It's getting closer....

Next weekend, Kristin and Lee will be getting married! It's crazy how time flies. Last weekend, I took the girls for one "last fling before the bling!" We traveled south to Gulf Shores for a fun, relaxing, and hilarious weekend before Kristin ties the knot. We had a great time! I took off work early Friday so that Clancy and I could get to the hotel early and set up. The Corinth girls joined us to help.

Marley and Charli

We decorated and set up after eating a yummy supper. We even dressed up and had a little fun ourselves while we waited. Emily Anne really had the best outfit, but I just don't think she'd want me to share it on the blog! Ha!

Me and Mary Anne

I put together cute buckets for all the girls. Can you guess what the theme was for the weekend besides the bling? Yellow! Yep. This is the color of the wedding and Lee's favorite, so we went with that!

Among other surprises, their buckets had yellow sunglasses, a yellow coozie, and...

...yellow t-shirts to sleep in! Thanks Yaya Vic Vic for helping me out!

Me and Clancy

Kristin, Leann, Ally, and Kaitlin arrived late Friday night. We enjoyed a little "play time" before blowing up our air mattresses and squeezing 10 girls into one hotel suite! Up close and personal! The next morning, we headed to the beach!

Bride-to-be

The water was beautiful, and the sun was shining! I can certainly attest to the sun shining. Just ask my sunburned shoulders! Ouch!

Me and Kristin

We all wore our new yellow sunglasses, and Kristin wore her Bride-to-be ones...

The whole crew

...and we sported our new yellow flip-flops from our bucket. We were looking cute!


After a long day at the beach, we came back to the room in shifts to shower and get ready. Remember, 10 girls and ONE bathroom! It took close to four hours to get ready! Once we were all dressed and ready, it was time for Kristin to open her lingerie gifts.

No one put their names on their gifts, and Kristin had to guess who they were from. She did a horrible job! Ha! But, she loved everything!

Nope. No pictures here! This is a good example of "what happens at the bachelorette party, stays at the bachelorette party!"

Sisters

Now, it was time for dinner and a night out! We definitely went to dinner at 10:00! What? That's early, right!?

PLEASE look at this veil! OMG! Hilarious!

Bling! Yes, I did find light up engagement rings for everyone. Who needs headlights when you are wearing these!?

The whole group before going to dinner

We ate dinner at the Original Oyster House. I think we pretty much closed the place down. I think we left close to midnight! Ha! Then, we spent the rest of the night...well, I guess that would be morning...at Floribama. You'll never guess who we ran into!

Cousins

Dustin and Kendall crashed the bachelorette party! Ha! This completely weirded Dustin out, but Kendall didn't seem to care one bit! Ha!

Leann, me, Mary Anne, and Charli

Kristin and Ally

My guess is that we got back to the hotel close to 3:30...after running through McDonald's for a late night snack. We all went straight to bed! The next morning, we were all up and packing so we could checkout by 11. Before leaving town and all going our separate ways, we ate lunch at Lamberts. The Home of the Throwed Rolls!

Please ignore the nerd in the bottle-cap glasses!

Such a fun weekend! I hope Kristin had a great time! I know I did! So, we've had her last fling...it's time for the BLING!

Poopy

Today has been a poopy day. Not all poopy. Just some poopy. I mean, the day was beautiful in appearance and temperature. I did NOT have to do any sort of test prep with my kids. In fact, I actually taught social studies today to finish up my Mississippi unit. That was a plus.

This week has been quite the trying one. I know it is all working out to His perfection, but it still has been testing us as a couple, as patient people, and as friendly people. Ha! A couple of big opportunities fell through. My laundry hasn't been touched in two weeks. I'm tired of finding those caterpillar things that roll up when they die. I'm up to my waist in bachelorette party accessories and planning. Ha! And I felt poopy today. And, well, you know...that just sometimes make you remember your day as poopy.

I have been having signs of a sore throat for a couple of days now. Well, this morning I woke up with a difficulty swallowing. It hurt "sorely!" Ha! My whole body ached. I honestly would have called in sick, but I knew there were several people out for a professional development. So, I went on in...making it there just in time for students. I made it through my day, and I only "raised my voice" (some would call this yelling!) at my students once today for not respecting their sickly teacher. Ha!

I came home, FINALLY, around 7:00 tonight after running around getting last minute things needed for our weekend. When I walked into the kitchen, I had a little happy for my poopy day.

My day isn't so poopy after all. I have a wonderful home, wonderful family that will give us a free place to stay if our house never sells, and an amazing hubby!

We are blessed! I'm picking up the pooper scooper and getting rid of my poopy day! Today was a great day!

What Happens in Starkvegas Stays in Starkvegas...

...almost everything! Ha!

Saturday night, Kristin and Lee had another shower. This time in our college town of Starkville. Her college roommate and family gave this shower at their house by the pool. The decorations were adorable, the food was amazing (especially the hash brown casserole!), and the music was fun. But, the best of all was hanging out with such hilariously fun people!

Dustin, Mary, and Kendall

Russ and me

Ally, the hostess, and Kristin

The bride and groom to be!

My brother and his friends were running a little late. My guess is that they stopped to buy gifts real quick. What makes me think that? Well, look how they wrapped them:

Typical!

Many of the guests Saturday night were members of the wedding party. We had a great time getting to know each other (if we didn't already) and just having a good time! Russ had to leave around 9:00 because he was on call Sunday. We took group pictures before he left.

The guys...leave it to Dustin to make a very awkward face!

The girls

Once pictures were over, everyone went back to visiting and having a good time. Next thing I know...

...Lee's in the pool! By force. I knew it would happen eventually. But, to be honest, I had visions of ME falling into the pool each time I passed by the tables. Ha!

Next on the list? Opening gifts! Lee is ready in his Elmo hat! You just never know with this group!

Cute bride glass!

Garrett did good with this Mississippi State set!

The rest of the night was just laid back fun. We turned the music up soon enough and enjoyed each other even more!

Cousins

Trying on Dustin's hat

I don't care what they say...I have the best moves ever! Just look at Ashley studying my every move. Haha! Please ignore the gut in my front! I am NOT pregnant. Just looks that way! Ha!

Once we shut down the Walker's home, we decided to take the party someplace else. Where else when in Starkvegas than the one and only Mugshots?!

Ashley, me, and Kristin

You never know who you will run into in Starkville! One of the girls from Corinth was married Saturday in town, and all of her guests came to Mugshots afterward apparently!

Let's do a roll call...

Sherra...also modeling Dustin's hat.

Andy...we graduated high school together.

Katy J...a great friend from high school

Of course I don't have pictures of everyone. I don't want to look that stalkerish. But, you get the idea! Everyone had a wonderful time before calling it a night and packing 13 people into a two bedroom apartment with NO furniture! Yes, there were people sleeping everywhere...couches, chairs, air mattresses, and the floor!

Made me feel young again.

Or maybe it made me feel old. I'm not quite as energetic as I used to be. I'm pretty sure I was the third one asleep. That is, after Garrett and Lee. Ha!

The countdown is nearing the end! Wedding weekend is coming! Bachelorette party is this weekend on the beach. I've been searching for my mu-mu to wear on the beach. Ha!

Aloha

I've been preparing for my end of the year luau party at school. In the midst of selling a house, signing a contract, waiting on inspections, wedding festivities, MCT2, and other wild opportunities and information that fell into the same week as everything else. But, I've had a ball! I've been a few places and picked up things here and there. But, one thing I found...


Dollar Tree is my one stop luau shop!


Even Farley got something out of the deal! He looks very excited, doesn't he? Ha!

Mother's Day

I have always loved Mother's Day. For one, it is always such a beautiful day in early May. Secondly, I love to watch the baby dedication Mother's Day morning. I love what that dedication means: parents bringing their children before the church acknowledging that their child is a gift from God, and committing to raise that child in a Godly home. Then, each parent shares the life verse they have chosen for their child with an adorable picture on the screen. So precious! I have thought for years about choosing a life verse for my child. What would it be? Will I be able to choose? How special it will be!

This May marks four years of infertility. As time went on, I began to dread this beautiful dedication ceremony. Not because I didn't want to be there, but because I didn't want to make a fool of myself bawling like a baby. I know those of you who have walked this path can understand this. Each year, you watch and think, "I may be up there next year." Then the next year comes and goes.

This year was the first year in a while that I sat calmly and enjoyed the ceremony. I think that Russ and I have come to a peace. We certainly long for a child. But, we also rest assured in God's plan. When it came time to choose whether to take the next step in our infertility treatments, we were unsettled. Everything seemed so forced and frantic all of a sudden. This was a sign for us to take a break and WAIT. Wait on the Lord to direct our path. Wait on Him to open doors. Wait. Wait on His plan. Wait on His answer. We took this time...actually about a year now...to enjoy each other and this life we have now. For one day, we will look back and miss these days. As I watch friends have babies and second babies, I still long for that. But, I have a peace that I am not in control. This is the first thing that I have absolutely NO control over. And that's a hard thing for this control freak! But, I'm waiting. I am so thankful that God has spared me the drama, pain, and heartache that I once felt. I'm still heartbroken. Other than the teary eyed dreaming, I have not shed tears in quite a while. I have faith that in His time, He will bless us as parents. I've never wanted anything but to be a wife and mother.

Where did this peace come from? I'm not sure. Throughout the past year of "taking a break" from pills and ultrasounds and shots and blood work and temperatures and calendars, God has opened doors. Doors of information. Doors of opportunity. Opening our minds. I am very excited to see what God has in store for our family, and I pray that He make it clear to us which direction we should go. Please pray with us as we continue down this journey known as infertility. Please pray that God will continue to open doors and lead us in His ways. I am thankful for the lessons learned during this journey. I am thankful that this longing and waiting and wanting and praying will make me a better mother. I read this poem on Kelly's Korner a couple of years ago, and I thought I'd share it here.

Hopefully you will all understand and not take offense to this poem. I do NOT think this experience will make me any better of a mother than are you. But, I do feel that this experience will make me a better mother than I would have been otherwise. Please understand this before reading!

Thoughts on Becoming a Mother

There are women who become mothers without effort,

without thought,

without patience or loss,

and though they are good mothers and love their children,

I know that I will be better.

I will be better not because of genetics or money or because I have read more books,

but because I have struggled and toiled for this child.

I have longed and waited.

I have cried and prayed.

I have endured and planned over and over again.

Like most things in life, the people who truly have appreciation are those who have struggled to attain their dreams.

I will notice everything about my child.

I will take time to watch my child sleep, explore, and discover.

I will marvel at this miracle every day for the rest of my life.

I will be happy when I wake in the middle of the night to the sound of my child, knowing that I can comfort, hold, and feed him and that I am not waking to take another temperature, pop another pill, take another shot or cry tears of a broken dream.

My dream will be crying for me.

I count myself lucky in this sense; that God has given me this insight, this special vision with which I will look upon my child.

Whether I parent a child I actually give birth to or a child that God leads me to, I will not be careless with my love.

I will be a better mother for all that I have endured.

I am a better wife, a better aunt, a better daughter, neighbor, friend, and sister because I have known pain.

I know disillusionment, as I have been betrayed by my own body. I have been tried by fire and hell that many never face, yet given time, I stood tall.

I have prevailed.

I have succeeded.

I have won.

So now, when others hurt around me, I do not run from their pain in order to save myself discomfort.

I see it, mourn it, and join them in theirs.

I listen.

And even though I cannot make it better, I can make it less lonely.

I have learned the immense power of another hand holding tight to mine, of other eyes that moisten as they learn to accept the harsh truth when life is beyond hard.

I have learned a compassion that only comes by walking in those shoes.

I have learned to appreciate life.

Yes, I will be a wonderful mother.

- Author Unknown

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On another note, we had a pleasant Mother's Day in Corinth. Russ surprised me Saturday night by driving up from Jackson. He got off at the last minute. We were all very happy to see him. But, mostly, Mama was so excited that after weeks of trying to schedule a family picture...Russ was FINALLY off long enough to do it!

So, after a wonderful lunch prepared by Mama...I know what you're thinking! "It's Mother's Day!" Well, this is Mama's one request for Mother's Day every year: she cooks. No crazy busy restaurants. And we let her. After the lunch, we took our family picture. We weren't coordinating...well...because we didn't know about it ahead of time. But, I still think it's a great picture. Happy Mother's Day Mama!

Russ and I have been blessed with such wonderful examples of unconditionally, sacrificial, Christian, loving mothers. I can only pray to be that mother to my children one day.

Gettin' Ready...

Believe it or not, it's almost time for the big day. Kristin and Lee's wedding is right around the corner now...about three weeks if I'm correct. My parents' house has been a huge wedding super center over the past year and a half. Constant projects. Millions of boxes and gifts and favors and happies and baskets and...well, you get the idea. I know now that every time I go home, it is consumed with last minute wedding things. Especially now that Kristin lives in Jackson and is only home on the weekends.

This weekend, K.K. Hill came to town. This probably doesn't mean much to you, but OH how you are missing out!! K.K. is a family friend our family met years ago through the Bennett family. He is a phenomenal florist, event planner, and anything else you need.

K.K. and Mama plan while Maw Maw listens.

To give you an idea of how good he is...Mary Kay (yes, the cosmetic lady) used to fly him to Dallas to decorate her home for Christmas. I'll just consider him famous. Ha! Anyway, K.K. did the flowers for the grand hall at my reception, and he is in charge of Kristin's reception. It is sure to be wonderful!

Kristin, K.K., and me

Among all his talents, lies a hilarious attitude and personality! Oh my goodness, how we laughed at him! I LOVED taking him out to eat in our small town just to see people's expressions as he talked about different things. Hilarious! For example, when he saw Dustin this weekend, he shouted, "OH MY GOODNESS! Last time I saw you...you could stand sideways, stick your tongue out, and look like a zipper!" I mean, seriously. Could you come up with anything like that!? Maw Maw was trying to help with the wedding plans by telling K.K. that she had some solar lights he could use out by the fence. Ha! K.K. quickly told her, "NO HONEY!" Maw Maw informed him that hers weren't regular solar lights. Hers light up in various colors and alternate colors. He immediately yelled out, "Well, DISCO INFERNO!" The rest of the weekend, K.K. had Maw Maw going. He told her she was addicted and to calm down. "Calm down, Honey. I think I have some lights with holes in 'em. We can just use them as earrings!" Oh my, how funny!

In all seriousness, we had a splendid time visiting with K.K. and planning the reception for Kristin and Lee. We took him to eat supper at Russell's, a delicious down home steak house, and he came over Sunday for a Mother's Day lunch. We all had a ball!

Thank you so much, K.K., for all you have done and continue to do! I can't wait to see what you come up with in June!

Braves Game

As you know by now, Kristin has moved into her and Lee's new apartment. She started her new job last week. While Kristin and Lee (and their moms) have spent a few days getting things situated, Russ and I have taken advantage of their company and food! Ha! It seems like we had something every night last week. In fact, I could barely hold my eyes open today because I'm so exhausted from it all. My weekend was just as busy!

Last Thursday night, after I tie dyed twenty five t-shirts for Field Day, Russ and I joined Kristin, Lee, and friends at the Mississippi Braves baseball game.

Russ and me

We had a great time as always! And we got home after midnight I think. Enter exhaustion process.

Lee, Kristin, and Garrett

We got a little delirious toward the end of the game.

Me, Kristin, and Lee

I don't think Kristin and I watched a single bit of the game. We depended solely on the guys to tell us if a foul ball was making a line drive for our heads! Ha!

Yep. I'm pretty sure we had a great time!