Georgia Grace

This is, in fact, my 4th blog post of the day.  You may have hurried through the other 3, but please take time to read this one.

There's a precious 10 year old little girl that I'm very close to.  In fact, I had the privilege of teaching her a few years ago.  She's one of those little girls who is always happy, smiling (and dressed to a t!).  She loves people, and she loves life!  Her name is Georgia Grace (also known as "my little GG!")  and  I just think her sweet name fits her so well.

As an infant she underwent open heart surgery, and has to go to yearly check ups regarding her heart.  At her most recent visit, it was determined that she would need to undergo yet another surgery to replace a pulmonary valve in her heart.  This surgery is going to take place in the morning in Jackson.

She has a caring bridge site so that everyone can keep up with her process and recovery, and so we'll know how to specifically pray for her.  It's accessible by clicking here.  When asked for a password, type in "specialheart". 

Won't you join me in praying for this special girl and her sweet family?

Surprise!

My sweet friend Heather has been planning her husband Tom's surprise 30th birthday party for months, all the while trying to keep it all a secret of course!  She pulled it off well and did a fantastic job doing it!

It was at the Veranda here in Starkville the other night, and really was so much fun. 

Doesn't Tom look surprised?

Me and Heather.  I think she was able to breathe a sigh of relief when it was all over! :)

Some of the other girls who were here for the party: Melanie, Jessica, Laura, Heather, and me.  OH...and the girl sign:  that's for Laura.  She just found out that she's having a little girl! Yay!

Me, Jessica, Laura and her husband Danny, Heather, and Rob (Jessica's husband).  Good times!

I love fun friends, the Veranda, and birthday cake!

Great stuff!

The other day, I blogged about my new favorite store here in town.  If you haven't already "liked" Deep South Pout on facebook or checked out the blog (created by yours truly!), then you MUST!  They have so very many cute and reasonably priced things that you must have for summer!  If you don't live in the area, you can shop online and have items shipped to you!  Click here to check out and follow Deep South Pout's blog!



Sweet Tonka.

RIP, Tonka Gold
2000-2011

Tonka, MSU's beloved mascot, passed away yesterday. 

He's going to be missed by many!

So sad.

special flower...

As you probably recall, I live in my grandparents' house.  I love it here.  I love finding things that remind me of happy times that I shared with my sweet Nana and Dada.  Sometimes I'll also find small "reminders" that they're watching over me at all times.  I truly believe they're my angels in heaven!

Yesterday I was cleaning my house and getting ready for company I was having later that night.  I walked in the back yard to let Max out, when I looked over and noticed what was quite possibly the largest and most perfect lily I've ever seen!  It was there, perfectly bloomed, and all by itself.  There were no other flowers around it, and it didn't look like any would even be blooming anytime soon either.  When I saw it, I smiled, and immediately thought of Nana.  She loved flowers (just like me!), and I felt like it was her way of reminding me that she's watching over me and wants "her" house to look and smell great when my company arrived!

So special.

70 more days!

What's happening in 70 days?  I'll give you a few hints...

Have you gotten your season tickets yet??

I'm only a little excited.  Can't you tell?

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

On another note, my friends at Deep South Pout have created a blog!  You definitely need to check it out and start following their blog so you can be in the know about all of their fantastic items!

my new favorite.

So...how cute is my new bulldog necklace?



I absolutely did not need a thing when I went in there today, but come on?!  How in the world was I supposed to not buy this?

There's a new boutique in StarkVegas, and I'm in love with everything there.  They haven't even been open  2 weeks yet, and I'm embarrassed to tell you how many times I've been in already! I've gotten a couple of fabulous pieces in there.  And the best part?  Everything is very reasonably priced!  I got this necklace for only $16.95! 

The store is called Deep South Pout. You definitely need to find them on facebook and check out their blog so you can see pictures of some of their merchandise!

Oh, and if you think you just have to have a bully necklace like mine for football season, I think they still have some left!  I hear they're getting some maroon outfits (in addition to the "bulldog-like" rings, necklaces, etc.that they already have!) soon, so I'm pretty excited about looking cute during football season this year.

If you don't live here, you most definitely need to go the next time you're in town, and tell them that Laura sent you! :)

Lucky So and So..

Kristen's dear childhood friend, Jessi has been mentioned a time or 2 on my blog.  Perhaps you recall me mentioning her speaking at Nana's funeral earlier this year.  She and Kristen have been friends since childhood.  They graduated high school together, and were college roommates until Jessi moved to NYC.  Jessi is a graphic designer and  an artist, and is absolutely one of the most creative people I've ever known. 

I follow her on twitter and read her blog regularly (you absolutely should check it out!).

Several months ago, she took on a challenge (read about it here).  I was fascinated! I so enjoyed reading about this experience she had, while wondering how in the world I'd be able to manage such a thing!  In fact, I'm quite sure I don't know a single other person who would take on such a task.  She now talks publicly about her adventure, and was recently featured on TEDactive (pretty cool, huh?). 

Anyway, here's the video of her talking about her experience. 
Watch this video, and I guarantee you'll agree that this girl is one of the most intriguing, amazing, and beautiful people you've ever seen!  She has a heart of gold and is a total joy to be around. 

Check this out.

Are you amazed?

still praying?

Lucy had her first day of chemo today. 

Are you still praying for her and her sweet family?

a special anniversary and a new blogger!

Today marks the 35th anniversary of my wonderful parents!

Here they are in a recent picture with the 2 joys of their lives.

God bless these sweet parents of mine! I'm still just not quite sure what I did to deserve them, but I'm oh so very grateful for them!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
NEW BLOGGER:

My dear friend, Laura Mims has just started a blog! Hooray! With just a little help from me:), her cute blog is up and running! Head on over there and check her out. You'll like her.

I promise.

Hoping all of you have the happiest week this week!

xoxo

I love my dad (and oreos!)

Isn't that the most adorable commercial? Love.


Happy Father's Day to my amazing daddy and all of the other amazing daddies out there!

MSKS...

Happy 30th Birthday, MSKS!

Poor, pitiful Mary Straton is celebrating her birthday in London today! (Me? Jealous? No way!)

MSKS has been my best friend for officially 28 years now! That's a LONG time, people!

Wishing I could be with you on this day of celebration, MSKS!

xoxo

tricia....AGAIN!

The other love of my life and another one of Tricia's great work!

I love how close up this picture is because I love seeing his freckles! So precious. Thanks for making me a happy aunt, Tricia! :)

Seriously, people...why wouldn't you want Tricia to be your photographer??

cuteness.

Yes, Tricia, you're so so very talented, but doesn't it make your job a little easier when your clients look like this?:

I love this little guy so much.

If I'm blessed with children of my own one day, I'm just not sure how I can possibly love them like I love my nephews!! Help!

Orange Beach, Gulfport, and New Orleans!

You've probably noticed the beach ticker I've had at the top of my blog for the past few months. It's been counting down to my annual beach trip with my friend Heather! It's something that she and I look forward to every single summer. Of course, once it's come and gone, it's always a little sad, but we're just going to go ahead and start counting down to next year's trip! (Click here, here, and here to see my posts from each trip!)

Here are a few pics from our week of heaven!

This picture was taken at Cobalt--a fabulous restaurant in Orange Beach. The atmosphere was perfect there! In the area? You should definitely go and have their shrimp and grits! YUMM!!!!!

...view from the balcony taken the first morning we were there. Drinking coffee on this balcony is one of my favorite things to do while I'm there! Heather and I enjoyed having it to ourselves for a few days, but we were excited when Heather's husband Tom and little boy Thomas Brodie joined us on Thursday!
I think he loves the beach already!

I left Orange Beach on Thursday, and drove to Gulfport to get a visit in with Heather, Trey, and Jones. Rob had a tennis tournament on the MS coast, so he, Kristen, and Henry were also staying at Heather's for a few nights.

On Friday, Heather, Kristen, and I took the boys to the New Orleans Zoo. To say that H&J had fun is a total understatement! They loved everything about it!

Can't you tell?
The boys also enjoyed playing in the sand at the beach there in Gulfport! I can't wait for Kristen's little girl (whose name will be Noelle Adams Fyke!) to be born in the fall, but what in the world am I going to do with a girl?! :)
I just love, LOVE my boys!

I want this!

Isn't this just fantastic?!

Click here to get yours!

GO DAWGS!

Wordless Wednesday...

In just a few short days, I'll be relaxing with my friend Heather, sipping something cold and fruity, and enjoying THIS view...

Sweet summertime.