Dear Mom, I know you're reading this but somehow I find courage in pretending I'm writing about you instead of to you.... Silly, I know (:

I cannot believe the privilege I get to have of being a "Burkhardt".

This family I get to call mine is INCREDIBLY creative and skilled. One example of this is that my Mom makes beautiful weddings cakes (she made ours!) and her skills and eye for detail 

know no bounds!

She recruited Husband to help in decorating the said cake and I as watched them work I think

I fell in love with Husband and this dear family in a new, deeper way.

Too bad I can't keep up with their crazy skills (;

And these two spent the whole evening in a corner by themselves flirting and dreaming....

ahhh, the days of being boyfriend and girlfriend (:

xoxo,

lyss

love

 it was everywhere on this sweet day.

 It was found on the the open admiration found on the two people's faces who's 

beautiful friendship has now turned them into lover's. 

It was found with soft nostalgia on every couple's face who have made that declaration 

and commitment themselves on a day long ago. 

It was stamped on the fingerprints of helping hands found here and there and everywhere. 

It was in the tears of the mothers who watched their little ones run off to the adventure 

of truly learning how to love. It was in the joy of everyone as we lifted little tubes of bubbles

 up to our lips and blew them with our hopes and dreams for their happiness. 

It was so openly displayed on the groom as he openly adored his beloved and with every glance declared his adoration and want for her for the world to look on and sigh with joy.

 It was seen quietly on the sweet bride's face as she ran to see to every little detail and then would turn and beam with love and want at her beloved.

 Oh, it was all too lovely to portray.

Just a few more hours...

Our time here is almost done and I feel like we've hardly been here!

Every possible moment has been filled with loved ones.

Whether laughing with family over fat baby pictures, reminiscing with old friends, 

being hugged and kissed on by Church family, or cheering as dear friends kiss for the first time

to seal their commitment forever,

it has been such an overwhelmingly joyful visit.

I am so tired and so not ready to leave........

xoxo,

lyss

Surprise!!

We're here!!

Not sure how we did it, thought for sure the surprise would be blown.

We're so happy to spend time with family, celebrate with dear friends and meet significant other's (;

xoxo,

lyss

p.s. I do realize this means you guys are NEVER going to believe us when we say we can't come again ....

Summer Memories... (WARNING long post)

As we were picnicking at our spot yesterday Husband turns to me and says

"well, fall has definitely rolled in"

and goodness has it ever!

Almost cold mornings and evenings and a constant cool breeze, air conditioning unit gone (yay!!) 

blazers pulled out, and pumpkin spice candle burning.

Fall came quite suddenly this year.

Thursday was scorching hot and I was wondering if I would ever NOT sweat through everything I own again, then Saturday rolled around all cool and the wafting breeze smelling of fall. 

Voila! It's fall (:

As I was updating our photo wall I was getting all nostalgic about this summer.

Sometimes I think we're so boring and don't do anything and yet when I look back over our pictures

there is an overwhelming sense of love and joy.

Some of our favorite memories are: 

the light streaming through our alley each time we came home

 Teaching this one how to ride her bike

(she zooms everywhere now!)

Little gifts from little friends

our many, MANY trips to the zoo

Taco Tuesdays

 friend's weddings

Quiet moments at our spot

walks with E

giggles and high fives with this one

little anniversaries and celebrations

 dates with E

(don't worry, we only walked with her in the back)

Sunday evenings with friends

the boulevard

 our many little road trips 

meeting this precious girl

beginning to see our world as though through a camera lens

these shoes and the many miles we've walked (over 300!)

our little camping trips

our first cubs game

getting our jeepster

swimming in our local pool, many little picnics at the lake,

and sun kissed cheeks.

This has been such a precious season.

I'm excited to see what God brings with this next season!

xoxo,

lyss

P.S. Told ya it was long (:

I'm sorry the posting has been light of late, 

Husband and I share the compter and school takes a higher priority than blogging

or so he tells me (;

We've had so much fun making future plans this past week!

For Thanksgiving, for Christmas, for this weekend, for that weekend, and for years away.

I love the anticipation of an event, I think it's half the fun.

The preparation, the countdown, and the excitement that grows with each day.

Oh yes, I love it all.

So I'm really happy that we have something extra special each month to look forward to,

starting with my family coming next month!

Only 33 days!

xoxo,

lyss

Happy Labor Day!

We're painting some walls in our apt white, 

playing volleyball with friends,

and enjoying the fruits of our labor.

Happy Labor Day!

Hope its grand (:

and here's to accidental videos.

(the last bit is my reaction to a poking from Husband...)

xoxo,

lyss