Alabama The Beautiful

Yesterday afternoon, this tornado hit my beloved Tuscaloosa, Alabama.....

Much of the city, as well as Pleasant Grove, Birmingham, Cullman, Huntsville, etc. suffered horrific damage and loss. My family is all safe, unharmed, with no damage.... they were the lucky ones. Many of my friends were not as blessed.... stories of loss, both property and life are flooding facebook this morning. Pictures and videos of the devastation are everywhere. I am numb, I'm at a loss for words, and it seems all I can do at this point is cry. Please pray for the Southeast, my home state, and my university.... pray for our friends who lost their homes... pray for the college students who lost their friends, roommates, sisters, and brothers.... pray for Alabama..... Alabama the beautiful....

".......I'll speak my Southern English just as natural as I please. I'm in the Heart of Dixie, Dixie's in the heart of me......My home's in Alabama, no matter where I lay my head. My home's in Alabama, Southern born and Southern bred......" -Alabama

Valverde Adventures

This past weekend we went here....

for Easter. We haven't been to Alabama since Thanksgiving.... so needless to say I was very verrrrrry excited. Thursday night Kody told me we had to leave super early Friday morning, and that he had a surprise for me in Hattiesburg. Occasionally Koko will plan something for me, and it's always fabulous ..... so I pressed a little for hints, and he told me to just let the surprise happen. Later that night before bed though, he asked me if I knew what was in Hattiesburg. I told him I didn't.... and he then tells me we were going to a farm that sold these....

You are probably thinking.... what a great gift..... that is the cutest puppy ever!!! But no.... see, I have this puppy dog....

....and I have had her for what feels like an eternity.... she has been through EVERYTHING with me....she is my heart.....she does not play well with others.... she does not want a friend. I certainly didn't want a friend for her, as she is pleeeeenty a handful enough for me. So needless to say I was not thrilled with Kody's surprise he had planned.....in all honesty I was UPSETTTTT. This was so unlike my husband for so many reasons, so from Thursday night into Friday morning I pouted and pouted and pouted. I was not a sweet girl. The angrier I got the harder Kody laughed at me. He continued to taunt Annabelle and I until we reached Hattiesburg. He kept telling her to get out of her bed because it belonged to Puddin' now. So sad. Words can't express how mad I was. We pulled off the interstate and into a shopping center and stopped in front of Best Buy. His parents were traveling to the mountains for Easter, so they stopped with us and I get out of the truck HOOOOOOOOOT. My mother-in-law asked me what was wrong with me.... I filled her in and she too started to laugh at me!!! They then tell me that we were in Hattiesburg, NOT to purchase a puppy.... but for this.....

Yayyyyyyyy!!! Soooooo very typical of Kody to get me fired up and then surprise me...story of our lives actually. Sometimes he is seven in a 28 year olds body, but I truly love that and the laughs and adventures it brings. There is never a dull moment in the Valverde household. He is so so sweet.... even when he makes me mad. Although I doubted him and thought he had gone off the deep end, Koko came through again with a fabulous Easter surprise from him and my in-laws. I loooooooove my new toy (as does Kody) and Annabelle and I are much relieved that we are still a family of three.

The rest of our road trip went much smoother then it started and we had a wonderful visit with my family. We shopped, we visited, we ate until we thought we would pop, and then we celebrated Easter Sunday at one of my favorites places in the world......

The Easter Bunny was fabulous to us once again and we had a very blessed first married Easter..... I hope you and your family had a wonderful and safe holiday as well!

He has risen.... He has risen indeed!!!

Angels In Disguise

Fourteen years ago on Palm Sunday, we found out my sweet grandaddy was being called home to the Lord. He was buried on Good Friday. Although the dates change each year, this week is always challenging for me. No matter how much time passes, and how much comfort I have knowing he is in a better place.... I miss him just as much now as I did all of those years ago. I will always remember my first softball game after he passed away. It was my first at bat, and I had fouled off what seemed like twenty-five pitches. I was fighting the pitcher, I was fighting tears, I was fighting myself.... and fiiiiiiiiiinally I hit a ball in the gap for a single. I looked up to find this..... ... and I knew my grandaddy was there cheering me on and loving on me from above. It was my sign.....my angel in disguise. No matter how many years pass, this week still brings its challenges and I still find myself in a fight with well..... myself. 2011 has been no different, the sadness still hasn't gone away and I find myself, for the 14th time, just praying..... and waiting on my sign. I know it will come. It always does. Rainbows or no rainbows, Easter morning will be here soon enough. My sign that comes each and every year without fail. My sweet sweet comfort. The day we celebrate the Lord sending His Son to die for us, so that we may be born again and have everlasting life. How very appropriate that a man so special to our family, met his Maker during this week....

May you and your families have a blessed Easter week....may you remember the true meaning of this time of year.... may the Lord comfort you in times of sadness and grief.... and may you too celebrate your sign.... your angel in disguise...

Weekend Wishes

Happpppppy Friday y'all!!! We have fiiiiiiiinally made it to another much anticipated glorious weekend. Not sure what fun you have planned.... buuuuuuuuuut......

....Owen.... ....Annabelle & I .... wish we were HERE.... enjoying A-Day in Tuscaloosa...watching a little football.... cheering on the baseball team..... .... but alas..... Owen will be busy doing one year old things..... ...Annabelle will be hunting peacocks.... ... and my loving husband and I will be enjoying another grown up weekend..... hitting up the Home Depot our usual 15 times in 2 days.... worshipping at Istrouma on Sunday.....some yard work and laundry mixed in.... just living the dream.... Have a safe and fabulous weekend everyone.....Looooooooove y'all!!!

Dixieland Delight

Several weeks ago Kody and I went to a garden show at LSU and purchased some new plants for our yard, including 2 unusual hibiscus. We each picked one out, and being the crazy sentimental basket case that I am.... I chose one called Dixieland. Those who know me best, need no explanations on my Dixieland choice.... but for those of you in the dark, Alabama's song "Dixieland Delight" is one of my FAVORITE songs in the universe. One of my favorite game day moments is when it's fiiiiinally played over the speakers, I request it at each and every piano bar I step foot into, and I LOOOOOOOOVE walking down memory lane and remembering all the times my Bama loves sang and danced to that song living up some of the greatest times in our lives.

Soooo last night, when I noticed my precious precious Dixieland had her first bloom, I had to capture that moment to share with you..... and of COURSE take you on a walk down my favorite memory lane......

Isn't she gorgeous?!?!?

Oh how I miss this place..... This girl and these game days....

And watching this boy.....

..... play the GREATEST game in the world..... Love y'all & Rolllllllll Tide!

My DIY Darling

This past weekend Kody and his dad went to work on our patio, and on Sunday afternoon we had a brand new gorgeous pergola. Kody's inner DIY never ceases to amaze me. He studies pictures and videos of whatever project he wants to complete and the end result is always FAAAAAABULOUS. I am so blessed that my husband's hobbies benefit me with gorgeous new rooms and projects around our home....... not quite sure what I did to land myself such a catch, but I am so very thankful!

Annabelle was enjoying Kody's hard work almost as much as I was....

Our next step will be to begin the search for new patio furniture and some plants and vines to grow up the pergola. We need to reward Kody's fabulous work with some fabulous new pieces to complete his project!

I must say my FAVORITE part of his work were these wine bottle torches he put together. He got the idea at an atique shop downtown called Circa 1857, bought his own kit online, the remaining pieces at Home Depot and added wine bottles the are special to us to complete the look. This particular bottle is one we first had on our trip to Paris in December. I could not be more proud of my husband. I will have to finish bragging on him another time and show off more of his projects and remodels!!!

Sweet Lisa

Happy Birthday to my sweet sister-in-law, Lisa!

This past weekend, her fabulous husband planned a surprise party for her on this boat...... We had a great time cruising down the river and celebrating Lisa!!!

Present time is always my favorite part of birthday parties, as I put a LOT of thought into gifts I give the ones I love. The gift selection this year was none other then an ADORABLE tunic from Nordstrom. Who DOESN'T love a gift from Nordys?!?!

My mother-in-law, Mrs. Sharon, made the precious & delicious cake. She has such a talent, it AMAAAAAAZES me. Not sure what Lisa was wishing for here.... but I know what IIIIIIIIIII wished for on her birthday.....

Here's a hint..... I am totally 110% on TEAM PINK!!! Fingers crossed I get my wish..... and that Lisa's comes true as well.

We love you Lisa!!! Hope you had a fun and fabulous 30th!!!

Blogging Beginnings

So many of my friends blog, and I absolutely LOVE following along with their lives this way. Phone calls and visits are fabulous.... but so many of us get separated after college and it MAKES MY DAY getting updates via fun stories and pics from the people that mean the very most to me.

So here we go.... let's give this blogging business a shot.

Be patient with me though..... It's just the beginning.....