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Hi Everyone, I hope you all are: Super-magnificent Free from body aches Awake before the alarm Not stressed or worry-ridden And, your energy stems from love Our family is all the above and living life in the extreme. Joey and Savanna will soon be married and jetting off into a heavenly, Italian sunset. As most of you know, wedding-planning hoopla has gone on for almost a year. There are only three weeks to go. Virtually nothing has gone wrong [fingers crossed, head bowed]. Our team of professionals is comprised of personable, genuine, beautiful, articulate, intelligent people – one of the many, many blessings we’re thankful for. This team is the sole reason we’ve enjoyed smooth sailing. Along side the crew, Savanna and I have kept meticulous track of everything (food, music, DJ, cake pops, photo booth, mail, and other surprises). As the event nears fruition, I can’t help remembering the very first thing our wedding-designer friend, Sean, said during the initial consultation. Savanna, Sean and I were seated at a round, oak table in his studio. Sean looked right in Savanna’s eyes and said, “You need to know…this is about you…BUT…it’s really not about you!” Everything “wedding-party” jolted into perspective for me. This once-in-a-lifetime bash that Jeff and I are preparing to throw is about YOU, our guests! All the planning, preparing, fussing, and serving are for YOU. Not us! And thank God for that. Doing for others is just so much cooler than doing a bunch of junk for the flesh, IMHO. (As our beloved pastor, Michael Youssef, says: It isn’t yours ‘til you give it away.) Thank you, Sean, for those memorable, true, words of wisdom during our initial meeting. Making it about our guests makes it so much more for us! We’re humbled and happy as we head down the final stretch before welcoming dear friends and family to Sav and Joey’s celebration of marriage on June 29 in AGC’s Ballroom and Terrace. God Bless you for reading this! Love, Shelley You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love – Galatians 5:13 She’s all grown up and about to say “I do” to one lucky dude. I just wanna add a comment about SEO critiquing.  My blogs almost always get a “green” SEO light.  This one did not.  I got a “red” light.  Meaning: it sucks and needs improvement.  The SEO police told me I used too much “passive” voice. #journaling

Hi Everyone, Happy Memorial Day weekend! I hope you’re enjoying sunshine, food, friends, family, memories, and gratitude in honor of all who paid the ultimate price for our earthly freedom(s). Have you ever wondered what it was like during times of war before the Internet — waiting patiently for word of whether or not a family member would return home? In general, people were more patient during and around WWII. There was no: Social media Texting Emailing Snapping Tweeting Skyping Face-timing Etc… There was no choice but to be patient. WWII Wait & Ache story In a small New England town that I’ve never heard of, my friend Anna lived with her mom, Ruthie, during WWII. Ruthie was a single parent at the time. Her only son, Henry, was drafted for combat. He fought until the war ended, in 1945. Henry sent letters home. A final letter came with news he’d be coming home. While Henry was abroad, Ruthie slept each night with a small, framed photo of the two of them under her pillow. In the morning she’d move the frame to the kitchen. In the afternoon she slipped it in her purse. The photo of Ruthie standing in the snow, cupping Henry’s tiny, soft hands, neither of them smiling, outside of their home, was always with her. Sometimes Ruthie would misplace the frame. “Anna! Where’s Henry? Help…find Henry! Anna??” Ruthie snapped daily over harmless things…crumbs on the table, shoes not tidily stored, drawers not closed, dust, tardy mail delivery. There was no Internet to retreat to for answers, photos, knowledge, and hope! Ruthie and Anna found hope here: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging ~ Psalm 46:1-3. Henry never came home to the United States or to Ruthie. Rest in Peace all veterans and God Bless all Ruthies. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley #flashfiction #fictionwriting #motherdaughterblog Here’s Diana’s blog update: Volkswagen Internship: A Reflection

Hi Everyone, How was your week.  Did anything exciting happen to you? It seems every day is exciting at the Sweeney house lately. Wedding RSVPs arrive daily. We feel blessed with the best for all saying yes! And, of course we understand no too…you’ll all be very missed. Wedding anticipation was not the only exciting thing going on at our house last week though. A frightful occurrence took place Friday afternoon.  Our security cameras rolled as a portion of it unfolded. Preface – Do you use the “F” word from time to time?  I do.  Expletives aren’t becoming language, are they?  I explain to my girls that I only use “it” when I’m fearful. Yep, F only slips out of my mouth when I’m scared. It’s comforting, go figure. Here’s What Happened – Early Friday afternoon, I was alerted to an event on our front porch. It turned out to be D’Angelo, our dry cleaning delivery man. He was scared…really scared. As he got out of his truck at the bottom of our driveway, he saw a 6ft. black snake moseying its way toward his truck. He bolted to our porch. [Warning: if you’re offended by the “F” word or snakes, do not click the link.] See some of D’Angelo’s reaction here: I’m guessing D’Angelo felt better when F slipped out of his mouth, the way I sometimes to. Snakes are scary! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley ALSO – We hope you’ll check in with our latest story writing of: The Room: Week 6 We’re conjuring up character back stories.  Please join in by emailing us your ideas: triangleparkatl@gmail.com.  Or email us to say hello and tell us what you’re up to with your blogging or art or life! A Note About Mother’s Day – Hopefully you enjoyed your Mother’s Day last Sunday!  Here are some pics from our day.  We enjoyed food, fun, the club and mostly just loving being together as a family! Savanna, Me, Diana – Ansley Golf Club Jeff, Mom, Me, Diana, Savanna, Joey – Ansley Golf Club Mother’s Day Flowers Mother’s Day rose from Joey Behold, I have given you authority to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall hurt you – Luke 10:19

I’m not a wedding-party expert. Though, I wish I were because I’d be rich. You may recall a previous blog here where I moaned about an envelope crisis costing $175 for four envelopes ($176.43 to be exact). [Extras are unusable because postage on square envelopes is $1.15 (smiley face)]. Would that irk you? I wasn’t raised during The Depression.  But, I was raised by someone who was raised during The Depression, which is probably worse! We chose not to line our invitation envelopes. Savanna and I aren’t fans of envelope liners. We wanted the invitation to “pop,” not the envelope flap. Plus, if you use a letter opener, the shiny flap is ignored.  Thank the Lord because liners would have made our casing crisis even more costly: $259 for four [sad face]. Check this out: This past week, we were relieved to receive the over-priced box envelopes.  But — darn-it-all — they’re the wrong size.  Too small. Boohiss! Throughout our invitation-design process, we worked with Paper Source in the Around Lenox Shopping Center Paper Source. They are pleasant and professional. This envelope mishap had nothing to do with the store.  The stationery vendor is the one with their tail tucked. Paper Source scrambled and found us the same size envelope at a nearby (competition!) store. They gave us eight and refunded $176.43. Good News All invitations went out in the anticipated time frame (personalized with old-fashioned script) ~ Hooray! No dizzying dollar amount was spent on four measley, un-lined envelopes ~ Hooray! We’re so happy with this outcome we plan to share the $$ with unassuming soul(s)…The Silver Lining. Proverbs 11:24-25 – Give freely and become more wealthy; be stingy and lose everything. The generous will prosper; those who refresh others will themselves be refreshed. Fiction Fun update: We’re diligently, albeit slowly, building on The Room’s three characters: Week 5 – Character Growth No hurry!  To hurry would likely result in boredom, frustration, and doom. The good stuff (conflicts!) is on the horizon.  Come along for art and fun!

Hi Everyone, I hope you had a good week!  My week?  meh.  I also hope life has been good to you ~ really good ~ not just this past week but always? Do you have a lot to be thankful for?  I find myself saying:  Why do I deserve all this?  I did nothing to deserve any of it! Downside There’s no denying life is not always goodie, goodie, marvelous-marvelous.  Is there anyone out there that doesn’t have at least one thing they hate and aren’t thankful for? Allow me to introduce the ugliest tree in Buckhead: Ugly tree Same ugly tree Neighborhood Landscape It’s not a secret that I love where we live. Springlake is a section of Atlanta that sits between north midtown and south Buckhead.  If you swing over to Ansley Park and wind around to Hartsfield-Jackson Airport, you’ll never convince me that that precise geographic outline is not the Center of the Universe.  It is!!  Jeff and I have lived in this location of ATL for almost 30 years.  If history repeats itself a gurney will move me out.  Or, quite possibly agitation from the ugliest tree in Buckhead. Empathy Route Ok, so I don’t know the tree’s heart and inner world. Nor do I know what it sacrifices to nourish insects and protect wildlife. Or, the odds it beat to grow numerous, ghastly, brittle, branches with prickly pine needles and heavy, spikey bundles that torpedo south.  It’s unsightly, that I know. Upside In spite of the tree’s ugliness, Springlake continues to thrive. A new, awesome, amazing, beltline and recent Bobby Jones renovation has added appeal to the extreme. We’re also a stones throw away from stunning Peachtree Battle. Take a drive down Peachtree Battle the next time your in ATL. You won’t find a tree like above anywhere.  NO where!  Why Springlake then? Resolution What’s a tree-hate digging girl to do?  Stop digging, said my husband.  So, I did.  I didn’t stop just like that though. Nor, did I ponder good qualities the tree had and write them on yellow stickys and place them about.  But I did accept that the tree is who it is and that I’m not better than it, or prettier.  Ugh, but I still struggle to accept that it’s brother and sister trees aren’t around the corner on Peachtree Battle, thriving. Fiction Fun (The Room) Onto fun-loving stuff!  If you want to tackle a writing project try paraphrasing what it’s about in 20 or less words.  Do it for characters too. That’s what TPA did this past week with all three personalities in The Room.  And we did all of them in exactly 19 words.  Challenge yourself with a word limit.  Check ours out here: Week 4 Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley James 4:10 – “Humble yourselves before the Lord, and he will lift you up.” P.S. Reception invitations went out yesterday. Please pray! Loads of love for this smart, beautiful, soon-to-be-home-for-the-summer, blogging girl. Like mother, like daughter, silly inside…

Hi Friends, I hope you’re feeling relaxed and blessed! Triangle Park is feeling very blessed. Relaxed? Umm, sometimes yes, sometimes no. I mean, if this blog morphed into an Angst and Aggravation column we’d have tons to be unrelaxed about. Like what happened this past week as Savanna and I sifted through dozens of stamped, sealed, ready-to-mail wedding invitations. Some of them just don’t feel right, Savanna said. Ugh, not all recipients receive the same things. The wedding ceremony itself is tiny.  I’m dizzied with worry that some envelopes mistakenly contain ceremony invites (immediate family only) and vice versa. What it boils down to: I suck at assembly-line paper work. The Envelope Stuffing Drill went something like this: Everyone gets a reception invite Everyone gets an rsvp card/envelope Not everyone gets a ceremony invite You mustn’t forget the stamp on the small return envelope You must put the whole shebang in a medium envelope before inserting into a large outer envelope a large tissue must rest upon the reception invite a small tissue must rest upon the ceremony invite don’t seal the medium inner envelope do seal the large outer envelope put a flower stamp on the small inside envelope put a succulent stamp on the outer envelope nothing goes on the inner medium envelope don’t do in above order If this had been a real job I’d’ve been fired before I began. To the rescue, my awesome and amazing husband who never fails to help me/us through conundrums. Jeff suggested weighing each and every envelope with this handy little gram scale that I otherwise use to measure hair care products with.  Check it out: And sure enough four envelopes had weight discrepancies, notably the initial one that Savanna said “didn’t feel right.  All invites are scheduled to go out this Friday but the certainty of that is contingent upon the arrival of four new envelopes. Yep, this past week was filled with an aggravating, angst-inducing, $175, bump-in-the-wedding-planning road. True, in a perfect world, I’d prefer to pay less than $175 for four envelopes. But, in this case they’re worth every penny! A giant hug to my husband for once again saving the day. I love you! Speaking of pennies, here’s our latest emerging character in The Room Click Here. Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley Also, I’m happy to report that Mom is feeling much better, as you can see in these photos.  She spent a good part of yesterday at our home and we treated her to dinner at the golf club.  I might add that Savanna personally picked out a dress for Gam to wear to the wedding and she delivered it to her home.  The dress looks beautiful on Diane. Thank you Savanna. Of course we’re all still aching in my dear, kind, loving, handsome father’s absence.  Albeit I feel his presence in and around me always. It’s all good. Mom, Jeff, Me – Ansley Golf Club Mom kicking back in our house on a stunning, sunny Georgia day. Rejoicing in hope; patient in tribulation; continuing instant in prayer. Romans 12:12

Hi Everyone, How are you? How was your Easter? Between Good Friday and Easter Sunday the weather was haunting in ATL — in a way that I envision the original resurrection weekend weather to be like. Friday evening, severe storms passed through after an otherwise beautiful week. Flooding, downed trees and a variety of other suffering was left behind. On Saturday wind, cold, and energy-zapping pressure hung annoyingly overhead. BUT, when Sunday arrived…blue sky, bright sunshine and Hope eternal was available for all to claim. Suffice it to say, Easter 2019 was my favorite Easter ever! Jeff and I were delighted to have S and D’s men join us at church, home, and brunch. Our cup(s) runneth over indeed with Love, Hope, Joy, and Buffet Food. Oink. Atlanta is utterly spectacular this time of year. Flowers of every kind and color spread far and wide with a green-burst backdrop like no other. Think: Jackson Pollack returns from the grave and heaves buckets of the greenest green paint all over the city. The art of it all is so very welcome after months of bland earth tones and long, rainy days — no snow or ice to speak of – but enough rain to drown everyone in madness. Here are some pics of our family’s beautiful Easter together. I know a few of you will miss seeing a photo of Mom (Diane, Gam, Grandma, Nana, Aunt Diane) or however you address her. Sadly, Mom took a fall last week and wasn’t able to make it to our celebration. She’s doing much better now, but not quite there yet. On Easter afternoon I took her a basket of fruit and vegetables and we ended up going out for a delicious Italian dinner in Dunwoody.  The memory of it all is tucked deep inside our hearts. And, here’s a short link to TPA’s Fantasy Fiction this week:  Week 2 – Prudence We’re inching along and invite any and all of our dear friends to join in the story-telling process via email or comment. Imagination is deep in our souls. Why suppress it, let it be free! Thank you for reading and have a wonderful, blessed week! Love, Shelley

Wedding whirls are whizzing about Itches and aches are joining ranks Like it or not, there’s thrill and angst When Savanna and I first met with our wedding planner, Sean, he warned us that when contractors hear the word “wedding,” dollar signs would shroud their eyes. “Remember Scrooge McDuck” he said, “that’s what will happen.” Sean was right. But, oddly, last week we experienced polar opposites of Scrooge McDuck. The contractor at hand is the most crucial hire to our event, the…PHOTOGRAPHER…! We had a dream pic snapper all booked — until last week.  When we first contemplated who would shoot Joey and Savanna’s wedding, this person came to mind immediately. Her images tell a unique and deep story to anyone who views them.  They’re cryptic and uncoventional.  I’m a fan of that aura.  However, from the gitgo her price befuddled us: $500. And that included image editing. We scratched our scalps and double-checked. Yep, $500 it was. …Until last week. Low and behold, a museum will feature her work the week of our nuptial, thus she cancelled us. (If it sounds, feels, and looks too good to be true, it’s too good to be true. Duh.) The good news was she recommended someone. We contacted her proposed photographer.  He was wonderfully pleasant and experienced.  Two days later I asked him for costs.  He didn’t send a formal scope, however, he jotted down that his services would set us back between $8k – $12k.  What thaaaa? Scrooge McDuck has gone Syyyycoo McMaddo… Sav and I twitched We jolted and bitched. Whirling and whizzing Itching and hissing Photos are major Treasures to savor We thought it was sealed As a major big deal Now we are kneeling Praying for real! Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley Savanna & Gus / Jekyll Island – Photographer: Shelley Sweeney Sun rise / Jekyll Island, GA Photographer: Shelley Sweeney Beans – Photographer: Shelley Sweeney Diana / Navarre Beach – Photographer: Shelley Sweeney That’s me (and Diana), the Photographer. Ansley (rip) – Photographer: Shelley Sweeney Jeff, Me, Dan and Sav – St. Andrews Scotland Photographer: Shelley Sweeney (Perhaps I will get in the photographing business) #weddingplanning #motherdaughterblog #familyblog #weddings #photographers #loveGod ©copyright All Rights Reserved

Hi Friends, How are you? How was your week? I was honeymoon-less for the past seven days…until yesterday any way. But it was the shortest-lived honeymoon ever.  Did any lovely and amazing things happen in your life?  Did any figurative honeymoons carry you away? The pace of planning Savanna and Joey’s wedding has picked up speed. Time is bearing down and strangely I haven’t found a way to slow it. Mondays hastily advance to Fridays, January to February and then, ohforcryingoutloud, is that March 1 less than a week away? Suffice it to say, the honeymoon stage of wedding planning is ooover.  But no worries, because I’ll be jumping on board [vicariously] as the Newleyweds embark on a REAL Honeymoon. Boy oh boy, do they have an exciting post-nuptial, European adventure on the docket (think: françois & Italiano). Enough of that! The shortest honeymoon I’ve ever experienced occurred in a bakery on the east side of Atlanta. Savanna, Joey and I attended a cake “tasting” at Sweet Cheats in Cabbagetown last Saturday. If you’re not familiar with Atlanta, Cabbagetown is a historical, hip section of Atlanta’s east side. There are artsy shops and quaint eateries sprinkled in among charming cottages that line narrow streets. Most notably Sweet Cheats, of course! sweetcheats The cake pops we taste-tested were guilt-riddenly delicious: Strawberry Champagne, Red Velvet, Chocolate Cookie Dough, Crème Brule and Sea Salt Caramel. The cake centers were hardly cake at all. None of us understood the owner’s explanation of how she married the ingredients together to birth the cryptic cupcake. What we did understand was that each pop had a thick, creamy, multi-textured, multi-flavored center that was positively premium. We unanimously agreed that Strawberry Champagne was numero uno. Thanks be to God, that as soon as I stepped outside of Sweet Cheats my bakery-bliss love affair was over. I broke up with it right then and there.  Splitsville!  …Until June 29, 2019 any way.   All of this labor intense wedding “bizzy-ness” that’s in high gear right now, is perfectly positioning all those creamy-dreamy cake pop flavors as dangling carrots. No sweet cheating for me…until…06.29.19. Check out the wonderful pictures on Sweet Cheats website (link above). Remember: moderation is key! Proverbs 25:27 It is not good to eat much honey, nor is it glorious to seek one’s own glory. Thank you for stopping by! Love, Shelley Strawberry Champagne (left) Joey + Savanna preparing to pop the pops Who needs a paint brush to express love Here’s an update from the bride herself:  time-flies

Dear Friends, I hope everyone is doing wonderfully well. By any chance have you noticed that Triangle Park is zigzagging all over the place trying (praying) to find a consistent blog theme? An awesome one exists. We just know, know, know it does. But whatever it is, it sure is a shy and swift little devil. Because the minute we think we’re committed to one, poof, like a cornered cat it bolts away and divorces us. And you know what the strangest thing about that is? As badly as we want to marry a theme, when options come and go, an odd aura of “Relief and Resume” looms as our search starts anew. In other words, the search, the planning, the anticipation, the newness, the dream, the honeymoon phase, lures us back in spite of truly desiring a focal point theme. Have you ever experienced a honeymoon finale? Figuratively speaking of course. Something (anything!) where there is a sort of pre-marital bliss that eventually turns to post-honeymoon melancholy. For instance: adopting a kitten or puppy starting a new job moving learning a new skill graduating from school losing weight having a baby buying a car building a house building a business getting in shape relationships and marriage purchasing high end cosmetics and/or attire I know someone who gets so excited when they buy a new outfit or pricey cosmetics that they won’t allow themself to actually use and enjoy them. They “protect” the items to prolong the honeymoon phase. I’ve treasured some songs so much that I’ve sworn I’d never tire of and divorce them. Angels, by Robbie Williams is a rare recording that I’m still in the honeymoon phase with. It never took off in the U.S. but is often still played in the U.K. Other than Angels, I eventually divorced all of my “favorite” songs. One thing Triangle Park has down pat is putting God first. He offers a honeymoon guaranteed to not end. It’s pretty cool that He paid a sky-high price for US so that we could be saved from our sinful nature. Once we’re in His world, according to His Word, we’re on board for one heck of an everlasting, eternal honeymoon. How many honeymoons have you had come to fruition? Triangle Park won’t stop searching until we discern a close-to-perfect melody (theme!) to dream and live and share with y’all. Maybe it will be: One Honeymoon Lives On… Thank you for reading. Love, Shelley

[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]Holy smoke, there’s a lot going on around here! Along with dodging life’s daily curveballs, I’ve vicariously endured the-bride-to-be’s (Savanna) pain of whitening her teeth while the sister-of-the-bride (Diana) and moi have executed the chore of acquiring “day of” dresses. (As for hair and make up, well, those two remain top-tier stressors. The fact that I visited a salon this past week for a simple color touch up and fought back tears as I checked out didn’t help.) My new Wedding Day motto: Perfectly imperfect will be well enough. Finding my dress was surprisingly easy. I spied it on Bloomingdales website and fell in love with it when it arrived, Savanna did also. The dress showed up on our front porch in less than a week. The fit was glove-like. Since Diana and I are essentially Sav’s only attendants we aimed to blend our style. I snapped a couple pics of dresses at Bloomingdales for Diana and even took one to her in Chattanooga last weekend (that one didn’t pan out so well). Dress hunting took some buy/return effort but last weekend on Superbowl Sunday after an ostensible panic attack in the parking lot (rivers of tears fell – don’t ask why it’s cryptic), Dan and I dragged our bodies into Bloomingdales. Thanks be to God she slipped into her very own glove-like fitted day of gown in less than ten minutes. Bloomingdales dress shop at Lenox Square is fabulous. After being a west-coast Nordy girl for most of my life, Bloomingdales has won me over. A huge shout out and plug to them for quality customer service and fab fashion choices. (If only there was a hair salon inside.) In addition to having the day of dress dilemma solved, last Friday Joey, Savanna and I met our day of coordinator Rebecca, at Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee just down the road: Peachtree Rebecca brings energy, experience, enthusiasm and beauty to the tasks at hand. Planning Savanna’s wedding has been relatively smooth sailing…until recently. Ants and angst began gnawing and pinching in places that are difficult to reach. But hey, without angst there’s no true joy and victory. Understanding the Word is complicated. But you’ll never understand it if you don’t study it. Timothy 2:7-13 – No pains, no gains! No cross no crown! Matthew 23:12-12 For whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be exalted. Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight. And speaking of my new motto: Perfectly imperfect will be well enough. I was trained as an artist in the classical style of the old “masters.” In other words: execute your projects as close to perfection as possible. Here’s an example: And here’s an example (unfinished) of my newly adopted art style: Perfectly Imperfect: Love, Shelley Finding the One Shiny new teeth [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_raw_html]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[/vc_raw_html][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][/vc_column][/vc_row]

As of late, there are three points on my perpetual-psyche : Savanna’s wedding triangleparkATL.com, and God Not in that order of course. Planning Joey and Savanna’s wedding has developed a pleasant cadence. Time we spend chatting, choosing, and cheering has [truly] been a lot of fun. We’re cooking up a super summer hoopla, for sure. But, like my wedding planner, Sean, reminds me, “it will only last about four hours.” Then, bam, it’s over. Thankfully, a rehearsal dinner and Sunday brunch will extend the joy of being with family and friends a bit longer. If you’re anticipating a wedding, here’s my advice thus far: don’t project too far in the distance; enjoy the stages and people you work with along the way, and have faith it will all turn out as it’s meant to be. The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps. Proverbs 16:9 Mother-of-the-Bride dress shopping begins. This one went back to Bloomies. Triangle Park continues to seek content cohesiveness as an interconnected body. Obviously, each of us is involved with the wedding. But, that will soon end. Then what? You might already know Diana is living in Chattanooga, TN, interning for Volkswagen. Jeff and I visited for the first time this past weekend. Chattanooga (Tennessee in general!) is heavenly IMHO. We’re hopelessly proud of the work Diana is doing at Volkswagen and also of her finding a place to live on her own, and how she has settled into the culture. In her spare time, she’s creating watercolor greeting cards. I love this because it wasn’t long ago that I was spending spare time (and then some) making art. Maybe TPA has a right-brain-focus future? If you go to Chattanooga, checkout The Bitter Alibi for Sunday brunch. Very hipster. Joy unspeakable (inside of The Bitter Alibi) There are so many wonderful restaurants in Chatta.! Ahh, the best for last: God. I try not to brag about how smart my girls are, or how caring they are, or talented, or empathetic, or attractive, or the like. But, I must admit I do fancy bragging about their faith, love and hope in Jesus. There’s an abundance of broken people living in a broken world today – all of us? My hope is for Sav and Dan’s faith to carry them above fear and for them to share their love of God with their generation. As millennial/genZs they have a more crucial platform from which to reach, than I do. “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go” Joshua 1:9. A drawing I did on an airplane. It’s special because the AMAZING Dylan Pierce “liked” it. (Thank you Dylan, I was humbled) Whether we’re blogging about the wedding, art, travel, or Jesus you can count on it coming from our hearts. We’re doing what we love and we love what we’re doing. Mostly, we love and appreciate YOU! Writing is nothing without someone to read it. See with what large letters I am writing to you with my own hand ~ Galatians 6:11. Thank you for reading! Love, Shelley #motherdaughterblog #familyblog #weddingplanning #createartcards #loveGod