Friday's Letters

Dear Husband, It's been 5 months since the day you became mine forever! 5 MONTHS! Dear Em & Patches, Your wedding was beautiful and fabulous. Everyone loved being able to witness you two entering into the most precious thing this side of heaven, marriage. Enjoy that honeymoon! Dear Laundry, I will dominate you this weekend. Dear Weather, Can you please stay this way forever? Dear Phillips Family, As you all transition into your new normal you are in the prayers of many. Never hesitate to call and ask for help. We are all here for you. Dear Pat, When I got home on Monday you had cleaned our entire kitchen from top to bottom. You know just the way to this girl's heart (and sanity).

Walkin' in Memphis

This past weekend Pat and I made our way to Memphis for the wedding of two of my good college friends.We decided to break up the trip and drive just to Birmingham on Thursday. I love when we get to do this because that means we get to stay with my grandmother. It's always great to see her even if it is only for a short visit. We also got to see one of my best friends/sorority sister/ roommate from college. Even if it was only for an hour that Starbucks coffee trip brought back so many great memories from college.

Kelli and I

We woke up really early so I could make it to the Bridesmaid Luncheon on time. I only got one picture there. Of course it was of me and the bride :)

Emily and I 

The Rehearsal was a blast. I feel like that is weird to say, but we really all did have fun. I'm pretty sure we were all laughing the entire time. I've missed my college friends!

Blurry Bridesmaids + Bride

Despise this picture of me but Hubs is looking good!

Rehearsal Dinner with the Bride

After the Rehearsal Dinner we all went out on Beale Street for a little bit to a place called Alfreds. We had a blast just hanging out and listening to the band.

Alfred's with Emily

One last picture together before the big day!

The day of the wedding was actually pretty relaxing despite a mini disaster that morning. We all got ready at Emily's parent's house and of course their downstairs decided that would be a great day to get flooded. Yikes! It was all cleaned up super fast and there was nothing to worry about the rest of the day! Lucky Em- she got her "Wedding Day Disaster" out of the way early ;) 

Bride getting ready :)

Sweet Heather did all of our makeup. Quite the undertaking! ;)

All the girls before the ceremony

Reunion with Ky-Ky on the party bus :)

First Dance

Best wedding date around

Suse!!

All-in-all, the weekend was a blast! It was like a flashback to college and all of the band parties we went to together. Pat officially wishes he went to college in the south after realizing this was how college was for us. I wish we could do it once a month. Too bad we're all spread out from coast-to-coast! Now someone else just needs to get hitched :)

Will your life be an impact on this earth for generations after you leave it?

That question has been one that has been weighing heavily on me for almost a week now. Mr. Randy, a spiritual father to many on the campus of MSU, passed away last Tuesday at 9:30 at night. You can't help but feel joy knowing what joy Mr. Randy must be feeling sitting in the presence of Jesus. He is home. He is missed. In the midst of the joy is a deep sadness and ache for all of us here. It's been a few years since I had the opportunity to sit and listen to Mr. Randy but that deep voice is one I can still hear in my mind today. It is one of the most soothing voices I have ever heard. My heart aches for his sweet wife Mrs. Maureen and his 13 children. They were all so deeply loved by their husband and their father. He loved them as everyone should be loved. His life deeply impacted many people at my college. He didn't work there, but he discipled there. I would argue that he had the most important "job" on campus. I am leaving you all with a video. It is a brief sermon about the life of Mr. Randy and how his life will have an impact on this earth for years to come. I hope it inspires and convicts you. It was just the thing I needed to hear in a time of sorrow.

http://vimeo.com/76050192

Blood Mountain

So sorry for abandoning y'all last week! It was one of those weeks where I just couldn't seem to get caught up on anything.

This past weekend my brothers stayed with us while my parents went to my mom's high school reunion in Columbus, MS. Well, the weather here this past weekend was absolutely perfect. There is no other way to put it. It would have been a crime if we had stayed inside all day and had done nothing. Pat is an Eagle Scout and both of my brothers are currently in the Boy Scouts so we figured we would take them hiking. We decided on Blood Mountain because none of them had ever hiked that trail before. It had been 10 years since the last time I did it. Blood Mountain is the highest peak in Georgia and the view at the top is completely worth all the pain.

My little brothers at an overlook

Finally at the top- taking it all in

My honey :)

All 4 of us

He doesn't like this picture bc he think he looks like a giant. I love it :)

You can't tell me that view isn't worth it. Breathtaking.

We ended that trip by chowing down on some BBQ, and I may have made them stop at the outlet mall on the way home. Oops!

Friday's Letters

Photo Credit: Jesse Phillips

This Friday's Letters will be a little different for me. I am so joyful that it is finally Friday, but at the same time my heart is heavy. Mr. Randy (pictured center) is someone who made my college years one of major spiritual growth. He currently is battling stage 4 cancer and as of yesterday has lost almost all ability to communicate. My Friday's Letters is dedicated to him and his sweet family.

Mr. Randy,
I'm not going to lie when I first met you I was intimidated. You are someone who naturally draws people to you. I didn't quite understand what it was at first and after spending just one Sunday with your family at church and then at lunch, I understood. It's Jesus. You are literally oozing with Jesus, grace, love, compassion and forgiveness. You are gentle and kind. Someone who can be a spiritual leader to so many while gently guiding them towards The Gospel and applying it in every day life. I have many great memories from college and most of my favorite ones include you and your family. 

The ENTIRE Phillips Family

Mr. Randy,
We, the students of Mississippi State, could never thank you or your family enough. You opened up your home to us on countless Friday nights for a time of fellowship and growth. I cherish those memories and a part of me aches for them every Friday night. I learned what it means to serve through the simple actions of your wife and children. I learned what it means to give grace when it more than likely won't be returned. I learned what it means to live with grace. Most importantly, I learned what it means to live your life for The Lord each and every moment. We all fall short and we will all stumble. I still struggle with my daily Quiet Time. I was humbled to learn that you still sometimes struggle in that department too. Listening to you talk about that struggle caused me to learn what it means to live a disciplined life. We may not always want to do what is best for us or for others, but you can over come that urge to fall backwards with some discipline and a lot of prayer and guidance from The One who truly wants what is best for us. I began to understand a little more that The Lord's way is not the same as ours. There will be times of pain and struggle, but those times are being used to bring us closer to The Lord. Those times are also used as a time of disciplinary action. We do tend to forget that we are still children most of the time. It is always a moment of awe once you remember that you are truly the child of a King. The most marvelous King that will ever exist.

There is one night that has always stuck out to me more than the others, Mr. Randy. I will never forget the moment when you said, "Sometimes I don't love my wife." You could have heard a pin drop in that room at that exact moment. The feeling in the room at that exact moment was pure shock. The love that you and Mrs. Maureen have for each other is a love that most people just dream of. We couldn't understand what you meant by that. Your explanation is one that I take with me in my day-to-day life. You told us in moments of anger you are not loving any one. In the moments of when you are angry with anyone you are not in the act of loving them. The best way to dumb that down even more is to take the passage from 1 Corinthians 13 that so many people know- 

 Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7

When I apply this truth to my life I like to take out the word "Love" and replace it with my name. In anger am I being patient and kind? Am I not being arrogant or rude or irritable or resentful? The answer to all those questions is no. I had never understood that before. I know I still have a long way to go. I probably always will. I am naturally an extremely stubborn person that has a temper that can flare up. I try to remind myself of that moment in your living room surrounded by so many brothers and sisters in Christ. That was the moment when I began to understand what love truly is, and I grasped a deeper understanding of the love that Christ has for all of us. 

I praise God that I was able to spend just some of my time in college with you and your family. I praise God that he put you in my life at a time where I was growing spiritually but was still a little lost. I praise God for the light that shines so brightly from each and every one of your children. I praise God for their friendships, their grace, their forgiveness, their patience, and their servant-like hearts. I praise God for the moment that you were led to Him. I praise God that he molded you into a clay jar and used you as a vessel to so many. I praise God that even through one of the most difficult battles in your life that you are still at peace. I praise God that through the simple Facebook postings of your sons and daughters-in-law that the light of Jesus is shining so brightly and spreading to so many. 

I am praying for your continued peace. I pray that you are comfortable. I pray for the strength of Mrs. Maureen and your children. I pray that I will see you again one day. 

The words "Thank you" will never seem to be enough. Through Christ you have given me some of the most important lessons that I will ever learn. I pray that as I grow older I will remember them and continue to strive to be more Christ-like.

Thank you, Mr. Randy.

A normal weekend. For once.

Sometimes you just need a weekend at home. We actually got a lot done and still managed to be rested AND go to a Braves game.

Our weekends are usually spent deep cleaning our house and airing it out. We live in an old house and old houses just have a unique smell to them. I'm all about fresh air in the house so we open all the windows and let the wind blow through all weekend long. For some reason this intrigued Fluff more than anything this week. Well, Punks (the black and orange one) got all jealous (as usual) and decided to join in on the fun. We have fat cats. One fat cat on the window ledge is pushing it. Two fat cats on the window ledge ... well, it just doesn't quit work-

Fall is one of my favorite times in The South just because of college football. I thought watching football on Saturday was the perfect time to break out my new favorite ice cream. My favorite beer + ice cream = heaven. If you're in ATL please check out Frozen Pints. Their ice cream is fabulous!!

Saturday night we went to the Braves game with our good friends Jason and Kristi. Kristi always finds the best deals for Braves games. This game our tickets were $65 for the both of us in the outfield and we got a Braves Tervis Tumbler gift to go along with it. Now, I'm a sucker for a Tervis Tumbler. I drink out of one all day, every day. They seriously keep your drink colder for so much longer than just a regular cup. I think we have about 20 ... I wish I was exaggerating!

Not a bad view!

Sunday is always laundry day at our house. This Sunday laundry day also meant nap time. Pat and I both took a nap on the couch together. Something we never do. Well, we were both woken up by Fluff and it sounded like she was panicking about something. Of course, I jumped up to investigate. When I got back into our den to reclaim my spot I found it occupied ... What. A. Diva. You know what they say about people who cry wolf....

Happy Monday, y'all! Go out and take the week by storm!!

Friday Letters

DC; Summer 2009

Dear Patty, thank you for taking care of me when I had a migraine on Wednesday. Even when I was being a butt. Whoops! Thank you for your grace during that time :) Dear Work, my you have seriously dragged by this week. SO happy it's Friday! Dear Braves, I'm going to see you tomorrow. Please win! Dear AlPal, I am so so proud of you for pass the Bar! You have always been one of the hardest working people I know. Still so thankful for our summer internship on The Hill for bringing us together. Dear Pat, thank you for being a full-time student and still finding the time to work two jobs. You are the most driven person I know. Love you to the moon and beyond!