"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him, and He will make your paths straight." Proverbs 3:5-6

That is the verse I wrote in a card to Clancy, Jack, and sweet Selah Grace on March 30.  Russ and I were incredibly honored that Clancy and Jack asked us to be Selah Grace's godparents.  My family (minus a very pregnant Kristin and Lee) traveled to celebrate the christening of the sweet baby girl.  It is always a joy to worship with the same church family my Nonnie and Pops took us to as children when we visited or spent a week with them.  It is also the church my mom grew up in.  There's your fun fact for the day - my mom grew up in the Lutheran church.

Of course, Selah Grace donned the same christening gown that my uncle and my mom wore as babies.  My sister, Clancy, and I also wore it for our christenings or dedications.  And, Millie Janalee even wore it for her newborn pictures.  She was too big for the gown by the time her dedication came around.  All of our names are embroidered in the slip under the gown.  The lady who added the extension to the dress years and years and years ago is a member of this church, and she was there the day Selah Grace was christened.

Everyone who wore the dress (minus Kristin)

My parents with Clancy, Jack, and Selah Grace

Dustin, Selah Grace, Clancy, and Jack

Selah Grace and her "Big Daddy" and "Mimi"

During the christening ceremony, the pastor acknowledged us as the godparents.  We vowed to pray for Selah Grace throughout her life, live as a Christian example for her, help her to grow in her faith, and encourage her along the way.  We do not take the responsibility lightly, and we understand how difficult the decision was for Jack and Clancy to make for their firstborn.  Russ and I have been honored and humbled by the trust they placed in us.  And we were elated to have the opportunity to celebrate with her on such a special day!

Me, Russ, and Selah Grace

After the church service, Clancy and Jack prepared a lovely reception at their home.  They had a lunch ready for us with a delicious cake for dessert.  We spent the afternoon passing the baby around and enjoying the company of each other.

My mom is the designated "take care of all things sentimental and fragile" person in the family.  Ha!  So she helped Clancy undress Selah Grace after church.  All the ladies took turns coming in the room to "Ooooh" and "Ahhh" over all her little baby rolls.  They are the cutest!  Millie Janalee immediately found her happy place near the book basket, and Selah Grace got dressed in her post-christening attire.

Y'all.  Tell me this isn't the cutest things ever! 

Beautiful family!

Selah Grace dressed in her Sunday afternoon finest complete with accessories - a bracelet and a necklace.  She was quite the model for me as I snapped away.

"Oh me.  Do you think I look alright?"

"Does this headband make me look big?"

After lunch, we all sat around watching Clancy open Selah Grace's gifts.  She received so many sweet gifts.  Russ and I gave her this little christening doll.  There is quite the story behind this!  My mom and I decided we would iron a patch onto the doll's bloomers with Russ and my names and the date written on it.  During the chaos that is always our family...we (and by we, I mean my mom) ironed a hole straight through the bloomers!  Actually a few holes!  It was hilarious because...well...that's just how my family rolls.  Continuing the "Coon Cloud" and Nonnie's legacy.  Clancy took it in stride and said it was perfect.  In fact, in her thank you note to us she said she couldn't wait to take her doll and "her holy underwear" to church.  Yep.  That's what family is for.  To laugh at the mess ups and embrace it as just who we are!

Russ and I began loading later that afternoon after most of the guests left.  Millie Janalee said her goodbyes to the "babies."  These two have some fun days ahead I know!

It is so fun to watch it all unfold as their personalities grow and they become more and more able to interact.  Such joys!  Tis truly so sweet to trust in Jesus!  May I never tire of saying that.

Thank you, Selah Grace, for allowing us the joy of sharing this day with you!

No Rain, No Rainbows

You may remember when we started Mississippi Women Bloggers, a site for women bloggers all over the state of Mississippi to gather, grow, and connect.  It is an amazing community that YOU should join if you are a Mississippi blogger.  And a woman, of course!  Great things are in the works over there.

I have since passed the torch to the incredible Jenny Mac Rogers, and she is taking MSWB in an even more positive direction, and I am so happy!  I am honored to guest post over there today.  The theme for April is "No Rain, No Rainbows."  Oh, how I know 'tis true!


Check it out here.

Silly Shenanigans

Since Mama and I drove down on Thursday, we had a few days to ourselves to be silly at the hotel.  One of our favorite evening events was our visits from Clancy and Selah Grace.  Millie Janalee was FULL OF ENERGY every night!  And she loved playing with Selah Grace!  I can just envision the fun we have ahead for those two.

There was lots of peekaboo...

Just checking to make sure Susu was looking for her...

"There she is!"

"Where's Millie Janalee?"

{GASP} "THERE SHE IS!"

This could go on for hours at a time if there were no distractions.  Ha!  And there was a little distraction.  Poor Selah Grace endured lots of "playing" with her big cousin.  Obviously, Millie Janalee is obsessed with headgear at the moment.  Poor Selah Grace...

Millie Janalee and I are both night owls.  And late sleepers.  So, once Russ got into town on Friday night, we kinda had to find things to keep us busy so Daddy wouldn't think we were getting sleepy and send us to our respective beds.  No, not us!  We are just getting started Daddy!

Come play with  us!

Uncie Bucket and Pawpaw came in town on Saturday, and we joined them at Bass Pro Shop to stroll around, look at the aquarium, and play on big machines like this one.  Or at least that was Pawpaw's plan.  You know, he always told her that he'd get her any car she wanted when she could say his name.  Hmmm...maybe this is the one.

 

It was good to get away with family and simply enjoy spending time together.  We ended our Saturday night with the outlet mall, a late dinner at Cracker Barrel, and tons of laughing til we cried moments at the hotel.  Literally.

The Old Home Place

Last weekend, my family took a family trip to Jackson to celebrate my cousin's baby girl's christening.  Mama, Millie Janalee, and I drove down a couple days early.  I had a meeting Thursday, and I needed help with Millie Janalee since Russ had to work.  And Mama had a meeting Thursday night.  So it worked out to be travel buddies.

Since we were going to be in town without a packed schedule (this RARELY happens), my mom spoke with one of her cousins who she hasn't seen in years and years.  Perhaps even since before they were married.  I'm not sure on the exact facts.  Millie Janalee and I joined Mama when she met "Little Becky" for lunch.  We were delighted that some of the other family members joined us.  One of my Pops' brothers, a sister, one of the brothers' wives, and "Little Becky" (named after "Big Becky") brought her daugther-in-law.  We enjoyed a delicious Southern meal in Byram before them taking us over to the old home place.

This was the place Pops grew up.  As we pulled into the driveway, Mama began gasping and talking ninety to nothing about all the things she remembered doing as a child around the various spots we passed: the big tree, the gate, etc.  So, I knew I would need to take Millie Janalee's picture around some of her favorite spots!

Everyone began walking toward the house...some from their own house that was also located on the land.  Most of these family members still live on this land.  There were stories...OH the stories!  And lots of connections and names that I tried to keep straight.  My mom still laughs when she talks about how confused I was after we left.  You have to remember, I don't think I have ever met any of these family members.  Except "Big Becky" because she attended my wedding.  But, as you can imagine, we didn't get a chance to visit much that day.

What I do know and will always remember is how much Pops' brother looks so much like him.  I'll be honest.  I sat opposite him at the lunch table, and there was a moment when I had to focus on my food and stop looking at him so I wouldn't cry. Talk about an awkward way to meet a table full of new family members. Ha!  He has a quiet demeanor just like Pops, and so many of his characteristics.  Very surreal.  And it was an honor to meet Pops' family.

We spent the afternoon sitting around the kitchen table talking.  We also enjoyed touring the house and looking at old pictures.  Below is a picture of my mom's grandparents.  This was their home.

My mom's aunts and uncles left lunch a little early to "stop by the bank" before we came to visit the home.  When we arrived, they greeted Millie Janalee with her pick of goodies.  Her favorite was this chocolate and marshmallow cookie/cupcake thing and Hawaiian Punch.  She loved it!  She also enjoyed taking her own little tour of the house and playing with the puppies - Dixie and Peanut.

Hours later, Mama and I loaded a very sleepy Millie Janalee into the car.  We headed toward the hotel room after a long day without a nap.  Millie Janalee slept about 15 minutes in the car, and that was it for the day!  Wow.  Completely worth skipping a nap!  Getting little glimpses into the "good old days" is one of my favorite things!  I was happy to share the experience with my mom and Millie Janalee.  And I hope they were happy to share with us.  I'm pretty sure they were!

Sprinkling with Friends

A week after Kristin's shower given by the ladies at our hometown church, Kristin's best friends and their moms sprinkled Hughes with another little shower.  It was a fun get-together with yummy food and great company.  We enjoyed visiting over an early lunch menu.

We were excited to have more out of town family join us for this day.  My cousin and her mom drove in from Jackson with Selah Grace.  It was fun to see Selah Grace growing so fast and looking so completely adorable!  Selah Grace and Millie Janalee weren't the only little ones around.  Sweet Rayne joined us too, and Millie Janalee enjoyed talking to "the baby".  I think it was the first time we saw Rayne smile all day.  She liked watching Millie Janalee flit around dancing and singing her heart out for the big captive audience.

Millie Janalee was so excited to get down and run around the big room filled with gifts and people and open space.  She literally danced in circles, ran around, talked and sang, played "peek a boo", and helped Auntie Kristin open gifts the entire time.

We did manage to slow her down long enough to sit with MawMaw for a little while.  I'm pretty sure it made MawMaw's day.  She loves it when Millie Janalee can slow down long enough for quality time.

It's happening.  Hughes will be here very soon.  This month is what we expect.  His due date is April 24th, so we are all on countdown mode.  These three cousins will soon have their own little baby cousins.  And things are about to get rowdy!  Our beach trips will never be the same.  And, yes, this year's beach trip is planned for all three babies to be in tow! 

Bring on the full-time beach baby duty!

After the shower, Clancy, Aunt Patsy, Uncle Howard, and Selah Grace joined us at Kristin and Lee's to just hang out and enjoy the afterglow.  We let the girls play on the floor.  Millie Janalee loved talking to the baby.  She kissed her and loved her and tried to squish her and all the other things a 20 month old would do to a little helpless person.  Ha!

These little girls are ready for a protective little boy to join ranks!