Years and years ago I clipped a tidbit of an article out of a Coastal Living Magazine. The title of the article was, "Mark and Clark's Top Plants To Grow." I didn't know who Mark and Clark were but I loved their plant suggestions...heirloom tomatoes, thyme, chervil, basil, cilantro...yes, please! I carried that little article around with me through California, New York, and Maryland. It finally came to rest on our fridge here in Virginia. I actually pulled it off the fridge just the other day because...guess who finally has herbs growing in her backyard!

I cannot tell you how unusually happy these herbs make me. Andrew and I swung by Home Depot several weeks ago and he insisted that I finally pick out my garden of herbs. (When I say that he makes my dreams come true I mean the big dreams and the little dreams! He's the best.) So I went wild! Thyme and oregano and cilantro and basil. And a couple adventurous ones like okra and cantaloupe and cucumber and even bell peppers! We've got one mystery plant that lost it's tag. I cannot for the life of me figure out what it is!

These little herbs and veggies are just flourishing! We've got them in containers right now--soaking up plenty of sunshine and rain. Andrew picked out two varieties of watermelon plants. Might have to transplant those at the farm. :)

Cilantro! Homemade guac anyone?

Our Mystery Plant...any green thumbs know about this one?!

Cucumber!

Thyme flies when you're having fun!

Blooming cherry tomato plant! 

Oh Basil, I love you. ("Smells like pizza" said my Sister)

Bell peppers!

German oregano!

A bloom on our bell pepper plant

Cherry tomatoes coming your way!

Savannah

Andrew and I roadtripped to south Georgia this past weekend to watch our friends Alex and Jake tie the knot! It's wedding season, y'all! 

We drove down I-95 all day Friday and stopped for the night on Hilton Head Island. Andrew had never been before! I was bursting at the seams to show him a place that's been so special to my family over the years. We grabbed a bite of breakfast in Harbor Town on Saturday morning and then drove to Savannah for lunch. We were both on the top of our tour guide game this weekend...I had never been to Savannah!

What a charming town. I loved the trees and the Spanish moss and the river walk and the food. Maybe loved the food a little too much. Andrew and I ate lunch at Paula Deen's Restaurant. We both ordered the buffet and spent the rest of the afternoon clutching our stomachs. Too much food. Hah! What a pretty little southern town. I want to visit again and enjoy one of those darling trolley tours!

California

I spent last weekend in California, and I'm still dreaming about it! It was such a wonderful time. Soul-filling. Just the best. Andrew was so generous to hold down the fort here in Virginia while I jetted off to the West Coast for a wedding. Along with wedding festivities I was able to squeeze in a few visits with friends. What a treat! When you're working with 3,000 miles, those little visits just pack a punch! :)

I spent Saturday morning exploring my friend Emily's hometown of Ventura, California! Oh the fun we had! I had never been to Ventura before. Now I'm trying to figure out how Andrew and I can relocate to the West Coast. ;) Emily and I, and her wonderful sister, Amanda, spent the day driving around, eating Mexican food, and taking lots of photos...

After the Ventura explorations, it was time for the Kubler wedding in Camarillo! This wedding. Oh my goodness, was it ever a blast! Katherine, the beautiful bride, and I went to Biola University together. But way before that we knew one another from the church we grew up at in Virginia! We go way back. Our siblings go way back. Our parents go way back. And our parents' friends go way back. It was just the reunion to beat all reunions! Along with a party to beat all parties! It reflected the bride's carefree and whimsical personality perfectly. I wish we could celebrate that special evening over and over again.

On Sunday my Mom and her sweet girlfriends dropped me off at LAX. Before I flew back home I got to sneak in one last visit with two longtime friends! Lindsay and Kalen and I spent six weeks together in Israel in the summer of 2005. Almost 10 years later we were sitting curbside at LAX packing as much chatter as possible into one hour together! 

It was a busy weekend, but such a good one. All week I've been reflecting on the beauty of friendships with other women. We need those! We need people who have known us in a variety of seasons. People who can start a conversation with, "Remember when...?" We need people who can remind us of where we've come from and where we're going. I thank God for these women friends. And for the sheer joy of being in relationship together! What a gift.