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!!

Heaven and Lent

Heaven is...the front porch in Dahlonega, the laughter on the beach with the family, the faces as you walk into FPC Hartsville, the smell of Grammie's mac and cheese, the sparks from the bonfire at Thanksgiving, the taste of boiled peanuts dad prepares, the late nights watching tv with Robert, the view from the steeple at Covenant, the sunday school rooms at Dahlonega Presbyterian, meeting my great grandmother and gramps, the smiles on my cousins, the way Robert looks at me, Christmas eve at the Lane's, cuddling with my sisters,  candle light services, montreat on a snowy day, hugging my Papa and hearing stories about the farm, opening stockings at Memama's and Mr. Guys, brat pack weddings, boat rides in st. simons, mom's canned corn, pc on a spring day, singing hymns of praise, watching young people serve...Heaven, i believe, we can experience here on earth. I have been thinking a good bit about heaven...heaven on earth. How we choose to live each day. Two weekends ago a good friend passed away. I have had a hard time knowing what i am feeling, hard time watching my sisters grieve. Funerals scare me. I don't like them. However, I have realized in these past two weeks that Funerals can be a beautiful celebration of a life lived. As Christians, we shouldn't be afraid to talk about death - we get to be with our sweet sweet Jesus! But we dont' tend to bring up death at the dinner table. I will never forget when my family was worshipping on Sunday in Dahlonega, as we sang "Here I am LORD" my mom leaned over and told me to please play this song at her funeral. ever since each time i here "Here I am LORD" tears streamed down my face of joy! Joy of the relationship i have with my mom, my parents. Joy of the lyrics shouting "here i am do be your disciple...USE ME!"
During this time of Lent, we prepare for the crucifixtion and resurrection of our Lord. A time to pause, to reflect, to fast, to pray, to forgive, to say HERE I AM. Honestly, Lent is my favorite time of the year. Lent isn't on the shelves at Target...Lent is still a time of the church year we are mindful of sacrifice, of love, of unconditional love.
So God, Here I am, along this wilderness road, this lent, as I journey through life. Here I am striving to take in each moment and to embrace living eternally with Jesus and singing sweet sweet songs on a front porch with Robert by my side . Here I am!

I'm a BIG SISTER!

Yes on the day Maggie and Robbie were born I proudly showed off my "I'm the big sister"  shirt matching my little sister, Elizabeth! I have never stopped wearing that shirt (not literally!)! It is an honor to be a big sister! Don't get me wrong, at times I have dreamed of being the baby of the family, but i have to say I love and enjoy being the big sister of three beautiful young ladies! Back in the day of playing house, building forts, playing truth or dare, wow i was one bossy big sis!! Now my bossy like nature that overtook me as an eleven year old has turned into a motherly sister! I love my sisters so much I don't want anything bad or wrong to happen to them...but how am I doing them any good protecting them! It is such a joy watching them become who God is creating them to be! Bubba use to dance around the house naked and bounce off the walls as a little girl! The twins use to steal clothes out of my closet and try to dress like me! Now, Bubba dances to the tune of helping young children learn how to dance and the twins...well they wouldn't be caught dead wearing my "grandma" clothes as they say...my little fashion divas!! I am one proud big sister! I worry about the twins at school, i worry about all three of them with boys, I worry about people hurting their feelings...i constantly worry! However, I also pray! I pray that God is always with Elizabeth, Maggie, and Robbie! I pray that God continues to show them love and grace! I pray for them today and tomorrow! The best gift my sisters have given me would be loving Robert! On the night of our rehearsal dinnner they affirmed their love for Robert with the most beautiful of words and the tender love of their tears!

I cherish the days we played basketball in the driveway; the days we played "our version" of kickball in the front yard; the days we played school; the days we ate around the dinner table and hid our carrots; the days we lined up for mom and dad to dry our hair as we watched Seventh Heaven; the days we all cheered on the sidelines for Lumpkin County; the days I traveled home from PC to see my sisters in all of their activies; the days we cuddle in the bed and catch up; the days we spend on the beach at Litchfield; the days we dance; the days we have now; and the days to come! I'm a BIG SISTER! Whenever anyone has ever asked me what I want to make sure I do in life, besides now adding I want to be a good wife to Robert and soon one day a mother, I say I want to be a good big sister! Thanks be to God for the gift of my little sisters! I love you Bubs, Mags, and Robs!

I love Amy Grant!

 From "Baby, Baby" to "It's Gonna be a Christmas to Remember," from "Father's eyes" to "I Need a Silent Night", I adore Amy Grant! She has such pose and a light about her! On Wednesday night, while at Association of Presbyterian Church Educators Annual Event in Nashville, TN, Amy Grant shared her story, her passion, her music. As I listened to her share of her family, her faith, her love of life, I couldn't help but smile and be so grateful!!! While in Montreat and here in APCE, I have been blessed with being surrounded by beautiful Godly women! I love truly seeing Christ face on my friends in ministry! I thank them all for inspiring me to continue to seek after our awesome God! I thank them for their love of God's people young and old! I thank them for believing in me.
As Amy Grant spoke of her family, my mind ofcourse went to images of my family! Besides my faith, our family is the most beautiful gift I have been given. Robert and I have loving grandparents, inspiriational parents, amazing siblings, and an extended family of aunts and uncles, and cousins alike! We have been blessed! Frank in his sermons at small town Dahlonega Presbyterian Church would always use the following benediction: "May you see the face of Christ in everyone you meet and may everyone you meet see the face of Christ in you!" I see the face of Christ in our beloved family!