happy sunday, guys!  this was one of those spring weekends in texas where the weather was perfect [at least on saturday and sunday] and i was able to take full advantage of it.  on friday, i did nothing except relaxed, finished a book i’d been reading, and caught up on some shows.  it was glorious.  saturday, i was very productive in the morning and then went to the deep ellum arts festival and deep ellum brewery with my brother in the afternoon.  this whole little deep ellum adventure was really fun – i love doing these sorts of activities in my city – and it was so nice to be outside.  we also FINALLY got to try monkey king noodle company, which didn’t disappoint.  i heart noodles.  after the festival, i came home and had another relaxing evening – just watched a movie and went to bed.  and this morning, i went to church with mike, ran some errands, went for a lovely little run, and got some stuff done around the house.  i made myself a little agua fresca after the workout, which i’ve never made before, and i’ve decided that it’s what i want to drink alllllll summer long.  so refreshing.

anyway, it just felt like such a fun, relaxing, fulfilling weekend.  but even with all that, there have been some things weighing heavy on my heart this week.  besides the fact that i’ve been thinking a lot about one of my friends whose grandpa’s funeral was this weekend [definitely a tough time for her and her family], we also found out that one of my mom’s friends was diagnosed with breast cancer.  we don’t know anything more than that yet and are hoping and praying for the best, but i know it’s been on all of our minds.

then on friday, a ninth grader in my mom’s school district went missing in the gulf of mexico during a school trip, which was very sad for my mom and many of her fellow teachers and students.  she didn’t know the boy, but many people she knows did, and it’s scary from a teacher’s perspective, as she’s often taking her high school kids on field trips, including overnight ones like this, and how awful it would be to have this happen and to have to tell a student’s parents that their child is missing.  it’s been over two days of searching and they still haven’t found him.

and i also found out that the incredibly talented tori hendrix, a stylist whom i’ve followed on instagram for years and feel like i know personally, was admitted to the hospital…she’s been battling a rare form of cancer since the birth of her son a year ago, and my heart is breaking for her family and friends.  her husband austin hendrix, children lucca valentine [4 years old] and golden wilde [1 year old], sister, and parents are at her bedside praying for a miracle, and i’m praying for one too.  [they have a gofundme account here if any of you are interested in donating to help with the medical expenses.]

{this photo of tori and her family is from tori’s instagram account.  sending them all the light and love.}

i know it may seem weird to some people, since i have never met tori in person, but her instagram account is absolutely beautiful and has been a daily inspiration to me, and over the years i feel like i’ve gotten to know her family and her life.  i really can’t believe that she’s going through this, and the thought of her husband and two darling children doing life without her brings tears to my eyes.  as you might imagine, her posts have been more and more infrequent lately, and i’ve actually felt a void in my daily life because of it.  her feed fed me – because of it, my eyes got to feast on little bits of beauty every day, and i was inspired.  so inspired by her.  i can’t describe it now because it would sound silly, but this woman has touched my life and has impacted me for years to come.  someday maybe i’ll explain it more.  anyway, i’m not giving up hope yet on tori and i know that God is all powerful and can make miracles happen.

praying, praying, praying, for all the people mentioned.  i’m sorry that this was kind of a downer, but let’s REJOICE for all that we have and CELEBRATE those who we love.  i love you all.  xoxo