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Camellias & Copper

A Southern Girl's Blog About Life

Emory’s Dedication Weekend!

by Filed Under: Faith, Life 1 Comment

Oh my gracious! Y’all!  I blinked and another week has flown by and I’m standing here like, how did three weeks just breeze past me?!

Anyone else feel the same way?!

I’ve so been meaning to share some sweet pictures with you from the weekend Emory was dedicated.   My best friend and roommate from college, Ann, along with her two oldest kiddos came over from GA {a 5 hr drive mind you!} and my sweet daddy was here.

That Saturday we spent some time at the zoo…where I managed to snap a few pics.  First of Ann with her kiddos checking out the penguins {WHY does it smell SO BAD in there?!}

Then we hung out watching the grizzly bears wrestle…

Eliza Jane was imitating a giraffe here I think ;)

The feeding of the goats never gets old…for kids or adults!

So here’s a funny story I’m remembering from that Saturday.  We thought we’d be so smart and go to Dave and Busters on OPENING weekend – at 5:30.  Y’all.  They had a THREE HOUR wait for a table.  Hello?  Nothankyou.  We went to our favorite local Mexican restaurant for cheese dip and quesadillas instead.

On Sunday I was so delighted that we got to have professional pictures taken by a fellow Sunday School friend – Robin Huber Photography.

Our pastor, Dr. Wendell Estep, whom I adore and have thoroughly enjoyed sitting under.

My Mom made this blanket for Eliza Jane when she was dedicated.

So, so, so thankful for this husband of mine.

And my precious Daddy who still hangs the moon.

You can’t really tell, but my bracelet {on the wrist sort of under Emory ↑} is a tribute to my Momma.  Thanks to a good friend who sells KEEP I have several charms that remind me of her.

Then there were these from the service…and please look at that precious {hilarious!} look on Emory’s face!

One of my favorite pictures from the day is this one that Andrew snapped of me and our little man as we waited for the service to begin.  His face is just too sweet for words!

My prayer for Emory, as well as Reynolds and Eliza Jane, is that they come to know the Jesus I know.  He’s more than just a man in a story.  He saved my soul.  He’s been the lifter of my face on many a cloudy day.  He reminds me that I am a child of the living God.  And not to be cheesy, but lets just be honest: I am kind of cheesy…, this song is my jam.

Once again I’m so thankful for friends and family who came to celebrate this special day with us.  It meant more to us than I can ever tell any of you.

Thanks for eating cake with us!

Until the next Rosie Girl cake….hugs to you.

Sunday Night…A Reflection On Being Busy

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Faith Leave a Comment

It’s 8:09 p.m. Sunday night as I start this post.  It’s been a month since I last wrote to you all, and it seems like that was yesterday.  Or maybe the day before yesterday, but certainly not four-plus weeks ago.

As I was sitting in the living room this afternoon talking with a good friend that we refer to as Grammy Carolyn, she said, “Well, you must be busy because you haven’t been writing…”

I started thinking about that word: Busy.  We say it a lot at my workplace and it has sort of lost its meaning for me.

The dictionary states that busy as an adjective means: having a great deal to do.

I have an overwhelming amount to do most days.  I know this won’t compare to some people, but I did six loads of laundry last Saturday.  That’s after having done laundry thru the week.  I don’t save it up.  How did I have enough for SIX loads of laundry?  And then believe it or not, by the following Monday I had another load in the wash.  And that’s just the laundry.

Busy.

I have three babies.  All under the age of four.  Some of you are in that boat.  Some of you may wish you were in that boat and some of you are glad you are out of that boat!

We are busy laughing and playing and learning and enjoying this thing call life.

Today Emory was dedicated in our church service.

As I was thinking about him and his dedication, my biggest prayer for him, after the prayer of him coming to know the Lord Jesus Christ as his Savior one day, is that he loves and lives his life to the fullest.

I hope that he is full of the joy and happiness that his sweet face radiates each and every day currently.  And I hope that he is a joy to those who know him.

So as I sit here at 8:21 now, thinking back on all the wildness that this crazy, busy weekend has entailed…I hope to share it all with y’all in the coming days.  And that I’m not so busy that I can’t sit down, before another four weeks pass, and tell y’all about all the great things going on in our home and in our world.

I hope you have a lovely Sunday night…and a fabulous week!

Much love,

Where, O Death, Is Your Sting?

by Filed Under: Faith, Life Leave a Comment

I have found myself in this weird conundrum of sadness and joy over the last few weeks since Mom died.

Even saying that word seems so wrong and confusing and somehow not what I should be saying about her.

I was sitting with a sweet group of girls this morning having a little prayer time and one friend was praying for this man who has MS and is on hospice currently.  He is a believer and so there is this hope that possibly soon he will be out of his pain, and made new again.

In my friend’s prayer for this man she said that Jesus has overcome death and I immediately thought of the verse that questions where death’s sting is:  Where, O death, is your victory?  Where, O death, is your sting? – 1 Corinthians 15:55

Then I started thinking about my conundrum.

My joy comes from the fact that death has no victory over my mom.  Over me, over us.

She has the victory because she now HAS JESUS.

where-o-death-1

 

There is no sting.  Yes there is this great sadness of things that will be missed with her, of seeing her face, hearing her voice; of the birth of our son Emory in some five weeks’ time and the joy that she would have brought with her upon seeing him the first time.  So many things that are missed about her.  But there is this great, immeasurable joy of knowing she is with our Savior and yes, I will one day see her beautiful, beloved face again.

So while it seems weird to me that maybe I’m not as sad as I should be, and even in the saddest of moments, and yes there have been many of those…I have to rejoice because she’s where we all want to be one day, beholding the Creator and Savior of the world.

 

Have any of you ever been in this place of grief and yet, joy?

 

A Lesson Learned : From Reynolds & His Music

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Faith Leave a Comment

Last year about this time, I posted about the CD we’d gotten from daycare as part of our VBS package and how I really enjoyed some of the songs.  This year, y’all, we got another CD as part of VBS and it is WAY better than last year’s – we LOVE all the songs.  Reynolds says, “Momma, will you play my music from bacation bible school?”

Baby, I’ll play these songs until my ears bleed.

The kids cup their hands around their mouths for the first song: He Is the Light

Hands go up and start pumping the air for: I Have Decided to Follow Jesus {this one has a stomp-beat!}

Little pointer fingers go up and they start swaying for: This Little Light of Mine

And they clap for my favorite one: My Hope Is in the Lord

There are a few other ones but these seem to be the four that we hear the most and I’m here to tell you that the best message I’ve gotten so far is the last one I mentioned: My Hope Is in the Lord.

Here’s the video on Vimeo: My Hope Is In the Lord:  the words are there for you to learn and sing along…but here they are also for you just to ponder because they seem so applicable to everything going on in our world around us:

I can’t help but feel a little down

A little worried when I look around

That’s why my hope is in

My hope is in the Lord

 

I fix my eyes upon the God who gives

‘Cause all I need is what I have in Him

That’s why my hope is in

My hope is in the Lord

 

My hope is in the Lord

I belong to Him

He will never let me go-o-o-o

My hope is in the Lord

I can count on Him

My hope is in the Lord

 

No matter what stage of life we’re in – little kids, big kids or big mommas and daddys…our hope cannot be in anything other than the Lord.  Else we would continuously be discouraged, depressed and some of us, even angry.  If we fix our eyes on Him and focus on His sovereignty and purpose, and His goodness, we have joy.  And He tells us that our joy is complete in Him {nothing else.}.My Hope is In TheLORD (1)

My hope is in the Lord.  With all the mess that is happening in our country and around the world.  I trust that He is good.  He is on His throne {be not discouraged about this!}.  And He is actively working.

Is your hope in the Lord?

Eliza Jane’s Total Weekend Hijacking

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Faith, Life Leave a Comment

Last Saturday night I caught a glimpse of a really sweet necklace on Instagram and literally just before midnight I placed an order for it, just in time to catch the end of their flash sale!.

I got my new pendant necklace Wednesday and planned to wear it on Friday with my black dress.

All morning Friday I kept pondering how to share my new necklace on Instagram – what would I say about it? Then as I was plotting it out, it happened.

Eliza Jane’s teacher called me and said she had a fever.  Her temp was 101 and we needed to come get her.

My necklace was appropriate.

Necklace

“Tune my heart to sing thy grace”.

Our weekend plans were crumbling as I drove the short distance from my office to daycare to get my sweet daughter.

I opened the door to her classroom and she was lying on the floor, cup in hand, just whining.  Her teacher said that’s all she had done since they had come inside from playing on the playground.

I knew exactly what was wrong with her.  You see, earlier in the week I’d heard that a virus had been making its way around the school, and here was my sweet Eliza Jane, it’s latest victim.  I picked her up and held her, her small body on fire.  Her temp was certainly 101.

Sad and discouraged about knowing what this meant for our long weekend, the plans we’d made to go back to Georgia to see my parents, that was all coming to an end.

Another weekend at home.  Another weekend stuck, unable to go out because our kid is sick {last weekend R had croup}.  I felt my heart sinking.

Tune my heart to sing THY grace, Lord.

Knowing the Lord is sovereign, I accepted the fate, that for some reason, He has us here.

Our weekend has been officially hijacked.  This isn’t the first time we’ve been hijacked by a kid.  Reynolds hijacked us all the time, it seemed, when he was younger {this post, this post and this post are proof!}.  Eliza Jane has been more gracious to us, except this weekend.

As she sleeps soundly in her bed I am praying for her health and healing and that Reynolds {and the rest of us} will be spared.

I’m also praying for a heart to sing His praise, when I truly just feel sad.  I really wanted to go home.  I wanted to see my parents.  Reynolds was so excited to see Grammy and PopPop.  We actually haven’t even told him that we’re not going – thinking that if we just don’t say it, he will somehow forget that we aren’t supposed to be here.

I sent my mom a text to confirm that we weren’t coming.  Her reply indicated that she felt like that was the best thing for Eliza Jane and us.  I know she’s right, but I didn’t want it to be this way.

Tune my heart.  Sing thy grace.

Call for songs of loudest praise.  I’m going to go listen to Hillsong for a bit.

God is good all the time.  He sets the moon and stars in their courses.  He tells the waves when to rise and when to fall.  He is sovereign over all.

 

I hope you all have a lovely 4th of July weekend – and that none of you get hijacked of your plans!

I Throw My Hands Up!

by Filed Under: Faith, Life 2 Comments

Recently in church our pastor was talking about how God makes us all different.

Look around you.

Who looks like you?

Who acts like you?

Nearly no one.  We all have different body shapes, hair colors {and styles!}, we certainly dress differently…

We talk differently, some of us have accents…  We ALL have quirky mannerisms….

His point at one moment was to talk about how some people on Sunday morning, in worship, “feel the Spirit” and their hands go up.  Some others may look around like those people are crazy…and clinch their fists or fold their arms so that they are not tempted….

See, different.

I bet at some point at a concert or really great worship service, your hands have gone up – you cannot deny it.

And it feels really great to let go and be in that moment.

Here’s a song I’ve heard recently that I LOVE.  LOVE.  LOVE.  And I wanted to share with it you:

→Love & The Outcome →The God I know {get ready to RAISE.YOUR.HANDS!}←

“I can throw my hands up, worries down!  I remember when he showed me how to break up with my doubt…Once I was lost but now I’m found.”  Who can relate to THAT.  Every day, people.  EVERY.DAY.

So I heard this song for the first time a few weeks ago, while driving {alone}, and my hands may have gone up…

This is one of those songs, for me, to which I can totally relate and in the moment, I throw my hands up!I CAN

What’s the song for you that totally puts you in that moment of either total praise or abandon?

 

As May Comes To An End

by Filed Under: Being a Mom, Events, Faith, Life, Travel Leave a Comment

I am just amazed at how fast this month went by!  But thankful for all the memories we made this month!  Here are a few of the things I/we did.

Reading – I read through most the SRT study on Proverbs: The way of Wisdom, which was really fantastic.  This study was more of some brief readings, focused on one topic {anger, humility, pride, etc.}, with questions to follow.  That was some deep thinking for me at 5 a.m. while on the treadmill…

I also got to read several of my magazines on our trip to Disney {7 hrs in the car!}, which was a blessing to me because they were really starting to pile up again…

Playing – Same as April, we’ve played a lot outside this past month.  From the backyard to the playground, to the upstairs before bedtime, there are lots of laughs that make my heart rejoice!

Watching – We haven’t watched much of anything of late.  Sunday evening I was thrilled to have been able to sit on the couch after 9 p.m. to watch Caribbean Life.  That’s just a glimpse of my very interesting life…

Showing -This is a fun one….my baby bump is starting to show ;)

Cooking – I haven’t cooked a whole lot lately…but I just tore out some recipes from the May issue of Real Simple that I’m super pumped about…like this Perfect Chicken Salad {I ♥ chicken salad…a lot}

Eating – I am really trying to eat healthy so I don’t have another baby the size of Reynolds {9.5 lbs at birth}; Eliza Jane was only 6.5 lbs because I watched much more closely what I ate with her…so here’s to small portions of carbs :)

Drinking – Water…gone are the days of mimosas…

Calling – I haven’t called anybody in a while…honestly, the last couple of weeks have been super busy with getting ready for our trip and then being at Disney – it was wild.  I did call my mom on Sunday to let her know that no, we were not stuck in the flood on I-95, but that we were in fact home.

Texting – Andrew asked me if I wanted a milkshake from Chick-Fil-A, and while I answered “No. Thank u :)”, I really wanted one…

Tweeting – About our Disney trip – I was really hoping to find out who this girl was that got our kids to dance in the conga line!  She was completely amazing!Disney Character

Pinning – Food for the kiddos {WHY are they so PICKY?!} and hair styles.   I found this pretty little twisted side braid from one of my favorite bloggers, Gal Meets Glam and tried it out last night.  While my hands may have gotten a bit tricked up from going from the side to the back, I was quite pleased with my first ever real braid {I know, I’m so old to finally be learning how to braid!!!}.

Going – We are done with the going.  Disney was amazing and I am SO thankful and excited {still!} that we were able to go last week.  What a fantastic place, with my favorite people!

Our announcement about the 3rd set of ears that will be joining our family in November!

Our announcement about the 3rd set of ears that will be joining our family in November!  {The kids’ shirts were made by →Institches Designs←!!}

Loving – My babies and my husband.  I know,  y’all get tired of the gushing, but even after a week of really close quarters and a LOT of time spent together, I love them so much more!!

Hating – Summer heat?  Is that too strong?  Last week it was 90ish every day in Orlando and it was brutal.  What happened to Spring?

Thinking – About the fun we had in Disney!  I can’t wait to share the pictures and stories with you – starting tomorrow!

Feeling – Thankful.  I’m just so thankful.  The Lord has been so good.  I am also really excited about the little one we get to meet in November ♥ .

Hoping – That everybody sleeps tonight?  R’s legs were hurting him last night so that had Andrew up.  EJ was soaked at 3 a.m., so that was fun changing her out of FOOTIE pjs…hello!? Best and worst pjs ever, all at the same time.

Listening – I love to hear the birds singing on our nightly walks…and to share their rejoicing with the kids.  It is so easy just to go out for a run or walk, put in your earbuds or just tune everything out and miss so much.  The birds bring me great joy because I know they are singing the praises of their Maker.

Smelling – GAH.  I love my babies!  So friends that live down the street inherited some pretty amazing rose bushes.  And when we go for our walks, I’ve taught the kids to {literally} stop and smell the roses.

From tonight...

From tonight…

Celebrating – The blessing of pregnancy.  I do not take it for granted because I know how hard it is for some to have this experience.  I am overjoyed with thanksgiving.

Ordering – Today I ordered some new pjs from Carter’s for Eliza Jane {NO footies!!!} and a new duvet for our bed.  Turns out that new duvet cover I got from Pottery Barn is a California King…and the duvet I got from IKEA is only a King.  There is a slight difference in size…

I am also going to order a book of our Disney pictures so that the kids will have that to look at to remember all the wonderful things we did last week.  Other than Shutterfly, is there another recommendation from anyone?

Thanking – The Lord for His blessings.  Far too many things to count or name.

Considering – We have our annual Welcome Summer Party coming up and I’m trying to figure out the food situation.  Last year we did shrimp tacos {which were amazing, thank you, Andrew} but we ran out of food we had so many fun guests show up!  This year, we’re totally catering…I just have to figure out what.

Starting – Nesting.  Is it too soon?  I’ve decided to go one room at a time and clean up and out.  Out being the key word.  Andrew also has encouraged me to get help from a designer {I love him so much!} so more to come on that, but I’m excited about the possibilities!

Finishing – I feel like there is a lot that needs to be finished.  Right now though, I’m going to finish cleaning up the kitchen so I can go to bed.

 

Do you know, last week in the craziness of our trip to Disney, I got 8-9 hours of sleep EVERY night?!  It was amazing.  When we’re home, I’m lucky to get 7.  Tonight I am determined to get all 7 hours.  So good night, friends!  I hope you have something to rejoice over this May…it’s come to an end, and June will be here in the morning!

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