LOVE

Happy Valentine's Day!!!

Love.

What an amazing feeling.

But, true and unconditional love?

Mind blowing.

This video made its rounds on facebook several weeks ago,

and in honor of this day of love,

I'm not sure anyone could say it better then this guy...

There are not enough capital letters,

bold fonts,

or exclamation points

to describe how much I LOVE this video.

Hands down,

my favorite quote of my life will be this...

"It's not the love that sustains the promise.

It's the promise that sustains the love."



Happy Valentine's Day!

May you find and cherish true love,

 today and always...

P.S.

Kody Valverde,

I love you more each and every day.

I am so thankful for you and our journey together.

Thank you for making life and marriage

everything it should be and more.

XOXO

Redemption

Kody and I found out last Friday,

that we had the opportunity to go to the National Championship.

And by Sunday night,

I was SUPER emotional.

(shocker, I know)

I was overwhelmed,

feeling so blessed,

and excited

at the opportunity that the following day would bring.

The chance to see my darling Bama,

play for the crystal

at the conclusion of an EXTREMELY emotional
year and season

for my home state and Alma Mater.

Monday came and went
and before we knew it,

we're heading into the Superdome.

I don't have to describe what happened next,

because you all know...

And several hours later,

our boys were National Champions.

Not only were they National Champions,

they did it with a shut out,

and they DOMINATED.

This was the most special football team

I have EVER had the privilege of watching...

they truly are champions.

They love each other,

they love their community,

and they left more of a mark on Tuscaloosa

then ANYone imagined possible.

They truly went through hell,

hell that wasn't self induced by bar fights or suspensions,

real. life. hell.

and they fought it...

and WON.

April 27 FOREVER changed Tuscaloosa,

 as did this team.
The result of one was destruction and devastation,
the other...
redemption.

These guys deserved this conclusion to their season,

this final chapter in their book,

more then anyone in the country...

not only because of their play on the field,

but because their hearts are the biggest and the BEST

in all the land.

 

This time...

the nice guys

 finished

first.

Happpppppy New Year!!!

Happy Happy 2012!!!

I love this quote.

It is on the inside of my perfume box,

Kate Spade's Twirl

(Gotta support my fellow Kappa right?!),

and I think it should be EVERYBODY'S motto for the New Year.

Whether you take it literally,

or let it be a metaphor,

I truly hope this year is filled with moments

of cocktails and confetti

for each and every one of us.

What better way to go through life,

then living like it's the most incredible celebration,

and a giant moment of sheer bliss!

And speaking of celebrations and bliss...

This Bama girl,

who happens to be a Louisiana resident,

is prayyyyyying

that Monday night ends

with a little crystal

and lot of celebration

for my Crimson Tide family.

I truly believe it will be a GREAT game,

between 2 amaaaaaazing teams.

But let's be honest...

I still hope and pray

that my sweet Bama

Beats. The. Crap.

out of LSU

and adds another
National Championship
to our already,
fabbbbulous collection.
No offense to my LSU loves,
I just have a weakness for crystal...

Happy New Year Y'all,
and Rollllll Tide!!!

The Power of Prayer

I had planned on making this big Happy New Year post,

and that still may come,
but today my heart is elsewhere

and heavy.

We received some news yesterday

from some very dear friends,

best friends,

regarding a terrible and tragic loss

that their family has suffered.

Their story is not mine to tell,

but because we love this family

I am begging you to pray for them.

I do not have specific prayer requests for these people.

I feel as though listing things like

comfort, peace, understanding

are far too broad

and far too cliche'

for the prayer that this family is in need of.

I can not wrap my head around their heartache.

I can not understand why this hell,

this tragedy,

is happening to such a special family.

A family that will never be the same.

And because I can't understand,

because none of us understand,

I ask for prayer.

I ask for you to hit your knees right now,

and beg God to wrap his arms around this family,

like only He can.

And Then Came Winter..... Right?

I am confident I should win
the most scattered blog of the year award. 
Goodness.

Last time I was here,
Annabelle was turning the big FIIIIIIVE.
Yikes.

My, has time floooooooown.

Since then,
Kody and I gained a new niece, Lila.
Yayyyyyy!

I turned 28.
Not yay.
Momma Valverde and I have been to Chicago
for a shopping/spa weekend.
Husband Valverde and I went to Vegas for a bolt convention,
aaaand to celebrate the one year anniversary of this FABULOUS occasion.

Kody received the Hall of Fame Award for Athletics

at his high school,

Parkview Baptist.

We spent Thanksgiving in Canada.

aaaaaaand myyyyyyyy Alma Mater,

my sweet Bama

is playing for the National Championship in January!!!

What a Falllllllllll it has been...

Now according to the calendar

it seems we are rapidly approaching Winter...

but doooon't tell Mother Nature

because it feels MUCH more like Spring in South Louisiana.

It's December...

70 degrees and all,

AND

my sweet daddy's birthday...

For which he and my momma

are here in Baton Rouge with Kody and I

to celebrate his day!

What a FAAAAAABULOUS birthday present for all of us!

During this time of year,

there is NOTHING like family...

And speaking of family,

on a much different note...

This sweet little dynamo on the right,

is Mrs. Sharon's 93 year old momma,

Kody's Nana.

Just over 2 weeks ago she suffered a mild stroke,

 that has affected the right side of her body

and parts of her memory.

She was released from the Neuro Hospital this past Tuesday,

and is now back home,

with full time care.

Needless to say,

it has been a hard few weeks.

Nana is such a strong and independent woman.

At 93 years old,

she still lives alone, drives, cooks, gardens...

I could go on and on.

This stroke is attempting to take that independence away,

and has given Nana a harder time then she deserves.

She continues to take baby steps of improvement every day,

and we will continue to love on her

and be her biggest cheerleaders.

Please pray for Nana

as she constantly fights to get better.

Pray for her doctors,

her therapists,

her caregivers,

Mrs. Sharon,

our Uncle Rhett,

and the rest of our family.

We LOVE our Nana,

we love her strength,

and we want her to be able to continue

to live her life to the fullest.

I hope your Fall was as blessed and action packed as ours was,

and that you are enjoying the spirit and happiness of this Christmas season.

While I fully intend on at least ooooooone more 2011 blog,

as crazy and scattered as I can be...

if it DOESN'T happen...

please have a very Merry and Blessed Christmas

and wonderful New Year!!!

XOXO

Five and Fabulous...

My sweet little diva darling,

Annabelle,

turns the big FIVE today...

 If you know me...

then you know this little puppy angel

is the LOVE OF MY LIIIIIIIFE

(outside of Kody, of course...)

I love her far more then I should...

I am wayyyyyy more attached then some would consider healthy...

But Annabelle deserves that much love,

because she has given me that much in return...

 and more.

My sweet girl has been through a LOT with me in her five years.

A lot of change...

a lot of growing up...

a lot of finding myself...

a lot of relocations...

new jobs...

new friends...

new love...

new family...

new beginnings...

Annabelle has been there.

every. single. step. of. the. way.

  

She is my absolute heart,

and is the most amazing and perfect little puppy

that could have ever been put in my life.

She will never be able to fully understand

what a special place she holds in our family...

but I pray,

that somehow and someway

she understands our love and thankfulness for her...

We love you so much Annabelle...

and are so happy that you are OURS!!!

(no matter how much your mean daddy threatens to sell you...)

Happy Happy Birthday

to the most fabulous and precious

puppy I know!!!

Yeah Alabama!!!

After the storms hit Alabama in April,

I believe we all had this date circled on our calendars.

The weekend when Tuscaloosa,

for the first time in close to 5 months...

would feel normal.

Not normal in a disrespectful,

let's forget about what happened way...

More like a,

finally letting our breath out normal.

Taking a step away from the heartbreak and devastation,

to celebrate each other,

our community,

and our beloved Crimson Tide...

Tonight,

my most favorite band in the WORLD

Alabama

will play a benefit concert at the Tuscaloosa Amphitheater.

I am sure it will bring a mix of emotions to my heart,

and I am thoroughly looking forward to spending this evening with my family...

all 7500 hundred of them.

Then bright and early Saturday morning...

Bryant Denny will come alive

and we get to cheer on our boys

as they open 2011.

They, along with the rest of our city and state,

have been through SO much this off season.

I don't have words that could accurately

express my thoughts and emotions about this game ...

I expect it to be a special Saturday in Tuscaloosa

and I am so looking forward

to being in Sweet Home Alabama...

 We open the season against Kent State.

Most people snub their noses to this opponent,

but we are welcoming them with open arms.

They may not play in the SEC,

and they may not be ranked in the top 25...

but they spent time this past week

helping to rebuild our city.

I can not say enough great things about the class and character of Kent State's football program.

From the bottom of our hearts,

THANK YOU

for all you have done.

 And now comes Saturday night...

living in LSU country,

you can't help but anticipate this HUGE opening game for the Tigers.

This team has also had quite the off season...

for vastly different reasons then my Crimson Tide...

but still exhausting none-the-less.

I am not here to debate the Shady 4,

the fight,

the arrests.

I AM here, to talk about the newly named starting quarterback for the Tigers...

Jarret Lee.

The class, poise, loyalty and character he has exhibited throughout his collegiate career

is absolutely amazing and admirable.

He has suffered more unjustified

cattiness, criticism and ugliness

then I have ever seen another college athlete face.

Saturday night,

he will lead his team in a big time

opening game...

and while I can not STAND portions of the LSU fan base for more reasons then I can count...

I wish Jarret Lee all of the success in the world.

#12,

YOU have a fan in me!

GOOD LUCK! BEAT THOSE DUCKS!



Have a very safe, and fun filled Labor Day weekend y'all!

Rolllllll Tide!!!