Beyond Blessed

This old dog is learning some new tricks

2012-02-10T07:24:00.064-06:00

Everybody say "Happy Birthday!" to Chester! Today, he turns 6 years old. That's even more than a whole paw!

He has gotten entitled in his old age. Lately, he has started straight up asking for treats. Seriously. He walks right up to the closet where we store them, and he impatiently waits. If we don't pay him attention, he rudely scratches the door and shifts his weight to make sure we know that his focus is on the door. Oh-ho no, sir. Not gunna fly in my house, Mr. Mess.

I figured that if he thinks he deserves these treats, he's going to have to earn them, by golly. So this week, we started practicing playing dead. It's one of the tricks we never fully attempted, because he got so confused between it and rollover. But look how great he is doing after only a few days! He's such a smart dog!

Take a look at the birthday boy performing all of his tricks just for you! (He still hesitates a little at the "Bang!" but he's figuring it out.)

Who says you can't teach an old dog new tricks?? Six seems pretty old to me, and he's obviously a champ. Now, we just need to get him over his phobia of us touching his paws, so he can learn to "shake." (Every time we try, he slowly pulls his paw back with a confused look on his face, as if he's clearly offended by our audacity to grab it.) If we can tackle that challenge, who knows? We may eventually even move on to Jesse level tricks!

Happy Birthday, sweet boy! You're the best gosh darn dog in all the land!

Why, hello there.

2012-01-30T16:56:00.001-06:00

Oh my goodness! I have missed you so much! I can't believe it's been over a month since we've visited. Seriously, this is inexcusable. Please accept my apologies. Generally, I get a chance to blog about our Christmas festivities before the new year begins; however, this year, Brad and I took off the entire week between Christmas and New Years to travel and visit with family. As a result, I had no chance to blog before January 1st, aka, Tax Season began.

Boooooo!!!

I've been so busy at work preparing for our busy season, that I haven't had a single minute to dedicate to my blog friends! Not cool at all. I have so much to talk about and document in my digital scrapbook here. Nevertheless, February is just around the corner and my days will only get busier. I can't promise that I'll have time to provide regular or frequent posts, but I wanted to at least let y'all know that I haven't forgotten about you! As soon as I can steal away some time, I'll be right back on here fillin' ya in on our lives!

In the meantime, how are you guys? I hope you had a great Christmas and have enjoyed the start of 2012!

Ready for Christmas

2011-12-23T11:05:00.000-06:00

There are few things I love more than a Christmas house. And in addition to our award winning exterior decorations, the inside is all ready for the holiday as well! This is the first time we've celebrated Christmas twice in the same house, so it was kind of weird to decorate and already know where everything went. Thankfully, the addition of new Christmas cards and new ways to display them has added a little variety from last year. And Brad and I found some new stockings that we like better, so our mantle looks a little different, too.

Our tree is mostly the same with a few new additions. And my good friend, Kristen, made me a wonderful green, red, and silver ornament wreathe to hang on the wall, that features a happy Noel the Gnome in the center of it. She knows me very well.

Of course, we personalized our annual Mehaffey ornament for 2011, but we also added some fitting NYC ornaments to our collection. The adorable Mindy and Brad initials are another gift from Kristen, the other M is for Mehaffey and each couple in the family has a matching one, and the "Faith" precious moment one was a gift from my mother-in-law, encouraging us to keep our faith in the Lord as we continue on through our fertility process (so thoughtful!). I love that we add to our tree's "trimming" each year.

But wait, did you notice all of those presents??? Many of those are for other people that we love, but some of them are for Brad and me, too. Holla!! I'm dying to see what's inside them! (I'm really just anxious for some nice slippers. One of those wrapped boxes under the tree better have a pair of slippers for me! Ahem, Bradley.)

Of course, Christmas is so much more than ~~slippers~~ gifts under the tree. I hope you all get a chance to spend time with your family and those whom you love this weekend!

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!

PS. I'm praying for many of you who are especially reminded of losses over the holiday season, or may be celebrating Christmas for the first time without that certain someone who is missed dearly. My heart is with you. God is near.

Christmas Card Displays

2011-12-21T16:43:00.000-06:00

One of my favorite activities during Christmastime is sending, receiving and decorating with Christmas cards from people we love. Last year, I proudly hung them all on our door. But this year, I saw this cute idea on pinterest for displaying cards that I simply couldn't wait to do in our own home.

So I ran to Big Lots and bought 50 feet of red velvet ribbon for $3 and a package of clothes pins for like $1.50 and got my cabinet doors ready for cards. As the Christmas mail has come in, I've immediately pinned it to the awaiting ribbon.

I really like how the decorated doors not only display the love from some of our favorite people, but also warm up our entire kitchen. (And, as an added bonus, there's no tape to peel the paint off of our garage door. Lesson learned.) I'm definitely going to miss the eye candy when we have to eventually remove them.

However, just because the cards will be taken down from our kitchen cabinets doesn't mean that they'll get thrown away. I found another creative way to showcase cards from Christmas past. You just punch a couple holes in the edges and then bind them together with metal binder rings to make a little booklet that you can set out as a coffee table book for the holidays. Brilliant, right ?

So, now I actually have something to do with the old cards that I just couldn't bear to throw away at the end of the season. I'll make a new pack each year and just toss them on the table when I set out our Christmas decorations. And it's really fun to casually look back through them and see how people have changed over the year(s).

And speaking of Christmas cards, here's a virtual version of our 2011 card, just for you! Of course, it features a picture from NYC! Did you send out any this year?

Thanks to both of these new tricks, I have a fun and creative way to show off both current cards and past ones. This makes me love my Christmas cards even more! Do you display the ones you receive? Let me know if you use these same techniques. They're really cheap and easy. Hope you have fun decorating with your Christmas mail!

Tastefully Griswolding it

2011-12-20T13:45:00.002-06:00

I interrupt this just-begun NYC series to bring you our Christmas House for 2011! (The series of posts regarding our Thanksgiving trip will continue at a later date. I make no promises for continuity. But eventually, all six days will definitely be documented. Guaranteed.)

Oh! I just love Christmastime! And I love coming home to our festive Christmas house!! I really enjoyed our outside decor last year, but this time we upped the ante with lights!! Lots of lights! (That we bought in after Christmas sales, last year. Sneaky.)

It took an entire weekend to complete, and we joked that our house was going to look very Griswoldian when it was all finished. But I think Brad was able to pull it off in a more tasteful, classic way than the classic vacationers. I love that there are wreaths, garland and bows to enjoy during the daytime, as well as pretty lights to see at night! (The bows on the mailbox were Brad's surprise touch. He pretends that he does all of this for my benefit, but he totally loves it, too!)

And look at these super adorable, super cheap, super easy little Christmas trees I made out of upside-down tomato cages, some garland, and a coupld strands of twinkling lights. I'm not generally crafty, but I really like the way these turned out! And they oh-so-conveniently hide our very occupied outlet by the front door. [Thanks, Pinterest!]

And now, the grand unveiling of our Christmas House at night! *Drumroll* Isn't it just magical?? Brad decided to add lights even to the garland draped on the railing, and Charles had some extra net lights for the bushes to complete the whole scene.

The lights go all of the way back on both sides of the house. Thanks to our automatic timer, this is the pretty view I get to see as I drive through our neighborhood to our house every day. Ahh...

I really like how our entryway turned out. I feel like it's so warm and inviting. I love the glowing lights outlining the house and the twinkling lights on the mini trees and the fact that you can see our Christmas tree through the window, as well as the shadows of the bows. What a very happy, pretty time of year. :)

And to be honest, I'm really glad the exterior decorations all turned out so well, because it was a pretty scary process to hang them. Brad climbed all of the way to the very peak of our steep roof and down each side attaching lights every few inches. I could only watch long enough to take these few shots, and then I had to go in before I got too nervous. Kris volunteered to throw boxes of lights up to him, and even to "catch him if he fell." (How very kind of him.) Even with his fear of heights, he climbed out onto our porch roof to provide some assistance. I guess he was just returning the favor from last year (and again, this year). Thankfully, another friend brought some extension ladders the next day to finish off the sides of the roof where it was too dangerous to venture from the shingles. Good friends are good to have. Jussayin...

Tonight, our HOA is hosting a community walk to view all of the houses in the neighborhood, and then they're awarding a $50 gift card to one winner with the best decorated home. Our fingers are crossed that we'll make the cut!

**Update: We totally won! Holla!!!

NYC Day 1

2011-12-16T11:27:00.003-06:00

Brad and I got to spend the the entire week of Thanksgiving in New York City! I can't wait to (finally) tell you all about our trip! Since we did so much throughout the week, and took so many pictures (over 1,000), I'm going to do a separate post for each day that we were in the Big Apple.

Please. ~~Indulge~~ Join me as we sit down together and go through our vacation pictures! :)

This was the beautiful view from our hotel room, which was tiny. Literally, Brad's knees hit the wall if he sat on the toilet. Ha!

This was our first picture together in the city. The fountain behind us, located right outside of Central Park was filled with tons of lit Christmas trees for the season!

Our first stop was 5th Avenue. We wanted to get any shopping / visiting of shopping areas done early in the week so as to avoid Black Friday craziness. And it was wonderful. We saw all kinds of fancy stores that were way out of our league: Gucci, Prada, Bergdorf Goodman, Louis Vuitton, Burberry, Chanel, Dior, Amani, Saks, etc. I had to stop outside of Tiffany's to flash my own bling. And they all had everything decorated for Christmas, which made me a very happy tourist! Look how pretty that Cartier store is, all wrapped up like a present!

One store on the strip, however, was precisely up our alley. I declare that FAO Schwarz has got to be the best toy store in America. The toy soldier guard even took a break from his cheerful song welcoming people to the store to pose with us!

Seriously, Brad and I were like little kids in this place. I was all wide-eyed in wonder looking at all the toys. And they had an entire floor that was just a big candy store! It was called FAO Schweetz, and they had candy the size of your head! I'm talking a pair of 1/2 pound peanut butter cups, people!

We hung out in FAO for hours. Literally. We played with every toy and posed with every prop. There was an entire Harry Potter section where you could buy real quidditch robes and wizarding hats. I was very tempted to buy this Hufflepuff scarf. (Yes, I was sorted into Hufflepuff. I've come to terms with it.) But our favorite parts may have been all of the gigantic lego sculptures! They were pretty amazing.

Once we were finished playing in the toy store and mocking strange window displays on 5th Avenue, we ventured over to the Radio City Music Hall. Thanks to our pre-purchased New York pass, we had access to the backstage tour. It was interesting to learn of the history and see the secret VIP rooms in which celebrities during various awards shows. But the best part was definitely the opportunity to meat a real Rockette! She told us all about the show and the the routines and the audition process and the height requirements. (They're all between 5'8" and 5'10", and they create the illusion of being the exact same height by placing the tallest in the center and very gradually placing the shortest on the edges.) All I know, is standing next to her not only demonstrated our height differences, it also demonstrated how to pose for pictures to look awesome by having your front leg bent and tilting a little to the side. Tricky, tricky.

One of my personal favorite aspects of NYC was the presence of all of the hot dog vendors! They were literally everywhere you looked. On this one intersection alone, there was a stand on all four corners of the street. They were such a cheap and convenient solution to hunger with a busy schedule. And these guys were super fast, too. They'd trail mustard on the dog one direction, drop the container, pickup the ketchup, and squeeze it out going the opposite direction. (And it's "mustard and ketchup" not "ketchup and mustard" in NYC.) I think the entire process from order requested to the exchange of food and cash was less than 90 seconds. Nice.

We stepped into the massive, beautiful, free public library to take a look around. The whole place was like one giant work of art. The never ending hallways, stairways, and rooms had incredibly high ceilings with murals on many walls and ceilings and gorgeous scroll work and carved woodwork throughout. Naturally, in such an overwhelmingly beautiful building, I had one mission: to find a copy of Harry Potter. Mission: Accomplished.

Right outside of the library was this giant area with various booths and stands surrounding a pretty fountain. (The only fountain that we saw all week with water still running, even into the winter months.) One of the little shops had pet souvenirs, and I was this close to buying Chester a shirt that said "I Ruff NY." But alas, Brad vetoed the decision. We did, however, purchase our annual 2011 personalized ornament here.

As evening approached, we walked over to Grand Central Terminal. Sadly, we did not see any flashmobs during our visit. To cheer ourselves up, we got super-touristy and enjoyed a little audio tour of the famous landmark. Yeah, we're that legit.

Like I said, we wanted to get any shopping / stores done early in the week. I couldn't be in New York City, and not visit the festive Macy's! I was pretty pumped to be standing on 34th Street, where miracles have been reported. (Full disclosure: All but three of the pictures featured in this collage were actually taken later in the week when we came back during the daytime. Shhh....)

The entire department store was decked out for the holidays. I loved it! They even had a special section for writing letters to Santa and putting them in a special North Pole mail box. We went all the way up to the 9th floor (!) to see all of their Christmas merchandise. A whole floor of nothing but Christmas stuff! It was like magic!

After I had purchased my authentic "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade 2011" ornament to commemorate our trip, we penetrated Times Square for the first time. Wow. It was like sensory overload! So many giant billboards and screens and flashing lights and people! We loved it!! In the midst of all the chaos, we stood there for a few minutes, just holding each other and taking it all in. What a cool thing to experience with my favorite person in the world!

Our Times Square visit this night (we went back often) consisted of another toy store; Toys "R" Us. (Don't judge us. We love toy stores.) They have a full sized ferris wheel inside the store! Every car was different and awesome. They had the Mystery Machine from Scooby Doo. They had Toy Story characters and Nickelodean characters. They had a Barbie corvette and a Monopoly car. You weren't able to choose the one you rode in, but I had secretly been hoping for the giant Fisher Price car, since I watch Charlie and Layla have so much fun in theirs all the time, and I just have to watch since I'm too big. And guess what, that's was the next car that came up as we were loading! Holla! (In your face, girls! I can ride in one, too!)

Whoa. Did you even know you could pack that much fun into one day?? I sure didn't! But NYC has endless possibilities! By the end of the night, we were so exhausted and had terribly sore feet from walking around so much. Even though I was half asleep, I couldn't neglect taking some pictures of the city at night from our hotel room window. So pretty.

We fell into bed with a sense of accomplishment for successfully completing everything on that day's itinerary. As well as a sense of apprehension for the tiring days ahead. One day down, five to go. Bring it on.

[Entire NYC Day 1 Photo Album]

I'm trying

2011-12-09T17:01:00.002-06:00

I'm trying to conceive.

Heck, I'm just trying to ovulate at all.

I'm trying to be patient.

I'm trying to trust God's plan and have faith in His timing.

I'm trying to be positive.

I'm trying to not be discouraged, disappointed, or sad.

I'm trying to look on the bright side.

I'm trying to focus on my blessings.

I'm trying to get into the Christmas spirit.

I'm trying to stay motivated.

I'm trying not to cry at work.

I'm trying to not be or appear weak, but still be true to myself.

I'm trying to not throw myself a pity party.

I'm trying to keep things in perspective.

I'm trying to not be jealous of pregnant women and mommies of sweet kids.

I'm trying to not be offended by people's casual questions of "when it's our turn" or well-meaning comments about "how great I'd look with a baby on my hip."

I'm trying to not offend or hurt anybody's feelings by saying all of these things.

I'm trying to not be apprehensive of letting my blog and my blog readers come "behind the scenes."

As I'm sure most of you know, Brad and I are very anxious to get pregnant. It's been featured on each bucket list that I've published this year. However, you probably don't know that we've been trying to conceive for a total of about two years, now. It's not really something we've been super open about in the past. We didn't want all of the questions or unsolicited advice or awkward pity or dealing with the pressure of other people in addition to our own that we thought would come along with revealing the struggle. But I'm over that now. It's too much a part of my life to keep hidden.

I have to admit, even though I absolutely loooove Christmastime, this one is turning out to be a rather difficult one for me. You see, I had big, vivid dreams of celebrating this year's holiday with family and finally getting the perfect opportunity to reveal the great news of our pregnancy with those we love the most through clever Christmas gifts, nonchalantly wrapped under the tree. I already envisioned their faces of shock and joy. I had visions of a tiny stocking on our mantle and a special ornament for our sweet little bun in my oven on our tree.

Maybe I shouldn't have gotten my hopes up so high for such a special Christmas. In fact, looking back, of course I shouldn't have. But when we first started deliberately addressing our fertility issues back in May, I felt like Christmas was so far away. And when I scheduled an appointment with the doctor in July, I thought I still had plenty of time. And when I was diagnosed with PCOS and started a medicinal treatment in September, I thought I had four more tries to make it. And when that medicine alone didn't work, and she prescribed me with a fertility drug in November, I thought I had a 50/50 chance.

It turns out the timing doesn't always fall according to (my) plan. I'm trying to come to terms with the fact that this Christmas, I may have a full stocking and a tree full of presents and a full house of family whom I love, but I'll still have an empty womb.

...I can't describe how that feels. Some of you may know for yourself. From past experience or from current struggles. (I'm praying for you.)

I'm trying to be positive. And I'm trying to be patient. And I'm trying to enjoy (hopefully our last) Christmas together as just Brad and me. I'm trying to concentrate on how lucky I am to have such a wonderful, loving, compassionate partner as a husband. I'm trying to put on a smile and see the glass as half full. I'm trying to not be over dramatic or make a big deal out of something that I'll (hopefully) look back on as just a small blip in our story. I'm trying to focus more on God's will, and trust completely in His timing and His plan for me. (Which I wholeheartedly do.)

But regardless of all my effort, there's still a hole smack dab in the middle of my heart. Because right now, my heart belongs to a little baby whom I haven't had the blessed privilege of meeting. Yet.

{Sorry for being a Debbie Downer. Especially on a Friday. Especially during Christmastime. My heart was oozing all of that, and I had to let it out. And since this blog is my outlet, it was the only way I knew how. I hope you will forgive me. ♥ }

Liv's Official Birth Announcement

2011-12-07T11:10:00.001-06:00

Are you kidding me?? Look at that sweet girl! I am head over heels in love with Liv. After you watch this sentimental video birth announcement, you will be, too. Seriously. You've been warned.

Oh! I just can't get enough of her! Those toes. That tiny, puggy nose. Her sweet yawn! Big sister Charlie is precious with her; giving her lots of kisses and then holding her baby sister, but only for a minute before she gets bored and wants to go play. (Ha!) Oh, and that's Emily's song and singing in the video. Awesome, right? I absolutely love this wonderful family. God's blessings are boundless!!

Winter Bucket List

2011-12-05T15:11:00.001-06:00

Bucket lists have become some of my favorite things to do. I love dreaming of all the fun things we can achieve each season, regardless of whether or not many of the activities are far fetched. And I even enjoy creating the actual list, and putting all of the items into a visual format with shapes and spacing and stuff. I'm kind of a nerd like that. But it's so fun to go ahead and get into the seasonal spirit by tapping into the colors and themes of each particular time of year just for the list itself. I was so excited to make this year's winter list "sparkle!"

I love Christmas, and all things having to do with Christmas traditions, so I do believe the winter bucket list has more items featured than any of my past ones. I can't wait to venture into this wonderful holiday season!

[click to enlarge]

And just in case you're wondering, here's the finished autumn bucket list. I still can't believe we were able to do some of those awesome NYC things! (I can't wait to blog about our trip!) However, like the summer's list before it, we were unable to cross off every item. Some incomplete tasks aren't that big of deals. Some we're kind of disappointed that we didn't accomplish. Oh well. Maybe next time.

[click to enlarge]

What about you? How excited for Christmastime are you?? What's on your winter to-do list? Do you have traditions you do each year? I'd love to hear about it. I'll take any ideas you're willing to share.

Merry Christmastime!!

"Ours" by Taylor

2011-12-03T09:17:00.002-06:00

[fanmade pic via]

Taylor's newest video is out! And I love it. I was surprised she chose to release "Ours," since it's not technically part of her Speak Now album, but instead on the bonus disk. This has been one of my favorite songs of hers since the album's release. I can't stop watching the video!

Ours from Taylor Swift on Vimeo.

I love that she put little Easter eggs in there for all of her dedicated Swifties; like the fact that she works on the 13th floor, and that she even featured her own new kitty Meredith. I was shocked to see her so frumpy and in a boring, desk job, but I love it! And the sweet reunion at the end is just so romantic. Sometimes, a love that's only "ours" is all you need to get through the mundane tasks of daily living.

TSwiz the Role Model

2011-11-18T10:17:00.000-06:00

[picture source]

Just another reason why I love Taylor Swift:

She's simply the best. I have so much respect for her. I love that she takes her position as a role model seriously and chooses to conduct herself accordingly. What a great example for all the little girls (and big girls... and guys, too) who admire her. Someday, when I have a daughter, I'll gladly let her look up to Taylor. I'm anxious to watch the rest of the interview and see what else she has to say!

Good luck, turkeys!

2011-11-17T16:47:00.001-06:00

You know how I see a bunch of turkeys in the yard of a house I pass on my daily commute? And I enjoy seeing them a whole lot? Well, thanks to the month of November, I have started thinking of them in a whole new light. ~~Turkey day~~ Thanksgiving is drawing closer and closer. And in nearly every respect, I'm super pumped about this (especially for one specific activity, in particular). However, as next Thursday approaches, I'm also growing a sense of dread for my little friends.

They're all great big now; you can't tell the babies from the grownups. I can't even consider what that size may mean to some hungry families. Will my friends make it through the month? Will they last past this week? All this time, I ignorantly drove by them, naively enjoying the treat that they were in my life. How did I not automatically assume that they'd most likely eventually become a treat for somebody holiday table spread?? Poor, poor, turkey friends...

However, that doesn't change my mind about my personal annual menu. I still plan on enjoying some delicious turkey in my Thanksgiving meal. I just hope it isn't one that I personally know...

Another Big Sister

2011-11-15T10:08:00.001-06:00

You take one Emily off of your pregnant prayer list just to add another one to it, right away! Kris and Emily are expecting their second blessing in June, 2012! Hip, hip, HURRAY!!!

[Are you kidding!? Just look at this sweet girl!]

Unlike last time, when Emily and Emily shared the majority of their pregnancies, this time, their pregnancies only overlapped by a couple months. Either way, Liv and Jordan #2 will still be close, seeing as how they'll only be seven months apart. (Charlie and Layla are a mere four months apart, and they are absolutely best friends.)

Actually, all four of the babies will be super close in age. Charlie will have turned two-years-old only a month before Layla's little brother or sister is born. Four kids (at least three of them girls) aged two and under for a whole year! Hill Ridge is gunna be hoppin'!

Imagine what it'll be like if we can toss a baby Mehaffey into the mix, too. Here's ~~hopin'~~ prayin'!! ♥

Liv Joelle

2011-11-14T16:54:00.002-06:00

I have a brand new BBF! Today, Emily had baby girl #2. Liv Joelle weighs 7 lbs, 8oz and is 19" long. She.is.perfect.

Praise God for a healthy, beautiful, perfect baby!!

Congratulations Charles, Emily and big sister Charlie!

Happy Veterans Day

2011-11-11T13:55:00.000-06:00

All 1's

2011-11-11T13:51:00.000-06:00

I love counting days, but there's just something even more special about today. On this eleventh day of this eleventh month of this eleventh year of the century, we aren't really counting at all. That's what makes it so special! Never again in my lifetime (or any of yours), will every number be the same. This only happens once every hundred years. We better celebrate while we can!

PS. Imagine what those folks 900 years ago thought! They were the only lucky ones in history to have all eight numbers in the date be identical. 11/11/1111. I seriously can't even wrap my mind around such an awesome day!

Carving pumpkins, sibling style

2011-11-10T16:33:00.001-06:00

While my brother was visiting last month, we took the opportunity to carve a few jack-o-lanterns. Can you believe that Trevor has never carved a pumpkin before?? Oh, that just will not do!

If you're with the Mehaffeys in the month of October, you're going to adhere to our strict Halloween traditions. No fall is complete without carving a pumpkin! (Or the annual eat-the-pumpkin-goop-from-the-super-scooper-picture.)

For it being Tevo's first stab at carving (ha, see what I did there?), I have to say, I do believe he did a fabulous job! I especially enjoyed both of our attempts at reinacting our pumpkins' facial expressions. Trevor perfectly duplicated that one eye bigger than the other thing. He's a natural.

I love the way they look, glowing in the dark.

Carving pumpkins is one of my favorite fall activities. It was great to get to share this year's experience w/ my brother. I'm so glad I could be the first one to introduce him to the joys of gutting a fruit and drawing silly faces on it.

BTW, Brad oh-so-graciously "donated" his pumpkin to Trevor. Somehow, he didn't seem all that disappointed to be missing out on the awesome tradition. Hmm. His loss.

Big, Baby Brother

2011-11-09T08:46:00.000-06:00

Late last month, my ~~little~~ bigger, baby brother, Trevor, came to visit for a few days. I moved away to college when he was only eleven years old, so I haven't really had much of a chance to get to know him very well as a young man. And since we live so far apart, we don't have the opportunity to see each other very often.

It was so nice to have him visit and be able to just spend some time hanging out together. (Even though, I'm pretty sure our friends and Bra and I are totally old and lame compared to what he's used to!) In an attempt to earn some street cred with the hipster, Brad and I took him downtown to enjoy some of Music City's finest.

It didn't take much to turn him into a genuine country cowboy; a hat and boots and the whole deal. He even bought an authentic Johnny Cash album from Ernest Tubb's record shop. That's about as legit as it comes 'round these parts.

Honestly, I hadn't realized how much I've missed Trevor. It only took an impromptu visit to remind me of how much fun he is to be around. We spent the entire time he was here enjoying each other's company, laughing at each other (and at Madea), and just talking about life. And best of all, I can totally see God working in him, and it's so encouraging. :)

Every once in a while, it's nice to remember that I'm a big (even if littler) sister. I kind of underestimate the influence I may have on my younger brother(s), as well as the influence they can have on me. We should probably make a point to visit with each other more often in the future. After all, God gave us family for a reason. I'm jussayin.

Running across the state

2011-11-07T17:00:00.000-06:00

This past weekend, Brad joined a twelve-person team as they ran from Chattanooga to Nashville. Yeah, you read that right. They ran from Chattanooga to Nashville. Obviously, they're crazy.

The annual race is called the Ragnar Relay, and they each take turns running three different legs of the course. They were split up into two group of six runners, and one van would rest/eat/drive while members of the other van consecutively ran their sections. At each exchange, they passed off the ~~baton~~ slap bracelet so the next person could start his/her portion of the relay.

Someone from their team was running every minute for the 30+ hours it took them to arrive in downtown Nashville. Brad's middle run was at 2:30 in the morning. Like I said, these people are crazy.

I've never even heard of people doing such a thing. Who just sits up and thinks, "Gee. I sure would like to take a jog from Chattanooga to Nashville and enjoy the autumn scenery"? But I can tell you this: I can somewhat understand the sense of accomplishment they must feel. I was tearing up simply watching them run (as a whole team) across the finish line along Nashville's riverfront.

I'm so proud of Brad. He trained really hard for this race, kept a faster pace than he expected throughout the entire thing, and helped his team complete the course quicker than they projected. He definitely deserves that medal that so appropriately displays their slogan, "Run. Drive. Sleep? Repeat." Even if he is crazy.

Twenty-Eight

2011-11-04T15:44:00.001-05:00

Yesterday, my One and Only turned 28 years old. That's so many candles for one little cake to hold!

We had a pizza party with our ~~neighbors~~ best friends. Then we watched our favorite shows on TV as we gobbled some delicious birthday cake with rainbow chip icing. Yum.

When you're this old, you don't necessarily need a big birthday bash to celebrate. Sometimes a laid-back night with your besties (and Ron Swanson) are all ya need to make your special day special.

I'm just impressed that he managed to blow out all of those candles with one great big huffandpuff!

Happy Birthday, darlin! 28 is going to be a good year; I can feel it!

Pirate Paaarrrrrty!

2011-11-02T16:19:00.000-05:00

Yo, ho, ho! Hill Ridge loves it some themed Halloween parties! This year, the Jordans hosted a pirate party for all of our scallywag friends and foes!

Since Kris was in charge, legit invitations were created and distributed in prep for the event.

Once Halloween was upon us, his house was transformed into a blimey tavern for us buckos, complete with hand painted signs, creepy skulls, fish nets, and cobwebs covering every surface.

No party is complete without some yummy grub! We feasted on soups and chili before we indulged in some buccaneer treats - pirate, mummy, and pumpkin cake pops, cannonballs (buckeyes), gold nuggets (cheese cubes), and fish of the sea (goldfish) were some of the biggest hits.

Of course, we all had to take turns at the photo booth.

Kris, Emily, and Layla

Charles, Emily, Charlie and Liv (in Emmy's tummy)

Wes and Stacey (He's a Samali pirate.)

Bret and Jessica

Walt, Cristin, and Harper

Steve and Zoia

Aaron and Tara (He was another Samali pirate.)

And shiver me timbers! Look at these sweet little pirate lasses!

We couldn't end the evening without a giant group shot in front of the house amidst the spooky fog machine and giant skull & crossbones.

I love dressing up and being silly with best friends! Halloween is even more fun as an adult than it is as a kid. It's not all about trick-or-treating and swapping candy with your brothers. Who knew? ...not to imply that there wasn't trunk-or-treating or swapping candy with friends, though, even as a grownup!

What'd you dress up as this year? Did you go to a party and/or trick or treating? Enjoy the candy!

[Complete Pirate Party photo album]

The great outdoors

2011-10-26T14:58:00.000-05:00

Recently, Brad and I spent a weekend camping together as a family. (ie. Chester tagged along.) Brad loves hiking and backpacking and roughing it outdoors-style with the guys, and I was excited to finally get to see him in action and even use some of his cool gear myself. We stayed two nights in his little backpacking tent. I say little, because it's made to be small enough to carry along on your back, and it was just big enough for the two of us in there, each with our own sleep pad and sleeping bag. Tight quarters call for snuggling up! Win-win!

But I think Chester enjoyed the adventure more than either of us did. Look how happy he was! Completely satisfied with himself and his roughin' in skills.

Bradley nicknamed him A.T. for being an "all terrain" dog during the weekend. He owned those trails like it was his job. At different times, he'd sprint, prance, gallop, and trot far ahead of us, as the leader of our pack. He was surprisingly efficient at deciphering the paths as well as climbing over rocks and crawling under fallen limbs. He run ahead the exact same distance every time; then he'd (somewhat impatiently) wait for us to catch up before he'd run off again. And if he ever lagged behind at our meeting points, allowing us to pass him up, he rudely barged his way back ahead of us, insisting that he be in front leading the way. He worked himself so thirsty, that he even drank water out of Brad's hand that was caught from a stream falling over the rock. He loved every minute of it.

Chester was determined to not let his dad show him up, and to do anything and be anywhere that Brad was. Can you see his futile attempts to climb the rock wall that Brad scaled in the bottom of the left picture? With a little boost from his mama, he proudly dominated the challenge and joined us for a family picture.

When the sun went down, the temperatures dropped down right along with it. We bundled up, and tried to warm ourselves up from the inside out with some nice soup that we ate directly from the pot Brad used to cook it in over his little camping flame-cooker-stove-thing that he got for Christmas a few years ago. I didn't get a picture of it, but we also drank water that he purified straight from the river! Like I said, it was really neat to get to see how he survives using all of his tools when he goes out with the guys.

It got so cold at night, that Chester had to be covered up with a towel, even by the fire to keep from shivering. And once we were in the tent, he curled up next to Brad inside his sleeping bag! But I can't really speak. I had the hood of my 30 degree weather sleeping bag pulled so tightly that only my nose was exposed throughout the night. I woke up freezing, hoping it was nearly sunrise (aka, warm), only to be disappointed by the discovery that it was merely 2:30 in the a.m. Holy moly.

However, God definitely made sure that the weekend was worth my while! Look at some of His beauty that He showed us while we were out there. The river was steaming in the morning as the sun came up. And we saw so many beautiful, fall leaves decorating the trees along our hikes. I firmly believe that God created the color red just so He could demonstrate His awesomeness. (I mean, seriously, anything red always stands out from the background. You can't help but recognize His majesty!) I was so excited to see His glory all around me.

Oh, and as a special treat, I'll show you a glimpse of the Harry Potter tent that was a few sites away. It looks normal sized from the outside (well, more like gigantic compared to our little guy), but I'm positive that it's magically enhanced to be the size of a regular house once you step inside. That chimney is a dead giveaway. Wizards need to learn to be more discrete if they want to fool this muggle. I'm jussayin...

I love spending time with my husband, and my dog, especially amidst God's incredible creation. I'm definitely glad that we went. But I have to admit, I may leave that roughin' it in the cold stuff to the boys from now on. Brrr...

Honeysuckle Hill Ridge

2011-09-30T16:58:00.004-05:00

Hill Ridge finally took our first group field trip! (And we also took our first real group picture!) With Fall officially here, we simply couldn't resist the temptation to go to the pumpkin patch. Brad and I had visited Honeysuckle Hill Farm with a different trio of friends, three years ago, but it was such a different experience this time with the babies in our party!

We had such a great time playing on the toys, checking out the animals at the petting zoo, cheering on our favorite piglets in the pig race, picking pumpkins, and posing the girls all over the place for sweet photo ops! Between the three cameras, we got a ton of pictures. And since I'm not good (at all) at narrowing down my favorite images, let's just have a picture post! Shall we? (Just click on any of the collages to enlarge them.)

Seriously, I love our friends. And their babies. The end.

Autumn Bucket List

2011-09-23T08:59:00.004-05:00

Happy fall, everybody! Today is officially the first day of autumn. Holla! Time to whip out that seasonal decor, pick a pumpkin, and set out some mums! I'm so excited, because this is my favorite weather season of the whole year. I'm so ready for all things Fall.

Here's our bucket list for this wonderful, crisp season.

[click to enlarge]

And speaking of bucket lists, here's the updated summer version. There were a few activities we didn't get a chance to cross off our list. Oh well. There's always next year!

[click to enlarge]

Are you excited for autumn? What's on your fall to-do list? Are you sad to see summer go? Did you complete all of your favorite summer tasks before the weather turned chilly? Happy Friday!

We are Warriors!

2011-09-22T15:49:00.001-05:00

Seriously, you're never going to believe this. In fact, I was there, and I hardly even believe it, myself.

Last Saturday, Brad and I, along with some friends - Kris, Jeremy, Madison, and Josh, completed the Warrior Dash. Yep, you heard that right. I did the Warrior Dash. It's a 5k that includes 12 obstacles. Wait. Let me rephrase that: It's running. Forever. And having to complete boot camp training througout!

Obstacles included jumping over walls then rolling under barbed wire multiple times in a row; running through tires then climbing over old cars; crawling through a pitch dark tent; climbing rope nets; climbing over giant walls with only a rope to pull you up; crawling across suspended rope nets; jumping over burning logs; then finally swimming through mud underneath barbed wire to get to the finish line. Yeah. I did that!

This was the final result:

Here's Brad and Kris first thing in the morning. For some reason, Brad decided to run the entire race as a California Raisin. Random. I still haven't figured out how he saw to complete all of the tasks through those tiny eye holes.

The race had professional photographers throughout the course. You have to purchase their photos, which I am too cheap to do. However, since they literally covered each of them with a million watermarks, I don't feel too bad about "borrowing" them for the sake of this blog. Doesn't Bradley look totally B.A. jumping over that fire and crawling out of the mud?

This is proof that I actually crossed the finish line. I was basically dead by this point. I had visions of me running through with my arms held high to the cheers of the crowd, but when it came to it, I was huffin' and puffin', just glad to be alive.

Jeremy and Madison were a power couple, totally finishing the whole course like champs.

Kris actually showed us all up. From the start, he ran ahead and dominated the entire thing. And since he was willing to purchase (and doctor up) the photos, his pictures look friggin' awesome.

Here we all are after the "shower." aka, mass party under a firehose. Gotta love the viking helmets.

I agreed to run the Warrior Dash with Brad under two conditions: He stay with me the whole time and go at my pace for the entire course; and he promise to not laugh at me when I cried. He only fulfilled one of those promises, because I never ever cried! And I completed every single obstacle! Booya!

It was actually quite fun to do with him. We both really enjoyed it, and I love that I got to exprience something so extreme with my One And Only. Brad says he'll definitely do it again the next chance he gets. I say I'll definitely be waiting there at the finish line, cheering him on and taking muddy pictures of him and his equally crazy friends!

And after such an exhausting morning, sweet Layla's welcomed us home with a pretty banner expressing her support. Love her! ♥

You better believe I'm proud of that Warrior Dash viking-helmet-shaped medal I received at the finish line. Brad teased me for wearing it to our friends' house. And to the grocery store. And to church. But I totally earned that baby, and I'm going to wear it with pride! It's currently hanging from the rear view mirror of my car, constantly reminding me of what I'm capable of. Slow and steady. :)

Taylor's Big Announcement

2011-09-21T09:38:00.001-05:00

Taylor is releasing a Live Album and DVD of her Speak Now tour! Yea!! Now, I get to relive the concert over and over again! And for those of you who don't also get the awesome opportunity to go to her show, you will still get the chance to watch her performance and see how awesome it is for yourself!

Yea! I'm so excited!! And that video was taken last weekend in Nashville!! Depending on which night, there's a good chance I'm one of those screaming fans you hear! Yahoo!!!

An Enchanting Evening

2011-09-20T15:59:00.000-05:00

I got so see Taylor Swift perform live! In person! I had been waiting over seven months since I won the tickets on the radio, and the night finally arrived for us to go to her concert! Oh, you better believe I came prepared with a nice, sparkly poster!

Brad was a great sport. He not only allowed me to let my crazy soar, but he also stood up with me for the entire show, and even sang along with the songs that he knew.

After waiting through two opening acts, one of which was decent, and the other of which was awesome (Needtobreathe), Taylor finally rose up through the stage floor amongst fog and thousands of screams and cheers.

Her show is so incredible! Just completely awesome. She is such an amazing entertainer! The show seemed like a Broadway musical that she was singing the soundtrack to. Nearly every song had a different costume and a different set with her, the band mates, and lots of dancers acting out each story. There was so much going on that I didn't even know where to look at times. She even had aerialists doing stunts from the ceiling at one point! And Taylor played so many different instruments, including multiple guitars, a banjo, a ukulele, and a piano.

She looked like she was having a great time on stage, and talked about how nice it was to be "back home" in Nashville. She did such a fantastic job of engaging the crowd, and seemed to genuinely appreciate the love and applause from everybody. She humbly thanked us for "choosing to hang out with her" on a Friday night, and said "I love you" to us fans multiple times. I'm pretty sure she was mostly talking directly to me, though.

One thing is for sure about TSwift: she definitely connects with her fans. There's a whole segment of her show that she performs from the back of the auditorium, in an effort to make the "worst seats in the house, the best seats for a while." She walks through the crowd on the floor to get to the small rear stage, shaking hands, hugging fans, and even kissing children on the cheek the whole way there and back.

At the base of the slowly spinning tree (enabling everybody to get a great view), she sings an acoustic set. It was at this point that Brad leaned over to me and said, "Okay. Seriously, she's good. That girl can sing." {In your face, mean critics! Brad Mehaffey says she's the real deal!} She also uses this opportunity in the evening to sing a location-specific song. For our show, she chose to sing David Mead's "Going back to Nashville." Very fitting, huh?

She performs the final song of the evening, her classic "Love Song," in a beautiful ball gown from a floating balcony as she moves around the arena, soaring above the crowd and hovering close to all of the higher seats.

Seriously, she loves her fans so much that she even has crew members set out to invite about thirty random people in the crowd to join her from the T-Party after the show (T for Taylor) where they hang out with her and the band in their "living room," and eat pizza, drink soda, play air hockey, take pictures together and get autographs. A friend of mine and her young daughter actually got to go! I would have loved to have been picked, but I still had a great time in the crowd just watching the show! Besides, I'm pretty sure she looked right at me and my sign when she was sitting under the tree. So, we're basically officially best friends now.

I walked into the concert already completely loving Taylor Swift. But, honestly, I walked out just absolutely adoring her. She's so sweet, and funny, and kind, and humble, and relatable, and genuine, and talented, and outgoing, and pretty, and just plain wonderful. I still can't believe I was so blessed to win tickets. What a sparkling night. ♥

(All the Concert Pictures)

Big Plans in the Big Apple

2011-09-15T16:30:00.001-05:00

Guess what Brad and I are doing this Thanksgiving. Give up?

We're going to New York City! Yahoo! Yea! Yippee!! Holllllaaaaaa!!! We're going to spend the whole week in The Big Apple, and the best part is, we are going to watch the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade live! Ohmygoodness. I honestly couldn't possibly be any more excited ever, ever. Eeeee!!!!

And while the Parade will obviously be the highlight of our trip, there's another event edging in at a very close second: We're going to see Wicked on Broadway. Holy cow, I absolutely cannot wait!

We have big plans for the week that we're there. We've spent months pouring over every available activity in NYC, including landmarks, tours, museums, shopping areas, etc. and grouping them by location. Our poor visitor's map has already been well worn in.

We've decided that this will definitely be more of a "trip" than a "vacation," since there will be no relaxing for us in the Big Apple. We plan to wake up early each morning (especially Thanksgiving morning), eat a quick breakfast at the hotel, then head out for the entire day, only to come back late in the evening to crash for the night. Our itinerary is jam packed, and it's just how we like it. (Don't judge me for my color-coded excel spreadsheet. The level of my nerdiness is directly proportional to my level of excitment. Just consider yourself lucky that you don't have to view all the other tabs in that workbook. Ha.)

(Click to enlarge)

New York City has so many iconic locations. The Statue of Liberty. The World Trade Center memorial. Central Park. The Empire State Building. Times Square. So many! I mentioned to my mom that I want to have breakfast at Tiffany's in honor of the classic film, even if it's just a donut by the entrance, and she surprised me by sending me this Tiffany and Co. coffee mug to prepare. I already feel so ritzy just from that pretty packaging alone!

Oh my goodness! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it! I know that we're going over Thanksgiving, but I have to admit, I'm mostly excited about Christmas in New York. Can you believe we'll actually visit the real Macy's on 34th street? We'll get to see the Plaza like in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York. We'll get to shop at FAO Schwarz and walk past the men dressed as toy soldiers at the door on our way to stepping on the Big piano. We'll get to ice skate at Rockefeller Center, all bundled up in our winter scarves. And we'll witness, live, Santa Clause starting off the Christmas Season at the end of the Parade! This trip is a Christmas fanatic's dream come true!

Seriously, I have to calm myself down when I start thinking about it. Brad and I haven't been on a week-long vacation since our honeymoon six years ago, and neither of us have ever been to New York City. I can't wait to make all those wonderful memories!

Any recommendations, if you've visited the Big Apple in the past? Or if you love a movie scene or TV location in the city that's a must-see?

image sources: here, here, and here

A Decade Later

2011-09-11T22:23:00.001-05:00

We remember.

[pic via]

We will never forget.

Mama brings the cache

2011-09-07T16:39:00.000-05:00

My mama came down for a quick visit to Nashville this past weekend! Oh, how I have missed her!

[Isn't she beautiful??]

She was only here for a short while, but we got to enjoy each other's company with yummy dinners, midnight pj talks, and geocaching!

Brad and I have never "cashed" before, but Mom loves it, and she quickly got ~~Brad~~ us hooked. Basically, people all over the world hide random things all over the world. (And also in the ocean, and even in outerspace!) They put the coordinates to the hiding spot online so that other people can go on little treasure hunts to find them! Once you find it, you sign the log in the cache as well as mark that you've found it on the website. It's actually quite fun, and can be as complicated and technical as you want it to. During her visit, we found four caches in our area, and I, of course, had to document Brad's first recorded find.

[Brad's first discovery, with a little help from Mama Metcalf]

It ended up raining pretty steadily, but that didn't stop us! We just proceeded right on along with our treasure hunts. Family bonding, bragging rights, and a great memory are totally worth the sopping wet hair and clothes.

[Mom and Daughter soaking wet and starving]

I don't get to see my mom very often since we live so far away from each other, but I sure do enjoy it when I do! She was my very first best friend in the whole world, and she'll always hold that title. I'm super blessed to have such a great mama.

(Hopefully, one day, I'll get to be as good of a mama as she is... Here's hopin!) Love you, Mom!!

Happy Birthday, Layla Grace!

2011-09-01T08:45:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it! Today, my other BBF (Best Baby Friend) becomes a great big one-year-old! It feels like only yesterday when we were visiting her in the hospital and starting to fall completely in love. Now, she's ~~waddling~~ walking all over the place, jabbering constantly, and blowing kisses to her favorite "aunt" and "uncle." Oh my goodness, this little girl makes my heart fall apart!

{Photos from Layla's 1 year photo session by Shannon Payne Photography}

Happy Birthday, Layla Grace! Aunt Mindy loves you very much!!

Doggy competition is Ruff

2011-08-30T10:14:00.000-05:00

Naturally, I have always thought Chester to be the greatest dog in the world. I mean, just look at him...

However, my feelings may have recently changed. Even though he's talented enough to ring a bell to tell me when he needs to go outside, he still rudely leaves the door wide open after he charges back into the house. Furthermore, he expects me to open and close the blinds all by myself every day; and he never ever helps load the dishwasher. Honestly, he calls himself a dog...

But Jesse sure has upped the ante for all pups everywhere. Behold:

Seriously, Jesse may as well be Wishbone, himself. That dog can do everything!! Looks like Chester's got some 'splainin to do!

Family visit

2011-08-26T17:04:00.002-05:00

A couple of weekends ago, my brother's family came to visit Aunt Mindy and Uncle Brad. (Actually, Clinton calls him Aunt Brad. Ha!) I absolutely loved getting to spend time with TJ and Jennie, and especially their children, Rachel and Clinton. But since Aunt Mindy's house isn't necessarily kid-friendly (except for the random toys I hurriedly bought in the dollar aisle at Target before they arrived), we spent most of the rainy Saturday at the Discovery Center.

Because his dad is a firefighter, Clinton is completely obsessed with all things fire department. Before we had even finished acquiring admission, he had noticed a fire engine and sprinted right to it. We had to pry him away from the driver's seat to get him to explore anything else. And if, at any time, he got bored with something or we looked away, he'd beeline it straight back to the truck. Like father, like son, I suppose.

Rachel and ~~Aunt~~ Uncle Brad spent a lot of time looking at all of the turtles. She loved them so much that she even named one of them Rachel. She's nice enough to share her name like that.

Then they spent some time "working on the car." Clinton loves to "fix" things, so he was in heaven replacing that velcro muffler and refilling the engine fluids. Rachel felt right at home, too, changing those tires like a pro.

There was seriously so much to do at this place. They played in water making waves and dams, mined for toy coal, shopped at a pretty believable toy grocery store, climbed into a treehouse, engineered a train, constructed working gears, played instruments, and made crafts in the art department, among other awesome things.

They each manned separate construction machines while we were waiting for the main event...

The Discovery Center has an entire toy train room, but they only run them a couple times a day for twenty minute periods. Everything the kids did up to this point was just a time filler as they waited for the trains to go. Once they started, the kids were both enthralled. Rachel chased them around the room, and every time one went into a tunnel, Clint would ask where it went, only to get really excited, point, and exclaim, "There it is!!" when it reemerged.

We only get to visit with them a few times a year, but every time we do, I love them even more. I'm so grateful for a great family with wonderful siblings and an awesome niece and nephew. And I'm also glad for a super cool place so close that we can go to in order to entertain kids for a whole day!

Parks & Rec

2011-08-22T16:46:00.000-05:00

[pic via]

Brad and I have recently started watching reruns of Parks and Recreation, which is to say that Brad and I have recently fallen in love with Parks and Recreation. Seriously, we laugh at every single episode. These characters are awesome, and it really is generally an innocent show with an overall positive outlook on life...

If you love the show, too, then you'll totally love these clips from NBC. If you've never watched it before, then consider these clips introductions to a couple of the best characters currently on TV. Period.

I can't wait for new episodes to restart, next month!

Damsel in Distress

2011-08-17T16:46:00.000-05:00

Seriously, does this ever really happen?

{Taken with my cell phone as soon as it happened}

I thought it only happened in the movies or in commercials, but I legitimately broke the heel of my shoes the other day! And I wasn't even doing anything awesome! Just boringly walking through the building of my lobby to my car after work. What a lame story. I wish I had been running in the rain after a moving train containing my long lost love or something. Anything more dramatic, romantic, or climactic than going home. Womp, womp. Oh well, it is what it is.

[pic via]

They were a Christmas gift from my husband this past year, and I basically wore them every single day, either to work or to church. I guess eight solid months of weight on the same quarter inch of heel will finally take its toll on a shoe.

RIP perfect, comfy, cute, stylish, just-right-size-5, wear-with-anything, black heels. You meant a lot to me during your heydey, and you will be greatly missed.

Sparks Fly

2011-08-10T16:39:00.004-05:00

Taylor just released the video for her most recent single, Sparks Fly. Get ready for a prime seat to her show!

Sparks Fly from Taylor Swift on Vimeo.

Am I lame to admit that I legitimately got goosebumps as the fireworks went off as well as when she was playing in the rain. (That really happened, people. Love her!)

Oh, this makes me even more excited for the concert next month! EEEE!!!! ♥

kisses blown from Heaven

2011-08-05T17:02:00.000-05:00

[pic via]

I feel like God blows me kisses sometimes; various little reminders of His love for me that He sneakily plants right in plain sight throughout nature.

Every morning, on my way to work, I pass multiple locations with vines of Morning Glory welcoming me to the new day. At first, I didn't realize what they were, and I was so disappointed in the evenings when I couldn't show Brad the beautiful flowers God had given me. My first explanation was that these specific gifts must be intended for only me. Upon some further research, I learned that morning glories only last the few hours of the morning, why is why I can only spot them during my morning commute. (However, I still like to believe they're for only me, regardless.)

[pic via]

Brad did finally witness this particular display of His glory on our way to church this past Sunday Morning. How cool of God to bless us with some beauty to make the start of each day even better!? He totally knows that I need some pick-me-ups in the mornings.

Another random gift that He sends my way on a regular basis is turkeys. Now, I know this is really weird, but there is this rafter (that's actually what you call them) of turkeys that seem to live in the back yard of a house located along my route to and from work. They aren't visible every day, but it has become a sort of treasure hunt for me to find them, making my daily commute much more exciting.

[pic via]

Some days I only see one or two, and some days I see the entire rafter! (Seriously, such a weird word.) I've even seen the big Toms spreading out their big feathers to impress the ladies, I've enjoyd observing the babies getting bigger. I know this seems silly, but every time I see one, a couple, or a whole lot of them, I always thank God for sending little treasures into my path.

Butterflies are something that are very specific to my personal relationship with God. I don't get them (technically, see them, but I feel like they're a gift, so I consider it receiving them) very often, but the times that I do are precisely when I need them the most. God sends a butterfly my way when I'm especially sad or lonely or scared or distracted with worldly things. They are kisses that He blows my direction in order to let me know He's here with me and He loves me and everything will be fine. To me, they serve as the most obvious physical reminder of God's presence in my life.

[pic via]

For my husband, that Brad-specific nudge from God comes in the form of a deer. He has some awesome stories of spending time in prayer during hikes and having a deer walk right up to him and stay there for a long time, just staring at him and then just hanging out right around him. There are so many times when God has sent Brad a deer when he most needs a heavenly reminder.

[pic via]

The other day, Brad and I were heading to a nearby state park to go for a walk/jog on the paved, shaded, 2-mile trail around the lake. This is one of our favorite places to exercise together. This particular evening, on the way there, we saw a whole field of deer, followed by a ton of turkeys, then a bunch of ducks on the water's edge. I took all of those gifts as blessings upon our time spent together and upon our work out. (For some reason, Satan really attacks me in this area, and I genuinely pray for protection from his lies when I'm about to enter into a time of exercise.)

Brad and I enjoyed wonderful, meaningful conversation during the first mile, but as soon as we passed the half-way point, a siren sounded signalling that the park would close soon. In order to make it out in time, we had to jog the remainder of the distance. It was an entire mile either way we went, and up to this point, I had never ran that far of a distance but once or twice on a treadmill. However, I absolutely did not want to get locked into the park. So I did the only thing I coudl do; I ran alongside my husband; and alongside my Creator.

I finally understood why He gave me so many bold signals of His presence in the beginning of the evening, and I used that awareness to motivate me to run. It was as we crossed over the bridge about a half-mile in that I thought I couldn't go anymore, and He sent a crane to swoop over the water at that exact minute. As I was jogging into the final quarter mile, I sang children's Bible songs in my head to keep pace as well as distract me from the pain in my lungs and the nasty sweat dripping down my face. (We had just taught 2-year-olds at Bible class the night before, so they were fresh in my mind.)

We finally made it back to the entrance, and do you know what God gave me?? Right there, in the middle of the walkway was a little doe just sauntering around. Through my huffs and puffs, I panted to Brad, "That's for me! Most deer He sends are for you, but that baby one right there is for me! He knew I'd need one after that!" (By the way, we made it back to the car with only three minutes to spare!)

[pic via]

God definitely knows me. Afterall, He created me. I truly believe that He speaks to all of us in our own personal ways. We just have to allow ourselves to be receptive to His unique form of communication in our lives.

What form do the kisses that He blows your way take?

Until the Very End

2011-07-19T16:58:00.000-05:00

[pic via]

In part, JK Rowling dedicated the final book in her Harry Potter series to me, a devoted fan who has stuck with Harry until the very end.

The 7th book was published in 2007, and Harry Potter's story was officially complete, but it has never felt so final as it does now, with the release of the last film in the franchise. Of course, we went to see the movie the minute it opened, but instead of providing a sense of wholeness with the conclusion, it instead left me with a giant gaping void, longing to be filled again.

You see, Harry Potter and his world have been a distinct part of mine for over a decade. I was first introduced to Harry (yes, we're on a first name basis by now) in 2000 by my smarter, younger brother, Richard. Naturally, I balked at the boy wizard's childish story; anything that my nerdy little brother was into was way below me. Since I was already a sophomore in high school, I was much too mature for a "kid's book." Thankfully, my mom continued to prompt me to pick up the Hero's Journey with anecdotes of a "funny house elf" and a flying car, as well as deeper lessons in friendship, courage, loyalty, and love. I finally conceded to quiet my scoffing long enough to "try just one."

To my surprise, Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone truly was a cute, entertaining, easy-to-read book with deep underlying meaning. It wasn't long until I stepped a little deeper into the Potterworld with The Chamber of Secrets, which I found that I enjoyed even more than the first. From that moment on, I dove headfirst into this magical world of wands and chocolate frogs.

I anxiously awaited the release of each subsequent novel. Every time Harry boarded the Hogwarts Express, I was right alongside him on his journey into the wizarding world. And at the end of each book, when he was sent back to live with the Durselys for the summer, I, too, was stuck in the muggle world waiting for the next book to be published.

Over the last ten years, the limits of JK Rowling's imagination have become mine, as well. I genuinely felt like I was there when Harry, Ron, and Hermione lulled Fluffy to sleep in order to save the Sorcerer's Stone from the man who murdered his parents; when they ventured deep inside the Chamber of Secrets to encounter the first of many parts of Voldemort's soul stored within a horcrux; when they helped free the Prisoner of Azkaban who would become one of my favorite characters; when his name was spit from the Goblet of Fire and he competed in the Tri-Wizard Tournemant, only to be portkeyed to his arch nemesis; when they fought Voldemort in the Ministry of Magic with the Order of the Phoenix and he finally discovered his true destiny; when he was (seemingly) betrayed by the Half-Blood Prince after studying the history, and final downfall, of his rival; and when they tracked down the Deathly Hallows and finally destroyed all of the horcruxes, so they could save the entire wizarding world from the most evil wizard who ever lived.

I remember drinking butterbeer and learning the rules of Quidditch as if I was truly part of the story. I have legitimate memories of traveling to Hogsmeade and visiting Honeyduke's and Zonko's Joke Shop. I felt like I actually wrote feet of parchment worth of essays for Snape, only to have Hermione correct it all, and that I really wandered the castle in the darkness under the invisibility cloak's protection. I felt the pain when loved ones died along the way. I felt the betrayal when nobody believed that He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named had returned. I felt the loneliness of being the Chosen One and the fear of having to go on an impossible mission to defeat the scariest, meanest, evilest wizard ever. I felt the resolution of knowing what must be done in order to finally conquer, and I felt the courage it took to make that final journey, as well as the love that it took to get there.

I know I probably sound like a total freak to those who haven't been properly introduced to Harry Potter, and maybe even to some of you who have met him, but haven't gotten to know him like I do. But Harry, Ron, and Hermione, as well as Neville, Luna, Fred, George, Sirius, Lupin, Dobby, Hagrid, Ginny, and so many others have truly been my friends over the years. They were a safe place to go to when I needed an escape. They truly provided me with comfort, peace, familiarity and a sense of belonging, direction, and identity through their fictional lives.

Over the last ten years, Harry and Co. have taught me many things. They've taught me the value of friendship and loyalty and bravery and courage; of believing in yourself even with you're the only one who does; of trusting in the good of others; of working hard and not giving up; of choices being far more important than abilities or lineage, and choosing what is right may not always be what is easy; of the power of love, and the greatest of which is one who lays down his life for others.

If I ever wrote a personal letter to Jo, I imagine it would look very similar to this hypothetical one written by an author/songwriter I admire:

Dear Ms. Rowling,

I think it’s remarkable what you’ve done. I love your imagination. I love your characterization and your sense of humor. I love that you’re telling a story about choosing the right thing, even when it’s hard. I love that you’re telling a story that is full of wisdom, a story that reminds me how evil Evil is. Most of all, I love that your story reminds me that light is stronger than darkness, that the best way to love is to lay your life down, and that Death will not have the final say. By the way, I’m a follower of Christ, and I see him in your story. I don’t know if that’s intentional or not, but you should know that he’s in there. In fact, it wouldn’t be a huge stretch to say that reading your books has helped me to praise him even more for his courage, his sacrifice, and his strength to conquer the hosts of hell to save us.

Sincerely,

Andrew Peterson

That about sums it all up for me. I really don't know how to feel right now. With the release of the final film marking the true end to Harry's (and my) magical journey, I genuinely feel like I'm mourning the loss of my childhood; like I just graduated and the real (muggle) world is looming in my too-near future.

The Mehaffey siblings taking part in the last moments of world-wide Harry Potter fandom. We waited in line for four hours, and Brad and I made custom shirts to commemorate the occasion.

Waiting for the conclusion to finally begin, ten years in the making.

I will surely miss the anticipation of the next book or movie installment. I'll miss the excitement of midnight premieres. I'll miss the mystery of the unknown and the journey. I'll miss the reign this phenomenon has had on our culture. But, no matter what, I'll always be part of the Harry Potter generation, and I'll luckily never have to truly miss the wizarding world, because this is not the end, not really. Hogwarts will always be there to welcome me home.

Thank you, Jo Rowling, for so many things, I can't even express. Thanks to you, and the Boy Who Lived, all is well.

HP "Friday" parody

2011-07-14T11:13:00.000-05:00

This about sums up my excitement today!

(Seriously, parodies of "Friday" never get old!)

It All Ends. Tonight.

2011-07-14T08:23:00.000-05:00

The countdown consists of mere hours!

For the last week, I've been enjoying a week long Potterthon, watching a movie a day in preparation for this final installment. (Each one gets so much better than the one before! This last one is going to be absolutely epic!) However, if you haven't had the opportunity to take part in your own Potterfest, here's a quick recap of all the films up to this point. Time to brush up on your horcuxes and hallows!

EEEE!!! I.am.so.excited.for.this! I can hardly stand it! This is it! This is the final showdown between Harry and Voldemort; the final showdown between good and evil; the final moments of simultaneous Pottermania worldwide. This is it. It all ends tonight. I'm so ready! (With a full package of kleenex...)

Joyful blooms

2011-07-13T12:35:00.002-05:00

This summer heat wave is making me really crabby. (Seriously, a heat index of well over 100 degrees? Not even being able to check the mail without breaking a sweat? No thank you!) So I decided to focus on an aspect of summer that always makes me smile: pretty plants and the opportunity to work with them.

From the time we purchased our house, Brad and I have enjoyed gradually settling in and making it feel more like home. During the warmer months, that means we're even claiming the yard as well. This summer, we outlined the landscaping that Brad did a year ago with some brick-like "bullets." I think the trim makes the design look much more finished.

When Brad planted the Autumn maple tree (above right), he moved the little magnolia bush and ground cover to the other side of our garage. We've had quite a few blooms this season, but they haven't lasted too long. I'm hoping next year it'll be covered in flowers.

Since I had recently discovered that I really love watching plants grow (God is so visible!), my birthday wish was for a flowery tree to go on the left side of our driveway. I thought I really wanted a cherry tree, since they're so pretty, but the guy easily convinced me to get this hydrangea bush (pruned to resemble a tree) when he said that the blooms last much longer. More flowers make me happy; Sold! It has already grown quite a bit since April, and the little bushels of tiny white flowers are slowly developing. (Note to self: I need to take a current picture.)

Because it was my birthday, the nice (and very knowledgeable) flea market nursery guy let me choose from a host of additional small bushes for free! We chose this pink weigela bush, because ~~pink is my favorite color of flower~~ we knew it would look great in the place of our faltering rhododendron, which we had to move to the back of the house where it gets less light. (And where it is now thriving! Even if it remains unphotographed. Another note to self...)

The azaleas lining the front porch really showed off this year! It's so fun to see plants that we placed there last year come back all on their own (with a lot of help from their Creator) just to exhibit God's glory. It is actually when these came into bloom that I really learned of my love for working with plants and flowers. It's like witnessing a miracle! And it serves a visual reminder of God's redemptive nature to bring forth beauty where there once was none.

Lilies of all kinds are my very favorite flowers ever (followed closely by tulips), and when these determined stalks surprised us by unexpectedly sprouting out even through a weed barrier and the rocks we had previously laid, I was thrilled! I don't know where we have been all our lives, but it simply didn't occur to us that these flowers would reappear this year. But now I know that bulbs come back and multiply year after year. I guess those "common knowledge" things have to start sometime!

I can't remember exactly what these cute little flowers are (geraniums? anyone?), but they're the perfect "welcome home" on our front porch. This picture was taken immediately after I planted them, but they've since gotten so big that they hang outside of the basket and take up about half of the vertical space. Oh, I just love to watch things grow!

To let that "God automatically makes bulbs reappear and multiply" lesson sink in even further, our day lilies have recently exploded! Last year, we planted six in this area, and this year we must have well over ten plants blooming like crazy. But, seeing as how I looo-oo-ooove lilies, I'm absolutely ecstacic! Brad says that if they keep this up, we may have to relocate some, though. We're thinking of removing the rock in that little section and adding some of the day lilies to the other lilies and just having a lily patch right there. At this rate, it would fill up that area in no time! And a lily patch is right up my alley. The only thing that could make it better, is a few tulips thrown in for good measure.

If our neighbors ever see me come home from work, I'm sure they wonder what in the world I'm doing, because I drive so slowly into the garage, providing me enough time to take a good look at every plant as I pass. When it's not 100 degrees out, I'll pull in and then walk around the whole yard checking out each flower and leaf, noticing any new buds that may have sprouted during the day. It's like they're my little babies or something.

I think flowers are such a wonderful gift from my Father. It's like He just wants me to know how kind, loving, generous, powerful, and creative He is. I mean, generally all women like to receive flowers as a gift from the man they love; I look at flowers growing in the earth as gifts directly from the One who truly holds my heart, as an expression of his love for me. What an incredible blessing.

There. That was just the refocus that I needed in order to break me away from this heat-induced grumpiness. Thanks for your help.

Fine dining

2011-07-11T15:35:00.001-05:00

I know some people may not care all that much, but I'm super excited about our new dining room table! Our old table was a wonderful blessing when it was gifted to us at the start of our marriage, and it has served us very well for over six years. However, it could only fit four, and that was not very conducive to hosting dinners, which is one of our favorite things to do. Especially every thanksgiving, when we've had to shove our card table up to one end to make room for the entire family to sit together.

As our homes have increased in size over the years, so has our available space for a dining area. A bigger table has been on our wish list for a pretty long time, but it hasn't quite ranked high enough on our priority list to also consequently find its way into our budget. Thankfully, my dad graciously volunteered to swap tables with us, since he had a large one just hanging out in his underused dining room. Holla! Now look at this baby! And this is the size of it while only including one of the two additional 1.5 foot leaves!

Isn't it just wonderful? (I know I'm a big dork for being so pumped about furniture, but I'm not even embarrassed about it. It is what it is.) I wish I could take a lot of credit for the way it turned out, but in all honesty, a lot of it was Brad's doing. I definitely wanted to stick with our red and black theme that I love, but it was all Brad's idea to make the "captain" chairs red and the others black, and it was also his idea to have the duel tablecloths (red by black chairs and black by red chairs), and he even stumbled upon the damask cloth all on his own while I was elsewhere in the store! Seriously, I have to give him all the credit. He's my own little interior decorator.

But I will totally take some credit for the floral centerpiece. While it was a mutual effort to piece the flower arrangement together, it was all my idea to use free party favor beaded necklaces as the vase filler. That's decorating on a budget right there.

PS. Just for comparison's sake, here's a picture of our old table being dwarfed in our larger dining room. It was great while it lasted, but I'm so glad to have more proportionate furniture in there that will comfortably seat more people.

Isn't it just so inviting? With the extra leaf added, we can totally fit the whole family at one table for Thanksgiving. (At least until we have to make room for a high chair or two!)

Well, what are ya waiting for? Come on over! There's plenty of room for you to join us for dinner! Hope you like spaghetti! :)

Final HP world premiere

2011-07-08T11:08:00.000-05:00

If only Brad and I had a full stock of Floo Powder, we could have used this giant fireplace at the Cheekwood Mansion to travel through the Floo Network over to London for the World Premiere of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part Two, yesterday.

But, alas, we haven't been able to make the trip to Diagon Alley to replenish our supply. And since neither of us have passed our Apparition test yet (splinching is no joke, people), I had to settle with watching the livestream of the premiere online. It was nearly as good as being there in person.

I can't even begin to imagine how Jo, the actors, and the crew must feel knowing that it's all finally complete. I'm a blubbering fool, myself, and it's not even my baby.

"Whether you return by page or big screen, Hogwarts will always be there to welcome you home."

- Jo Rowling

2011's 4th of July Weekend

2011-07-06T16:17:00.003-05:00

It took us an entire weekend to celebrate America's 235th birthday! It began on Friday night when the Hill Ridge Crew (minus EmJ, plus the newlyweds Alex and Amber) came to our house for a cookout and redneck fireworks. That's what Independence Day is all about, y'all. Well, that and independence...

Saturday, Brad and I spent the afternoon at Cheekwood with Alex and Amber (A²), enjoying the beautiful gardens and the incredible, historic mansion.

When the fourth came around, A² and Brad and I dressed up in our most patriotic (read: tackiest) ensembles and made our second annual trip to Nashville's Hot Chicken Festival, "the only thing hotter than the 4th of July." My mouth is a big wimp, so the only thing I feasted upon was the free watermelon. Ah, summer... (PS. Doesn't that dog on my shirt look just like Chester?! Love it!)

This year, we decided to semi-avoid the massive down-town crowd for the city's fireworks display, so we camped out on the opposite side of the river. We only had to temporarily penetrate the chaos when we crossed the bridge to get some ~~greasy~~ delicious vendor food for dinner.

The boys played frisbee as we waited for the sun to go down, and the girls practiced blowing bubbles with our grape Bubblicious. We pretty much mastered the art by nightfall.

I have to admit, even though we had a pretty decent view of the fireworks and could hear the symphony's live broadcast over the car's radio, my heart was a little sad to not be right on the river like we were last year. It just wasn't the same. I couldn't feel the booms in my chest, and we couldn't see all of the ground display, and worst of all, we looked like dorks when we cheered out loud by ourselves. It was definitely nice to not be as sunburned, since we didn't have to claim our territory on the riverfront all day, but I'm not sure we'll miss out like that again. If we're going to watch the big show, we need to be in the big crowd. That's all I'm saying. Lesson learned.

The 4th of July is always one of my favorite holidays, because it's just so laid back. It's all about hanging out with your favorite people and reflecting on the blessings we receive as citizens of this great nation. Our country's freedom is something that I don't know that I fully appreciate, since it's all I've ever known. But I try, especially on the anniversary of our gain of independence, to not take it for granted.

However, there's another type of freedom that is even better, and that's the freedom we have in Christ. I can't think of political freedom without also considering my spiritual freedom. God is so good.

2 weeks and counting down!

2011-07-01T09:32:00.000-05:00

It's July! Which means it's Harry Potter month!! His birthday is 7/31/80; the final book was released on 7/21/07; and the final movie will be released on 7/15/11! Did you catch that last one? The final movie will be released in just two weeks!!!

If you need a refresher on where we are, here's a recap of what happened in Part 1. (Sorry about the annoying message across the screen. But if you click on it, you get a sneak peek at a new scene!)

And for those of us who have read the books and don't mind spoilers, here's a featurette about the horcruxes and what's coming up in this epic conclusion of the story.

EEEEE!!!! Two weeks, people! Two.Weeks! I better get started on the Mehaffey Sibling t-shirts for the midnight release! Are any of you going to join us in this last moment of Pottermania?? You can never get it back...

Summer Bucket List

2011-06-29T13:54:00.000-05:00

Brad and I have come up with a Bucket List for the Summer of 2011. With all of these awesome activities planned, we'll have to be very careful not to get a funburn!! (Ahhhahahahaha! Admit it; that is hilarious!)

[click to enlarge]

It's already the end of June, but I do believe we've successfully made quite a dent in the list so far. I can't wait to cross more off as time goes on! (Especially a few of those in particular that I'm super looking forward to!)

Do you have any awesome plans for the Season of Sun?

The Only One

2011-06-27T16:57:00.002-05:00

You know what I really like about being married to Bradley?

He's the only one that gets to:

dance with me at weddings
see me without a bit of makeup on
touch my feet
keep me safe during scary movies and suspenseful TV shows
tickle me, even though it drives me nuts
play with my hair
help me decide what to wear
wrap his arms around my waist
surprise me with awesome dates
know all of my fears and insecurities
taste all of my cooking
see me sweat
hear every detail of my stories
toss me a new roll of toilet paper
call our future daughter "Annie" (her middle name will be Ann)
be called my husband

And I'm the only one that's privileged enough to:

rest my head on his shoulder
share his dreams for our future
have his children
hold his hand at the park
know what he's really thinking
feel his whiskers on my cheek
share his dessert
be a witness to his vulnerability
bring him his towel when he's in too big of a hurry to remember one
tug on his suspenders each week (he instituted suspender-Mondays at his office)
cuddle with him on the couch
fold his undies
see his handsome face first thing when I wake up
brush my teeth at the same sink as him
feel him twitch as he falls asleep (a personal favorite of mine)
be called his wife

I wouldn't change it for anything.

Pottermore, The Big HP Announcement

2011-06-23T08:48:00.003-05:00

J.K. Rowling is a genius. I mean, obviously; she created the entire universe that encompasses the magical world of Harry Potter. But in addition to creatively inventing stories, characters, words, sports, and the like, she's also a marketing genius. For the last week, during the height of the HP frenzy surrounding the final film, she has been tempting her fans with a promise of a "big announcement" regarding the website Pottermore.com.

The site said one thing: "Coming soon..." followed by her signature with two owls on either side of the page. When you clicked on one of the owls, it would direct you to her official YouTube page where a countdown clock was ticking away until the announcement, and "owls were gathering" by the flocks each day, not unlike her fans, in anticipation for the big news. This morning the countdown finally reached zero, and Pottermore transformed into this:

Turns out her announcement was just that, an announcement. The website is not officially open, yet, but she did reveal what it will be, come October. (Like I said, she's a marketing genius.)

I don't quite understand all of it, but I did gather that she loves her ~~crazy~~ devoted fanbase, she'll be providing digital audio books and e-books, and she'll also reveal some before-unknown-to-the-public information regarding the Harry Potter Universe that she has kept secret for well over a decade. (It's probably all of the random facts that didn't directly relate to Harry's personal story.) I have to admit, I'm pretty darn excited about all of that. I'm not sure what the "online reading experience unlike any other" will be actually like, but it sure sounds fun!

♥ Long live Harry Potter! ♥

They said, "I Do."

2011-06-21T15:42:00.001-05:00

Jeremy and Madison are married! The last Mehaffey son has officially acquired the last Mrs. Mehaffey of our generation. They tied the knot on June 4, 2011 at Camp Dixie near Chattanooga. Everything was absolutely wonderful.

The wedding jumped right out of a storybook and took place in the shade of a giant tree overlooking the lake. It was truly breathtaking.

Thanks to their awesome and super speedy photographer, we already have access to all of their professional wedding pictures! Each of the photos featured in this post are courtesy of Justin Wright Photography.

The whole bridal party

Heather and I were honored to be two of her bridesmaids. (Or would we technically be considered bridematrons?) Even though it was pretty hot outside, the pictures on the dock were totally worth it. (BTW, aren't the dresses awesome? They are from Target, and I've totally already warn mine again! A bridesmaid's dream come true!)

Brad and Matthew were also included among Jeremy's groomsmen. Aren't they all so handsome? (Likewise, Jeremy chose the purchase of suits rather than the rental of tuxes, so the guys could keep and wear them again in the future. Such a considerate bride and groom!)

The Mehaffey men and the Mehaffey women.

All of the Mehaffey siblings and the whole Mehaffey family, finally complete. (Well, pre-children-complete, anyway.)

Their wedding cake was literally a piece of art. We stared at it forever, trying to take in every little detail. And the groom's cake perfectly represented Jeremy's nerdiness as a personalized computer replica, complete with binary code for "4 Ever." So clever! (And delicious!)

They decorated with gorgeous flower arrangements and provided the wedding programs in the form of fans to help cool off their guests while sitting in the warm weather during the ceremony. They also gifted everyone with some of Madison's ~~world~~ family famous homemade jam with an inscription saying "Love will get you out of a jam!" (I may have stolen a couple jars. Shh...)

No Mehaffey wedding reception is complete without fools on the dance floor, and this one was no exception. After eating a wonderful meal and drinking sweet tea out of mason jars, we all got jiggy wit it, old skool and had the time of our lives with those we love the most.

At the end of the evening, the newlyweds exited through a shower of sparkles...

...and they made their romantic departure upon a boat, crossing the lake ~~on their way to Cancun~~ into their new, blessed lives together.

We are so excited to welcome Madison into our family. She is perfect for our brother, and I know their love for each other will only grow over the years. God's blessings never cease.

Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Mehaffey!

Playing Hooky

2011-06-20T15:32:00.001-05:00

Brad and I had a lunch date planned this past Friday. However, our lunch date quickly turned into an afternoon date. As soon as we got outside and discovered how beautiful the weather was, we simultaneously agreed to play hooky the rest for of the afternoon.

We called out from work, grabbed our Subway to go, ran home to change our clothes, invite Chester along, and grab some books, and then headed to the lake for the rest of the afternoon. We set up camp right on the bluffs overlooking the water and enjoyed the cool breeze as we relaxed the day away. It wasn't long until we were both napping, enjoying God's blessings in nature.

Chester enjoyed the impromptu field trip, as well. You can tell how happy he was. I mean, honestly, he's the cutest dog ever, right?

Even though it made his momma nervous, he (cautiously) explored the Great Outdoors before joining us in our leisurely lounging.

Family bonding is the best. Especially spur-of-the-moment bonding on a beautiful Friday afternoon.

I've never played hooky before. I have to admit, I kinda enjoyed it. But shhh, keep it on the downlow; I wouldn't want our employers to find out!

What I Already Know

2011-06-15T09:50:00.003-05:00

I love when songs can speak for us, when a songwriter is able to put our thoughts to a melody. Today, I came across this particular song by a relatively unknown artist, and I couldn't help but share it with you. It is an incredible prayer with a great lesson. Enjoy!

Six Years

2011-06-11T08:19:00.072-05:00

(Pic taken after our anniversary dinner.)

Today marks the sixth anniversary of our wedding. I can't even put into words what that means to me. I'm going to be honest with you; we had to work pretty hard to add this sixth year to our marriage. I have to admit, sometimes marriage is hard work. I totally believe in love with all of my heart, but my attitude toward love has altered quite a bit over the last twelve months.

Love doesn't simply equal perpetual smiles, giggles and flirts, although it's nice to have them present. It doesn't consist of constant euphoria and unwavering happiness, although there are periods of time that it can lift you up to the clouds. Love doesn't effortlessly come easy, like I maybe thought it did before (even though I didn't think I thought that at the time). I've come to learn that love is an action. Love is a verb. Love is a decision. Love is something you do, not necessarily something you feel.

I've also learned that love is something real; love is worth fighting for; and love can only come from the One who IS love.

I believe that marriages consist of both peaks and valleys. I'm especially proud of this particular anniversary, because the past year has honestly been a span spent in the valley. We've had our fair share of highlights, also, but overall, the sixth year of marriage has proven to be the most trying we've experienced thus far.

Thankfully, God is faithful. He has stayed right by our sides through all of the trials the devil has thrown our way, even carrying us during the times we weren't sure we could hold ourselves up. He ceaselessly extended His grace and mercy upon us, allowing us to bestow that same grace and mercy toward each other as needed. His perfect example of love for us has paved a path of love for us to follow in our marriage.

To represent our journey, our struggles, our perseverence, our committment and our focus, Brad and I prayerfully decided to commemorate our sixth wedding anniversary with corresponding tattoos.

On my wrist, I got two hearts joined together by a cross. It is a design which I created myself that symbolizes Christ being the center of our relationship. Furthermore, in my mind, it's also a visual representation of Christ completing each of us individually, as well as bringing (and keeping) us together.

Brad got a Celtic knot on his shoulder that is made up of two entwined hearts encircled within a larger heart to symbolize our relationship within God.

The permanent marks on our bodies serve as a representation of God's grace in our relationship. They provide a constant reminder of where our focus needs to be, which is first and foremost on the Lord, and then on our marriage within Him.

The sixth is a notch in our marriage belt that I am happily, proudly, and passionately claiming. With God's help, we have made it through a year worth of valley and are on our way up toward another beautiful peak in the clear blue sky. I'm sure that our futures hold many more rollercoaster rides up and down, but I'm also confident that we can get through all of it. We've done it once. We can do it again. After all, it's not like we'll be riding alone. God will always be right by our sides. And besides, without the rainy days, we wouldn't know how great the sunny ones actually are, right?

♥ God sure is good. :)

Layla at the Zoo

2011-06-10T16:49:00.000-05:00

A few weekends ago, Brad and I joined the Jordans on a field trip to the zoo. Look at my sweet Layla Grace checking out the ~~Timones~~ prairie dogs!

While Layla was checking out all the zoo animals, all of us were watching her. We're pretty much all obsessed with her. And PS, isn't Bradley going to be the best daddy ever? Someday!

The zoo hosted this show of people exhibiting particular animals, and Layla absolutely loved it. She's only 9 months old, but she totally knows what's going on. Already, she really likes all kinds of animals.

BTW, I found a petite lap giraffe that fits into the palm of my hand! Well, this is the closest I'll ever get to one anyway, seeing as how they aren't even real. (Still sad about that one.)

Summer is officially here. Have you made your trip the zoo, yet?! Hope you have a great weekend!

Cheap Fandango Tickets

2011-06-09T10:48:00.007-05:00

I'm cheap, and I love good deals, which is why I've joined LivingSocial for their daily specials. But my favorite deals, and the ones that save me the most money, are those of which I'd be purchasing anyway. Combine that with anything Harry Potter related, and I'm a very happy girl!

Cue Today's Deal, which is a pair of movie tickets for $9 through Fandango, and I'm squealing with excitement! Since I'm totally planning on going to the midnight release of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part Two next month(!!), I'd definitely be buying the tickets anyway. If I can get both Brad's and mine for less than the normal price of a single one, you better believe I'm snatching that right up, baby!

{pic via}

Thanks, LivingSocial and Fandango, for making HP7.2 seem even closer!! I can't wait! The count down has officially begun! (I mean, seriously it is. Did you notice the very literal countdown on the left? I'm for real, here.)

If you would also like to take advantage of today's sweet movie ticket deal, click here. You can use them for any movie of your choice, and they're good for months. Consider it a cheap future date night, courtesy of Mindy. You're welcome. :)

Sidenote: They just released some more HP7.2 posters. I can't control msyelf. I must post them all!

Oh man! Can't you tell how gritty and intense it's going to be!? This is war! They're all dueling. I especially love the ones with Neville and the sword of Gryffindor, Professor McGonagall and the enchanted-to-fight Hogwarts statues, and the Weasley twins. Get ready, people!!

Giggling Bubbles

2011-06-03T07:36:00.005-05:00

I'm a firm believer in starting the weekend off on a high note, and I just truly think there's no better way to celebrate the end of a week than by enjoying the sweet sounds baby laughter! So here's this week's edition. It even features a funny dog as a bonus! Enjoy!

Hope you have a great weekend! Got any awesome plans? I'll be gaining a new sister! (Beat that!)

NEXT Month!!

2011-06-01T15:05:00.000-05:00

Now that it's June, we can finally say that Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2 comes out next month! To whet our appetite, the Harry Potter facebook page has been releasing some new character posters for the final film, each accompanied by its associated captions. Oh, I'm so excited!!

"I never wanted any of you to die for me."

"We can end this."

"We wouldn't last two days without her."

"Join me, and confront your fate."

"Don't you understand? I have to do this."

"It's Harry Potter. He's all bright, and shiny, and new again, just in time for the Dark Lord."

I'm especially anxious to watch the stories of the following two characters unfold in this final movie!!

Snape will finally be understood.

"Has it ever crossed your brilliant mind that I don't want to do this anymore?"

And Neville finally gets his moment of glory! Here's the hero featured with the Sword of Gryffindor! {I ♥ Neville!!}

"Dumbledore's Army is supposed to be about doing something real."

Oh my goodness, I can hardly stand the excitement! I'm going to burst. And for some further icing on the HP cake, they've also released two new TV spots to go along with the main trailer.

The film isn't even rated yet?? Holy cow. It's going to be so intense!!!

I can't believe this is the last month that the world will ever be without the complete Harry Potter [movie] series. I hope we're up for it. There's no going back. Honestly, this planet doesn't even know what's about to hit it. (Well, unless, of course, they've read the story. Which I hope they all have, because they'd love it!...)

AHHH!!!

Kickball Wars

2011-05-31T12:18:00.000-05:00

Brad and I participated in a pretty brutal game of kickball on Memorial Day. The teams were definitely hard core.

My team dubbed ourselves The Cicadas, since we were everywhere and unstoppable. Baby Harper was our secret weapon.

The temperature was literally 100 degrees, and we were all roasting in the midday sun. It felt like the game lasted roughly 3 years and consisted of approximately 75 innings, but I think it was actually only 11 innings by the end of it. We called it a truce with a tied score of 2 to 2. (The minimal runs simply demonstrate the extreme pro-ness of our defenses.)

Take a minute to enjoy our totally legit ~~base~~kickball cards.

Yeah, I told you we were pretty hard core.

We had a really great time playing and goofing around with our friends, and the constant consumption of watermelon helped us survive the blazing sun. Also, I'm proud to notify you all that I never Charlie Browned the ball, and I even made it safely to base, twice! (Once, even to second!) You better believe I did a mighty fine victory dance to celebrate.

However, if you're wondering, yes, I am very sore after such athletic activities. This ole body just ain't used to all that running and kicking. And furthermore, yes, Brad and I are both sunburnt. I at least put on some sunscreen. Brad, on the other hand, decided to be macho and declined the protective lotion. (Read: is lobster red.)

I'm anxious to hear about your Memorial Day festivities. Did you have a great extended weekend? Enjoy some time outside? Increase your watermelon consumption by 100%? Or other things even more awesome?

Hey, Homey

2011-05-27T12:10:00.000-05:00

After more than a year in Mehaffey Manor, Brad and I finally have curtains hanging in our living room! I've wanted curtains on the windows since the day we moved in, but it was just one of those things that kept getting pushed to the back burner. However, Brad decided to gift me the curtains (and rods and rings) of my choice for my birthday! What a great gift! (I think it could have been more for him than me; I literally haven't stopped whining about our lack-of-curtains for a year. I think he's just as happy to hush me up as I am to hang them up!)

I love the sunlight streaming through the windows, so I didn't want anything too dark. I considered getting a cute pattern, but I didn't want anything to compete with the design on the rug. So, after a month of looking around, I decided to go with something simple to just soften the edges yet not add anything busy to the decor. (And under budget, mind you. You're welcome, Bradley.)

I'm so happy with the way the classic, cream sheers brighten up our otherwise brown room as well as adding that final touch of homeyness to our house; I've always believed that curtains (and rugs) are the subtle elements that complete a space. I know it's something small, but I'm so, super excited to finally have a completed living room. Happy birthday to me!

The Story of Us

2011-05-25T10:13:00.002-05:00

It may not really seem like it, but I promise I am consciously trying to make sure that Beyond Blessed doesn't become a Taylor Swift fan page. However, seeing as how I am a Taylor Swift fan, there are a few indulgences that I simply can't neglect. One of those is posting her new videos. So, here's the video of her latest single, "The Story of Us."

Tags: Taylor Swift, Music, More Music Videos

I know what you may be thinking. "Man, she's so beautiful?" Yes. Yes, she is. Furthermore, you may also be thinking, "Didn't she just release a different single, like, only a couple of weeks ago?" And you'd be right again. She's releasing two, simultaneously: "Mean" primarily for Country radio and this one for her Pop music fans. She's just trying to keep us all happy. That's sure is awfully kind of her, huh? ♥

Sidenote: She wrote this song about John Mayer and their post-breakup encounter at the CMT Music Awards, last year. There's a fun little tid bit for ya.

Cicada Invasion 2011

2011-05-24T15:53:00.002-05:00

Have the cicadas begun their ruthless dominion where you are?

This is the first time (that I can remember) when Music City, in its entirety, has been ~~constantly~~ simultaneously serenaded by the same musical tune: the rhythmic waves of the cicadas' song. Seriously, they're so loud that we can easily hear them indoors and over all the other random noises of daily life.

Some people are celebrating the fleeting lives of the insects by wearing shirts to honor their once-in-a-13-year-span visit. These people are weird.

The rest of us are frantically joining the "Swat Team" and trying to avoid the plague of red-eyed monsters at all cost.

I've all but succumbed to their temporary takeover. I have no resistance in me, only survival instincts at play. I stay inside and keep the windows shut. All urges to drive with my car windows down in order to enjoy the warm weather have been unceremoniously disregarded due to giant cicadas filling every open crack in the(ir) world. Convertibles are just plain dangerous.

The cicadan buzz, while surprisingly audible, isn't really what bothers me; it simply reminds me of summers of yore, when smaller broods have been around. Instead, it's their overwhelming presence in and of itself. I unashamedly panic when they inevitably dive bomb me on the rare occasions that I subject myself to "their territory" (read: walking to my car from inside, or inside from my car). And the crunchy shells scattered everywhere and attached to everything is super gross. I'm kind of ready to see clear skies again, rather than observing the random flights of thousands of bugs. Ew.

What about you? Are you for or against the 13-year-cicadas? They really do no harm. They don't bite or sting or anything like that. I mean, you could really look at them as a tale of tragic love: they wait over a decade before emerging from their slumber simply to find a mate and die. Sad and romantic, maybe.

Yeah, maybe if they weren't so creepy...

Laughing Layla

2011-05-13T14:13:00.000-05:00

I didn't think there was anything I liked more than random laughing babies, but when that laughing baby is my ~~own~~ best friends' daughter, the video is exponentially better! Believe me.

Told ya. ♥

Gotta Share!

2011-05-11T08:25:00.021-05:00

Have you ever heard of Improv Everywhere? They are hilarious. They "cause scenes" by going to regular places and (seemingly) randomly breaking out into song. If you've never watched any of their flash mobs or musicals, you'll seriously want to watch every video.

Here's their most recent release, where they focus on social media. It cracked me up and I just Gotta Share!

Could you go a while without staying connected? I have to admit, I'm kind of addicted to today's technology. I mean, I do keep a blog, obviously... Could you get up and sing a random song in front of total strangers? No way, Jose. Not this girl. But I hope you enjoy spending the rest of your day watching this group do it over and over again in all of their other videos!

Happy Birthday, Charlie Joy!

2011-05-10T09:09:00.002-05:00

My BBF (Best Baby Friend) turns 1 today! I can't believe it's already been a whole year since she was born! I absolutely love her and just can't ever get enough of my baby girl. They celebrated her birthday with a party this past weekend. Here are a few highlights:

Emmy made her whole outfit. Incredible.

Priceless.

They just grow up so fast! Look at her chillin' in her car. Love it!

Happy Birthday, Charlie Joy. I love you so much!!

The Best Day

2011-05-08T07:53:00.062-05:00

Taylor always seems to be able to put my thoughts into song, even on Mother's Day. So today, I'm posting this song from her sophomore album that she wrote about memories with her mother in honor of my mother.

I love you, Mom. Thanks for being my best friend as I grew up and for always being there for me even when I felt very alone in the world. I will always cherish each memory I have with you. You lovingly raised me to be who I am today, and I am so grateful for the lessons you taught me along the way. Someday I'll be a mom, myself, and I hope that I can be one like you as I strive to raise my own children. I miss you so much, Mom. But I love you even more. Happy Mother's Day.

Don't be Mean to Taylor

2011-05-06T21:59:00.001-05:00

I know I drive you crazy with all the Taylor Swift stuff on here, but I couldn't call myself a ~~Swifty~~ fan if I didn't share her latest video with you. She just released it tonight, and I don't want y'all to be behind (like we were last time)!

It's very similar to the live performance. I love that she uses her platform to encourage others not to give up on their dreams because of "mean" people trying to pull them down. Gotta love that Taytay. ♥

"Blessings" by Laura Story

2011-05-05T09:36:00.000-05:00

We pray for blessings
We pray for peace
Comfort for family, protection while we sleep
We pray for healing, for prosperity
We pray for Your mighty hand to ease our suffering
All the while, You hear each spoken need
Yet love us way too much to give us lesser things

'Cause what if your blessings come through raindrops
What if Your healing comes through tears
What if a thousand sleepless nights are what it takes to know You're near
What if trials of this life are Your mercies in disguise

We pray for wisdom
Your voice to hear
We cry in anger when we cannot feel You near
We doubt your goodness, we doubt your love
As if every promise from Your Word is not enough
All the while, You hear each desperate plea
As long as we have faith to believe

When friends betray us
When darkness seems to win
We know that pain reminds this heart
That this is not our home

What if my greatest disappointments
Or the aching of this life
Is the revealing of a greater thirst this world can't satisfy
What if trials of this life
The rain, the storms, the hardest nights
Are your mercies in disguise

I was introduced to this song by a friend, and it was so incredible that I couldn't help but share it with you, too. I hope you are able recognize the blessings in your life; even the ones that are currently being disguised as trials.

God is good!

T-Swizzle concert gear

2011-05-03T10:34:00.000-05:00

For today only, all of Taylor Swift's t-shirts in her online store are on sale for only $10! Okay, so it's obviously not a matter of whether or not I should purchase one in prep for the upcoming concert; but rather a decision of which one I should get!!

I think this one if my fave, but they only have it in XL. Boo.

I could totally proclaim my ♥ for TSwift on my chest!

And I've always really liked these ringer shirts...

But I can't ever have enough long-sleeved tees. (Especially for $10!)

However, I think I might actually be leaning toward this one that's inspired by her performance as the rapper T-Swizzle in her music video "Thug Story" with T-Pain (whom I also love, because no matter how lame, I love that auto-tuned voice!). Just because that ball of yarn and signature is simply awesome.

(Seriously, you're going to love this video. She's so funny!)

Of course, I'm also going to get Bradley the most ~~boring~~ manly one while they're on sale. He can't show up at the concert unsupportive! What would my girl think??

Oh, I want them all! What's your vote? The sale only lasts today, so I've gotta act quickly!

HP Bday gift

2011-04-28T09:25:00.000-05:00

Look what Warner Bros. Pictures released, just for my birthday! The first full trailor for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2. EEEEEEE!!!! I'm flattered that they remembered! :)

OHMYGOODNESS! Did you just see that!?! Holy cow! I equal amounts cannot wait for July 15th to get here and also never want it to arrive! I'm so anxious to see this epic finale, but I don't want it to all really be over! Oh, the internal struggle!

ACCIO HP7.2!!

Easter Weekend

2011-04-22T12:28:00.001-05:00

It's always fun to sing about a special day of the week. So here's a little something to get you excited about the Easter Weekend!

For real, though, I hope you have a great Easter Weekend and get a chance to focus on and give praise for the incredible sacrifice that the Lord and His Son made just because they love us so much.

God is so good!

The Rescue

2011-04-19T10:12:00.004-05:00

So I found this guy on youtube named Tyler Ward, because he loves Taylor and wrote a song about taking her name if she'd marry him. But then I listened to a few more of his Taylor covers and then to a couple other covers, as well. It wasn't long before I came upon some of his original music.

This particular original song and video really struck me. He had his fans submit videos to stream together for the song. The final result is very moving.

It got me thinking. I need rescued from a whole lot of things, myself. Shame. Resentment. A judging attitude. Complacency. Pain. Skepticism. Distrust. Comparing myself to others and being discouraged by what I see. Self-doubt. Pressure to be someone I'm not; pressure to be perfect.

But mostly I need rescued from Fear. Fear of being myself and simply owning who God made me to be. Fear of not being enough. Fear of being too much. Fear of failure or of disappointment. Fear of others not liking me or of not successfully being who and what (I believe) everyone else expects me to be. Fear of change. Fear of being vulnerable. Fear of being hurt again. Even a fear of hope, because I fear eventually being let down. Fear of the unknown...

Luckily, I have a Rescuer who saves me from the enemy. I am not alone.

What do you need rescued from? Do you have access to the refuge He provides?

Potter & Pizza Tax Day

2011-04-15T11:03:00.001-05:00

Generally, on this day every year, I post some sort of "Holla! I survived!" post celebrating the end of tax season. However, this year the deadline was extended through the weekend to Monday the 18th. Which means we still have three more days to go. Boo.

But April 15, 2011 is still going to be a good day worth celebrating, because Harry Potter 7.1 comes out today on video! And I'm having a little Pizza and Potter party tonight with some fellow HP freaks who intend to watch the movie as well as every minute of the "hours of extra footage" of behind the scenes stuff! (We're having to borrow Charles' PS3 in order to play the Bluray, since all the secret stuff is only on that disk. Those sneaky peopel forcing us to upgrade!)

[pic via]

Even though the plans have been made for a couple of days, I needed a reminder this morning when I was dreading getting out of bed and willingly going back for another busy taxy day at work. I finally asked Brad to give me a pep talk. It went something like this:

"Guess what comes out today! Harry Potter! Guess what you're going to do tonight! Watch it with your favorite Harry Potter friends! But in order to get to that point, you've got to start today. So that means just hoppin' on out of bed. C'mon. You can do it. Let's go ahead and start this Harry Potter day. Every minute is a minute closer to pizza and Potter. Whatever happens between now and then is just busy work getting you closer to tonight. C'mon... There ya go... You can do it... Let's get this Potter started!" (Isn't Brad the best? He totally knows me.)

So, here I am counting down the hours (and phone calls, and clients, and returns, and lunch orders, and faxes, and even one very disgruntled client who was not happy about how much he owed) to get to this:

I think I can make it. Leave it to Harry Potter (and Brad Mehaffey) to give me the motivation I need to make it thorugh another tax season!

Oh, and wait! This just in! Bradley not only gives great pep talks, but he also sends "Cheer you up" flowers to my office! Seriously, what a great husband! :D

Maybe I really can make it all the way through this (extended) tax season, after all! :)

Carnivore

2011-04-12T17:27:00.000-05:00

Long hours at work = many snacks at the desk. I snagged these mini animal crackers from a stocked "Tax Season Survival Kit" in our office kitchen. These tiny, roaring, scrumptious treats have ~~successfully~~ attempted to maintain my sanity over the last few weeks. Nom, nom, nom.

PS. Don't judge me for literally putting my name (well initial) on my favorite pen. They seem to constantly get swiped off my desk, and I'm very partial to my Blue Pilot G2. When it gets ~~stolen~~ "misplaced," I can always relocate and easily reclaim it, since there's no denying who it's rightful owner is. I mean, a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do. Jussayin.

Working while intaxicated

2011-04-08T15:23:00.001-05:00

[pic via]

With the tax deadline only a week away, work has gotten pretty wild. Lots of long hours and late nights. Around 9:00 last night one of our partners was belting out "Santa Claus is Comin' to Town" at the top of his lungs while he poured over a return. When I asked him why he was singing Christmas carols in April (besides the fact that all things Christmas are awesome, duh), he frantically responded "because that's just how far behind I am!" with a big chuckle and a crazy look in his eyes. Oh dear. I believe the unexpected increased length of time for the big office reconstruction has put a few of our accountants behind a little more than desired. Oops.

Luckily, at this point at least, we seem to all still be in the delirious stage of sleep deprivation and over exhaustion. (Or what I like to call inTAXication.) I fear that next week we'll all be in the cranky phase. Yikes. Consider yourselves warned.

The last couple of tax seasons, I have literally lost my voice from talking to so many clients as they either come into the office or call in, combined with the extremely late nights of preparing returns. I'll be sure to increase my Vitamin C intake this time around. By the third year through, I should know better. Wish me luck!

March Happiness

2011-04-06T17:14:00.001-05:00

I don't usually care anything about sports. I kind of enjoy the Super Bowl, but let's face it; I care more about the commercials than the game itself. However, this year, I totally got involved in the NCAA championship. Check me out!

I joined Brad and the gang in the March Madness hoop-lah. (Ha, see what I did there?) Under his excellent tutelage (aka, extensive knowledge of team colors and mascots), I filled out my own bracket with well informed decision making skills. (Dogs always beat cats, duh...) And would ya guess what! I came in second, over all!! (If UConn hadn't made it to the final, I woulda been tied with Kris for first. So close!) Holla!

(click to enlarge)

And furthermore, the girls at work created our own bracket. We were intimidated by the main "work pool" that actual sports fans joined, even paying the entry fee of $5 and earning a little prize in the end. But, since we didn't care enough to actually put money on it, we decided to just do our own fun one. Now, granted, the competition in this bracket wasn't quite as steep as the other one (no offense, girls), but seeing as how I filled out the whole thing by randomly clicking boxes within a 3 minute period, I'm still pretty stoked about my first place ranking!

(click to enlarge)

Perhaps I'm a sports-lovin' gal afterall! Maybe basketball is actually "my thing." Well, maybe only comparing colors and mascots during the month of March, actually. I mean, it seems as though I'm pretty much a pro at it. Jussayin...

Entertainer of the Year!

2011-04-04T09:48:00.001-05:00

[pic via]

In case you happened to miss the Academy of Country Music Awards last night, here are my favorite moments!

(I can't wait to see that performance LIVE!)

And of course, the climax of the entire evening; Taylor won the highest honor of the show, the award for the Entertainer of the Year! Yahoo! She so deserves it! (And you better believe I voted! And so did my dad! And so did Brad's cell phone and email address!)

And then she thanked me, told me she loves me and that she can't wait to see me on her tour! :)

♥ Isn't she just lovely? I'm so very proud of my "best friend"! Can't wait to actually meet her! ♥

Dangerous Wands

2011-04-01T17:05:00.000-05:00

You can't have an April Fool's Day without some shenanigans, so check out this Mashup of Harry Potter and Dangerous Minds. It.is.epic.

Seriously, I would totally watch this movie!

In Hand

2011-03-31T12:24:00.001-05:00

The radio station finally called, and I went to pick up my Taylor Swift tickets! Yahoo! I officially have two tickets to the Speak Now tour in my possession! Holla!!

{Please excuse the low quality picture. I was caught off guard by their call and only had my phone handy, but couldn't not document it!}

It wasn't all a dream! It really is real life! And with these small pieces of card stock, all of the mysterious details surrounding the upcoming show have been solved. We will be attending the Friday night concert and sitting (aka, jumping up and down, waving my arms like a crazy person, and screaming my fool head off) in the middle of Row C in Section 118 of the Lower Level. Basically, we're opposite the stage and toward the right (from Tay's point of view). I'm kinda glad we're not on the floor, because my height does not work very well when I'm behind a bunch of other (taller) people at the same level. And we'll have a great view right in front of us. Radio tickets rock!

Oh, I'm so excited! I cannot believe I actually got my hands on these! It's so surreal. However, the euphoric fog hasn't stopped me from already trying to decide what I want my poster to say! (I'm thinking definitely some lyrics, but narrowing them down is tough! And I'm envisioning a bunch of glitter. Taylor and I both love things that sparkle. Maybe the word "Wonderstruck" all shiny.)

And while I'm speaking of TSwiz, check out this humongous milestone she just reached yesterday as she finished up the European leg of her tour! 20 million records sold worldwide! Congratulations, Taylor! That's freakin' awesome!

This video makes me even more excited for the concert! She's currently on her way back to the States. Then she's taking a couple months off before she starts lovin' on America. That's where I come in. Bring it on.

RIP PLGs

2011-03-29T16:10:00.001-05:00

Sad news, everybody. Please prepare yourself for some serious heartbreak...

Apparently, I have been duped by a stupid marketing ploy for that sneaky DirecTV. (BTW, it worked.) I regret to inform you that the petite lap giraffes which I featured in yesterday's Tiny Pets post are, in fact, not real after all.

I know, I know. I'm devastated as well. Upon further investigation, it turns out that I am the only person in the world gullible enough to actually believe in such a wonderful, miraculous creature. It seems as though everybody else immediately understood that it was all sarcastic and tongue-in-cheek. Well, well, well. Mybad for instantly falling in love with such a cute, little, adorable, tiny, cuddly animal!

So, first and foremost, I would like to apologize to you for carelessly spreading false information without doing more research of its validity. But more importantly, I want to super-apologize for causing any undo devastation that you are currently undergoing, as you sadly realize it was all a trick.

I, like you, do not think this is very funny, at all! Cruel, cruel joke, "sarcastic" marketing guys! (Or should I call them "Dream Killers"? ) It's not very nice to dangle something this spectacular in front of people just to snatch it right away from them! I honestly don't know if I'll ever recuperate from the heartbreak caused by this "joke." I may have to initiate a recovery group just to cope with the loss of the hope of one day seeing a petite lap giraffe in person.

Or... OR... I'm very seriously considering simply choosing to continue believing that the sweet tiny giraffes do indeed exist and hapilly resume my dream of one day owning one. I mean, "real" is all in the eye of the beholder, right? Or something like that. Yeah. I think I like that idea better. I'm definitely gunna stick with that one.

Tiny Pets

2011-03-28T15:19:00.003-05:00

There's just something about tee-niny animals that makes me fall all apart. Things that are supposed to be big but are small seem to hold a special place in my heart. I mean, I absolutely adore Chester and all, but I still have big dreams of one day having a miniature pet. Maybe a teacup pig. Look at how stinking cute they are!

Brad is partial to miniature horses for some reason.

I'm thinkin more along the lines of a petite lap giraffe. Seriously, nothing is more awesome in all of the land, I call. I can't even believe these little things are real!

And apparently, distilled water and bonsai tree leaves as well as "a bubble bath once a week with purified water" is all they need. Oh, and also, "they need lots of love. Hugs and kisses every day. Otherwise they make tears." Now, that is my kind of pet!

Check out this little guy in action.

Oh, I just have got to get one! Too bad tiny things have ginormous price tags! But that doesn't stop a girl from dreamin! [Edit: Also, too bad they aren't real. Sad day. Still doesn't stop a girl from dreamin!]

Do itty-bitty, miniature things make you squeal, too? What would your dream pet be?