just a few things I love

clear, bright blue skies
fluffy, stark white clouds
storm clouds rolling in...and the breeze that tags along with them
ridiculously bright green grass
pictures of really cool starfish...purple ones...starfish that I hope to one day see IRL
velvety baby cows and their bossy mama's that keep me away
a silly, annoying donkey and his ignorance of our dislike of him
dogs who think they own the ranch
one specific dog who things he owns everything.  Well, everything except for that one specific little boy who thinks he owns the dog.
cackles and giggles from an unnamed little one while he harasses the aforementioned dog.
temperatures under 100
temperatures over 100 {as long as the humidity stays away}
air-conditioning. {on days when the humidity wants to stick around awhile. pun intended.}
laughter with my family

a rusty, but working tractor that we can all sit on and hang around while watching the storm clouds take over.

 the little one beating his own little drum

 the best youngest sister a gal could have

 the best youngest brother...who loves my little one no matter how many socks he wears

 my smiling Jahna Pali

glistening, beautiful storm clouds

 brothers and little ones playing and laughing until their guts hurt

a roof over our heads.

Many consider it important to have a roof over their heads.  I agree.  I prefer to sleep inside while the mosquitos sleep outside. It makes me sad that many people don't have the option of staying away from mosquitos. Mosquitos are mean.

That being said, I'm beginning to quickly come to the realization that having a specific roof over my head might not be as important as deemed by the society I live in.  

Our way of living is currently not listed in the normal category.  We live back and forth between 2 cities, 5 hours apart.  I travel about 90% of the time for work and when I am not traveling, my office is located at least 2 hours from one of the places where we sleep.

Many people don't understand.  They think something must be wrong. 

They wonder how we do it.

Well, if I thought about it for very long, I might wonder how we do it as well.  But, I try not to focus on things I don't understand. 

(As I've grown up, I've come to recognize this ability to not focus on the bad (or unknown) as a gift - a gift I'm continuing to hone on a daily basis)

There is a season for everything. Right now, we are in a season of my husband finishing school and God has blessed me with a job that can provide for us while he finishes his studies. It won't always be like this, but it is how things are for now.  I know- it's not normal.  But, then again, what is normal? 

My mom always said that normal was just a setting on a dryer.

Many times people ask how I cope with being away from home for so long.  I'm always frustrated by this question because I know that my answer won't sound right.  I want to say that although I miss my husband, kiddo and family, I don't really feel away from home. I enjoy the travels.  I enjoy seeing God's creation.  I enjoy imagining what it will be like to bring my family back to the places that I find and love.  I enjoy knowing that I am being used as a light in a pretty dark world. But, I know that to many people, who spend most nights in the same place, this answer will sound weird. 

Today, I was reading one of my favorite blogs and I came across a post that made me smile.  One of the sentences read "Communion with Christ, the continual conversation of the heart, wherever you are, this is what makes the heart love....love is the only real dwelling place"

I stopped and re-read it.  "wherever you are...love is the only real dwelling place" 

My heart smiled.

How do I do it?  How am I okay being away from home?

I'm not away from home...My Heavenly Father is with me - loving me, encouraging me, sharpening me...my only true home is with Him.

Is it difficult to not be with my husband and little one every week?  Yes. 

Do I miss my family, my siblings, my dogs? Of course!

But, the time away is giving me time to grow closer to my Heavenly Father.  This growing closer...this sharpening of my soul...it is refining me to be a better wife and mum.  It is preparing me for the day when our seasons change and I no longer travel like a gypsy. 

Tonight, I'm thankful for Ann and her blog post today. A post full of words that comfort and encourage me. A post that helps me remember that my feelings are okay, even if they don't fit with what society deems normal.  A post that reminds me that I'm not here to always be comfortable and normal, but I am here on this earth to be a light, to share His love with others...so that others will want to find Him.

And while I do that, He is always there, giving me grace.

Even though I don't sleep under the same physical roof each night, I do sleep under the best roof each night. 

Him.

July...in pictures...via Pikaw...

July disappeared.
It started with a nice week in H-town with the hubs and my little one. We had fun spending time with family and some out of town friends.  It's hard when friends live states away, but always nice when things immediately fall into place when you see them again.
Then, the hubs are I were off to Barbados.  I was going for work, the hubs went for vacay.  We had a great time.  We swam with turtles, drove around and got seriously lost, visited a cave on the edge of the ocean and took some serious pictures at the wildlife sanctuary.  We planned to make an animal photo book for the little one. We looked at the pictures that night and loved them.  Then, the EVIL digital camera fairy came and stole all of our pictures. The hubs took the card to a camera store in hopes that he could find them.  It didn't work. So, no pictures from Barbados.
evil, evil camera fairy.   
But, I'm very thankful for great memories.
I flew home, met my sister and little one at DFW, changed planes and headed to Cali.
I went to Cali for work, the sister and little one went for vacay.   
Are you seeing a trend yet?
I was working at a new account and it was a stressful week to say the least.
But, one of my dear friends lives in Cali and my sister and little one were with me, so it really was an amazingly great 10 days! We were able to spend time with our wonderful friend and the little one fell in love with his Aunt Kiki!  Not that she needed help, but the toys from Toygaroo definitely sealed the deal! We roamed around Santa Monica, Venice, the mall and Jubie's favorite - Knott's Berry Farms. It was her favorite part of the trip.  She's quite the thrill seeker.
My sister Jubie is unbelievably talented.  She is the most wonderful watcher of all things little one and the most talented photographer I know.  We have lots of pictures, but here are some of my favorites.
Enjoy!

Not so secret anymore, now is it?

Best $10 spent in California

He needed the iPad to rest his iPhone on...kids these days.

Barbados...

Wow, the week has flown by!
We arrived last Saturday and head back to the states tomorrow.  The wifi has been a little sketchy, so no pictures - as of yet.
Today, I am not working.  (yea!)
We are going to go swim with some turtles and we have rented a car - going to tour the island a bit this afternoon.  Should be fun, since they drive on a different side of the road here.
Hopefully, we will get some pics up next week.

Oh - and my sister had her little one...and my little one is obsessed with him.  I hear he's trying to snag him...

the little one's 2nd Astros game

Last night, we were blessed to go to the Astros game with some amazing friends!  It was great to be able to hang out with them and we all enjoyed watching the little one mimic the ball players.  

During a break, the ball girls were throwing {soft} baseballs into the stands.  

The little one got on his daddy's shoulders and waved and waved, hoping to get a baseball. They threw some around our section, but not near us. Then, they moved on...but, one kind guy on the field noticed the little one and he pointed him out to another guy.  

They went and got a baseball from the girls and threw it directly to us!  

The little one couldn't have been happier!

Around the 4th inning, the little one wanted to roam...so we went on a stroll.  The stroll involved some shopping and we left with a {soft} bat, ball and glove.  For the next hour, we watched the little one play baseball while the boys watched the Astros score some runs.

It was a winning night for time with friends, the little one...and the 'stros! Yea!