thankful friday letters.

i am so thankful it's friday! there is so so so much i am thankful for. i decided to switch things up a little big and make my friday letters a one of pure thankfulness!

dear picmonkey - i feel so dumb.. but i am SO thankful for you! holy cow you've made photo collages an amazing thing! you help save me so much time. i can't believe i used to go through ridiculous loops to get a half-decent looking collage of photos. AND you have so many options! woohoo! i am so thankful for you!

dear mr. b - i am thankful that the swelling in your eye is going down. crazy allergic reactions.. but i'm thankful that you're okay :) and i'm thankful it wasn't any worse than that!

dear miss riss - i am so thankful for your friendship. i'm thankful that you came and surprised me this week at work with such encouraging words! i am so thankful for the ways the Lord is using you in my life and the lives of others. you're a wonderful, wonderful friend!

dear caffine - wow i am so thankful for you this week. pretty sure i've been drinking you all day long, every day. i don't think i could have made it through the week without you. for some reason i've been so tired and can't get myself awake. with you - i'm able :)

dear garden - i am so thankful for all the wonderful fresh veggies you're giving me lately! i got to enjoy you by yourself, and in meals. i even made guacamole with you [which is amazing!] AND mr. b made a compost so we're not just throwing rotten stuff out for no reason :) i love this 'going natural' stuff! thankful for you being able to provide meals for my family.

dear twitter - thanks so much for all the wonderful tweets people send out. it's awesome to hear other stuff people find or suggest so i could buy some kick booty cords!! [thanks ali @lifeonleroy!!!]

dear mia - thank you so much for listening to my [letter] to you last week! i'm so thankful that you also didn't dare go on the other side of the fence and be served as breakfast, lunch and dinner to the crazy neighbor dog. thankful you're alive and still just as crabby as always :)

dear mr. b - i am SO SO thankful for your help around the house, on projects, through struggles, and just having you in my life forever. you are the biggest blessing and i am so thankful for the man you are and how God is working in and through you!

dear Jesus - thank you for your word. thank you for your wisdom. thank you for answered prayers. thank you for dying for us on the cross. thank you for your new mercies each morning. thank you for your never-ending grace! you're amazing :)

xoxo.

f.r.i.d.a.y.

sometimes i feel like life is going by so fast and i am just on a carpet ride flying through and getting done what i can and miss the rest.

these beauties were delivered to our office at work and i have the joy of looking at them every day :)


we have fun stuff for the weekend though! family reunion tomorrow and dog sitting for my mom!

dear life - slow down. please oh please. i know there are times when i just want to be a little older, but right now.. things are good and i would like to pause you and enjoy this season of life. and i really mean this... although i talk about making babies like it's no one's business. i really do like where we're at. dear baby making - it's not happening. i apologize that you might think we're ready for kiddos. sometimes i just think having kids would fix other problems that arise. but i know that's wrong - so we're still playing it safe and you'll just have to hold off for a while longer :) dear mr. b - i love you. i always will. you have my whole heart for my whole life and no matter what comes our way we can and will fight together. i promise to never give up on fighting for you, myself, or our family. dear Jesus - i pray you manifest yourself to us. i pray for your strength to not give up or lose hope. i pray that you would dig deep to the root and start healing. it is only by your blood shed on the cross that we have victory and freedom and are able to overcome. for that i praise you, Lord. dear fresh flowers - you always know how to brighten any gals day. i love your smell and your beauty. but i do wish you were so expensive. i would love to place you in every room in our home.. but i'm pretty sure mr. b wouldn't approve no matter how good you smell. dear mia - please don't kill yourself while momma is out of town this weekend. i really don't know what i would do if she came back and you were no longer. i know you don't like to be away from home.. but please oh please just don't go under our fence into that other dog's yard. i promise you wont win...

xoxo.

rainy friday.

what a week. it felt so long, yet so short. so many things happened this week - but it was a good week.

dear rain - boy oh boy did we need you! you've been around almost all week, but you sure make it hard to get out of bed.. i love staying all snuggled up and warm with my new fuzzy blanket hearing you outside. you're my reason i was late to work 3 days this week. [whoops...] dear mr. b - happy 11 months!!! it's been the biggest joy being married to you and i can't wait to celebrate our one year anniversary next month! :) and i can't wait for many many more years too!!! thank you for so much love and encouragement this week. you are simply the best! now.. if you could just work on picking up after yourself... ;) you have to admit.. i've been doing a darn good job at it!! dear latest obsession - oh boy.. you are quite time consuming and getting me all excited with hopes and dreams. i do pray that things will work out within time, and i just love, love, love figuring you out and getting plans, designs, and layouts of you together. but i need to slow down with you a little.. you're getting my hopes up too fast. please don't let me down. dear photos - where are you? why have you not captured yourself? why do you always depend on me? i mean.. i do really enjoy capturing those special moments - but every time? my camera is big and bulky... guess i just need to get used to carrying her everywhere i go or remember to bust out my iphone. dear Lord - thank you for answered prayers. thank you for comfort. thank you for showing me my worth and identity in you. thank you for blessing me with one amazing husband and for the privilege of being married to him for 11 wonderful months today!

xoxo.

first friday in august.

oh my oh my! the first friday in august! lots of good things about today and august.. one. i get paid ;) two. it's almost fall. three. it's closer to the big one year anniversary for mr. b and me. four. friday letter's! five.. eh, we'll stop at four. :)

dear project - please oh please can you just work with me. i am super excited to get you finished and you're making me take steps backwards! i know it's a learning process, but back to the beginning..? really? let's start moving forward again. dear polyurethane and lacquer - you guys need to become better friends. you are messing me up and it makes me angry! how was i supposed to know you don't like each other? from now on, i will have to choose one of you. no more double duty for me. dear mr. b - you've got talent! i am SO impressed with all of your wonderful handyman abilities! it's also a blast doing projects together! :) so excited that you are my partner for life! be prepared ;) dear evening runs - holy cow i'm so proud of myself! you about killed me and i think my heart rate was beating a little too fast for comfort, but boy oh boy it was good to experience you again. let's see if you'll stick around. keep bugging me and you will have a better of staying :) dear heavenly father - thank you for your grace, forgiveness and mercy. your goodness is a blessing and i am so undeserving. i praise you for loving me anyways. dear weekend - you're going to be another fun one! i'm super excited for my cousin to get married saturday!! :) how fun!

xoxo

ps.. dear rain - can you please come early or hold off until after saturday evening? the ceremony is outside and a lot of us would really appreciate it if you didn't interrupt her special day. thanks :)

friday.. you're uaully my favorite, not today.

wahhooo for another friday! i just love friday's - except... this friday isn't the greatest, only because i have to work tomorrow. boo. we work saturdays in rotations.. and this one happens to be mine. bummer dude. i worked two satrudays this month. oh well. it's still allllmost the weekend!

dear weekend - i am sad you're not a true weekend for me. working on saturday's is no fun.. i am literally driving on the road for almost the amount of time i'm at work. lame sauce for sure. so now i'm going to miss out on lots of you. dear target - man you've been awesome! i am digging my new shoes you gave me. i would also appreciate it if you could give me a couple new sweet swimsuits at low cost :) it's almost the end of the season.. you must have some clearance items now, right?

dear Jesus - i love you! i was blown away this weekend when i read john 17 and you affirmed that you pray for me. how amazing is that? thank you for being a prayer warrior of mine! :)

dear blog design - be prepared to be changed and to become awesome! i am so excited to put a little investment into you and make you more beautiful than ever! i'm still trying to figure out what 'style' i want to make you.. but i know you'll thank me when i'm all done!! dear garden - wow! you are bearing veggies and fruit like you wouldn't believe! i love the tomatoes so much i eat them before i get back in the house! and your peppers.. i have a feeling they're going to be too hot for me, but mr. b will be in heaven! now only if you would produce the squash.. i'm still waiting for that.

dear mr. b - thank you for all your sweet words and encouragement this week. you are so kind to me and you make me fall more in love with you each day! i do appreciate you sharing your heart with me at night while laying in bed, but please oh please.. can we talk at like.. dinner about this. cause those late nights are killing me in the morning! literally.

happy friday all!

xoxo

freedom friday.

i am so excited it's friday. to be honest, yesterday sucked. it was horrible and i am SO thankful for new days and refreshing starts!

i had the day off of work.. so i treated myself to some delicious coffee - usually we make it at home, but today i needed to spoil myself :)

i don't usually even go to starbucks - a couple years ago they made me really mad for quote they produced on a cup, but that's another story.. i actually prefer a coffee shop that started in the state i live in. it's starting to spread to other states now.. and next month there is a location opening in my city!!! i am SO excited!! :)

i had today off work because i'm getting ready for a mini weekend vacation with mr. b and some fabulous friends! :) don't worry though.. i have a wonderful lady to introduce you all to tomorrow - so even though i'm not here.. you'll still want to meet her, i promise!

dear weekend - i am so ready for you and you better be ready for me too! i'm all packed up, got the goodies ready, stomach prepared for unhealthy cooking, lungs ready for laughter and an attitude ready for a good time! :) dear mr. b - i am so thankful you are there to just listen and sit with me when i need to vent. i am so thankful for your wisdom and caring heart to lift me up when others knock me down. thank you for always pointing me to Christ!! i could never imagine my life without you. dear camera - i am bringing you on this trip.. but please oh please promise me you won't get wet, ruined, broke, or lost. you are my side kick and i need you to document all the fun we're about to have and then bring it home so i can show all my friends here :) dear roots family - thank you for loving me, for accepting me and for walking through scriptures with me. it's such a joy to be a part of your group and bible study :) i am so appreciative for each one of you. dear mom - please quit buying all these really cute clothes and shoes. you're making me way too jealous and you're tempting me to sneak over to your house while you're at work to steal them. if you see any of your clothes or shoes missing... it's not me ;) dear rain - thank you, thank you, thank you! you came!!! it was soooo enjoyable to have you! soon our grass wont be crispy anymore and we can have some luscious greenery back [maybe...i think we might actually need another 6 days full of you to even consider having our plants and grass come back to life]. and please don't ever leave for that long again. thanks :) dear bachelorette season finale - could you please pick my guy for the win? i'm anxious to watch you and might not make it home in time.. so if you could please remember to record yourself this time that would be fabulous as well!

xoxo

friday the thirteenth.

yay for friday's! i am super excited for this friday because we have lots of fun things planned for the weekend! sometimes my boss likes to do random things.. like have hawaiian day 3 weeks in a row because we fail to dress up every time. well not this time.. it's hawaiian day today! [i totally didn't dress up for it either.. all my hawaiian grub is at my mom's house packed away somewhere with all my other fun costumes]. oh well - maybe we'll make it 4 weeks in a row :)

i am so excited for everyone that joined in with the meet and tweet yesterday! the link is still open and we are SOOOOO close to 200 people!! that is super exciting! laura at [our reflection] is going to give away a FREE large ad space to one lucky lady if we hit 200 - feel the excitement and link up my friends!

here's to you - friday the thirteenth - and friday's letters.

dear friday the thirteenth - you really don't scare me. i'm not superstitious. everyone freaks out when you show up thinking something bad will happen. if it does - it's life, bad things happen every day.. so should every day be friday the thirteenth? friday.. yes.. the thirteenth.. not so much. :) dear mr. b - you are too silly. i can't believe i was up before you this morning! then again.. yes i can.. you stayed up way too late watching your crazy 'satruday morning cartoons' and it wasn't even saturday.. and they aren't even cartoons??? i don't understand.. but they speak so much truth to you, so i'm game for your saturday morning cartoon craze. dear work commute - to simply put it.. you suck. you are 26miles and it takes me 40+ minutes AND i drive fast.. but you just don't add up. and to top things off.. you had to add another one of these??

do you realize i am now up to 18 of you? 18 is my favorite number.. but not when it comes to you! and did you also realize the first 16 are within my first 5 miles? as if you weren't bad enough.. the one thing that makes you even worse is that NONE of you are in sync. why can't you just allow traffic to go with the flow? <-- this is one of my biggest pet peves - remember how i was saying about that one time i did a vlog.. but then couldn't upload it? yup.. this was my answer to what is your biggest pet peve. dear [#shereadstruth] - i am so so so thankful i stumbled upon you. i found you just in time for your new study on prayer and it's been a blessing so far! [it's only day 2!] :) --side note plug in.. if you haven't heard of this and want to be encouraged daily by lots of other women while diving into scripture, check it out [here]!]

i have been really enjoying this study on prayer - especially because this is one of the largest areas i want to grow in with my walk - i long for a heart of prayer. dear meet and tweet hop - so much fun! i really enjoyed co-hosting you! :) it was a blast meeting SO many new people and gaining lots of new followers to connect with!

 xoxo.

official friday.

how was your fourth? festive filled or a relaxing vacation day?
this middle of the week holiday stuff really throws me off schedule.. you too? especially because we got two days off work because my boss rocks that much! no... actually it's because we forced him to do it... alright i lied again.. it's because we just.. do.

so with that.. it would have been like tuesday was my friday.. having wednesday and thursday off.. but now here i am back in the office [yes, doing my friday letter's before everyone else gets to work :). shhh don't tell him that either...] AND to make things even more crazy.. i have to work tomorrow too! so does that like make this into a thursday again? ugh... i clearly didn't think this through well enough when planning our work schedule.. i could have gotten myself a 5 day weekend!! but don't worry.. i'll make up for it come labor day ;).

so with all of that being said..

dear official friday - you kind of suck.. but you're still friday.. so you're also still awesome. although having to work tomorrow, does make you still suck just a little more than your awesomeness. right now, the best thing about you is that i get to wear jeans and sandals! :) i love casual fridays! dear weather and heat - can you please be kinder to my husband? he comes home drenched in sweat and exhausted.. you're being too hard on him when he doesn't have air conditioning at work and it's 100+ degrees in there with no breeze. dear mr. b - i have had so much fun with you this week! we've been doing a lot of traveling.. but it's never a dull moment! :) thank you for serving me so well. i couldn't ask for a better husband! dear to-do list - holy crapola... you just keep getting bigger and bigger! i don't have enough hours in my day to accomplish everything you're demanding. i am a full time working woman.. do you not realize this?? even when i have days off, i still don't even get all your little specifics done. i'm getting tempted to hire someone to help - but then again, i would rather hire someone to work my full time crazy job for me first ;) dear Jesus - you rock! you are my true joy and passion. i am so grateful to know you and walk this journey of life with you. i praise you for being completely sinless although tempted and faithful although ridiculed. i continue to pray to be more like you each day - you are the example i will follow.

xoxo.
- jennifer.

friday?

i was so excited for friday. now friday has come and it's not been a great one so far.

i am hopeful it will get better.

i just keep telling myself - forward side of the circle. positive thinking. keep pushing.

dear friday - can you please get better.. too many things went wrong this morning and i am praying the whole day doesn't end up like this. you're too good of a day to be spent badly! dear rain and storms - why do you keep missing my city? our grass is past the yellow point and wildfires are starting. you are currently just south of us.. we really want some rain. i love watching you come over the lake - it's so wonderful, but i haven't been able to do that YET this year.. please come soon!!

dear camera bag - boy oh boy do i wish i owned you! you are beautiful inside and out! you would fit perfectly with my canon camera and lens'. AND i just entered into a drawing for another style of you too. please let me win!! :) dear farmhouse table - i am SO SO SO happy i found you! i am also SO happy that you fit in my dining room right now - although now we can't get through our sliding door.. but you, my love are worth it! now i just need to find some awesome chairs to pair you up with.. hmmm :)

dear mr. b - thank you for being an awesome grill master. i love your ability and talents! you are so sweet and i love how much you make me laugh!! you're pretty much just my absolute favorite!! :) dear heavenly father - thank you, thank you, thank you. thank you for your faithfulness. thank you for your strength to help me carry on. thank you for putting people in my life to love me well. i apologize i haven't spent enough time with you lately.. you deserve more of me and i will try harder starting... now. i love you :)

xoxo.

- jennifer.

happy friday.

happy happy friday to you!

wooohooo! these friday's letters have been so fun to meet new bloggie friends!!! [i apologize in advance for no photos... i was lame with photo-taking this week]

dear boss - you rock. i am so thankful for your flexibility and faith in us and your business. i am also thankful that you are never on time so you can't tell when i arrive late ;). dear iphone/ipad - i can't keep you charged long enough! i'm sorry i use you so much. i sure do love you both though! you help me keep in touch with all my social networking friends all day long! dear social networks - i just don't have enough time for you - i want you to know that i am trying my hardest because i love all my readers and new friends i'm meeting!! dear [influence conference] - ohh where do i begin?! you have so many amazing things about you!! i LOVE that you are going to be centered around Christ. i love that i will be able to meet so many new friends. i love the hosts and speakers. i honestly can't really tell you why i'm nervous to sign up.. well, yes i can. i've never done anything like this before - especially by myself. i promise i'll make my decision before august 1st :). dear mr. b - you always get a shout on friday letters because you are my favorite :) i love you so immensely! i promise to do a better job at keeping the house kept up. thank you for leading me in such humbleness and always pointing me to Christ in every circumstance. dear jesus - you never cease to amaze me. you are always faithful, always true and always loving. i am thankful you are the Lord i serve and worship!!!

xoxo.

- jennifer.

it's friday!

welcome back to friday! it seems to be a pattern that my wednesday's and thursday's are uber busy. well.. i knew thursday's were.. but man it's like after tuesday i don't know where the rest of the week went! but in my book.. i like it! :)

here is a photo to celebrate the 6 month [to this day] count down for m's [in the middle] wedding, my sister-in-law [on the right] that i get to see this weekend!!! :) and *hopefully* see l's [in the background] new house too!!! we were all roommates one.. man we had fun! and yes.. this was a typical evening for us :)

dear 4:30 - please come quickly! i am super excited for my weekend to start!! :) we are going to have wonderful hot weather here! that means laying out on the pool side and lots of sunshine! dear garage sales - could you please have some awesome cheap inexpensive stuff for me to find tomorrow? and please don't sell quickly.. i haven't had much luck with you yet this season. dear bloggie friends - thanks so much for all your awesome love, encouragement, support and laughs :) if you all keep this up i won't have to start that workout plan ;).. just kidding.. yes i do.. like yesterday. dear mr. b - i just continue to be so amazed and blessed by you. i'm glad we can be so silly and laugh together and not have any cares of what others think. you rock! dear koala yummys - i can't believe we found each other in the store!!!! mr. camper koala yummy, i am so terribly sorry you were forgotten about and that mr. b crushed you in his sleep.. your friends sure were tasty!! dear pms - you can leave any day now. i have nothing else to say.

xoxo

- jennifer.



dear friday letters.

fewwww - we made it to friday! i apologize for the abense over the past couple days.. i don't know where they went.. but i am here now so that's all that matters.. right? :)

so this is my first friday letters link up. i'm uber excited to join in and read all the others too!!

dear bangs - welcome back! i've missed you dearly!! it's been way too long since i've seen you last and i was too nervous to trim you myself. dear cheesey picture of myself - i'm sorry i had to do it.. i needed to share the love of my new bangs!! i promise i will have mr. b take them for me from now on :) dear new vitamins - you are kicking my butt! but i like it :) but why must you be so expensive?? we're on a budget here! dear laundry - would you pick yourself up off our floors and shower already? i'm running out of pants and mr. b is running out of work shirts! i guess i'll have to wash you tonight.. but will you fold and put yourself away for me then? dear mr. b - i am so thankful for you! you are the most amazing man God could have every given me! i love you immensely and don't show you that enough. and thanks for the coffee this morning - it was fabulous! :) dear job - why must you take up so much of my time? these long hours are killing me - and the drive.. can't you be a shorter commute??! but i sure am thankful for you anyways! :) dear exercise - can't you just do what you need to do in my sleep? i am already strapped for time and really don't like to workout anyways.. if you could turn up that 'fun' knob.. then i will start to think about you more..

xoxo

- jennifer