{God bless America, land that I love}

**This was a post I did in May of 2008 and I thought it was perfect for Memorial Day. If you get an opportunity, watch Taking Chance with Kevin Bacon, so good.

A 24 year old soldier from Commerce was killed in Iraq last week, Chad is doing the funeral. This funeral has brought out a lot of emotion in our house, my eyes water every time I think about it. All I think about is his wife and two kids that said good bye to him a year ago and won't ever speak to him again. Chad said that the outpouring of support is amazing and there is nothing like a military funeral.

*All photos from Mainstreetnews.com

The military plane flew in to Athens yesterday and Chad took the family to the airport. They parked on the runway and the plane pulled right up to the hearse. They got a motorcycle processional to take them from Athens to Jefferson, through Commerce. The respect that the people of Jackson county and Athens paid this man, that they don't know, is so amazing! People lined the streets with signs and flags, the Commerce Middle school came outside and the band director stood on the hill playing TAPS as they drove by. The Commerce and Jefferson fire departments brought out their ladder trucks and crossed the street with their ladders with flags waving. People saluted as they drove by, strangers wept for this man.

I am sure that his family and the soldier from his unit that traveled with him were touched by the support and I am so proud of my Chad being a part of this. He was an instrumental part of getting Sgt. Whitehead the respect he deserves.

RIP Army Sgt. Shaun Whitehead, thank you

{Free as we'll ever be}

If you like Zac Brown {we love a good Georgia boy that got his start down at Lake Oconee!!!} you will love this. Not only is it his new song, Free {which makes me tear up when I hear it for some reason. Every single time.} but then he sings Into the Mystic! My most favorite Van Morrison song EVER.

Side note, I wanted to dance to Into the Mystic at our wedding as our first dance but decided not to. Something about dancing to "I want to rock your gypsy soul" and my grandmothers watching made me feel icky...

So, enjoy. Katie- you will LOVE this I think.

{Forever and a Day- 5.20.2006}

You are Everything

by Matthew West

I'm the one with two left feet,

standing on a lonely street,

I can't even walk a straight line.

And every time you look at me,

I'm spinning like an autumn leaf,

Bound to hit bottom some time.

Where would I be without someone to save me,

Someone who won't let me fall?

You are everything that I live for,

Everything that I can't believe is happening

You're standing right in front of me,

With arms wide open, all I know

Is everyday is filled with hope

'Cause You are everything that I breathe for,

And I can't help but breathe You in, and breathe again,

Feeling all this life within, every single beat of my heart.

I'm the one with big mistakes, big regrets,

And bigger breaks than I'd ever care to confess.

Ah, but You're the one who looks at me

And sees what I was meant to be,

More than just a beautiful mess.

You are everything that I live for,

Everything that I can't believe is happening

You're standing right in front of me,

With arms wide open, all I know

Is everyday is filled with hope

'Cause You are everything that I breathe for,

And I can't help but breathe You in, and breathe again,

Feeling all this life within, every single beat of my heart.

You're everything good in my life,

Everything honest and true.

And all of those stars hanging up in the sky

Could never shine brighter than You.

Happy 4th Anniversary to the love of my life. The past four years have been an advendure, can't wait to see what He has in store!

I am so lucky to have married you, here's to many, many, many more.

{What have we been up to?}

We have been busy bees over the past few months. April was insane, we had something every weekend.

April 18th was McKay's 15th birthday. We celebrated with Mexican, my favorite!

Es flan, verdad? Isn't he handsome!

• We went to the annual Boys and Girls club fundraiser where I got Tupperware and Chad got a humidor in the silent auction. I L.O.V.E my Tupperware, I am old.
• We went to Knoxvegas to visit Amy and Vish and celebrate Amy's birthday. It was a fantastic weekend. We got to meet her friends and eat tons, we ate brunch next to Pat Summit. It's the little things that get me excited...
• Baby Huston was born, yay!!!
• We went to a concert in "downtown" Braselton with the Mullins and saw Uncle Mikes Band. It was SO fun. I can't wait for the Kinchafoonee Cowboys in November, it was be ahhhmazing!

And of course we have been celebrating moi over the past week. This week is our 4th anniversary, can't wait to celebrate!

{Cheers to a green thumb}

Last weekend we planted tons of plants. We planted flowers, shrubs and veggies. We have been talking sweet to them and feeding them tons of Miracle Grow.

And last weekend Momma and Daddy came up to celebrate my birthday and Mothers day. We worked on the veggie section and a sink hole. My spastic butt had a run in with a garden tiller, it won and my consolation prize was a tetanus shot. Awesome.
We planted zucchini seeds, look at them grow!

And cucumbers, they are going to be so cute! We also planted strawberries, tomatoes and basil. Can't wait to harvest! More to come, I am obsessed with watching these little seedlings!

{So, you say its your birthday!!!}

If today is your birthday horoscope: Get pumped up and explore your need for physical outlets and leadership skills in this year ahead. Put a new exercise regimen into place during July when you will be at your best and able to shine at all executive endeavors. All your irons in all those fires can be put to good use in late June and the first half of July when you can successfully initiate important plans that greatly improve your future.

Today is my 29th birthday! I can't believe it. That sounds OLD. Only one more year and its the big 3-0. Everyone says that your 30's are the best years of your life. I can see that. My twenties have been spent getting my "big girl life" started. I graduated college, starting my career, met the love of my life and got married. That a lot of big stuff but it is just the beginning.

Year 29 will be spent getting healthy, finding a new job and getting more comfortable in my skin. I have been blessed beyond measure, I know that. I have the most amazing friends (some that I have been friends with for over 20 years!) an amazing family and the most spectacular hubby and puppy child.

So CHEERS, here's to the last year of my twenties! I am celebrated by going to CFA headquarters for lunch with Poochie and Cris and then Chad and I partook in some liquid cheese tonight. Rock on!