A dose of home

I'm headed to NC for Thanksgiving and will finally be in Raleigh instead of Charlotte.  I have missed my precious friends and can't wait to be with them and catch up on the past 6 months. 

Here are just a few of the faces I can't wait to see....

 Emily Nance is perfect and if hosting a wine and cheese party for all of us next Friday.  I can't wait to be in one place with all of these girls...such a treat!

 Duh, no holiday is complete without my Meemaw and Peepaw.

Gosh, hard to believe it's been 6 months since I've seen these two....if you had asked me if I could survive without them for 6 months I would have said no!

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The newly weds...see ya on the 17th!

 Mike Caiola--I've already planned a sushi lunch for us, I hope you are free that day!  Mullins--the earlier you come home from Africa, the sooner I see you...hustle!  Valore--can't wait to see the new and improved V-dome!

 Is Janis my mother-in-law now?  Nevertheless, I'll be seeing both of my "moms" for sure.  Hey Pattianne.

 Odd...Biggest is coming home for Tgiving, right?  Bring elastic in the waist pants, and I'll see ya at 1125 Aycock!

I land at RDU at 9:50pm....seeing this love bug at 9:51pm....can't get there fast enough.  We have some SERIOUS wedding planning to do for her big day in April. 

Yes, Ali...we'll go eat at Fiesta while I'm home!

 I'm gonna hug yall so hard!  C, bring G to Tgiving....well maybe for half of the day! 

If we don't go to at least ONE Taco Tuesday while I'm there, I'm never coming back.

Dad...this is a very subtle hint of where I would like to have lunch with you...and JUST you!

I moved...AGAIN

Moving is usually dreadful, but it has been really fun for me.  I've lived in Dallas for 6 months and have lived in 5 places!  This is my newest crib....YES, I count my blessings everyday! 

 Well, this is the front, and I guess to be fair, I don't really live here...I live in the guest quarters of this house...but still!


This is the back, and that little apartment-looking thing on the left side of the picture is my house.  The view is not too shabby.  Come visit...you'll love it too. 

Still loving Dallas

Life in Dallas only seems to get better and better.  The friends here are incredible, and our lives are more fun than we deserve.  The best feeling in the world is to look forward to going home to my family...but being excited to come back to Dallas to these sweet faces!

A few highlights....

 Loren Fowler, me, Ashley Chronister, Holli Williams, and Liz Larsen....out for Loren's birthday!!

Amazing seats at the Cowboys vs Giants game....

Kelley and Liz at the Cowboys vs Giants game. 

Liz and I enjoying our up-close-and-personal view at the Cowboys game!

 Jordan, Liz, and Ashley....we went to the airport to pick up Ashley from her misison trip to Haiti.  So proud of her and all the work she did....but also so glad to see her back in Dallas...we missed her!!

 Jordan, Liz, Ashley, and me....welcome home, Ash!  We LOVE HAITI!

Ashley, me, Liz, and Amber....Texas/OU weekend!

Halloween

The best part about Halloween this year was that the mom that was in charge of the Halloween party for Ward's classroom bailed at the last minute....so I got to throw the party with Heath! 

Life and Death

The past few weeks have given me the chance to celebrate new life, and to celebrate the end of life on this Earth and the beginning of the journey into paradise. 

Sarah and Matt announced that they will be having a baby in May!  I can't even imagine my little friend with a big ole belly, but it's happening.  Although I would give anything to be in Charleston with her and watch her pregnancy first hand, God has really given me an amazing excitement about getting updates and pictures, and our visits will just be extra special treats that will be SO SWEET! 

Julie and Evan also announced their pregnancy and had a gender reveal party so we could all find out the sex of the baby together.  They face timed me into the party, so I got to see Julie cut open the cake to find that it was BLUE....a baby boy is on the way!!!

I was excited to find out the sex of the baby, but also really excited to see Taylor and Angel on face time!  Robyn was sweet enough to walk me around so I could say hey to everyone. 

On the flip side, we also lost our sweet Aunt Mary Lou.  She has left her farm in the country and has gone to reconnect with my Granddaddy in Heaven.  My Dad loved his aunt so much and loved visiting the country and going back to where he grew up.  She was the best cook in the world, and we will miss her greatly.  Her life was simple, and we have the BEST memories of her!

Dad on the farm next to the "Jacks Place" sign. 

Dad with his Aunt Mary Lou on her birthday a few years ago!  A life well lived....