a month has gone by

dang, i couldn't think of a title for this, or how to even post a month's worth of life.

so i just made a cup of decaf coffee, sprinkled in some cinnamon and pumpkin pie spice,

and will try to capture our last month.

it's been good, bad, sad, the same, normal, crazy.

doesn't that just about sum up all of our lives.

i recently heard a lecture on the show super soul sunday, and i've been meditating on this lately,

and it's been good. really good. it's been one of my biggest struggles, and this talk has helped me.

how to feel joy without fear.

it hasn't cured me, but it sure is good.

here are some things that we've been up to...

i've had a couple of lunch dates with my dear friend shelley. 

we meet once a month, we've been doing it for a while now,

and it's something i look forward to each time.

the last two times we've met, it's been in the same area,

and we can't get enough of steel city pops.

funky popsicles. 

i had the avocado and lime the first time,

and the maple bacon and bourbon the next time.

lots and lots and so much football and kickball in the street.

the weather has been cooperating,

and we love being outside.

a trip to six flags with memaw.

i drove down to see my grandma boyd in waco.

i haven't seen her for a while, and it turned out to be a good day.

and a stop in the little town of west for a drink and a kolache made it even better.

one of boyd's best buddies came to his soccer game.

i could tell that it gave boyd so much energy to have parker there that night.

we love that y'all came by, whit.

thank you.

there has been a lot of sunset watching.

lots of good eating, like this veggie pho.

{i had this to celebrate my victory in court, and even though i don't even want to talk about it anymore, i won my case against the neighbor whose dogs attacked me. and it's over and i can close that chapter. the scars on my arms will remind me that i stood up for what is right, and i saw it to the end.
i'm not afraid of a few scars, we all have plenty of them.
thank you jesus that this is over}.

kevin went out of town, to san antonio, for the annual bbq cookoff.

while he was away, we had our neighbors over for a lasagna and keno night at our house.

i picked up some reading glasses, and do they ever help these 41 year old tired eyes.

i had a great night with one of my best friends at her church.

it was so nice to be with her, because we're at that time of year that we rarely see each other.
we both know the value of friendship, and how important it is to make the time,
even when it feels like there is no more time to squeeze out.
we had a good laugh at how crazy it was for two mamas to work out our schedules to make this happen.
thank goodness we did. 

my sweet stepdad lost his brother john, and we gathered in the country to say goodbye.

 it was a simple service in the misty cold weather, many tears, 

with a few country songs on a guitar, and some fun memories spoken by my stepdad.

we spent the day with family. and, although it's bittersweet, and hard to say it was a good day,

it truly was. 

i keep thinking about the circle of life when i look at this picture from that day, of boyd and his cousin cale.

i mean, it gets me every time.

look at their joy.

my sweet baby boy with his new haircut that daddy gave him.

and then a neighbor kid made fun of him.

and mama bear took over. 

my two favorite guys.

and, a pumpkin carving party.

 i sat down and thought, i haven't taken many pictures lately,

but i guess i was wrong.

i love this time of year.

it's my favorite.

it's like a renewal. 

i don't feel that as much in the spring, as i do in the fall.

my coffee has run out, and i've got some sweet potatoes and eggs to cook for breakfast.

happy sunday,

happy fall.

love,

nicolle