New Faces, New Places!

Hello, old friends!!

I am blogging from this site to tell you some exciting news!
I have been putting this off for what seems like FOREVER!

 For about a year, I have been working on a NEW blog! I have reached out a little in the blog community on that site, but most of you are good ole hometown readers, so I am ceasing from "neglecting" you today!

I am so so excited about this blog, and I hope that you will click over and follow it as soon as you get a chance! Also, if you have a blogger button - let me know and we can swap!

Thanks to all of you who have supported this blog, me, and the many memories that I leave behind here.

Here's to a new beginning!!

Click HERE to see my new blog!

what you probably didn't know.

Well, I have to admit a few things first:

• I have neglected my blog, but it's been for good reasons.
• I have made a new (private) blog, but I will share it when the time is right. 
• I have had no drive to blog whatsoever - that is, until today. 

Okay, so some of this post is going to keep me smiling, while the rest may draw a tear, but I have to tell it all.

       During the first of October, I met the most incredible man I have ever known (aside from my Daddy - because he will always be my #1, of course). I remember him walking into my office hour at school, and something about his shy attitude captivated me. The more I got to know him, the more I realized how sweet, sincere, and truly kindhearted he really was. He lives in the sticks, lets me ride the tractor with him, and always wants to know about my day. We don't have to be going somewhere all the time for us to enjoy being together, and I can literally sit with him on a three hour drive and never have the urge to turn on the radio because I enjoy nothing more than having a conversation with him. We never run out of things to say to each other. Really, how often does a girl find that these days? Someone who is in LOVE with his family, and he still makes room to love me and remind me of it everyday - even when we aren't able to visible see each other. I see a glimmer of my Daddy in him - they both have a wonderful sense of humor, and they both know exactly what to say to me to make me feel better. He meshes so well with my family, and I have prayed about that! I am truly thankful that everyone gets along, and my family loves him, too!

      David & I have been together close to eight months, and I have honestly never been happier. I have all the reasons in the world to smile knowing that he's got my back, supports me, and does not leave my side. Little did I know at the time, but that would be exactly what I needed in the months to come.


Fast forward to Thanksgiving.

    My family had all been together for lunch, and I was anxious for the rest of my family to finally meet David in person after hearing so much about him! It was a happy day. We left, full as ticks, and went home to debate an afternoon hunt. While we were at home, Mom called. She told me that she was worried about Mimi because she had shared with her after lunch about having a knot on her stomach. I kind of dismissed it a little because I didn't want to worry until we knew for sure. Despite the fact that Mom had told me not to mention it, I had to tell David because I needed someone to be there to understand my thoughts IF it did turn into anything other than nothing; plus, he could clearly tell something was wrong.
    After weeks of test, back and fourths to doctors, and not being exactly sure of what was going on, Mimi had an appointment in a town three hours away from our hometown. I was anxious that day, but I tried to dismiss it again because I was taking my final Algebra test (which also determined a passing grade. Ya'll, I'm a math whiz! Except, not really.) Anyway, when I got home, I knew things weren't right, and Mom came in while I was pouring a bowl of cereal for supper. I waited anxiously through the small talk, and I never pushed her to tell me anything. I kind of felt like she would say it when she got the strength up to do so (she's always trying to be strong), but with Daddy lingering close by, I knew it wasn't good news.
    The next few moments are a blur to me as Mamma carefully explained the way the day had gone, and honestly I can't recall anything she said. All I heard was "cancer". What? Excuse me, huh? CANCER? No. No - because she is my grandmother. Not only is she the definition of grandmother, she is also the definition of ONE TRUE BEST FRIEND. She truly, truly is. All of the sudden, my world stopped, and I felt like the blood had been sucked out of my entire body, and the wind left in my cells evaporated into a salty pool of tears.
    I couldn't help but be selfish about the entire situation. If this was cancer, would she be at my graduation? My next graduation? Am I going to be able to call her & tell her I'm engaged? See her ushered down the isle at my wedding? Watch me start a family? -- I knew I was getting WAY too ahead of myself, and ultimately I knew that God was in control, but I was so doubtful for weeks. I wanted myself to believe that "He was in control" and "He knows what's best", but in reality I could only think about what I PERSONALLY thought was best. She NEEDS to be here with ME. She has to be on the other end of the phone line when I'm mad at everyone else in the world, and she has to be my voice of reason. She always has, and I just kept saying while talking to Hollie & David that "I can't be without her."

That is the truth.
Amen.

  The next few days were spent praying, crying, and wondering, and later that week we met with her doctor, but we didn't make the drive back three hours away, we met him at his other office - only about 35 minutes away. He came in, and to be honest, he was probably somewhat overwhelmed at everyone in the room with Mimi at the time. My mom, my Nannie, of course Mimi, and I all crowded the tiny examination room and awaited anxiously for him to discuss the Chemo procedures. Truthfully, Mimi was stressed out about the entire thing. Can't you imagine? Thinking you have some minor issue one morning and by that afternoon it has been confirmed that you have been thrown into the pool with the other 53,000 people who are diagnosed with Lymphoma every year? Yeah, overwhelming is an understatement, but we kept encouraging her (and ourselves as we said it out loud) that everyone in our town was praying for her.
  To make a long story short, Mimi started her chemo treatments the week after Christmas, and I am so glad to say that she finished at the beginning of this month, and she is doing as well as she was prior to the diagnoses. I cannot be more thankful for an individual being in my life. She is the strongest woman I know, and all she had to do was have the faith of a mustard seed - and she moved mountains by the way she conducted herself, never losing strength, hope, and her sweet, sweet smile.

  So, while I left the blogosphere for a few months, a lot has happened, and God has orchestrated it all. He has been so faithful to my family during these last few months, and He has also given me a new person that I know I can count on - as well as keeping one here that I've always counted on.


Lastly, this blog holds so much of my past that I am proud of, but it also holds a lot of my life that I am thankful to have moved past. Do not be confused - I am thankful for every experience in my life, but I can also say that I have learned from many of them and moved on. I have started a new blog to document my new chapter in life, and I have chosen to keep it under my belt for now. I am in such a wonderful place in my life, and I cannot wait for the moments, days, months, and years to come. I am proud to have my family - and we are as close knit as ever, and I am proud to have David and his family because they are so close to my heart, too. With that being said, stay tuned to hear about my next blog link.

Thank you to those of you who have called, texted, emailed, sent cards, or reached out in person to my Mimi, me, and my family. You will never know how much a simple word of encouragement can mean to a person until you are in their position. It is so wonderful to know that you are backed by prayer warriors who genuinely care about your family and want the best for them. Your efforts will not be forgotten.

.."O LORD God Almighty, who is like You? You are mighty, O LORD, and Your faithfulness surrounds You." ~ Psalm 89:8 

september serendipity.

Well, Houston, we have a blogger today...

I know it's been forever and a day, and I almost posted my "September Favorites", but really I don't have any! September has been an interesting month, but it's also been a good one! It has ended well, anyway, and I'm EXCITED about October. 

Labor Day weekend opened up with a dove hunt with my Daddy! We always have fun going together, and dove hunting is something I don't mind gettin' up early for. So, after the hunt we rode to the barn for a  family "get-together". Uncle Jay, Aunt Dale, and Beau came down to have lunch. We brought Marlee along. The boys fished, and we all visited and had a good time. 

September was also a month with a few birthday's in the friend's circle. Baby A turned TWO this month, and Hollie & I attended her "Alice in Wonderland" birthday party. She was a cute little Alice, and Ashia had the cutest decor for the party.

 

The next weekend, we took Austin to see "Disney Princesses Live". We shopped a little, ate Japanese, and the play was just as fun for Hollie and I as it was for her, and now we're anticipating seeing "Disney on Ice" in December! 

We also carried on our "We Three" tradition by celebrating Megan's 20th birthday at the barn, and she had the cutest cake! We spent a Sunday afternoon together opening gifts, watching "Something Borrowed", taking naps, and enjoying our time together. It really was a great day to celebrate a great person! Welcome to the "Twenties", Megan, we'll have to get used to it together! I love you! ;-) 

September starts my favorite time of the year. Not only is the weather starting to change, the leaves are starting to turn, and FOOTBALL is in full swing. I love high school football, and I don't know if that will ever change. There's a different air about high school football that you just can't find at a junior college game (or in the SEC for that matter), although I love those games too. Anyway, we have been going to all the home games, and we went to our rival away game (that we won, by the way)!

I think that pretty well sums up the month for me! I hope all of you are having a "Happy Fall" so far, and I will just speak for myself about the weather: I am in love with it. I wish it would never leav, but then I guess I wouldn't appreciate it like I do when it finally gets here! :) 

 .."No spring nor summer beauty hath such grace

                      as I have seen in one autumnal face." 

                                         ~ John Donne

all other ground is sinking sand.

 I woke up, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, put on my school attire, and fought with Matt over who got to ride in the front seat of our white Cadillac. We rode the block over to the school, and I hurriedly voiced "I love you" to daddy as I grabbed my backpack and slammed the door to run inside to Mrs. Long's fourth grade classroom.
  Later that morning, we went to the library, and Mrs. Clemie had the news on, but she quickly turned it off when we went in. The first tower had already been struck, and the first few of us to walk in the door saw the burning building flash across the screen. Reporters seemed to be paniced, but we didn't exactly know what was going on. Then it was gone, and the TV turned lifeless. We begged her for what seemed like forever to turn it back on, and even though she hesitated, she finally gave in. She turned it on in just enough time for us to witness the second tower being struck by the plane. I remember us staying in the library for a lot longer than usual that day, and we were occupied by many more teachers than we would have been on a normal library day.
 The rest of the day has been erased from my memory, unfortunately, but I do remember the vagueness that filled every place we went. Fear, anxiety, and wonder filled the minds of everyone. What would happen next? Was it over? What does all of this mean?

 Even though we didn't FULLY forget about the attack of 9/11, after a few weeks it suddenly wasn't the first thought on our mind when we woke up in the morning, and our last thought before we drifted to sleep. But all of the people affected? It was undoubtably still on their mind. It's always on their mind. Their world didn't turn back to normal just because it slipped their mind for a few minutes. Their world was ripped right from its seams, and it would never EVER be the same again. Their world had been hit by a plane, gone up in smoke, and fallen to the ground in the form of rubble and ash.
 There would be grandparents without children, children without grandparents, parents without children, children without parents. There would be aunts without uncles, uncles without aunts, cousins without cousins, sisters without brothers, brothers without sisters, and these people could never be replaced without another. Sure, another man could teach a boy how to tie his tie, but his Daddy wouldn't be the one. And sure, another man could walk his daughter down the isle at her wedding, but it wouldn't ber her Daddy. Of course another Mom could hold a baby and care for it like it was her own, but it would never be their real grandmother. There's no doubt that a man could teach a boy the mannerisms of how he should treat a lady, but it wouldn't be the same tradition of his grandfathers.
 And if the people who weren't directly affected by the terrorists attack, what about all the people who willingly went to aid the people that survived? The firefighters, policemen, EMT's, military personnel, port authority, as well as everyday people? What if no one had reacted, and not one person showed up on the scene? I imagine that lives that were saved would have been taken, and hope that remained would no longer exist.
 I am grateful for the life I have in America and the principles that this country is based upon. Sometimes I am fully aware (and it is often pretty evident) of the way that our country has strayed from what it was founded upon, but isn't it ironic how the ones who want things to "change" so much always fall back into our original beliefs when tragedy strikes? Maybe if we thought about treating everyday as a day of remembrance upon how our country reacted not only TEN years ago, but years before that as well - we would be a lot more unified, understanding, and appreciative of those who give us such pride in being from the United States. From me, personally, if you are reading this and have given your time and heart to our country - I thank you from my innermost being. You are a hero to me, and you aren't thanked enough.
 September 12, 2001, started just as the one before. There was only one difference. As I reached for my backpack and went to say goodbye to Daddy for the day, I didn't do it in such a hurry, and he stopped Matt & I before we left him and said, "Remember where you were yesterday. Remember everything about it because one day you will read about yesterday in your history books. You'll be able to tell your children that you remember when that happened." I think we both walked into school that day with his words on our mind.

"Rejoice evermore. Pray without ceasing, and in everything: give thanks, for this is the Will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

~ 1 Thes. 5:16-18

August Favorites!

How appropriate is it to do my favorites during one of my favorite months?

Kidding, because August isn't necessarily one of my favorite months, but it is one that LEADS into my favorites. I love this transitional weather. It will probably be as hot as the devil's den by the end of the week, but for now I have been loving the last two weeks of weather. It's been perfect, and it's been a real teaser for fall. 

Anyway, onto why you clicked over to my link! 

:) 

Revlon - Blue Lagoon 

I just really hate that it was so late in the summer when I finally got this color. It is the PERFECT baby blue. I love the formula because it isn't too shimmery, just enough for you to notice it. 

Maybelline - One by One Volume Express

I got this with my Ulta Rewards points this past month, and I have been TRYING to fall in love with a mascara, but it hadn't happened until this came along. I love it! It lengthens so well!

Elf Shimmer Facial Whip

Perfect Highlighter for your cheeks & browbone! It doesn't feel oily, and it lasts throughout the day. A little goes a long way, and it's easy to apply.

Paul Mitchell - Super Skinny Serum

Have a frizz problem? This solves it in 5 seconds. And it smells AWESOME!

Wheat Thins - Stix (Honey Wheat)

These will CHANGE your life! Such a wonderful "on the go" snack! 

Jason Reeves - The Lovesick Album

Favorites:

"No Lies"

"Always Want More"

"Truth"

"Save My Heart"

"Alone"

Eric Church - Chief

Favorites:

"Over When it's Over"

"Like Jesus Does"

"Springsteen"

Luke Bryan - Tailgates & Tanlines

Favorites:

"Been There, Done That"

"Faded Away"

"I Knew You That Way"

Cowboys & Aliens - The Movie

Thanks to Ferris & Will for sitting through this with me, since I was dying to go. I loved it, and looking at Daniel Craig for two hours wasn't hard either.

The Help - Movie & Book

Just go see it. I won't spoil it here.

two decades! WOAH.

I guess now I have to start going to bed earlier, 

get up earlier, 

make some rules, 

and change my ways.

Since I'm "twenty", I should act like an adult now, right? 

I simply can't blame my "staying up late watching movies all night" on being a teenager anymore. 

*sigh* I didn't even realize how much I abused that negotiation. 

I'm still young.

but I do go to bed early, for the most part. 

So! Monday night we went out to eat at my FAVORITE restaurant! 

Umi's Japanese steak house! 

Daddy & I ordered the sushi, and as always I wanted a Volcano roll, and I let him pick one that I had never tried before, so we got the Tiger roll. 

 

It was DELISH!

(although I'm not sure if Mamma & Mimi would think so now that I'm mentioning that the Tiger roll was raw, but they loved it at the time. Sorry!) 

My sweet parents have made this such a wonderful weekend, and I am so incredibly blessed to call them mine. I am thankful for the relationship that we've grown into over the last few years, and I could not have hand picked better parents for me. 

They always make every moment that they can SO special for me, and I owe them a lifetime of thankfulness.

And you'll see me in the next few photos with my best friends, but Mimi isn't to be left out of that. She's always there for me, from my being at my lowest points to being the happiest red head alive. 

I cannot imagine life without her one call away. I have grown to love (even more) our visits when she comes over in the mornings and we lay in my bed talking about the way life is playing out. 

She is so full of wisdom & knowledge, and if I don't take her advice I usually look back and wish I had. When she hurts, I hurt, and vice versa. 

I just couldn't be more grateful for the family I have. 

------

Saturday, my ACTUAL birthday, we left town around 8:00 and headed to Jackson to shop for the day. I have been loving getting new clothes, but I get REALLY excited about Fall clothing. I LOVE the Fall and Winter. I can't wait for it to turn cool where I can get scarves and sweatshirts back out. 

We ate lunch at Mellow Mushroom, and despite what any of you may think, it was incredible! 

Exactly what I was craving. 

Later, we got fro-yo from "Sweet CeCe's", and it's basically like a Smackers, Local Culture, or Yogurt Mountain. It was also quite tasty! :) 

We shopped until around 5:45 (I think?) I slept the entire way up there, as well as the entire way back. So, it seemed like it took us all of five minutes to return. 

------

Sunday, Megan & Hollie carried on our new tradition by having a little birthday party for me. Last year we each decided we wanted cheesecake as our "birthday cake", but this year we all decided to do ACTUAL birthday cake, and I have been looking forward to it all week! 

We rode out to Megan's around 1:00, and we caught up on all we had been missing with each other. 

Another perk to it being YOUR birthday is that you get to pick four appetizers/finger foods that you want to eat at your party, so we had:

- rotel

- turkey "pin wheels" (?)

- pigs in a blanket

- roast beef sandwiches

and of course, CAKE! 

Enjoy these next few photos. . . 

Thank you, Megan & Hollie, for making yesterday so, so special for me. For 20 years, we have made it through thick and thin with each other, but we've always made it out alright, and I couldn't be happier to have you both by my side. We share our craziest secrets, and we laugh about nonsense things,

and that is so perfect to me. 

I love you all.

& to all of you who thought enough of me to wish me a "Happy Birthday", thank YOU, too! 

I appreciate you taking the time out of your day to make mine even more special!