Project 365 {2013} - Day 305

Justin has been feeling not well all day and has been laid up in bed. Tonight he stepped out on the deck and snapped this pic. He said the fresh air and view was the best medicine of the day!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 235

Today is Justin's birthday and so we decided to sneak away for a little overnight trip to Chattanooga. (Thankfully we have amazing friends who were able to take the girls for us so we could make it happen!) When we rolled into town we immediately decided to grab a bite to eat at a little place called Fork and Pie. We snagged a seat by the window, which was perfect for talking since we were off by ourselves. We also had some awesome people watching since there was a biker rally or something right out on the street in front of us. We could tell the weather was starting to change when everyone started hopping on their bikes and driving off. After dinner we only got about five minutes into wandering around town before the skies opened up and absolutely drenched us. So we ran back to the car, checked into our hotel, showered and snuggled up. I think it was the perfect way to end the night!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 231

Have I ever mentioned that I really love being married to a man that likes to cook? Well, I do! I was especially happy when I came home, tired from a day at the office, and Justin had the batter for zucchini fritters all rip, roarin' and ready for me to fry up while he grilled up some chicken breasts! So delicious! If you would like to try them for yourself, he found the recipe here...

http://smittenkitchen.com/blog/2011/08/zucchini-fritters/

Project 365 {2013} - Day 229

 

For the last 10 years, I've ran a basketball camp for the top basketball players in Georgia. When I first started running the camp, I really had no idea what I was doing. I packed a 140 players into a small gym, did everything by myself and asked my family to help me. Hey, you have to start somewhere, right?

Now that I work at Suwanee Sports Academy, a 7-court sports facility in metro Atlanta, I have more resources for running my camp. This year we had 150 kids over the course of three separate days.

We were lucky enough to have an old friend of my, Dennis Felton, run our camp. Who is Coach Felton? He most recently worked for the San Antonio Spurs as the Director of Pro Player Personnel. He was also the head coach of the University of Georgia's men's basketball team.

It was a great opportunity for our players to be coached by a great coach. The camp was great and the little camp that couldn't that I started 10 years ago continues to evolve into one of the elite opportunities in the country. What a ride it's been, too.

This post was written by my boyfriend, Justin D. Young. :)

Project 365 {2013} - Day 225

Justin was able to sneak away tonight and go to the Braves game with his friend, Russ Edelman, after work. As much as we all know he loves us, being the lone man in a house full of women can probably feel lonely at times. So I am happy for Justin when he can soak in some much-needed guy time!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 203

My man is home.

Today was a good day. But after three and a half hours of sleep last night, an early morning workout and an almost nine hour work day, followed up by soaking up as much time with four, very energetic kids as I could before sending them to bed, I was exhausted. I could feel myself fading on the couch and getting grouchy.

Usually in this situation, with him gone, I would doze on and off on the couch, kicking myself for not just washing my face and going to bed. Mulling over in my head what I should have been accomplishing instead of dozing. But when Justin is home, with him comes life breathed back into my day. No one works harder than my husband and when it comes to his job he will grind. But he has the ability when it's quitting time to quit. To sit down and clear his mental plate and do what he likes. To do what makes him happy.

Tonight it's listening to music on his i-Pad. As he pulled up the Avett Brothers, I felt the strumming of the banjo melt my grouchiness. Then "Stand By Me" made me imagine the last time we were in Savannah, just the two of us, without a care in the world. Then we were joking around singing songs off the Dirty Dancing soundtrack. Then he brought home some funk with Ben Harper, moving and head-bobbing, dancing around the living room, feeling the music. Letting out noises like "Mmmm-hmmm!" like a Gospel Baptist Church congregation during the pastor's sermon.

My life is so much better, so much more full with him in it. He gives to me what I need. What I don't give to myself. The ability to clear my mind, to get me to loosen up and feel. It's one of those intangibles in a relationship that you kind of take for granted. But having him gone so much this summer and then having him back, you notice those things.

And it makes me fall in love all over again.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 174

Justin has been really busy with work lately and has been driving all over the state to cover games. He took this picture today at one of the arenas he was at and it made me happy. The simplicity, the order, the uniformity. In a life that feels cuckoo crazy, I loved the stillness here.

Project 365 {2013} - Day 167

You have no idea how happy this picture makes me!! I am so grateful today for Justin. I count myself so lucky to not only be married to my best friend but to also have him as the father of my children. I have watched him grow and sacrifice over the years and stretch beyond what was easy or comfortable to him to become the man he is today. I can't tell you how much I love him for that. Watching him be a dad to our girls and constant supporter of me has left me more in love with him than I ever thought possible when we started this journey together almost 14 years ago. Happy Father's Day babe, I just love you!!

Project 365 {2013} - Day 164

 

I love watching a storm roll in. Watching the power and force of nature at work. So tonight I was like a kid in the candy store, as I watched from my front porch lightning flashing and listened as thunder let forth deafening booms and dark clouds steadily marched forward blocking out the light of the sun. 

Justin and the girls retreated indoors while I stood outside taking it in until the rains came. When I came inside I was met with tears from Brynna and dirty looks from Justin, both of who were completely convinced I was going to kill myself standing on our covered front porch while a storm was forming. If I would have ever felt danger I would have been the first one hightailing it to the basement. But there were no high winds near us. Just the still air below and the atmospheric push above. 

It's just part of living in the South. Storms happen and I guess I just kind of take it in stride. Justin called me stubborn. I called him Chicken Little. And Brynna, well we had to break out a brigade of stuffed monkeys to make her feel better. All I know is I am glad it was all uneventful here at Casa de Young and we all lived to disagree another day on how to react to bad weather.

Oh Savannah....

Justin and I returned home earlier this evening from our impromptu weekend getaway to Savannah.

 If I have said it once I will say it a million times, Savannah is one of my most favorite places on earth.

 

Justin and I were newlyweds when we visited Savannah for the first time.

 

It was as magical then as it is now. 

 I remember sitting in one of the city's many squares on a park bench at dusk, hand in hand, with my husband. 

 It was just the two of us back in those days and we daydreamed of quitting our jobs, selling everything and moving into one of the basement apartments off a quiet square downtown.

This time, thirteen years later, as we strolled down uneven brick streets our daydream was of someday retiring here.

 

Of being in a place where inspiration was around every turn.

 Where stories were limitless and the twilight of ours could be written together.

  Justin and I mused over dinner on a perfect Southern evening about what it would be like to write a book together.

 I daydreamed of learning to paint and even found a beautiful impressionist piece to bring home with us as a reminder of our time together.

 We pictured in our minds the thought of a house, downtown or in the low-lands, to welcome grandkids to someday.

There are many years separating us from that daydream coming to fruition.
 
But I can say that I wouldn't rather have anyone else by my side, in daydreams or otherwise, than Justin Young.

Packing My Bags....

 

Tomorrow Justin and I are leaving for an impromptu trip,

to one of our most favorite places in the world...

Savannah, Georgia.

I plan on wandering beneath the mossy branches I love so much.

Eating hot hush puppies as I watch the boats come in on River Street.

Holding hands and talking to my husband without interruption.

Strolling the streets of downtown past dark on a spooky ghost tour.

Walking through antique stores looking for treasure. 

Eating fudge I watched being spread over thick slabs of marble.

Sleeping in, shirking time, breathing deeply 

and enjoying this much needed weekend escape.

~A very special thank you to my wonderful friend Kathleen for making it all 

possible by watching all of the kidlets for us!~