summer = busy + relaxing

On the 4th of July Jer had to work. But Moe, Duke and I head to Columbia for the fireworks and actually had a chance to see Jer.

Part of my role as Josie's big sister she never had, is to make her do things that make her blush. So, on Cow Appreciation Day (yes it does exist) we printed out Chic-fil-a's stuff put it on a white t-shirt and as a result scored some free food.

Katya and her friends Michelle & Abby. Katya turned 14 and we had a pool party, of course!

Josie & Joanna. BFFs. If you saw the play Pilgrim, Joanna was that girl sitting behind the piano. Amazing.

This is Lucy. She is cool, if you haven't met her yet you should schedule a date. Lucy-lunch. Tuesday. be there.

Columbia shows movies on the lawn Monday nights and Friday nights. I would have taken a better picture but Jer was very embarrassed that my flash went off. The best part was getting Cheesecake Factory to go and eating it while watching the movie.

While Jesse was here last week we went to RiRa's an Irish pub. Three words:fish and chips. yum.

Shout out to David Sacks. We saw his picture on the cover of a book in Barnes and Noble. Pretty boss if you ask me.

Leo was down for Worship God and we snagged him for a few minutes to hang out like old times.

Jer has been going to Duke's team's soccer practices.

Feeding the fishies.

Uncle Tom's custom made corn hole. His is Redskins colors. Kevin's is VMI.

Weedon's sign. Kevin and Annie had 150 people over to thank them for their prayers for and care of Kevin, Anne and the boys while he was in Afghanistan.

The kids and their spouses.

Grandma G with her kids: Jerry, Sean, Kevin, Kirby, Brian, Kathleen, Brigid and Maureen.

Grandma G and some of her grandkids- Jerry Jr., Theresa, Court, Kit, Sean, Connor, Grace, Emma, Aidan, Brendan, Brett, Tommy, Colleen, Caroline, Jeremy, Kirby, Katya, Joey, Charlie and Tynan. (missing: Josie, Jesse, Cathy, Christine, Daryl and Riley)

Next up: YC'09

the cup

In my devotions I have slowly been reading through A Gospel Primer by Milton Vincent. A must read if you haven't yet. It is a great tool for preaching the gospel to yourself daily.

Today's read really hit home to my selfish heart.

Thankfulness Enriched by Relief

The more absorbed I am in the gospel, the more grateful I become in the midst of my circumstances, whatever they may be.
Viewing life's blessings as water in a drinking cup, I know that I could discontentedly focus on the half of the cup that seems empty, or I could gratefully focus on the half that is full. Certainly, the latter approach is the better of the two, yet the gospel cultivates within me a richer gratitude than this.
The gospel reminds me first that what I actually deserve from God is a full cup churning with the torments of His wrath. This is the cup that wold be mine to drink if I were given what I deserve each day. With this understanding in mind, I see that to be handed a completely empty cup from God would be cause enough for infinite gratitude. If there were merely the tiniest drop of blessing contained in that otherwise empty cup, I should be blown away by the unbelievable kindness of God toward me. That God in fact, has given me a cup that is full of "every spiritual blessings in Christ," and this without the slightest admixture of wrath, leaves me truly dumbfounded with inexpressible joy. As for my specific earthly circumstances of plenty or want, I can see them always as infinite improvements on the hell I deserve.
When I look at any circumstance that God apportions me, I am first grateful for the wrath I am not receiving in that moment (The empty part of the cup never looked so good!). Secondly, I am grateful for the blessings that are given to me instead of His wrath. (Life's blessings, however small, always appear exceedingly precious when viewed against the backdrop of the wrath I deserve.) This two-layered gratitude disposes my heart to give thanks in all things and it also lends a certain intensity to my giving of thanks. Such a gospel-generated gratitude glorifies God , contributes to peace of mind, and keeps my foot from the path of foolishness and ruin.

summer update

For our first anniversary we did a 3 or 4 day beach trip back in May and then in June we went to Annapolis for the day. We toured the campus and had a great meal at this little Irish pub.

On our anniversary Jer had to work. So, Josie and I road tripped up to West Chester for Traci's shower. This is Lucy's birthday month and us Bowers are anxiously awaiting her arrival. T you will be an amazing mom, so excited for what the Lord has for you in this next season.
Duke has a new puppy- Moses. :)

One of the biggest highlights of the summer so far was welcoming home Uncle Kevin/Weedon. It was a big cry-fest. We are thankful that Uncle Kevin is so willing to serve our country and fight for freedom. But even more thankful that the Lord brought him home safely and with lots of good stories. :)

I wanna walk like you, talk like you...

A happy reunion.

The last two weeks were spent in Bethany Beach, DE with the Gallaghers. (more pictures on facebook). Some highlights: stealing the Mack's alcohol while they were putt-putting. charlie walking into the sliding glass door. seeing jesse. being away with jer for 9 days, his longest break since our wedding. late night games with the "grown ups". ribs night and crab night. can't wait for next year.

i heart the drummer

Photo Credit: Annie, Selby's manager
Check out my brother in-law's band, Selby!!! If I was cool, I would have made the word Selby my link, but that is one thing I have yet to figure out in this blog world. Jesse is the drummer, and we love him. The more people that just go to their page, the better it is, I'm not really sure what happens, but that's what my husband told me.
Check them out at www.myspace.com/selbytheband

G & E

May 31st was the wedding of one amazing couple! If you know them, your life has been blessed in some way or another. They have such a love for the local church and God's people. Jer and I cannot wait to see how God uses them in this next season of life. G & E you are a gift to the church, but specifically a blessing in our lives. Love you both.

Sarah loving on the bride.

Garrett snuggling with his almost-wife...and Jeremy. :)
Rehearsal. Uncle Kenneth running the show.

Such a Garrett face.

The real deal. Check out that bridesmaid, shout out to Case, official dress fluffer.

The fastest message...ever.

Three amigos...or stooges.

us.

Pretty sure she was the littlest bride I have ever seen.

Ha, the horse that tried to eat Jer.

Happily ever after does exist.

the sibs.

Tuffer and Josie

Pinkies up.

Elise, Double date when you get home?!!?

stories....

I will start and end with a story...

Shout out to Sharpie, who asked me to share this one on my blog. Though this is very humbling to share....

I went in to get a quick hair cut the other day, at the dreaded hair cuttery, which has been a not so favorite of mine in the past, and is continuing to live up to that place in my heart. The lady takes me back to the washing station and says "go ahead, take a seat over there". BUT the seat she pointed to had one of those kiddy booster cushions on it. So, I say to myself, self she must of miss pointed. I stand there awkwardly while she is getting things together. She turns around and I'm like "this chair"... "yes"..."on this cushion"...."yes"(now at this point, I'm trying to figure out if she is messing with me, but she is one of those dead serious types)....Me:"so I uh, still need a booster seat?"...."yes". UNBELIEVABLE, 24 years old and I still need a booster seat to get my hair washed. I may never go back there again.

On to some of our adventures...

We went up my birthday weekend to Philly and stayed at Matt & Meg's lovely casa. But before we headed over there we went to Covfel Red versus Covfel Blue's softball game. The guy in the picture below all the way to the right was the ump who showed up late cause he went to the wrong field. I think his real job in life is a postman, he was the very friendly type. Covfel Red won.

While I was playing with Ryle and Ben these 3 ladies were up to no good. But they are favorites, so their picture gets a place on my blog.
Since Jer is off on days when ever once else works, we go on little adventures. One day we took a trip into dc and saw some of the major monuments. We also stopped in Arlington National Cemetery where Jeremy's Pop-pop and great-grandfather are buried.

I have a picture of Jer just like this when we were "just friends". :)

The beach. This was the view from our room at Uncle Sean & Aunt Emily's condo that they so kindly allowed us to use!

And this guy... is my all time favorite tourist.

Now for the final story...

Jeremy and I went to eat at the Green Turtle one night at the beach. And these guys below were at the table next to us. A bunch of old guys, who lets say had a little too much to drink. Now, see the guy all the way to the right in the yellow shirt, he is main character number one...the culprit.

See the guy over jer's shoulder in the white shirt....he would be our victim.

Victim gets up and heads to the bathroom, while the Culprit jumps up with a straw full of water and leaves a nice little puddle on Victim's chair. Probably about two or three straw fulls. :) And this table full of grown men just start giggling and of course we are laughing along with them. I mean come on this is something Nick would do. Now Victim is coming back from the bathroom and can tell something is up, considering people who have had too much to drink can't really hide much. He goes to his seat a few seconds later jumps up and totally looks like he wet himself. Culprit wins. They all have a good laugh, Victim states that he is glad it wasn't red and was only water. But of course the story can't end there. As Victim sits back down to pay his check, Culprit jumps up again with another straw filled with water and gets Victim a second time! But this time Victim does not think that is is very funny this time. He whips around and throws a glass full of beer right in Culprit's face. Victim wins. :) So, we were like on that note, we are our of here and they were sad to see us go.

Next we are off to www.thisisnext.org let us know if you will be there!

this guy...

Please be praying for Jeremy if you think of it over the next two weeks. Tonight he begins his final evaluation before being cut loose. Its hard to believe that a year ago at this time, Jer had not heard yet if he was going to have a spot in the Academy. How kind of God to provide him with a job in His perfect timing. We often reflect on that in a suffering economy. Which leads me to some exciting news! Jeremy put in his request for his permanent assignment. We were pretty sure that he wouldn't hear until after his evaluation was done in 2 weeks, if they even knew by then. Well, last night Jer received an email that he would be getting his first choice! As soon as his evaluation ends he will stay with the platoon he is with now working southern nights. :) God continues to bless us again and again, we are so undeserving. Thank you to our cg and others who were praying for this!!

Matthew 7:11 "If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father who is in heaven give good things to those who ask him!"