spinners park pumpkin run.

we are happy.

today began running season for us.

we are ready.

for all the cold, early mornings.

sporting bright warm(er) running outfits.

numb limbs from freezing in the first mile of running.

seeing the running friends again that we have made while participating in this hobby we enjoy.

today mom and i ran our very first 8k.

5k's and 10k's are fun. but 8k's? double the fun.

we missed the sister and it just wasn't the same without her but, this time with mom will be forever treasured.

daddy came as a cheerleader this time.

he cheered us on as we crossed the finish line. mom smoking with a time of 39:53.

i crossed the line with a PR of 48:23.

yup.

it's going to be fun year.

let's do this.

Stats for Pumpkin Run 8k:

Age Division: 20-25

Place: 1st (i was the only one in my age category)

Total: 48:23

Pace: 9:12

a and m :: the bridesmaid brunch.

a relaxing, rainy morning getting ready with just me and the sis at home, jammin' to 22 by eclipse in the sub, getting to the venue where mom and daddy had already arrived an hour previous and had begun to decorate along with other family members and friends, a bridesmaid that got lost and wasn't able to make it to the brunch, an uncle and a boy cousin who served the ladies, china that belonged to all sides of the family (from both grandmother's on brides side and also both grandmother's on groom's side), iPhone tech issues, fruit/sausage/hashbrown casserole/casserole with peach topping, letters read from bride to bridesmaid's, robes and make-up bags handed out, tears flowing, a prayer circle for the bride, the sun coming out and then drizzling some more, cleaning up and awaiting the arrival of my boyfriend from kentucky, funny friends and memories made....

cousin of the groom, sis-in-law, a bestie, bridesmaid, bride, me, bridesmaid, cousin of the groom.

the bride's grandmothers.

groom's mother, bride, and mother of the bride.

a and m :: a letter to the sister on her magical day.

today's the day.

the day where my sister will say "i do" to the man of her dreams.

(the man who she has always loved--since she was 11 years old.)

------------------------

dear sister,

the day is here!!!

you look beautiful.

mom and i are the only ones who were able to get that special sneak peek of you in your dress. 

those fittings were a special memory, weren't they? even the one where you fainted right there in the clothes rack store. (hate i missed that one. hehe! --i was at work--) 

i cannot wait to see everyone's face today when they are able to see you for the first time in your beautiful wedding dress--especially him since y'all are saving that "first look" for the ceremony.

these past 19 years with you in my life have been more than special...

...they have been doubly special.

i will miss you, sister.

i have been told that i cried the day mom and daddy brought you home from the hospital because i couldn't hold you.

i couldn't hold you, my baby sister, thanks to those crazy 'ole chicken pox.

when you were finally placed in my arms, i wept. 

i probably was crying because i knew that i was holding my best bud in the whole world. 

just the other night (and other nights previous), i cried myself to sleep knowing that all the "bro nights" and times we have spent together having just dance dance-offs and driving (rather rapidly) to the gas station 5 minutes before church are going to be memories that are in the past. but, i had a comfort and a peace in knowing that we will be making new memories in this new phase in our life.

and lookie. lookie. 

you're marrying that guy that you have had a secret crush on these past 8 years.

all those trips to his church for 5th sundays and youth devos finally paid off. *wink wink*

oh yeah, and you're welcome for MAKING you go over and talk to him that sunday night...about his socks for all things!! 

(hey, i guess you have to start somewhere)

i pray you and that bro-in-law (is this really happening?? eeek!) have the most amazing, lovable, hugable, fun-filled, colorful, (i could think of lots more descriptve words...) and God-filled life as bestest best friends.

oh yeah.

and try not to growl too much. ;D

MEEOOOW!,

your sister

me and you

can i cry now?...

my {wedding} leave of absence.

i think i have a pretty good excuse too.

this is the week.

the week of all the last-minute hustle and bustle wedding preparation.

the week of soaking up this time with my sister before she becomes a mrs.

the week of recording all those "last times as a single woman" memories on instagram.

(@purposelyathome)

so,

i will see y'all later.

after all my tears have been cried and i have let it sink in that my sister is no longer sleeping across the hall from me.

i will be back.

yeah, i couldn't have asked for a better hubby for the sister. ;p

a and m :: engagement photos

mom, sister, and her fiance met the photographer at 5:30 that evening in september.

i came straight from work to see the beauty unfold.

pulling in the drive of the hilliard's farm, i parked behind the line of cars that belonged to the mom, future bro-in-law, and sweet mrs. faith (the photographer).

i climbed out of the navigator and walk around to the barn.

there, i meet the small group.

there were lots of smiles between the love birds and lots of giggles and laughs to go around.

a blue bouncy ball, a rope swing, and sneaky attack from behind from the fiance.

and then we moved to the barn.

barn pictures make me so happy.

we then moved to the gorgeous field of wildflowers.

trying to get todd the dog to look at the camera (you know how difficult that is?? ;P), bugs and gnats everywhere, sister's sorrel gelding.

and then "tuff" the horse was brought out.

the photo shoot was over and we all went home.

what a blessed life.

----------------------------

for your information:

my sister is getting married in 7 DAYS!!

yeah.

i cannot believe it either.

if you'd like, follow along with the wedding story on instagram

@purposelyathome

or

@apinkfirefly

jamaica :: day ten & eleven.

what's that? the last part you say?

yup. that's right. 

i'm finally posting the last post of pictures of the mission trip that we were able to participate in last july to the island of jamaica.

this being our seventh trip in the last ten years, it was so great to be able to see old friends and also make new friends. 

so.

here it is.

sunday and monday combined into one post.

---------------------------------------

a group picture, a rain shower while it's sunshiny, class by jeremy s. on pride, a new sister in Christ, the story of  the prodigal son, sad good-byes,  a cutie little girl, going to church that evening at the church down the road from the hotel but finding out that they were going to highgate for services, our group having devo beside the pool at the hotel, amazing thoughts led by brother myers on the stars and galaxies, a sky full of stars and waves rolling in the caribbean across the street, chills knowing how great our God is, card games with friends, our last night at the casa before heading home the next day.

new brothers and sisters in Christ.

//monday//

early morning sunrise.

loading the luggage van with our suitcases driven by a brother from church.

sister pulling up one of the passenger vans for boarding.
(no, she did not drive on the road ;)

the UFO gyser-thing.

me and daddy.
in the airport ready to go home.

so long, lovely jamaica.

hello U.S., good to see you.