2nd bowl of the weekend...The Egg Bowl!!

So if you know Jason and me, you know we love football. One rivalary game just wasn't enough for us this weekend, so we went to the Egg Bowl (Ole Miss vs. State). We headed up Saturday morning to Oxford to meet up with the Pettit and Hawkins' families. We had a great time tailgating in The Grove and spending time with friends. Jason went to cheer on the Rebels with Chip, while Rachel, baby Hill and I enjoyed dinner on the square and hanging out at the Pettit's condo. Unfortunatley Ole Miss fell short in the end, but thankfully Oxford is an awesome place to be no matter a win or loss. Thanks to Whitney and Hart for their hospitality. We look forward to more fun times in The Grove to support our 2nd favorite SEC team.

No place like The Grove!

Cute Hill, little Rebel in the making!!

Whitney and me....thanks for having us Whit!


So thankful for Whitney and Rachel. Thanks for a fun day and night :)

An Iron Bowl to remember...

We decided last minute to buy tickets to the Iron Bowl and I'm so thankful we did!! We would be going through Tuscaloosa on our way back home from Thanksgiving, so why not make a pit stop in Ttown?? I wasn't so excited about our last minute decision during the 1st 1/2 of the game, but after we scored the first TD, I just had a feeling we would come back. This is a game we will be telling our children and grandchildren about one day. What a wonderful way to end the regular season!!

The most loyal AU fan I know, my dad.

Although Jason went to college in North Carolina, we are very thankful he supports the Auburn Tigers!! One of our first dates was the 06 AU/LSU game. We won and he has been an AU Tiger ever since :)

The sun began to come out around 1/2 time. Thankfully the weather was not the only thing that changed for the better.

The north end zone upper deck was a sea of orange with some crimson here and there.

Celebrating after the game....the Bammer fans have left the building.

Looking forward to ATL this weekend. We've been on the road a lot this football season, but it has all been worth it. War Eagle!

Giving Thanks!!

Devote yourselves to prayer, keeping alert in it with an attitude of thanksgiving- Colossians 4:2- New American Standard

With the stresses that life can often bring, it is sometimes hard to remember how blessed we really are and how thankful we should be. This Thanksgiving Jason and I had so much to be thankful for. Although life may not always follow OUR timeline or go the way we plan it, what a comfort it is to know that God will always provide.

My list of blessings and thanks seem to be endless, but here are a few things I'm thankful for during this holiday season....

~ A wonderful husband, who provides unconditional love, support and encouragement. What a blessing it is to have a husband who truly honors me. 1 Peter 3:7 (New King James Version) Husbands, likewise, dwell with them with understanding, giving honor to the wife, as to the weaker vessel, and as being heirs together of the grace of life, that your prayers may not be hindered.

~My amazing parents who will be married 38 years this May. They are such great role models in the way they live their life. Their love and support has been such a comfort to me in my 29 years and will continue to be.

~My sweet in-laws that have always been supportive and caring. I believe they are going on 34-35 yrs. of marriage?? They as well, have been great examples for Jason and me. They raised a wonderful son that I'm so proud to call my husband.

~A supportive extended family...aunts, uncles, grandmothers (3 living), cousins, etc. Although we don't see each other as often as we'd like, I know they are always there if we need them. I think and pray for them often!!

~To only live 4 hours away from most friends and family. Although I complain about this, we could be much furthur. It is nice to know that we can get in the car and can seem them in a few hours.

~Fabulous Friends--there is that joke you can't choose your family, but you can choose your friends. Well I got lucky b/c I have got both- great family and friends. I often long to see my old friends, but I'm so thankful for new friends too!! I don't get to see childhood/college friends (who are some of my BEST friends) often enough, but I know they will always be there and I'm so thankful for that!! I will forever be grateful to my sweet Kosy friends as well. They are a true blessing and made my transition from city to small town life (ha) much easier

~To live in the greatest country.....USA!!! I've often wondered why some of us are so fortunate to be born here and others into such poverty. I even feel guilty at times for this. How wonderful it is to live in a land that provides so much opportunity and freedom!

~JOBS!!! Working isn't fun sometimes, but we should never take a job for granted. Jason and I know firsthand being in the banking industry. Proverbs 12:11 He who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment.

~My dog, Radley :) As silly as this sounds, he brings so much joy to our lives. My goal in life is to be as good of a person my dog already thinks I am. ~Author Unknown

~Lastly, but surely not least...our forgiving and loving saviour, Jesus Christ. So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10

***So my list may have seemed endless, but in this season of thanksgiving, "my cup runneth over". Happy late Thanksgiving!!!

Memphis Memories

This past weekend we celebrated our 3 yr. anniversary with a quick trip to Memphis. We enjoyed a wonderful dinner, shopped, watched the famous ducks at The Peabody and walked Beale Street. The Christmas decor at The Peabody was so gorgeous, I could have just lounged around their beautiful lobby all night. Thanks to Jason for treating to me to a fun night out and even letting me buy a few clothes (b/c you know I really needed them). I'm looking forward to my next weekend getaway in Memphis. Girls- I think we need to plan one!

The flower arrangements were perfect.

These ducks definitely live the "good life".
The red carpet is rolled out for them at 5:00 pm so they can march to the elevator and go to the "Duck Palace" atop of the Peabody. I'm sure it was a hard days work, so hopefully they had a restful night.

The "Duckmaster" leading the ducks down the red carpet. Wonder how you become the "Duckmaster". Maybe that is what I should pursue?

Enjoying the Christmas decorations before dinner

Jason looking so handsome :)

We thought we'd go visit the ducks on the rooftop after dinner.

Stuffed after the some of the finest steaks we've ever eaten. Go to The Butcher Shop if you're ever VERY HUNGRY, love steaks and are in Memphis.

We want to live in The Duck Palace :0)

The Duck Palace

Unfortunatley they live in the back of the palace; doesn't look so grand after all.

I'm almost embarrassed to write this, but yes, we took Radley on our anniversary trip. We hate boarding him and the hotel was pet friendly (well for $50 extra bucks). This was his first time in a hotel and I'm happy to say he did very well. They had his bed waiting in the room for him.

He loved his bed and did a lot of this while we enjoyed a night out.

Radley and the ducks have a pretty good life...haha. It was a great weekend :) Maybe Radley can meet the ducks next time.....maybe not!

Girl's Night Out!!

Traditions and Trends (my favorite shop in Kosy) hosted a Girls Night Out last night. We painted a cute Christmas Tree and then took advantage of some great deals at the store. I had some trouble with the swirl on my painting, but overall it turned out okay. It was a great night out with my sweet girlfriends :)

BEST IN THE WEST!!

I doubt Cam will be back next year, but a girl can dream (haha). He has brought so much energy to the AU family!

We enjoyed our last home game Saturday with a big win over UGA to clinch the SEC West. What a season it has been. Although I hate that the last few weeks have been filled with allegations against Cam Newton and Auburn, I think it has brough the AU family even closer. Whatever may happen, it has been one heck of a season. Can't wait until ATL and hope we'll be booking a flight to Phoenix on 12/5!! War Eagle!!

Cheers to Three Years!!

Falling in love is easy, but staying in love is something truly special...

Today Jason and I are celebrating 3 years of marriage. I feel so blessed to have found him and even more fortunate that he chose me as his wife. I can honestly say that marriage has been easy. We've had a lot of changes in our three shorts years together- 2 houses, job changes, 2 towns, etc. Even when things weren't perfect (like moving) I was just happy knowing that we have each other. Although LOVE is a very important part of our marriage....we also respect each other, trust each other and just enjoy each other's company. He is not only my husband, but my best friend. Marriage has truly been grand and I fall more in love with Jason each day!! It has been a great 3 years and I'm looking forward to the years to come!!

I enjoyed going back through my wedding album; everything was so perfect about that day!

I promised Jason smiled in the other pics- ha

Happy 3 years Jason!!!

Delicious Dip!!

We had some friends over Saturday night to watch football and I served Buffalo Chicken Dip as one of the appetizers. I've made it for a few recent gatherings and it always seems to be a big hit!! I must give my friend, Jennifer Robinson, credit for introducing me to this dip. She always made it for all our get togethers in Montgomery, so I guess I'm going to bring the tradition to MS. I actually got the recipe below from a friend of a friend's blog. If you google it you'll find a few variations of it, but I found hers to be my favorite. Try this recipe soon...you won't be disappointed :)

~2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
~2 cups of freshly-cooked, chopped chicken (can use canned, but I prefer boiled chicken)
~1 cup ranch dressing
~3/4 cup wing sauce (I use the Moore's wing sauce)
~2 cups shredded cheddar cheese

Mix all ingredients together and bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes

Taste great with Frito Chips or Celery

**I've tried it cold as leftovers and still thought it was pretty tasty!

Zip line fun....

Okay, so my last two post have been a bit heavy. I guess I just had a lot I wanted to share. On a lighter note, I wanted to share something funny. We have a zip line in our back yard. The family we bought our house from had 3 young children, so the back yard came with a play set, tree house,tire swing and zip line. I can't believe we've lived here over a year and never tried it. For some reason we thought this was a good idea last Sunday. I think I'll change out of my Sunday best befor attempting it next time. So here we are breaking in the zip line....

Home Sweet Home...

A year ago today we were making the drive back to Montgomery after signing the contract on our new house in MS. We were filled with so many emotions that weekend. (like I can't believe we are really moving to Kosciusko, MS??) Although we had only been in Montgomery 3 years as a married couple, it had become our home. Our first house, our first "married couple" friends, first church as a couple, etc. I'm not saying that Montgomery is the most fantastic place to live (I know there are many more desirable places), but it was our home and were sad to leave it.

Both of us grew up in small towns and of course never thought we'd be back in one and did NOT want to go back to one. I guess the term NEVER say NEVER is so true. We had the opportunity to move to Winston-Salem w/ BB&T and keep up the same pace of life we were living, but there was something about M&F Bank and Kosciusko that intrigued us. The people were so genuine, so real and have proven to us over the past year that they truly are that way. Of course I still have my moments and miss things about life in the "bigger city" (Montgmery is not even that big-ha), but I've got to say the longer I'm here, life AIN'T so bad in small town USA.

For those who know me well, you will enjoy some of our trade offs below....

~We've traded a fancy Friday night out for a high school football game and dinner at the local BBQ joint

~Sunday brunches at Wynlakes CC for Sunday lunches at "The Place for Fish"

~Shopping at Ann Taylor for finding a good bargain a the local "Dirt Cheap"

.....as much as I thought those silly trade offs would kill me....they've made me a better person. Life isn't about dining at a nice country club or shopping at the finest stores (although it is fun and nothing wrong w/ it), but life is about the relationships you make with people. We've made some of the sweetest friends, have thoughtful neighbors and Jason LOVES his job. I'm not saying we didn't have these things in Montgomery, but I think our slower pace of life has allowed us to enjoy it and appreciate it more. We have so much to be thankful for!! Who knows what life will bring in the future; we may not grow old here or we may be here forever. Whatever happens, Kosciusko will always hold a special place in our hearts!! Today I'm thankful for my new hometown and the blessings in my life :)

People make places, places don't make people.

**I've always liked "NEW" houses. Well in Kosciusko if you want "NEW" you're gonna have to build it. There are two "newer" neighborhoods in town and they had not one house for sale. Houses are hard to find here and we were foruntate to find this one. We've really enjoyed the character an older home has.

We spend many Saturdays raking leaves....see our recent pile above

We are the 2nd family in town w/ an Auburn flag. There is actually another Auburn grad in town that has an AU flag.

Wishy Washy Wednesday....Democrat or Republican??

Too often political discussions and election years can bring the absolute WORSE in us. Although I don’t agree with some of our nation’s leaders, we need to be praying for them and not wasting our time slandering them. I’ve heard some of the most hateful words come out of Christian’s mouths when speaking of political leaders. Let us try to remember that above being a Republican or Democrat our most important role should be a CHRISTIAN.

With all this being said, I wanted to share an article I read 3 years ago that I have shared with others in the past (posted below). The article was written by Anthony Cook, who writes a weekly religion column for my hometown newpaper, The Anniston Star. I’ve always enjoyed his articles and especially his perspective on politics in this article. Hope you enjoy it!!

Anthony Cook:

Is Jesus a Democrat or Republican?

Published: August 4, 2007

Democrat, Republican. Conservative, Liberal.

Our country today seems to be split almost down the middle based on these affiliations, these party names.

Republicans for the most part are considered conservative, while Democrats tend to have liberal leanings.

Which are you?

Is either more godly than the other?

Have you held up your party beliefs to the Bible?

Do they all fit perfectly?

Shouldn't they?

Members of each party claim to have the more Christian view of the world, while also accusing the other party of being in cahoots with the devil himself.

But instead of allowing conservatives to define liberals and liberals to define conservatives, let's look at how the dictionary defines each.

According to Webster's New World Dictionary, a conservative is someone who is cautious, safe, and tends to preserve established traditions and principles.

A liberal, by definition, is someone who is generous, tolerant of other views and favors change that benefits individuals.

In plain terms, as a conservative, I believe I have the skills, will power, work ethic and moral fiber to achieve the American dream, and should be left alone to fail or succeed on my own.

But, as a liberal, I believe the founders of this country intended for the American dream to be something for everyone, and if a fellow American needs a hand, we should all be willing to help where we can.

There's nothing un-American or ungodly about either of those views, and, in fact, this country was founded on a document that embraces all those ideals.

The problem is that the people who speak for both sides are caricatures of those ideals. They make conservatives sound like heartless ogres and liberals sound like psycho Robin Hoods.

And both sides claim to have the God market cornered.

Where would Jesus be in the argument? On the Right or on the Left?

He'd be where he is today - above it all.

He told the disciples to: "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." (Mark 12:17)

Jesus never condemned government, but he never considered government to be a partner in his mission to save people.

I believe he would remind liberals today that "... ye have the poor always with you ..." (Matt. 26:11).

You can't rescue everybody from their situation. Some people are where they are because of choices they've made in their life. Unfortunately, that's also freedom.

Jesus came to save man from his sins, not from his decisions.

And I believe he'd remind conservatives today that "Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me." (Matt. 25:40)

You can't call yourself the party of compassion while you make decisions that widen the gap between the "haves" and "have nots."

Republican, Democrat ...

Liberal, Conservative ...

Which are you?

Is either more godly than the other?

The only way to be godly is to be like Christ.

"... there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved." (Acts 4:12)

If you're called by that name, the others ought not matter so much.