-togethers and evenings out.....  we were dealing with quite "the situation" over here.  A situation that lead to two summer surgeries, with 12 weeks of a frustrating recovery in between.

A situation that just a few weeks ago, was very scary.

I chose to include this last part in the blog for a few different reasons.

One.....  as much as we wish it wasn't....it was a huge part of Summer 2013, and one for the memory books.

Two....  I want to not only remember, but scream from the rooftop of my thankfulness for a prayer answered.  To give credit, where credit is due.  To thank my family and friends for 3 months of prayers and dedication.  There are people that causally say "I'll pray for you," ...... and then there are my people.  My people don't "say a prayer,"  ...... my people fall asleep with your name on their heart.... spend dedicated time with the Lord in your behalf....  worry for you, plead for you, and demand goodness for you.

Those are my people.

To all of my people......from the very bottom of my heart..... I can not thank you enough.  To think that you spent even one second of your day in prayer for me, is by far, one of the best parts of this summer.

The third and final reason I decided to end the blog on this note, is because with all my being...... I know that this summer was what it was..... because of one thing and one thing only.......

the peace that comes from having a relationship with the Lord.

It is what made this summer a sweet one.

Yes.... of course the fact that the prayer was answered....  the idea that I was blessed and the outcome was good.... is what makes this summer a success.  But the peace that comes with a relationship with the Lord....the peace that held me all summer...  is what will stay with me always.  Because even if the outcome had been different.... the prayer unanswered.... the peace that sustains me, would remain.

He still remains.

When dealing with unfortunate events or unforeseen circumstances....for me...  it is a peace beyond anything the world can provide that comforts my heart.  It is this peace that allows me to carry on with what life brings.

It is the reason I leave the surgeon's office with yucky news, but still head straight to the tux shop to prepare for the weekend's events...

It is the reason you worry about what could be....  and yet you still laugh with your family, go to dinner with friends....

and create a summer of memories.

To know that my life is not my own.... to know that I belong to Him, and that no matter the outcome of a prayer....  that His plan is far better than I could ever imagine, is why our life continues to be a beautiful one to me.

To know, that no matter the situation occurring...  there still remains ...an unspeakable joy in my heart.

To know these things is to have an undeniable, perfect peace.

I know that this summer is full of photos and memories... not just because a prayer was answered.....  but because of all that comes with knowing Him.

The last photo of the summer was taken a few days ago.....

Right before going in for surgery, the surgeon said... "I don't feel this will happen....I feel that all will go well this time...but if things are not what I predict...  if I see something that I'm not expecting...  do I have your permission to do what is necessary?"

I hardly remember anything after that point.....   only that I woke up with Troy and my parents next to me.....  and asking them if everything went okay.

This picture (taken immediately after waking & asking) tells the rest of the story....

 :)

Every now and then, someone will mention that they like reading the blog.  It rarely happens, but when I do hear this, I get the biggest kick out of it.

It tickles me that someone actually enjoys reading about where we had dinner that weekend.

Or that we went to the pool.

Or saw a movie.

??

The fact that someone likes to read about our life....  or that someone other than my mom, is willing to look at dozens of photos of me kissing Troy's face off.....   is sweet to me.

But more than sharing where we went to dinner, what friends we visited with, or where we've traveled...

 more than any of that....

I hope I've shared with you about what I know and have in Jesus.

For it is from this...  that everything else flows.

Thanks for reading tonight.

Have a wonderful week.

Love,

Kristin