Birthday & Independence & A Rebel

This week I'm foregoing Change the World Tuesday to recap my lovely birthday/4th of July weekend!

Last Thursday, I told you that my man had something secret up his sleeve, and he definitely delivered the best birthday ever!  Besides all of the little lovely things that he did (sweet cards, roses, lunch), he got my whole family to pitch in and help him buy me this:

Isn't he the best?!!

I've wanted one for a long time, but didn't think that I could get it for quite awhile.

You can thank him for all of the pictures in this update...

Billy and my sweet cousin, Anna Kate (her mom just started blogging here).  This was one of the first pictures I took on Friday night.

She kept doing that with her face.  It was quite flattering.

On Saturday, we went back out to our block.  If you haven't read about it before, we go to a specific block in our city and hang out with them once a month.  

We try to meet their needs and be their friends.  I think that's what Jesus would want.

Watermelon was a big hit.

He climbed in the back of our car and asked me if he could come home with us.  I came so close to saying yes.

This little girl kept painting faces.  One of our girls asked her what she was painting and she said, 

"I don't know.  I'll tell you when I'm done.  I'm going to make you all Rock Stars!"

I'm so proud of him for heading up this part of our ministry.  

I love that I married a man with such a big heart.

On the fourth, we went swimming during the day.  That evening, we ate homemade ice cream:

It's not my favorite, but I douse it it toppings to make it quite yummy.  The rest of the crowd loved it.

We got to hang out with this precious face. I kept telling her to show me more teeth. Great job, honey.

Last night, Billy arranged for a couple of our friends to go out with us for coffee and dessert at my favorite place to celebrate my birthday.  It was so much fun!

My friend Melissa and her brother, Jordan (on the left), and husband, Chad (on the right).

One of my best, longest friends, Jessie (whose birthday was Saturday) and my super-cute, not-so-little brother.

My friend Hannah and her husband came even though they drove home from DC that day.  

I was so thankful!

I have the best husband in the world.  This weekend was just amazing.

Be prepared for many more picture-filled posts!