Bike Ride

I have been trying to get Mom's bike over to our house for AWHILE so we can all go riding together. Drew and I love to go riding on our bikes, especially since we are so close to downtown now, it makes for a fun ride. Patrick and I got Mom a bike for Mother's Day last year and I only saw her ride it that day.

Tuesday night we finally got over to Mom and Nana's house at a decent hour to get the bike and Mom. Of course we caught her a little off guard and she was suprised to see us there to get her. Nevermind that we DID call first. Her mood was borderline tolerable and I tried to talk her down the best I could. My husband walked in the room and with one joke put a smile on her face and she was ready.

We had so much fun riding around our neighborhood and I am ashamed to say I tired first. I think Mom had been saving all her energy for it.

Seeing her ride her bike, was like watching a child. Her grin from ear to ear, not following the rules of the road but creating her own, riding past dogs being walked and calling out "Hey Puppy Puppy!!" She was having a blast and we were having so much fun watching her.

As we took her home she said "OK lets go again tomorrow!"

First house guest

Sometimes I look across the room at Drew and I still can't believe he is MY HUSBAND! We are married! It still baffles me at times.

Moving on now.

We played Ellen Degenerous' new game "Heads Up" at the table at BDubs... so fun!! I am pretty sure I won, Drew and LB kept cheating :)

Laura Beth came into town this weekend and it was such a nice refresher! It is just good to be around a positive person who truly loves  you for who you are and not your failures or mistakes! We both so enjoyed having her at our house as our first guest. We went and saw the Great Gatsby this weekend, second time was just as good as the first! We then hit up some antique stores on 6th Street to find some treasures for her house. Being with Laura Beth is always fun and easy... no stress, no worries, just laughter!

Sunday Drew woke up early and planted the flowers that mom bought me on Friday night. We now have lots of flowers covering our porch and flower beds to welcome anyone who comes over. My goal is to just keep them alive now!

Sunday after church we joined Mom, Nana, and a couple from their church for lunch. The couple, Joann and Warlick Thomas, had invited us two weeks ahead of time and Nana kept reminding me about it before hand. It was a nice lunch together getting to hear stories about "the good ole days." The Thomas' are such a sweet couple who have great affection for our family!

Wedding Week: Part 4

With Nana safely tucked in our suite with her oxygen my mind was able to being focusing on what we were all in Sana Fe for... Drew and I  were getting MARRIED!

The Friday night rehearsal was fastly approaching and the out of town guests were arriving in droves. I escaped from sitting on the patio with Colton and Bailey to get myself ready for the nights events. With my makeup done, my tshirt, shorts, and houseshoes on Drew drug me across the resort to greet his Dad and Step-mom. I was wanting so badly to look like a put together bride but I fear I came off a bit, umm homeless shall we say? After showing them around for a few minutes I scurried off to finish putting myself together.

I had two dresses to choose from and ended up going with a black and white color block fitted dress. Comfortable and Flattering.

Our rehearsal was set to begin at promptly 5:00 and when I arrived on the lawn for it there were a ton of people all ready. It was a bit overwhelming and very exciting! We got things started with a prayer before David our wedding planner kickstarted our rehearsal. I kept looking around at all the people so happy to have everyone I loved in one place together.

Coordinating a wedding party for rehearsal is hard. I have experienced this from Starlight. People don't listen, people are distracted, people don't care! The boys are always the hardest to wrangle in.

My brothers were serving as escorts for guests and also walking me down the aisle. This proved to be a little overwhelming for Ryan during rehearsal. I remember what it felt like when Neeley was getting married, overwhelming, immense emotions, excitement, joy but knowing things were changing and not sure how, being so proud to see your sister make this move, uncontrolable tears. Ryan was emotional at Neeley's wedding so I knew mine would be no cake walk for him. My brother is so precious, so loving. He lost his emotions early into the rehearsal and had a tough time regaining it.

I was focused on making sure everything was going as I wanted, the order, the attendants, the parents. Mom had a tough time keeping in her spot during rehearsal as she wanted to chit chat with people and mill about. As stressed as I might have been it was a joy to watch everyone's interactions and emotions. I remember looking at Drew listening closely to our minister and the wedding planner trying to keep order around him.

I stood to the side with Aunt Tammy as my rock next to me. David would ask something I hadn't thought of or bring up an alternative method and I would look at her for encouragement and advice. She quietly guided him toward what I desperately wanted but was unable to vocalize.

At the end of our rehearsal it began to rain. I loved it! It felt like a good omen moving forward into the rest of the planned events. Like God's blessing pouring over us.

Our Great Escape Artists

I am so glad this week is ending. It feels like it has been a looonnnggg one. Probably because my spare moments have been so full of things to get done. I am looking forward to a little relaxation this weekend.

I wanted to share a few pics from our house with yall. I love the home we have created together. Such a comfortable and cozy place to retreat to. We are slowly getting to know the neighbors. Some have been watching us work so hard on the yard ( ok Drew has been working hard, I have just planted a few things and sat outside drinking tea while he works ) that they have been cleaning up and fixing up their own houses. I don't know if it is comforting or nerve racking when a stranger says "You have the best house on the block for sure!" Anyway we are excited the people around us are showing a little pride of their own. Maybe soon we will have a neighborhood cookout, Not likely!

Front door, complete with a homemade wreath and chalk board Welcome sign

Still questioning the "girly" chair pads but loving my wedding lanterns on the table. This is my favorite reading spot in the evenings, and my favorite place to watch my husband work :)

Baker's Rack that you see when you walk in the front door. I got those awesome burlap candle holders from Neeley and Lane for my Bday and I really like our Neal est. sign at the top.

We have been having a few struggles with our dogs as of late. Buster is turning into quite the escape artist. Recently he has been nawing and scratching some old pickets in the back yard that line the driveway to go out on a little adventure. Drew and I came home from a movie one night to find both dogs in the driveway waiting to greet us. Drew got new posts, to replace the ones Buster broke and moved their dog houses in front of part of the fence so they might lay in there instead of escaping. That worked for a couple of days...

Wednesday I was out running errands with Mom on a long lunch break and got a call they were out again. I pulled down our street to see Cooper sitting on the front porch and Buster halfway down the street just standing in the middle of it. They both came running to me, I am sure they were beyond grateful to see me and not their dad. Buster had busted through 3 pickets this time. It looked like a war zone. I am sure Cooper was just glad to go along for a little adventure with his brother.

Needless to say we are re-evaluating how to contain our escape artists during the day while we are at work. Cooper is at the groomer today so no telling what Buster will get into on his own :) But we love them anyway!

We are having our first overnight guest tonight... Laura Beth we are so excited!

I hope you all have  an absolutely wonderful weekend!!

A newlywed lesson

I learned something about my husband last night.

Often when asking him questions ranging from, "What sides do you want with the steaks tonight?" to "Do you want to go to the 10:30 opening of a movie tonight." Drew's response will be, "It's whatever you want Megan" or " I just want you to be happy."

What a sweet response! is what I would always think or just answer the dang question!

But last night after a series of questions he repeatedly answered like that  I gave up. I don't like being the one to make decisions, especially without you voicing your opinion. I always assumed his responses just meant he didn't want to tell me what he really wanted.

Last night we were discussing a topic that would no doubt change our lives drastically. His response was the same as above. We talked a little bit longer and dropped the subject.

Later last night after mentioning we missed the 10:30 premiere of the Great Gatsby he said, "I know and I really wanted to go." I replied with "No! you said it's whatever I wanted." He informed me that if he says No that means No but anything other than No pretty much means Yes.

Good to know that only 2 and a half years into a relationship I have FINALLY cracked his language. I do feel better since these responses have pretty much just started since we got married so really it is only took me a month and a half to crack the case!

That should make making decisions easier in the future.

*Drew has been practicing with my camera taking pictures to help me this summer with weddings, these are all some he took of the dogs and I*

The Blanton Place for Encouragement

This weekend was such a wonderful occasion for our family. After many years of hard work by The High Plains Children's Center, The Blanton Place for Encouragement was officially opened.

While I was finishing ACU some very dear friends of Nana and Grandy's presented the idea for an activity center to be built in their honor at the High Plains Children's Home in Amarillo. Grandy along with some other elders were on the board that started the home in the 1967. 

Several years ago during a celebration weekend in Amarillo for Grandy's birthday the family all toured the campus and saw the pasture that would one day become this great building. It was said many times this weekend that although Grandy did not know exactly what the building would become he knew it would be incredible.

Last year those of us who could came out for the ground breaking on the plot of land and almost a year exactly this weekend was the official "Open House." In my mind I wasn't picturing anything as beautiful as the building that would be referred to lovingly as "The Blanton."

A stone facade, water sculpture, wood beams in a vaulted ceiling and massive flat screen TVs all in a place proudly blaring my Grandparent's names. This place is gorgeous, humble and every bit a wonderful representation of them. 

Nana, Mom, Aunt Tammy, Aunt Cindy, Patrick, Neeley, Lane, Erich & Ginna, Nicholas & Gaylen with their kids and Drew and I all were on hand to greet all the people whose lives were touched by Nana and Grandy and the Children's home. Bob & Jo Wilburn who gave money to start the building came in for the celebration. Nana looked beautiful and beamed as precious memories of Grandy were spoken.  

This part of the Children's Home is the home to special needs adults who live in cottages surrounding The Blanton and will use the building as a center to fellowship with one another. It was named the place of encouragement because one of the most commonly used words to describe Nana and Grandy was the encouragement for others in everything they did.

I could not be prouder to have Blanton in my blood and this weekend was no exception. 

Below is the article the Amarillo Globe News printed on the front page of the today section about the event.

High Plains Children’s Home and Family Services on Saturday dedicated and opened the new 6,000-square-foot Blanton Place for Encouragement.

“The Blanton Place for Encouragement is an activity center or community center for our adults with special needs who live in Pa and Megan’s Place,” said Craig Howard, executive director of High Plains Children’s Home and Family Services. “This is an independent living community for adults with special needs which is a part of High Plains home.”

The Blanton Place will feel more like a student union on a college campus, Howard said.

“They’ll come over here, play games, hang out and develop their social skills,” he said. “It’s just a beautiful place.”

the facility was named in honor of Dr. Everett and Peggy Blanton for their long-standing history with the children’s home.

Peggy Blanton said she never imagined it would turn out like this.

“My husband and I were in the original group that started the children’s home,” she said. “We were excited to build old cottages for the foster kids but I never envisioned that we would have a building like this.”

Everett Blanton, who died of cancer in 2010, was able to see the site that would become the Blanton Place, Peggy Blanton said.

“It was just nothing but brown dirt out here,” she said. “It blows my mind to think if he could just walk in here and see it now. I was overwhelmed and emotional with just the bare walls up.”

Established in 1967 by the Church of Christ, the High Plains Children’s Home is a Texas chartered nonprofit organization that aims “to establish, maintain, endow and operate a home for children and adults with special needs who are orphaned, neglected, abused, dependent, underprivileged or otherwise taken advantage of.” according to the children’s home information.

Kevin Logan, director of adults with special needs, said the Blanton Place will provide a safe place for its residents to socialize and visit.

“Because of the social disability a lot of them do have, this gives them a secure place to socialize with others like them because it’s hard to do so with others that do not have a disability,” Logan said. “They just don’t make friends with them very well and this gives them a place that will help them feel more independent.”

The Blanton Place will also be open and available to the community, Howard said.

“People from the community can also come out and use the facility for special events as well,” he said.

A date with Kelsey and the Ducks

A few nights ago I had the honor of hanging out with my bestie Kelsey! I try to spend time with her when I can but I admittedly have not spent very much time with anyone lately. Kelsey asks continously sending sweet texts like, We need to hang out soon. She is always welcoming me to particpate in what she is doing. I wanted to make sure our time together was quality. She is a true treasure that is often taken for granted.

We scheduled our date several days in advance. Nothing was going to keep me from our time together. I was trying to think of something fun and different to do. My pocketbook was a little on the empty side.

I decided on cooking chicken and rice at our house for us and then going to the park to feed the ducks. I picked Kelsey up as soon as I got off work. She ran to the door and greeted me with the biggest smile and hug!

We headed to my house to finish dinner. We sat on the porch while waiting for it to finish. Kelsey helped me fix the salad. We ate dinner while Drew mowed the lawn and then we were off to the ducks.

I stopped to buy a whole loaf of bread for our outing but we definitely should have had more than one. We laughed as they fought over the scraps we threw to them.

It was such a perfect night spent with a perfect girl! Kelsey has had trouble with "friends" in school this semester and it breaks my heart as it does her Mom and Sisters. There is nothing I would like more than to protect her from the pain of mean girls.

She is truly a gift from God for us here on Earth. I am blessed by the time we spend together!