We're in Charlotte!

This is our first night here in the "Queen City" of North Carolina.

We ate breakfast at the airport about 8:30 this morning. Our flight finally left at noon, and we were at the hotel by 4:00. We were so hungry! We knew if we stayed at the hotel for any length of time we would fall asleep, so off we went in search of some dinner.

We walked around down town for a while getting a feel for where things were at, and when we started walking down where the restaurants were, we ran into a bike race. Of course, all the eateries were on the other side of the street and everything was blocked off. We finally made our way to the other side and found a place called Zinc. We sat out on the patio, and it was so pleasant. The bike race was going on behind us, so there were a lot of people out on the patio and walking on the sidewalk. The atmosphere was really friendly.

And the food!!! It was so good. Dan got an Angus burger with mushrooms and swiss with a side of truffle infused cheesy tater tots...wow! I got a turkey burger with bacon and avacado with a side of hand cut fries seasoned with pepper, sea salt, and a sprinkling of cheese.

Here are a few photos...

Ummm...I better explain the first one. This was when we first came upon the race and were a little taken aback by the theme (yes, that says booty), but I couldn't help the photo op!!! hehehe

the heat is on

The heat is o-on. The heat is on. It's on the streets. The heat is....ON.

Love me some Huey Lewis and the News! Just for you, straight from the eighties.

It has been HOT outside! You would think it was just about August in Texas or something!

Well, I gave it a good try, but my tomato, zucchini, and squash plants (Read:I'm Gonna Try Something New!) are officially dead. Maybe I should have used the pink fertilizer...

Camp was great! I had a blast. Squirt and Missy hung out with me some on the golf cart. They gave me some sweet treats and left me a cute note on the steering wheel, which I left on there for the duration of the week, so anyone who got on cart 600 for any reason knew that c and m from 2B loves Teresa. I love y'all too!

Two more days of work left and we fly out to NC for fine arts! YEA!!!

That's about it for now. This is ree, signing off.

The Rainbow

It was nice to have rain last night. Other parts of the city had gotten some rain in the last week, but somehow it always eluded me.

It was still overcast quite a bit when I pulled onto the highway at 6:40 this morning. As the car rounded a bend, I was met with the beautiful sight of a portion of a rainbow. I looked for the rest of it, but all I could see was this fraction of what would be a huge arc.

But it was enough.

Enough to remind me that God keeps His promises.
Enough to make me take a breath and say, "Thank you, Lord."
Enough to make a good day even brighter.

It makes me sad when I see a man-made replica of a rainbow in whatever capacity, be it a picture, bracelet, keychain, etc., because I question the meaning behind it. Do they just like rainbows, or does it represent something the world has taken and attached it's own meaning to?

This morning that little flash of melded color was in its purest, unadulterated form from the hand of God. It was not jaded, twisted, or questionable. It was simply beautiful.

Thank you, Lord.

VACATION!!!

It's almost here...FINALLY!!!

I work today and tomorrow, then I'm off for ten glorious days! I am so excited.

This weekend is Dan's birthday, so we will be spending some quality time together. Then Monday I will be one of the girls' deans at camp!!! I'm excited about that, too. I love camp. Isn't next week the one SAF is going to? I think I remember hearing that.

After this vacation, I will go back to work for a week, then take another week to go to Charlotte, NC, for Fine Arts. Way excited about that, too.

I'll have one more week after that to use sometime before the end of October. This is the first year I get three weeks for vacation. I intended to use one week earlier in the year, but too much was going on. Oh well. I guess I'll just be rested up before the holidays kick in!

Side note: IF certain girls feel led by the Spirit to bring some Reese's peanut butter cups or sugar free gum or you know something like that, I'm SURE the girls' deans would LOVE it!!!!

here it is...

Well, judging from the last two comments, we're pretty predictable! =)

Here is the latest in the Elliott Escapades...



The inspiration?

Ecclesiastes 4:12
"A cord of three strands is not quickly broken."

what have i done?

There is something that Dan has been really wanting that I have been really refusing the last several years.

No, not that.

Until now.

I don't know what convinced me or broke me or melted me or what, but I'm giving in.

Today is the day he's been looking forward to all week since I relented. Unfortunately, I have to work, so I won't be there when it happens, but he'll have peeps there with him.


If he sends me a picture, I'll post it in the next day or so.

Does anyone have a guess?

just keepin' it real, people

With all of this health and fitness talk going on, I thought I would take it down a notch.

Tonight I went to Chick-fil-a for the specific purpose of getting the caramel coffee milkshake. I got the number one with sweet tea and the milkshake.

I went home and was getting out of the car when the milkshake slipped and fell straight to the ground. I honestly looked to see if any of it was salvagable. Is that how you spell that word?

Anyway, I picked up the cup hoping I could salvage just enough for a little taste when I realized the whole bottom of the cup was detached.

Nothing.
Zip.
Zilch.
Nada.

Yes, I'm bitter.