Signs of Summer

Summing up the Beach in Pictures

After our first week at the beach, our friends hopped in the car and made their way down to join us. 

Veda Jane was like 

"who are these people playing in my sand?!"

but then she realized it was Walker and loved it.

Walker on the other hand, was not so in love with the sand at first. 

Once they left for Birmingham, we soaked up the final three days with more sand

and lots of golf cart rides.

And then the seaweed monster started rolling in so we finished up our trip with dinner on the balcony

and explored Jolla Island where Veda Jane found her first hermit crab . 

Unfortunately I didn't have my camera with me but between the island and perusing the boats 

at the marina, it turned out to be one of my favorite evenings!

That night Eddie ordered fireworks right outside our balcony for our sendoff.

I thought it was a little over the top of him, 

but he said it was the only way he saw fit to sum up our celebration trip. 

I have to say I agree.

The end.

Thanks so much dad & Cindy for letting us use your place!

Our Family Goes to Law School

I love looking back on this journey through law school.

It isn't quite over yet, though Eddie graduated last Friday, he is already back to the books preparing for the bar, 

but as a family it feels like we have crossed the finish line!

The pathway taking us to and through it, was one clearly laid by Someone with a vision for our lives a lot clearer than our eyes could see.

Law school wasn't our plan when we got engaged. 

We were signed up to do the 6 month course through YWAM,

get married, and move to Charlotte where we figured we would get jobs and start a family.

I just wanted to be a mom. 

Eddie was on board, eager to be a dad himself, and ready to put his advertising degree to use and support us. 

But one day, sitting 5 months into our time in Africa, 

hanging from a tree in a Ugandan village,

a quiet conversation changed our course. 

I had been praying and journaling through what I felt the Lord had gifted me with. 

I was learning a great deal about myself and began wondering how to be a steward of my talents and time. 

I mentioned to Eddie that maybe I should explore some jobs I might be good at, and wait to stay at home for a few years. 

After encouraging me that I should see where my love of writing and photography could take me 

(which in the end weren't a part of my three years of the working world, ha!) 

he said that if I wanted to do that then he would consider going to law school. 

It was something he had always wanted to do, and when I asked him why he had decided not to at all, 

he said he knew I wanted babies and he needed to get to work!

So that was a pretty important conversation. :)

Our YWAM class was excited to hear about his decision to go to law school when we got back to the base. 

We were very encouraged that as a Christian, 

our calling isn't always necessarily to be a "missionary" in the traditional sense, 

but that we are all called to show Christ, in whatever sphere or industry we find ourselves in. 

The need for Christian influence in schools, government, science, and business is immeasurable, 

and feeling equipped and encouraged to "do ministry" in the everyday

affects our perspectives on the type of work we do, and how we do that work still today. 

I am beyond grateful for how the Lord guided our family's path that day in Kotomor.

It was a realization that quite honestly came as a surprise to me. 

I think I had made God too small, put Him in a box, 

thinking that doing work that glorified Him most meant doing some form of missions.

He was so gracious to widen our gaze, our view of how He can work in the world through us, 

and teach us to give Him the glory in all we do. 

And it is no surprise that He was faithful to see the rest of the pieces fall into place. 

God is so good like that, you know?

I am also thankful that Eddie had the wisdom to treat law school like a job, 

to always be home for dinner, set aside his Sundays, and take his opportunity to learn seriously.

I felt like a proud soccer mom watching him book classes, 

win awards, join the Law Review board, 

and look really, really, really cute with his nose buried in a blue leather bound book.

Is there anything sexier than a smart bearded man sitting in your den 

contemplating the his latest leisure read, The Death of Contracts? 

I think not. 

These three years grew us up individually, 

Eddie in his role as a student, learning to think like a lawyer,

and me taking my temporary place as the supporter, 

enjoying the corporate world and eventually pursuing work at home. 

While the years passed quickly, it feels like we lived a lifetime during them, 

seeing how different things are now as they were when he started!

Being back in school sure was a good time,

but the sweetness of this time gets cut with the bitter reality 

that we're about to say goodbye to another city we loved and a group of friends we cherish. 

Oh, and I'll also miss playing my favorite game,

"How Many Ways Can You Distract a Studying Student?"

But his hard work has paid off with a great job ahead of us,

and I have no doubt the next stop on our journey will once again exceed our expectations.

Edward T. Rowe (Esquire almost!), you make me proud.

Thank you for working so hard for us,

for trusting that God will use your brain to glorify Him in the professional world,

and for being such a fun travel buddy as we fly through this life together. 

More pictures from graduation weekend & the beach to come!

Friday's Letters

Dear Mamaw, happy 89th birthday! I wish I could hug your neck and I promise to come to TN and do so as soon as possible. I love you and thank you for blessing me with the stories of your life over the past few years. You made me see the elderly in whole new light. Young spirits in aging bodies, with a timeline of adventures tucked away shaping character as deep as the lines on their skin. I only wish I had heard your stories sooner, so I could have spent even more time appreciating what a fun, carefree, and spunky lady you really are.

Dear vacation, you were good to us. Thank you for letting us celebrate the end of Eddie's time in law school in the sun.

Dear rotten bag of potatoes, I'm sorry I didn't take you to the beach and left you in the pantry. You didn't have to make such a stink about it.

Dear Erin, my husband almost ate a piece of your homemade soap because it smelled so good and he thought it was a cookie. I am so impressed with you starting your own business to raise money for your desk! I hope you get it!

Dear 4th Anniversary, it was fun closing the book on year 4 with a pool-side cookout. Even if it did feel a little bit like a bad Ben Stiller movie where very few things went right logistically, I got to be with the two people who made this past year our best one yet.

Dear Kendra, I promise to post our "coffee date" next week! I so enjoyed it!

Dear pictures from the past two weeks, ALRIIIIGHT I'll edit and upload you already! Next week. Next week.