Wow this last month has really flown by! And it's been slap full of excitement! Molly is so close to walking that it's scary. She's cruising all around furniture, standing by herself for seconds at a time, and is trying her very best to climb the stairs. I just know our world is about to be R-O-C-K-E-D!
And it's so much fun! Molly loves playing with her ball, her train, teaset, and birthday cake. She also loves loves loves her ladybug toy. Most of these were birthday gifts, and she has the greatest time with them! We've set up a play area with Molly's toy chest (that her Daddy and a dear friend made her) and toys, and it's right down the hall from her bedroom. Now, everytime we walk out of her room, she points towards the play room and starts grunting. She'd play in there all the time, I do believe!
Molly has also decided wearing my sunglasses is one of the funniest things in the world. She gets to tickled when we put them on her face!
Another first this past month was a boat ride! Molly was NOT a fan of the life vest, and since we were in a pontoon boat going s-l-o-w-l-y, we relented and let her just enjoy. She obviously found the ride to be quite soothing and relaxing.
Month 13 was full of fun for Miss Molly for sure! We love you to pieces, precious one!
A truer friend I could not have ever asked for than the friend I have in Jodi. I firmly believe a friendship like ours happens once in a lifetime. At best. The last 32 years have woven a beautiful tapestry of two lives, one friendship.
See, I have a little golden book my mom received when she was pregnant with me. It was To Baby Miller (that was me!) from Baby Outler (that was Jodi!). So when we say we've been friends all our lives we mean it. Literally.
And my, oh my, the memories we share. From the absolute heartache grief and pain of untimely deaths and personal struggles to the incredible joy of marrying two amazing, godly men and having beautiful babies of our own, we've built a friendship steady and strong. From partying like rockstars in our wild days - days we'd both likely wish we could erase - to worshiping together every Sunday at church, studying God's word together in Sunday School, and praising our Heavenly Father for his amazingly steady provision through all of it. . . Jodi is my true blue, best friend.
Jodi's the friend I walked 60 miles in 3 days with. She's the friend I worked with for about 5 years. She's the friend who squealed the loudest when I got engaged, the friend who smiled the biggest when Tim and I got pregnant.
The friend I simply cannot imagine my life without. And I thank God for her always.
Especially today as she celebrates her 32nd birthday. I love you, dear one! Here's to the rest of our lives! The best is truly yet to come!
We had a great Father's Day around here. Church, noodle bake for lunch, ice cream for supper, and tons of playing with Molly.
It just don't get no betta than that!
My heart is so full; I just don't know where to start. Tim has been such an amazing father, and I get so excited when I daydream about our family's future!
What a blessing it was to be able to honor our husbands (and daddies if they were there) in church on Sunday. It's one of my all time favorite things our pastor makes a point to do on Father's Day and Mother's Day. Tim and I had a special time of prayer where I was able to thank our Heavenly Father for the man Tim is, for the husband he is, and for the father he is. What a precious gift!
Tim, you are an amazing father. The way Molly lights up when you walk into the room is priceless. She adores you and is sure you are the best thing EVER. You work so very hard to provide for us, and I am so very thankful for that. Your work ethic is truly second to none.
You love us in such a way that fills our hearts every single day. And I am so very thankful for you.
Molly is one! It's so hard to believe! At one, Molly is still taking three bottles a day, and we are slowly moving from formula to whole milk. I think that transition will be smooth, but we're taking our time for a number of reasons. Mainly, I'm helping with VBS at our church this week, so to keep it as easy as possible for Molly, we're sticking with what works for her for a little bit longer! Molly still is a bit of a picky eater, and we really never know from one day to the next what she'll eat and what she'll shake her head no at! She typically always loves Cheerios, puffs, cheese puffs, nutri grain bars and toast. Oh, and chick fil a nuggets and fries are always a hit!
Molly is not walking just yet, although she loves to walk behind some of her toys at home. She's pulling up on everything and every morning I find her standing in her crib peeking over the railing when she wakes up! Lately she's been such a Daddy's girl and absolutely goes crazy when she hears him walk into the door!
Molly and Ellie are playing so well together these days, and it's just so much fun hearing them laugh and squeal together! They are surely the best of friends!
Molly Miller, your Daddy and I love you so very much, and we are so very thankful to be your parents! We have loved every minute of the first year of your life and know that the best is yet to come!
A little over ten years ago, I was wrapping up my college career. Knee deep in courses such as Investments and Real Estate, I knew I didn't want to head off to Atlanta or New York City as many of my classmates were doing. While I knew I wanted to be a business woman, I wanted to come back home. Back to my roots. Where I was comfortable and knew folks. Where I hoped I would get opportunities to work with great people I'd known my whole life.
At my sister's senior prom lead-out that year, I saw a man I'd known my whole life and had worked for three summers of my college career at a local bank in town. He was no longer at that bank, but I'd heard he was working with some investors to start a new bank. I took the opportunity to let him know I'd love a chance to meet with him, a chance to show my interest in being a small part of his new venture.
Mark graciously accepted, and we kept in touch. My first interview was scheduled for September 12, 2001. I drove home from Athens on September 11, listening to the radio, nervous as a cat after all that had happened that morning in our country. The naive little girl inside of me had no idea the devestation that was occuring. I met with Mark the next morning as planned. I remember they had a television on in the office, listening to the coverage of the horrific aftermath of 9/11. I remember Mark telling me he wasn't sure after the previous day's events if this bank he intended to open would ever come into fruition. But he also told me if it did, he'd love to have me on his team.
He also encouraged me to consider other avenues. I remember very vividly him telling me I could go to a bigger institution and take part in a management training program and probably become a commercial lender a lot faster than what he could offer.
I didn't want that. I wanted the small, community bank feel I knew was in my blood. Remember, my Daddy was a banker. My Granddaddy was a banker. Mark and my Daddy were lifelong friends and went to banking school together. There was no doubt in my mind working for Mark was exactly where I wanted to be.
God was good, and I was offered a job as a customer service representative. I started November 5 of that year and was so very blessed to be a part of such an amazing experience. I will never forget the electricity that filled that office when we reached the threshold. We had raised enough capital, and we would be opening the new community bank! Oh, it was ELECTRIC! The high fives, the hand shakes and hugs, they were just awesome.
And I was a part of it! A small part of it, but it was amazing.
We opened our doors December 10, 2001, and we hit the ground running. A team of 12 of us were in place, and the veteran bankers who worked there were busy bringing in customers left and right. Every. Single. Minute. was jam packed. And it was so much fun!
After our first branch was open and we were rocking and rolling, the executive team began looking to expand. An office in our downtown area was a must, and I was asked to step up and run that office. What an experience! I'll never forget working with the contractor to ensure subs were completing their jobs in a timely manner (I may have been one of the most annoying customers ever for some of those contractors!). I remember our team polishing the brass in the stairwell of the building as it was an old building and had been vacant for some time. We opened our downtown office and again, I loved every single second of it.
Before too long, I was asked to return to the main office to begin doing some small commercial lending. First, I would spend a few months training in our credit department, learning to analyze financial statements. What an experience that was! I was blessed to work under an amazing lady who knew financials inside and out. She taught me invaluable lessons. And not just about income statements and balance sheets.
Before I knew it, I was where I had wanted to be all along. A small business lender. I had high hopes of making great loans and knockin' 'em dead. Oh, if only it had been that easy! I can laugh about it now, but y'all, I was a terrible lender. I spent most of my time declining folks. To make matters worse, I never wanted to hurt anyone's feelings or crush anyone's dreams, so I always gave them a little ray of hope.
Which meant they'd come back again.
And again.
And again.
I remember my boss (whom to this day I adore, admire and love dearly) telling me, "Bethany, you've just got to toughen up and tell them the truth! Tell them it cannot be done!"
About the time I met Tim, I was beginning to wonder if this lending gig was right for me. Our prayer journal reflects such as we prayed for months about my job and where God would have me to go.
And wouldn't you know it, God showed up. Again.
I was asked then to begin a training program within the bank. We had aspirations to grow and expand, and the need for policies and procedures to be in place to enhance consistency throughout was necessary. What an answer to prayer!
And so it was. I was the trainer for this amazing bank for 4 plus years. I had the opportunity to work alongside some amazingly talented people. I learned so very much from them as most of them had been in banking for decades and were a wealth of knowledge.
I. Loved. It. With all my heart I loved that place. I remember numerous times the conversations I had with some of the "originals". We just loved that bank like it was a part of our family. It was. I'd get so frustrated with those who looked at it as a typical 9 - 5 job. It wasn't that for me. Not at all. It was part of my life, and I loved that institution dearly.
When I got pregnant, as we began to plan for our future as a family of three, God did amazing things in my heart. I wanted to be a mother. A full time mother. Forget the business world. The suits. The office. I wanted to be at home with our child, wiping noses and bottoms, singing lullabies and saying nursery rhymes. God honored that desire, and as y'all know, I've been home with Molly since she was born. I was lucky enough to do a little bit of work for the bank (which, by the way changed names a couple more times) from home and loved every minute of that. I enjoyed being a tiny part of a place I'd known and loved since its inception. It was a great transition, and I'll forever be thankful for the opportunity they gave me to do what I did.
Sadly, the bank as it was is no more. Georgia's really been hit hard with this recession, and our bank was not to be spared. There's a new name, most of the team is still in tact, and I'll forever be fiercely protective of them. They are the hardest working, most dedicated group of folks I've ever known. And I'm proud to call them colleagues and friends.
The emotions I've felt over the last week have been all over the place. This post is a very transparent one, and it's really for me. I need to get this all out. This song has played in my head over and over again. We worked as hard as we did for 9 1/2 years, and it was all well worth it.
What an experience! What a ride! Thank you, God, for allowing me to be a part of such an incredible team.
I just cannot believe you're 11 months old! I cannot believe we are actively planning your first birthday celebration!
This month brought so much! You've really started to blossom in your personality, and you're on the move for sure! You started crawling this month, and while at first you were slow to crawl and not real sure about it all, you quickly figured it out and now you crawl quickly!
You light up when Ellie comes over, and y'all play so well together! It amazes me the "conversations" you two have without ever saying a real word. Most of the time y'all play together and laugh and laugh. Earlier this week, we were riding down the road, and y'all were back there giggling away. Ellie started jabbering (it sounded like Chinese to me), and you jabbered back; y'all laughed at the same time and everything! It was just precious to your mother!
Your personality and disposition are just precious! You are the sweetest little snuggler and are not picky about who you snuggle with. Warms my heart for sure! Just this morning we were at Publix and you jabbered and smiled and laughed with just about everyone we met. If I had a dollar for everytime someone's said, "She's such a happy baby" I'd have enough money to fly us all to Disney for a week! And I cherish every single time someone says that. What a joy to be able to respond, "she truly is!"
It's apparent you're going through a growth spurt as you've really increased your food intake. You had grilled cheese, strawberry muffins, chicken, french fries and spaghetti for the first time this month. You love a nutri grain bar in the mornings for breakfast and drink about 6 - 8 ounces of a bottle 3 times a day. I stopped nursing on your 11 month birthday. I'd hung out by a thread for a while and finally just stopped. It's been bittersweet for sure. Those were precious times you and I had together, little Molly.
When your Daddy comes in the door from work, you break out the biggest smile of the day and take off crawling towards him. You'll stop when you see him and those arms and legs start moving fast as lightning! I should also note he's always the one who can get you to smile so big for your monthly pictures! You're crazy about your Daddy and he's daffy over you, princess.
Our best family moments are first thing in the morning and last thing before we put you down. I wouldn't give all the money in the world for the snuggles, kisses, and sweet words we share as a family during those times.
You've brought us more love, joy and laughter these last 11 months than I ever imagined possible. We love you with all that we are and look forward to all that God has in store of you, Molly Miller!
Just to prove your Daddy has the magic touch when it comes to getting you to smile, here are some shots I captured before he came in and swooned you!
