Instagram: A story of our VACATION

I Instagramed like CRAZY this week! But it was our first vacation since our honeymoon so....what can you expect?

Our FIRST YEAR WEDDING ANNIVERSARY was Monday the 28th! We thoroughly enjoyed the week off from work. Here is what we did...

Got up last Friday at 4:00 in the MORNING to drive 5 1/2 hours...

I created some AWESOME new crochet designs during that car ride. =)

And while we drove the tumble weeds were in full attack mode...one gave us a chip on our windshield.  This one stuck in our passenger's side wheel well...

And then we arrived...

Eastern WA University to watch my sister Anna (a freshman) run the 3200 at STATE!

(For those of you who don't know track...

3200 = 2 miles)

There it is! 9th in State for girls 2B schools! Not as good as she was hoping, but it was a great experience and such a cool thing to go to State as a freshman.  We are so proud of her!

While there, we got to surprise this sweet friend who attends school at EWU!

She graciously gave us a tour of the campus.

And we stayed with my Aunt and Uncle!

But mostly, we sat in the sun for 2 long days watching Anna'steam take 2nd!  And...we got burned. =(

So I borrowed my aunts hat...and then didn't wear it because it was too windy. =/

Top: Me, my Aunt Audrey, and my brother Anthony

Bottom Left: My Uncle Chip and me

Bottom Right: My and my handsome hubby!

(Travis borrowed my brother's hat and actually wore it...)

Before leaving my Aunt and Uncles on Sunday, we visited Riverfront Park and rode the carousel!

After an AWESOME lunch at Dick's (I seemed to have failed at instagraming that. *tears*), we embarked on another 6 hour drive to Oregon.

And had to stop and get gas in some deserted ghost town...

We threw in a stop at the Portland mall (which has an iceskating rink INSIDE of it - you can go on the second and third floor and walk over peoples' heads!!!).

After stopping in Portland for the night, we completed our journey to Cottage Grove, OR. (Another 2 1/2 hours driving)

We stopped and got a highly unhealthy breakfast at a local QFC. But it was okay because...

This day...Monday, May 28th...was our one year wedding anniversary! So, so, so thankful to have been married to the most AWESOME-for-to-many-reasons-to-list man in the world!

Anyways, we finally arrived at the Village Grove Resort. The desk and TV cupboard in our pretty room at the resort!

We had a fancy dinner at the resort restaurant the first night..our anniversary.

(All but the appetizer were included for free in the package deal we bought!)

We ordered the EXACT.SAME.THING...down to how well our steaks were cooked. =P

The next day we explored the town and had lunch in this ADORABLE little cafe!

We didn't have any, but look how incredibly amazing their dessert case looked!

Why didn't we get any...?

Cute signs on the Cafe wall!

We only stayed at the Resort two nights, so our second night we bought pizza and icecream to eat in our room while watching Pickers, Chopped, and CupCake Wars.

(We don't have TV, so watching shows like that is kinda fun!)

And finally on Wednesday, we headed home.

We sang along to some old

Steven Curtis Chapman

in the car on the way home.

Good times!

And in my boredom from driving, I created an awesome collage of my favorite color...coral.

<3

And we discussed going organic...

...so I bought these when we stopped at the grocery store for dishwasher soap.

Although we got home Wednesday evening, we are still on vacation...til tomorrow morning.

So I did my hair fancy on Thursday...

Fun stuff.

How was your week?

Mine was AWESOME!

Be blessed.

<3

Linking up:

Super Swapper #3!

Hooray!
I get to share one more of my
AWESOME SWAPPERS
with you before the end of the month!


Meet Bronwyn...


Hello there lovely readers! 

I'm Bronwyn & I blog over at Our Beautiful Blessings.

I am a lover and follower of Jesus Christ
&
my first priority is to serve Him in everything I do.

I married my best friend, Stephen,
on October 9, 2011.

We were 19 when we got married!

I'm a sophomore in college, studying Bible & Teacher Ed. to be certified to teach K-12 ESL.

I can't wait to be a mommy someday.

My husband and I talk to each other in silly voices sometimes.

I tend to be rather crafty
&
I have an etsy shop

I like to sing in the shower.

I spent 6 weeks in Guatemala right after I graduated high school & absolutely loved it.

We are going to be missionaries after we graduate.

I am pinterest obsessed.

I like to be clean and organized, but I never seem to have the time to do either.

I blog to remember things, to inspire people, to write what's on my heart, to have a creative outlet, to remember just how blessed I am, and to document our young marriage.

I hope you'll come by and stay a while.

Blog | Facebook | Twitter|Etsy | Bloglovin

Go check out her blog and say hi!  Serious...now...go. =P


Be blessed!

WIWW: Anniversary Getaway!

I LOVE my coral sweater!  <3

I have worn either it, or my new teal sweater every sigle day of our vacation so far (which, in case you were wondering, started last Friday).

  

Yesterday we were out wanding through the 14 acres of gardens at this lovely resort we're staying at, and I was taking massive amounts of flower pictures, when I suddenly remembered...I have an outfit post to do tomorrow!


What better place to take outfit photos than in a gorgeous, rose covered arbor?

My ever patient husband agreed to linger in the flowers a little bit longer to snap some photos of me.  =)  Isn't he great?


Be blessed!


Linking Up:

Peek Inside My Journal: The Gardener

How many of you like gardening?

I like the thought of gardening, but I usually don't like the every day work of watering...or weeding.

My mom and sister love to garden.  And they do a beautiful job at it!

I was reading Isaiah awhile ago, and I noticed that (in chapter 62) God is compared to a Gardner.

How beautiful is that?

I get this picture in my mind of God gently bending down and tending us...His eyes smile down with joy on each new leaf or bud.  His tender hands gently guide us to toward His light.  His nail scarred hands firmly and patiently pluck the weeds out of our lives that so stubbornly insist on growing.  He allows the rain, but just enough to keep us growing, not so much that we drown.  Everything He does in His garden is for the good of the plants...

Does your mind work like this?  Turning thoughts into pictures and pictures into words or poetry?

Have you ever seen a truly AMAZING garden?  Does it not just leave you in awe (with a wee bit of jealousy)?

I love looking at and admiring beautiful gardens.

When I do, one of the first thoughts that runs through my head is "Who is the gardener?  He/she did an amazing job."

Beautiful and fruitful gardens bring glory to the gardener!

If we are God's "planting", then what do our lives tell about our Gardener?

Does my life point to a loving Master Gardner?

It is my heart's desire that when people watch my life, they would see the beauty of it and tribute all the praise to God.

This truly is the good and perfect work that God has called us to...to bring Him glory!

I am praying that my life will bring glory to Jesus.

Link up your Peek Inside My Journal posts below! I am looking forward to reading them!

Be blessed!

Super Swapper #2!

Today I am featuring another one of my AWESOME swappers!

Meet Mindy

Hello! My name is Mindy & I blog over at My Life As Mindy. I started my blog as a way to keep my creative juices flowing! I never really had a set plan for it, but trusted that it would take it's course. I have seen a lot of growth in the past few months and I am excited about the road that I am being lead on. It is turning into a lifestyle blog~ where I talk about recipes, crafts, and my life in general. I hope to have a few DIY projects in the works! I hope you swing on by & say Hi! 

You can always find me on Facebook, Pinterest & of course by e-mail!

Once again, head over and say hi.  You'll love her blog. And she's super sweet if you ever get a chance to email or button swap with her!

Are you interested in sponsoring or swapping with Blessing to be a Blessing for June?

Click here for more info and let me know asap!

I need to start getting your info so we can be rolling by June 1st. =)

Be blessed!

I Was Featured!

Have you heard of Sew Country Chick?

It is an awesomely cool sewing blog that I occasionally link up with (when I actually get around to crafting)! She hosts a weekly link party titled:

Sew and Tell Saturday

Remember this Maxi Dress that I made?

Well, I linked up with Sew and Tell Saturday and the next week...
I got featured!

So go check it out and link up all your crafty awesomeness!

Be blessed.

Alphabet Week Two: BBB

Hello friends! Ready for week #2!?!?!

First Word that Pops into My Head:
Banana

People I Know:
Barbara - 2 of my grandmas
Brandon and Brittany and Breonna - My cousins
Becca - one of my dear friends (who is getting married his summer =D )
Ben - Lots of people, including the current youth pastor at our church
Bill - A good friend who was one of Travis' groomsmen in our wedding

Color:
Blue
Beige
Brown
Black
...wow, I didn't realize there were so many "B" colors

Book:
I can't think of any! =( Help me out!

Favorites:
Beach
Babies
Bubble baths
BB Cream, Garnier (which I haven't actually used yet...I will soon!)

Food:
Banana Smoothies
Banana Bread
Banana Cake
Bread - any type! =)
Brown Rice
Beans and Rice
Blueberry ...anything =)

Dictionary Word I didn't Know:
Blat:

1. To utter without thinking; blurt.
2. To sound or produce harshly or raucously:trombones blatting out a tune.






Be blessed!

(The linky party is up! Sorry it's late.)