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Growing up, I remember my Mother always saying that we kept the roads hot and I didn't understand exactly what she meant. Oh, but now I do!

I am DEFINTELY in a "season of busyness"!


This summer, I joined a Bible story that is studying the book, Captivating. I find myself underlining almost every sentence because the words are all so relatable. We have been meeting once a week to talk about what the book means to us and how we can relate. I have realized that even when I don't mean to, I hide behind "busyness".

I feel that for the most part, I am an open book in my everyday living but sometimes I have those moments where I want people to think that I have it all together and everything is perfect. 

Well, of course, it's not always that way. I LOVE being busy. I love hanging out with friends, having events to go to and socialize, and being a part of the community/circles that I am involved with. Sometimes I catch myself not taking time to do the things that make me feel in control, (ex.) laundry, enough sleep, etc. 

While all the things that I am doing are not "bad" and should be done, I often feel exhausted because I haven't taken time to do important things for myself. Being busy is "fun" but it can also wear a person out and ultimately becomes an idol. I never want to be so busy that I can't find time for the things of God but man.. how many times have I let that happen?

I've decided that saying "yes" to things is a huge issue that I have. I want to be everywhere ALL the time and FOMO (fear of missing out) is something I struggle with as well. There are times that I should stay home, rest, go to bed early, read my Bible a few extra times or just take time to reflect but I am always on the go. 

I'm going to make a conscious effort to do better on this and I'm thankful that this study was helpful in showing me an idol in my life. I'm praying that God will fill me with the courage to say "no" when needed and to rely on him to make my paths straight. 

I saw this quote and these days, this is something I need to strive to be! 

Are you a yes girl? Do you like to stay busy? Let's find a happy medium together!

Reunited and it feels so good!

Hello again! 

This weekend, we celebrated our 10 year class reunion! We've been planning it for a couple of months and it finally came around. Let me feel you in on my graduating class.

North Pontotoc High School, Class of 2007

Our class was your typical, rural high school class in that we only graduated with around 75 people. We were involved in many different clubs and after school activities and most of us also had some kind of job that we went to occasionally. 

During our senior year, we didn't do a senior prank(we tried on graduation morning but that's another story), we didn't have a senior parade or any of those traditions BUT we did pull an awesome idea during our graduation ceremony.

We all placed a marble in our hands to give to our principal when we shook his hand. I mean, "What are you going to do with 75 marbles during a ceremony?" It was hilarious to see him all throughout the ceremony not know what to do with each marble that he was given! He finally started putting them inside a plant that was on the podium next to him.

I guess in a way this was our "senior prank"! 

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I went back to our high school last year and walked around seeing all the changes the years have brought. Our principal was walking around and showed me that he still had our marbles after all of these years! It was a really special moment. 

This reunion opened my eyes to see how we are much the same even though the years have brought lots of changes. It was great to see these people that I shared 13 years with and I can't wait for our next one!

Class of 2007

15.. here we come!

February Catch-Up

Here I go again not writing in a month! My life has seriously been SO crazy lately and I'm excited for this week to be slower and to hopefully get some things accomplished.

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I think it's a good time for a bulleted list of some things that have been going on:

- Ole Miss Basketball Games

-Garth Brooks Concert (Y'all.. it was amazing)

-The night the power went out in Oxford...

-Michelle's Bridal Showers

-I've become obsessed with LulaRoe..

-Family time

-Friends over at my house for the BIG Superbowl party 

-Garth Brooks Concert (Y'all.. it was amazing)

-The night the power went out in Oxford...

-Michelle's Bridal Showers

-I've become obsessed with LulaRoe..

-Family time

-Friends over at my house for the BIG Superbowl party 

It's been a great month and a half but I'm so tired. I realized last week that I really didn't give myself anytime for "rest" so I'm doing better this week! Hence, THIS blog. 

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My kiddos are really starting to get the hang of Kindergarten at school so that's making for some must easier days in the classroom. I'm praying that continues for the rest of the year. 

On a more serious note//

On January 23, 2017, my Aunt Melba underwent elective hip replacement surgery. During recovery, they were not able to wake her up and began running tests. They concluded that she had suffered ischemic strokes (caused by a blood clot) in the right and left side of her brain. We don't know how her story will end, but we know who will write it!

(taken from her Caringbridge site)

She has been a miracle ever since this day. She stayed in ICU for almost a week and made great strides. She has since been moved to Methodist Rehab in Jackson and is doing great. She has only mimicked a couple of words so that is our biggest prayer concern. I went to the hospital the day that she had the surgery and to say that I was scared is an understatement. I went to visit every other day that week and each day brought new hope! 

On Saturday, after her surgery on Monday, she woke up and found me in the room and smiled the biggest smile. I went over and hugged her and she just made my day! She grabbed my arm and wanted to look at my bracelets and I knew then that she would be fine! ;) 

We are so thankful that God has healed her so much already and pray for complete healing soon! 

If you want to follow, here's the link for her caring bridge.. 

https://www.caringbridge.org/visit/melbaheard

Hope y'all are having a great month so far! 

Back to School

 It's time for school again. The alarm is back on and I'm really ready to get back in a routine! I haven't been very excited to go back but then I read this article online and it gave me ALL the feels! 

https://countyourblessingsnotyourchins.com/2016/01/03/to-every-teacher-going-back-to-work-tomorrow/

I'm excited for a new start with my Kinders and ready to keep up our learning. This year has been a struggle for a lot of different reasons and I'm ready to put that in the past and encourage in the time that I have left with them. 

This break has been good for my soul and the new year has brought about new goals that I wish to accomplish in the classroom. I'm going to list some of those here to keep me accountable and to hopefully encourage someone else.

1.) Teach not only curriculum but show them that they are loved and wanted.

2.) Treat the students like I would want to be treated if I was 5 years old. 

3.) Have fun in learning! 

All you teacher friends, I hope the rest of your year is exactly what you need it to be! Hoping these kiddos come back ready to learn and that their energy levels are to a minimum! ;)

(Yeah, right!)

A New Start

January 1, 2017

2017 is here and I always love a fresh start! 

2016 brought with it some amazing moments but also some trials that I don't ever want to relive again. Let's recap:

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January: Rebs got a Sugar Bowl Win and I celebrated my 27th birthday with my sweet family and   friends. 

February:  Small Group Superbowl party was in full swing. I can't tell y'all how close we have all gotten this year! 

March: Baseball at Swayze was rocking. Love those warm, sunny days. 

April: Trent Harmon won American Idol and Mama, Carmen and I went to Amory to watch the night that he won. What a fun time! 

May: Lots of family time, finished my 5th year of teaching, and loved spending time with my Mom! 

June: Merle got MARRIED! We had a great time "bacheloretting" it up in Nashville and then getting her hitched. 

July: A few days in Virginia and D.C. with Emily and Josh was just what I needed. I love those too. #movebacktoOxford

August: Started my 6th year of teaching and SHELL got engaged. I got to help Clayton plan it all and it was the "craziest." 

September: The Vaught was our home on Saturdays. Football season was in full swing. 

October: Halloween wasn't crazy in Kindergarten at all and I might have even dressed up as a whoopee cushion. 

November: Adam scored some VIP Cole Swindle tickets for the Lyric and it was a great night. He is AMAZING in concert! 

December: Family time, Small group Christmas outings, school parties, oh man! December was full of gatherings and making memories with the ones that I hold closest to my heart! 

This is a VERY abbreviated version of my year. I use Facebook and Instagram to go back and look through my memories each year and man, I tear up every time. I am so blessed with people who are intentional and want to spend time with others. I often think of how blessed I am but when I go back and see all the events and fun times that I've had, I get excited. 

God is so good to me and gives me the desires of my heart. I can't even begin to tell you how great 2016 has been and I'm fully expecting 2017 to rock its' world. 

Let's do this. 

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Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don't try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God's voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; he's the one who will keep you on track. Don't assume that you know it all. Run to God! Run from evil!  Proverbs 3:5-7 (The Message)

#NashBachBash

A couple of months ago I got a phone call that I'll never forget. My friend, Meagan, who we call "Merle" said that she had found the one and would be getting married soon. Now, I was shocked because they hadn't been dating long but what Meagan says, you listen to.

Fast forward to Memorial Day weekend. We traveled to Nashville, Tennessee to celebrate her Bachelorette trip! We left early Saturday morning and took our time traveling. Once we got there, parking was our nemesis (ha) and we finally just decided to go with Valet parking because it seems to be our cheapest option. 

We get to our room on the 25th Floor and settle in for having fun that night. Around 8:00 we go downtown, which was right outside our hotel, and start out night of fun. We walked down Broadway and went in many different places. We danced, sang, and ultimately had fun being together! 

We stayed out until around 1:30, and decided that the Taco Shop downtown was our best option for the night. We all ate and then retired back to the room. Y'all.. we may be fun but we are getting older. As I looked at all the early 20 somethings around me, I wanted to yell, "Enjoy it. You'll be tired like me soon enough!" But seriously...

Merle.. Your big day is coming up SOON and I can't wait to be standing by your side! Wishing you and Jackson the happiest of days! 

Fifteen in '15

2015 started out with a bang! This year has been full of surprises and many great, happy memories. Of course, we've had plenty of sad times but the great times override those by far.

I'm so thankful for another year to do my yearly recap post and I'm teary eyed going through social media to find my favorite memories of the year! Let's do this...

Sweet Memories: 

January

The first memories '15 are of my 26th birthday! I had dinner with the best and ate some of this wonderful cake! It was a sweet birthday and surprises from my babies at school to my family were so appreciated! #gettingold

February 

McCarty sale with Aunt Melba and Caitlyn was quite the adventure.. again! I swore it would be my last year but we shall see. It was SO cold and rainy on Sunday for the sale. IF I go this year, I'm hoping for a better experience. 

Then.. we had Snowpocalypse of 2015. It was the most amazing break from life ever! Stuck at home for most of the three days and just enjoying the warmth of my house. Caitlyn was snowed in with me and we didn't kill each other, so it was a fun time! 

March

Landon's Bachelorette party in Oxford was so much fun! All the girls hung out, ate lots of great food and watched Cinderella at the theatre. Sweet girl had a great weekend and I met some new friends! 

 April

My sweet Bellevue Church family drove the church bus to Oxford and gave me a housewarming. It was so much fun and I was truly grateful for all of the work that they put into it. You couldn't ask for sweeter people to grow up with and the support they show is outstanding! 

May

May 2015, I graduated with my Masters in Education from Ole Miss! I am so thankful that this chapter of my life is over... no more school for a while! 

June

Beach trip was a blast as usual. We had the cutest cabana boy and made lots of memories! We met up with family that had came later for dinner one night at LuLus. These trips are the best! 

July

This group of people have turned in to my new church family. This summer, I had no idea just how important this group would be for me. I love Pinelake Oxford and I can't wait to see what 2016 has in store.

Merle and I had a great day      on the lake!

August

August was fun preparing for Football season in the south. One of my sweet parents from last year texted me and told me that she saw me on SEC preview. How funny is this! ;) 

#i'llsignautographs

Also, I began my 5th year of teaching! 

September

Mom turned 90 this month and we had a big birthday party for her at her church. This picture sums up the grandchildren's relationship. We were fighting over who is her favorite! Of course, she would never saw but we know the truth. :)

October

I had some fun house guest this month for the Texas A&M game. Emily and Josh came from D.C. to visit Oxford. We ate lots of wonderful food and had lots of fun! Come back soon, friends! 

November

And we did.. Another egg bowl victory! 

December

I had a great christmas with my family! 

2016 has a lot to live up to! I know I say that every year but I feel that I am so blessed to be able to make so many memories each and every year. There are so many opportunities to "find your happy" in life and I can't wait to see what all I have left to find. 

My family, friends, job, house, town, etc. are all very special to me and I love being able to look back each year and see the fun times that I've had. 

2016, let's go...