My 2024 UGA Grad

    

    It feels as though I JUST helped him set up his freshman dorm room yesterday and left that University, with a lump in my throat, praying my boy would have an awesome college experience. Four years have zoomed right on by, though, and my boy did, indeed, have an awesome college experience! For those of you who are new to my blog, let me introduce my grad to you. Aaron is my non-biological son. He came into our lives when he was just a ninth grader, in high school. We quickly welcomed him into our hearts, our family, and home. I love and adore him just as much as I would if I'd have given birth to him myself, and he makes me so incredibly proud! My boy recently graduated from the University of Georgia, y'all!!! That, in and of itself, is a MASSIVE achievement! Add his history, however, and you'd easily share my opinion that my boy is the poster-child for adversity. He is an incredibly hard-worker, extremely intelligent, responsible, and highly motivated to move up in life. It has been an honor and a privilege to cheer him on from the sidelines and watch Aaron soar! And...oh, my heart. It's been an absolute joy being his chosen mama all of these years. I feel extremely blessed just to be a part of his world. 

     UGA knows how to put on a ceremony! Such a fun night! Here are some photos from Aaron's graduation:

Proud graduation spectators!

Look at all of those 2024 UGA graduates!!! 

I am incredibly appreciative of my sister. Known as Aunt Amy to my babies, she has been a constant source of support to ALL of my children and to myself. She worked in a kindergarten classroom, all day, and rode the two and a half hour drive, with Ella and I, to be there for our boy, last Friday night. Thank you, Amy, for that and for loving us so well! Love you, sister!

This is Aaron's biological sister, Olivia, and her sweet baby, Samuel. I was so, so thrilled to see her again! She has always had such a soft spot in my heart. She adores her little brother and he adores her right back.

Ella was ecstatic to see her big brother graduate!

I. Am. So. PROUD! Way to go, Aaron! 

My boy has a graduation trip to NYC planned in the next few weeks! I cannot wait for him to get to experience all of that with his best pal! Aaron has also been given a job offer for a high-paying position at Amazon. What?! What?! His internship with them in California, last summer, paid off! So many big things coming for him in 2024! Eeek! You. Go. Boy.

Relishing in His goodness...

Christy

IStndAmzd79@gmail.com

Chasing Fireflies in The Great Smoky Mountains

         My soul has been rejuvenated, y'all! Completely on his own, and quite impressively to boot, my super handsome planned the BEST trip for us to celebrate our first anniversary in The Great Smoky Mountains together. He rented an aesthetically charming lil tree house, cleverly dubbed "Chasing Fireflies" , where we slept just below the tops of the tallest trees, on the mountain, creating a warm and inviting retreat for my mind, body, and soul. Oh, how I needed that!

    For the span of this past week, Luke and I ventured through the Smokies where we got to observe black bears (We counted thirty plus bears including many precious baby cubs in Cades Cove!), wild turkey, deer, and geese in their natural habitat. We watched the sun set, shopped and got to sample tasty Smoky Mountain treats, devoured German vittles (I tried schnitzel and spaetzle for the first time! YUM!)  reveled in live bluegrass music, explored cabins built in the late 1800's, soaked in a hot tub under a sky slap full of stars, and cooked many a yummy meal together (my man can grill some crazy delicious steaks, btw!). I enjoyed every second of our trip together! I'm incredibly thankful that Luke was able to take off work and thoughtfully planned such an awesome trip for us. I am so very blessed and that notion isn't, for a second, lost on me. 

    Here are some photos from our trip. Which, by the way, was my FIRST child-free vacation in my history of being a parent....that's 24 plus years, folks! What, what?!? 

The adorably charming Chasing Fireflies Treehouse in Wears Valley, TN 

Great Smoky Mountains National Park 

Roaring Fork Motor Trail in Gatlinburg, TN (Thank you, Laura, for the recommendation! We loved it!) 

Insert heart-eyed emojis here. He's soooooo handsome! 

Luke, who lived in Germany for two years and enjoys German food, spotted this place while driving the Pigeon Forge strip and was enthusiastic about trying it out. Awesome find! Great service and food! The Wild Bear Tavern in Pigeon Forge served us massive portions of schnitzel, cheese spaetzle, and cabbage. It was scrumptious! 

Gatlinburg, Tennessee 

Check out the talent of Seth Mulder & Midnight Run! We thoroughly enjoyed their performance and hope to see them again, live!

Just a small handful of black bears we saw in Cades Cove! Eeek. Such an exciting experience!

Unapologetic dorky couple sporting anniversary t-shirts. No offense to fans of the show, but I've never seen The Gilmore Girls. I love the shirt, nonetheless! Proud girlfriend, y'all! 

    To my Luke,

    

    THANK YOU, my handsome, for planning that trip for us! That was just the reprieve that, I think, we both needed after the curveballs life has thrown at us, in the past year. I love that we got to experience new things and spend so much good quality time together. You are my absolute best friend and I'm blessed to call you my fella. In this past year, you have comforted me, made me laugh hysterically, taught me so many new things, made me feel completely and unequivocally loved unconditionally, and are most definitely the half that makes me whole. One year in the books, baby! We slayed that like the bosses that we are! I'm looking forward to spending many more with you. xoxo 

Relishing in HIS goodness...

Christy

IStndAmzd79@gmail.com