Happy Birthday Baby Brother

21 years ago I received what is still the greatest blessing in my life

21 years ago I learned what love and family are truly all about

21 years ago my world was forever changed

21 years ago a special bond was formed

21 years ago I became a big sister

My baby brother turned 21 this past monday. Anyone who knows me, knows that I LOVE LOVE LOVE being a big sister. Family is my world! For 6 years of my life I was pretty much a spoilt rotten lil princess  the only child. That would all soon change. Although the first words out of my mouth after my brother's arrival were..."it's a boy?!?! and there ain't a thing I can do about it." I literally told my Granny those exact words. I had my heart set on a baby sister and, at 6 years old, the though of a little brother sounded gross. haha. . However, I never imagined the bond a brother and sister could share. I never imagined the impact that he would have and still has on my life today. I never knew how much I would grow to respect, admire, love, trust, and protect my baby brother. Sure, we have had our moments, like any siblings do, but my brother and I to this day have a relationship that is so special to me. It is a connection that I will never share with anyone else. It is a type of love different from the love you have for your mom and dad, it is a type of love I only share with him. If i have done anything right in my life, I feel like it is being a big sister to a remarkable little boy, and now, young man. I said in one of my first blog posts that my brother was my hero and that my life is, and continues to be, better because he is in it. I believe this with every bit of my heart.

Charlie, you know I love you more than anything in this world.

I am so proud of you for everything you have accomplished in your 21 years so far.

You are so blessed and continue to have the ability to impact all those that you can in contact with.

You are a leader.

You are compassionate, strong, and steady.

You have been there for me at my strongest moments and my proudest moments

You are deemed for true greatness

You are a role model for so many around you 

You have an ability to relate to others than is far beyond your years

You are sincere

You are so so so blessed

You are a true friend to those around you

You are an "old soul" and so full of love

You have god given talents

You amaze me at times

You are my world

No matter where life takes you, know that I will be cheering you on and supporting you every step of the way. I hope you always, always know how much I love you. I am so lucky to be your big sister...or as you put it just "Sis."

Enough of the mush, onto the fun part of Charlie's 21st birthday.  I may or may not have taken the day after his birthday off from work so I could celebrate with him. I mean, HELLLO, your baby brother only turns 21 once. I put on my party pants and went back to the college years for one night. Oh how i miss those days at times.

 Let me just set the tone for the night. I arrived at baby bro's apartment waiting for him and the rest of the gang to get off football practice so the celebration could start. Charlie lives with 3 other boys. 3 out of the 4 play football which equals A TON of sweaty, dirttttty, filthy gym clothes everywhere ...plus the odor. It always smells like Saturday night covered up with febreeze when I walk in the door. All i can say is, boys will be boys. This is the decor I am working with at this place people.

Can you say dreamcatchers?? they are everywhere....

and please note that is an afghan on the wall serving as a "curtain"

ohhh those messsy messsy cords

I think Bailey was even a lil scared of what we might find in this apartment

Being the good big sister that I am, i showed up bearing gifts

The Roomies discussing our game plan

And no 21st birthday is complete without a sash...bought by yours truly

I have gotten close to charlie's pals over the past couple of years that he has been in college. They travel often with him home to Eastern Ky. They are like brothers to me and I am so thankful he has such a good group of college buddies. He is truly having the time of his life and I dont think he even realizes it.

What a group :-)

The Whitesburg Kids

oh ya know...just pretending I am back in college with the boys

and then there were shots....lots of shots for the birthday boy

and who could forget arm wrestling.....dont ask lol!

I think it safe to say he was having a good time

and so were they...

Happy 21st birthday Charlie bub! I had a blast with your buddies.....and I hope that you did too. No matter how old you get, you will always be my little one. MWAAAAAAAH!!!

I got these texts from my mama the next day.....she sure is a sweetie.

I love being a sister...so so much.

love,

a country girl and boy wedding

Last labor day weekend, I had the privilege of being a bridesmaid in the ultimate country/southern wedding. You may remember Megan and Justin from one of my very first posts here. I was super emotional through the whole weekend. Don't ask me why...maybe because I am a hopeless romantic, maybe because I am lonely, maybe because my emotions have been messed with, or maybe it was because I simple love these two birds soo sooo sooo very much.

WARNING::: SAP/SMUSH/EMOTIONAL/LOVEY DOVEY/MAY MAKE YOU GAG A LIL ALERT!!!! - dont say i didnt warn ya...wink wink.

You may remember that I went to high school with Justin. We grew up together in Eastern Kentucky and were raised on the same type of love, cornbread and taters, faith, and values that are a product of an Appalachian raisin'. He is one of my oldest and closet guy friends. He knows more about me than some of my best gal pals and i will always cherish the thousands of memories we were able to make years ago including friday night football games and post game parties, trips to the bootlegger (sorry mom if you are reading this), sneaking into the Richmond bar scene when we were way too young, a trip to pikeveille involving wedding dresses, an emergency stop and text messages at a motel on i-75, summers on the lake, and the list goes on and on. Regardless, I know I could truly call on him for anything in this entire world. Megan found herself a keeper and a good ole country boy at heart.

And then of course, there is the bride, who asked me to be a part of their special day. I cant put into words how much this girl's friendship means to me. It has been in the past 2-3 months that I have truly realized what an angel I have in my life. She has kept me grounded through the good, bad, ugly, and pretty. She has dropped everything at the drop of a hat for me, she has picked me up when i thought i could never get up, she has made me smile, she has made me laugh, she has held my hand and watch me cry, she has listened to me over and over again, she has been a rock for me at times I needed it the most! I love you Meg and I am so so so happy for you . You deserve all of this and then some. :-)

I think my emotions got the best of me last weekend also due to the fact that since the crazy events of this summer, Megan and Justin have truly taken me under their wing. They always make me feel welcomed and are always shoulders to cry on. They never make me feel weird about being their "permanent third wheel". They have both shown me the amazing value in true friendship. I could never re-pay them for being so steady when my world was falling apart. From the bottom of my heart, I love you both so much.Your wedding day was so perfect. So full of love. So RIGHT! I know it was everything the both of you wanted. I am so fortunate to watch every second of it.

I mean this wedding left this country girl homesick...BIGTIME!!! Megan and Justin were able to embrace everything that makes Eastern Kentucky so special to us and reflect it in their big day. It was so charming and personable. It made me want to move back into the heart of the mountains and just soak up it all up.

 This wedding wasnt about glitz and glam, spending tons of money on foolishness, or keeping up with jones'...it was simply about two people who love each other and two families merging as one. It was about what was most important to the bride and groom: family and love. Shouldn't that be what every wedding is about???

It was picture perfect. Take a look for yourself.


Rehearsal Dinner at Meg's Parents....who live in my version of freakin paradise :-)

Megan's Daddy built this bridge for the big day

This Banjo Player stole my heart. He has played at the White House with Willy Nelson and was also in the movie Coal Miner's Daughter. He could flat out play

Just a pickin' and a singin'

I grew up with these boys and have gotten into my fair share of trouble with them back in the day. Sooo good to see that they are still close friends.

Last night as a single lady

The BIG DAY!!!

Gettin' ready for the big day

Her dress, her mama's wedding dress (that she would change into later in the night, and her daddy's boots)

We had such a great weekend together

First time her daddy saw her

She was absolutely stunning!

Such a lil Southern Belle

Me with Mom and Daddy - love them so very much

It was so so pretty and so so fun! After the wedding and reception....the real party started. Which included a wardrobe change for the bride, a bonfire, cowboy boots, and SMORES. It was fabulous!

Miss Megan changed into her mother's wedding dress that was worn years ago. It was just as gorgeous this day as it was years ago.

 

sippin out of a mason jar and loving my cowboy boots....this was my kinda party

Congratulations Mr and Mrs. C. I love you both and had the best time celebrating your big day.