sweet 16 week of celebration

dan & i were headed out last night to a fancy dinner of mellow mushroom

pizza all by our sweet little selves

& were reviewing the last week.

i said something like, " no way. that was this  past whatever day?".

it's been non stop music.

remember my "ohmygah i'm so busy" pet peeve ?

yeah well.

we have not stopped 

like

i'm not even sure when.

in fact i mentioned last night that i'd love a little january blizzard

so i'm forced to stay home

nap

crank up my photoshot skills

read a book again in 2 days

& maybe have time to get a hair cut.

i digress...

emi turned 16 last week

& why have a big party and get all the celebratin' over in one fell swoop

when we can have multiple events.

all week long?

i'm just kidding.

when the girls were younger we always made a big fuss over birthdays

& had themed birthday parties 

complete with super cute printed invitations and all.

(before the age of evite thankyouverymuch).

we've had pony parties, pottery painting parties

madeline tea parties

gymnastics parties, ballet parties.

we've had character parties with winnie the pooh, anastasia and of course 

barbie.

as the girls got older we cruised in to slumber parties

movie theatre parties & putt putt.

but a big party for 16 year olds completely overwhelms me.

i am not a party planner

hence

the week of celebration.

emi is not a fan of cakes & cookies.

she's more of a candy & salty treats kinda girl.

 

her friends loved on her with a plethora of balloons at school that day.

 

 

& a special call from Kate

three peanuts, Kate :)

 

 

 

family dinner at Chow Baby

 

 friday night was friends dinner at Macaroni Grill

 

 

 

saturday morning she & i went on a little shopping spree

with her birthday morning.

destination: the new Lilly Pulitzer shop at Phipps Plaza

 

 & since ya'll know i'm so weird

i'm sure the fact that i fell. in. love

with the handpainted fitting room

( by a couple of "the" lilly print designers)

comes as no surprise.

& yes those are painted peanuts on the ceiling.

i just could not get over myself in there.

having lived all my life (minus a few years in nashville )

in atlanta georgia

i was smitten with all the peach state love!

we wrapped it up with a fancy sandwich

as we were all broke at that point

with emi's dearest friend katelyn and her mama carrie.

we had an awesome week full of making memories

& loving on our sweet sixteen brown eyed girl.

~~~~

new wordpress coming soon!

what i hope you know sweet girl....

 We will not hide these truths from our children;
    we will tell the next generation
about the glorious deeds of the Lord,
    about his power and his mighty wonders.He commanded our ancestors
    to teach them to their children,
 so the next generation might know them—
    even the children not yet born—
    and they in turn will teach their own children.
 So each generation should set its hope anew on God,
    not forgetting his glorious miracles
(psalm 78)

 

i remember vividly that celebration on august 22, 1997.

she was one.

she was a  happy & healthy, loved, toddler

i felt some tender sense of accomplishment

& security.

we were gonna be ok.

the scripture tells us to remind our children of the wonders He has done

the goodness He has given us.

so while some of you that have read my blog from years back will feel you've already heard this story,

it's really for em today.

again.

the story of her 

& how the lord blessed & kept her, and  how His face shines upon her.

i found out i was pregnant with you sweet girl &

we were overjoyed.

your sissy madison was only 8months old and savannah was about to turn 3.

days later daddy gregg would find a lump under his arm that would take his life

months later.

i was so worried about your safety while i carried you as i was exposed to chemo

and all the other things that come with cancer treatment.

we induced you on a week where daddy wouldn't be in treatment.

you looked, & still do, just like him!

the very night you were born

he began to get much worse, even needing care while we were in the hospital after your birth.

days later he began to display symptoms that the cancer had spread to his brain

& as you know, passed away when you were only 10 weeks old.

i had no idea how i was going to raise you three tiny little girls. alone.

but sweet emi, we never were alone.

the Lord saw every tear we cried & heard every prayer.

you three continued to grow & blossom into happy beautiful little girls.

while there are many ways i have failed you girls

there are so many things i've done wrong

however

there is one thing i pray that i've taught you...

you are never alone (psalm 23)

you were always in the palm of His hand ( isaiah 41.10)

He knit you in my womb (psalm 139) while sickness and fear were in our home

He knows the hairs on your head

& He has a plan for your life. ( jer 29.11)

i pray i have always reminded you of how good the lord is

& how he has blessed you ( numbers 6.24)

i called you my angel baby because i know the lord sent you as a 

light to remind me of all those same truths.

daddy & i are so proud of you & who you are

how you love on your friends

how you give the benefit of the doubt

how you are always happy

& most importantly, how you love the lord.

happy sweet sixteen little em

how i love you so...

 

 i will tell of the LORD's unfailing love. 

I will praise the LORD for all he has done. 

I will rejoice in his great goodness

isaiah 63.7

seaside, a fabulous sun hat & a john wind special

 

yesterday i posted about some of the pieces from carol & company

that i wanted to share with you.

today i have a few more

& 

a fabulous hat from noonday

(please note the one we currently have is solid.)

a glamorous way to protect your skin from harmful rays.

i love this gorgeous hat.

 you literally can roll it up. squish it & cram it in your luggage

& when you pull it out, it looks perfect.

i think it's almost sold out but i wanted to share :)

 

emi is also wearing the universal monogram from john wind

please note, it now comes in two sizes. 

i have shown them together further down in the post.

 

 

caroline is wearing the john wind spotted feather earrings

& as shown in earlier images

emily is wearing the towne and reese eva ring 

towne & reese harlow necklace

more images of john wind i featured yesterday

all pieces featured can be found at carol & company

remember to take advantage of the free shipping

for all john wind orders over $25 made before monday

enter code SEASIDE

have a great day!