June Adventures

June has been full of many unique adventures.

Our first adventure was a trip to the Greyhound Dog Races!

 I had been wanting to go since we moved to Galveston.

You drive right by it on 45 in La Marque.

It was so fun! It was only $2 to get in and we went on $1 hot dog night. Cha-ching!

We went with our small group from church, whom I love dearly.

The whole dog racing culture was so neat to experience.

The different dogs, the betting (we still have no idea what all the numbers on the board mean), the old lady using binoculars to check out the dogs- I mean we were only a couple feet back. 

Overall, super fun!

Next "adventure"...

 we are calling it an adventure in the hopes of trying to stay positive. :)

An animal died underneath our house!

That's all the detail you need to know

besides the fact

that it was the most disgusting thing Chad and I have ever had to experience.

Luckily, I have the BEST husband you will search out where the dead animal is located, call our rental company repeatedly, and then clean with 4 gallons of bleach. 

Wedding Adventure

We have loved watching some of our couple friends get married.

Weddings are so fun! 

And I do love dancing with my hubby. :)

Last night, Jeff and Jen got married.

It was a beautiful wedding and we had so much fun with all our friends.

They even played Dirty Dancings "I've had the time of my life."

One of my all time favorites!

Jeff and Jen had a fun photo booth that I took advantage of more than once.

Tonight we get to use one of our free Galveston dates and go to the Opera House.

We get to see the Addams Family and take one of our favorite couples with us. :)

I'm excited. I grew up watching the Addams family and can't wait to see it! 

Another adventure was running 10 miles today! Half marathon is next Saturday!!!

13.1 miles and I can't wait. 

I called the running company to ask a question. After answering the question, they ask "After you run, will you be participating in the jalapeno eating contest?"

I laughed- don't think so!

To many more adventures as the summer rolls on...

Spoiled

Ever have those days where you are blown away by people's kindness towards you?

Days where you stop, actually stop, and think:

Wow, I am blessed. really blessed.

and spoiled.

Today was one of those days for me. 

I walked into a friend's office I was helping out and this was waiting for me on her desk.

A bouquet of things to do in Galveston!!!

I had told my friend a couple months back that I was looking for something to do for

 Chad's and I 3 year anniversary and ask if she have any suggestions. 

She gave me a few suggestions and then we went on with our day. 

 Little did I know she secretly started plotting. 

She is a BOI (born on the island) and loves Galveston 

so she thought of some fun Galveston things for us to do.

Included in the bouquet is:

2 tickets to Schlitterbahn

2 tickets for a Duck Tour

2 tickets Dolphin Bay Watch

Sonic gift card

Island Game Board Gift card 

(a cool new shop you can go and play board games for free. They have food and drinks, too.)

4 tickets to the Grand Opera House to see the Adams Family

Money to go to the movies

blessed. really blessed.

I am trying to put into words my feelings of thankfulness but I come up short.

You see, Chad and I came to Galveston and we were alone.

No community, no friends, just us.

We have grown and stretched and learned to be a team 

but

it's been hard.

And for the first year here on Galveston Island I had a hard time. 

I was lonely and unhappy and was sick of mold, humidity, and PA school.

I'm still sick of mold, humidity, and PA school but now I, we, have a community.

We have friends, people who care.

Care about us, our marriage, who we are and where we are going.

It has changed everything.

Some days I think do I really want to leave here once Chad is finished with school? 

(Yes because I remember the mold and humidity)

Do I really want to leave this community that has formed after I have waited a year for it?

Those questions have time to be answered later. 

As for now I sit here and think God is good and I am blessed. really blessed.

Pictures of our Galveston adventures to come...

Summer Bliss

Summer!!! 

It is wonderful.

I mean won-der-ful. 

This is my first week off. Next week I start working at our school summer program part time.

This week has been heavenly. I keep thinking I am forgetting something because I have no obligations. 

I am loving it. :)

I have gone to the beach twice so far. My friend told me about this beach that hardly any one goes to but is still really nice. We are now going to  make it a weekly thing. So every Wednesday afternoon I will be relaxing on the beach. :) Only down side...sand. Man, it gets everywhere!

Food! I have really enjoyed cooking since I have more time. I have been making frappes with my frappe maker every morning (Galveston is starting to get HOT again), chicken salad, and our new favorite dessert marshmallow popcorn. (It's addicting!)

Healthy Chicken Salad
Here is the link to the recipe: (even Chad ate it and he is highly opposed to "girly" food!)
http://blog.naturebox.com/post/35207819367/harvest-chicken-salad

Marshmallow Popcorn. Extremely UN healthy :) but oh so good.

And yes last night I might of eaten a batch all by myself. 

Recipe: Pop a bag of popcorn, get all the kernels out

Melt a couple tablespoons of butter in a saucepan

Add a half to a full bag of marshmallows in the pan (depending on how much you like marshmallows)

Melt the marshmallows down with the butter, add about 1 teaspoon vanilla

Pour over popcorn

Enjoy!

Last weekend we bought our 1st car together! Oh so stressful. I was in a wreck, not my fault, but it totaled Chad's car. So we bought Chad this car. So far we have loved it! 

Here is what it looks like.

Buying a car was a not so wonderful part about summer but we had to do it.

Another step into adulthood conquered.

I am still running. 3 more weeks until my half. AH! So excited/nervous.

I ran my first 8 miles last weekend in Wichita Falls.

It wasn't too bad. I really enjoyed running without being drenched in sweat at the end.

In Galveston its so humid usually my hair is completely wet by the end of the run. 

I have my first running blister and let me tell you it hurts-

But I'm kinda proud of it because it makes me feel like I'm a "real" runner.

Haha- weird I know!

I have read Friday Night Knitting Club. I liked it- kinda a modern Steel Magnolias. 

Over all a good mindless read.

I am half way through Call the Midwife. 

I really like it and it's a true story which makes it 10X better.

I finished The Great Gatsby and our book club went and saw the movie. 

Loved the movie- it made the book better.

Next book for book club- The Princess Bride. Did you know its a book? 

It should be an interesting read and then we will watch the movie.

Our book club really likes movies too!

I am starting to plan Chad's graduation party. It's going to be medical themed.

I am having lots of fun with it! 

I am so proud of him!!! This is going to be a big party! He deserves it after all his hard work.

Pinterest has so many fun ideas.

I will start sewing in July when I get my machine. I plan to start volunteering at GUM in July as well.

This summer thing is really awesome. really awesome.

I hope all of you are having a great summer too!