Momma Says" I DO" and Airport Adventures

Michael and I had a busy weekend. My momma got married! The wedding was in Florida, so we had to ride some planes to there. Michael had never ridden a plane, and I had not ridden one since I was five. I don't have much memory of it except that I wore a bubble outfit. One of the jumper looking things. I am guessing that was the thing to wear back in 1989. Needless to say, we had no clue about flying and airports. But, after this adventure, I think we are now well on our way to being experts. Hahaha! Our flight to Atlanta, GA from the Jackson airport was at 6:30 in the morning. Momma told me that we better be there at least an hour before the flight. No big for me. I am early to everything anyways. We packed the night before and printed out our boarding passes. Mr. John picked us up at 5:00 a.m. and we headed to the airport. I thought it shouldn't take but around 30 minutes to get to the airport so early in the morning calculating in the speed limit is 70 m.p.h. on most of the interstate. Well, I am sitting in the back seat while Michael is in the front talking with his dad, and I look at the speedometer. It read 60 m.p.h.. I thought we will never make it on time. I did not calculate not driving the speed limit. Fortunately, Michael nicely told his dad what the speed limit was and what time we had to be there. I love when we are on the same brain wave together. And of course, we got there on time. We walk in the airport and the lines are massive for only Delta flights...which guess what kind of flight we were on? DELTA of course! We did make it through the long line and onto getting our bags checked. Well, having never flown as an adult, I thought they go through the bags you check on the plane and not the carry-ons. I learned my lesson really well. Thanks to lovely terrorist (sarcasm is my second language) the airport people threw away my lotion, hairspray, face wash, Michael's deodorant, and our shampoo all because they were not in 3 oz bottles. Plus, I had to take off my shoes. Do I look like a terrorist? I think not. I wasn't all that upset about the items being thrown away except for my face-wash. It was Aveeno...Hello! That stuff isn't exactly cheap. Once we got to Florida, we made a stop at Walgreen's to buy travel size items, so problem solved. We did make it to all the right gates to get on the planes. Atlanta airport is massive. We had to ride a train to get to our section of gates. Tampa is big as well. My favorite part about the airports is Starbucks. There was like a ton of them, and Michael and I took advantage of them!

Here we are sitting in an airport waiting....and waiting

Us on the plane. Michael slept through all the flights, and I read a book.

We made it safe and sound in the Tampa, Florida airport to meet up with Momma, Benny, Luke, Amanda, and Kate. It was around lunch time, so we ate at the Friday's Restaurant in the airport before driving to Leesburg, Florida.

Rehearsal Night

Friday night was the rehearsal. We all walked through it a couple of times, took pictures, and headed out to eat.

Here is the happy couple! Momma and Benny

Luke, Amanda, Kate, Benny, Momma, Me, and Michael

All my aunts and uncles got to come too! Jennifer & Chuck Tharp, Hilda & Mike Ratliff, and Jeff & Lisa Tally

Eating some grub!

my brother's sweet little family

and of course us

The Wedding Day: June 27, 2009

This was a very joyful day for my momma. Her happiness is very important to me. I am thankful God led Benny to her and vice versa. I know Benny is a man of God and will take good care of her. I am going to miss her all the time, since she will be living in Florida. We may be far apart in physical location, but we are still just as close in our hearts. She is not just my mother but my best friend. I LOVE YOU! Here are snap shots of her big day.

The beautiful bride

Me and Momma-Bride and Matron of Honor

me and my handsome husband

girls only picture

the bride's family

Saying "I DO"

Mr. and Mrs. Benny Hunton

the newlyweds going on their honeymoon

After the wedding Troy Hunton, Benny's son, drove Amanda, Luke, Kate, Michael, and me to a hotel in Tampa, FL to stay for the night, because we wanted to be close to the airport for the next day and more time to relax. It was a very night hotel with crisp white sheets. We split a room with Luke and Amanda on the 10th floor. The hotel had one of the kind of elevators that you could see out of. I thought it was neat, but didn't want to get to close with my fear of heights. The room was only suppose to rented by two people, so Michael and I had to act like we didn't know and were not with Luke and Amanda. It was sly..haha! That night, Katelyn and Jamie, two of Luke and Amanda's friends, came and went out to eat with us, or Michael and I went to eat with all of them. We went to the Fish Market. It was soooo good. I haven't has seafood in while, so this was a great treat. There was a special dessert on the menu named the Shark Fin Pie. It is massive, and Michael had to have one. So he did! The pie got its name due to the shape of it. It was massive, and Michael ate most of it. I had to take a picture of it...due to the size of it.

The next morning, we took a shuttle to the airport and said bye to each other. This time went much more smoothly, since we actually had a clue of what we were doing! BUT, this time when we were taking off our shoes and such, Michael got "randomly selected" for extra screening. Have I mentioned how much I appreciate the terrorist. Of course Michael passed with flying colors, and we were on our way again, grabbed some Starbucks, and went to our flight gate. We made is safely back home.

Congratulations to Momma and Benny! We wish you the best and many happy married years! I love you and miss you!

look how cute I am

We think our little neice is the best thing since sliced bread.

She is such a little angel. Look at that smile!

and very expressive! haha!

Summer Birthdays

Last week, my dad and Corey, my brother-in-law had a birthday! Dad's birthday was June 24th and Corey on June 28th. Dad turned 62, WOW! Trust me though, he is not your usual 62 year old. He writes music, plays the guitar, rides a motor cycle, and plays in a band. How many 62 year old do that? He is the only one I know. Love you Dad! Corey turned 19. His last year to be a teenager and about to be a senior in high school!

But he will always be Michael baby brother. Love you!

Happy Birthday to you! Happy Birthday to you!

Happy Birthday...we love you!

Happy Birthday to you!

A Student AGAIN

I start graduate school this Wednesday, July 1st. I am excited and nervous about it all. I have never taken a class online during my undergraduate, and now, I decided to get my master's degree completely online. What was I thinking? I know. I hate going to class. Sometime while I was in the teacher's program at MSU...I think I became ADD. I know it is not possible scientifically, but I did all of a sudden become scatterbrained and not able to focus or sit still for more than 30 minutes. Most likely, this is due to having to complete 5 projects at one time on top of lesson planning. I am sure this has helped me in being a teacher....knowing that I hate sitting still for more than 30 minutes as an adult...I understand how my students feel. Okay, back to the point. I hate going to class, so I am now taking on graduate school online. It has already been a very frustrating road trying to get admitted, registering for class, get books, and pay Delta State with just a computer to help me. I have come to appreciate people or human communication more. It is not easy trying to get all that done with only a computer. I am not that computer savvy anyways, so I have learned a lot the past couple of weeks dealing with the computer. I will say the people that work at Delta State in the teacher education department are extremely helpful on the phone and with e-mails. The bookstore people....not so much. Either way, it is all in order now. I am trying to now figure out the ins and outs Blackboard, which is where all my class stuff will take place, like assignments. Luckily, Michael has used Blackboard before and can help. Ready or not...here I go...back to school.

FIRE!!!

I wrote about the apartment that caught on fire across the street from us in the blog post "Settling In." Here are the picture of it from Michael's phone. It was terrible.

Babies Everywhere!

I was in Tupelo all last week and while I was there I made the rounds visiting some baby relatives. First, I went to see my sweet baby niece, who is now 3 months old. She just looks like a little doll to me. Her hair is starting to go lighter. I hope it is blonde and curly like her momma.

The next stop was to my Aunt Hilda's house, who has double the grand babies now. She likes to tell everyone that they are 53 hours apart! In the first picture is Andy and Molly's(my first cousins) newest addition: baby boy, Aubrey Ratliff. The second picture is Callie and Todd's (more first cousins) newest addition: baby boy, Robert Rasberry.

Dear Lord,

I come today with a grieving heart for Dusti and Jason over their loss of baby Brayden. I know you are holding him in heaven with you watching over us. I pray for you to keep giving them strength and peace. Nothing will ever be able to replace Brayden, but I pray, that you fill their hearts and help them hold tightly to each other and to you. I pray that friends and family will surround them as they have been doing. Lord, I do not understand how or why something like this can happen and I question it. I pray you help me understand and be there for Dusti and Jason for whatever they need, a friend, silence, time, space, or listening ear. I pray you heal their hearts.

Amen

On Sunday, June 14, 2009, Brayden Martin Kelly was born and went to meet his heavenly father. I ask that everyone keep Dusti and Jason Kelly in your prayers over the loss their child, Brayden.

Some of you maybe asking what happened. There was a knot in his umbilical chord, and when Dusti went into labor, the knot tightened, cutting off blood circulation. There is nothing anyone could have done. Dusti and Jason did get to love on him and are finding peace. Services for Brayden were Sunday, June 21, 2009.

We Love Our Dads

Michael and I have been blessed with great dads. They are always there for us when we need them. So, on Father's Day it gives us an excuse to celebrate them and do something special.

I got to have brunch with my Dad and Nina at the Tupelo Crackel Barrel. It was good food and great time. We got to sit, relax, and catch up on life. You know you are an adult when you enjoy and look forward to a cup of coffee and conversation. The truth is I have always been a Daddy's girl. I teased him and still do about how I was twelve for three years of my growing up. I would say, "No, Dad, I am 15 now. I am starting to drive." I am pretty sure in his mind's eye, that is the age I quick growing. Ironically, the year before I became a teenager. Love you Dad!

Down in Jackson...after I got home from Tupelo, Michael and I headed to the Cases. Michael and his dad are really close. I think it is sweet when they hug every time they see each other. Yes, I made them all get in a picture together. Which isn't the easiest thing to do....getting four men to agree to be in a picture. They all cooperated nicely with no complaints. Some of them...ummm Corey (love you) do not like being in front of the camera. But, they have accepted that I am going to take pictures anyways whether like it or not:) I guess that means they

love me too to put up me.

Like father like son!

Luke, my big brother, got to have his first father's day with sweet baby Kate. Luke is such a great dad. I love to watch him with her. Congratulations!

I would always like to take some space to mention our grandfathers too! They are also very special to our hearts. Michael and I call our grandfathers the same name, so I will try to not make this confusing. Michael's grandfather, Mr. Tommy Adams or Papaw, is very special to our hearts. We pray for him every day. He was very involved with all of Michael's sports going up and was a wonderful influence on him. My grandfathers are Q.V. Cantrell and Bud Tally, which I call Papaw and Buddy. Papaw and Buddy are watching over us in heaven and I love them very much. I never got to meet Buddy, but I always love hearing stories about him. I still miss hearing Papaw call me Pumpkin and sitting in his lap. Memories are priceless and should never be taken forgranted.

Mrs. Katherine Dendy

I swear it was yesterday when we were in college going to parties and working our tails off to become elementary teachers. Now, my lil'Chi-Omega sis is married! Katherine was such a beautiful bride. Pictures do not lie. I was blessed to be a part of her special day!

Me with the bride/my lil'sis

Us at the reception

Mr. and Mrs. Cullen Dendy

Settling In

As many people know, Michael and I moved the last weekend in May. I'm sorry that it has taken me so long to catch up on it. We have had our hands pretty full. I will say Michael and I make a great team. I packed up the entire house with the exception of about the 7 boxes Michael packed, which was his closet and the computer area. Michael and family loaded everything on the U-Haul. I will say we couldn't have done it so easily without the help of our wonderful families. Mr. John and Corey, Michael's dad and brother, came up to help along with my momma. The guys along me and Momma unloaded everything into the apartment. And of course, I unpacked all the boxes or most of them. I still have a few to unpack. I want to know where everything is, which I feel is natural for a woman, especially in my kitchen. We had a wonderful surprise in the apartment when we got here. Mrs. Karon, Michael's momma, had gotten our keys for us already and had gone grocery shopping! Absolutely amazing! It was so wonderful to not have to worry about what are we going to eat the first couple of days in being a new place. It didn't end there either. She brought all of us supper that night after we had unloaded. I was very grateful to her. Not the mention the food tasted fabulous. Thank you!

Kinda funny how your whole life can fit into a truck?

All packed up!

Here we go!

Us with Momma

The Case Moving Crew

We are now getting more settled in. We did "move back home," but things look a lot different than they use to. We knew that it would. The last time Michael and I both lived in the Jackson area full time was when we are were both in high school just dating and now we are married. So, not only do things look different they feel a little different too. I am guessing that is called responsibility. We still need to find a good coffee table and breakfast table with chairs. I haven't finished setting up the guest bedroom. Hopefully that can get done next weekend.

I am keeping my fingers crossed.

The first week we were here, we decided to go to Starbucks or something, so we head out the door to see all these people staring in one direction. We look too to see the apartment across the road is ON FIRE! The entire roof is in flames. It was mesmerizing to watch. There were numerous fire fighters working to put the flames out. We heard they got everyone out of the building, thank goodness. The flames were so hot that they melted part of our building. We haven't heard what started it. Michael took pictures on his phone, but I don't have them to post. Maybe I will be able to later. We thanked our lucky stars that it wasn't us and prayed for the families that did live there.

I am having to learn where everything is all over again. I got spoiled in Starkville and Tupelo where everything is just 5-15 minute drive away. Now, I have a 15-45 minute drive depending where I want to go. Jackson has a ton more traffic than Tupelo, and the drivers are not as nice, especially when it comes to merging. Having said that, I am still happy that we moved. We will eventually get use to all this. I mean we grew up in it!

Michael has started his job at the Brandon Police Department. He is really liking it, and I am so happy for him. Not to mention, he looks really handsome in his uniform! He is having to study lots of information and codes at night when he gets home. He had to get maced last week. He said it was terrible. I can't even imagine how painful that had to have been. He said that the guy that sprayed him did a figure eight on his face. He came home with really red rings around his eyes. He told me that the guys told him he took it well, and his partner screamed like a girl when it happened to him. Well, Michael was determined to be manly about it. I guess he accomplished his goal with that one. He will be going to the Police Academy in September for 10 weeks of training. I am not looking forward to us being apart, but I knew this was coming. I feel very

Law & Order SVU when I have to do wash his uniforms:) I can't express how proud I am of him!

Food, Punch, Gifts, and a Sonogram....check!

This past Saturday I had the joy of hostessing my first baby shower with my wonderful friend Lindsay. Our amazing friend, Dusti, is about to have her first baby. IT'S A BOY! Which is obvious from all the blue decorations in the pictures. His name will be Brayden Martin Kelly. I can't wait for him to be here, and I know Dusti and Jason can't wait either. Dusti, Lindsay, and I met at the great Mississippi State University in the Elementary Education program. We were a part of very close group of girls who didn't really want to leave college, because we didn't know what we would all do when we couldn't see each other everyday. So, now we have things like baby showers to see each other! It was such a perfect sunny day for a baby shower. We had the shower at Dusti's house to show off her nursury that looks absolultely fabulous. I wish I had gotten a picture of it. She has decorated with safari animals/ABC's. I was very impressed with all of the little animals everywhere and of course she had giraffes. It would not be complete with out them. Lots of family and friends came to celebrate with Dusti and brought lots of great gifts. Yeah! Lindsay and I had such a great time planning and setting up. A big thanks goes to Mrs. Cathy, Dusti's momma. She brought the gorgeous silver punch bowl and cups for us to use on top of getting chips and making dips. All of which were very yummy! After Dusti got opening all her loot, we popped in her 3-D or 4-D sonogram. I am not sure what it is called, but it is where you can really see there little faces. We even saw baby Brayden poke out his lip when the nurse vibrated Dusti's stomach. Now that's what I call details! Plus, while everyone was watching the sonogram, Dusti grabs my hand and put on her stomach, and yes, I felt Brayden hiccup!

This is the diaper cake I made for Dusti as our hostess gift to her

the delicious cake, great joy Lindsay for picking it out

the spread

it's not a baby shower without flowers

the beautiful mommy-to-be

Lindsay, Me, and Dusti

Praise Jesus for the wonderful day and all that is to come!