this is our happily ever after

Joseph Edward Moore III

Brian's grandfather, Joe Moore III, went to his eternal home on Saturday morning.  We are so thankful that he didn't suffer very long.  He led an incredible life; graduated from the US Naval Academy and spent his first career serving our country in the Navy.  He is the only person I know who has been to all 7 continents and has circumnavigated the globe by sea and air.  Brian says that it is from him that he learned how to treat his wife.  Grandpa Joe, thank you for teaching your grandsons how to respect, care, and love for their wives, how to work with integrity and diligence, how to serve the body of Christ through gracious giving of time and resources, how to think for themselves and use the intelligence and gifts God bestowed on them, and how to be strong and courageous in the battles in their lives.  We love you and know that you are holding hands with Grandma Irene as you worship God in heaven. 

I am SO grateful that I have made taking photos a part of my life the past 8 years.  These are the only photos I have of Grandpa Joe.  They were taken in 2006 when Chris, Shanda, Brian and I went to visit him one weekend. 

project life: week 12

3.22.2010 Beautiful azaleas blooming in our side yard

3.23.2010  So this might be a silly thing to photograph, but having Bath and Body Works soap at every sink in my house is one of those little things that makes me smile.  I stockpile when they have a sale and store it away.  I ran out of soap at my kitchen sink and realized it might be a good thing to take a photo of.  In 10 years I guarantee the packaging will change (actually it already has), or I might move on to something different to fight the germs.

3.24.2010 B (A) LT's for dinner...yummy and super easy!!  The A is for avacado!

3.25.2010 Field Trip to the Fine Arts Museum

3.26.2010 In our "Adventures in Food" cluster we had the kids (mostly 4th and 5th graders) decorate cakes...they had so much fun.  The reason I chose this photo is because I am in the background, with my mouth open...nice!  It is what I do, talk all.day.long!

3.27.2010 We had a fabulous lunch at Aunt Gail and Uncle Jim's house, where there are always fresh flowers and wine!

3.28.2010 The "babies" snuggling in their bed...on our bed

just for today

I do have my project life photos from last week that I hope to have here before I go to bed tonight...so here we go...randomness about me right now

For dinner tonight....we're having baked bbq chicken using this yummy seasoning, ramen noodle cole slaw (recipe coming soon), and rice

Right now I'm listening.... to the washer and Ryan Seacrest on Oprah

The most annoying thing in my life... is this obnoxious cough that will not relent...many people are dealing with this right now...ugh!

Outside my window... Zoe is chasing bugs in the yard

My favorite fruit is... currently pineapple, with raspberries a close second

Today I've been thinking about... what the next school year will hold for me...will I teach, or not??

I am wearing... yoga pants and a striped t-shirt

I am going...to watch 24 tonight with Brian

I am reading...Shanghai Girls

I am hoping...to begin Beth Moore's Believing God bible study this week.  If anyone wants to join me leave a comment...I'd love to have some fellow sojourners 

Around the house...I have 2 more piles of laundry to wash

A few things for the rest of the week...we are headed to Louisiana Wednesday afternoon for Brian's grandfathers viewing and funeral.  He passed away Saturday morning after living an amazing life; visiting all 7 continents and sailing and flying around the world in the Navy.  He is now with grandma Irene in heaven :)

And a photo to share...from our vacation

Happy Birthday Brian

Well it's getting late, but I couldn't go to bed without wishing my super hubby a happy birthday...you're the best hubby ever!  Cheers to you!

project life: week 11

So after reading Kelly's blog and noticing that she just completed week 11 of project life I realized that I labeled two weeks as week 8, so actually I am on week 11 too.  I'm sure that won't be the first time that happens this year! So this week brought me out of my usual life photos and includes photos taken in Arizona.  It was challenging to choose which photo to use for each day, but here they are. 

3.15.2010  Upon arriving in Sedona and knowing that we couldn't check into our hotel yet, we decided to take a hike.  The weather was perfect, something I had prayed for before our trip...perfect weather.  God provided sunshine every day.  

3.16.2010  After walking in downtown Sedona we headed out for another hike and then onto a late lunch at the Barking Frog, where we ate one of the best things we've ever eaten for dessert.  Fresh churros filled with bavarian cream and served with whipped cream, caramel, and vanilla ice cream.  Seriously...one of the best things I've ever eaten!  

3.17.2010 We woke up early so we could check out of our hotel and get to our 8 am pink jeep tour.  It was a 2 hour off road adventure that we will remember for a lifetime.

3.18.2010 So this is a reflection photo, obviously...it was taken on the rim of the Grand Canyon which you can see in the background.

3.19.2010 My favorite photo of the two of us from the trip

3.20.2010 Slept in since we didn't get to bed until 1 am.  Went to Target to get milk and a Starbucks and found this on sale...

3.21.2010 a new mug added to my growing collection :)  Brian went and got this mug for me before we left Sedona...he's the best!

Sedona, AZ

Our trip to AZ was fantastic.  The perfect balance of relaxing and exploring in this beautiful state.  We left bright and early Monday morning and arrived in AZ before 9 am (it's a 2 hour time change).  The weather was beautiful the entire time we were there, although there was quite a bit of snow on the ground around Flagstaff and the Grand Canyon.  I only took 600 photos, this doesn't seem like a whole lot to me, but the reality is how many photos can you really take of the red rocks around Sedona and the Grand Canyon? 

Here are a few shots...I have to look through and edit many more!

the first thing we did in Sedona was go on a 3 mile hike around the some of the red rocks.  The weather was perfect! 

 

a view from our balcony

 

probably one of my favorite things from the trip was the Pink Jeep Tour

project life: week 9

Sometimes I wonder why I take a photo each day, but then I look back on photos from years ago and I am so thankful that I took time to capture glimpses of our everyday lives.  Taking a photo everyday not only nurtures my creative side, but it really truly helps me to focus on the little blessings in my life.  Life can be mundane, stressful, and overwhelming...but taking a photo everyday helps me to gain some perspective.  Here are this weeks photos:

3.8.2010  Every night Oliver makes an appearance as soon as he hears that dinner is being prepared.  He saunters out of the bedroom and follows me around in the kitchen begging for a morsel.  When dinner is served he promptly begins begging (although he rarely gets anything out of it).  He even jumps up onto my chair and peeks through hoping to convince me (or Brian) that his life depends on people food.

3.9.2010 Our 8th Wedding Anniversary...Brian sent flowers to me at school...and I didn't even give him the idea :)

3.10.2010 I spent the day at the Med Center.  It's something I look forward to and dread at the same time.  Being at the hospital always reminds me of the tough times, but makes me so thankful that the tough times are behind me.  Dr. Bogaev asked me to speak with a guy who is 34 and needs to have a second transplant...he's very hesitant to go forward.  I hope that seeing me, 2.5 years later encouraged him.

3.11.2010  Hanging on my pantry door is an Easter cross...love it!

3.12.2010 Ok...kind of a funny photo, me drying my hair, but what you probably didn't notice is that I took the photo with my new camera lens...which is super! It's a wide angle lens that I bought for our trip tomorrow...

3.13.2010 Easter decor

3.14.2010 Spent the day doing laundry and packing for our trip to Arizona tomorrow. 

Next week it will be difficult to decide which photo to use for my picture of the day...I wonder how many photos I'll take???

me...right now

Here are a few things going on in my mind and world right now:

Spent a very long day yesterday at the med center.  I like seeing my doctors, but I despise waiting for them and being reminded that although I live a very normal life, the reality is that I will always be a transplant patient and continually need to be proactive with my health.  BTW...my doctor said I look great, my labs were better than last year (which were still good) and she gave me her blessing to adopt!!!!  Yippee!!! 

I'm SO READY for Spring Break...a week away from our crazy life enjoying time together in the beautiful southwest. 

As of today I've been married 8 years and 2 days :)

I had crispy tacos from Chipotle for lunch today because we had a half day so we could plan. 

I left work today at 3:45, even though I have A LOT of work to do before Spring Break

I'm watching American Idol from Tuesday night right now

I wish my nagging cough would go away...for good!

We have small group at our house tonight

I love seeing flowers blooming in our front yard when I drive up to the house. 

project life: week 8

3.1.2010 A new month...new calendar page...

3.2.2010 My recipe binder, the place where I put my favorite recipes and recipes that I want to try in the next month (or so)

3.3.2010 After a very long day, I came home, drew a hot bath and let the bubbles melt my stress away

3.4.2010 lovely spring flowers adorn my table

3.5.2010 a very interesting and easy read about food

3.6.2010 shopping for our spring garden

3.7.2010 Brian and I went to brunch at Bengy's...I had two blood orange mimosas...and then took a nap when we got home

i {heart} saturdays

In one word yesterday was LOVELY.  I managed to accomplish several things on my list: replacing Valentine decor with Easter decor, chipping away at he piles of laundry, reading, working on some home projects (more about that later), making a yummy, vegetarian dinner, and spending some time with Brian selecting plants for our spring garden.  Although I had a long to do list I made the time to go to Houston Garden Center with him.  He's the gardener, but I have a lot of knowledge about plants because of my high interest in gardening and horticulture in high school.  That's a story I'll save for another day. Let's just say that I, Angela Moore, worked on a farm one spring.  I'm telling you...I was very into horticulture!  

I have been feeling an itch to take more photographs so I took my camera with me to the garden center and captured these shots...nothing super special, just documenting a Saturday with Brian.

Brian picking out gerbera daisies because he knows they're my favorite :)

 

project life (week 9) coming later today