EastCoastLove

I huge milestone has happened for Kimmel's mom's side of the family. His great grandmother turns 100 on Wednesday. She is a spry young thing that prays for her whole family every day while riding a stationary bike each night for an hour. She is a special lady to her family. I have only known about her for about 3 years and i find her amazing! She was a good sport and wore this head band and fun necklace :) Her daughter Ann had a friend compose a poem based on her life and i feel these words are better than any i could say about her. In Honor of Maxine Price Ray  How does one begin to tell of one hundred years of living? A hundred years of smiles and tears, of loving and forgiving?  Childhood years passed quickly by, and God's unseen hand was guiding.  You became a teacher in Palacios where your family was residing. When a Baptist preacher moved to town, he brightened up your life. It wasn't long before you knew that you would be his wife.  And so one Sunday mo...

A couple weeks back we were hanging out with our friends Kyle and Maddie talking about the wood plans that Ana White has on line. Talking about the things Kimmel and i want to do. Then we came across the laundry pedestal and Maddie mentioned her parents just got front loaders and were looking to get one of those. I think she showed her mom and dad, they liked it but didn't have the time to make it. So just last week her mom asked Kimmel to make her a pedestal. We went over, took some measurements, and then he took the plans, tweaked them a hair and 'blam' we have an awesome pedestal! She wanted to paint it and so we are excited to see the final results. :) My hubby rocks at this stuff!! Its fun to watch him get excited and create these awesome things for us and our friends!  If you have front loaders and need a pedestal check out AnaWhite's . 

I have mentioned the change of hours for Kimmel and how it has affected us, and how bored i get at night! Its really weird when he is gone so much during ' summer '.  I think my expectations of a lazy relaxing summer has just been slowly crushed and i am bummed :( (pity party feel bad for me! :P) So my idea now is to read! Read lots while he is gone. So today we went to Barnes and Noble to get my first one. My friend Kari suggested i read " One Thousand Gifts " by Ann Voskamp. Its a New York Best Seller so i guess it can't be all that bad! haha So i have purchased my first book that i aim to read by the end of this month...we shall see. So i am asking for your suggestions of summer reading . Is there a book you totally recommend to your friends and family? Fiction or non. I will take it all, as i try an figure out my new ebb of life. I can't keep laying around and trying to find something on all 300 channels of Direct TV!! Help! :)

So this weekend Kimmel and i headed out to lake whitney for his family reunion. Its a full weekend of fun with many generations and sweet people. The first time i went with him was about 3 years ago i believe, kimmel and i were only dating, and we only went up for the saturday afternoon. This time we spent the night and time with extended family we only see at christmas. It was also nice to put faces with names of family that gave us gifts from the wedding, i hope i wrote the thank you notes! :) It was a very relaxing time we walked by the lake a couple times, but no one fished or swam cause it was really low!  We partook of Kimmel's favorite pass time...Napping! We got to nap with our lil niece while her parents went to the dock. Being the photo lover i was really bummed i didn't bring my camera so i used my phone and only got this one above. Oh well, next year! We are thankful we got to go this year and look forward to next year.

In case you didn't realize this its SUMMER!  I love having andrew around more but my schedule is null and it makes me feel a bit weird .  Kimmel has been working at Jim's to prepare us for when he isn't working for KISD  anymore so that is weird .  Its 100 degrees all the time here in Texas, thats not weird , but  me hoping that it wouldn't happen this summer is weird ! haha  Not visiting my family this summer is weird so i am going to have to rework  the schedule and fix that! Without Kimmel i believe. :(  Still haven't seen Fast Five yet.... WEIRD !  Don't have any beach plans this year... WEIRD !!  First summer not doing any youth events... WEIRD ! The word weird looks weird after typing it several times!  Just been feeling weird lately...so i thought i would share.  No pictures or fun quote. Just weirdness around here.  Hope your summer lovin is good!  :) 

This past weekend was my first wedding as the photog! The groom was a co worker of Kimmel's, Brent. They coached middle school hoodlums a variety sports together. When i talked to the bride i was very clear with her that i haven't ever done a wedding, and honestly wasn't sure i wanted to get into, so this would be my first. To which she responded, 'oh that's fine' and the groom said to Kimmel, 'we have seen her blog and like her work'. So i figured they knew what they were in for! haha I shall practice on you!  :) Kimmel was my side kick for the evening and together i think we captured their night! I think together we took over 1200!! We only had one issue with a lens, and had to get batteries from the car for the flash. After the reception started Kimmel asked, "would you do another wedding" with a cute chuckle :) to which i responded 'Absolutely!' Even though my feet, back, and neck were hurting and my 'trigger finger' was ...

I love it when friends do surprise parties, gifts or anything cause its so fun and loving! I also secretly love getting scared and LOVE scaring people (tee hee) I have some fond memories at work with Kyle and Dustin and our love of scaring each other haha Andrew HATES it when i do it so i like it even more! Evil? yes! This past week Kimmel and I got to surprise our friend Christin, in Austin, for her big 30!! Her husband Dustin planned it out and we just showed up with some balloons and a smile! She had no clue so it was really fun! It was a quick trip but totally worth it.  We spent the day shopping for a bday outfit then Kimmel Dustin and i played around with cameras cause Kimmel and i are shooting our FIRST WEDDING tonight! I employed andrew cause my friend who did mine couldn't come :( we got some fun shots!  Andrew snagged this one of me and their Daughter Chloe :)  The birthday girl and her hubbby :)  We went to dinner at a Mexican Restuarant that had a...

psalms 114:4-6 He has caused His glorious works to be remembered; the Lord is gracious and merciful. He provides food for those who fear him; He remembers His covenant forever.  He has shown His people the power of His works; in giving them the inheritance of the nations.  Life's journey takes you through hills and valleys, bumps and cracks, all the while learning so much about our Lord and even a lil about ourselves. Sometimes we watch others take many twists and turns when our seems straight and calm only to curve and shows us something new. For the past year or so God's grace and mercy has been evident for us and our friends. Its hard to see as your journey takes a turn or loss you didn't expect but the hindsight is beautiful! Its awesome to rejoice with friends after many years of no harvest to now have plenty! God's grace and provision has been very visual for me this past year. Through many changes in our family and friends He has never changed! He is ever ...

My friend Brenda made these DELICIOUS blueberry muffins the other morning and i was surprised to find that sour cream was used to make muffins! Apparently this is a well known bakers secret but i had no clue. With the fresh blueberries these were outstanding i have to share. She got the recipe from a blog called The Brown Eyed Bake r. Check her out! Here is the delicious recipe you have to try! I want to switch around the fruit too...like fresh strawberries or apples and cinnamon. What would you put instead of blueberries?? 2 cups all-purpose flour
 1 tablespoon baking powder ½ teaspoon salt
 1 egg
 1 cup granulated sugar
 4 tablespoons (2 ounces) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
 1¼ cups sour cream
 1½ cups frozen or fresh blueberries 1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F*. Grease a standard 12-cup muffin tin (or line with paper liners) and set aside. 2. Whisk the flour, baking powder and salt in a medium bowl untill combined. Whisk the egg in a separate mediu...

Friday and Saturday i am going to Canton. If you haven't been there or know what i am talking about, GOOGLE IT!  (canton trade days) It is this really great huge outdoor shopping place with all sorts of hand made, decorative and random stuff! It's totally awesome! haha My friend Christin's mom, Renee, makes these incredible crosses and has a booth there. ROYAL HERITAGE DESIGNS They have been at Canton for several years and it has been awesome watching her creativity and gift just expand and take off! They are my texas family so i am happy to say they are letting me help at the booth this weekend. Christin and i will be spending the night there in their special spot...its like an awesome girls weekend. I am a little worried about the heat though. Its gonna be in the mid to upper 90's! YUCK!

A fun question to ask friends and family is, "what is your favorite song right NOW?" I find that i switch back and forth between favorites. There are a few that will stay on the top 20 songs of my life, but there are some that just pass thru for a small time in my life. Especially after break ups i have a few songs that i listened to that helped me heal and i cannot listen to them now! haha some songs remind me of stupid moments that i will never want to relive and then the rest are happy awesome things :) All that to say i really love this song off the Gungor albulm! i blogged about them before if you haven't you need to check them out!! They are currently on tour with David Crowder Band...their LAST tour for DCB. Get your tickets now!! Whats your favorite song Right NOw??  The Earth is Yours- Gungor Your voice it thunders The oaks start twisting The forest sounds with cedars breaking The waters see You and start their writhing From the depths a song is ri...