**South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida. And back to Georgia**

Alternately titled: Houston, we have a problem.

As I mentioned in my Easter post, we were invited to Town Creek Baptist in Aiken, SC to lead and share music on Easter Sunday and have a concert that night.

We got into town on Saturday and decided to get set up and get sound checked so Sunday wasn't so rushed. We always like doing this, if it's possible and if Mr. O cooperates. And he did!

All was well that morning. Oliver was sleeping when we got there and he stayed asleep for a bit. He woke up in the pastor's office and Pastor Clint brought him to us.  Still fine...no problem.  We finished getting sound checked, fed O, and waited for the first service to start. Oliver was being held when we started singing and at some point, he freaked. I don't know if it was the loudness or what, but by the time we were finished and I got to him, he had worked himself up something fierce. It was so sad! I nursed him, he fell asleep, we took him to the nursery, passed him off, he woke up, freaked, I calmed him, sang, came back, he was crying, they to me to go, it was good for him, a grandma got him to sleep, he woke up, fussed, then I got to him and I think that's it. It's a blur now. A big blur of tears and red, puffy eyes.

We ate with a sweet family then rested in the hotel before that night's show.

We were surprised how many people came out considering it was Easter Sunday. It was a great show and we adored meeting those folks! I wish I could say Oliver did fine in the nursery, but he did not. :(

We left SC and went to Saint Mary's, GA. Our awesome friends at The Lighthouse FM were on vacation all week so they let us stay in their house! I'm blown away by the kindness of people on the road.

They have water in the back with some geese!

Tuesday, we played at The Rock. The whole show is live on the air, so I was a bit nervous. 

 It was such a fun night! It's hard to beat enthusiastic youth. 

And you guessed it. Oliver did it again. This picture must've been when the sweet women watching him were trying ALL THE THINGS to get him to calm down. Thank the Lord they were mamas and have dealt with fussiness many a times.  The good news is, by the time I got to him when we were finished, he was happy and calm. Breakthrough? Please, Jesus.

Wednesday we drove to Saint Augustine, FL to do an outdoor show with Reverb and Providence Bible churches. It was hot, so Oliver stayed inside in the nursery. He LOVED the exercauser :) 

 And he did great! Only started crying when he was taken out of said exercauser and realized he was hungry, too.  Breakthrough? Please, Jesus.

We love these guys! They are our people. It had been too long since we had seen them.

Then, after a few days of R & R, i.e., BEACH, we drove to Augusta, GA for Redemption Church's Sunday service.

We led worship and sang special music. Oliver went to the nursery and...wait for it...was fussy :(

We saw some old friends and made some new ones and that's always good for the soul!

Throwback Thursday Stories: week 4

Since Mother's Day is Sunday, I chose this picture...

This was in 1999 at the Jonesboro, AR airport.  My mom was about to get on a plane that would take her back home after taking me to Arkansas State. 

It was the start of my sophomore year and my first time away from home, out of state no less.  We were a mess. We cried (not much has changed there) and I remember telling her that I was scared. She, as mamas do, told me I'd do great and we said our goodbyes. 

I am so thankful she and my dad let me go away to school. As hard as it was to be far away, I really grew up there. And I met some amazing people!

Of course we live far away now, and it's still hard to say goodbye, but I am so so thankful for her love and support. And also for FaceTime :)

Link up to The Mom Creative and share your throwback stories! 

Throwback Thursday Stories: Week 3

Yay for Throwback Thursdays!  I am having too much fun digging through old pictures.  

Caleb and me // 2002

Before I was a mommy, I was an aunt.  And I loved that role.  This stinker was the first of the bunch.  

In 2002, he turned the big ONE and I flew from Jonesboro, AR to Atlanta, GA (to get to Fort Benning in Columbus, GA) so that I could celebrate with the little dude.  

I've always loved this picture.  He was obsessed with lights and always pointed to them.  But we thought it was fun to pretend he was saying how old he was.  

That trip and party seems like it was yesterday.  I remember what he wore and that he fell and bumped his lip.  I remember what we ate and some of his presents…That's Not My Tractor being one of them.  I remember crying when I left.  

I cannot believe he will be 13 this October. 

Time, please slow down.  Ok? 

Link up to The Mom Creative and share your #TBT story!

Easter 2014

(We were in Aiken, SC for Easter for a show...more on that later.)  

This was our first Easter as a family. Not traditional, by most people's standards, but our life is not traditional so it was just perfect for us =)

I didn't buy a new outfit for Mr. O... I used this cute thing that was $5 at Babies 'R' Us that I bought a few months ago.

And this duck bib was $.99 at a thrift store. Nothing a little hot water can't kill!

Also, our donation bucket doubled as an Easter basket. (Disregard my claw-like hand.) 

Notice the contents: the Easter story, a bath book, and a rubber ducky. Because nothing says "Christ is risen" quite like a rubber duck dressed as a pirate.

Clearly, Oliver wasn't impressed.

Maybe it was because there were some chocolate covered pretzels included but they didn't quite make the trip. (Mama was hungry and, let's be honest, I was going to eat them anyway.) I'll be sure to get the boy some Peeps next year!

Our little family on Easter. A selfie was the best we could do!

What did you do for Easter?

Throwback Thursday Stories: Week 2

It's Thursday and that means Throwback Time!!!  Since my birthday is just around the corner, I chose this picture.

Turning 14…1994

Just look at all that 90s awesomeness.  And what's with our poses?  

My friends Holli, Stacey, and Autumn all have birthdays around the same time.  (In fact, Stacey and I share a birthday.)  So, for our 14th, we and our parents decided to throw a big bash to celebrate all of our birthdays together.

It was a dance with a DJ and everything.  Three different schools were represented and it was so much fun.  It was at one of the YMCA locations in Waco, TX and we partied hard.  (Or at least as hard as 14 year olds can party.)

I had spent the day at the pool (my typical summer activity) and then my mom took me shopping to find the perfect outfit.  I found it at Express.  High-waisted shorts (which apparently are back in style), a floral shirt that reminds me of something Blossom would wear, and Dexters with no socks.  

It was one of those birthday parties that has stuck with me all these years…20 years to be exact.  What?!?

Now we are all mamas with 7 kids between us.  Who knows, maybe we'll recreate the party one year! 

Share your #tbt and link up with The Mom Creative!

Fake Business Names

The other day, Trent and I went on a walk with Mister Man and we started coming up with fake business names.  If you know me, you know I love puns.  So it should come as no surprise that most of these are, in fact, punny.  Also, I wouldn't be shocked if some of these already exist because we aren't the only clever people out there.

Here they are…

What in Tarnation
(Tar company)


Keyping it Real
(Key Makers)


The Whole Tooth and Nothing But the Tooth
(Dentistry)


Say It Ain't Sew
(Sewing store)


Nailed It
(Nail salon or Roofing company)


Breaking Plaid
(Clothing store)


Leaf it to Beaver Tree Trimming

and its sister company

Beleaf It or Not



United Steaks of America
(Steak House)


Crepes of Wrath and Planet of the Crepes
(duh)


Bean There Done That Coffee Shop

and its sister shop

I've Bean Around the World and I, I, I (I Can't Find My Latte)



WOK This Way and WOK and Roll
(Chinese Food, which you probably knew that)


Stop, Drop and Roll
(Egg Rolls or Bakery)


Bread, Broth and Beyond
(Soup and Sandwiches)


Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow
(Salon)


Shaved by the Bell
(Shaving salon)


Pillow Talk
(Pillow store)


Curried Away
(Indian Restaurant)


My brain always tries to make puns out of things, so we'll see if there will be a Fake Business Names Part II...

Oliver is 4 months!

Dear Oliver,

4 months?!?!  I cannot believe it.  It is going too fast, but it is oh so fun to watch you grow!

Your 4 month stats:

16.29 lbs (70th percentile)

27 in (99th percentile)

You are long and lean!

This month, you started rolling onto your side and you are trying so hard to get all the way over!  In time, Mister Man.  I promise it will happen.

You are super alert and still aren't napping much.  But you sleep well at night, and that's a trade off I'm okay with.  

We still have to swaddle you at bedtime!  It's the only way to get you focused on sleep.  You simply cannot get enough of your feet and if they're not wrapped up, you are trying with all your might to get those suckers in your mouth.  Will we still have to burrito you next month?  We shall see…

You've been to even more meetings with us and even participated in a radio interview.  You cooed perfectly.  Everyone still talks about your hair and we're quite okay with that; it is pretty amazing.  

You are teething and you also had your first cold.  We're not sure if it was a real cold or some congestion due to the teething, but it was sad.  Your cough was pitiful!  We just had to let it run its course and then you were fine.  You're such a tough little booger!

We are getting close to buying you a new car seat because you're such a big boy!  So big, in fact, you're already praying.  You put your hands together and pray to Jesus and it's because you love Him and you're a super baby =)

You recognize us and laugh and carry on and, as we say, "it warms it."  You have had a few meltdowns and it breaks our hearts.  But, hey!  You're a baby…it happens.

I love bedtime.  You like to hear singing and you like to have your face right by mine.  It's like you bury it in there.  Precious.  You've also started to grab my pinky and thumb and put my hand in your face when you're tired.  Again, precious.

You saw the Easter bunny!

And you still love music!

Sometimes I get so overwhelmed with love for you.  When I leave the room and come back and you smile at me?  Oh my.  You know I'm your mama and you know daddy is your daddy and it is something special.  

We love you so very much.  There is NOTHING you could ever do to make us stop loving you.  Nothing. 

You are our favorite.