anna morgan

Meet the new love of my life.

She, like her sister, is an early bird. She was born at 2:15 AM. An hour and forty-five minutes after I got the call that they were headed to the hospital. Three hours and forty-five minutes before I would make it to Montgomery.

When I did make it, the most beautiful and saturated pink sunrise was strutting its stuff in celebration of Miss Anna's arrival. Or at least I like to think so. I did that still-trying-to-be-lady-like run through the hospital lobby until I found the delivery room whose hall was buzzing with plenty of other nurses and excited family members. Being the baby of the family, there is something extra exciting about births. About knowing someone from their very first breath. Especially someone you know you'll remain close to. I mean, I'm already crying dreaming about Audrey and Anna's wedding days.

 
Meeting that 8 lbs. and 14 oz. of perfection was no different!

 

Among the four of us (which is now eight!) we've joked about how you'd think my parents had 12 children instead of 2 because of the way huge life events seem to overlap one another. Audrey was due the day I began college. As in, my first college class ever. Kind of a big deal, I guess. She came early. Actually, Molly was sent to the hospital as soon as I picked up my very first bag to pack for the big move. Thankfully, my incredible best friends kept my house key and finished my packing while we were gone. With little Miss Anna, she decided to enter the world just a day and a half after D and I had driven into this brand new state and began to settle into our new home. Needless to say, it makes things much more exciting for our little fam!

What I know to be true of all those crisscrossing life events is the evidence of the Lord's graciousness. If Audrey had come on her due date, there's no way I could have been there. It may have been labor day until I met that beauty. If Anna had been a week earlier, we may have been wrapped up in graduation or our farewell party or some other unpredictable event. This time, I was able to stay through the weekend while D was at a wedding back in Louisiana which meant spending more time with all the girls and not having to stay in our house by myself. It's amazing and hysterical and unbelievable. And undoubtedly beautiful.

Next time? Who knows. Molly and I will probably go into labor at the exact. same. time.

Just kidding, Mom!

celebrating love

Happy Valentines Day to you!

I'll be heading to work soon to sit in my office where I'll try not to use my lunch break to buy myself one of those mini Russell Stover hearts or size-of-your-head Hershey kisses. I haven't fallen off of the wagon yet. What I will be doing is embracing a little red and a little pink for the day. Don't you love dressing the part?

As much as I don't make a huge deal out of Valentines Day, it is perfect for my overly cheesy, lover of lovey dovey junk self. Here are a few favorites of all things love.

My favorite love movie and favorite scene in that movie: Pride and Prejudice [2005] when Darcy and Elizabeth meet again at Pemberley. Its the moment when they share somewhat of an inside joke, and he smiles unlike any other time in the entire movie. I die a little bit every time.Yes, I'm realizing I sound like a big nerd.

And there is always this. This is the first time Dustin's family saw me cry like a big ol' baby:

My favorite love song: "Dancing in the Minefields" by Andrew Peterson. Everything is good about this.

A favorite love quote:

[via]

And, most importantly, a reminder of an often-cited scripture on love [in my favorite translation of this chapter]. Because scripture is where we read about a Perfect Love and when Love took human form to instill lessons like this:

Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

[1 Corinthians, Chapter 13, NKJV]


A very happy Valentines Day to you and to my wonderful husband. I love you Dustin Michael. 

my husband is having a birthday

Did you know? Today is my Dustin's birthday!

Happy birthday to my [still] new husband who I just love a whole whole lot.
Happy birthday to the guy who refuses wear sandals [except Chacos] just in case he needs to fight off or chase down a bad guy.
Happy birthday to my incredibly hard worker and faithful project finisher. I think he actually likes cleaning sometimes. And I know he likes fixing and building things.
Happy birthday to my other half who is far from perfect [hey, me too] but always speaks and acts above reproach.
Happy birthday to the boyfriend, fiance, and husband who is stubborn strong enough to not let me dictate what he should wear. I really am glad for this. In a world full of trying-to-hard [myself included sometimes], I think it may be completely impossible for him to be anyone but himself. Which is wonderful.
Happy birthday to the man who taught me the words to all his favorite Chicago [the band, not the movie] songs.
Happy birthday to the person who has shown me the most grace in my lifetime, who has made me feel inconceivably loved, and who teaches me a lot about Jesus. My tender heart is thankful.
And happy birthday to the guy with the really awesome arm muscles [too much?].

Here's to celebrating 24 more years of life! And 24 more years after that. And, maybe, 24 more years after that?

After all, he is my favorite life to celebrate.

mom's day

Happy Mother's Day, Mama!

aka Melin'

aka Mims

aka thebestmamaontheplanet

This morning, Pastor Landon spent some time with us in this passage:

Listen, my son, to your father’s instruction 

and do not forsake your mother’s teaching. 

They are a garland to grace your head 

and a chain to adorn your neck.

Proverbs 1:8-9

And while I was listening, lesson after lesson that I've learned from my mother swirled through my head. Like how to make a mean pancake or chocolate chip cookie [or anything, really] or how to dress your body type or how to keep your room clean [still working on that one] or how to plant a garden or how to read in to your shopping vibe [read about that here] or how to make you feel like the most loved human being on the face of the planet. 

And so much more. 

I love you, Mama! 

P.S. I can only hope to be as beautiful of a bride as you were!

Andrew Peterson - Dancing in the Minefields from his Counting Stars album. It's one of those listen to over and over again songs.

Also a huge fan of World Traveler. Ok the whole album.

So, lend an ear. Smile one extra time today than expected.

Thanks, Abs.