Happy 64th Anniversary, Papaw & Mamaw

In April, my Papaw & Mamaw celebrated their 64th Anniversary! Moma had organized an all-day-get-together for them on April 25th. Papaw is 94 years old and it is hard on him to have everyone there all at the same time. So people came and went all day long so that Papaw wouldn't be so tired at the end of the day. They enjoyed the company as most everyone in the family had come by throughout the day. I wasn't able to be there because I was working at the theatre, however, I am glad Natasha gave me these pictures to put on the blog.

Papaw & Mamaw, Grady & Betty Holland are my daddy's parents. Papaw will be celebrating his 95th birthday on June 28th of this year. He served during WW2 and can share story after story of his time in the military, coming home, getting married, and starting a family. He has stories that very few people have ever experienced, much less be able to share. Mamaw, a spunky woman, always with a story to share and a dance in her step, the two are quite the pair.

I know that my life would not be the same without them and I appreciate the investment they have so willingly poured not only into myself, but into the life of our family. Papaw & Mamaw have 4 children, 12 grandchildren, & this month will their 18th great grandchild will be born!

When Brandon & I told Papaw & Mamaw that we were getting married, Papaw sat in his chair, looked up, and gave us his advice to a successful marriage - "Nancy, You have to take a little and give a whole lot more."

Happy Anniversary Papaw & Mamaw.

McKenzie digs into a piece of cake.

Notice on both pieces; the icing is gone FIRST

Buddies.

Deidre & Matt

Natasha.

Tasha & McKenzie

Them again... :)

Loving on Tasha.

Lucas

McKenzie & Bear

I love that sweet smile.

Papa checking out McK's shoes.

Just a swingin'...

Papa & McKenzie.

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Here are a few left over from soccer season:

Evelyn, McKenzie, & Tasha

Lucas & McKenzie

Sweet Kids.

McKenzie's Pre-School Graduation #1

While we were gone on vacation, McKenzie's class had their Pre-School Graduation. As I shared before, McKenzie began attending pre-school at Trimont in January of this year. Since she was beginning in the middle of the year, although she is 3, they placed her in the 4 year old classroom. So all her classmates were graduating pre-school and they allowed McKenzie to participate. McK will have her real graduation next year, but it was super nice of Mrs. Carolyn to let McK celebrate with her friends. She will stay with Mrs. Carolyn next year for her final year of pre-school and will then celebrate along with her friends as they graduate and head off to "big school".

McKenzie was all dressed ready to go to her graduation when her Mamaw Joyce brought her a new outfit. It wasn't one for the graduation, just an outfit she had found and brought it to McK. When McKenzie saw it, the dress was off and the new outfit was on. Natasha tried to get her to wear her dress, but it wasn't happening.

You just have to know McKenzie, but these pictures portray her pretty well. She is a diva at heart and loves to perform.

Pre-School Graduation 2010

McKenzie, in the middle, waiting for the go-ahead to sing & dance.

"Purple Violets" was McKenzie's part

Walking in.

Maddie & McKenzie

Sweet girl.

Cheeese...
Girrrlfrind

Mrs. Carolyn & McKenzie

We are proud of McKenzie and we look forward to another graduation next year!

*Destin, Fl May 2010*

As a way to celebrate my graduation, Brandon & I were able to go to Destin, Fl with Brandon's mom & dad, Sandy & Terry. We could not wait for May 14th to get here. Usually, when Brandon and I do go to the beach, I either had to attend class before we left or we had some other obligation that would allow us to get on the road until much later in the day, however, this time, we were able to leave early. We met Terry & Sandy and were on the road at 6:15.

We got to Destin a little after 1pm, leaving us time to get lunch at Chick-fil-a and get on the beach. We checked into our condo, but our swimsuits on, grabbed our chairs, and headed for the sand.

I'm not sure about everyone else when they go to the beach, however, when we go, we have a routine.

Our beach schedule:

*Wake Up

*Breakfast (cereal, pop tart, banana...)

*Beach

*Take a Walk

*Sit in the sun, under the umbrella, go to the pool, ocean...etc

*Pack up

*Shower

*Eat Out

*Shop

Usually, the only thing we see in the ocean are Jellyfish and sometimes, Dolphins, however, this time, we were able to add Manarays to our list. I was excited about seeing them, even if no one else was.

We definitely enjoyed our time there and even made some new friends. Now that we have been going and staying in the same condos, we are building relationships with the people that we tend to see year after year. Granted, most of them are retired and spend the entire months of May and October in Destin, however, we are beginning to get to know them and make new friendships.

Most of the time, when Brandon and I go to the beach, we go with excitement as we look forward to the relaxation that the sun & sand will bring. Don't get me wrong, we still left Franklin with that same excitement, but we feel as though God really used this time to not only rejuvenate our spirits, but to lead our hearts into a specific direction. We actually looked forward to coming home to share what we felt as though God had prepared our hearts for. A while back, I posted about how we felt as though Something is Stirring...and Change is Coming and we feel as though this trip to Destin is a part of that. Though we thought we were going to celebrate the accomplishment of graduation, it resulted in a renewed heart and a fresh direction we feel we are being led in.

We are so incredibly thankful to have been able to go to Destin. It was a great vacation!

For some reason, I didn't take a ridiculous amount of pictures, but I did take some, actually more than I really remember taking.

Terry's Buggy, our hands were free as Terry carries the umbrellas and as Brandon pushed the buggy.

Setting up camp in the sand.

All set up for the day.

Sand & Waves

My handsome husband.

Look really close, the darker spots in the water are the Manarays that passed through on a regular basis.

Sandy playing putt-putt.

Terry getting ready to make his hole-in-one.

Sandy & Terry

Brandon & me on the balcony.

The view from the other side of our condo.

The sun was setting.

One night we got back to the condo in time to just hang out before dark. This bird perched itself on top of the gazebo on the beach.

Brandon :)

Me.

The sun was coming up as we were leaving on Sunday.

Vacation...*Big Sigh*

We are finally at the beach! We left this morning at 6:15 and headed to Destin, Florida! We even got here in time to go out on the beach for a few hours before going to eat supper.

I will blog about our fun in the sun when we get back, but for now, I have one thing on my mind..... RELAXING.

More Graduation Pictures from My Phone

Here are a few pictures from my cell phone of graduation:

Tiffany & me, so thankful that we have traveled this journey together.

Brooke, Vanessa, me - my carpooling buddies, this experience would not have been the same without them.

I mentioned it earlier, but Brandon gave me a Pandora Bracelet on graduation day.
Here is a picture, even though it is not very clear.
When he gave it to me, it had three charms on it.
1, a graduation cap
2, "best friends"
3, a flip flop charm, as we were going to Destin, FL to celebrate graduation

at the party, Sandy gave me the two on each end and the Bible charm (2nd from the left)

I love my new bracelet and can't wait to get it filled up!

*Graduation Day*

May 8, 2010, has been a day that seemed so far into the distance, it seemed as if it would never arrive. Now, it has not only arrived, but has passed, and leaves me with excitement & pride. Instead of going right into the events of the day, I feel as though it is only fair to share some of the journey that has brought me to this place.

The journey to May 08, 2010:

When Brandon & I got married, we began praying for the Lord to open a door for me to finish my degree in Elementary Education. 4 months later, in January 2008, we felt as though our prayers had been answered and a door had been opened in deed. Stepping completely out on faith, I put my 2-week notice in to my supervisor at the bank, and finished at the bank on January 12th (only to come home to a gift from Brandon, a backpack :)). I became a full-time student at Western Carolina University on January 15th, my 1st day back to school.

I began back at school, sometimes feeling out of place simply because I wasn't the college age, dorm living, girl that most of my peers were, however, the Lord continued to provide for us and I continued to take classes. There were definitely times when I felt as though I couldn't do it anymore, the full time student, part time waitress, full time pastor's wife, seemed to be overwhelming at times, but the Lord was faithful.

Slowly but surely, I was able to check off requirements for my degree and eventually, I had made it to my student teaching. For the last year, I have spent my days in a 2nd grade classroom, learning more than I learned at WCU, simply because of the experience. I feel as though Mrs. Pickens & Mrs. King have went out of their way to prepare me for my own classroom. I am thankful for their investment in me.

Although I am so unaware of what is to come, I do know that the Lord will continue to be faithful, just as He has proven to be.

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Graduation Day - May 08, 2010

I had to be at Western early, so my friend Tiffany met me at my house and excitedly, we headed to WCU. Before Tiffany got to my house, Brandon came to me and gave me a small box. He told me how proud of me he was and he wanted to get something special for me to celebrate my (our) graduation! He had started a Pandora Bracelet for me!! On the bracelet were 3 charms: a graduation cap, "best friends", and a flip flop. It was definitely a special gift and I am so thankful. Brandon has supported and encouraged me all along and I love him more each day.

I was on the front row of my graduating class, so it was easy for me to see all that came to support me. As I walked in with my class, I could hear a little voice, yelling my name, I looked up, who was it? LUCAS & McKENZIE! When I looked up to see who else was there, I found McKenzie & Chloe waving so big, just hoping I would see them. They were with my Mom & Dad, Deidre, Natasha, Terry, Sandy, Amy, Brooke, Brandon, and Cadee. It was great!

Lucas & McKenzie were ready for something to happen.

Coming in.

I am on the front row, on the center aisle.

The flag was released during the National Anthem.

Lucas, Me, McK

Then, there was a picture-worthy moment when they were still!

Terry, Cadee, Sandy, Chloe, Brandon, Me, Brooke, Amy

Natasha, Moma, Brandon, McK, Me, Lucas, Daddy, Deidre

Moma, Me, Daddy

Moma, Brandon, Me, Daddy

Natasha, Me, Deidre

After graduation, Brandon had planned a cook-out! I was super proud of him simply because he took care of all the arrangements all on his own! He did have our moms to help, but from what I understand, he told them what he needed them to do and they did it! I appreciate all of them for all their effort to make this day a special one.

I loved the cake!