Blessing Through the Mess

Today is the second time in two weeks that either my 

husband's car or mine has ended up in the shop. We carpooled 

to work three days last week due to a broken car part 

in my car and today upon leaving the gym Brad's car battery

was dead. So, instead of date night we are spending tonight 

with him at the car shop hopefully getting his car battery replaced

and me at home with the working car in case the battery job

has to roll over into Monday. 

This is Brad post workout looking for the broken part under my car...on public 
pavement...For those of you who don't know him. He is a germophobe and I thought
i'd never ever see him doing this!

Bummer for sure! Oh well I guess it helps me practice my 

bless through the mess skills. I finally finished Choose Joy by Kay

Warren who says to fill our minds with good things not by living in

denial when "life" happens, but by finding the joy in the messes

of the everyday and looking for blessings as we go.

Fall in the South

Anyone seen this months Southern Living Issue?

For as long as I can remember I have loved flipping through 

the pages of this Birmingham based magazine and being inspired

by mostly its home and garden articles, but more recently the 

baking and back cover story have been my favorites. 

I called my grandmother yesterday who informed me that she received her 

September issue and there were some good looking breads that

we needed to make on our next visit together! Of course I was

immediately enthused and then she proceeded to read all of the 

ingredients as if I could remember them in between now and then...

She has always done that (God love her). 

Farther on in the conversation I mentioned how hot it has been here

and she stated that they had a cold front coming where she lived.

It was only 91 degrees outside! Umm not exactly cold, but I love

that as southerners prepare for fall and daydream of leaves changing 

it is still in the 90s outside. We get creative with our fall wardrobe 

in order to not sweat to death and still wear the rich colors of fall! 

Fall in the South by lindsey-smith-peden featuring fossil watches

Football Season Must Haves

Are you ready for some fooooootball? The girls

at work are pumped to see their husbands "checkout" for Saturday

afternoons or maybe Monday nights depending on which league 

they are most interested in. The Dallas Cowboys

seem to have an intense following here which is

no surprise as we live 30 minutes from "Jerry World". However,

the majority of our church friends are Baylor Fanatics.

Growing up in Alabama  involves an important 

childhood decision which is: Declaring in elementary 

school which SEC Football Team you will root for .

Lines drawn at this time must not be crossed on game day at least 

for a certain few our Tuscaloosa friends. Either way with each

 passing day we are inching closer to Football Season!

So whether you are a die hard football junkie or just enjoy all the festivities 

here are a few ideas of how to spice up your tailgate this fall!

Football Season Must Haves by lindsey-smith-peden featuring outdoor garden decor

Pardon the wedding themed corn hole boards (Insert which ever team
your family pulls for!).

First Day Fun

First Day Fun by lindsey-smith-peden featuring coffee mugs

It's back to school season and who says the kiddos are the only

ones who should be all dolled up for the first day? Above are some

fund ideas for moms to enjoy wearing as they drop off the little ones!

 And below are some stylish accessories to

 help you keep everyone's busy schedules in line

this year, and of course shades to cover those tears as your 

little sweeties run off to school!

Dinner for 2 Year 2

Year two anniversary ended up including much

more time together than we had both prepared for.

I was able to switch my schedule at work last minute 

and we both ended up with today off. We enjoyed dinner

after work at Coal Vines last night a suggested location from 

my always eager to suggest life night venue coworkers! 

I think they have been everywhere in Dallas! 

The place was great! Casual and low key it was a 

great post work evening, plus happy hour started again 

at 9 pm until close! They had candles lit and classic tunes 

playing in the back ground! Brad got to share about his 

hospital day and I enjoyed the margaritta drinks and

margherita pizza!  

We also went to the White Rock Paddle Company last Friday

for a pre celebration! We Kayaked around part of the lake which

ended up being much larger than we thought! Lots of beautiful 

birds to see and I loved getting to be near the water! Brad paddled us

mostly and told me to care of bird watching and documentation

(ie. photo taking!). I didn't mind! 

We are thankful for our time to relax and eat together! 

Two Years

Tomorrow Brad and I will have been married 

for two years! I am still such an excited newlywed and feel

so blessed by God's constant deliverance of love and grace through

Brad.Neither of us could have made it one day without The Lord's

work on our hearts. 

Have I mentioned how much I dislike going to our couples class

alone? I am truly fine with our busy work life until I arrive

to the couples class alone and have to give another account as to

why Brad can't make it to Sunday School. I so

respect the sweet man I get to call my husband and don't know 

how he tolerates all the long hours at the hospital, but its just how life is for now.

When our I'm sure well meaning friends stare at me with shock when I

say, "Well he only gets every fourth day off." and, "We have had the 

same day off once this month." I leave feeling so alone in our big city.

The song below is an encouragement to me during Brad's busy season:

In our world of stress and tension teach us love that conquers fear.

When our way is anxious walking and a heavy path we plod 

Teach us trust in one another and in you our gracious God.

August Interests

August Interests by lindsey-smith-peden featuring a canvas picture

Oh August! Why must you be so hot in Texas?

As the hope of cooler days hangs in my mind I am daydreaming of 

new cowboy boots accompanied with a light and easy chambray dress. 

Sunglasses are a must in these cloudless days under such a great big sky in Texas.

August is our anniversary month hence the Truly Madly Deeply display. 

I am thinking about painting one of our book shelves for a bar cart and 

the Lindsey Fund this month is going toward throws and pillows for 

our new couch.

Visitors in Dallas

NWe had sweet visitors last weekend and I thoroughly 

enjoyed having them here! My parents and little brother came to

see us and we got to show them around our city. They 

also helped with some home projects while Brad worked.

We visited the JFK Museum and I just had 

to take them to the Stock Yards in Fort Worth. They 

enjoyed the trip, but all agreed that Dallas was a bit bigger

than they prefer. I loved having them here! The

noise of company is sweet sweet music to my ears! 

Also, the world seems smaller every now and then. I have

now met several new friends in Dallas who are related to friends and 

previous coworkers from both Enterprise and Tuscaloosa. 

It is so interesting to me how all our paths cross even so far away.

Big Tex

Well Hello from The Pedens! We are now residing in Texas!

It has been a busy summer to say the least new jobs, new 

homes, and a new church to list a few. Our first month here 

was spent unpacking and I am so thankful we had time to get

everything somewhat established before Brad's busy rotations started.

He is now on the UT MICU Rotation and has been very busy 

since starting. Usually going in at 4ish getting home

around 8 then working on patient notes till 11 or so then to bed and 

back at it again the next morning. 

My job in the PACU is probably my favorite in nursing so far. 

 PACU is fast paced with a quick patient turn over.

The doctors are close by after the surgeries so most clarifications 

are not a problem. I start call next month so we shall see how it goes!

Dallas is BIG! There are always things going on in different 

suburbs and our new church friends have been lots of fun to explore 

with.