She is overjoyed!

As mentioned yesterday I waited until I got to my mom in person to give her the news of her divorce... I walked in to a living room full. My Nana, Mom, Aunt Cindy, Aunt Charlotte, and Doris sat scattered around. I gave my welcoming hugs and kisses to all and took a set on the couch next to my mom. She was more interested in the news on the television at the moment than anything I had to say... except when I just casually mentioned I got a news today... she immediately went into full alert mode turning her whole body to me. I told her it is finally over, Gary signed the papers and so did the court.

I had imagined her having a powerful reaction hence the reason for me waiting to tell her in person. To the average person awaitng the finality of a divorce is not such a magnficent thing. To my Mom, this was the end of being linked to a man who embodied everything she was not. This was the last link to a man who kicked her out when the sickness part of the vows came to play. A man who put himself before everyone else. A man who read a cookbook at church. To my Mom this divorce meant freedom. It meant not checking the mail everyday for news I told her would come via email to me. It meant returning her last name to that she shares with her children. It meant that through the horrible stages of her disease she can rest assured she will be cared for by her family. This divorce was a blessing!

Upon hearing the news she has waiting a year and five days for my Mom hit her knees on the floor and wept. She wept and wept. We gathered and said a prayer of rejoicefulness to the Lord for answering our prayers. She got on Facetime with Ryan to give him the news, telling him she is "officially done with.. now I'm a Lowe again" She called Patrick and delivered a similar message and although her words were not what I would have chosen to quickly and accurately inform the boys of what she was telling them her message was loud and clear...She could move on with life now as Molly Lowe!

News to share, pictures not included

I am completely over this 100 degree temperature and ready to be putting my boots on and throwing some scarves over tshirts and sweaters to take in the Fall weather.... it cannot come soon enough!

Neeley and I saw the most ridiculously amazing pair of Steve Madden Army Boots with ikat stiching inside that we each put on layaway at TJMAXX in hopes of Fall coming all the more quickly.

We have been busy with the arrival of several family members the past week. The Nashville Blanton clan came down and spent some time visiting with Nana and Mom and yesterday Aunt Cindy came into town. I love the distraction out of towner's bring with them and all the wonderful meals Nana cooks for them.

Last Friday was Lane's Birthday. He had just come home from spending a week working in Nebraska so the four of us went out  for a quick Tex-Mex dinner before he had to finish his last homework for the summer semester.

This week I am beyond busy with photo sessions every other night. I am incredibly blessed to be able to use my passion as a way of earning some extra cash and am looking forward to a couple of unique sessions this week, including shooting Neeley's bridals! Being able to hide behind the lens will be a wonderful distraction to keep me from bawling my eyes out when I see her in her full wedding attire! No doubt those photos will be stunning and not because of me!

The best news of all to share is that Mom's divorce is FINALLY OVER! Any of  you who read this today will know before she does because I am selfishly waiting until after work to tell her in person. After the million emails back and forth, days of feeling completely overwhelmed and out of control, days of crying because I hate that she has had to fight this battle are now all finally behind us! We will just now have the issue of him holding up his end of the bargain, a very little end it is but the official end has arrived! I am so beyond excited to tell her the news in person and see her emotions! The lord has heard cries of desperation and has saved us!

A weekend of lazy

This weekend was a rarety in my life... there was absolutely nothing to do! Which was nice because I have bene fighitng a sinus cold and after struggling with people to understand my raspy voice on Friday woke up with absoutely No voice Saturday.

On my agenda for the weekend was to sleep. Although I could have slept A LOT more I got some good relaxation on the couch which was heaven.

I was awoken a little too early on Saturday by Drew who had these flowers for me so it made it a little bit better...

We ate breakfast and lounged on the couch. Ran a few errands. Went back home for a nap. Dinner with the family.

Sunday I never left my house and rarely left the couch execpt when Drew came over to make me lunch.... he really is amazing to me! I edited an engagement shoot and watched Lifetime. It was wonderful!

The next couple months feel like they are coming at warped speed ... there are Starlight Weddings galore, showers and prep for Neeley's wedding, long time friends to see, and birthdays to plan... there doesnt seem to be a moment to rest. I am hoping to wrap this sickness up in the next day or two and charge ahead fully energized!

Little Road Trip

I took Monday off and Neeley, Kelsey, Aunt Tammy and I all drove to Lubbock because Neeley's wedding dress came in! We went down thinking she would try it on and leave it for alterations but "Bella" as we named her fit like a glove. It was a very surreal moment seeing Neeley in her actual wedding dress and not just one she was trying on. I tried to hide behind my camera and snap some photos of the moment.... none of which I can show now because it would ruin the big reveal.... but it was a moment of going "Oh ok you really are going to get married, ok ok we can do this!" My Aunt Tammy cried and  I know that moment was realization for her as well. So we packed "Bella" up and went to lunch then decided to stop by Dillard's to see if their selection of shoes and accessories had what Amarillo didn't.

Neeley got her wedding shoes and jewelery.... it is AMAZING and very Neeley! Kelsey got some heels she can walk in and wear with her dress and I got some awesome shoes to go with mine!

I was so thankful to be able to take the day off to spend doing wedding stuff with them! Sometimes you just need a day to run around town with your people.

We got home way late and after thinking about leaving "Bella" in the car overnight Neeley and I decided we should bring her in. If any of our neighbors had been looking outside at midnight monday night they may have thought we were stuffing a dead body in our house because "Bella" is a big ole girl in her body bag.

 

 

As much as Drew and I have tried to get out of our best man/maid of honor speeches I know we will be faced with that task come wedding time... there is no gettting out of anything in this family. It's not at all that I don't want to give a little speech, it is just that I know with complete certainity I will not be able to express the relationship Neeley and I share and how much she means to me. I would fail at this task on a  lazy night in our house on the couch so I know that standing in front of a room full of people I will fail miserably. I have started preparing for that moment though.... thinking ahead about what I may want to say... maybe thinking about it 3 months ahead of time will get me completely prepared. Who am I kidding we will all be a blubbering mess at that time.

Pictures and thoughts

I spent some time today taking photos around the house.... specifically ones of these precious face...

 

  

I have also planted some succulents for our baker's rack on our porch, because having to water plants everyday is way to much work, these little beauties will survive in a drought so they are perfect for us!

 

Today after a long long night of working a wedding last night I slept in a little bit today and had convinced Drew, Lane and Neeley today would be a great day to catch a matinee of the new Batman movie. After the horrific tragedy that happened in Colorado on early Friday morning at the premiere of the movie I was hesitant to see it at night, I also wanted to go when I thought there would not be as many people there. So today we went to the 12:40 movie and as "dark" as the series is in itself I was especially unnerved by the presence of extra police officers at the theatre. As soon as we sat down in the theatre I began to imagine what the victims of the massacre in Colorado thought as they we anticipating the films start. I immediately searched out the exits and people around me. It is an unnerving experience now to sit in a dark theatre with a bunch of strangers.  I found myself paying extra attention to people moving about the theatre and alerted when new people would arrive in the middle of the movie.  30-45 minutes into the movie a theatre employee came in and did a check on the exit doors a chilling reminder of the horror that ensued in Aurora. I cannot imagine the grief and terror those people witnessed and will live with for the rest of their lives. It is so sad that some people are so lost in the world that they can cause such devastation. My prayers are with the victims and their families as they try to make sense of this.

 

Wonderland

I have been severly lacking in my blog time lately. Life has just been busy busy. We are beginning to feel "really" settled in our new home having finally closed all the doors on our "house from hell." Sometimes there is just nothing better than deleting numbers, texts, pictures from your phone to feel completely cleansed of someone. I am so thankful to finally be looking toward the future now and not having to watch my back in fear of crazy people.

Life has been full of unexpected turns and events, does it ever NOT seem that way in our family? But we are manuevering through it. I am finding myself enjoying more and more time being at home and finally got my crockpot out after many months packed away for a homecooked meal. Neeley put it to good use the other night too with an amazing roast! I have been dabbling in crafts again which makes me feel calm and happy. Thankfully too I have booked two weddings, not Starlight related, with the works packages which I will begin shooting sessions for on Thursday. I am excited for the opportunity to shoot in different settings and add to my portfolio.

In other news: my brother Ryan, his wife Darrah, and their munchkin Peyton have orders from the Army to move to Oahu, Hawaii in June 2013. Mom has had a difficult time with the idea of them being so far away but I am trying to convince her it makes the dream a a hawiian vacation more real! I know Ryan and Darrah are excited about the move so we are very excited for them!


A couple of weeks ago Drew and I took his niece to Wonderland. Wonderland is a fantastic little amusement park here in Amarillo. It can truly satisfy your need for a little thrill in your life with just a 10 mintute drive vs. the 6 hours to Six Flags. His niece has been stuck at home with her mom who is rehabbing from her bad wreck and hasn't had the opportunity for much fun this summer. We met his step-sister and her kids too.  We had such a blast there! It did make me feel old because threre are definitely swirling rides I cannot ride now without getting a headache and feeling completely nauseas. Drew was having a hard time with some rides as well, we are old people. The rides we made it through were fun though! I am wanting to go back with our friends so Drew and I can actually ride some together instead of being split up with his nieces and nephews. Overall we had a great Friday night spent at Wonderland with his family!

I love this picture even though it is compltely blurry. Drew is holding on for DEAR LIFE. He did not like this one.

Meeting Stella

I am a little overdue in blogging... I apologize for those of you who actually check this on a daily basis. I hope this post makes up for it because there are some pretty darn cute photos below!

When Drew and I came back from visiting his Dad in DFW, we had my DFW relatives here! Aunt Paula, Uncle Pat, Stetson, Rebecca, Taylor and baby Stella had all arrived the Friday we were leaving for Dallas. Unfortunately Uncle Pat and Taylor caught a plane out as we were driving in but I was so excited to be greeted by the others left behind and a surprise appearance by Aunt Cindy!

It was the Amarillo gang's first meeting of precious baby Stella Von Burton and boy she did not disappoint.

 

This baby has the most beautiful eyes I have ever ever seen. She was so quiet and joyful to be around. I am so excited to watch the amazing journey she will be sure to take Rebecca and Taylor on for the next 18+ years. For now she was so much fun to cuddle. 

Stella's eyelashes are so very long and lush and her dimples are perfection. I cannot get enough of this face! Smiles were courtesy of Aunt Cindy.

 

Everyone got a chance to offer some good loving and caretaking of Stella and she loved Kelsey and Nana most.

Aunt Tammy, Aunt Cindy, Aunt Paula and my Mom were all being a little camera shy during this trip to Orange Leaf but they were all there keeping the momentum of a long day alive!

Having out of town visitors is always refreshing. I loved seeing everyone together even if it was for such a short time.