A LITTLE GET-A-WAY

Last week, we ran away to the coast for the MS Prosecutor's Conference. (I know, sounds so important, huh?) To say the least, we learned a lot on this trip!

1. BUY A PORTABLE DVD PLAYER (for long trips only) or improvise. (see below pic ... wonderful!)

2. DON'T TAKE TRUETT TO THIS CONFERENCE AGAIN ... unless you know the pool is heated (which I found out it was a day too late) and it's not summer. (playing at Chick-Fil-A with random coast kids saved my life!)

3. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH TO DO WITH A CHILD IN A HOTEL ROOM!

BUT ...
We really had a great time though! It was so nice to get away...just the three of us!
We ran to the beach from the hotel and let T play. It was his first REAL time to experience the sand. He loved it for about 20 minutes.
We ate at our favorite restaurant ... The Blowfly Inn.
We ate at Five Guys burgers and fries. (Nothing to write home about)
We saw some old friends.
We met little Treven and his mom who had just moved from Arizona at the park.
We shopped at Target!
We went to Chick-Fil-A to play about three times! HA!

The coast has grown so much from the first time we were there three years ago when there was NOTHING but Waffle House down there.
Enjoy the pics!

this is what I mean by improvise!

sweet baby boy feet







love that little man ... so glad you got to see A beach, little guy.
Maybe FL will come this summer!

14 MONTHS

It's hard to believe this little man is growing so quickly! He's a mess and so independent--no more help from mom on this little cat! Truett is a sweet little man and he LOVES his daddy!

If daddy's around, he's definitely preferred over me. I guess I should consider that a blessing! I actually love it and think it's precious that he has a daddy that spends that much time with him. He's definitely got his eyes on everything he does.

We're loving the warm weather and enjoying being outside as much as we can!

Truett today:
You are about 27 lbs, 32 in. and growing like a weed!

You wear 18-24 months clothes and a size 5/6 shoe (depending on the shoe).

You still LOVE your milk but don't care much for eating much of anything. Sometimes you like mandarin oranges, grapes, Nilla wafers, puffs, yogurt melts, goldfish, hot dogs, and a few other super unhealthy things...which bothers mom a little! BUT I know you're not starving, so we'll go with it for now.

You LOVE outside and can say it where mom and dad understand anyway!
You love to say BA (ball) and think everything is just that...especially in the produce section of the grocery store.
You love to play and do it very well! A ball is always your preferred item of course.
You love the water hose ... especially when mom and dad let you get all nasty and wet in the front yard.
You love Blue. You climbed all over her after being gone for a few days, and she let you!
You're a precious little man and we're so thankful for you! You get more and more fun every day!

FRONT ... BACK ...

It's all looking better. Don't you think??? Click here to see before.

After, much deliberation, we finally cut down the GIANT holly bushes AND did a little landscaping! Next, privacy fence. New posts will come later!



The back porch is still not completely done but we DO have the swing hung! YES!!!

Berry Rewind ... EASTER

How I missed all the Easter pictures I don't know. I guess I've been a little lax in updating. Maybe I took a little hiatus? I don't know. None the less, Easter was great! It all started on Good Friday with an Easter Egg hunt with the Sasser Crew at the annual Brickerton Easter Egg Hunt.
It was so fun getting to participate even though T was all about the two eggs in his hand and nothing else!

T and the Sasser kiddos ... and the baby chicks that lasted a week (sad)



Mom and Truett looking for eggs



Melanie and her crew



Dean got to hunt all by himself and racked up!



balloons always make this little man happy!
(for a little while at least)

But OH ... that was only the beginning of the egg hunts!
Saturday morning was the church hunt ... inside because of rain. This is all our little guy wanted to do!

If he's not athletic, he's going to be so sad!

Saturday afternoon, Aunt T (aka my saving grace) invited us to come for their hunt with the neighbors. They all love Truett! He even had his own little flower bed to hunt in! I'm sad there is no picture with Aunt T though! She's such a blessing to me. I'm not sure what I would do without her sometimes! Truett loved the hunt ... for the most part ...especially when he discovered there was chocolate inside!!

not so sure about this flower bed



not so sure about that face but love me some Kayla



Heh! love me some chocolate!
(on face, hands, knee..ha!)

OH!!! And we couldn't pass up an invitation to stay for some strawberry cupcakes,
fish, fries, and hushpuppies. Way to go Riley and Grant!!
YUM YUM!!!

NEXT, after Sunday School, we headed to Kosciusko. This was the year to be with my family, and it was so fun!

Everyone was there and even a few more which is always a blessing!! Nana Rawson (my brother in law Steve's mom) brought all the kids Easter baskets. I'm so sad we didn't get a picture before opening it. It was amazing and so sweet of her to do that! But we did get one of the cupcakes she made!

MMMM

After lunch, we had yet another hunt!



once again, T wasn't too interested in anything but his few eggs
BUT he DID put a couple in his basket!



and he loves the bubbles
(don't you love his arm band - so thug ... ha)

What an awesome time to be with family! AND also, what an awesome time to celebrate that our King is Alive!!! HE is RISEN!! Really...without His resurrection, our faith would be pointless!
God is good!!!

NOW THAT WAS A DATE NIGHT

Blue is Lost

It is hard to transition from the last post about Carter to this post but I will try anyway. It looks like Carter is doing well and hopefully he is on his way to a living a full life with a four chambered heart! Keep praying for the Oswalts and those taking care of him.

The short and skinny.... Blue, our Golden Retriever, is missing. As a reminder, Blue was an engagement present from Kellie just a few weeks before we got married. Here is a picture from when I got her. This picture was approximately 3 years ago when we lived in Flowood.
















Anyway, the longer story. For several years I wanted to run in the Buffalo Peak 4 mile run. Every year I miss out for some reason or another. So yesterday I saw on their website that the race was today. When I get off of work I pitch the idea to Kellie about the race. She is ready to hit the road. After loading up the car with all the necessities (crackers, pack and play, kitchen sink, juice, 15 gallons of milk, you know the usual stuff), we head to Jackson with no place to stay. After grabbing a quick bite at Sal and Mookies, we we end up getting a room at the Sleep Inn in Flowood. Bumped into Karen Howell and some other old friend. We got up early and I ran the race at 8. Got to see lots of old friends at the race. Generally had a good time. After a few stops in the Metro we headed north.

When we pulled up to the house, I check the mail and then go to check on Blue. I didn't see her in the yard but I thought I heard Kellie talking with her. She wasn't talking to her. Then I noticed the gate was open and it looked like a dog tried to dig under the fence. The gate/fence is old and rickety and I had planned to build a new one this weekend. Instead, I went to run a race. Blue had just gotten out of heat so she was probably "frisky". Maybe TMI for some of you.

Anyway, back to the short and skinny... Blue is lost and the Trubluberrycrew is without our Blue. We are sad. If you see a Golden Retriever in Grenada, let us know. -RMB




















***UPDATE: BLUE IS FOUND!!***
We got a call about six from a guy across town and he told us that he had our dog. Apparently she hooked up with a monster black lab and they have been roaming the creek behind our house. On a related note... let me know if you want me to reserve you some golden retriever/ black lab puppies... ha

Praying for Carter

I don't even know this little boy personally. He sure has made an impact on me today though!
His mother, Lindy is from Grenada and apparently grew up in our church. I met her one day at the church while she was there for the day. About two years ago, I remember our church asking for money to give this family after they lost their home to a fire.
Remaining faithful, they now have four children (the last two twins of about 8 or 9 months) and have been waiting on a heart for this little guy, Carter. He is FIVE years old and received that heart today! He is currently out of surgery and will be monitored through the night to make sure his new heart is not rejected.
Please pray for him and his family! I cannot imagine experiencing such a big surgery with my little Truett but know that my Lord would carry me through! Carter's parents must be truly amazing people!!
Go here to read their story.

Also, I can't help but think about the parents that must have lost their little one with the strong heart Carter has received today.