Quite a Summer!

This has been quite an eventful summer! Our niece Katie came allll the way from California to stay with me and Chris for seven weeks! I don't think I was really prepared for what the experience held! We had a blast with Katie, but man, being a "parent" is a lot of work!! lol Katie is an angel (with a little bit of sass--what little girl isn't), so I can't imagine what it would have been like if she wasn't such a good obey-er! I found that I had about 30 minutes of me time in the evening before I passed out on the couch almost every night! ha ha ha. We took Katie to Sea World, to the Children's Museum, to Lake LBJ and much much more. It was sad to see her go a few weeks ago, but it was a little relieving knowing that my house and my husband and my little (selfish) world would be back to normal.

This summer, I also vowed to read more. I bought two books in June and have since read only one, but also acquired "Crazy Love" from a dear friend. I am very excited to start reading it. In November, I bought the book "The Shack" because I was intrigued by the reviews I read, but have since misplaced it. I'm sure it will turn up somewhere.
I also "vowed" to REALLY get back into shape! lol I have been working out at least three to four times a week; although, I think I will be doing more here pretty soon, and have been a little more conscious of my eating habits...this is a blah, blah, blah topic that I'm sure no one really wants to hear about.

It has also been time of reflection for a lot of relationships in my life. I have been able to spend some really valuable time with people in my life that I am so thankful for. Its so refreshing to me how God brings people into your life right at the moment you need them or when they need you. I have also had some time to talk with my brother. I love that guy so much and just wish he would really really cling to the people that really love him--God included. He is making some progress, but I know firsthand that this is an individual process and only he can decide when he is truly ready to make changes in his life. Its just so hard to sit back and be patient. Lastly, Chris and I are doing well. :) I knew I loved him when we were first dating, and then when we got married, but man, that seems sooooooo small compared to the love I have for him four years later. I guess that's a good sign that we are moving in the right direction. Don't get me wrong, we do get on each other's nerves from time to time. In fact, something that we have been working through is our finances. We aren't hurting financially in any way; its more that we have different views on what money should be spent on. For instance, Chris and a friend recently bought a house to rehab as a project and investment. The amount he paid for the house to begin with, and the amount he is investing to rehab the house would pay off the rest of my student loans almost three times!!!! I COMPLETELY understand the potential this house has to make Chris a lot of money, but I guess I get a little frustrated sometimes because I want to hurry up and pay these darn things off! ha ha ha. Its not even about having kids anymore--in fact, after the busy summer we had with Katie, I don't think we want kids for a little while. I just want to accomplish paying off these loans to cross one more thing off my list--and to free up $700 a month! ;)