Back in April, roughly 10 days after her 19th birthday, Listi announced to her immediate family that she wanted to serve. Luckily, my mama caught my reaction on camera! It's below if you care to see an ugly cry followed by sheer elation.

    As I've voiced several times, I've just been so happy about this particular decision, so much that I told her I would throw her a letter-opening party for our immediate family and very few close friends. (For all my non-LDS peeps, it's a letter that contains all the information about her mission...Dates, places, language, etc.) 

    I'm really going to try my best not to throw another party for quite some time because I simply can't handle it. My mind becomes wrapped around my perfect picture of how it should be, I find myself unable to focus on other tasks because of my one-track mind. I began by brainstorming on Pinterest, always handy, to help hone in my focus: Since the letter could send her anywhere in the world, I decided to pick up a rustic, global theme (seems kind of weird voicing it, but in my mind it made so much sense).To get prepared for this event I bought, crafted and thrifted (to the extreme) these past few months in order to gather the supplies needed for a perfect party. 

   June 7th was the date every close family member was invited to attend the party. I sent out a few exclusive invites. (I'm just so ridicules sometimes, I have to fry my own jaws.)

    I could hardly stand it as the day drew closer, I was more excited than my sister. Speaking of, she actually received her letter on the 6th which meant she had to carry it around for an entire day without opening it! But she asked for a Saturday ;)

    I made her wait elsewhere as I decorated, my family delivered food and until everyone had crowded around. As everyone assisted me to throw together a wonderful time, I can not express how much it meant to me.

    Letting her know how loved she is meant the most to me!

    After waiting over 24 hours after receiving her letter, this girl was bursting at the seams to find out her destination.

 I gave a very short, lip- quivering intro, "We don't care where you go! Anywhere will be blessed to have you!" And then..

Grandma&Granger

    Imagine my surprise when my Grandma Marilyn called me up to say, "Hey, I was thinking about coming to stay for a few days! If that's okay." Well, duh! The biggest deal was over how terrified she is of getting lost in unfamiliar places and driving in heavy traffic. But it's not too bad is what I always say :)

     When I came home from work on Tuesday she was waiting at home with little Granger in tow. (That kid is left at my house often enough that he has his toothbrush in our cabinet.) 

   Not one to idle time, we jumped into her van to scout out the big oak tree. When she was a little girl they moved back and forth between Douglas, where she was born, and Jacksonville, which was her home of her childhood until she was 8/9. Her old house, torn down for what is now the downtown Jacksonville section, shared an ancient monster of a tree between 3 or 4 backyards. This same tree she climbed all over, with her 8 or so siblings born at the time. One of the better stories ended with a cousin jumping only to break both arms! Since I have moved into her old town she has mentioned the two of us locating this place a hundred times. Obviously that was our first destination, so we left in search of it.

    Apparently a landmark now, Treaty Oak was an amazing place! The tree was absolutely enormous, with branches trailing the ground shamelessly. Some of the branches eventually welded themselves together. Someone passing by even said it occasionally was used as a bed by the homeless.

    After our expedition to Treaty Oak we were so close to the Museum of Science and History we had to stop by. Grandma had never experienced it, so she really enjoyed it. Unfortunately my phone died, so just a few from that trip!

    We wrapped up our day by grabbing a bite to eat at Chipotle, then meeting up with Graham to watch How to Train Your Dragon 2. Speaking of- have you seen it? It's so good! I would definitely watch it again.

   Wednesday we decided to slow it down a little, they spent the day relaxing and resting while I was at work. As soon as I made it home we rushed over to The Thrift Shop to use the 50% senior discount. We completely botched that by grabbing all of the things that weren't discounted, typically.

    Many weeks before they planned to come, my Faith in God girls and I planned a beach day to celebrate the end of school and to be able to have a little fun! Granger and Grandma just happened to be there the same time so us 3 picked up two of my girls for a trip to the ocean. 

(Almost lost it when these started swarming for a bit of honeybun.)

    We had so much with the girls! I am so grateful we all ended up going together, it made for a fun trip. 

    After getting back to the house I almost passed out from the sheer aroma that started to flow through the cracks! Grandma, bless her, made the best roast I have ever eaten in my life. (And if y'all know me, you know I am obsessed with a good roast. This is a very high compliment.) Let me just emphasize how delicious this was once again. I sincerely love as admire my family for always "vacationing" while taking care of me :) We put on 17 Miracles, a good movie to make you cry, and ended it.

    The trip was short, but so fun! Come on back anytime Grandma! I love you!

Orlando Temple // Listi

    This temple, this beautiful and sacred temple is so dear to my heart. For anyone who may be unaware, this beauty an be found in Orlando, FL. Yesterday was my sister's first time entering through the front doors, a prerequisite for her mission. A few of my family members gathered together to accompany her. We each had a wonderful time, it was a perfect experience. I have been just so proud of my sister; 44 days until she leaves for Arizona!!

    Yours truly, Mama, Grandma Marilyn, cousin Brittani, cousin Betty Anne & Listi.

    We rounded up by going to Outback. It's always fun to catch up with relatives, am I right? Likewise, when family is this close it's almost hard to find the correct social barriers it seems. I don't know, hopefully our hostess didn't find us to be any different from usual tourists.

    Just 44 days, eeeeek!!! Can I just reiterate how fast the time is dwindling down? Because it seemed like we had plenty of time and I am realizing how inaccurate that is. Despite her callus exterior, I am cherishing this time together- soon enough it won't be avaliable. Regardless, there isn't a better place I would desire her to be.

    As we neared the exiting point of the temple, I suddenly felt overwhelmed with joy. My Grandma wept as she hugged Listi, she said it was her mother's dream to have a missionary in our family. After thinking it through: out of all of her great-grand kids she is the first to go! As these thoughts enamored me, loud and vivaciously "Because I Have Been Given Much" chimed through my mind. I find myself moved by these intensely powerful words during the times of my greatest happiness.

"Because I have been given much 

I too must give 

Because of thy great bounty Lord 

Each day I live 

I shall divide gifts from thee 

With every brother that see 

Who has the need of help from me"

LMN Girls Trip '14

("We'll never get this good of a photo again!")

    When you get a text that reads "So I'm booking a hotel or condo for 3ish days for my stretch off...Would you be interested in coming down a day or 2?" Is there ever a reason to say no? Free vacation! That's a novelty.

    As I drove towards my very first best friends, I thought about how different each of us have become from the 15 year olds we once were. Miranda is a full time RN, she lives on her own and wrapping up her bachelors. Nicole went through a few degrees before settling on a Medical Assistant and I hear she's in Alma every weekend. I, of course, moved away to be with my husband and I'm dragging to get my Teaching degree. I don't know- isn't it weird how you imagined your life compared to how it is? Every little line mapped out, only to be changed by some twist of fate? And I'm so happy. I didn't think my own life would turn out the way it did (seriously do different) but I am so grateful it did. 

    As we reunited our self-dubbed LMN trio (Lacey Miranda Nicole) in Fernandina Beach, finally overnight trip began. We left our dudes back at home, and had a true girls trip. I can sincerely say that I giggled and had more embarrassing experiences with them that I've had in years!! Our completely ridiculously personalities meshed and wove together as we shared in our first annual LMN trip.

    Thank you for the invite Miranda! Love you guys. 

To: Jacob Mizell

    Happy Father's Day to all of the good men who choose to be a powerful figure in a child's life! I love the idea of celebrating men and women who are successfully raising our future generations need a pat on the back. 

    I, for one, am exceptionally humbled to have a father like mine. A man who started working at 14, with a strong sense of work ethic. A man who became a father when he was 20, still excited to start this part of life. A man who loved children and was thrilled to have a big family, who counted his 4 kids as his greatest blessings. A man who pushed me to always go to church, who told me how important it would be to me. A man who always said I should work hard so I could gain an education. A man who taught the values I hold dear today, to respect a family who sacrificed. A man who has always loved me more than he could vocalize. A man who I admire, need and love. Jacob Mizell, I'm so glad you're my daddy. 

    Happy father's day to you! I'm always counting my lucky stars for the family I was born into. I hope you have an amazing day. I can't wait see you; I love you so much.

Engagements, just because

    Recently I had a complete melt-down when I realized our hard drive was lost. You know, the one that contains every single engagement and wedding picture I owned. If anyone knows me, you can only imagine how dramatic and distraught this time frame was for me. "WOE IS MEEEEE! My life isn't worth living! Shall I jump from this ledge to end my torment?"  I've been begging anyone for pictures of that occasion, simultaneously praying it would show up at some point. I utterly disappointed myself when I searched intensely at the location I thought it was only to turn up empty handed. Finally, blessed finally, it did appear! Mother dearest had it at her home, for whatever reason. So I've spent the last few days enjoying the photos -then- I realized I hadn't ever shared any! Not even on Facebook! Clearly way too unacceptable. So, one year and 5 months after being taken here lies our engagment pictures. Judge not, because it's my blog and I can do what I want.

Unrelated PS- I've been working a lot on the layout of this old girl, even threw in a few pages! ;)