Every time we say goodbye...

Oh, these past few days included far too many goodbyes. But if the summer has to end I'm glad it ended this way.

To start off, I just love the beach. I love the ocean. I love the sand. I love the swimming in the ocean for hours then laying out on the sand until I can go back and swim some more in the ocean. I am SO thankful that we did our end of the summer retreat in Ocean City from last Wednesday to Friday! Life is relaxed and laughter comes easy with some sand in between my toes :)

Dolphin at sunrise! 

Aw yeah.

This week has also been fantastic because it's birthday weeeeek! (I love birthdays!) Before Lindsay left for family vacay, she threw me a little get together at her house. SO SWEET! I am so thankful for friends that have become so special even in such a small amount of time!

Drink station! Thanks, Alexa! 

A little chalkboard with sweet notes for me!

Pretty drinking glasses

Flowers and muscato from Lindsay!

Sweet Devan made me a birthday cake! Every bit of it was absolutely de.lish.us. Here's the recipe: Smitten Kitchen Espresso Chiffon Cake w/ Fudge Frosting What a cake. That girl is ambitious and I felt so loved!

Jen has also been so thoughtful this week! She had never had Indian food before, so she treated me to dinner at Haandi! (Visit #2) We also had some great coffee dates. I will miss this sweet girl! (But I am so excited she is going to JMUUUU!)

So long, sweet summer.

Oh yeah, we took a VIP tour of Congress today...! 

Alas, what's next for me? As I confirmed last post, I will be staying in this area into the fall! Woohoo! I'm nannying for the next few months for a wonderful family in the church and living in Vienna with them. During that time, I'll be looking for jobs and housing for November. I will also be helping out as much as I can with the youth ministry (specifically middle school girls) at Fourth! I am sooooo excited! I would love your prayers as I figure out and pray the desires of my heart. More detailed prayer request post soon. I'm going home to Roanoke for a few days for my birthday, moving to Vienna Sunday, and starting to nanny on Monday. :)

I'll end for now with this hymn, as I want it to be my prayer! Until next time :-)

Jesus cast a look on me
Give me sweet simplicity
Make me poor and keep me low
Seeking only Thee to know
All that feeds my busy pride,
Cast it evermore aside
Bid my will to Thine submit,
Lay me humbly at Thy feet.