All the Fall things starting up!

 Yeah....both on the same night.

Go figure.

But Tyler and I divided and conquered. I took Lily and he was with Alexis. 

Tonight was Meet the Eagles and JAX State Convocation for the incoming Freshman class.

Excited for the Fall season to kick off for both of them because there is so many fun and sweet memories to come for them!

The 2026 XC team!

Our XC girl. Excited to see her run this season!

There she is!

It was so strange to not see Alexis out there cheering too! It tugged at my heart.

Go Eagles!

We were late...but made it to Alexis' Convocation. I didnt think I would make it at all but Meet the Eagles ended quicker than we thought. BUT, Lily was hot and didnt want to stay so didnt get to stay long before I took her home.

Tried to look over to see the crowd and try and spot Alexis and Tyler but........yeah, that didnt work well!

Excited to see her college life unfold!

The girls and their best friends

 My girls and their friendships mean a lot and I love that they have the ones they do!

Reese and Pearson are Lily's very best friends and I love her bond with both of them!

Alexis has her three roommates and I am just so thankful that she has them and all of her new Phi Mu girls too.

Their memories and fun and secrets and all the things are something I hope my girls will cherish forever.

These two are two peas in a pod. You just never know what either one of them are going to say....or do! Never a dull moment with them! I love P like she is my own and thankful Lily has her!

Kayleigh and Allie are such great additions to Alexis' life and heart. She needed them and I am so thankful that she got them as suitemates and now sisters in Phi Mu too. I cannot wait to see their bond grow!

Lily's continuous XC practices

 Whew, Lily and her Cross Country practices are tough! I just dont know how they run in the heat like is being done. They finally had an early morning practice because of the heat advisory and Lily said she loved it even though she had to go to school right after. 

It is just so hot lately!

But..........look at that sunrise! Beautiful!

Cant wait to watch this team when the season starts this weekend!

She's a Phi Mu girl!

 She has waited for THIS day since forever! All she has wanted since college talk and sorority life started was that she wanted to be a Phi Mu! 

I was curious if that would change once she actually did the process and it didnt. She fell more in love with the sorority those girls stand for and are and today was such a great day for her.

My prayer is that she opens up and shows her true self while in Phi Mu and college. That she makes the deepest bond friendships and has the best experience in her new home.

She needs this and I am SO excited for her!

Geeezzz it was HOT! We waited and waited but WHEW, finally.....all the sororities were ready and lined up dancing and cheering. It was fun to see!

THEN...............look back there! All the new girls parading in! All the girls started cheering louder and you could just feel the excitement!..........................and feel the heat! ha!

Then........our girl ran 'home' to Phi Mu!

We found her! She was ecstatic! It was special to see how happy she was. Made my heart smile.

Our Phi Mu!

So excited!

I mean, God picked the most adorable and precious roommate for Alexis. I am so thankful Alexis has Tillie. Are they not the cutest!

And God picked the best suitemates too and now her sisters also. I am so thankful she has them to do Phi Mu life with.

Kayleigh and Allie are so sweet!

The new pledges!

After Alexis had so much to do so we didnt get to see her until this! It was in an adorable venue and decorated so cute!

All the JAX State Phi Mu's! I have to say, this is the best and biggest on campus and it is an honor to be chosen! So proud of Alexis!

All the newbies!

All the newbies with the President, etc!

So excited for the friendships she will cherish!

Us parents so excited for our Phi Mu.

The backdrop couldnt be more true.

So many fun memories to come with all of her sisters!

Life lately has been busy

 It is that season. The season of nonstop going and all the things gearing back up! Whew, the heat, it has been HOT so that means doing all the things..........calls for more than one shower a day it feels like!

So a look into life lately...

I have to post this because I have a WHOLE new appreciation. Kindergarten teachers are angels from Heaven.

I know, I know, you think its easy........ha! Yeah, well, I have to say, I am learning every single day that I do not know anything. I am learning every single day that no one knows what others are going through. I am learning every single day that some people make things look easy BUT by no means is it actually. I am learning every single day that every single one of us are just trying to make it through and keep swimming.

This day taught me a lot and to have a flash as to WOW when these babies are grown. Just craziness. I so enjoyed them, but for sure will have to think about substituting Kindergarten again! :)

I have loved getting updates and pictures from Alexis throughout this past week while she has been doing all the things Rush. It has been a busy, overwhelming, exhausting, exciting, stressful, full of fun, memories and more this week. She needs a week to recover........................but......... school starts next week so.......here she goes!

This was Sisterhood Round!

And then Preference Round where she chose her top 2 which were Zeta and Phi Mu. She had her heart set for Phi Mu since forever ago. She fell in love with Zeta but nothing changed her heart for pink!

Lily and I soaked up some rays and you cant take a book out of her hands these days!

Today was Alexis' day!

 Today marks the day....that Alexis will forever be grown and on her own. 

Of course, we will still be there for her, etc...etc....but today....well, we packed her up and got her all settled in her new home.

It is so perfect. Both her and Tillie's room is the best combination of them yet it all goes so well together and is so comfy and homey.

I could not have asked for a better day for her to get settled in and for her to begin her new chapter and journey in life.

It was a HOT one, and busy and whew, I am sore and tired..........and super sweaty but so proud of her and happy that she has the best roommate and suitemates and has other friends in the building so she is ready to take it all on!

After we got her all unloaded, unboxed, sorted, put together, unpacked, a Wal-Mart run, and allll the rest of the things, it was time to leave and let them get ready for their first Rush event!

She is so excited and I am so excited for her!

The rest of this week will be a long and big one and then next week she has to gear up for school starting so lots of things coming her way! 

I pray that she stays calm, finds her place with the sorority that she is meant to be, and holds true to herself and makes the best memories and has all the fun this semester!

Sooo...how it started! Yeah, a very blank slate! Amazing how it can be transformed!

Allll the stuff! I mean, Tyler and I made a ton of trips...up the stairs...to get it all up! Whew!

BUT, it all turned out SO good and there is a spot for everything she needs!

It all turned out so cute!

We worked hard!

With her Daddy

And me too

This girl is ready to live her best life

And here they are. All together and so excited about all there is to come.

A new adventure that life brings

Never in a million years (especially exactly a month ago) would I have said that I am a substitute teacher in a small country school called West End High School.

But here I am.

And here I am doing something that only God knows the path and the plan. 

Trusting in Him to guide me even though I have absolutely no understanding or control......is SO hard, but it is something that I must do and know that he's got me and he will carry me exactly where I need to be. 

I must trust in Him.

So, as life moves along, you can either go without direction and without Him leading the way or you can put your trust in Him and find peace to know that he carries it all for you and that I am not alone. His plan is for the good as long as I cast all my cares upon Him and faith that he will deliver.

God, if you  have something for me, I want it. Amen

Thank you Lord.

Lily's 1st day of Freshman year!

 It is here and she is ready to take on her Freshman year!

Her class schedule is a tough one with all Honors classes, but I have NO doubt she will dominate and rock them!

It is a big year of all the things for her and I cant wait to watch her shine!

The rest of the month, life keeps moving!

 The rest of the month has been a blur mixed with all the things emotions can throw. But...spending the day with these two absolutely made my heart burst. You just cant not feel good when you are around them and it is exactly what I needed. WHEW, was I tired...as they kept me on my toes because we played everything under the sun while Mallory pained her deck and got their house ready to sell since they have bought a new and adorable home!

Maggie just cant help herself. She makes everyone just happy. This girl is a ball of sass and just pure joy. I cant get over how she is just growing up so fast and so witty. Just love her.

This girl is pure happiness too. Oh my goodness! She is starting Kindergarten again, since she will be at a new school and she is just a ball of energy and fun! She said she is ready for new friends and a new school and new clothes! ha!

She cooked Maggie and I breakfast....of toasty cinnamon bread! She was SO proud of herself because she wanted a pink REAL toaster for her birthday....and that is what she got! And though she said the bread was a little too hard.........(she toasted it a little too long) ha! that it was delicious and didnt I think it was soooo good too!? ha! Maggie and I both told her how good it was! :)

And spending some time with Alexis and watching her paint....just makes me smile. She is just SO talented. She is working on a canvas for each of her roommates and then this one for herself to put in their dorm rooms.

Just so cute!

Gearing up for all things school

 Both girls are in school mode. Lily just started and Alexis is about to.

Crazy to believe I have a Freshman and a Freshman in College. 

Just crazy!

But, they are ready and it is time to get it all going!

I had the pleasure of getting to attend Greysyn's Orientation at his school for him to gear up to start. He must makes me smile. So excited for him to start his new school year too!

Lily's picture isnt loading, for whatever reason, I am the least tech savvy person on this planet so I am probably doing something wrong, but she got her schedule, LOVED that her and Reese are in every class together and excited to be taking Driver's Ed in the Spring portion (with Reese too, of course)

But..I have this gold! Wasnt this just yesterday that she was starting Kindergarten! 

And...this too! I mean, gosh it goes by fast.

Tyler and I walked with Alexis around campus so she can see how long it takes to get from her dorm to her classes, etc.

It was an adventure. ha! She realized quickly that you cant drive everywhere so walking is essential. It is hot (she hates to sweat) and she has to remember where to go and not waste time because her next class starts after her other ends....so, she's got this. Her Daddy told her that he is a phone call away if she needs him to help her navigate because it was a lot that day. She only has 4 buildings that she is responsible for getting to and two of them are right beside her dorm...............so, she will be good!

Meeting his teacher and doing all the school things. He is so sweet!