Who plans for pain?

I think, I hope, I see the light at the end of the tunnel in recovering from last weeks surgery. It really snuck up on us. Adam and I had planned out quite nicely the next few weeks: head to Birmingham, go to Jets game, head to Starkville to find somewhere to live, on to Hattiesburg to celebrate the holidays. Insert abdominal pain, insert unexpected surgery, insert change of plans. But who plans for pain. None of us do. But fortunately whether our pain comes physically as mine did, whether its a pain of the heart or of your spirit I was reminded again this past week that the Father is the Great Physician and meets us in our greatest hour of pain. There is purpose in our pain.

I will be back soon with Thanksgiving posts, we were able to spend great times with family!!

Amy's Recovery

As many of you know, Amy underwent surgery this past Wednesday. The doctor found adhesions in her lower left abdomen and was able to remove them laproscopically. The next step is preventing them from recurring again. Amy is doing well and is on the road to recovery. We really appreciate the support and love we have be given by our family and friends during this past week. If all goes well with recovery, we hope to go home for Thanksgiving. Amy and I have truly grown closer to each other during this entire process. She is the best wife in the whole world!!

Zipping by.....

Time is zipping by here in Auburn. Does it feel that way to you? I remember when I was younger being told that time goes by faster the older you get. How is that possible I wondered? I still wonder how it is possible as I watch the days slip right past us! But they do seem to go by faster and faster.

We are winding down our time here in Auburn. And it is hard to believe I have already been here for 5 months. As I continue to schedule trainings and meetings for work, I am reminded that we won't be here much longer. The next stop our journey will take us back to Mississippi. And it will be here before we know it. I pray that in the last 6 weeks or so that we take advantage of our last days here in Auburn and look with great excitement for what is ahead for us in Starkvegas! We know that Lord is with us and is going before us! What an exciting thing to know! May you be reminded of that in this moment too! What a mighty God we serve!!

You have got to be kidding me!

First let me say I have the BEST husband in the WORLD!!! But I am sure you all guessed that by now. He delighted my heart with that surprise blog post!!! He really is my "Knight" Get it!!
He is in the home stretch on the dissertation. He started writing chapter 5. The LAST chapter!! Keep the prayers coming!

Are you intrigued by the title of this post? Well I have been doing some traveling for work, conducting mentor training sessions across the state and as the Solara and I moved from county to county I realized that I had stretched the full width of the state twice in two trips. I had beautiful weather for almost all of the drives and got to see God's creation speak his majesty. Fall is a beautiful time here in Alabama. I did have a "you have got to be kidding me moment" as I entered a small town in a county in West Alabama that will remain nameless and saw a BUFFALO on a hill next to a Llama. I blinked hard but the wild game remained! I asked the teachers at the training if this is a normal viewing for a newcomer to which they replied, "They are metal" Oh thanks hometown joke player. Way to mess with the visitor. I thought my county hopping had finally caught up with me. Here is a map of where I have been in 3 days!! Yes 3 days I have covered this much territory in Alabama.

On my way back to Auburn I stopped and stayed at Hotel Wade (with Jeremy and Amy) and got to spend some time with my favorite little man Jackson. After he gave me the BEST hug ever he walked over to the door and said, " Where's Adam" I said he's not here and he said, "is he in Auburn?" Have I mentioned this is the smartest little boy around!!?? I told Jackson I would bring Adam back on Saturday but Jackson wanted to call Adam so we did and Jackson said on the phone to him, "come see me, come see me, come see me....." and kept repeating it. Poor kid. He REALLY wanted to see his Uncle Adam. We are coming back on Saturday Jackson.

e"X"traordinary Wife

Since Amy has been busy lately, she has given me the ability to post on the blog. X is the next letter in her run through the alphabet, so I thought I would take a minute to tell you (although you probably already know) how eXtraordinary my wife is, in so many ways. As many of you know, I have been collecting the data for my dissertation the past five weeks, and I just finished!! Amy has been so wonderful throughout the entire process. I basically have been waking up, going to work and collecting data, and then coming home and breaking it down. Amy has been so supportive in her words of encouragement, cooking of her great homestyle meals, and letting me slack on my dish washing duties. She is the best wife in the whole world. She done such great work with her job at the Truman Pierce Instutiute and I know she will be great in her next job as well. She is actually on her way back from another successful conference she put on in Hale County today. She also recently developed a mentoring book as well. The past five months of marriage have been wonderful and there is no way I could have done the work on my dissertation I have done without her. I am truly blessed to have her as my wife and appreciate the opportunity she gave me to brag on her for once.

What a smart little boy!!!

We headed to Jeremy and Amy's
Saturday afternoon for some much needed play time with our favorite nephew Jackson. He is SOO much fun and SOOO very smart. Jackson loves his Uncle Adam. So much so that when I was talking to Jackson on the phone the other night he got done talking to me and said, "wanna talk to Adam". Uncle Adam and Jackson had fun playing with his trains, and playing football and riding his tricycle.


Jackson cracks us up riding this tractor across the room. Obviously it isn't meant to be ridden but he does it anyway! One of his many tricks! He is so fun! Amy let us get a sneak peak at him in his Halloween costume but we have to keep those pictures a secret. Lets just say he is a CUTIE and he knows it. I stood him in front of the mirror and I could tell he was thinking, " I am looking pretty good Mimi!!

I love this kid!!!

Very Special Day

Today is a very special day to celebrate!!!

Today 23 years ago, my sweet sister-n-law Lisa was born. Lisa is such a special friend, sister and person. Lisa I pray that this year you experience the fullness that the Lord has promised for you. May you know the richness of his mercies as they are new everyday. I pray that this year you will learn how fearfully and wonderfully the Lord has made you. You are a gift to everyone you meet. Thank you for being such a wonderful friend and sister. Adam and I are blessed by you daily!!

Another very special thing to celebrate today, October 14th, is my grandparents 65th wedding anniversary. 65 years!!! Isn't that amazing!!!! Adam and I are so blessed with a heritage of faith in our parents and grandparents as well as examples of marriages built on love and respect. What an example we have to follow.


A day early but another celebration is my parents 31st anniversary tomorrow, October 15th. What an amazing celebration of marriage!!! I am so thankful for the legacy of love and family that Adam and I have. Thanks mom and dad for giving us such a great example. I love you so much! ( I know this picture is mainly Adam and I but it is a great picture of mom and dad in the back holding Jackson!!!!) I will add another picture later!!