A Good Day.

Today was a good day.

Justin and I took advantage of the sunshine

and did some yard work.

Our yard is really quite pretty now,

if I do say so myself.

One not-so-great thing did happen

while we were taking turns

mowing the back lawn,

but I'm not ready to 'fess up

to that just yet.

(See my next Not Me! Monday post!)

Later in the afternoon,

we met up with some great friends

for a cookout and some fun.

I spent the better part of the evening

chasing around three adorable little kids,

one of which was our niece, Emily.

The other two, Abby and Gabe,

are so cute I could just gobble them up.

We had a lot of fun!

Shared some stories,

some ending in crazy laughter,

and others in a tear or two.

Pushed little ones on swings

and ate grilled hamburgers.

Tonight, I am so tired,

but it was totally worth it,

as I bask in the glow

of a good day.

Thankful Thursday

Here we are again, dear readers.

It's time for Thankful Thursday!

Here at Love and Lattés,

I like to take some time each Thursday

to share the things I'm thankful for,

and I encourage you

to try it, too!



Today, I am thankful

for the opportunity

to spend time with my mom.

Her time with us was short,

and it went by too quickly,

but I definitely savored every minute.

I am thankful for springtime,

for rebirth and renewal,

for all the green grass

and blooming flowers,

and for forgotten little bulbs

that spring up from the dirt

right when you least expect it.

I am thankful for the sun

that keeps the Earth warm

and makes my freckles

come out of hiding.

And above all,

I am thankful for the God

who put the Earth in motion

and who created the sun

and the grass, and the flowers

and who created you and me, too.

I am thankful that He is not dead.

That He is very much alive,

and that because He is alive,

each of us has a purpose

on this beautiful green Earth.


What are you thankful for today?

Easter Weekend, in Pictures

My momma came to town for Easter...

...we took a day trip to Charleston, just the two of us...

...we visited the Boone Hall Plantation...

...which was where The Notebook was filmed...

...we spent the day being tourists...

...and "oohed" and "aahed" at all the pretty sights...

...the flowers were in full bloom...

...afterwards, we checked out the Charleston pier...

...and made friends with this guy...

...and on Easter Sunday, we spent time with family...

...watching Emily hunt Easter eggs...

...when she found them all, she asked "again?"...

...how can you say no to a face like that?

Tomorrow

Tomorrow,


I will drive to the Charlotte airport


to pick up one of my favorite people, ever.


She will stay here with us over Easter weekend.

There will be laughter, food, and fun.

Can't wait to see you, Mom!

Not Me! Monday

Thanks to an amazing lady

known as MckMama,

Mondays have become a day

to talk about all the things

we haven't done during the week.

For example...

This week, I haven't felt like

my energy supply is running low,

even though work hasn't been

all that bad, and the only responsibility

waiting for me at home

are my two dogs.

Well, and the laundry,

and dishes,

and the other fun stuff

that comes with adulthood.

But sometimes,

it just feels like everything

is just a little harder than it should be.

Do you ever feel that way?

Well, I sure don't. Nope, not me!

On Saturday,

I most certainly did not

do absolutely nothing all day.

I am always very productive,

and would never spend a whole day

going between the couch

and the back patio.

(With the occasional break for food

or going to the bathroom, of course)

And finally,

last night,

I did not have blueberry muffins

for dinner.

And even if I did happen to

bake muffins for dinner,

I would never eat four of them

*cough*slathered in butter*cough*

Nope, not me!

So what have you not been up to lately?

Free write

Work. Come home. Eat. Sleep. Work.

That's what my life has felt like lately!

Not a whole lot to blog about,

which is why my posts have become

sort of few and far between.

Justin's out of town right now,

in sunny Florida. He's going to see

a movie at an IMAX theater today.

I wish I could be there with him!

Instead, I'm having leftover pizza

and spending some quality time

with Daisy and Ellie

(my dogs, for the new readers).

I am loving this sunny weather,

and hope it stays nice like this

over Easter weekend,

when Mom will be here!

I'm thinking I'll have to

pick up some egg dye

so we can do the whole

Easter egg thing.

I always get so into

silly little traditions,

like carving pumpkins,

dying eggs,

and decorating

Christmas trees.

These things remind me

of my childhood,

and of the people

I left behind in Michigan

when I moved down South.

I am so looking forward to Easter!

More to come. :)

Thankful Thursday

Here we are again, boys and girls.

It's Thankful Thursday!

Today, I am thankful

for the bright, sunny sky

and our backyard

which is already green

even though it's only March.

I am thankful that my hubby

finally got some great work

even though it means he has to

be out of town for a week.

I am thankful

for my Daddy,

who texts me every now and then

just to see how I'm doing.

For my Momma,

who is coming to visit me

in just SIX days!

For my brother

and my sister

and the family I married into.

I am so very blessed

to be surrounded

by so many wonderful people.

I am loved.

I am thankful.

What are you thankful for?