Tacoma again

I had such a great time being with my Tacoma Rainier! Here are some pics from my very fun but very quick trip! (In case you can't tell from my attire- the weather was MUCH better this time I visited!)

The "Christmas trees" I spoke of!

Logan's apartment- if you can't tell they LOVE to decorate haha NOT!

Haleigh Shea Thompson!

A few weeks ago my entire family make the five hour drive down to Lubbock for my cousin Haleigh's wedding.

The festivities started with the rehearsal and rehearsal dinner on Friday April 19th. The rehearsal dinner was held at a windmill museum in Lubbock. My family had a blast looking at all the incredible windmills, taking in the sights, catching up and laughing, but of course there was one thing missing on this incredible occasion...and that was my papa. He loved windmills. I remember going to visit him when he was a principal at Hyer Elementary and Highland park. His office was always full of windmill decorations and I had so much fun exploring each and every single one of them. He would have really enjoyed that windmill museum. Being surrounded by windmills and all of my amazing family members really made me feel as though he was there with us in spirit.

We had a blast at the rehearsal dinner and enjoyed some delish BBQ before heading back to the hotel to celebrate with the bridal party. I just love spending time with my incredible cousins. We had so much fun being together. We all instantly become giggle boxes when we get around one another and reminisce about our younger years.

Of course I was carefully tracking Logan's game on night (#milbGFprobz) and when he went in to pitch the last inning of a super close game you better believe I whipped my iPad out at the hotel bar to watch him! No shame at all! Haha I have found it is just as stressful to watch the game on tv as it is to be there. Luckily Logan did awesome and led the Rainiers to victory!

 The last single girl kiss!

Haleigh's bridesmaid luncheon was put on by her aunts... and man does she have some awesome aunts! It was just beautiful and the food was incredible. They used china from each of Haleigh's grandmas (Net Net, Grandma Fran and Granny) and they wrote the most precious poem about it. Although Net Net and Grandma Fran weren't there physically it certainly felt like they were there with us and watching from above as we enjoyed all of Hal's wedding festivities.

Bridesmaids!

All of the cousins!

Me and Rei had a BALL doing everyone's hair and make up for the wedding. It turned out perfect and I have to say Hal had one of the best looking bridal parties that I have ever seen. Her day went off without a hitch (well it was a little windy) but at the end of the day the wedding was just perfect and beautiful and EVERYONE had a blast!

Class of 2013... wait... Reilly is almost a graduate?!?

So whether I like it or not my little sister is about to graduate. Sometimes I look at her and still see my little smiley Reilly and other times I look at her and she is just so beautiful and grown up and it absolutely amazes me how fast time has flown by. To celebrate her upcoming graduation Reilly and two of her friends (Montana and Ari) and planning a graduation party at Company Cafe on the Katy Trail in Uptown. Of course, me being the little party planner that I am, I have pretty much just taken over and I am dedicated to making it awesome. Seniors- prepare to have your minds blow because this will be a party like you've never seen! As with planning any party, the first step is to create an invitation. I custom designed their invitation on photoshop and then printed it through the one and only Vistaprint! I am so excited to see the finished product. I will be sure to let ya'll know how they turn out. Next I started looking for decorations... my favorite part!

A preview of the invitation for Reilly, Montana and Ari's Senior party that I  designed!

Here's a few of the ideas I have... without giving anything major away of course!

Graduating high school and going to college was one of the most amazing and also one of the most stressful times of my life. I remember being so torn as to what school I should attend. Britney Spears' "I'm not a girl not yet a woman" song comes to mind! haha I looked at the four years of college as an eternity. I can barely handle planning my upcoming week much less the next four years of my life. I prayed and prayed over my decision to go to the University of Arkansas. Those prayers were answered when I received an out of state tuition wavier as well as when I was chosen as a member of the pom squad. Up until that point I wasn't sure what God had in store for me or where He wanted to go. I spent many nights agonizing over the choice that had to be made. In retrospect all the sleepless nights and tears shed were for nothing. God always has a plan for us and if we are patient and listen He will lead us to that plan. I read a verse the other day in my devo and I think its the best possible advice I could give my sister (or anyone really) facing a big decision.

"But blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit."   Jeremiah 17:7-8

The imagery in this verse is just amazing. A faithful person is like a tree planted firmly by a beautiful lake.  Each day the tree continues to grow tall and strong and green. While the sun beats down and the grasses all around it are dry and parched and bend in the sweltering heat this tree grows taller and stronger.  It's branches continuously bear fruit and it provides shade for those who come to rest beneath it.  It's roots are deep, and despite adverse circumstances there is no doubt that this tree will continue to thrive as a testimony to the blessing of having deep roots.

The more I read this verse the more I realize that having deep roots and a solid faith doesn't come from making the right decision and being at the "right" school. It doesn't come from picking a college that fits your perfect check list (I believe my list had things like active greek life, fun town, shopping mall, good night life, SEC football team, a dance team... etc.) It comes from walking in faith and trusting that God will be a part of every decision that you make. What I didn't realize at the time I was trying to pick a college was that it really didn't matter where I went to school. What truly mattered was that I had a deep rooted faith because it was that faith (not my sorority, not being a pom girl, and not going out with friends) that would get me through the hard times and make whatever school I attended enjoyable. 

College is a time of your life that is full of growth, change, and new experiences.I was in a new town with all new people. Everything was new to me. At first the new is exciting and then that wears off and you long for the things you know and that are familiar.  One of the biggest challenges for me was being 5 hours away from my family. I constantly missed them and was homesick. There were times I wanted to jump in my car and drive 5 hours just to get a hug from my mom (and I might have once or twice but who is really counting?!). 

A person who has truly deep roots is the person whose confidence is in God.  The person who trusts God is the one whose leaves never wither and who always bears fruit. No matter where you chose to go to college, you will be successful and happy because your confidence is in the Lord and you are faithful that He will provide. 

As I was writing this blog I realized just how applicable these words are to my life right now. As I take on two new jobs and navigate how to handle new bosses, attract clients and not lose my mind in the process, I realize just how incredibly important it is to fall back on my "roots" of faith. I have to continue to trust in the Lord and have confidence in Him, not in myself. I sometimes worry that I may not be able to meet my personal goals and that I may not be able to handle a task at the office as I should. If I solely rely on myself I will fail... time and time again. Now more than ever these roots are tested. Just as a tree with deep roots stands tall and strong during a long drought, I too will stand tall and strong during trying times. Somedays when I feel like the world might just crash in around me I stop and say a prayer and God finds some small way to show me that I am right where He wants me and He is using me to bring honor and glory to Him! 

Wherever you are in your life, whatever trying times or amazing blessings you are faced with I hope you keep your roots firmly planted in the Lord and I hope these words find you and touch your heart if they are meant to!

Lessons Learned from a four pound fur ball

Today's blog is dedicated to my sweet, precious, cuddly 5 year old Yorkie, Elle.

Elle came into my life when I was a sophomore in college and she was the most timid and shy little pup I had ever met. It honestly beats me as to what it was that possessed me to get a dog in the first place, but Elle came into my life and ignited a great love for pups that will forever be a part of me. Everything I need to know in life I can honestly say that I have learned from Elle.
As a dedication to her on her 5th birthday I am going to share some of the lessons I have learned from my best little friend (no I do not pick favorites... Emma is my little best friend so that is different than best little friend and they each have their own respective titles haha).

1- There is ALWAYS time to cuddle

Since Elle Belle was a pup she has been the ultimate cuddler. It doesn't matter where we are... in a car, on the couch, in bed, in a chair, at a restaurant... Elle will find a way to cuddle when she wants to. If she had her way I would tote her around like an accessory 24/7. If I move her from her comfy cuddle spot it will be a matter of minutes until she nudges and nestles her way back into a little cocoon. She is a constant reminder that no matter how busy I am there are always a few minutes to squeeze in a little time with the ones I love most. I have come home on lunch breaks before just to get a good little cuddle in with my girl. I truly believe Elle has healing powers in that when I am sick she is usually the only one who can heal me with her cuddles. She has helped me recover from numerous surgeries, positive strep tests, and colds.

2- You can tell a lot about a person by how they smell

Although it sometimes annoys the crud out of me, Elle is CONSTANTLY smelling everything everywhere we go. I guess it is just dog nature but there's also a good lesson in it. If something (or someone) smells bad or fishy... they probably are. Trust your gut and follow your instincts. I can tell you from our daily walks that this chick knows her smells and trusts her nose. When she smells something weird she either goes straight towards it or directly away from it. When it all comes down to it, you really can tell a lot about a person by how they smell. Hope you wore your deodorant today!

3- Take time to enjoy the sweet things in life

There's nothing as adorable as watching Elle savor each and every single bite of a bone. I buy the smallest bones I can find and it still takes her two days to finish them. She takes her time and savors the good things that she enjoys the most. We can all take a cue from her lead and take more time with the things and the people that make us the happiest.

4- Unconditional love is the greatest gift

My little dids has been there through so many ups and downs and highs and lows. Every single day that I come home is a good day for her. Without fail she is in her pen with Ems wagging her tail in excitement and anxiously waiting for me to let her out so she can lick me and get her ears rubbed. There's just no better feeling than coming home to someone who is so excited to see you. As a friend, mother, daughter, wife, etc I want to be that person that people look forward to coming to see. I want my loved ones to think of me as the one who loves them unconditionally and who will always be excited to see them no matter what! It doesn't matter how good or bad my day has been, when I walk through the door and I am greeted by E & E it is instantly a good day and I can't help but smile. Love is the greatest gift you can give and you have an unlimited supply. Dish it out... in HUGE servings... Because you will never run out!

5- One play session a day keeps the doctor away

Whether it's a long walk around our neighborhood, a jog on the Katy trail, or just a good ole fashioned game of fetch, Elle always gets in some activity in her daily routine. She absolutely loves chasing down tennis balls and battling her sister to see who emerges as the winner winner chicken dinner. She stays fit and healthy by running...and let me tell you, home girl runs 3 miles like it's nothing! She absolutely loves to run and get in some exercise. (Bonus for me- I get a good workout in and she sleeps like a baby). Never be too busy to exercise. I think we are all guilty of this but I want to be as spry as ole dids is when I am 36 years old so I need to be better about staying active. 80 year old me will thank 24 year old me one day!

And one to grow on...

6. Mistakes happen

What can I say... when you have a bladder the size of a peanut mistakes are going to happen. Elle has helped me realize that patience is key and those little doo doos that occasionally appear in the house (normally after I have spent the whole day cleaning or we have guests) aren't the end of the world. Crap happens (sometimes literally)...learn how to pick it up and move on! Life's too short to focus on the poop!!!

Happy birthday Elle! I'm so blessed to be your mom! 

Here's to many more years and many more lessons!

ALSO:
Please help my friend Megan out! While shooting her bridals she misplaced her fiance's 1999 Texas A&M Football Helmet. It has a lot of sentimental value to him and if you know anything about its whereabouts please help her get it back! She will pay a reward for its return! Check out the Facebook page here. Thanks friends!!!

Seattle is for Lovers

Last weekend I finally got to fly up to Tacoma to see my sweet man! I left Dallas at 7am and didn't get to Tacoma until around 12 noon. Poor Logan had to get up at 5am to catch a flight with the team from California to Seattle and by the time I got there he was completely exhausted. In fact, I don't think I have ever seen him so tired before. We had time to basically drop my stuff at the hotel before he had to go to the baseball field. It was about the time that I dropped him off that the rain started. After checking the forecast on my phone I decided I better make my first purchase in Washington and I headed to Walgreens to purchase an umbrella! I went back to the hotel to take a nap and relax before heading to the coldest, wettest baseball game of my entire life!

There were the two cutest little cowboys at the Tacoma airport! I just had to snap a pic!

First of all I have to say that the Tacoma Rainiers Ballpark is amazing. Washington itself is breathtaking. The highways are lined with Christmas trees (I believe the technical term for them is evergreens but I prefer Christmas trees).  It is just beautiful! At the Rainiers stadium they let the wives and girlfriends sit in a suite when there is one available. We also get some free snacks and beverages. I can't complain about any of that!  The weather on the other hand...that's an entirely different story. During the home opener it poured for the first 5 innings and yet the game continued. Finally, with all the players freezing and soaking wet the umpires FINALLY postponed the game. After a 30 minute rain delay the game was called.

The Hotel Murano

The next morning I woke up to a cloudy sky (but no rain) and Logan had to be at the field early so I just hung out at the hotel. That night they played 4 innings to finish the game from the previous night and then an 8 inning game. Needless to say, it was a LONG two night of baseball and I was feeling pretty down because I had spent a total of about 6 hours with Logan in the two days I was there. On Saturday night I finally felt like I got to have some quality time with Logan. We sat down at the hotel bar (by the way we stayed in a really cool hotel called Hotel Murano) and drank a glass of wine (well I had Reisling and he had an old fashioned.. gross) and just talked.

 It was so nice to be able to just see him (in real life not on a computer screen) and just talk!!!! It made my heart smile to be back with the one I love so much! I have been so busy with work and more work lately and he has been so busy with baseball. The two hour time difference doesn't help much either! By the time he finishes playing it is about 11pm his time which makes it 1am my time! I am getting up at 7am to get ready for work and so no matter how hard I try I almost always fall asleep before he calls me. If you think being in a long distance relationship is tough try being in a long distance relationship with jobs that have opposite hours and a two hour time difference. It complicates things for sure. Luckily we both make the best of our situations. We talk and text whenever we have a free moment and I have even taken my lunch break alone so I can just talk to him on the phone. Let's just say that absence certainly does make the heart grow fonder... if thats even possible. I find myself missing Logan at the most random times! Like when I go grocery shopping alone or when I see a couple running together. Of course I miss going on dates with him and hanging out with our couple friends but more than that I just miss the little things that I enjoy doing together. On the bright side I don't think that we will ever take these normal daily activities for granted whenever we do get to do them together. I get frustrated but I know that God wouldn't give us a hurdle that we couldn't overcome and I know He has a reason for everything. One day we will look back on this season and laugh at how rough it was... but smile knowing that God showed us just how strong we were and that we can make it through any and every obstacle. I am so grateful to have such a faithful boyfriend. When I flew home from Seattle I was down in the dumps because it make me miss Logan even more. He reminded me that God has a plan for us and this time is a part of our plan. He put me at ease and gave me the reassurance I needed to make it until my next trip in 3 weeks!


On a totally different topic, I got THE MOST AMAZING PLANNER EVER!!! Everyone needs to go to www.erincondren.com and order a life planner right now. I have never seen such a cute and organized planner in my life. Every time I get to write something down in my planner I am filled with joy! It is customized and I love it! I mean seriously, just look at how cute the packaging is!

My planner literally came in just at the right time to because things at both of my jobs have picked up a lot lately! I got trained to be a J. Hilburn Style Consultant at the end of March and since then I have been measuring anyone and everyone I can! My first goal was to sell 5 items in the first month of business. I am proud to say that I will hit my first month mark on Sunday and I have already exceeded my goal.

Logan in his first J. Hil shirt... he's hooked!

Lots and lots of pretty purples!

 I am loving everything about J. Hilburn. I have so much fun spending time with my clients (who so far are my family and friends), catching up with them, and of course styling them! Shopping is after all my strong suit! I basically forced my dad to buy a pair of our 5 pocket khakis. He did so hesitantly, informing me that he hates most khakis because they are stiff and uncomfortable. He got his new khakis yesterday and the man hasn't taken them off yet! He said they have a great stretch to them and they fit like his favorite pair of jeans. I find it so funny that men (like my dad) who I would consider to be very low maintenance, suddenly become very opinioned when it comes to their wardrobe. Men are MUCH picker than I ever realized but I am so glad that I work for a company that truly cares about their clients and we will do whatever it takes to get them the perfect wardrobe.

 Ladies- if you have a man you think would love some J. Hilburn PLEASE contact me (jordan.johannsen@jhilburnpartner.com)! I am getting my business off the ground and I would greatly appreciate any and all referrals. Our stuff is just amazing and it makes the BEST gift! My website is www.jordanjohannsen.jhilburn.com. Please check it out and let me know what you think! PS- I have $20 off vouchers for all new customers! Who doesn't love $20 off!?!?!

Things have been absolutely INSANE at Stellar Cosmetic Center as we quickly approach our grand opening on Monday the 29th. Technically we were supposed to open this past week but due to construction issues we had to push it back a week. I finally got to meet our Dental Assistant the other day and she is just so wonderful! Her name is Daisy and I look forward to getting to know her better for sure. Check out some pictures of our place. We would LOVE to clean your teeth! Come see us we are running some awesome grand opening specials right now.

Me and Daisy, our DA, in my office!

A constant status update...

“So many women treat life as a constant status update,” says Jane Buckingham, founder of the Millennial-focused research firm, Trendera. “They’re thinking about how their lives look instead of how their lives feel.”

I read this quote a few weeks ago and it really resonated with me. So I did a little research and found out that it was from a Cosmo article. This obsession with having what appears to be a perfect life is pervasive. From clothes, to pictures, to Facebook status updates, Millennials go to great lengths to project a picture perfect life. People are so concerned with having a life that LOOKS perfect to everyone on the outside that they forget that what really matters is how their life feels on the inside.

Don't get me wrong... there are so many things I LOVE about social media... it helps me stay in touch with my friends who are near and far, it keeps me up to date on current events and news, and it allows me to interact with new people. However, social media is not without its faults and negative side effects. One of these negative effects is that social media can absolutely send your self esteem plummeting. Seeing everyone around you living what appears to be a picture perfect life can lead to a lot of self doubt.

Facebook is a prime example of this. How many times have you logged into Facebook only to find your timeline splattered with people bragging about their perfect lives including (but not limited to) their engagements, babies, hot bodies, ridiculous work outs, new designer (insert item here),  job promotions, amazing relationships etc.  There is SO much pressure on our generation to be perfect and this results in people presenting a completely fabricated image of themselves and their lives on their Facebook pages, Twitter feeds, Instagrams and blogs (but not this one of course!). Don't get me wrong- I love me some Louboutin shoes, I was super excited to get my new jobs, and I have posted a swimsuit pic or two in my time (but I worked stinking hard for that body and I had no problem admitting that!) You better believe that when I get engaged I will be over joyed to make it Facebook offish and I will post many ridiculously cute photos.  I have no problem posting about these things in moderation and updating my friends on my life. However, I don't think from looking at my Facebook page anyone would think that I have a perfect life or that I pretend to. There are things I love about myself and things I don't. I have good days and I have really bad days. I am human! At the end of the day I realize that no status update on Facebook is going to enhance my life in any way, shape or form. I may be able to fool others but I can't fool myself. I do my best to portray to others that in my life God gets all the glory for the blessings I have. I did nothing to deserve any of them. Without Him and His grace I would be nothing!

To top it off, the perfect lives that everyone portrays on social media can "trigger (a) confidence crash when there’s nothing good to report or, worse, a humiliating photo or less-than-flattering piece of news about your job or relationship status goes public," according to Cosmopolitan.


Lezzz be honest here... at one point or another we have all spent time creeping on our friends (and frienimies) and comparing our lives to theirs. Whether you want to admit it or not, comparisons like this always magnify your feelings of inadequacy and lead to massive amounts of self doubt.  I can't think of any time when I have creeped on someone and walked away from my computer like "WOW! My life is so awesome! Go me!". Infact, 99% of the time the opposite is true and I am left feeling bad about myself and my situation. "I don't have as much money as her" or "she has better genes than me I will never be that thin" or "she gets everything" or "he is so stupid how did he get THAT job?"... the list of inequities and doubts goes ON and ON and ON. It turns me into someone who I frankly don't like or recognize. What I finally had to realize is that ALL you see on Facebook/Twitter is the best of everyone's life. Almost no one is willing to admit that they had a bad day, lost their job, got their heart broken, gained 20 lbs, etc. because it doesn't add to their "picture perfect" persona. If they put up their "highlight" reel and you compare it to your outtakes and bloopers... clearly things are NOT going to match up!

The Cosmo article I read also had a good point: "Today’s young women are so busy trying to figure out what would impress their FB friends and Twitter followers, they have a harder time pinpointing their own true desires." How exhausting! I think that is the greatest truth we can pull out of all of this. Don't get so caught up in trying to be perfect that you ignore what you want out of life and what is truly important to YOU.

 I am a firm believer that God has a plan for each and every single one of us.  He gives us special talents to use. He puts dreams in our head and desires in our hearts to guide us to the plans that He has for us. DON'T IGNORE THESE TALENTS, DREAMS, THOUGHTS and DESIRES! They are there for a reason!

One of my favorite verses ever is Jeremiah 29:11. I have found myself seeking refuge in these words so many times throughout my life. Somehow this scripture always offers comfort when my soul is troubled. These words remind me that God has a plan for ME. Specifically for me. I am but one of his MANY children and yet He has a plan for me. Think about that for a second... my mom is an absolutely amazing mom but she can barely keep track of a plan for me and my sister for one day, much less for a week. God has a plan for our ENTIRE life. Not only does He have a plan, He has plans for good things in my life. He knows I will encounter evil in the world and yet He has plans to combat it. God has got everything figured out... not only for me, but for you as well. It really just blows my mind to think about how amazing our God is. Through Christ's salvation he gave us hope and a future. He loves us more than we can even fathom. His love is unconditional. It has no beginning and no end. He promises us that when we pray, He will listen and that if we seek Him wholeheartedly we will find Him.

God knows where you need to be in your life at each and every single minute. Where you are RIGHT now is where He wants you to be. You are reading this blog for a reason. Maybe He just wanted to remind you that He loves you and that despite the worries, fears, and tribulations of life you are exactly where you need to be. God has things that He wants to do to you and through you. He has lessons to teach you and He may need to use you to teach others. Allow Him to mold you. Give Him your heart and TRUST in Him. If you seek Him you will find Him and He will lead you to the life He has planned for you and you alone.

One of my devotionals had a beautiful reminder this week. It said "Trust Him. Depend on Him. Seek Him first. Acknowledge His infinite wisdom and power.  He is the perfect Father. He'll never leave you waiting because He forgot. God is like the dad who is already there before you even realize that you need him. He will help you through everything."

This imagery really stuck with me. I remember being in high school and although I never drank or did anything crazy I still wanted to fit in. I would beg and beg my parents to let me go to the parties and I promised to call them to come get me if things got out of hand. My parents trusted me and would normally let me go for a while just so I could hang out with my friends. There were so many times I can recall being at one of these parties and suddenly feeling like I didn't fit in because I wasn't drinking. Things would start to get out of hand and I would panic. Just as I would reach for my phone to call my mom or dad I would look down to see that I already had a text from them. "I am here, text me when you are ready to leave." Just like God, my parents knew I would need them and that I would want to go home before I even knew it. When you are tired of trying to make things "perfect" in your life and you are ready to turn to God he is already there waiting outside in the car for you to text Him.

If you read nothing else in this post I want you to read this (I guess if you are this far down you are probably pay attention haha)

God doesn't want the "perfect Facebook status update". 

He wants you to come to Him bruised and broken. He knows everything that troubles your heart and He wants you to turn to Him to heal it.
And this is the best news... Ladies, if you have God in your life it will be PERFECT because you will be living out His plans for you. (No, not every single day will be perfect but you will be able to see the bigger picture even on those days and you will be able to trust in His plans and His love).

So please do this for me (and for YOU):
Stop comparing yourself to others.
Remember- He has a plan specifically for you. That means that your plan is unlike anyone elses. I can guarantee that if you put Him first in your life you will see how petty so many of the things that used to rob you of self esteem truly are.

Focus on what you want out of life. What is important to you? If you sit down and think about it I don't think designer clothes, purses, cars, ripped bodies, alcohol, etc is going to be the list. If those things are really that important to you go check out the Jersey Shore or another such reality show. They can advise you accordingly haha.

Stop worrying about how your life looks and worry about how it feels. Spend more time with God making something of yourself. Focus on the feelings and the people, not on the things.  Make something out of your life. When you stop trying to impress others you will. Live you life for Him and I promise no "perfect" Facebook status will compare.

Log off Facebook and log in to life!

Who Shot a Hole in my Sobrero?!

I have been struggling to right the perfect tribute to my Papa. A man so incredible deserves that. I guess all I can do is try to describe what my Papa means to me. I have been blessed with such an incredible family and at the head of our family is our Papa. From the time I was a little girl I have the most vivid memories of my Papa. He was always making us laugh and smile with his signature song "Who shot a hole in my sombrero?". He had of course written the lyrics to the song and they changed regularly but each time he sang the chorus he would blame one of us grandkids for shooting the hole in his sombrero and we would crack up and try to blame it on someone else. Papa- I still don't know who shot the hole in your sombrero...but it was not me! Haha I don't have a single bad memory of being at Papa and Granny's house. It was a "happy place" for me because when I was there I was surrounded by family. We used to go over to Granny and Papas as little kiddos and swim for hours in their hot tub. Granny would eventually have to come and coax us out with cookies or another treat because we would have stayed in there all day! They had a downstairs living room in their old house that we converted into our play room. Many a great adventure took place down there and we played more games of red light green light than I could possibly count. They also had a downstairs bathroom with a fickle lock that my cousin Garrett was notorious for getting locked in. I would always have to call Papa from upstairs to come down and guide Garrett on how to get out. Each time he would laugh and do so with a smile...clearly he had a lot of patience!

Holidays were always the best times with Papa and Granny. We always gather at their house to enjoy faith, food and family. One Christmas we asked papa what he wanted and he told us he needed some new shorts. This seemed like an incredibly odd request given that it was the middle of winter and none of us had ever seen papa wear shorts...but we assumed that maybe he needed them for the hot Texas summers and proceeded to buy him shorts. When Christmas Day rolled around and Papa began opening his presents we couldn't help but notice a look of confusion. Papa said something like "well I sure got a lot of shorts, not sure if I'm going to wear these". Puzzled, my aunt said, "well that's what you asked for!". A grin exploded on papa's face from ear to ear as he realized there had been a miscommunication. He had meant shorts as in underwear not as in actual shorts! The entire room bust into laughter!

Holidays were always special because Papa would give us talks that lasted about an hour. During this time he would share advice, his faith, his thoughts, and his stories. One of my favorite lessons he taught was his thoughts on faith. He said that each person is a vessel and therefore we should stand with one hand up receiving blessings and talents from God and one hand down channeling these gifts to others. Those who are blessed should be a blessing to others. As good Christians we shouldn't stand with one hand up and the other on our hip for that is a selfish way to live. Eventually we become "full" of blessings and God stops filling us up so to speak. If we continue to live our lives helping others however He will continue to provide. This is such a strong image and it will stick with me forever. No matter how much or how little I have I will always take time to care about others and help them.

Papa was a coach and leader to so many and I credit him with teaching me he most important lesson of all- how to love. Teaching is more than just speaking words, it is being a living example. My Papa was the best example that anyone could ever ask for. From a young age he sacrificed so much to raise my mom, aunts and uncle. Putting aside many of his own hopes and dreams and opting to raise his kids. Papa, however, never saw this as a sacrifice because being a dad was the best job he could imagine. Through his example, he showed me what it means to be an incredible parent. He did everything possible to provide for his family. He taught them the most important things in life where a strong faith in God, love, and family. Money was always tight but Papa never let that stop him. My mom always told me a story about walking in one night when she was a young girl and seeing her Daddy on his knees and talking. She asked what he was doing and Papa replied that he was talking to God. She then asked what he was talking to God about and he told her that he was praying for wisdom. He was praying for the wisdom to make the right decisions for his family, the wisdom to guide and lead his children, the wisdom to know right from wrong and the wisdom to always seek God for the answers to life's many questions. God must have answered his prayers because Papa was the wisest man I have ever known. Another night my mom walked in on my Papa praying and he said that he was praying for faith and food. It was the end of the month and money was especially tight. So tight in fact that there wasn't enough money to buy food for the family for the upcoming week. Papa told my mom to have faith and to believe that God would find a way to provide for them. My mom listened to his advice and kneeled by his side... praying for God to take care of them and trusting that He would. Lo and behold, a bag of potatoes fell off a truck right outside their house and it was just enough to get them through the week. God always provides for those who love and trust in Him.

Papa and his kids (Marka, Randy, Shawna, and Tonya)

Papa taught me an invaluable lesson about marriage. Papa and Granny (Diane) met when they were in their 50's and for my papa it was love at first sight. Papa was a principal at Highland Park and Granny was the principal at Garland. They met at a conference and he asked her on a date immediately. My mom knew Diane was something special when Papa spent 30 minutes trying on different outfits before their first date. A few short months later they were married and they have been sweethearts ever since. Granny and Papa are a shining example of soulmates. They are truly made by God for one another. They were best friends and they have a deep passionate love for one another. Papa always called Granny "his beautiful bride" and "sweetie" and Granny always called Papa "her sweetie pie". They went on dates and courted each other until the last days of Papa's life. They had an incredible romance and love story that I hope to emulate in my own life. Granny and Papa have come to EVERYTHING I have ever done growing up and they have loved and supported me every single step of the way. Granny and Papa took me out to a special lunch a couple of summers ago after I had just been through a major break up. They told me about their marriage and how they found each other. They encouraged me to write down all of the qualities that were important to me in a partner and to put this list inside my bible and pray every night for my soulmate. They gave me additional advice on respect, faith, and finances. I did as they advised and made my list and put it in my bible. Months later I met Logan and it was truly as if he was tailor made to fit that list! Once again my Papa was right. Had I not had that talk with him and granny I don't think I would have been ready to meet Logan when I did or to recognize that he was the one that God had made for me. It breaks my heart to know that Papa won't be here to see me and Logan spend our life together but I know he will be watching and guiding from above. He always told me that he wanted me to be happy and I am the happiest I have ever been. I am glad that he got to meet Logan and spend some time with him. In the few times Logan spent with Papa he was like a sponge, absorbing every story and lesson that Papa taught. He made a big impact on Logan. I have always said that I want the man I marry to ask my dad and my papa for their blessing. My mom knew this and after Papa passed she told me that Papa had given his stamp of approval on Logan. My heart swelled with joy! Somehow Papa knew how important it was to me to have his approval and even though Logan didn't get around to asking him quiet yet he made sure my mom knew that he believed that we were soulmates and that he trusted Logan with my heart. :)

I have concluded that I will never stop missing Papa but with each passing day I get one day closer to seeing him again. I see him in small things...like a song on the radio or a random act of kindness. But I also have so much of him still here because his lessons and the way he taught me to live and love will never leave... and those are the big things. As I am getting into my new jobs I wish more than anything I could pick up the phone and call him. I know he couldn't care less about a custom shirt or getting his teeth whitened...those type of things never mattered to him haha but I also know that he'd be my first customer. I have had a rough and sleepless week and as I got ready this morning I said a silent prayer to help me get through today. As I finished the song "When I get where I'm going" came on the radio and the most peaceful feeling came over me. I think it was my
Papa reminding me to stay positive and to let me know that he's still watching over me. I love you Papa and I will never stop! I sure do miss you, but I know I'll see you again someday.

"I'm gonna walk with my granddaddy and he'll match me step for step, and I'll tell him how I missed him every minute since he left and then I'll hug his neck..."