Our Journey: Friends

Showing posts with label Friends. Show all posts

Wasn't I Just Talking About This

What a Difference a Week Makes

Wow. Last week was a doozy. There is nothing more stressful than having a very sick loved one and nothing you can do to help (except lay it in God's hands). I don't want to go into details about what happened out of respect for my family. But the reason for this post is to express my overwhelming gratitude for the AMAZING and BEST support system anyone could ever ask for. I never knew how truly loved and cared for I was until last week. All the prayers, kind words and continuous texts and phone calls held me together when I felt like I was going to crumble apart. Great things happen when you have a network of people praying for you and great things have. I am beyond blessed to be so cared for and to have friends who pray for each other. So if you sent a text, made a call or said a prayer last week for my family and me, THANK YOU.

And thank you Lord for carrying me through and giving me so many amazing friends. God is so good and faithful.

Another Crazy Fall

Oh I wish I could say I am looking forward to fall but just thinking about the next couple of months brings me nothing but anxiety. I have a full plate. I realize having a full plate means I have a lot to be thankful for. I have a job where I am in demand. However, just looking at my schedule gives me an ulcer. No kidding, I really think I’ve developed a stomach ulcer. When I think about my upcoming week this week makes me want to run to my momma’s house. You know because running to your momma’s house means no responsibilities and no real worries. First off, this work week is going to be like 60 hours! And it is my birthday. Doesn’t that sound like a lot of fun? Oh my birthday…. That brings another load of anxiety to me. If I skip the presents and cake can I skip getting older? It’s a deal so don’t worry about writing on my Facebook wall on Tuesday because I am skipping it this year. I do not know why I am having such a hard time as I inch closer and closer to the big 3-0, especially when my friends who have already reached that milestone birthday take it in stride and make it look not so bad after all. Each year just goes faster than the one before. I need things to sllllooooowwwww down a little. I cannot believe how fast the months fly by.

I am also very grateful that in the midst of my crazy fall schedule that we have some really fun things planned. In ten days (if I survive hosting Business After Hours and a football team) we leave for the beach. And just not to any beach. I am going to my happy, happy, happy place which is Saint Simons Island, Georgia. I must keep my eye on the goal. I am so excited that our friends Trina and Marshall will be joining us. While we are there Trina will turn 30 (which adds to my own anxiety about getting older but this is the part where I am supposed to focus on the positive… ha ha). We are also planning to attend the UT vs. Auburn game in November. Plus my best friend is getting married at the end of this month. I cannot wait! I must keep focused on all the good and exciting stuff and not how overwhelming and almost impossible my schedule seems. I would appreciate any prayers and support.

A Bridal Tea

I hosted a bridal tea for my best friend Andrea last Sunday. It was the first tea that I've ever hosted. I had three teas when I got married (one from my church in Florence, one from Greyson's church in Hartsville and one given by my bridesmaids in Murfreesboro). I've learned that bridal teas are not as popular here as they are at home in Florence. I've found myself having to explain the difference between a tea and a shower to a lot of people the last couple of years. Here are the main differences in a nut shell.
1. For showers there is normally a set arrival time but at a tea it is flow event. Teas are usually an hour and half to two hours. That is why tea invitations have a start time and end time listed and showers mostly have just a start time.

2. The honoree doesn't open her own gifts at a tea. The hostesses unwrap the gifts as they come in (typically in another room) and records the gift and who it is from and then takes the gifts in the main room and displays them on a table.

3. My favorite difference. There are no games at teas! Sorry gals, there is no toilet paper bride or how well do you know your groom games. I know, I am no fun. Your time at a tea is just spent visiting with guests and eating.

So now about Andrea's tea.

I absolutely loved her invitation. Ignore the black line, I had to black out my address.

Now my favorite part... THE FOOD. Her menu was as follows.

I worried myself to death about coming up with the perfect menu and the perfect recipes. I am not sure if it was perfect but it was pretty close in my "humble" opinion. A huge shout out to my mom for coming up early to help me prepare all the food.

In typical Amy fashion I used several recipe specs to come up with my very own and great chicken salad recipe.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup light or regular mayonnaise

1/2 cup light or regular sour cream

1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

2 pounds skinned and boned chicken breasts, cooked and chopped

3 cups red and white seedless grapes, halved

1 cup chopped pecans, toasted

½ cup celery finely sliced

Directions:

Stir all ingredients together adding the grapes last. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving. We scooped the chicken salad into little puff pastries.

I also found this amazing recipe for chess squares. They were a hit at the party. We actually followed this recipe exactly how it is listed.

http://www.kevinandamanda.com/recipes/dessert/chess-squares.html

The last recipe I want to share with you is Almond Tea. I fell in love with this stuff at my bridal tea in Hartsville. I think it is a must to any bridal tea.

Almond Tea

Ingredients:

2 cups sugar or Splenda (I’ve used both)

1 gallon water

8 tea bags

2 TBSP almond extract

Directions:

Brew tea, add sugar to warm tea to dissolve and add almond extract

There you have it folks. It was a great tea for my best friend. Let me know if you decide to host a tea of your own.

Allison

I’ve been proud of my friends before but I don’t think anything even comes close to how proud I’ve been of my friend Allison these last four days. Allison lost her mother to an aggressive and a considerably short battle with cancer on Friday afternoon. The service for her mother yesterday was nothing like I’ve ever experienced. It was such an amazing tribute to her mother and an even greater one to the God her mother so devotedly served. The song “I Can Only Imagine” was played yesterday at the funeral. This song has always had an overwhelming emotional effect on me. I cannot listen to it without crying. The thought of one day standing in the Glory of God brings me to tears. Yesterday, the song literally took my breath away. I think the entire congregation heard me gasp for air between my sobs. Just thinking about Allison’s mom there with her new heavenly body that is cancer free standing in the presence of our Savior was a true worship experience unlike anything I’ve ever experienced. I left there yesterday feeling so close to God and in awe of all His wonder.

God laid two important lessons on me during the service. One is I want to live a life worthy of my calling. I want to impact the lives of others and serve mankind just as Mrs. Hinton did. She was a great example of a servant heart. The things she did were not always something noticed or acknowledged at the time either. One example is she would smock burial gowns for stillborn babies. I cannot imagine the impact those small gowns had on so many grieving family members. I really left there thinking that I need to be doing more. I need to show others the love of Christ through service. Secondly, Mrs. Hinton was in full submission to God. She surrendered everything to Him. Throughout her battle with cancer, she would always say she would be healed by God, whether that was on Earth or in Heaven. She prayed for His Will to be done over all else when it came to how she was healed. Her full trust was completely in Him.

When I told Allison last night that she and her family did an amazing job planning the service and that I was so proud of her grace through it all, she quickly reminded me that the praise belonged to God and not to her. She faced the hardest thing any of us in our group of friends has faced and she did it with such grace. She has continued to praise Him in this storm. She hasn’t questioned His ways but has accepted His will. She has actively chosen to see God. While others would declare this a tragedy and question God, Allison has acknowledged God’s will was done. Not only has she continued her mother’s legacy through doing this but she has also honored her Heavenly Father. And all this is why I cannot be any prouder of her.

I feel like I should also mention how humbled I am to have such an amazing core group of friends. We came from all over and dropped everything to be there for Allison. My friend Ashley and her husband, David drove from Chattanooga, TN to Florence, AL and back in one day just so that they could be there on the day of the visitation. A large crew of us all piled into my parents’ house for two days just to be there in Florence. We wanted to be there to pay our respects and offer whatever support we could. The support and love that was there this weekend was beyond overwhelming to all of us. Allison’s baby girl, Alexis is probably happy not to have at least three of her mom’s sorority sisters in her face at all times. Although, we did have a lot of fun fussing over her and blowing bubbles in the backyard. I know Allison was extremely grateful and honored by not only our presence but the presence of so many. The line at the visitation wrapped around the funeral home. I think this speaks volume to Allison and her family as well. I’ve always said Allison is the friend that will drop anything for any of us, no matter what it is. I am so pleased we were able to do that for her. I am so thankful for the gift of friendship.

Allison wrote these words below and they were shared at the service yesterday. As the preacher who read this said, “This was spoken better than any Baptist preacher.” Allison, my friend, you have a gift in your writing. You also have the gift of a servant heart just like your mother and you’re a Godly lady that seeks Him first. You demonstrate love just as 1 Corinthians Chapter 13 reads. And that my friend, will forever make me proud of you. I also acknowledge that the glory does belong to Him above.

To some of you she is known as a teacher, friend, mentor, creative individual, seamstress, quilter and even more characteristics than I can think of at the moment. To one person for 42 years she is known as wife and companion. To mine and my sisters’ children she is known as grand momma and finally to my sister and I she is simply known as mom.

I kept thinking of this verse and this version throughout the time we have all been on this journey. It was a quick nine months but even with all the ups and downs along the way one thing remained the same LOVE, I witnessed firsthand 1 Corinthians 13:4-7,

“Love is always patient and kind; it is never jealous; love is never boastful or conceited; it is never rude or selfish; it does not take offence; and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to endure whatever comes.”

To endure whatever comes, my dad showed this above all measure. He nurtured her, had everything programmed down to the second as to where he wouldn’t miss one little thing. He prayed along with my sister and I without ceasing for ultimate healing, Earthly or Heavenly. There was always trust and hope in the LORD and knowing that he is in control.

From the very start of this journey mom always told us that wither she had Earthly healing or Heavenly healing she was a winner either way. Selfishly we all wanted her here with us, but the LORD knew that he was preparing a place for her and knew just when he was going to call her home to him.

It was a pleasure and humbling experience I know for me and I’m sure my sister too, to be able to be there these past few weeks. Take some of the weight off of dad, sit there and talk with mom, pray for her, just be near her. Witness her visits with the grandchildren and her sons-in-laws. We all have our meeting places with her in Heaven and what a wonderful reunion that will be.

Our mom might not be physically with us anymore but she is and always will be forever present in our lives. The values, beliefs and traditions that she incorporated into our family will live on. The memories of her loving our children so much that no matter what was going on that day she would always come to their aid if one of them was sick or just needed her. One time she drove from Mississippi after taking care of Caleb back to the house in Florence to repack and drive all the way to Nashville to take care of Alexis all in the same day. That was just another way that she showed her love not only to the grandchildren but to us girls.

Some parents you can ask which child do you love more, now smart parents will say I love all my children the same. My mom was a smart lady, even though I tried to get her to slip up from time and time and admit it was me. But mom truly loved her children the same, neither Adrienne or I lacked the same amount of love, it might have been expressed differently from time to time but she loved us both very much and did everything in her power to make sure that we were ok. Mom would say that God gives you children to keep your prayer life current. Those long time friends of the family know exactly what we are talking about, if it wasn’t a four wheeler wreck resulting in a coma in Birmingham Hospital or Kidney Stones resulting in being airlifted from the Bahamas to Florida or numerous other illnesses and accidents. Mom would also say that my guardian angel was off playing in left field when some of those things took place. Well now I know not to worry anymore about my angel getting off track. Our mom is in heaven today glorifying God with her new cancer free body. And she is also giving our guardian angels just a few pointers on how to take care of us just a little better.

We don’t look at it as mom lost her battle, she got the ultimate prize. Being in Heaven with our Heavenly Father, who we will all see not all too soon enough. The angels were rejoicing when mom walked through those heavenly gates on Friday and she not only walked but ran into the arms of Jesus and all of those we have lost before.

If you walk away from here to remember anything remember that through everything she did, she did it through love.

“These three things continue forever: faith, hope and love. And the greatest of these is love.”

1 Corinthians 13:13

And her love for the lord, family and friends has left an imprint on our hearts that will last forever.

Gone but not forgotten,
a memory deep in my heart,
a promise of tomorrow,
of one day we won’t part,
You went ahead of me,
seeing all I want to see,
but I know where you will wait for me,
its just beyond where I can see,

time might be slow before we go home,
to reunite on Gods golden shore,
but I know where you wait for me,
its where you have no pain anymore.

I know where you wait for me,
in the presence of our King,
He’s preparing a place for me,
only he knows how long I’ll be.

But I know where you wait for me,
It’s just beyond where I can see.

Walk Beside Me

I am very blessed to have a great circle of close friends. I have this one close friend where it always seems we grow closer when one of us in going through something. It's not that we are not there for one another for the good times but time and time again we've grown closer during struggles in our lives.

Today I took a long walk on the beach by myself and I was thinking about my relationship with God and how lately it seems like there is constantly a new struggle in my life. I kept praying over and over that God walk beside me on the beach and that I feel His presence. As I've shared before , I've recently felt God's current lesson plan for me is to trust Him more. The word trust came to me again. Then I thought about my relationship with my friend, Andrea. My relationship with her is a lot like my relationship with God. I call on Him more in my time of need but I'm not leaning on Him on the mountaintops. I'm quick to give the big stuff to God but not the little stuff. The everyday stuff, I can take care of that myself. God you handle the big stuff while I control the rest. See there I go with that ugly word again... control. Well, not giving it all to Him is not living for Him. And I can't help but think that some of these valleys could be avoided if I was giving my complete self to Him. As turned around to head back, I started crying at the sight of my husband and his father walking towards me. I didn't take it as a coincidence that a father and son were walking towards me after my reflections. There was great symbolism for a father walking along side his son to check on me because spiritually this happens everyday.

My youth pastor growing up use to say, "I must decrease so Christ may increase. " My need for complete control must be surrendered daily whether I'm on a mountaintop, valley or somewhere in between. And I know the Father and His Son will walk beside me every step of the way.

Rachel & Nick's Wedding

My dear friend from college, Rachel got married this weekend in Louisville, Kentucky. Nick and Rachel's wedding was by far the sweetest and most relaxed wedding I've ever been to or have ever been a part of. Take notes from Rachel. Less really is more. It was simply perfect. Their wedding ceremony and reception was held in a private room at the Bristol, which is a local restaurant in the heart of downtown Louisville. Our friend Trina married them! And yes, the ceremony was legit. She did an incredible job. I was so proud of her. The food was amazing! It really was the perfect day. My favorite part though was having the opportunity to be Rachel's photographer for large portions of the day. I am rather proud of my growing photography skills. Watch out Sara Rose.... ha ha! I may have found my new hobby and part-time job. Here are a few of my favorites from Saturday.

To end the perfect weekend, we continued to celebrate the union of Rachel and Nick with a second reception in Nashville at Trina and Marshall's house. Unfortunately, I was a little too busy with assisting play hostess that I did not get to take many pictures.

Congratulations again to Rachel & Nick. I am honored to have been a part of your wedding weekend celebrations.

Roden Tidwell Wedding

This weekend my dear friend, Lara got married. I was honored to serve as her wedding coordinator. Lara is the girl that keeps up with all the happenings of her friends (and this girl has a lot of friends). She also has a gift of making everyone feel special. She is by far the most thoughtful person I know. I was actually thankful to have the opportunity to give back to the girl who has given to so many, including myself.

Here are a few pictures that I managed to take during the hectic day.

I was reminded this weekend of why I love weddings so much. It’s all the love and excitement…. And not just between the bride and the groom. I love that friends and family come together for two people. I always tell my brides at work to cherish their entire wedding weekend. And that the next time all of their friends and family are together celebrating them will be their funeral so soak it all in. It sounds a little harsh but it is so true. I love the closeness of everyone. I can honestly say that Lara and Tim did take the time to cherish everyone who attended and one another. So brides and grooms, take note. Walk around and talk to all your guests. Take moments to steal away with one another and your loved ones.

Mother Nature wasn’t very kind to Tim and Lara on their wedding day but seeing her and Tim’s love for one another definitely shined through the rain clouds. Lara selected some amazing vendors. I honestly have nothing but great things to say about them all. So here’s the scoop on her wedding day. E-mail me for any of their contact information.

Venue: Belle Meadow Farms, Lascassas, TN

DJ: Live Media Relations

Florist & Decorator: Emily Beals Moshopoulos

Bakery: Cedar City Cakes

Rentals: Stewart’s Special Evens

Caterer: Slick Pig

Bartender: Jesse George

Photographer: Rebecca Walker Photography

I can’t wait to see more pictures from Rebecca Walker Photography. Oh and if you Instagram check out the #tidwellweddingtn . So many great moments and details were captured.

Lastly, I leave you with this picture that I ~~stole~~ borrowed from one of Lara’s friends. It flash flooded all day on Saturday so it was pretty muddy plus it was sprinkling when it was time for Lara to walk down the aisle. I couldn’t let her dress get muddy so I carried it in the back. I love this photo. I actually, kind of, blend in.

Stuck

I feel fortunate to have close friends that share in my passion for adoption. One of my friends, Trina, recently sent me a trailer for a new documentary about adoption and its need for reform. It is called Stuck. The premises behind the documentary is to expose the current wait time with international adoptions and other obstacles that are keeping children in orphanages and away from their forever homes. In a great sense these children really are stuck. This past Friday, Trina and I watched Stuck. It is incredible. These families’stories will leave a lasting impression on your heart. I pray this documentary starts conversations and changes current policies. We have to begin to put people over policy. You can watch it online at www.stuckdocumentary.com. I would encourage everyone to watch it or at least watch the trailer shown below.

Also, please take one minute to sign a petition asking congress, global leaders and President Obama to take specific actions to change the landscape of adoptions. http://www.change.org/petitions/make-a-child-s-right-to-a-family-our-priority