We Are Loved!!

It's no secret that I'm not exactly crazy about living 10 hours away from all of our friends and family.  I have spent the last 5 years of our marriage wishing away precious time, waiting and hoping for the day when we would somehow, someway get our opportunity to move back closer to "home".  (Tallahassee/Thomasville)  

It wasn't until we moved to Jackson and joined Englewood Baptist Church that I finally realized what a disservice I'm doing to myself and my family by living for the future and not in the present.  Over the past three or four months I have finally come to realize that we may NEVER get back closer to home....and I need to be ok with that.  For the first time in my life, I can confidently (and happily) say that if God chooses to leave our family in Jackson, Tennessee for the rest of our lives, I will be alright with it.....and I might even LIKE it!  

The Lord has placed some of the most wonderful, loving people in our lives who have already become like family to us and honestly, I can't imagine moving away from them and no longer having them in our lives!  They've made THAT much of an impact on us in just a few short months.  I feel at home here and I feel like these new friends are as close to family as we could ever ask for!  They have welcomed the three of us with open arms and have treated us as if they've known us our entire lives.  I can't even tell you how much love and support was poured out over our family during my surgery and recovery time.  It's as if God placed these people in our lives at just the perfect time, because He knew exactly what we would need and when we would need it.  I'll elaborate more on all the ways we were shown love in my the follow up post to my surgery.  (Still working on that one because there is SO much to share!)

With that being said, this past Thursday was Grandparents' Day at Kyndall's pre-school.  A little over a week ago we received an invitation to a Grandparents/Special Friends "Tea" in which each child could invite their Grandparents or special friend to come and enjoy a special time of recognition for all that they do for our children.  I didn't even mention it to my parents or Matthew's parents because I knew it would only make them sad to know they couldn't be there and I just didn't see the point in doing that.

I figured Matthew and I would just go as Kyndall's special guests and I hoped that she was too young to know the difference.  Yesterday morning as I was getting her dressed for school, I started having major Mommy guilt, feeling sad that my little girl wouldn't have her Grandparents at school like many of the other kids.  Stupidly, I posted something about it on Facebook and basically thew myself a little pity party.

I dropped Kyndall off at school and planned to return at 1:30 for the tea.  Matthew promised me he would take off work and join me as well.  Shortly after I returned home from drop off, I received a text from Mrs. Pam Burleson, who is one of our adult Sunday School teachers.  She had seen my pity party post on Facebook and kindly offered to come as Kyndall's "stand in Grandparent".  I told her not to worry and that there was no need in that.  But, she insisted and told me how much she would love to do it.  

So at 1:30, Matthew and I met sweet Mrs. Pam in the lobby of the pre-school and she and Kyndall walked hand-in-hand into the tea.  Kyndall was so proud to have her there!!

We LOVE Mrs. Pam!!!!!

After the tea, Mrs. Pam walked with us to Kyndall's class where Kyndall proudly showed off her room and her artwork.  Mrs. Pam is a Grandma herself, so she was very sweet to allow Kyndall this pleasure.  When it was time to leave, Kyndall insisted that Mrs. Pam hold her hand all the way to our car, and that Mrs. Pam put her in her car seat and buckle her in.  She gladly agreed, even though it was about 175 degrees outside and I'm sure she would've rather NOT!  But, she's just that sweet and we love her!

Thank you, Mrs. Pam, for stepping up and going out of your way to do something so simple but that meant SO much to all of us!  You made everyone's day, including the sad Grandparents that are 10 hours away!  They were so happy to know that they were represented and that Kyndall was shown love!  =) 

Don't worry Nonie, Poppie, Grammy and G-Daddy.....you have this lovely gift to look forward to very soon!  We will be bringing it to you next week when we head to Florida!

As if that wasn't enough fun for one day, shortly after we left pre-school, I got an invitation to join our other Sunday School teacher, Mrs. Katherine Dement, for a pedicure treat at the "toenail store" (as Kyndall calls it!)  I was a little nervous, because Kyndall has never done anything like this before.  I've painted her toes myself on many occasions, but I've never taken her to have them done anywhere.  I was afraid she would be a wild woman, surely disrupting all of the lovely ladies who were attempting to enjoy a relaxing afternoon at the nail salon!  I felt like this was going to be disastrous, but I went ahead anyway.......

To my surprise, she did very well!!  She picked out a lovely shade of lavender polish (yikes!) and proudly handed it to the nice lady who would be painting her toes.  She actually sat very still on my lap while her teeny tiny little toes were treated to the most beautiful paint job they've ever seen!  Then, she sat patiently while Mrs. Katherine and I enjoyed a spa pedicure for ourselves.  It was so much fun!!!  Now that I know she can do it, we might be making more frequent trips to the "toenail store"!

I think her favorite part was turning the dryer on for Mrs. Katherine each time it went off!  She's still talking about that part!

Thank you, Mrs. Katherine, for giving the Hughes girls pretty toes!!!

Also this week, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Michael (my little sister and brother-in-law) sent us a "just because" package full of goodies for the whole family!  I'm not sure what we did to deserve all the love this week, but we sure have enjoyed it!

So excited to see what "Aunt Telly and Ankle Michael" sent us!

This girl LOVES some glow sticks!!!  She actually sleeps with one every single night.  She picks out her color after she brushes her teeth and then she proudly cracks the thing open all by herself.  Can't believe I just admitted that, but 'tis true.  I just hope in 20 years they don't declare that they were toxic or something!

Matthew loves Duck Dynasty as much as Kyndall loves her glow sticks!!

Monograms, cute flip flops and Coke Icees......."these are a few of my favorite things!!!"  LOVE my goodies!!!

So excited over all of her loot!  THANK YOU, Aunt Kelly and Uncle Michael!!

How cute are mine and K's matching monogrammed shirts?!?!  I'm in love!!!!!!  Can't wait to wear them together!  I just love having a little girl!  =)

We have really felt the love this week, that's for sure!  It's just more confirmation that we are exactly where the Lord wants us for such a time as this.  I don't know what the future holds for our family, but I do know that right now, I couldn't be happier to be a part of such a wonderful group of people who have shown our family love like we've never felt before.  We are THANKFUL and in thankfulness, I am finding contentment and true happiness.  

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”  ~John 13:34-35

On a side note, we have a lot to look forward to in the next week!  On Saturday, Kyndall will be getting a BIG birthday surprise, just a little early!!!!  I am so excited and can't wait to see her reaction!!!  I will be back to share the big surprise once it's revealed!  She's going to flip out, I just know it!!

Next Wednesday Kyndall and I will be heading down to Florida for a week and a half.  My sweet Sunday School class is taking a "girls only" beach trip to Destin and since my family is practically next door in Tallahassee, I decided to extend my trip and stay with my family for an extra week following the beach trip.  Kyndall will stay with her Grandparents while I'm in Destin, then I'll head back to Tallahassee until the 22nd.  I am SO looking forward to some much needed girl time soaking up the sun on my favorite beach with some of my favorite ladies!!!

Kyndall's 3rd birthday falls on the 20th, which means we'll be "home" to celebrate the big day with our family!!!  I'm so excited, but at the same time I can't believe another year has passed so quickly and my "baby" is soon to be THREE years old!!!!!  How am I the Mom of a three year old already?????

Have a great weekend!!