Hey y'all! A little Blog Housekeeping to pass along today...

Have you noticed there have been a few little extra things added to the ol' blog?? One awesome thing is the handy dandy little navigation bar at the top...before too long you will be able to click on those buttons and find things you may have stopped by for like recipes, or old posts that you wanted to be able to find. I'm still working on the links for each of those, so bear with me.

Also, I have a button now (on the right sidebar below "followers")!! Feel free to grab it and put it on your blog :)

Hope everyone is having a much more fabulous week than I am...I am up to my eye balls in Grad School projects and wedding flowers for this weekend are looming over me. Summer is not supposed to be this stressful!! But, I keep telling myself "I can do this, I can do this, I can do this!!"......

Sea and Sand

Hello all!! We have been gone all week to the beach with Brad's family, and we had the best time! We didn't do anything but rest, eat, play games, soak up the sun, and play in the water...it was a great, restful time away!!

Leslie asked me to take some beach photos of Kailey and Kenedi, and I was happy to do it. I haven't even had time to edit any yet so these are straight out of the camera, but I wanted to share a few pics of my beautiful girls :) Enjoy!

We just had the best time, and to be honest I'm a little sad to be home...but like it or not we are, so I've got to get ready for a busy week of Grad School projects, volleyball games, and WEDDING FLOWERS this weekend!! It's gonna be a busy week!!!!

Enough

This song is one of my FAVORITES...just love it!! And, wouldn't ya know it - even though Barlow Girl is the one that recorded it, Louie Giglio was one of the writers - one of my other FAVORITES :) Have a blessed Sunday!

All of You is more than enough for
All of me for every thirst and every need
You satisfy me with Your love
And all I have in You
Is more than enough

You are my supply
My breath of life
Still more awesome than I know
You are my reward
Worth living for
Still more awesome than I know

Cuz All of you is more than enough for all of me
for every thirst and every need
you satisfy me with your love
and all I have in you is more than enough

You're my sacrifice of greatest price
Still more awesome than I know
You're my coming King You're everything
Still more awesome than I know

All of you is more than enough for all of me
for every thirst and every need
you satisfy me with your love
and all I have in you

All of you is more than enough for all of me
for every thirst and every need
you satisfy me with your love
and all I have in you is more than enough

Your enough, your enough, your enough for me
(REPEAT)

So I Like China...

I am joining Kelly's Korner today to share with y'all my china!!

I inherited from my Mama a LOVE for beautiful dishes!! I have a china closet, an open shelf china cabinet, and several kitchen cabinets FULL of dishes...what can I say - I love a pretty dish :)

When I was registering for china for my wedding showers and teas, I wanted something neutral that had beautiful details, and would be TIMELESS. I chose "Butler's Pantry Buffet" by Lenox for my everyday wear...and I LOVE this pattern so very much!! It has a jazillion pieces that go with it, and Lenox is constantly adding more to it - so, it's fun to get to add to my collection each year!

I chose for my formal china "Pearl Innocence" by Lenox. This picture doesn't do it justice of how very pretty it is - it is ivory and has a decorative pattern around the edge in white, with tiny pearls in the design. It's beautiful!

For my Christmas china, I wanted something fun and bright. I love the look of handpainted dishes, and was so excited to find these! It's "Deck the Halls" by Cabells Too Designs.

And, last but not least - my Auburn dishes!! When I graduated from Auburn, my mom and Brad bought me my first pieces, and over the years I have added to my collection. We love to use these on game nights!!! They are from the "Tailgatin'" series by Cabells Too Designs.

Thanks for stopping by!

Inquiring Minds Want to Know!

Thank you so much to all that sent in questions that you were interested in finding out more about me and my crazy life! This was really fun - hope you enjoy!

1.) What is your favorite Bible verse and why?
It would be really hard to narrow it down to one, because I have so very many...a lot of times a verse really touches me or pierces my heart, and I'll post it somewhere in our house - on our bathroom mirror, in the kitchen window sill, etc. One of my most favorite chapters is Psalms 40 - you need to read this chapter ASAP! Brad and I prayed this entire chapter every single night for 6 months a few years back, and it holds a very special place in my heart. I also have always loved Jeremiah 29:11-13: "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call upon me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart."

2.) What is your favorite dessert recipe and will you share it?
Being the good Southern girl that I am, I love Red Velvet Cake...but, I'm partial to my family's recipe - to which I don't know if they would like for me to share with all of blogland :)

But, one of my other most favorites is my Peanut Butter Cake - and, it is oh so very good!!! You can get the recipe here.

3.) Did you grow up an Auburn fan or did you become one when you attended college there?
I have been an Auburn girl since birth :) My mother's youngest brother went to Auburn and was a huge fan, and made sure all of his nieces and nephews followed suit...and we did!! All of my family are Auburn fans, and 9 of the 11 nieces and nephews are Auburn graduates or are students now!! WAR EAGLE!

4.) What's your favorite ice cream flavor?
Mint Chocolate Chip, hands down!!!!

5.) You've told us about starting Graduate School, but not what you will be getting your Master's in - are you doing something in education?
Yes, I am getting my Master's in Early Childhood Special Education. My bachelor's is actually not in education - it's in Child Development and Family Studies - so it will take me a little bit longer to finish my Master's.

6.) I haven't seen anything about Brad and seminary lately...
Well, that's because due to Brad's VERY CRAZY schedule the past 6 months, he chose to take a couple semesters off. He will be start taking classes again this fall!!

7.) Your little Ellie is too cute!! Why did you decide to get a Yorkie?
Thank you :) Brad is actually the one that really pushed the idea of a Yorkie. I had been wanting a dog, and was torn between a Yorkie and a Miniature Schnauzer. I have had several friends that had Miniature Schnauzers, and I had always loved them. But, Brad just really liked the look of a Yorkie better...so, that's what we got. And, we are soooo happy with our decision!!!

8.) It seems like you have your hands in a lot of different pots with your job, family, ministry, fertility stuff, going to graduate school, floral designing, etc. Do you find it hard to juggle everything?
HA!!! Yes, it is most DEFINITELY a juggling act to keep everything going!! I sometimes feel like people think because we don't have children that mine and Brad's lives are just so easy going...but, that's far from the truth!! And, this week has been a week that I just didn't know if I could do it all...but, I have and will. I know when we have a child, my schedule will drastically have to change, but for now this is our life! I can honestly say there's no way that I could keep our schedule without keeping a calendar with EVERYTHING on it, the help of my mother (she is truly an angel sent from Heaven and helps me TREMENDOUSLY!), and lots of prayer!!!!! I also have to remember that I am only human and I do have my limits, so sometimes I have to say "no" to extra things.

Okay, well that's it for now - hope you enjoyed our Q and A! It was alot of fun...I got e-mails from several of you that I don't usually hear from. I love hearing from you!

Little Miss Ellie

Our pampered pup...
...so much fun to have her in our lives!

(Don't forget to send me any questions you might have of things you would like for me to share on this post, or e-mail me - powell235@bellsouth.net - by early afternoon Thursday...I will be doing the Q & A post Thursday night!)

A Lily Pulitzer Wedding

That's what we decided to name the wedding I helped my friend and fellow floral designer, Gina, with. It was a hot pink and lime green dream come true!! And, I have designed floral arrangements for ALOT of weddings, but this one may officially be my favorite...for now anyway! The bride loved the feel of an outdoor garden reception, but not the worry of weather concerns - so we brought the outdoor garden indoors!

I'm just in love with all the vibrant, sherbert colored flowers...

And, the couple are HUGE Auburn fans (the Bride just graduated from Auburn's Pharmacy School!) Complete with a rolled tree and Toomer's Lemonade, look how incredibly fun the Groom's table is!! It makes you want to yell a big "WAR EAGLE!!"

I have another wedding coming up in just a few weeks, and the bridesmaids will be wearing the same dress color as this wedding party. The color name is "Watermelon" - doesn't that just scream summer wedding??

Okay, don't forget to leave any questions that you would like for me to answer about whatever you would like to know! Some people have e-mailed me and that's fine too - either leave a comment on this post, or e-mail me (powell235@bellsouth.net) if you have something you would like for me to share about!

1 Year Anniversary

Tuesday will be my official 1 year Blog Anniversary! Wow, what a year it has been! I have so enjoyed sharing our weird, crazy lives with all of you! The fact that you continue to come back and read is just a blessing to me!

Even though I feel like I bare all and sometimes "overshare" my thoughts, I wonder if there is anything that maybe YOU would like to know about ME! Maybe it's something about me personally, about Brad, our ministry, our fertility journey, my job, our family, cooking, decorating, or just something really quirky that you've always wondered! If you have something you would like to know, leave a comment on this post. And, don't be afraid to ask a question - the more questions people leave the more fun it will be!!

(I know lots of my readers do not have a blog, but you can still leave a comment - simply click on "comments" below post; choose to comment as "Name/URL"; type your name and leave URL blank; type your comment, click "post comment", answer security question...and, that's it!)

Okay, get to thinking about what you would like to know about me or something you would like me to share and let me know! I will answer those questions that inquiring minds want to know on Thursday!

Rainy Day Birthday

Our oldest niece, Kailey, turned 6!!!! How is this possible, people??? Time is flying way too fast these days!

Kailey had big plans to have a backyard pool party with a Hawaiian theme...but, a very rainy day quickly changed those plans! She still had a wonderful party though, filled with lots of friends, inside playing, and fun gifts :)

Happy Birthday, Kailey!! We love you!

How Fast They Grow!

The oldest 2 of our 4 Favorites - Carolyne and Kailey - graduated from Kindergarten just a few days ago. And, our only "boy favorite" - Sam - graduated from Nursery School. *sniff, sniff* I know I sound like an old lady, but how do they grow up so fast??

Carolyne's school did not have a formal graduation ceremony - they had a music program called "Kindergarten ROCKS". And, being the Drama Queen that she is, she did an awesome job! From the time that she was able to sit up as a baby, when she hears music her little body just starts moving!! As her class was coming in, her hips were just a movin' to the music! HA!! Carolyne is going to be our "Free Spirit"...and, I just love that about her :) She did a fabulous job - way to go, Carolyne!

Our sweet Kailey goes to a private kindergarten at the church I grew up at and worked at for 3 years. I've always been AMAZED - even though I work with this age group everyday - that they are able to get 60 Preschool and Kindergarten children to play handbells...YES, HANDBELLS...together, cooperatively, organized, and make music! It was so good!

Kailey looks so incredibly grown up and beautiful! We're just so proud of her!

And, then our little Sammers graduating from Nursery School. Sam had a precious teacher, Mrs. Kim, that he just adored :)

His class shared favorite songs from the year, and acted out many of them. TOO CUTE! Their last song was called "Creation", and they sang and acted out what God created the first week...Sam was "Sunday" when God rested :) (And just a side note - Lord, have mercy at the cuteness going on on that stage between the dolls in the smocked dresses and big hair bows, and the little boys in their sweater vests and boat shoes...when a Baby Powell comes along, the children's clothing industry is going to see a SPIKE in sales - much to Brad's dismay I'm afraid!!)

A Mad-Hatter Fashion Show

A couple of week's ago Carolyne had her end of the year Diva Do's Fashion Show - and, let me just say - CUTE, CUTE, CUTE!!!! If ONLY Diva Do's had existed when I was Carolyne's age...

Diva Do's is a weekly girl's art and craft class that a fabulous local artist and fashion designer - Kelly Jackson - started a few years back. With the help of her uber talented daughter, Cadley, they lead the girls in making unbelievably CUTE one of a kind pieces, and the girls get to explore with paints, fabrics, and all sorts of other craft "stuff" :) This is where the "crafting magic" takes place every week - The House...

The theme for this year's Fashion Show was inspired by "Alice in Wonderland", and was set as the Mad-Hatter's Tea Party, complete with decks of playing cards lining the run way, original "Alice" art work hanging in trees and bushes, and a tea party set up in the background for refreshments afterwards. So incredibly ADORABLE!

Carolyne with "Alice" a.k.a. Ms. Cadley...

At the end of the show, Kelly gave out awards and Carolyne was named "Miss Diva Do Supreme"!
We've always known our Carolyne was a "Diva", but now she truly holds the crown :) Sometimes I wonder how she could be Valerie's child, and yet be so much like me! HA! I'm so proud of you Miss "Diva Do Supreme"!