we're off.

We are off to Elba for the weekend to see our sweet friends, Phillip and Lauren, get married. We are so excited about the festivities and cannot wait to see and spend time with our friends. I know that it's going to be a great weekend down south!

Safe travels and happy weekend to you and yours! 

update: picture perfect.

I finally have a result picture of these beauties from way back when. Don't get too excited...it's not a good one (the husband took the picture on his phone), but it'll do. After a lot of sweat and handiwork, the talented Pops Bryant built frames for the prints. I love them! Here they are hung above the fireplace, rustically perfect and making a fabulous statement:

Sidenote: Shug wanted there to be about an inch or so in between the frames, but due to the prior nail marks that was not feasible. I still think that they look great!

Happy Friday! I hope that everyone has a wonderful weekend. Be blessed!

my motto.

My motto lately: LET GO AND LET GOD.

Don't worry. Don't be anxious. Surrender. Relax. Breathe. Say YES to God. Be covered in Peace. Rejoice.

"Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done." Luke 22:42

easter happenings.

Our Easter weekend was wonderful. The long time apart from my family made the reunion much, much sweeter. We didn't arrive until late Friday evening so we spent the night with some one-on-one time with my parents. It was so nice to catch up and chat. Even though I speak with either my mom or dad every day on the phone, I crave that face-to-face conversation. It was a perfect way to start our weekend. 

On Saturday my brother, Jeff, and sister-in-law, Katye, had the entire family over for a cookout. Jeff smoked brats and shrimp on the Green Egg, mom made her famous potato salad, and I chipped in with some corn dip. Lunch was followed by an adorable red velvet Easter Bunny birthday cake that Katye conjured up. MMM. Everything was so good! 

The best part of the afternoon was holding, loving on, and playing with Abby, Daley, and William. They have sprouted before our eyes! 

Though I took only one picture (shame on me) of Abby dressed up in her princess dress riding on Naney's (my mom's) back, I did get a couple of short videos of the little tyke. She and I were lying on the couch and I decided to capture that moment with my iPhone. I rotated the camera to where she could see herself on the phone and she ate.it.up. 

Sunday, the entire family went to the morning Easter service at my parent's church and dined at the country club afterwards. Following lunch, the club put on an Easter egg hunt for the chil'ens. All three of the kiddos participated and all three of them won a prize! No one went home empty handed, which is a good thing when you have three babies who want what the other is holding. I managed to get a few pictures, but not nearly as much as I had hoped. Better luck next time! 

It was sad to say goodbye, but we are looking forward to our next visit. Hopefully, it will be Memorial Day weekend at the lake to not only celebrate the long holiday weekend, but also my brother Andrew's big 30th birthday! Until then, we love you family! We miss you already! 

cleaning and cars.

John and I had a productive, yet fun weekend. On Friday I decided to spring clean. Well, really I started with a closet overhaul, but one thing led to another and next thing you know, every inch of the condo is spotless. For example, I paid such close attention to detail, I even scoured our shower head. I wanted to share this cleaning technique that I found on Pinterest because it actually worked. Click here for a how-to on removing lime build up. SUCCESS! 

My closet project took approximately two whole days. I purged, I organized, I cleaned, I purged some more. On Saturday John and I took a huge load to the Salvation Army and another load to a consignment store in town. They accepted most of my items and I am really excited to see what does/does not sell. I keep checking online daily. Don't you just love technology? 

The fun began on Sunday (for John, at least). Through work, John and his co-worker, Jason, got tickets to the Honday Indy Grand Prix of Alabama at the Barber Motorsports Park. This was my first time going to any car race whatsoever and I wasn't really sure what to expect—Talladega anyone?! 

To be honest, I had a great time, but I lost interest after about one lap around the track. I was more so interested in everything else going on...people watching, the food, and the recreation. So, it's no surprise that I ended up on the ferris wheel. 

The view. 

Main squeeze.

So, there you have it. Great weekend and great week, thus far. Tomorrow we are headed to Atlanta to visit my family for the weekend! I am THRILLED. I can't wait to get my hands on the three little Semanson munchkins and see my parents and brothers. It's been way too long. I'm bringing my big daddy camera home with me, so lot's of pictures to share soon!