Can I call you Mom & Dad?

What.a.day.

My.heart.is.full.

After 2 days of not being able to talk to Eric Friday and Saturday, we were finally able to chat with him this afternoon. :) YAY! 

We talked about normal stuff... our conversations get more natural and better each time. Talked about video games, church, his tests at school, his dance practice, his friends, and he asked for a cross to be hung in his room (done.). I absolutely love talking to that boy... I look forward to it each day. 

When we were getting off the phone today... as usual we asked him when he wanted us to call again and he answered tomorrow.  Then he said "I have one more thing..." Of course we encouraged him to tell us.  And out of his mouth came the most amazing words EVER... he asked, "Ummm... Is it okay if I call you Mom and Dad?" Oh.My.Goodness.  I lost it. I couldn't keep it together... not even to answer even though my heart was screaming "YES!!!". Jacob had to say, "Yes, of course, you can call us Mom and Dad." I was a mess...

It breaks my heart to know that he has not grown up without someone to call "Mom" and "Dad." It absolutely thrills my heart to know that he wants to call us Mom and Dad just as much as we want to call him "our son."  He wants to talk about his new parents and the plans he has with his new family... just like we do. He now has a place where he will forever belong. Forever be accepted. Forever be loved.  Forever have a Mom and Dad.  

I have wondered what he would call us... or how that conversation would come about, but this... this was such a treasure to me. He asked. I wonder how long he has been wanting to call someone his Mom... to have someone to take care of him when he's sick, someone who will always be there to make him laugh, someone to cheer him on every day, someone to get on his nerves with all the love. I wonder how many nights he has longed for a Dad... someone to practice ball with, someone to play video games with, someone who truly cares about the man he is becoming. A family.

I hate not being able to help him study for his Math tests, watch his soccer games, or read stories with him. I cannot wait for him to be a Morgan. For him to be HOME. For him to scream down the hall, "MOM!!!!" That will be a good day my friends! I am a Mom. Jacob is a Dad. How crazy! How beautiful! So thankful I have a hubby who is willing to be crazy with me... willing to follow the Lord with me... and just as anxious to get our 13-year-old son home from Belize! 

On another note - 

I also got to talk to Becky... in AFRICA today!!! Loved hearing her voice!!! She is amazing!!! Read about her stories HERE!!! 

Also, last night I got to spend wonderful time with these stunning high school senior ladies. We went for a night out - ate ALOT, shopped some, and spent time with Jesus... away from Troy!!!! I love them more than words can say. So thankful for their hearts! Can't wait to see what all the Lord has planned for these FEARLESS ladies!! 

My heart is FULL

Don't worry... I didn't die after last week.  I thought about hiding in a closet for a while... but I decided that visiting the BESTIES would make my heart all better! AND IT DID! We were ALL reunited... WE EVEN FACETIMED WITH AMI!!! :) It was fabulous. 

I made it to Nashville just in time for the end Beck's Christmas party (the one I blogged about that was suppose to be a surprise that I almost ruined... man... I'm good at that!).  So... I didn't get any pics of it. It was festive - Christmas music, Christmas trees, cookies, and friends.  She loved it. She loves Christmas more than life... and she won't be in America for it this year. She'll be IN AFRICA!!!! She leaves on Friday... so pray for her, her shipmates, her patients, her energy!  

I don't really have a lot to say except I'm beyond thankful for these ladies. If you don't have BEST friends... find them.  I love them.  Jacob accidentally overheard me tell my Bible study girls last night that if I was a boy I would have already married Emily because she's just that great.  He was offended... but o well.  I just love my besties so much! Don't know what I'd do without them.  

Here's our weekend: 

"Normal" picture... this doesn't happen often

Ah yes... there we are in our natural state! 

Beck and Em on our Farewell Beck (for a while) photo shoot

This describes there relationship perfectly... Em smothering Beck with love and Beck terrified but willing to accept it.

Beck and Clarissa! She lived with us in our college house... The Schlappi. :) She is fantastic! 

  

This describes me and Beck. I'm trying to convince her to get on my back. She claims I'm to weak and she's to big... WHATEVER.  She forces me to to a normal pose... and I am not satisfied. 

When Beck and I lived together, we woke up at the same time every morning. Beck = NOT a morning person. ME = If I'm awake... I'm pumped! So, we would meet in the kitchen.  EVERY MORNING... it never failed this very conversation took place:

"Mornin' Beck!" (super chipper voice)

"hey ann..." (super annoyed voice)

"How's your morning, Beck?"

"fine ann, I just woke up..."

"Well great! What are you doing today?"

"I don't know ann... I just woke up. I'm going to school."

"Okay, Beck... (insert all that I am doing today and when I want to see her again that day)... I hope you have a great day!!!" 

She finishes fixing her cereal and coffee and slowly walks back to her room.

She claimed she hated it, but I knew she secretly loved it. So, when I moved out to get married and stuff, I made her a recording of my routine convo with her so she could play it each morning... AND SHE DID! :) She loves me... I know she does.

This is PERFECT. I want to blow this up into a poster and hang it in my living room! YES! 

And this too... 

CUTIES! 

So... we prayed for Beck and sent her off with more cuddles and jump hugs! I'm praying God ROCKS HER WORLD and LOVES HER TO PIECES and lives are SAVED because of her obedience!!! 

We then traveled to see Lindsey Jo and her precious family!! Have you EVER in your life seen a cuter stud than this guy???? Oh my goodness... I'm in love! Doesn't your heart just melt??? 

AND Lindsey Jo is expecting ANOTHER boy!!! How much cuteness can one family handle??? I just don't know! 

So thankful I get to share life with these ladies!!!!! 

Sunday, I got to meet my Katy for brunch!!! I have missed her SO much!!! She is wonderful and I just loved spending this little bit of time with her!!! We ate at Noshville... and if you ever go... you should know that a NOSH is a side.... nothing more fancy than that. 

So thankful that I got to go see them all.  My heart is full and I'm ready to face the world again!!! :) 

One big pile of GLITTER...

I have NEVER been more excited for a Friday in my life.  This week has been... a really crazy, awful, emotional week. There have been some really great moments sprinkled in... but I am drained and ready for a break. This week has felt like someone playing a really cruel joke... and I just didn't like it.  Thankful for a GREAT... THE BEST... husband in the world and people that I can confide in when things get a little... a lot... hairy.  People say that their brains feel like mush sometimes... my brain felt like that all week... but I preferred to think if you cracked my head open and looked inside, you would be a huge pile of glitter (not mush)... because that is way more fun and feminine. So... that's that.  

BUT... no matter how crazy our weeks/days may get... no matter what happens... no matter the evil in the world that we must stand against... no matter the many things that can go wrong at work... no matter the amount of stress or "what if's" that we can think of... we must KNOW that GOD IS IN CONTROL. He is Sovereign over all.  He is good. He is the Judge. He is our Hope. He NEVER fails us. He is our Healer. He is our SANITY. 

Anywho... on to more pleasant things. 

FIRST, PLEASE READ THIS... you will understand me/us so much more (if you dare to care) as we have been in this journey of adoption!  LOVE the part where she talks about VAGINAL kids!! bahaha!! I have been using it... just to freak people out.  

Onward...

The first weekend of August we got to celebrate the sweetest little girl's 2nd birthday! Is she not the cutest thing EVER?!?!! Look at those blue eyes.  Definitely hooking this one up with IH, Lindsey Jo! 

We are best friends... :) 

And she finally loves her "Uncle Jake." She was pretty terrified of him for a while... but now she can't get enough of him.  I understand... :) 

Her party was owl themed. Check out this cute fruit owl my mom-in-law made for her partay!! Presh, right? 

Here we are with Jojo.  :) 

Last weekend we headed down to Ocala, FL to see some of our good friends. Every year, these fellas meet up in Ocala for a golf tourney called the "Nuts & Bones Invitational."  WHY? Well... Andy, one of Jacob's besties is a peaNUT farmer and his father-in-law is a Orthopedic (BONE) surgeon!!! Clever... and funny... huh? So they get a new piece of swag each year... this year they got golf shirts with "TEAM NUTS" on it! BAHAHA! 

Also, we went to our first Catholic Mass on Saturday evening for Welles' (Andy's son) baptism.  It was super sweet and educational.  

**If you want to cry and learn where they got the name Welles from, watch this: The Man with the Red Bandana

Here's cutie Welles.

 This weekend.... like TODAY... I get to go see these gems. YAHOOO!!!! They are the best friends a girl could ever ask for. Becky, on the left, is leaving next weekend to serve as a nurse on the Mercy Ships, stationed in the Congo, Africa for the next ten months.  I am so thankful to call her my friend.   She follows the Lord... determined, passionately, knowing she has purpose in Him. I'm proud of her and so excited to see what all God does out there while she's serving on a continent very close to my heart... oh, Africa.  You can read all about her journey (and her yummy cooking) HERE. We are throwing her a partay tonight... Christmas themed because it's her FAV... and sending her off with lots of cuddles and jump hugs! 

just another fabulous friday in february

Hello there.  - I don't know why, but I always feel like I need to greet the world before I start vomiting away. So... hello. 


This week has been good. I felt felt very overwhelmed and satisfied (at the same time) by Jesus this week. I have not been afraid of things I have feared even last week. He has assured me. He is just really good. 


Jacob and I are going on a marriage retreat this weekend. I'm pumped... I think Jacob is too. It's not anywhere special... just Montgomery. But I am so looking forward to us time... JANNA time. Janna (Jacob+Anna=Janna) is what our high school friends called us even when we weren't dating (we swore we didn't like each other for like 4 years... but obviously... something was a brewin'). I don't know what marriage retreats look like so it should be entertaining, enlightening, and enjoyable! :) I feel like a baptist preacher when I do that with words.  "The 3 E's of a marriage conference".  Ha! Anywho... I will let you know how that goes... all the awkward moments, the great moments... don't worry I will leave out the Victoria Secret rated moments.  ha! 


Sunday, we are heading up to the Ham to be apart of Jared's ordination service. I am excited about that and so honored to be there for it. I've told this keyboard before (because I don't know who I am actually telling) that Jared has been a brother to me since I was in the 7th grade. I have seen God grab hold of him and never let go. He has impacted mine and Jacob's lives in so many ways!! Excited to share this day with him, Ashley, and JoJo. By the way... here's a pic of me a JoJo... ain't she presh? 

Another thing I am excited about is a video I am making for Bible Study!!! it's FABULOUS!!! It's Valentine's ya know... love is in the air... so we need to have the annual sex talk in Bible study.  I decided to recruit some help this year! From whom you might ask... well, I chose these love experts:

Please note the puffiness of my checks... I had just had my wisdom teeth taken out, had to be driven to school by my mom, thrown up lots, and was determined to dance the night away at BARN PARTY with the BESTIES! :) All worth it.

We are all in different stages in our life and it's just beautimous!!! We have the old married one (even though she's younger than me), ENGAGED one, single one, married one (me), and dating one!!! :) I asked them about making a video of their thoughts, what Jesus was teaching them, and what the importance of purity is to each of them! They were pumped to make the videos, and can I tell ya... they are hilarious! :) I can't wait to show them to the girls on Monday! I am editing them, putting them to music, and adding some sass to it!! I love it! :) I am so thankful for friends that are willing to make crazy videos, talking about Jesus and encouraging girls they barely know! That's true friendship... it really is. I hope you all have a Lindsey Jo (to make you laugh and keep you grounded), a Ami (to pray for you, laugh with, and show you true strength), a Beck (to keep you thinking, determined, and in line), and a Em (for all the in betweens and so much more). It's just good... God knew what I needed when I moved to the UT! 

Something interesting you may not know about me... I LOVE ZUMBA! :) It's so stinking fun. We have a fabulous ZUMBA teacher here in Troy! :) great right? But I just love going, making new friends, looking crazy, and dancing the night away.  Zumba can make a girl feel pretty sexy (minus all the sweat and body odor). I think all women should feel sexy and worth it! It's important. When you feel good about yourself, you feel good about your husband, friends, plans, life, and everything else. So... you should all go to Zumba! If you are ever in Troy... let me know and we will definitely go because Zumba-Master Sherri can make ya feel like a million bucks and ready for the Victoria Secret Fashion Show - okay, maybe not that sexy but... o well. 

I am excited about life right now. I see God moving in VERY tangible ways. I see my prayers being answered... clearly. I see things happening and changing. I see Him making a way. I don't want to miss out. I want to be right in the middle of His movement. I want to hear all about it. I want to be obedient. I want to fight for joy and fight for freedom for myself and for my friends. 

It's my BiRfDaY!

So... it's my birthday today.  I'm old now.
And... sadly... it's not as exciting as it used to be b/c I still have to work... it's just another day.

But... I wanted to tell you about my Birthday present from God.  You ask: What did you get from God?

I say: RAIN!!!!! 

I know, most people don't think of trudging through the rain on their birthday fun... but, I did. I posted a while back about RAIN and my longing to be cleaned out and renewed (see here)!! I still long for Him to RAIN in me!!!!! I thought it was the PERFECT present from my Daddy!!! It blessed my heart.  He wants to cleanse me and for me to mature and look more like Him and I took that as a way that He was calling me closer to Him.  I am grateful! :) It was a great birthday present this morning!

I also have received gifts from some of my favorite people:

My mommy bought us that BEAUTIFUL triangle table for my birthday!! That was a HUGE b'day present!! I love you mommy!

My BFF Becky sent me beautiful trinkets that were made in Bangladesh. I love you Beck!
My BFF Lindsey Jo sent me an AWESOME necklace that was made in Uganda!!! She's so self-sacrificing!!! I love you LJo


My BBF Emily got me the game Quelf!!!! I can't wait to play it!!! How exciting!!! i love you Em! Also... it my stats part of my blogger I saw that someone found my blog by searching for "awkwardly tall people"!!! hahaha!!! :) love you!!!

My hubby bought a goat for me!!! haha! He told me that and I was SO confused - I was thinking "What are we going to do with a goat? We don't have a privacy fence!" haha!! For real - He gave a goat to a family through Samaritan's Purse in my name!!! So special and exactly what I wanted!!!! I love my hubster A LOT!!!! I don't have a picture of MY goat, but I am guessing it looks a bit like this:

My Good Friend Haleigh got me a pretty cross bracelet and a car air freshener!!!! Maggie is smelling fresh! :)

Also, my hubby (b/c he is so sweet)  had cake for me at youth group... NOT just ANY cake... the BEST cake in the world = LINDSEY JO'S DIRT CAKE!!!! And Ms Regeina's yummy, beautiful cake!!!!! It was presh! 

So special!!! I am a blessed lady!!! 

Rare Beauty

So we have had these flowers pictured growing in our backyard.  Jacob said there were some RARE japanese flower.  I don't know what they are called... that's a question for my mom or Lindsey Jo.  I just know I liked them, and the word RARE got me thinking.  Got me thinking about RARE BEAUTY!!! We are all attracted to BEAUTY. We want to be beauty. We want our lives to be BEAUTIFUL and RARE!! We long to be special and noticed.

I long to have RARE BEAUTY.  Beauty that speaks of Christ - of purity, of honesty, of transparency,  of treasuring... of so much more.

There are special times in my life where I have experienced true, RARE BEAUTY!

One RARE BEAUTY that is a constant in my life is my mommy.  She has always been my constant. She is my role model.  I have seen so many things in and through her - strength, compassion, giving, truth, love, caring, commitment, encouragement, righteousness, fear of the Lord.  She has been my biggest fan in everything, at every season, in every place. She has loved me when it wasn't easy and when my hormones chased away everyone else.  She is RARE BEAUTY.

These ladies (minus Beck) are RARE BEAUTY. I have never had friendships so pure, so genuine, so good.  These ladies... are wonderful.  Ami - she is my Beautiful Strength.  I had seen her trust in the Lord and grow in the Lord as she watched her daddy battle cancer. I have seen her study and fight to understand Scripture and live it out in all areas of her life! She's fiesty and I love it!!  Lindsey Jo - she's my Brave Humor! This woman is BRAVE!! Married at 18. Buys at house at ago 20. Having a kid at age 22!!! Some say nuts, I say BRAVE!! Her best friend and brother was killed in a car accident last March. I have seen and heard and know her heart has been challenged and comforted and revived by my Lord.  And on top of all that ladies and gentleman... SHE'S HILARIOUS!  Emily - She's my  Crazy Compassionate Joy!!!! She's my best friend. She is wonderful. She is the essence of compassion and joy... and craziness!! She was my roommate. We spent every waking hour together - no, seriously we did- we lived together, worked together, went to church together, ate together, EVERYTHING... and I loved it.  I have never seen the Gospel of Christ and the Love of Christ in action like I do in Emily.  AND... her middle name is Joy... so she's that much cooler!  I love her heart, her joy, her friendship... it's good.  Becky (not pictured- haha... kind of like a yearbook picture) - She is my Determined Nurse.  She is the most determined woman I have EVER meet!! She knows what God calls her to do and what's required of her and BY GOLLY... she does it!! She is a nurse... she was made to heal, to love, to show Christ to others.  And she is doing it!!!!!!!!! She is fabulous! 

RARE BEAUTY = following Christ's calling NO MATTER WHAT!!!! I was part of RARE BEAUTY - my and 3 of my great friends went to Africa... 4 college girls... trying to follow God, love on orphans, and be obedient TO GO!!!! It was FABULOUS! 

This crazy cool woman, Heather, is also a burst of RARE BEAUTY!!! We worked together at a deaf camp in Illinois.  It was tough. It was long. It was starved of Jesus. I knew it would be.  When I flew up there... I was TERRIFIED to get off the plane. I don't get that way much, but I just wanted to stay on that plane more than anything... I knew the summer would be tough, lonely, and dry.  BUT... when I arrived in Dixon, IL... I MET HEATHER!!!! She was a God-send. We poured into each other. We poured into others. We did Bible study each morning together. We loved on each other. We laughed alot. We, like crazy people, went to Chicago with no plans... just 14 Bibles to give out with a goal to enjoy the city and love on the homeless.  The last week of camp, we FINALLY got to be co-counselors!!! We broke all the rules, we played hide-and-go-seek in the corn fields with our girls, we talked a lot about Jesus (even though we weren't suppose to), we signed a Spice Girl's song together for the talent show, and it was so good.  This girl loves Jesus, she loves to enjoy life, she loves to interpret, she's just CRAZY AWESOME!  

RARE BEAUTY also takes place when the people of God do exactly what they are called to do and love to do!!! This group, UNASHAMED, is the sign team from the University of Tennessee that God set up!!!! The group, the girls, the time together, and the love there is hard to express because it was so perfect. We loved each other, we love Jesus, and we loved signing together. Makes me smile just thinking about it! 

Where do you see RARE BEAUTY??

Look for it...