Trip to VA-Wednesday through Wednesday

What Brought Me Joy This Week-

Wednesday-
being an early morning person, but not mid morning
playing with Cael and Gillian for the better part of 15 hours :)
listening to Britton Sermons
Subway with Ami, Josh, and kiddos
letting Cael and GillyMae share my ipod- it was adorable!
quickest Applebees dinner ever
sleeping through the last hour
getting the the Anderson(Sr.)'s house
Ruth!
staying up until 2:00am with her :)

Thursday-
planning on going grocery shopping for cake ingredients so that I could get the cake started right away
not actually starting the cake until 3:15
getting what I needed to get done done fairly quickly
not stressing out about it
Ruth braiding Ruby's hair for 4 hours
a "family dinner" with just 35 people. literally.
feeling so comfortable and at home with the Anderson family

Friday-
baking and icing lots and lots of cake!
laughing at the little kids during the wedding rehearsal
visiting with Ami at the park
being an adoptive member of the Anderson family
meeting more family at the rehearsal dinner
enjoying Rebekah's shower, even though I was super tired
talking to Phillip on the phone while being on the front porch during the thunderstorm

Saturday-
Wedding day!
assembling the cake with Marley
her creative genius involving hydrangeas
all the women scurrying around the reception hall with flowers and tulle
the beautiful wedding :)
working the kitchen and cutting tons of cake!
meeting more new people
blowing bubbles
reading Rachel A.'s new sewing book and getting awesome ideas!

Sunday-
visiting the Anderson's church
being thankful that I don't have to pay two tolls to get to church
Sunday afternoon naps
hanging out with Ruth and her friends (slash family)-
Rachel, Jordan, Daniel, Reamy Lynn, Justin, and little Shannon
swinging with Shannon
eating flowers in the salad!
learning a new board game that I can't spell the name
getting 2nd place
my 30 bug bites going completely away within a few hours

Monday-
finally getting up at a decent hour
leaving the house at 9am to drive 3 hours with the Andersons
journalling, reading, and napping in the car
meeting more Anderson family members
home-style cooking
driving 3 hours home- talking to Ruth and Ruby the whole time
pretending to talk on the phone and text with Ruby
laughing at her pretend to call Phillip, and ask all about him
actually calling Phillip using speakerphone, & him entertaining us for the rest of the car ride home :)
staying up until 4am talking with Ruthie

Tuesday-
sleeping in... again.
going to Maymont Park and Cary Street with Ruth & Rudie, and John & Shannon
texting Phillip, "Well Ruth says..."
him texting me, "Well tell Ruth..." :)
the beautiful flowers and landscaping at Maymont!
herb gardens!
ice cream and used book stores!
buying 3 books for less than $2
big huge family dinner
packing

Wednesday-
...only getting 3 hours of sleep?
on the road again
coffee and a bagel from wonderful Bread, Co.
hanging out with Cael and Gilly Mae
napping
listening to music with Cael
letting Cael and Gillian share my headphones again- they are adorable!
lunch at Subway
Wonderpets: "What's gonna work? Teamwork! What's gonna work? Teamwork!"
being only 30 miles away from Owensboro, Kentucky!
getting really really really excited to be back in St. Louis...
sharing my snack with Cael
finally getting to the Andersons, and unpacking the car
Phillip coming to pick me up :)
my beautiful pink sweetheart rose!
getting delicious Ted Drewes and going on a walk
my siblings running out to meet me when we got home
them being so so talkative that we had to come up with a system for them taking turns talking


Verses of the Week-

1 Peter 3
Likewise, wives, be submissive to your own husbands, so that even if some do not obey the word, they may be won without a word by the conduct of their wives-- when they see your respectful and pure conduct. Do not let your adorning be external-- the braiding of hair, the wearing of gold, or the putting on of clothing-- but let your adorning be the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.

Ephesians 4:32
Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.

Psalm 127
Unless Yahweh builds the house,
those who build it labor in vain.
Unless Yahweh watches over the city,
the watchman stays awake in vain.
It is vain that you rise up early and go late to rest,
eating the bread of anxious toil;
for He gives to His beloved sleep.
Behold, children are a heritage from Yahweh,
the fruit of the womb a reward.
Like arrows in the hand of a warrior
are the children of one's youth.
Blessed is the man
who fills his quiver with them!
He shall not be put to shame
when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.