Lone Star Visit

     I liked flying with Southwest Airlines to Texas.  Even though I felt like a middle schooler being picked last in P.E.  NO ONE wants anyone to sit beside them.  no one.

     My long distance knight in shining armor picked me up at the airport, gerber daisies in hand.  We drove around Dallas and spent the evening with his house mates.  Jeff is very fortunate to have such great guys to live with.  You never know what you are going to get.
Friday I got to fix Jeff's lunch and help him off to work.  I've missed being able to serve him in those little things.  While he was at work, I had the pleasure of spending time with a fellow SummerShiner.  We stretch far and wide and I'm so thankful for the friends and connections made through this ministry.  Heck, I married a man I met at SummerShine!!
Heather Joy and I had the best time catching up and strolling along a classy river park.
     Friday evening Jeff and I strapped on our boots(not really) and headed to the honky tonk.  We thoroughly enjoy dancing together.  We arrived early for lessons.  While we have different learning styles at these dance lessons, we figure it out.  Jeff is so sure to know what he's doing before he even moves his feet.  I'm all eyes glazed over for the tutorials, fumble over my feet during the practice round, finally I listen to the teacher show us the step the next time around.  It's a good thing I'm a follower.
     Saturday, oh Saturday was our favorite!  We packed up and hit the road to San Antonio!  Jeff knew there wasn't much to do in Dallas so I'm very pleased he planned a getaway...AND took care of all the details.  We felt like kids on Christmas morning driving into the city and riding the elevator with our new friend "Tony the bus boy."  Shortly after checking in, we toured the Riverwalk, Alamo, and surrounding sights.  We dined at Casa Rio to the sounds of the mariachi band.

Rooftop at the Hyatt...Alamo in the bottom left!

Self timer, I'm much too cautious to hand my dslr to a stranger.

Our favorite part of the whole trip!  Casa Rio on the Riverwalk.

God knew I would need a patient spouse, for more than one reason.  I had my "big camera" so we were frequently stopping for pictures.  When night fell, I wanted to do long exposures on the river.  I worked on them for a good 45 minutes and Jeff never rushed me or complained.  He encouraged and was enthusiastic about my results!  Yaaay!  Click here for night shots on my website!

Jeff getting crafty with our self portrait and my souvenir!

    The next day we toured the Alamo and learned a lot about its importance in Texas history.  We headed back to Dallas after a deluxe breakfast from McDonalds.  Our date for the evening was set at Charlie Palmers downtown.  It was an adventurous experience.  I always like to try something new at different restaurants.  The staff was so great, they brought us an extra dessert!!  We savored every second of our time together.

Then Monday came.  We bid farewell for our final 5 weeks apart.  Yep, I was that girl at the check in counter with mascara running down her face.

Staring Future In The Face

   In the last few weeks Jeff and my conversations naturally gravitate toward future things.  Obviously, because it is staring us in the face!  He has three weeks left of clinical rotations, then graduation in May!  We daydream about what job he'll get, where that will place us, and what in the world I will do there.  A few months ago, I would not have so freely toyed with the idea of moving away from home and starting another life somewhere else...BUT GOD has been hard at work!  I had
so many selfish desires
about where I wanted to be, what I wanted to do, and who I wanted to be with.  At this pivotal time, God has filled me with openness and excitement, when I WAS burdened with anxiety and confusion.
so good.

   For now, Jeff is studying for his licensing test(boards) and working with his great patients at Baylor.  I've got weddings every week until Jeff graduates so I'll edit my face off until he returns!

I'll share more about my visit to Texas in another post.  Here's a shot of us in San Antonio outside the Alamo!  We had an amazing time together!!

T-H-R-E-E weeks until Jeff Williams comes back to me!!!!  Which means three weeks and 4 days until he goes surfing!  Poor man has been land locked for far too long!

What's Brewing?

Lately I've traded my warm coffee for an iced version.  It's so good for the warm days, but gosh if this weather keeps changing I'll never get into a routine :)  Although I crave a good routine, I'm not complaining.  The up and down in temperatures is like my feeling about trading my scarves for flip flops.  Some days I just can't decide which I prefer most!  If you spot a gal waltzing around in confusing seasonal wear, it's me.
   It's not only coffee that's brewing these days!  March has been an eventful month!  Here it is in a nutshell:  Pops's birthday, Granny's birthday, a new job for a family member, surgery for sweet Rilie, Jeff in Dallas, Jeff changing clinical instructors, and Millie and Evan got engaged!  Phew,  I'm worn out just thinking about it all!
   That's right, we are in wedding planning mode.  I'm the official photographer, planner, Matron of Honor.  It's been fun trying to imagine what a celebration would look like that mirrors Millie and Evan's personalities and wants.  We've been productive so far!
Guess where I'm going this week...........DALLAS!  I'm flying to visit Jeff and tour TX!  I'll speak for both of us when I say, we are ready to be with each other!  Life with Jeff Williams is so much better!
   We've enjoyed sending snail mail as part of our communication.  fyi: it has taken up to 5 days for a letter to arrive!  Jeff was having a rough experience one day, so I wrote to him about Romans 8:28 telling him that all things work together for good to those who love the Lord...  Whether things smooth over now or later, we still get to spend an eternity with Christ.  That sir, is GOOD.
In the next day or so I received a letter quoting the same scripture :)  We had both been encouraged by the verse and didn't know each others' thoughts until the letters were delivered.

Are you Reedy?

Sunnie misses him!!

Happy almost SPRING!!!

How about an update??  Jeff made his way to Texas by Wednesday(3/6) night.  He's located just a bike ride away from a lake and about 5 miles from his clinic.  His two housemates have turned out to be delightfully AWESOME!  The other night when Jeff and I facetimed, he and one of the housemates played "You Are My Sunshine" on their guitars and sang to me.  garsh!  Jeff always amazes me.  The amount of people he's met and made friends within the last week would equal the amount of friends I could make in 4 years!
Jeff has begun his 8 weeks in his clinic.  I have begun my countdown for his return.
What have I been up to these days?  I traded being a professional photographer for being a babysitter for a few days :)  I love that I am available to help out these families.  I've also done a few sessions and album design work.

The scenery on a recent run :)

Lately I've written about running.  Here's the crew that ran the Reedy River Run on March 2.  It's a 5k, which means 3.1 miles.  We all had a blast running in Downtown Greenville.  A few of us even got a PR, personal record.  James finished 18 overall with a time of 19 minutes and 36 seconds!  Go brother!!  I ran the 3.1 miles in 27 minutes and 55 seconds, a new PR :)

Headed to the Finish Line!!!

Jeff heads to Texas!

The Mr. has left the building!  Earlier today, Jeff took off on his 3ish day road trip to Dallas, TX.  Jeff will be doing his FINAL 8 week clinical in the downtown area.
We've approached this time period with excitement and eagerness...and tears.  I even shed a few ;)
Anyways, lets focus on the fun stuff.  On his way there, Jeff gets to stop in Nashville, Little Rock and some other cool spots.  Online banking shows he stopped at McDonalds in Knoxville, livin large!
I've sent him with my trusty Canon Rebel XT to capture some memories and insight for us. He may even blog once or twice during this 8 weeks. Fingers crossed!
I get to visit him at the end of March, just 4 short weeks away. Then my wedding season starts full blown in Greenville.
Our parting challenge was...
"That we'd be more in love at the end if these 9 weeks than we were at the beginning."
That's a whole lot of love y'all!
I know Jeff will glorify God with his time in the Lone Star State. I'm so excited to hear about his adventures. If you know Jeff personally YOU KNOW there will plenty of crazy stories!

I tell my clients all the time, sit up straighter...I'm so hunched over!

As a send off, the Williams traveled to Greer to visit and have dinner this past weekend!  We had a great time together :)