Hey y'all! It's been a minute. Summer time means more time to spend on my computer and "catch up".

So, here we go. What has 2018 looked like so far? It's been FULL of fun and exciting things! 

Let's recap:

Family: 

My sweet family added TWO because my BROTHER got married! We are so excited that Cassidy and Rhodes joined our crazy bunch! I can't wait to make more memories as a family! 

Friends

Summer began with Michelle, Clayton and I going to Hoover and watching our Rebs play! We all know that didn't lead to our dream season but there's always next year! 

Claire and Jordan got married and had such a beautiful wedding! It was fun celebrating the day with them and tons of friends and my precious Mama. 

Summer has been great with friends. Lots of dinners, walks around The Square and some long chats on the phone. (Which I never do!) 

School Year:

This year was a tough one to say the least. I will not go into details but I learned lots of lessons and how to deal with certain behaviors. I am going to thank my stars that its over and I'm grateful for what I learned because of it. So thankful to have taught each and every kiddo that has been in my classroom. Now... I'm beginning to pray for my students that are to come! 

I can't believe that it's almost JULY! Let's do this! 

Here's to hopefully some new blog posts before Christmas! 

Oh hey Friday!

Happy Friday, friends! I can't believe that its my last day of "freedom".  Bright and early Monday morning I will be returning to the classroom. I am EXTREMELY blessed to be able to be back closer to home and I'm excited about what is to come. 

1.) I'm so thankful for friends who all come together when good/bad things happen to each other. This week has been full of sorrow and joy. One of my great friends, Claire died suddenly on Monday. I have had three friends have sweet babies these past two weeks and that my friends, is a sweet blessing. God knows exactly what he is doing when he puts all of these happenings in our lives. He also knows best when he places people that lift us up in both of those times!  I'm blessed with friends!

2.) Social media is a great, great thing.  I know that many people are not fans of social media and think that it is the devil. While I do know that I spend way too much time on it, I am thankful for it. I have been able to talk to and keep up with many friends that are far away and no accessible anymore and that is a sweet deal. Instagram and Facebook are my favorites to help me see how people are doing and what is special in their lives at certain times.

3.) Ole Miss Football is coming up.- I can't wait. This is one of my most favorite times of the year. Get ready to hear a lot of Hotty Toddy's! 

4.) Prayers and Bible Study- This summer has been slack for me on this issue and I've got to get back on track. I'm going to plan a time and place for my Bible study each day and STICK TO IT. This is so important and I'm so blessed so this time should be a priority for me to accomplish. Have any tips on making this work?

5.) I'm officially a Commodore.- This is exciting stuff. It's official.. Here we go! 

Hope you enjoy your Friday and the weekend! I know I'm going to live it up! 

iPhone dump. Aka: I need more space.

Summer time is a beautiful thing! I find myself taking more pictures than normal and now my phone is telling me to slow my roll. Seriously, I have no memory on my phone to do anything and it's killing my soul.

Caitlyn shared her pictures (check them out) and I figured it was time that I do the same. Let's re-visit memories, shall we?

{Fourth of July weekend}- I just love a good American flag picture. Fireworks in Oxford, Thaxton Water tower and town get-together, Children's church

{Fun Days}- Caitlyn, Bre Anna and I in Oxford walking around the square, Mom and I had a Girl's Day, Bre Anna and I at the Bruno concert... Which was AMAZING! 

{Little People}- Cooper finally came to me at church. Isn't he the cutest? Little Maddie is my pal. She is saying my name and it makes this "Miss Lauren" so HAPPY! :) These kiddos make me smile.

{Random}- Bre Anna and I went to Walmart to shop for her vacation to the Dominican Republic and a mosquito net was my suggestion. She didn't take my help but made it back alive and in one piece.- This person is Michelle and she is NOT missing! I haven't seen her in forever and went to see her the other day. I love catching up!

I just LOVE summer when we can travel and visit with people that we haven't seen in a while. 

Well, we have VBS this week (3&4 year old teacher) and I'm in Grad School MTW so I am beat! I'm about to take a quick nap and rest up! Hope to see your iPhone dumps soon!

Franks Wedding// Haley and Braxton

May 31, 2014 was a beautiful day for a wedding! 

After a night of eating the bride's favorite foods, a fun "lingerie shower", and staying up WAY too late, it was time for a fun day of getting hitched. Before I go on.. That cop up there was not really what you think it was. :) We had all teased Haley that we were going to "have fun" and she was totally against it. We called in our local policeman but nothing happened except for Haley being super embarrassed! 

One of my favorite things about wedding weekends is all the people that you get to catch up with. Emily flew in from D.C. and it was a reunion between Haley, Emily and I. Having all of these girls together and getting to know each other is so much fun in my opinion! Weddings just make me happy, happy, happy!

All the bridesmaids spent the night together and all woke up and ate cinnamon roles from Anna Beth's and spent some time together. We all went to the salon together and got our hair done for the wedding. Then, Haley had a sweet makeup artist come to the Ecru House and do all of our makeup for the big day. I walked in and immediately recognized this lady.  

I think it is so neat to "know" people when you see them because of the blogging community. She did a great job with our make-up and was so sweet to Haley! 

All week there had been a chance of rain that we all prayed for over and over again would go away! All day we watched the weather and it was looking promising for us! It was sunny and beautiful and HOT! We took pictures outside and it was just a perfect day so far. I think we all went and sat in front of the fan until time for the wedding to start. 

About an hour before the 6:00 wedding, we toasted our "sparkling cider" to the bride and had a prayer time circling her and wishing her and Braxton a beautiful wedding and also to ask once again to hold the rain off for Haley's big moment! 

The wedding was beautiful went off without a hitch and just as all of the bridal party was walking inside the Ecru House for the reception, the rain came! It poured and poured but everyone was inside and life was good! Isn't our GOD a great God to let Haley's big moment happen just the way she wanted. It was a beautiful reception and Haley and Braxton had tons of friends and family there to celebrate with them!

I LOVED this setup in the reception! Gift table was gorgeous! 

 This girl, Erica was the Maid of Honor and she did a fabulous job planning the special weekend. Thanks for opening up your home for us, Erica. I can't wait to hang out soon! 

The Three Amigos were back together! It was so fun having Emily HOME from D.C. and I love doing life with these girls. I am so thankful for our time together at Ole Miss and I'm super excited to be closer to Haley now with my new job! Emily, I'm gonna need you to tell that boy you married to move you home! :)

(Trent's Portrait Design)-- He's the best! :)

Hotty Toddy! 

Haley,

Thank you so much for letting me share in your special day! It was beautiful and so were you!  I still remember us sitting in Mi Pueblo that night and you telling me that you were going to marry him! I'm so glad that you found that boy whom your soul has always longed for and I can't wait to see where your lives take you! Love you long time.

//Confessions//

It's Friday! Aren't Fridays in the Summer just the best?

I think so...

1. I confess that this week has shown me to savor every moment of every day. Tuesday we got awful news that my cousin Nikki had died suddenly while staying with her sick mother at the hospital. It has really rocked our family and her husband and 10 year old daughter still need lots of prayers for the days to come. It was totally unexpected and such a shock to the entire family. Please spend every moment in the days ahead doing what you want and need to do. Family and friends should be our favorite pastime. 

(our beach picture from last year.)

2.) I confess that summer has been good to me so far. I've kept busy with grad school work, re-decorating my room at my parent's house (that story will be up soon) and having dinner with friends. I can't wait to see some pool time soon! 

3.) I confess that blogging has taken a back burner in my life for the past 2 months and that's about to change. I'm working on finding someone to give me a blog update and if you have ANY suggestions to who could do something that will make me smile, send ya girl an email. I'm thinking a new design, etc. will make this lady more eager to blog more. 

4.) I confess that I've got some posts that need to be up soon. ** New job update, moving back "home", Franks Wedding recap, etc. It's some exciting weeks ahead, my dears.  Sneak peak..

5.) I confess that in 5 days I will have my toes in the sand. I won't be blogging then so if any of you lovelies would like to guest post, please email me. I have no preference to what you can talk about so that should make life easy for you! ;)

Hope y'all are enjoying every minute of summer!

I hope YOU dance.

pinterest

My, my, my! It has been forever since I've blogged. I can't wait to blog about what all has happened in my life lately. Just be patient and it'll happen. :) Moving schools and moving back home may be a few of the details! 

Today I want to talk about dancing. Now, I love a good dance session but that's not exactly what I am talking about. I'll never forget when I was in Middle School the song by Lee Ann Womack came out and my mother fell in love. I was going through some stomach issues and didn't want to do anything because I was in pain. It was bad, people and she used this song to break through. Instead of sulking and laying around, she wanted me to hang out with friends, spend the night at people's homes, have fun but not dwell on what was wrong.

Dancing when you think you can't or don't want to, that's important people. Get out of your comfort zone, who cares what others think about your actions.. Do what makes you happy and Free. 

Tomorrow is my last day with my Kinders and to say that I am SAD is an understatement. I know that these babies have learned so much this year, how to be a friend, how to sit on the carpet, etc. but I want them to learn their life lessons from Miss Patton most of all. I want them to feel loved and know that when they don't feel loved that I am here for them. But.. most of all I want them to know that I believe in them and that when they aren't sure what to do:

I hope they dance!