Well, we haven't written on our blog in almost two years since we announced we were moving to Jackson.  I guess with the move and being closer to friends and family, we didn't really feel the need to blog about our life anymore.

A lot has happened in the past (almost) two years, and especially, in 2013.  We have two new additions to our family.  Our Australian Labradoodle, Beatrice.


I mean, how cute is that dog? Seriously. HOW CUTE IS SHE!!!

AND, our firt baby. We have decided to move blog locations, so to find out about our new journey and to continue to follow our lives, go to www.chroniclesofclay.com

Yeah, I'm goin' to Jackson. Look out Jackson town.

  

Well, the time has come and the rumors are true.... We are moving to Jackson, MS!!  Wesley and I have always talked about what it would be like to write this post and to actually be moving back to the South.  I really can't describe it though - a little bit anxiety, a lot of happy... but also a lot of stress! 

Wesley has accepted a job with the new Governor as his Health Policy Advisor.  Needless to say, I am so proud of him!!  I, on the other hand, do not have a job yet.  Perhaps I will be a lady of leisure for a while... :)  But if anyone has any ideas for a job for me, I am all ears!!  We are so excited to be closer to family and friends, and of course Oxford.  :)  We have appreciated all the love and support we have received over the past (almost!) 4 years we have been in DC.  We couldn't have made it this long without yall and without yall welcoming us home with open arms everytime we visited.  But now we are coming home for good - and we couldn't be happier.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO US

I can't believe it has already been four years since we tied the ol knot. We are celebrating by heading to Charleston, South Carolina for the weekend. While trying to figure out exactly to say about our marriage, I came across my post from last year.  I could not write anything better ever in my life about Lo. I will now direct you to that post.

JANUARY 12TH

my last thirty years

Over the Christmas break, Lo threw me a danque birthday party in celebration of my last thirty years. She did an amazing job, and everything was wonderful.  I want to thank everyone who came out and celebrated the evening.  I truly am blessed with great friends and family.

May my next thirty years bring more love, laughter, a bigger family, great health, career satisfaction and success, a home in the South, and most of all, a better relationship with God.

A few photographs from the evening:

its got to be you i love

hostess with the mostest

sparklers

terrace party

brothers

family time

oh hello state. how are you way down there?

cigar group pic

its not a party unless there is the cupid shuttle

columbus

lo and me

Thought of the Day

When God brings a time of waiting & appears unresponsive, don't fill it with busyness, JUST WAIT! The time of waiting may come so that you may be set apart from sin and made holy!

A Little Morning Wisdom

So my friend Emily is just bursting with great content for blog posts. This is much better than the previous political post. It really hits home right now for us.

“The truth is there are a million steps, and we don’t even know what the steps are, and worse, at any given moment we may not be willing or even able to take them; and still worse, they are different for you and me and they are always changing. I have come to believe the sooner we find this truth beautiful, the sooner we will fall in love with the God who keeps shaking things up, keeps changing the path, keeps rocking the boat to test our faith in Him, teaching us to not rely on easy answers, bullet points, magic mantras, or genies in lamps, but rather rely on His guidance, His existence, His mercy, and His love.” 

Donald Miller, Searching for God Know What

I received the following email from a former co-worker, and it truly hits the nail on the head when trying to compare Republican and Democrats. I thought it was worth sharing. Thanks Emily Ferris!

THE FENCE 

If you ever wondered which side of the fence you sit on, this is a great test.

If a Republican doesn't like guns, he doesn't buy one.
If a Democrat doesn't like guns, he wants all guns outlawed.

If a Republican is a vegetarian, he doesn't eat meat.
If a Democrat is a vegetarian, he wants all meat products banned for everyone.

If a Republican is homosexual, he quietly leads his life.
If a Democrat is homosexual, he demands legislated respect.

If a Republican is down-and-out, he thinks about how to better his situation.
A Democrat wonders who is going to take care of him.

If a Republican doesn't like a talk show host, he switches channels.
Democrat's demand that those they don't like be shut down.

If a Republican is a non-believer, he doesn't go to church.
A Democrat non-believer wants any mention of God and religion silenced.

If a Republican decides he needs health care, he goes about shopping for it, or may choose a job that provides it..
A Democrat demands that the rest of us pay for his.

If a Republican reads this, he'll forward it so his friends can have a good laugh.
A Democrat will delete it because he's "offended".

MERRY CHRISTMAS Y'ALL

Merry Christmas from Brentwood!

Hope everyone is having a fabulous day and remembering the reason for the season.
We are missing our Mississippi family, but will see them very soon.  

Love, Lauren, Wesley & Marlene

new york thru a lens

 

 

lunch at mangia, bergdorf’s, window display at bergdorf’s, gaga at barney’s,
oscar de la renta, christian louboutin, manhattan, fifth avenue, harry winston,
liz working at hw, city bakery, wo with mr. snowman, vintage table, man staging, classic american, nyc, louis vitton, drinks at aurora, aurora décor, subway station, waiting for the train, night in chelsea, elizabeth wine, brunch at westville, cappuccino,
happy birthday to lo

The Most Amazing Town in Mississippi

One of the perks of my job is being able to visit Mississippi and see all the great things she is doing for the people that live there. Last month, I had the opportunity to visit the most beautiful place on earth, Oxford, Mississippi. The beauty of this town is known to everyone in the state and to many national publications.

Below are a few of the pics I was able to capture during my visit. Love that place.

Post Oxford, I headed to another amazing town, Columbus, and met up with my family, including Lo, who came down from Nashville.  Columbus, as usual, was so nice and relaxing. Lo and I ran a couple of times down at the Riverwalk and walked around downtown.  We had great Thanksgiving lunches and dinners with the family and a crackly bonfire night at my parent's house. It was good to be back, even if for a brief moment. We captured a few memories from that time below.

Door and Alley in Downtown Columbus

Homemade wreath by MS Mom, along with her Thanksgiving Dinner Table

Mason and the bonfire

Thanksgiving Dinner.