Family Pictures

Weston has had a much better day yesterday and today... thanks for your prayers! Keep 'em coming! He got the game ball at his game last night because he played pretty darn good if you ask me. It was one of the best games defensively I've ever seen him play!

I have some pictures of him and Cody playing ball from a couple of weeks ago that I'll post later... but for now, I'm just going to post some pictures from my Grandparent's house/farm of my family on the day of Grandma's funeral.

Here's me and Weston... he's trying to look bigger by standing on his tippy toes and poking his chest out. HA!

Here's mom with her living siblings - Aunt Kay and Uncle Woody.

Me and my sweet mom! - She hates this picture b/c the wind is blowing her hair and she thinks she looks like a wild woman... I think she looks great and I love her pink, black, and white!


Me and the love of my life!


My family :)


My family close up - Weston's trying to look big again (HAHA!) and Mom thinks her hair looks crazy in this pic too -- it was the wind!

Don't ya just love my family? I do!

I'm so excited and I'm itching to tell you something. It's a surprise though. You'll just have to wait and see. And no, I'm not getting engaged tonight so don't get your hopes up, but something else is going to happen! I'm doing the surprising! I'm so excited! Can't wait to tell you all about it!

Have a good Saturday afternoon!

Personal Prayer Request

Hey friends!

I have a prayer request that I've debated back and forth on whether or not to discuss openly since it's kind of personal, but I've decided to do it because it's weighing on my heart. AND this blog is about being transparent to show how God is working in my life (and others' lives), even when things get personal.

You remember that week I had a couple of months ago? The one where I couldn't pull myself together and didn't want to get out of bed? The one where I had a glimpse of real depression? When I wrote this post and this post? Well, I think that Weston (my 10 year old brother) is having a similar time this week. He is emotionally and physically drained. He is sad about my Grandma's death, which also reminded him of my Granddaddy Mark's death (last April). He's sad about my Aunt Debbie's sickness. He is exhausted. He has EOGs (End of Grade Testing) next week. He's stressed, tired, and sad. Please pray for God to replenish his soul and give him much-needed rest. I love him so much and it is so hard to comfort him in the way he needs when I just don't know how. He is having some snuggle time with Mom right now to help him get to sleep (Gosh, he would die if he knew I said that.... ), so if you will, pray for him to find peace. Most people don't have to deal with all this in a life time, let alone in one year - at age 10.

And, can I just say that God has put the most wonderful people in my life? I seriously have the best friends. Whether coming to the visitation, sending sweet, sweet cards, bringing flowers, calling to check on me... they are seriously loving on me and I am so grateful! I love you guys!

Parker has also been by my side non-stop this week and I am so glad. He is so wonderful and I am so undeserving of his pure and devoted love.

Our family has been so surounded by love and support and we are so thankful. My dad's side of the family has been so thoughtful and we've had several family friends love on us (the Boyds, the Andersons (hey April!), mom's coworkers, the Morgans... oh gosh I know I'm leaving out like half the people but we are so thankful!

God is good! I know that He is in control, even when we feel like the world's on our shoulders... Sometimes we just have to be reminded!

Candice & Corolla Weekend

This past weekend we had the BEST time in Corolla for Candice's bridesmaids weekend! We stayed at Aunt Kitty's beach house (below, isn't it massive? It's actually a duplex that you can (and we did) open up as one house...only 10 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms...)

I was a bit worried because it rained all week, but the weather was beautiful all weekend! We got to soak up the sun (Candice did a little too much), eat some really good food, relax with our awesome "spa bags" (Thanks to Charlotte), and laugh a whole lot! Man, I don't think there was a conversation that we didn't laugh so hard we thought we were going to pee on ourselves (Charlotte almost did! hahahahaha) Here we are with our towel heads - me, Mrs. Eller (Candice's mom), Candice, Mrs. Lydia, Aunt Kitty, Amanda (I like her haha), and Charlotte Webb (yes, Charlotte Webb)

This was our lunch on Saturday! It was pretty & delicious!

Here we are at Sunset Grille - the restaurant we went to Saturday night. Oh my goodness, it was so good. We had a blast! I wish the other bridesmaids (Ashley, Grace, & Martha Lynn) could have come too!

Saturday was also Charlotte's birthday! She's the one in the birthday cake hat (4th from the left). [Funny story - Charlotte is the Morgans' neighbor at the river and five years ago when we first met, Parker introduced me to her as his "other girlfriend." So... from then on, I recognized her as Parker's other girlfriend. What a lucky man he is to have both of us! haha] Anyways...here we are at Sunset Grille in our sweet hats!

I could tell you so much more... but what happens at the beach, stays at the beach. :) And, can I just say that I'm ready for my bridesmaid weekend because this was so much fun!

OH YEAH! Welcome Candice to the blogging world! EEEE!! I'm so excited that one of my best friends and future-sister-in-law has a blog now!! Check her recap of the weekend out here.

*Candice is Jacob's fiance (Jacob is one of Parker's brothers)... His other brother, Preston, is married to Martha Lynn, and Cody (8 yrs old) & Abi (4 years old) are ML's kids. Ms. Lydia (Lele) and Mr. Jack (Daddy Rabbit.. hahaha) are Parker's parents.

*Since I'm spelling out the family tree... Mark is my dad and Peggy is my mom and Weston is my 10 year old brother.

Her children will rise up and call her blessed.

She watches over the affairs of her household and does not eat the bread of idleness. Her children arise and call her blessed. Her husband also, and he praises her: "Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all." Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.

Proverbs 31:27-31

I think this a beautiful passage from the book of Proverbs and it reminds me of my Grandma Sue who passed away yesterday a little after 2 o'clock. We miss her, but we are so thankful that she no longer suffers. Thanks for your prayers!

Mothers' Day

Happy Mothers' Day Mom & Mrs. Lydia!

The picture above is of me, my mom, Parker, and his mom on the night of my senior prom. How cute is that? I love it!

It has been a bitter-sweet Mothers' Day for us because my Grandma Sue (mom's mom) has taken a turn for the worse. She has been surrounded by friends and family in her last days. I am at peace with it and pray only that she will not feel pain. While we will miss her, we hate watching her suffer. While we wish she could get better, we know it's time. It's hard, especially for my mom, so please keep us in your prayers.

So be thankful for your moms today, I know I am!

Sweet Summertime

I just moved out of my apartment yesterday and spring-cleaned my room at home today (so all my apartment stuff would fit in it)... 5 bags of trash AND 4 bags & 2 boxes for Good Will later... I can walk in my room! Whew! I pretty much got rid of everything except the stuff I brought from my apartment.

Can I just say that I am SIKED about summer!?! Fun in the sun, relaxation, family, friends, no school… ahh the LIFE! Did I mention seeing Parker every day? Sweet!

Summer plans already in the works:

First off, tomorrow, I leave for a beach weekend with Candice and her bridesmaids! I am so ready – what a way to kick off the summer!

Then, Parker graduates on May 24th – yes, he technically graduated in December, but Barton College only has one Graduation and my boy gets to do a speech (woot woot). Oh and guess what! He got the Religious Life Award this year too! Congratulations babe!

Then, Part 1 of 3 Teaching Fellows escapades – early June is Special Olympics in Raleigh in which yours truly, along with a ton of other Fellows will be running the grounds.

Fast forward to end of June and I will be throwing a wedding shower with some family friends for Candice – let the planning begin!

Early July comes the much needed, wonderful family vacation. Probably the last family vacation before real world life sets in for me, since next summer I’ll be in grad school (yikes!) and then starting a job! (whoa!) Nonetheless, beach time w/ the parents and bro – and I couldn’t be more excited!

Then comes Parts 2 and 3 of the Teaching Fellows escapades for the last 2 weekends of July (I have to do Junior and Senior summer enrichment programs this year since I’m graduating in three years)

And then comes a big one – Candice and Jacob get married! (Praise the Lord!) Parker and I have a great wedding present in the works… haha

Then, finally comes the move to my new apartment – YAY!

I’m not sure which thing I’m the most excited about, though my family vacation and Candice/Jacob’s wedding are probably tied for first!

Oh Sweet Summertime, praise the Lord, you’re here!

Not Me Monday is back!

Welcome to Not Me Monday, a blog carnival started by the wonderful Mckmama! The idea is simple - you tell all the (embarassing) things you did not do during the week. You can click here to see other bloggers' Not Me Monday posts. Well, without further ado...

I did not justify going back to bed at 12 noon on Wednesday because I had already done so much on my to do list that morning. I had got up, got ready, taken a Sociology exam, bought envelopes, stopped by the registrar's office, and emailed a host of people... sleep would not be a much needed reward.

I did not precede to sleep for three and half hours after that nap. I mean really? That is way too long of a nap.

I have not read through blogs as a way to procrastinate studying... that would be irresponsible.

I also did not run the moving cart right into a cement pole in the parking lot... in front of my best friend and her parents. I can totally control where that cart goes!

And finally, I did not trip over a sprinkler (that was thankfully not on... for real!) and almost bust my behind, when leaving Chili's at dinner tonight... also in front of Amanda and her parents.

And since Amanda does not have a blog (though she should!), she did not do a "Not Me Monday" on her board the other day and if she had, it would certainly not look like this:
It says: Amanda is... not napping, that would be unproductive. If you happen to open the door and see her in her bed, eye closed, light off, she's meditating... meditating about anatomy. Not napping.

Have a wonderful night!