happy august.

august is such an exciting month. it's a month that brings my mom's birthday and this year it's "the big one". i know she'll handle it well because not only does she look thirty-five, but she says she feels twenty-five. me on the other hand? may not handle it too well being over 3,000 miles away from the celebration. poo.

august is also the winding down of summer and the coming of fall {read a stellar post over at best nesst for some vivid descriptions of the changing seasons}. i will echo her thoughts of how august brings excited anticipation for fall. i am really looking forward to texas falls. i've heard they are just perfect. the perfect weather. the perfect temperatures. the perfect fall evenings {those being my absolute favorite!}. perfect crisp air, with just a tinge of the dry heat still wafting about. all bringing the feeling of coziness and warmth...a perfect opening act for the blissful season of winter bringing christmas {which i am completely excited for already - that's another post entirely - i won't even mention that i've already shopped for it a month ago}.

we've been a little baffled by the "off" summer we've had here. apparently these temps in the high 80's are a bit unusual, but you won't find me arguing for anything higher. the past two days we've tried swimming and found ourselves shivering as we exited the warm water. the breeze catches us off guard and the cloudy skies are a little deceiving. i witnessed a lightening bolt strike near a garbage container across the street and right outside our window last night. i raced into the bedroom where the hubby had been already sleeping for 2 hours. sure enough, he was awake and i retold the story like a proper journalist. we spent the next hour sitting on the bed with the blinds drawn open to watch the spectacular performance. we were continuously in awe at the power and brightness of the white bolts as they streaked the sky. i've never seen raindrops light up in the darkness and sparkle the way they did last night. we couldn't help but be reminded of God's power and thanked Him for lighting up our lives with His love and grace.

for those of you back home that were my thrift shopping partners in crime, yesterday the hubby took me to one just a block away. wait, stop and reverse that...what?! the hubby took me? nooo?! i know, i know...he really did. anyway, it was a pretty good size one but is still trying to get off the ground with only being open a little over a year. apparently, it takes awhile to acquire junk to sell. either way, it was fun to get out, take a stroll and finally hit up a t.s. for the first time in months! now i feel complete. *wink

here we are just over a month ago. who knew our adventure would seem bigger than the expanse of the grand canyon itself.

now i'm off to boldly attempt to be creative with my newly organized scrap supplies. wish me luck?!