Hello 2013, It's nice to meet you!

Well, we survived 2012. And given the end of the world predictions in May and then December, it was a close call! Because I love a list, I decided to list the top 10 moments of our 2012. In no particular order, because who can rank these they are all GREAT!

1. Getting married! I think this is a no-brainer.  We have had such a great year, and May 19, 2012 will always be my all time favorite day. This year was definitely a year of wedding fun and marriage bliss.

2. Caroline Rose making her grand entrance. I love all babies, but my nieces hold a special place in my heart. This sweet girl has brought so much fun to the Potts family!

3. The year of Ashley/Megan. My cousin is my bff. And sadly we never get to see each other, but due to her wedding and my wedding, we had a year of FUN! And of course getting to meet sweet Abby!

4. My best friend's wedding. Yep. That is right. 3 weddings from March to May. It was an eventful year! Emily's wedding was so beautiful and should  have been in Southern Living. I will get off the wedding kick in Number 4... Maybe.

5. Our Honeymoon to Hawaii. I wish I could live there. I loved just about everything on our island. It was a blast.

6. Living life with these girls. And Baby Walker. :)

 

7. The State Fair. It is a highlight every year, and will continue to be until I turn from my redneck ways. Which will be never. Long live the Fair!

8. The first year in our house and having fun gatherings with our friends and family.  Along with this is having a house 5 minutes away from our family. Living close to Will and Rebecca and the girls is so fun for impromptu gatherings and fun.

9. Gunnar's debut into the family. I am a nut job and love my pups. This little guy is about the sweetest thing ever. He has been such a good dog and a definite great addition to the family.

10. Holidays with Bubba. We have had so much fun the past couple of months! Thanksgiving and Christmas were great, and New Year's was so fun too! From killing my first deer to ringing in the New Year. Glad Bubba was the one with me.

 

Happy New Year! Wishing you many, many blessings in 2013!

When Darkness seems to hide His face

I like everyone in America am so saddened by terrible events that happened on Friday. I obviously don't have children, but I am an aunt, friend, babysitter, and human, and I think every single one of those titles made me feel such a depth of sadness for all of those families.  That whole community is experiencing such a loss and tragedy that I pray wholeheartedly never comes near my family or anyone that I love.  I cannot go on Facebook or Yahoo or watch the news without tears welling up in my eyes and getting a huge lump in my throat. This is a time of year that joy is supposed to abound. I do not understand this.

Yet, in all of this sadness, I do have hope and peace. In church on Sunday, I was reminded of the peace and hope and yes even joy in the midst of sadness and pain that my Savior brings. I couldn't help, but cry. Some of my tears were shed for all those families that are affected, but some were tears of gratitude that I worship a Savior who is Lord of all.  I do not understand how or why that terrible thing happened, other than the fact that we live in a fallen and broken world. But, in all of that I know that death has been defeated.

"Then, when our dying bodies have been transformed into bodies that will never die,this Scripture will be fulfilled:

“Death is swallowed up in victory.
 O death, where is your victory?
    O death, where is your sting?”

For sin is the sting that results in death, and the law gives sin its power."  

1 Corinthians 15:54-56

I think that this truth is all that I can focus on because all the other what ifs and whys are simply too complex for me to comprehend.  I think in some ways that the best thing we can do to honor all of those children who lost their lives in a terrible way is to reach deep down and find our childlike faith. And trust that although darkness is out there and evil exists and terrible things have happened that we have a God who is bigger and stronger.  I hope and pray that all those families find peace and comfort. I hope that they know that their sweet babies are with a loving Savior who has defeated their death.

We sang this at church yesterday. I have always loved the hymn that these words come from, but for some reason yesterday it said what my heart was feeling.

Christ alone; cornerstone
Weak made strong; in the Saviour's love
Through the storm, He is Lord
Lord of all

When Darkness seems to hide His face 
I rest on His unchanging grace
In every high and stormy gale
My anchor holds within the veil
My anchor holds within the veil

I pray that this week and into Christmas, we don't allow Darkness to hide His face. Peace and Joy to you this week. I hope that you all have a great week filled with all the Christmas goodness you can muster.  We did find time this weekend to have a Christmas date with three of our favorite girls.

Carriage ride with her Bubba. Love that girl.

For that, I am very thankful.

A Letter to the President

Dear Mr. President Obama,

I am from a small state known as Mississippi. With only six electoral votes, it is hard to see the importance of my one vote. This is not an indictment against you as the other candidate, whom I did vote for, did not seem to be too bothered by obtaining it either as states like Ohio and Virginia are much more important to both parties. Mr. President, I am a competitive person, and I know you are too as it would be hard to reach the position you are in if you did not strive for the W. So, I would like to congratulate you on winning one of our Nation's most important elections. I know that you must be proud. I would be too. I hope also that with that pride comes a great sense of purpose and responsibility to serve our entire country to the best of your abilities. Every single person. Rich or poor. Black or White. Employed or Unemployed. Elated with your victory or devastated by their own vote's defeat.

I do not blame all of our country's problems and issues on your four-year term that is quickly coming to an end. I do not however agree with all of your policies that you have put in place. What I ask of you for these next for years is that you deeply think about the actions and policy that your administration will take. I too pray every day that our Nation will be filled with Hope and Change. While I know the truth that this ultimately cannot be fulfilled by any leader and only in a Savior, I still pray that as a Nation we will work to help those in need while being responsible for the blessings our Nation has received. I truly hope that your plans and ideas will bring about good, even though I disagree with them. I hope as a 26 year old who will start a family in the future that my children and grandchildren do not inherit a broken and broke Nation from the policies we are implementing today.

You talked over the time of the campaigns about keeping your promises. If I was really talking to you, seeing that you will never read this, I would ask you to make a promise to me. That promise would be that you would respect me being a person that thinks differently than you. As I promise to respect you. In the words of my Dad, you do not have to like me and I do not have to like you, but we do have to respect one another. I hope that you respect the ideas of the "other side" and when ideas are given each one is given proper consideration. I am sick of every single person in Washington who has the inability to listen. Again, this is not an indictment against you solely, as everyone has forgotten the old adage that we have two ears and one mouth so that we can do twice the listening.  But ultimately, you are the leader. You lead by example, and I am asking that you set a good example for our country in working with all people because when all ideas are considered typically the best solution is found.

Lastly, I would ask that you work everyday to make our Nation less in debt and more efficient. I would ask that you protect those serving our country abroad. I would ask that you do not lie to the American people when things might not look so good on your end. I ask that you take responsibility of the office that you hold and work your absolute hardest to make our country better tomorrow than it is today. I ask that you set an example to our children of what a good leader looks like. Please do your job.

Sincerely,

A citizen whose voice wants to be heard.

In My Head...

At times, people in my life may have referred to me as stubborn as a mule strong-willed. Well, today I upped the ante, and I went head to head with Mississippi Fall. Let's safely say that even though I want to wear a scarf and boots and tights just because it is October does not mean that I can ignore a high of 87. Boo. Hiss. So, I am hot and sweating like a sinner in church. Fail.

Now on to more pleasant things in my head and some weekend recap.This weekend, we celebrated our best friend's one year old. He and Andy are buds. Happy Birthday Bud!!

Even though today is hot as blazes, we have had some reprieve from the heat which subsequently inspired holiday decor and cooking.  Erin came over and we made some SINFUL treats. I don't even know how to describe them except to say that anyone prone to diabetes should not be in a 5 mile vicinity. One portion of the recipe actually called for brown sugar, regular sugar, and "light" corn syrup. The "light" part totally made a difference...

I mean. Lord. Yum. Heaven help us.

Four pumpkins size appropriate for Bubba, Me, Gert, and Gun.

Saturday night, we celebrated a big friend's birthday, as in over the age of 6. It was a lot of fun to chill and hangout with all of my friends. Those times are always fun. Always too short. And always too infrequent. It's almost like we all have jobs now... oh wait. While we were there, Sara's baby (now not so little) loved Bubba's shoes. This picture is just too sweet.

This post has been sufficiently random. The main take away is that I want Fall to HURRY UP!!! I mean really is it so hard to dip to a cool 70?!?!? I don't have high expectations. Below 80 is scarf weather here. At least I know the cutest pumpkin in the pumpkin patch. See if you can find her...

Happy Fall...or Summer in October. Whatever. Megan Out.

Some Friday Favorites

It's Friday!!! Woohoo! I am so ready for the weekend! It is sure to be a good one. Here are some things I am loving today.

• My new flats. I mean. They make work better.

• My funny brother and my sweet niece! (Plus this is the story of our house this week)

• Homemade Chicken and Rice this week. (Recipe to below.)

• Our puppies that are really, really starting to love each other!

•  My parents who are coming to visit today!!

Ain't they cute.

I am so blessed with a great life and all these favorites. Have a safe and happy weekend! Recipe below. :)

Chicken and Rice

About 6 servings.

4 chicken breasts

2 cups of rice

4 cups of chicken broth

Various veggies (Here I used 1cup of each: carrots, broccoli and cauliflower, corn, and an onion)

about 4 tablespoons Olive Oil

2 table spoons Worcestershire Sauce 

Garlic Powder

Cracked Black Pepper

Directions:

Boil chicken broth, add in rice when comes to a boil. After broth and rice return to a boil reduce heat to low. Cook for 20 minutes.

In a separate pan, saute chicken (cubed) and onion in olive oil and Worcestershire. Add about 2 teaspoons garlic powder and cracked pepper. Once chicken is no longer pink. Add in veggies, reduce heat to low and cover for about 5-7 minutes. 

After rice is cooked, combine chicken and veggies. Enjoy! I top with a bit of Cajun seasoning for a kick.

A Bit of Election Humor

So, in case you haven't heard, 2012 is an election year. I am not really a big political buff. In fact, I would say I tend to alternate between the "scared to death" and "apathetic" camps. Not really ideal. But, with all of the election news, debates, and commercials, it is hard to ignore. I saw this on a friend's Facebook page and do not have the original source (so please no lawsuits) and had to share. I think that Romney's son may have tweeted it. 

In case you aren't up to date, that my friends is what they say on Friday Night Lights to get hype for a game. And what I will have to yell in my living room tonight while Jillian kicks my butt as I shred. I believe Romney won my vote with that... and a few other things. But mostly reference to my favorite TV show. I would be a terrible news reporter/political commentator. I think my dialogue would go a bit like this:

"Oh I just LOVE that show. That Timmy Riggins is so precious. I just don't know what will happen to the Dillon Panthers this season. On a side note... Have you seen Ann Romney's suit. She is just too darling. Also, I think that the candidates are missing a big area of concern for the American people.  Hamageddon!* How will we ever live without bacon?"

*In case you missed it, apparently we are set in for a global bacon shortage. Read more here!

What we have learned are the hard hitting subjects with this girl are TV, fashion, and bacon.  I only kid because reality causes anxiety and heartburn. We all have our coping methods.

Because What is Better than a List

So, it is Thursday, and back when I was young and impressionable Thursday was an awesome day like pre-weekend bonus night of fun because I only had one class on Friday and Whitney and I never made it anyway... That was first aid and CPR. I cannot assist in an emergency. I failed to attend 30% of the class.

Now, Thursday is a long day that pretends to almost be the weekend, but isn't. Today, I woke up thinking it was Friday and well that is just a recipe for failure. Thinking you can wear jeans only to discover you need to put on your dress pants that cut in your midsection is too much to emotionally handle before 7 am. Fact.

I believe now is the time to document some random thoughts.

• I have mentioned this previously, but I am totally obsessed with Friday Night Lights. Thank you Netflix and your ability to hook me on shows.
• This weekend I plan to watch the entire Season 4 of Parenthood. My Olympic sport could be marathon TV watching. My daddy would tell you I have been training my whole life. He is right. I would watch 2 hours of 90201 at 10pm every night at the age of 9. So many things wrong with this.
• I want new jeans. I think I want to invest in a legitimate good pair. I have one pair that I like to wear, and we will not discuss how many or few times I wash them. Keep it classy.
• I cannot wait to go to the beach in October. It is sustaining my excitement in the too soon to be excited about the Holidays stage we are in. 
• It is almost October. I need the weather to cool to a nice 70 even. I want to wear my boots. Is that too much to ask? It is time. Boots are mocking me in the closet.
• Today, the new JK Rowling book came out. I would like to read it. Then I will have read 9 books in life. The 7 HP and To Kill a Mockingbird. All have been read multiple times. 
• This week was National Siblings Day. I have a sibling. He is alright. I like him I suppose. All lies he is great and definitely set the bar low as an older sib so I can out shine him... I kid again. He is cooler than me. It is a fact. And has the cutest baby. So I like him more. 

Let's pray we make it to the weekend.

Mid-Week Randoms

Well, it is Wednesday, and I am filled with some random thoughts. I am super excited for the upcoming weekend. But this week has been pretty fun and needs to be documented.

• Caroline's 6 month picture. Holy Moly Cuteness. I cannot believe she is already 6 months old...

• We have made some good additions to the house this week. First up, new cushions for the kitchen stools. I love the colors and the fact that it ties in nicely to the red couch that is just off the kitchen.

• We are still loving the Olympics, and Gert is so ready for the Puppy Olympics in 2016

• We had a super yummy and easy dinner that involved some fajita steak, onions, black beans, corn, and rotel tomatoes. Throw it together and you get fajita nachos.

• Lastly, our new mirror to go above the mantel. I love it. I also have been enjoying the gradual progression of our house decorating. It will be so fun to look back and see how far we have come.

That about sums up my random thoughts. At least we are almost to the weekend (well 1/2 way). Because on Monday, I felt like this...

Happy Back to School Everyone! You and me both wish it was still summer!

Impatience is a Virtue, Right?

I am the kid that searches for Christmas presents. I want to be given birthday presents 5 days ahead of time. I want to give people their Christmas presents on December 20th. I shop on Christmas Eve solely for the reason that I do not have to wait to give presents.

I hate surprises. I love being surprised, but hate the build up. Don't tell me you have a secret. Don't. Then I will want to know. And five minutes ago. I am awful at surprises. This is the reason that I got proposed to in my sweatpants on my front porch with almost only one eye of makeup. It was the only way poor Andy could get me by surprise. I can't deny it. This is a serious character flaw, but I would be lying if I said I want to fix it.

This explanation brings me to the hardest thing I have ever had to do to date. I love the Olympics. I love the precious gymnastic girls. I cannot wait to watch them tonight. SO IMAGINE MY INNER-TURMOIL WHEN I SAW THIS....

I didn't click on it. I am now ban from all forms of technology... My name is Megan and I have a problem.

Here's to hoping that the article reads Gold!  Go Team USA!!

Bring on Fall

For the first time ever in my life, I am SO ready for Fall. Now, don't get me wrong. I have always loved the season when it gets here, but I am so excited for it to arrive this year. I feel like Meg Ryan in "You've Got Mail" when she writes to Tom Hanks... "Don’t you just love New York in the fall? It makes me want to buy school supplies. I would send you a bouquet of freshly sharpened pencils if I knew your name and address."

 It's a no-brainer that I am looking forward to the obvious things like...

Oldie, but goodie. Geaux Tigers!

But I am also looking for cooler weather, sweaters (or in the South just a shirt, but at least I won't sweat to death... I mean glisten), boots, tailgating food, and THE FAIR!!! For those that do not know this, I have an unnatural love of the MS State Fair. I guess growing up I didn't really experience the Fair, and so when I was introduced to it at age 19, I fell in love.  It is such a strange thing.  But I love the nasty food, crazy people, and poorly constructed rides. Not to mention the Pig Races.

I am ready for pumpkin carving and pretty leaves.  Last year we took our engagement pictures on the prettiest Fall day. Bring on the leaves. There is really no point to this random musing, but I just was overwhelmed with the desire to wear a scarf and some boots today while I was picking out what to wear to work that wouldn't make me die of a heat stroke. I suppose that is a benefit of being out of school. You can love a season for its great qualities, instead of dreading it simply due to the loss of freedom and return to school. Oh Lord, I think I just became an adult. Sigh. 

Summer then and Summer now

First, before reading any farther, you (hypothetical reader) must not judge me.  This is my first summer, at the tender age of 26, to not officially have "summer."  You know the summer I am talking about.  Sleeping, hanging out, pool trips, trips, laying out, friendship, fun, and magical times.  Now, last summer I was studying for the bar and that was a big pile of not fun, but it still was on my terms.  Sorta.  It was like the "tween" years in life. Not full-grown yet.  

This summer, however, is a legit adult summer.  I think it is weird to me because for the first time in my life I am not thinking on a semester time line.  Because today, well, it is no different than what October will hold.  Sure, that day will have football, but it will also have work and an alarm clock buzz.  I don't hate my job, in fact, I love it.  But that doesn't make a girl forget her love of Summer.  I think that I have loved Summer for so long because of the heat and water and family fun that I am slightly mourning the loss of my childhood.

I recognize that this is an over-dramatic statement.  And, many would suggest that at 26 it is probably time to put big girl panties on and get over it.  But, summer is so magical.  I miss it. BUT, I am also not going down without a fight :).

Grown-ups still have fun. Right? Last night we had some of our best friends over and grilled out.  It was so fun!  Complete with all the summer foods required for a good time: burgers, hot dogs, corn, tomatoes, french fries, ice cream, popsicles, and cookies.  Notice we are a fan of multiple option desserts.  Nights to come together and relax and eat are therapy.  There is something about a summer night, a grill, and friends that makes you thankful for the Summer.  Even if it isn't the same care-free time it has always been.  It seems to blow in with hot air and allow a break.

Before I conclude this share-feelings session, I have to tell a gratuitous Gertie story.  Y'all. Home girl scared us.  Gertie went missing before the cook-out.  This is so strange because she was in our fenced in backyard. Well, our neighbors have a GIGANTIC, albeit nice, dog, Jethro.  They have been smelling and talking through the fence for about two weeks.  Jethro dug a little hole under the fence, and GERT decided it was mighty time for her to go and play with her friend.  THAT WAS 800 TIMES HER SIZE.  Think about the Sandlot dog. We retrieved her and all is well.  I like to think this is an example that shows we are raising a pup with self-esteem.  Look at this girl:

Thinks that she is the size of a Mastiff.

I have high hopes for this Summer.  It is shaping up to be quite nice.  On a small side note, my cousin and resident BFF Ashley is about to pop with Baby Abby.  I am so excited.  I am sending all useless Southern gifts... Monograms galore!

Here's to Summer.