K & B

April 23rd... Kam and Bridgette are tying the knot! The last couple of months seem to have just flown by and here we are coming up on their wedding weekend!! 

Here is a recap of all the fun stuff in between.

The girls headed up to North Georgia for the Wine Highway Weekend. Yummy food, wine, silly games, and a gravel road that put all of our driving skills to the test... 

Bachy Party. Check.

Up next... Wedding Showers. Bridgette's sister, Nicole, helped put together an AMAZING shower for Kam and Bridgette. More yummy food, even yummier desserts, cute kids and great friends... perfect wedding shower.

This past weekend, we headed to Canoe for our Bridesmaid Luncheon. Mother, sister, cousin, friend, neighbor, family... the friendships and relationships we have with our bride-to-be were celebrated in the sweetest way.

And now the countdown begins... only a few more days until they become Mr. and Mrs.

I can't wait to share this day with them... and their wedding video! FINALLY! :)

K & G

Wedding season is definitely in full swing. The season kicked off with a shower for one of my best friends and her future hubby... Kates and Gaines. I still remember hearing about how cute this particular Beta was as we walked up the hill back to AXO. It has been so much fun seeing their relationship from the beginning... those first dates, to triangle dates, and in a couple of months, their wedding date!! And now for the fun part...

And the crafting begins.

Wedding season has officially begun... and so has my crafting. These little projects have become great stress relievers! A wedding shower and a bachelorette party... the next two weekends I get to celebrate two of my sweet friends. Can't wait to share the finished products!

The Next Big Thing.

Do you know who the 19th president was? Or how about why Georgia Washington never had a toothache? What about which president got stuck in the presidential bathtub? Not only can Eli answer these questions, he can also recite every president of the United States, their vice presidents, the names of their respective wives and where they are from. While most 4 year olds are watching Toy Story or playing video games, Eli wants to go to The Booth Museum to visit his favorite people. He would rather watch presidential biographies on the History Channel than watch "kid cartoons." Eli's love for presidents began at age 2 when he first memorized the 44 men that have lead our country. Since then, his passion for our presidents has continued to grow. His love for these men reminds us of the mark they have left in the history of our nation and in the heart of one 4 year old boy.

What started as a newspaper article in a local newspaper quickly turned in to a feature on local news stations. And now Eli has made his way to California to make his debut on The Ellen Degeneres show!! Not only is Eli excited about sharing his knowledge of the presidents, but Ellen will also be playing the "down the hole" game... one of his favorites. Don't worry, before he left, I asked Eli if he would still be my friend now that he is all famous... he said he guessed he could. :)

Watch out Ellen, you might have just met one of your new favorite kids!!

See Eli on The Ellen Show Friday at 4:00 pm!!

Garden.

In January, Mallory went to be with Jesus. Some of her teachers from Kennesaw Mountain are putting together a memory book in her honor. Stories have been submitted by friends, teachers, family members and even strangers. This is my story for Mallory...

Won't you take this cup from me

Cause fear has stolen all my sleep

If tomorrow means my death

I pray you'll save their souls with it

I can still remember the first time I met Mallory... Jr. Mustangs Competition Cheerleading. It was my freshman year of high school; Mallory was still in middle school. What was most definitely an interesting experience introduced me to Mallory Smith. Little did either of us know that Mustang Cheerleading would be something that would bring us back together. 

Let the songs I sing

Bring joy to you

Let the words I say profess my love

Let the notes I choose

Be your favorite tune

Father let my heart be after you

Senior Year. Cheerleading and the girl with the crazy socks. 

I vividly remember cheerleading try-outs my senior year and this freshman with some crazy socks. That freshman girl was Mallory Smith. God definitely has a way of bringing people in to our life for a reason. When I look back on how I met Mallory (twice), it is so clear to me that she was in my life for a reason. It wouldn't be until years later that I would truly understand why.

Senior year was full of so many memories... most of which revolved around cheerleading and many of those memories included Mallory. She was entertaining, engaging, and always had a swirl of excitement around her. It was so clear, after many hours on the football sidelines and competition floor, that Mallory's spirit was infectious to those around her. Her smile, laugh, and goofiness brought together a team of extremely different teenage girls. From a Mustang with a tie, a tradition of cutting her nails, and a new pair of crazy socks for every practice, joy radiated from Mallory.

Our cheerleading season quickly wrapped up and graduation was right around the corner. Good-byes were exchanged and life began. I didn't realize it then, but Mallory had taken a permanent spot in my heart. I remember first hearing about Mallory being sick. I couldn't believe that something like this was happening to a girl like Mallory. At a time in her life where she should not have a care in the world, she was given a true test of her faith. One that she passed with flying colors. 

In this hour of doubt I see

But who I am is not just me

So give me strength to die myself

So love can live to tell the tale

It is amazing to me how much Mallory overcame in her life. She defied the odds and continued to live her life despite having to fight for it. When I found out Mallory was in the hospital again, my heart broke... for her... and her family. The few hours I got to spend with them at Emory opened my eyes to the love this family has for one another and the faith they have in the Lord. In the time Mallory was in the hospital, TeamMal grew and grew. From our church community at NorthStar, KMHS alumni, to family, friends, and complete strangers, Mallory's life was reaching so many and telling the most amazing story. 

Let the songs I sing

Bring joy to you

Let the words I say profess my love

Let the notes I choose

Be your favorite tune

Father let my heart be after you

Mallory's life brought joy to everyone around her... and most importantly brought joy to Jesus and in so many ways professed her love for Him. Despite being challenged and tested, Mallory's faith never wavered.

Father let my heart be... For you

 Let the songs I sing

Bring joy to you

Let the words I say profess my love

Let the notes I choose

Be your favorite tune

Father let my heart be after you

Mallory has touched my life in ways that words can not describe. My faith has been strengthened and my outlook altered. From Mallory's life I have learned that no matter what God gives us, no matter how hard or difficult we many think the challenge is, if we put our whole faith in Him, there is nothing we can't overcome. Mallory came in to my life as the girl in the crazy socks... she will always be that person but now she is someone who has truly changed my life. 

Love you Mallory!! 

("Garden" by NeedtoBreathe)

DIY Window Frame

In college, one of my roommates and I headed to a local antique store in Athens with the mission of finding old windows to hang in our house. That window has since moved with me to three different rooms. It's simple, easy, and my favorite part... cheap. Over the last couple of weeks, I have been working on a window for a family friend. This weekend, it finally made its way into Tessa's bedroom. 

To begin this project, I headed to my favorite antique store in Marietta,
Classy Flea. I love finding windows with handles... $5 later and I was set to go.

For this frame, I used eight 5x7 pictures, one in each section. In the frame
I have in my room, I used 4x6 pictures, placing 2 in each section. It really just
depends on how many pictures you want to use. The pictures were secured with scrap booking
photo corners (about $3 per box from Jo-Ann's).

Pictures in place... check. Now on to the hardware portion
of this project. 

Before hanging the frame, you will first need to attach hooks to the back
of the window (see left package). I used the ones in the top right corner - they are
very easy to attach... all you need is a screwdriver. To hang the frame, find hooks that
will support the weight of your frame (see right package). Both hanging packages came
from Jo-Ann's... about $12 for both.

For this frame, I found burlap-esque ribbon ($6 for 2 spools) and used a staple gun to attach
strips - one on each side - to the window frame 

I always leave extra ribbon and cut after the frame has been hung.
Depending on the height of the ceiling and how much you want hanging down,
it makes it a lot easier to snip after the frame is on the wall. 

Ta-daaaaa! All finished! Tessa has already taken notice to the new
pictures in her room. Throughout the hanging process, she was pointing
and calling out her mom, dad, and brother.

Total cost for the project = about $30

Every other Monday.

Monday marked the beginning of my Bible study... A Hole in the Gospel.  This is the first study I have done through my church and I am beyond excited. The focus of this study is missions and what we can do to reach those in our community and around the world. Our group is made up of mostly women from varying backgrounds... teachers, writers, students, mothers, world travelers. The one thing that brings us all back together is our passion for missions. God most definitely calls us to the mission field. The Great Commission is one of the most significant passages in the Bible. First, it's the last recorded personal instruction given by Jesus to His disciples. Second, it's a special calling from Jesus Christ to all His followers to take specific action while on this earth. Found in Matthew, The Great Commission says "And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, "All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age." (Matthew 28:18-20)


For the longest time I have felt like God has been tugging at my heart... tugging me into the world of missions. But it never seemed right. It is only now that I realize why it has taken 3+ years to finally be in the right place. God has been preparing my heart for what is to come. Over the last two years, I have been fighting for children with disabilities. I have been fighting for their reputations, for their education, and for their independence. The last two years have been preparing me to fight for the hearts of children who are living in communities where they may not know Jesus or what it means to be loved by Him. 


I can not wait to see what the next months have in store for our group and where God is planning on leading us as a group and as individuals. Whether it is a 5 minute drive down the street or a 5 hour plane ride, I am more than ready. 


“No one escapes the general call to mission. No one can say, ‘Witness is not for me.’ The critical question is not whether we're called, for we are. The critical question is ‘Where am I called to?’ The answer may be to serve Jesus right where we are already, among those we live with and work beside. That is a wholly legitimate calling.” (Alistair Brown, 1997)