our daily bread.

Life's blessings come in such surprising and unpredictable ways. Needs are met by the grace of God, support of family and love of friends.

One day I will write more on this. A lot more. And I pray one day I will be able to pay it forward in more ways than one. And one day - hopefully every day - my life will glorify God through everything.

OK. Let's get honest.

Truth is, I was going to make this blog private. Truth be told: I probably still will. But, people, I got to email #200 of people asking to be added when I was told that only 100 people can be added to your private blog. And I wasn't even half way through the list.

So, if we are all perfectly honest right now, I have to tell you I feel pretty darn loved. If ever you feel down, tell blogland you are going private. That will perk you right up. Thanks, readers. I love you too.

A few things have happened since we last spoke.

Namely, we are no longer residents of the coast.

Just know we are starting a new life in a new town. It's neither here nor there. (What does that even mean? I just felt like it fit there. )We are both so excited to see what God has in store for us. It has been amazing to see His hand in this move already.

And, yes, we are appreciate your prayers.

However, from the responses to my "going private" post, I now know that none of y'all come to this blog to read about us. Jones, as it turns out, is far cuter than I will ever dream of being.

So with that said, here are his latest ever-so-exciting tricks at almost 17 months:

- Gives zurberts. Come on, you know what that is. Don't act like if I spelled it correctly that it would change things. Raspberries on your check, leg, or his personal favorite, stomach. He pulled my shirt up in a store once to give me one right smack on my belly. We are still learning what is appropriate outside of home behavior.

- Refuses to try to say Sophie. He simply calls her dog. I will say "Jones, say Bye Sophie!" and he will say "Bye, Dog!". I have tried to sound out her name while pointing to her. "Sooo-feee." To which he replies, while pointing to her, "dooo-ooog". As if to say "why is this idiot calling this dog a sophie when clearly it is a dog?" We will work on proper nouns at a later date, I suppose.

- At 15 months he weighed 26 lbs (71%) and was 33 1/2 inches tall (97%). When I hold him on my hip, his feet dangle to about my knees. We look awkward.

- I have never seen a child so obsessed with balls. He sleeps with a football. He wakes up saying ball and he goes to bed saying "night-night ball". It's all he wants to play with, throw, kick, hug, etc. He loves a ball. Which is a perfect lead to...

- The other night we were watching the first state game (go dawgs) with some friends who have a 7 month old that is so precious and still and quiet. Jones kept throwing a football at his sweet little head. (no fear. it was soft. I don't promote abuse) When Jones got sick of the sweet baby not playing his games, Jones picked up a toy laptop and chunked it at the babe's face. Game over, kid.

- He loves to wear caps, get muddy, tackle his mama and daddy (and random sweet little girls at the library) and play ball. And to think I once thought I would want a prissy princess. I love my all boy little man. I can't imagine anything better.

Here are Jones' precious one year pictures taken by the ever talented Tricia Butts at Betty Donne Photography. He was actually closer to 14 months when the pictures were taken due to Jones having the fever virus around his birthday and busy schedules.

Seriously, this girl is good. He doesn't sit still for more than half a second at a time. The fact that she is able to capture good pictures of a running monkey never ceases to amaze me.

(Check out all of them on her site. )

So I won't forget

There are things that have been going on in my head for a while now and I feel like it may completely get out if I blog about it. Maybe it's because I have no clue who reads it and I find comfort in that. Or maybe I treat this thing like a shrink. Or maybe I am just crazy.

At any rate, here it goes:

Have I mentioned we are living in a rental home right now? Since we moved a year ago, we have been living in a cute rental. Cute, small, rental. We still own our home in Hattiesburg (anyone interested?) and renting will allow us to really get to know our new city, figure out where we want to be long-term, and save money while we are doing it, all while avoiding two mortgages.

And I am so grateful for our home. Really, I am.

But every now and then I get selfish. I worry about worldly things that do not matter. I feel like I don't measure up. And I become dissatisfied.

We have moved 6 times in our 4 1/2 years of marriage (no lie) and I am ready to feel settled in a home. I am ready to buy new furniture. Furniture that reflects my style. Not the furniture we have. I want new rugs. I want new bedding. New art. New couch. New chairs. I want, I want, I want.

It's sad, really.

I don't need any of it. I have everything I need in this little rental. Trey is the most content person I have ever met. He doesn't need or want anything. For Christmas he asked for family time with me and Jones and a few days in the woods. Seriously. I had a list a mile long.

Selfish.

Anyway, I started my pity-party again a few weeks ago when we were decorating for Christmas. We don't have the room for the big tree that I want. We don't have a fireplace with a mantle to hang our stockings. We don't even have outside outlets to light up the porch. Poor me.

But then something happened the other night when Trey and I were sitting on our old couch looking at our little tree. Trey said it was his favorite tree ever. Jones' first tree. Our first tree as a family of three.

And then it hit me.

It doesn't matter that my Christmas budget didn't allow me to buy new and extravagant decorations. Or that our house is too small for a 12 foot tree. Or that we are sitting on a couch I don't love with our feet on a rug I could do without. None of that matters.

We have each other (that sounds like a Hallmark card, but hear me out). All our needs are met.

That is more than some can say.

The homeless and hungry in our city has been on my heart a lot lately - especially this time of the year. I guess I was oblivious to the fact that there were homeless in Hattiesburg, and even more so in Starkville. Never entered my mind. But our church here is a downtown church that reaches out to the homeless and hungry - an aspect that drew us in to the church - and I see it clearly now. And it breaks my heart.

And there are people going through this Christmas season missing their loved ones. I have heard of two young people - a college student and a young toddler - who have tragically passed away this month. Do you think their loved ones are worried that their tree doesn't measure up or their couch has more than a few spit up stains? Of course not. I cannot imagine what they are going through right now. I don't know them, but my heart breaks for them.

My sassy, hip, young-at-heart Nana had surgery a few weeks ago. She was supposed to be in the hospital for about three days. She is still there. In the ICU. After surgery, her kidneys stopped functioning. Her blood pressure dropped and she needed blood transfusions. The fluids given to her to help with her kidneys started to get in her heart and lungs. Then on Sunday we were told her intestines were leaking into her body. The doctors gave us little hope that she would make it past a couple of days without surgery, but her body would not be able to handle the stress of another surgery. If we decided to go through with the surgery, they gave us a 20% chance that she would make it out alive. That was Sunday. Today is Wednesday. She is still alive, even after the surgery. She remains sedated and on a ventilator, but has started to take some breaths over the machine. She even opened her eyes today for a few seconds. Tell me God isn't with us. People were on their knees praying the entire time she was in surgery. And those people are still praying - everyday.

My Nana was perfectly healthy before she went in for her surgery. We never imagined this outcome.

But I keep telling myself this is not tragic and that a life lived for the Lord will always have a happy ending, even though I selfishly want her to stay with us for many more years. Sometimes telling myself this makes me smile, other times cry uncontrollably.

I guess what I am saying is I wish I could turn back time and use my energy of wanting more, feeling sorry for myself and desiring things that, as it turns out, is completely pointless and use it to help the homeless, the hurting, the sick, the lonely. I wish I would have called my Nana and talked about her day instead of looking online for things I thought would make me happy.

So that's my New Year's resolution: be content. Be satisfied in what the Lord has so graciously blessed me with and not get so caught up in the things that I am told matters - my clothes, where I live, what my house looks like, how Jones is dressed.

Spend time with Jones, not time shopping for him. Love on him now, not focus so much on the future. Love Trey. Everyday. And make sure he knows how much I appreciate him.

Not take anything, anyone, or any day for granted. Focus on what matters.

If you are still reading, sorry for the rambling. Usually I just tell random stories and post pictures of my cute kid. But I feel better now. So, thanks. Whoever you are.

And, so I won't forget, here are our Christmas decorations this year - Jones' first Christmas:

Happy birthday to my Nana!

Today is my sweet Nana's birthday! Unfortunately she is spending it in the ICU.
As some of you know, she had surgery on Thursday. Things turned out to be a little more complicated than anticipated and her kidneys started to not work properly afterwards, so she was moved to the ICU on Saturday. She is doing a little better everyday and her spirits are still good.

As far as her birthday goes, she says we will have a big party when she gets out!

Please do continue to keep her in your prayers. I am so thankful to be surrounded by such prayer warriors!

oxford wedding weekend

Well, mark Oxford off of Jones' places to travel list. He made it in style. It was his longest road trip yet. We could not have asked him to be a better traveler. Sweet kid. Trey and I did decide we need a bigger car. I swear we packed our entire home. This was our first night away somewhere besides to stay with my parents, who have a crib, swing, baby stuff, etc. Trey says if we get a bigger car it will be a 1987 Chrysler mini-van with faux wood paneling just so we can say we went through that stage in our lives. S'cuse me? I think not.

Anyway...back to the trip...


My dear, dear childhood friend was married this weekend at what was undoubtedly the sweetest wedding I have ever been to. Every detail was perfect and very much reflected Susanna's personality. It was an eleven am wedding so the reception was brunch. You know I love brunch. Mimosas and shrimp and grits? Yes, please. My favorite little detail (besides the amazing bluegrass band that played during the wedding) was the fact that her guest book was her favorite cookbook. She is amazingly gifted in the kitchen and loves food and wine, so it was so fitting for her guest to sign the pages of her favorite book. How creative. I love personal details in weddings. Hers was full of it! I hate to say that I didn't get one picture of the two of us. But Tricia was the photographer, so I am hoping I can get some of her amazing shots. I will let you know when the pictures are up - I am sure they are incredible.


Here is a pic of me and the bride at my baby shower. It's the most recent pic I have of us:
I love this girl.

I did get a picture of Trey and me before the rehearsal dinner. (one of about 4 that we have of just us since Jones arrived)



So not only did Jones get to meet Susanna, he also got to meet other very important people in my life: The Cantrells and Russell. It was a pretty big weekend for the little guy.


Here are some pictures of our very short visit with Luke, Amanda, Kate and soon-to-be Preston. (PS - Jones showed his love of Oxford by poo-pooing through his outfit while hanging out with them on the square)


How cute is she? and that outfit? precious.

We stayed the weekend with Russell and Callie. Long overdue. Being with close friends does my soul good. We miss those two daily!

The boys discussing something very important, I am sure.


Uncle Russ getting some quality time with Jones.


And this picture is just funny. My parents brought back this hat for Jones from The Varsity Grill in Atlanta. It looks like Jones has eaten one too many burgers from there. My little chunky monkey!

mmmmm...finger-lickin' good.

Speaking of my sweet parents, a big thank you is in order. They were planning all along to come to Oxford for the wedding and to keep Jones during the dinner on Friday night. Well, my grandmother had a somewhat last minute surgery in Jackson on Friday. My sweet daddy drove my Nana to Jackson on Friday morning at 3 am, stayed during the surgery, drove back to starkville, got my mom, drove to Oxford, kept Jones, woke up the next morning and drove back to Jackson to stay with Nana. What sweet, sweet parents I have! I told them we could figure something else out, but they wouldn't hear of it - they insisted on coming anyway. I have the absolute best parents. And Jones was very happy to see his grandaddy and lita. Thanks, mama and daddy. You are the best.

Nana is back home and doing great, by the way. God hears our prayers all the time! He is constantly looking after us.

And finally, I am asking for prayers for an old friend. We went to school K-12 together, cheered together for years, and went to church together our entire childhood. She is a wife to a wonderful man and mother of two precious boys, ages 2 years and 8 weeks. She found out last week that she has cancer. Please include Amanda in your prayers. I know God hears our prayers and still performs miracles! Thanks, blog friends!