Dress Up

LB wanted to play dress-up today with Daddy's jacket.

Baby it's cold outside

Oh Happy Day!

Black Friday Morning and Game Day Afternoon

Oh Happy Day!

Book Club 101

Growing up I never was a big reader.  I always wanted to play outside instead.  But my mom had a rule that we always had to have a book going.  Even if it just meant reading a few pages at bedtime.  Over time I grew to love reading.  My sister - who is now a librarian - used to recommend books to me.  We figured out that if she enjoyed a book I probably wouldn't like it, and vice versa.

I now am a part of a book club.  We are all newbies having just started our second book.  But I think everyone is really enjoying it.  Some come with English degrees, some with just a love of books, and some who couldn't even fathom the idea of getting together to discuss books.  We have different tastes in books.  But somehow we all mesh well together, and everyone has something special to bring to the group.

But after our second meeting where we actually discussed our first book I realized something - it really isn't about the reading or the books, although they are important.  The books are just our avenue and excuse for getting together.  What I value about our book club is that we are just an ordinary group of girls learning from each other's life experiences that inevitably come out over the snacks, book discussions and hang time.

Every girl needs a girls group.  Mine just happens to be about books.

Dad's Article - 20 Things I am Thankful For

Check out Dad's Thanksgiving article 20 Things I am Thankful For

Intentional at Life

Life is way too short. 

 Be intentional about living it.

Bring On the Holidays

One week ago we only had one day booked for the upcoming Thanksgiving week.  As of today, we have something every. single. day.  {insert sign here}

And as I woke up from my Sunday afternoon nap today, all I could think about is how fast our lives have become.  And I need to savor every minute of it.  Starting right now.

Life is fast and busy.  But that doesn't mean it has to be stressful too.

I say, Bring on the Parties ~ Family ~ Friends ~ and even the busy schedule!

This week I am thankful for:

• my nephew that my daughter loves to chase around, hug, and kiss
• Love In Action - who makes me want to step out of my comfort zone
• family that adores my little girl as much as I do
• My husband's guys group that pours into him 
• Football on Friday 

HAPPY THANKSGIVING WEEK!

What are you thankful for during this busy time of year?

Oh How I Love Saturdays

This morning my hubby got up with our daughter at 5am so I could get a few more snores in.  We shared a cup of coffee together and split our biscuits with our early bird.  Then we finished the crossword.  All before 7am.

Oh how I love Saturdays.

Crawlers Dress Clips

What do you do when you have an idea?  Well, I'm not a very patient person so typically I jump all over it. This time its a bit different.

I have this idea for a product for crawlers.  For baby girls.

When LB was learning to crawl she would crawl funny when wearing a dress because it would always get caught under her knees.  She could never get around very well.  And trying to tie the dress up in the back never worked for us.  Thus, the dress clip was born.

I'm still working on the designs.  Exploring materials.  Figuring out what hardware works best.  And trying to determine how much of an investment to put into it.

With lots of prayer and God leading the way, I'm ready to take this just one step at a time instead of diving in head first.

So, is this something that people would be interested in?  Don't know.  But I want to find out.  The first three people that respond requesting one of my dress clips I will gladly send to you free in exchange for feedback and pictures of it being used.

And please - all feedback is greatly appreciated!

Here are the designs I currently have.  Unfortunately, my model is napping so you'll just have to imagine them being worn.

Weagle Weagle

Going to Auburn for the weekend is always a high point, but this past weekend was particularly special.  It marked the 2nd Annual Ham-Ponder Family Reunion.

The two smallest Auburn Fans at the party - Henry and LB

With 20 tickets together, you would look down the row and all you could see were Ponders and Hams - literally!  It was incredible.  Immediately, a tradition was born.

With the family split between Auburn and Georgia fans, this past weekend's ballgame provided a perfect and natural fit for the gathering.  Having just started the reunion last year in Donalsonville with the Ponder side playing hosts, this year the Hams were hosting in their neck of the woods.

Plenty of delicious food, a fabulous gathering house for tailgating and plenty of cousins, aunts, uncles and grandmothers - it was a great weekend!

Carter and LB hanging out - She loved to admire his beautiful blond locks 

Uncle Ernest hanging out in the front yard

Hope is a Powerful Thing

I love a good party.  I love having a reason to get dressed up.  I love receiving an invitation in the mail and adding it to our calendar.

Thursday evening Wiregrass Hope Group will hold its annual banquet.  I believe this will be my 4th.  Every year I am amazed at the work they continue to accomplish.  Wiregrass Hope Group has identified several needs in this community and they are tackling them head on.

Hope Group reaches out to the married as well as un-wed.  The mom as well as the dad.  The teens in the classroom as well as the teenager that found out she's pregnant.

Families around the Wiregrass are finding hope again thanks to the outpouring of love and support from Hope Group.

Thursday night I will get dressed up.  Most likely through tears I will listen to several testimonies of how Hope Group has touched a person's life.  And I will walk away breathless at how God works through this wonderful organization to pick people back up and give them hope for the days to come.

Rally Rags, Spirit Fingers and Shakers

It is awesome to see family pull together and cheer one another along during a rough patch.

What greater thing is there for human souls than to feel that they are joined for life - to be with each other in silent unspeakable memories.  ~George Eliot

Surgery Went Well

Papaw's surgery went well.  It ended up being 5 bypasses instead of 3.  70% blockage.  It was a very long day.  Papaw's start time was pushed from 12 to 3.  And it was almost 10 pm when they finally called to say the surgery was over.  Today (Saturday) he was moved out of CCU and into a private room.  He rested and watched football in between napping.  After sitting up for 4-5 hours today Grandmama said he is in some pain tonight.

Still asking for prayers.  The scariest part is over, but there is still a long ways to go.

Thank you for all the calls, texts and messages.  Peace filled the waiting room yesterday as we all tried to be patient waiting for the long day to conclude.

God is good.

A Change of Heart

Did you know that God spends time on the golf course?

This week my grandfather played his regular round of Tuesday morning golf.  Voted.  And then went to the hospital because he had a massive heart attack.

Papaw plays golf every Tuesday morning at 7:30.  This is before the Club is even open.  The pro shop leaves out a couple of golf carts the night before.  And this group of men tee off with the sun.  The bet - three dollars.  You might think that the same three dollars go round and round, but I learned this week that Papaw and his partner were on a hot streak - 15 wins in a row - up until this past Tuesday.

Papaw was complaining that his chest was hurting.  Thankfully, one of the men in the group had a little pill in his pocket that he kept with him at all times.  This man, a retired doctor, and someone who had previously had heart surgery himself, kept this with him in case he ever had a heart attack.  The doc made him take the pill, which we later learned probably saved his life.  Thank you Lord for rising with the sun on Tuesday and heading to the golf course.

Today Papaw will have triple bypass surgery.  My prayers are for a successful surgery, may the Lord be with the surgeon and nurses, and strength for my grandmother.

I'm 27 years old and I have a gray hair.

My mom first cut my hair short when I was about 5 years old.  From then on I primarily had short to medium length hair growing up.  I started high lights in high school, continued in college and when Grant met me he thought I was a blond.  I slowly started doing low lights trying to get back to my natural color while I lived in Atlanta.  The last round came out dark and with a hint of auburn that I really enjoyed.

I haven't colored my hair since and it is now the longest it probably has ever been.

But today I saw something in my hair that I have never seen before.  A single gray strand of hair sparkled brightly in the bathroom lights as I washed my hands.  Caught off guard, I immediately moved closer to the mirror.  Surely my eyes have mistaken me.  Nope.  Its there.  Just a single right now.  And if the old wives tales are true, I will not be pulling it.  No need to help it multiply.

I'm 27 years old and I have a gray hair.  There are worse things.