Perseverance!

It was in 2002 my dad moved to St. Simons. For 5 years, my mom stayed in Dahlonega with my sisters, and Dad worked in St. Simons! Talk about sacrifice! After years of long road trips to see each other on the weekends, my parents are in St. Simons! Dad has been a high school teacher, a football coach, an assistant principal, and a principal...in fact he was my middle school principal! Talk about perks...or being made fun of!!! Just last Tuesday, Dad was named assistant superintendent of Glynn County schools! I can't speak highly enough of my dad; he is an incredible man, loves his momma ("Grammie"), adores my mom, is dedicated to his call, a devoted father, a caring brother, sentimental as all get out, loves life, great captain on a boat, always knows what to say, his tears mean more than anything, has a dinomite golf game! :) ! He is my DADDY! I have never once not been proud of my dad! Last night at bible study with Covenant High School girls we talked about perseverance. Dad, in his first office I can remember, had a plague with a mouse on it wearing a football helment that was way to big! On the bottom of the plague was Jeremiah 29:11-13. I shared this scripture last night with the most precious high school girls and talked about how we are called to persevere in all that we do just as Jesus did!
Talk about perseverance...this weekend Cara, Angie, and I went to run the Cooper River Bridge Run! yes a 10k...yes Neeley ran the entire thing!! :) As we were in line to use the bathroom in the nasty green toilets along the road, we were freezing! Despite being cold we posed for pics to capture the moment! A man behind us, 80 something in age, started talking to me. Get this...80+, 2 hip replacements, a bad back...and he has ran the cooper 4 times, this being his 5...PERSEVERANCE!
So, Dad, I am proud of you! For you have persevered in the most beautiful way and answered God's calling on your life to be an advocate of public education as you love, and work each day for all God's children and their parents. Cara and Ang, thank you for going with me to run! We sure did persevere!
May this day we know we can trust in our Lord, we can go the distance in who God is calling us to be!
Pictures with my DADDY!!

COOPER RIVER BRIDGE RUN 2010

Dear Mr. Guy,

What a beautiful day today was in Columbia! The sun was shining, slight breeze, and spring flowers were in bloom! You would have thought today was a beautiful spring day! We celebrated you today; the precious life you lived and the life you gave us! Well actually, we have been celebrating you since Saturday. You would have loved seeing everyone gathered in the living room...all your kids, grandkids, and good friends. I heard so many times the past few days that you were THE SOUTHERN GENTLEMAN! what a compliment Mr. Guy! We talked about our boat rides with you, your golfing obsession, the way you always made us feel like we looked like a million dollars! i wore my black cocktail dress with heals for you last night too! Aunt Ashley shared with the family the top ten things she learned from you...the family laugh and cried tears of thanksgiving for all that we learned from you. Mr. Guy, you were a wonderful grandfather! From your kisses and hugs, to your tender love for memama, I can't thank you enough for the gift you gave us all. The cousins today all put a flower by you! It was Brooks' idea! and I have to apologize...i hid bailey in the bedroom!! But i made sure i turned off all the lights! Mr. Guy we are going to miss you, I especially will miss your dancing! I hope robert is as good of a dancer as you! I hope i thanked you for all your dances! You could always move faster than me! i couldn't keep up! On Sunday night, Robert and I celebrated our one year anniversary. We were in the living room at your house, we had cake and a cocktail or two! I knew you were there with us! I just wanted to tell you thank you again for the grandfather you have been to me, my sisters, and my cousins. Memama loved you so much and so did we! THank you for loving us Mr. Guy! I know when you met Jesus face to face, Jesus looked at you and said, "Well done my good and faithful disciple!" With love and thanksgiving, Neeley

Ps. Mr. Guy, you know i love pictures and you always loved me showing them off to you!! THought i would share some of our one year anniver. with you! Disclaimer: We don't look that great my eyes are a bit swolen...tears of thanksgiving for you!

With the Top of our Wedding Cake!

Robert and I with our "Date Night" gift!

You can't see Memama, but she was giving a toast!

Mom and Dad were toasting! Nothing can beat your toast at our Rehearsal Dinner Mr. Guy!

Watching our Wedding Slide Show!

With Memama on our Anniversary!

Ready, ready, ready, Ready to Run!

I did it!!! I ran!!! I am running! In October, I told myself...Neeley do something for you! I decided to start running again (I mean I was quite the track star in high school!!! NOT!) My goal- a 10k! So I set out, got a fitness plan, a running partner, trainer, and started running! One mile, two miles, 3 miles...Don't give up...4 miles, 5 miles! To some of you it might be a small distance, but for me I am about to reach my goal! On St. Patricks day, my sister, Maggie, and I ran in the 5k in Columbia, SC. Slow and steady wins the race...just run the entire way and proudly cross the finish line! I did it!!! If I say I am going to do something I am going to do it! Thank you Maggie for running with me! Next weekend, Cara, Angie, and I are journeying to Charleston for the Cooper River Bridge Run....my goal is finally here! I am anxious and Ready! Ready, ready, ready, to say I DID IT!!!

Pictures of our 5k!

Just call me "Bumper Girl"

Confession: I have never been in a "wreck" until March 2010. NOT only one wreck BUT TWO!
So about three weeks ago, I made a big mistake...I ran a red light. No, I wasn't texting, but yes I could have been paying more attention..obviously! Through the "wreck experience", I met some incredible people! Robert and I found a body shop after much research. When I walked in the chosen body shop, they welcomed me and were quite hospitable! I was impressed; nevertheless I wrote them a thank you note the minute I got home! My car was in their care for three weeks. I was speechless when I picked it up! All the dents, scrathes, and wreck damage were in the past! It felt good to have my SUV back! BUT WAIT! Only 24 hours later, I had the priviledge of meeting another friend! This friend, well he was two cars behind me and decided not to stop! I mean, I couldn't be a hypocrite! So I shook his hand, said no worries, and we were instant friends! My car awaits another go around at the body shop!
Being in a wreck is nothing close to fun. I admit I am a very very nervous driver now. 10 and 2. eyes forward. foot ready to break. The noise of my wrecks were the worst. I hated that sound of collison.
On a postive note, being in a wreck reminds me that i am not invincible. Each of us are precious, each person on the road is taking a risk. I am blessed no one was hurt in either of the wrecks i have endured these past three weeks. Many times I day dream while driving, sing loud to the radio, chat on the phone with a friend...however, am i recognizing that in an instant I could harm another or another harm me? We have to be careful. We can't take priviledges for granted. With priviledge comes responsibility. I AM SOUNDING LIKE MY PARENTS when I just started driving! I guess it is good to be reminded!

"Neeley has a crush on you!"

On March 21, 2010 it will be one year since we said, "I do!" Wow what a year! New home, new city, new callings, new challenges, new experience, and new blessings! On a gift Robert gave me for Christmas it said "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!" In high school, I was given a book (I can't remember who gave it to me, but I really liked it!). As I read this book about life and what the future holds, the book invited you to pray about your future and the path God has set before you! So being a typical teenage girl, I prayed about my husband! Okay, you can laugh...its dorky, I know! But as I got older, the prayers seemed more real...who is God creating for me? What kind of Godly guy will he be? o and goodness Lord, I hope he is cute! God - THANK YOU! All that time I was praying for Robert Michael Lane and didn't even know it! On our first date..o yes we went to MOE's, Robert and I recognized we had a spark! On our second date just a few days later, Robert came to pick me up from the Pelican Perch in Litchfield, as he got out of the car, Robert was bombarded with the family hanging over the porch and some dangling like monkies in the tree!! I am so thankful he didn't run when he had to chance to escape my crazy family! He met some of the fam as he picked me up for our second date! (It was around the 4th of July...big tradition in our fam!) As he opened my door for me to get in, my dear ole sweet cousin Edward decided to shout out: "Neeley has a crush on you!!!" Now three years later we are married and celebrating one year of marriage in almost two weeks!  the title of my blog is "It takes two!" As Robert and I started dating and getting to know each other we had a saying that we put on our engagement party koozies: "It takes two, you and me babe!" Our little motto was affirmed as Jeri told us that marriage is work, its about making choices, its putting each other first, its a "we" thing! After one year of exploring life as the Lane's, it is definately a WE thing! "We may not have it all together, but together we have it all!"

"Make new friends but keep the old...!"

As a little girl I was taught many lessons! Lessons about being a sister, being a friend. Lessons learned in the home, at school and at church. Lessons that continue to formulate my beliefs and values today! From Mother Goose to Peter Rabbit to Little Critters...these books are full of lessons! One thing my parents always taught me was to be a friend. To be open, to embrace all people. Learning the art of sharing as Tara, Hannah, and I played my little ponies! Learning the art of loving as I mothered my little sisters and invited my friends to come to our home and play! (Well, except for the times Cara and I would slam the door and tell my sisters to go away!) Learning the art of inclusion as over the years I wanted everyone to be happy and get along. Nevertheless, throughout the journey of life, I have shared laughs and tears with a variety friends young and old! Friends have come and gone with the different phases of life. All beautiful friendships that i continue to cherish! As I sat at lunch with my girlfriend Lindsey today, she reminded me it will be four years this May that we graduated from presbyterian college! WOW! cheers to the brat pack!!that means 8 years since we sported our hot purple gowns at Lumpkin County High School! GO INDIANS!! Time sure does fly by... But goodness time has been precious! The friendships God has blessed me with throughout 25 years of my life (almost 26 in April) have been the most incredible gifts! Friends in Dahlonega, friends from PC, friends from Montreat, friends in Hartsville, Robert's childhood friends, church friends, soccer friends, and new friends in Charlotte! God continues to stretch me and allow me to meet beautiful people to learn from and be challenged by! Friends to laugh with, cry with, study the bible with, and love with!

Mom always said over the years that your best friends are your family! I will finally admit, I will have to agree with my mom! (Momma knows!! wink wink!) I couldn't ask for better best friends than my precious husband, my sisters, my parents, my in laws, and my extended family. Last friday night, my cousins, Elie and Brooks, came to spend the night with us! We went out to dinner, we snuggled in the bed, we laughed, we watched goofy shows, we giggled about boys, we remembered memories past...I couldn't be more thankful for the friends I have in my cousins! This week Robert has been gone recruiting and I don't like  coming home and  my best friend not being here! (well Bailey is here to comfort me, but Robert I still miss you!!!)  

It was Summer 2007 when PC girls gathered in Litchfield...we sat in a circle and sang "I get by with a little help from my friends" as we celebrated being back together again! It's the coffee dates, the emails, the phone calls, the long awaited hugs, the renuions, the sweet cards in the mail that remind us of God's grace and God's tender touch as we celebrate our friends!!!

Lately, Dad has been really sentimental! (sorry to call you out daddy!) I have to say I have the most loving men in my life! Dad has started sending us girls emails of life quotes, life lessons! Today was "How you live your dash" - the dash being the time from birth until we enter the church triumphant! As I read over my Dad's email...I thought - how do I live my dash? Am I being the daughter, the wife, the sister, the friend, I am called to be?! May this day I embrace the beautiful friendships God has given me and hold them dear! It is an honor to call you friend!

Young Love to Deep Love

Picture this: 94 year old man, hooked up to oxygen, sitting at his desk working on his taxes! My grandfather, Mr. Guy! What a blessing it was to sit next to him as we worked away. After finishing up his tax stuff(no computer...just paper and pen!) he hopped up to watch the closing ceremonies of the Olympics! Memama, Mr. Guy, and myself all on the couch bundled up with nutter butters watching the closing ceremonies in Canada!
You see, last week, Mr. Guy was in ICU...now he is embracing each day with glimpses of hope celebrating his life!

As we sat there together, mr. Guy and Memama jumped to the opportunity to offer "grandparent words of wisdom!" They shared the joys of deep love. What young love means and how important deep love is. Mr. Guy shared him and Memama have deep love - the kind of love that would do anything for each other - the kind of love that can overcome obstacles and become stronger for it - the kind of love that holds hands at the dinner table - the kind of love that makes sacrifices for each other. Mr. Guy said that young love is beautiful, its passionate, its romantic, its real...and young love turns into deep love as you grow old together and journey through life together. At my bridal luncheon on the Saturday of our wedding day, I looked at my girlfriend Danielle and told her I hope Robert and I shine with the deep love that her and her husband James have! As Robert and I approach one year of marriage I can honestly say i have fallen more and more in love with him as the months and a year has passed! From our grandparents: Mr. Guy, Memama, Grammie, Bamma, Sara, and Papa - to our parents, our friends near and far---Robert and I are truly surrounded by deep love, by God's deep love, and our deep love for each other! I am so thankful for the other night listening to Memama and Mr. Guy reflect on love. Love is a beautiful gift - a gift we give each other. A gift we are called to share with all people. This day may we remind those around us how much we love them! May we be the change we wish the world to see! (thank you Mahatma Gandhi for your words of wisdom!):)

Pictured upbove - our grandfather: Mr. Guy and our grandfather and grandmother: Papa and Sara!!!

Pictured below - our grandmothers: Bamma, Memama, and Grammie!!