Another belated update

Ok, I know I have not done an excellent, some might even say adequate, job of updating the blog this summer. However, I think I've included enough about my schedule that you should all understand why I haven't had much time to sit around and spill my guts to the computer. The good news is that now that season of life has passed.

Late last week I was really feeling stretched to my limit, and I turned to an old favorite. Music has always been an outlet for me, and many of you are aware that my all-time favorite is vintage Amy Grant. Now, I've been watching iTunes since we downloaded it 3 years ago for The Collection, but every time I've tried to find it in the past, it hasn't been available. However, providentially last week it was there. I bought The Collection, made a CD for my car (no I'm not high-tech enough to have an mp3 thingy in there), and have been listening to it ever since. Although I find the whole cd to be really encouraging for daily life, I've really been uplifted lately by "All I Ever Have to Be." I feel like I have reached so far and pushed so hard in so many directions this summer that I've been at my breaking point more than once, especially when I was doing it on my own with Nick on the road.

However, I firmly believe that getting this degree and preparing for the job I'll do afterward are absolutely in God's plan for my life. And I know that if this is all in his plan for me, he'll give me the resources to get the job (or jobs as the case has been this summer) done.

Today I completed and submitted my very last assignment for my M.Ed. degree. Now I just have to wait for a grade and finish out my last two weeks as a GA in the History department. I have to tell you, it feels really, really spectacular to be finished with this degree! Although I'm glad to be finished I can't imagine what life would have been like here in South Carolina if I hadn't been obedient in pursuing my Master's. I'm so glad that I took what felt like at the time to be a huge chance.

Alright, enough yammering about what's going on in my head. I've got some pictures to post! I figure I need to get these up before I come back loaded with pictures from Mark and Lauren's wedding (Saturday).

These first pictures are from a picnic lunch Nick, Finlay, and I had Friday on the Horseshoe. I have to give equal opportunity to both parents here:

Alright, I have to admit that I've not been doing Nick justice with his soccer game stories. I actually have some pictures. They're not good pictures, but they are at least pictures. Now you can see Nick in action!

Here you can see the team preparing for battle

Nick is undoubtedly rushing to the fray

Very blurry action shot!

I hope you enjoyed catching up. Now that life is slowing down (ha! how can I say that when we're moving in a few weeks?!), well relatively slowing down, I'll try to keep you in the loop a little better. And for those of you I'll be lucky enough to see this weekend - I can't wait!