Weekending: Boxes & Babies

Well, friends...this is a 4 day weekend for us! Forrest has off Friday and Monday b/c of snow days! So we are enjoying our first weekend here in our home in a long while. No road trips this weekend...but alas next weekend we both will be on the road in separate states.

Friday and Saturday were both lazy days, I'm sure today or tomorrow will be no different. Friday we went to Huntsville to eat at Dreamland...very good and good fellowship with our neighbors who wanted to take us out to eat before we left town. Saturday all we did was pack up boxes and lay on the couch. We are projecting for our last day in the house and Athens, will be May 24! On the 25th we are heading out! We did manage to squeeze in a movie, Stranger than Fiction. It was pretty good...couldn't be too bad if it has Will Ferrell in it right? It had an interesting concept to it. I recommend it for a rental for sure.

And certainly not least, for those of you who have requested a belly pic from me...this is whatcha get! [Taken after church and a trip to the Ruby Tuesday salad bar] :) Saturday we completed 15 weeks! The front shot is NOT flattering, and the side view (suggested by my husband) wanted our 'first' baby in the pic as well.

Don't you just love SURPRISES?! Well, we received an unexpected package at our front door the other day. It was from some very thoughtful friends in Waco, The Barlows, that we have a very interesting connection and relationship with. Let me explain. I knew Laura from high school and growing up at Germantown Baptist, well we both end up at MSU and both marry MSU boys. Jeff, Laura's husband, was a equipment manager at MSU when Forrest was on the football team. Later we go our separate ways, and both end up at BAYLOR a couple of years later...Jeff as the BU Head Equipment Manager, and I as the Spirit Coordinator!! Jeff and I interacted often in the BU Athletic Dept. And we both go/ went to the same church in Waco....how crazy is that????? They got us lots of fun things for the baby...and the essentials...DIAPERS!! One of our very first baby gifts. So thanks again Barlows--it made our day...ya'll are so thoughtful to have sent us such a sweet gift. I also have another 'way thoughtful' friend in Waco, Ponderosa Queen, we call her Kim. We'll end up staying with her this summer if we do end up going back to Waco. She graciously allows her cabin to be our home. Don't meet to many friends like that do you? The other picture is of a couple of surprises she has given us along the way...even before we knew we were pregnant! Our baby has already gotten quite the shoe wardrobe for every occasion huh? Thanks Aunt Kim!

We are definitely blessed to have amazing friends all over the country...and can't wait til we are reunited again. Honestly speaking, it's been kinda tough here for our 'social likings' ...we went from one extreme in Waco of having to 'schedule a rotation' with friends for dinner or the movies to here where we literally don't have ANYONE our age we could ask on a whim to come over or go somewhere with. I guess the beauty of this is Forrest & I have gotten a lot closer in all areas due to only having one another to lean on. For that I'm very grateful!

More to post soon. We CLOSE on our house tomorrow @ 3PM...so please if you remember say a prayer for it to all go smoothly for us to SEAL THE DEAL! What a blessing from the Lord! It took my parents 1 1/2 to sell their home...and it only took us 2 weeks! God is faithful. On Tuesday, we have a Dr's appt...please pray for that special event too!

Thanks all. Happy Sabbath Day! LOVE HAS A NAME!

The Weekend Review....

Well....we're back from an 'extended' weekend trip to the Memphis area....just getting back this afternoon b/c Forrest was able to get a sub for today :) We left after school on Friday afternoon and made our 'usual' trek down Hwy. 72 to Collierville, TN. We ordered in pizza and helped my brother put together our 'soon to be arriving' nephew's baby furniture. The boys got it knocked out, while the girls entertained Abby Rose (our precious 2 3/4 years old niece).

SATURDAY... Forrest & I had a date with my best friend, Colleen, to do some 'baby registering at Target & Babies R Us. It was very fun and made this whole new journey a little more real for both of us. Funny side note: We walked in Babies R Us and Forrest said, "Holy Moly"...obviously he'd never been to this store before....it was quite cute...I think we were both overwhelmed at all of the decisions you could or would have to make! Colleen is due in June with Baby Michael! Thank goodness I had an expert like her with me to say yea and no way to some things. Thanks Colleeny! We later met us with my other best friend in the Memphrica area, Candace, to have lunch. She's the best too. We danced together at MSU...and have become life long friends. She graduates from the University of Memphis with her Master's Degree in 2 short weeks! Congrats Canae! We're proud of you and Charlie :)

After all of that...we headed back to the 'barn' for some much needed R&R. We then discovered that Abby Rose was spending the night at the 'barn' with Grandmommy & Pa...no rest for the weary but how can you be tired and say no to a sweet pea like her? I hope our child likes to go visit their grandparents as much as she does...she would go there every day if she could. She gets to pet the horses and have an 'ice cream' party outside. Isn't that sweet? She loves to sit out in the sunset and eat ice cream! Here we are--I have cropped the picture to save myself the grief of seeing my body changing a little too much in some areas. Although, my sweet husband seems to like my ever-changing body even more these days! In the pic: Aunt E, Abby, and my mom (aka: Grandmommy).

The major point for our visit this weekend was for Amanda's baby shower on Sunday. This is me and my twin brother's wife, Amanda. She is due May 24...but we'll just have to see about that. Baby Boy Jones doesn't look like he'll last that long in the oven. :) She got a good load of gifts, and I think she really liked my canvas I made for her to match his nursery bedding. His 'finally' selected name, birthday, weight, length will go in the top right corner when known.

Last but not least...here is a pic I couldn't resist taking of Bella 'co-piloting' our trip with Daddy. Isn't she hilarious? She sits in the backseat and rests her chin on his shoulder. I wouldn't be surprised as many weekend road trips to either of our parents houses if she knew how to get there on her own.

I just have to add this side tangent...Forrest was such a sweet husband and champ for hanging out with 'the girls' all day long...and being totally selfless in my planned agenda. He has scored many a points with me recently. I'm soooooooo blessed to have such a loving husband as he. I know I don't deserve him most days. Seems like even though we are in limbo and it's been a tough couple of months (jobwise) that God's sunshine in the entire thing is that we get to spend a lot more time together and just enjoying the gift of one another. I love you my Baby's Daddy! :)

Enjoy your week...and just remember another weekend is fast approaching! :)

Our weekend....to MS (again)

Well blog friends...the weekend went by pretty fast! Friday we headed back over to West Point, MS again (seems like we go every other weekend). We of course grilled out and enjoyed my father-n-laws great country cooking....and my mother-n-laws too! :) Then all day Saturday I had the privilege of judging the MSU Cheerleading Tryouts. It was very fun to be back in the mix of things as in the good 'ole days...but very tiring! I forgot what a full days work feels like, but I'm sure it's a little different being preggers! I did feel honored b/c the Spirit Coordinator and Cheer Coach were the only 2 other judges besides me. So I was the only outsider judge. They are starting an All Girl Cheer Squad....and getting rid of the JV Coed Cheer Squad. So all of you MSU fans, the next time you are at a football or basketball game...you'll know who this group is. They are the same as the Coed Cheer Squad but without the boys! I helped start the All Girl Cheer Squad at Baylor...and it's definitely a good thing to have. Our fans really enjoyed watching the girls do almost everything the boys could! :) Both squads (Coed & All Girl) are very talented and will be fun to watch in the fall!

Needless to say I crashed when I got home to the farm...and then we watched "Facing the Giants" (the movie) with my in-laws & Forrest....they had never seen it before. They were delaying watching it b/c it hits a little close to home with us...but they made it and it's still one of my favorite movies....and yes, I still cry every time I watch it!

Bella enjoyed the farm too. I hear that all day Saturday she chased (sprinted) the 2 horses all over the pasture. I believe it would be an equivalent to a marathon for us. You could tell she was very tired and sore from the way she was limping yesterday...and the other obvious fact that she slept the entire 3 hours in the car and laid ALL day on our couch asleep yesterday. I think she enjoys the farm the most out of all of us :)

Thursday nights just got better...

So tonight my rear will be parked in front of the TV...yes I probably watch too much primetime TV but what can a girl do when Grey's Anatomy and Notes from the Underbelly are on back to back? This new show is supposed to be pretty funny...and I'm sure even more so if you are pregnant or a mom...how convenient! Maybe I can get Forrest to watch with me....any betters? If you click on Grey's Anatomy you can see which female character you are most like. Can you guess who I am? MIRANDA! As the description says "You’re a perfectionist and you expect nothing less from everyone around you. Even when people complain, people admire you for holding them to a higher standard. Your family is your rock, even if you don’t get to see them as much as you’d like." So tell us who you are and what you think of the new show! Happy Viewing! :)

RESURRECTION DAY!

IT'S RESURRECTION DAY!

*I encourage you to click on "Worthy is the Lamb" down on my playlist when reading this post. I don't think Gnarles Barkley will allow you to be as reverent as needed.

Many of us know it as "Easter"....so how come? Here is a pretty informative 'history of Easter' video I found on MSN. Sadly the 'pagan' part of this holiday has overtaken the 'Christian' meaning and reason for celebration. Don't get me wrong...I'm not against Easter eggs and the Easter Bunny for kids, but the true meaning of Easter should not be overshadowed by them. I vividly remember these times as a child and enjoyed sharing them with my 2 year old niece this weekend.

Jesus found me today in my 'home' church at Germantown Baptist (TN), and it's definitely what I needed to be so grateful for this weekend and be reminded what a 'sacred' time it is for Christian believers. How come we can't treat every day as Easter? He always speaks to me through music and this morning was no different. Seated with most of my family our church had 1500+ people in our service. I know I know, some of you are definitely NOT into this type of music but today in church it was so powerful to see thousands of people singing it together. Whew...it was powerful and tears just streamed down my face! (And no it was not all pregnancy hormones) IT WAS THE POWER OF JESUS'S SAVING GRACE IN MY LIFE! The words that really "spoke to me" were...

Thank you for the cross Lord

Thank you for the price You paid

Bearing all my sin and shame

In love You came

And gave amazing grace

Thank you for this love, Lord

Thank you for the nail pierced hands

Washed me in Your cleansing flow

Now all I know Your forgiveness and embrace

Worthy is the Lamb

Seated on the throne

Crown You now with many crowns

You reign victorious

High and lifted up

Jesus Son of God

The Darling of Heaven crucified

Worthy is the Lamb

Worthy is the Lamb

I hope each of you were able to celebrate our "Risen Savior" today in your own special way with people you love. And I hope that we continue to have the 'spirit of Easter' in our hearts each day.

On a lighter note, my camera had issues this weekend so this is the only 'good' picture that was taken...of my precious niece Abby and her 'Aunt E'. Love her! Bless her!

From Rabbit to Baby in 4 weeks...

Well...WE got to see her/him yesterday on the big screen! And it was so amazing. First, I was excited that Forrest was able to experience it all with me for the first time. He was cute and was asking many questions and of course had a funny comment "I think it looks like me!" :) I just held my breath until we saw it all and heard the heartbeat. Music to my ears at 148 which Katie thinks means 'boy'...we'll see in about 2 months! We were really surprised when she did a free 3D/ 4D screening just for fun. That was when it became quite real to me b/c I saw her/ his legs and arms and beating heart...technology these days!!! Such a miracle to see it all there.

#1 picture: Side view and I think trying to suck it's thumb

#2 picture: This is the 3D/4D image...it's kinda blurry but so neat in actual viewing

#3 picture: I think this is a behind shot so you can see it's head, neck , and body

THANK YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS....GOD hears them and is answering and blessing us each day. Praise be to Him alone!

PS- The title is from our first ultrasound where I thought it looked like a rabbit--you'll have to scroll to find that picture! :)

HAPPY GOOD FRIDAY & EASTER TO EACH OF YOU...I pray you know the 'true' reason for this holiday and the love Jesus died with for you and me on a cross to save each of us. We're headed to Memphis after school (no our schools are NOT out)...to spend the weekend with my side of the family and celebrate my sister-n-law turning 30! HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMANDA!

DR. DAY!

Hey family, friends, and viewers...Just wanted to ask for your prayers today. We have a doctor's appt. at 2PM today to hear the heartbeat again and get another picture :) This will be Forrest's first time to experience all of this, so it will be a special day. Please pray for all to go well and everything to be looking great for Baby W in week 12. Thank you very much for our love and prayers. We'll be sure to let you know how it goes. :)

PS- The family who was interested in our home are 'on contract' and waiting to get approved for their loan. Please pray they are approved soon! Are we blessed or what?

A new coach is named...

The board meeting was last night, and they approved a new head football coach to replace Forrest. [FULL ARTICLE IN MORNING NEWSPAPER] Thankfully, it represents Forrest pretty well. Ironically enough, this 'new' coach was the coach before Forrest. He left a year ago, hence leaving the spot open for Forrest, and now is back. Guess he didn't like the other school? Nonetheless, we wish the team the best in the upcoming football season. We enjoyed our time while we were here...and know without a doubt that God 'called' us here for a reason and now it's onto our next chapter in life...I'm sure it will be 'immeasurably more than we can ask for or imagine' Ephesians 3:20

HOUSE FOR SALE UPDATE: A family 'offered' on our house yesterday and we counter offered and now we are waiting for her call this afternoon. Keep the prayers coming---what a blessing it would be to sell our house BY OWNER in such a short time frame. God is good...all the time!

Our weekend in Starkville/ West Point, MS

Well, here is my first posting of the 'dawning' of maternity clothes. Actually, here me out...if you have recently been on a college campus you will know that the 'style' is 'baby-dollish' shirts/ dresses and 'maternity-ish looking' clothes! Good for all of us pregnant women I reckon to 'be in style.' (ha) Honestly, I saw ALOT of MSU girls this weekend in similar outfits...so I guess I blended in quite well. I will admit it's better seeing that then all of that tight, tight 'painted' on jeans and shirts. In the pic to the left I look 'plump' more than anything...maybe it was the way the maternity shorts were sitting on my stomach...:( I'll do better next time! I'm feeling good and go to the Dr. this week on Thursday. Please pray for everything to be going well and for us to hear the heartbeat again with a better picture of the little one!


We had a good weekend. Friday night Forrest went to the baseball game vs. Kentucky with some of his friends...it was also a 'Bachelor Party' weekend for a friend of his getting married in June. I stayed home b/c I was pooped from driving and knew I would not last long out there. Saturday was a BEAUTIFUL day...for the football Spring game. Forrest had a 'former football players' breakfast that he took his dad too and then we met up with some college friends to watch the football game...later ate at "the Deli" (yummm & my favorite) with the same friends and then went back to watch the baseball game. Later, we came home to his parents and I 'crashed' and he went back out to 'party' with the bachelor boys. Not me!


UPDATE ON OUR HOUSE...Yesterday...we hurried back home to host an 'open house' for our home from 2-4PM. We prayed that the people who were going to buy it would come...even if we only had that one family show up...and we pretty much did! They are a family of 4 who want to relocate from their current home in Athens. They seemed to LOVE the house and all of it's updates (Thanks family for your hard work) You know who you are! :) They saw our ad in the paper!! :) They are supposed to be calling their bank today and seeing what they can offer etc. So please pray that they make a 'reasonable' offer and we get it sold! Honestly, after searching ourselves for a couple of months before we found this one...you really aren't going to find a nicer house in a better neighborhood for a price like this. We even have a big enough backyard so they can build the pool they want! What a blessing it would be to have it sold 'by owner' it such a short time. Only God is what that's about. Thanks for your prayers....we'll keep you posted on the progress.

BELLA...Last but not least, you know I couldn't go too long from posting a picture of our Bella! Of course we take her wherever we go for the weekend...but she especially loves the Williams Farm b/c she can go fishing and play with the horses. Have you ever seen such? The horses pretend she isn't even there and act like they know she just wants to play. So cute! She even tried to jump up and kiss them on the mouth! (ha) HAVE A GREAT WEEK...