Where are you going August?!

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Maybe it's only me, but August, actually all of summer, is flying at record speed.  I've said it a million times, it's my favorite season and it's NEVER long enough for me.  August especially seems to be getting away from me.
It started with a lightening fast few days at the beginning of the month as Eddie and I headed to Nashville with our son Stephen for the Send Conference.  John had been working for NAMB all summer in Atlanta and they took all the Gen Senders to this conference.  Since it was required that we get him home one way or another we decided to go to the conference and then bring him home with us.  I love Nashville.  It's a great city. Our first stop our first day was, where else, a coffee shop.  We met John at the Barista Parlor.  It's the first time we had seen him in about 3 weeks so getting to see him for the first time at a coffee shop was pretty ironic.  And evidently it's where the who's who of Nashville hang.  He had met and talked with Kristian Stanfill earlier in the week there so that was pretty cool.  The conference was probably one of the best we've ever attended. Speakers and music all  fabulous and we decided to break up for the break out sessions so we could cover more ground! Those were a great few days and even greater getting to bring John home.  That's the only part about summer that didn't fly by was him being gone.
We got to celebrate with our marrieds their 5 year anniversary! Talk about time flying!! I can't believe it's been 5 years.  Reconfirms how we are only here for an instant and need to make the most of our time.
We took off for the beach where we celebrated our daughter's birthday, 25 years old. WHAT!!! Again. Time. Have mercy.  It was a great week of family time just relaxing.  Eddie was right.  It was probably Thurs before we felt relaxed and then it was almost over.  We also celebrated our son and his girlfriend getting engaged. Maybe that was part of our stress and not being able to wind down.  We were all afraid of saying something that would give it away and blow it.  They met at the beach waaayyyy back when Stephen was a sophomore in high school and she hadn't even started high school.  They were with different churches at a student camp and the rest is a marvelous journey only God could orchestrate.  But that's why he wanted to propose on the beach, their meeting place years ago.  She was definitely surprised and we are totally overjoyed.  Let the wedding planning begin. I get to be mother of the groom this time so not nearly as much falls on my shoulders, whooooo.
We still have a spiritual birthday and Eddie's birthday to celebrate this month not to mention school starts and TONS of ministry on our plate this fall.  And that's always worth celebrating! Here are a few pics to enjoy.  They make me long for the beach again as I sit here looking out at the rain...