Guest Blog: A GENERATION IN MOTION

My friend Melissa is a true child of God.  She has known her struggles, defeated them, and gives the glory to Christ for giving her the blessed life that she leads.  I am so fortunate to know her.  We shared mutual friends at the University of Alabama and at the end of our stint there, we finally met and became friends.  I look up to her in so many ways.  She is a natural beauty and her charm is full of love and grace.  I am glad God put her in my life as a mentor, a Christian friend, and role model. 

Her heart is full of service for others and she praises the Almighty.  There is no other woman more beautiful than one that puts Christ first in her life.  Melissa is an inspiration and I thank God for putting her in my life.  She has been so kind to guest post for me -- she's a blogger of her own -- and she is sharing what great (and sometimes bad) the techno era can be for the modern-day Christian.  Please take the time to read this... it is full of God's spirit and realness.

Meet Melissa:

A big hello to everyone in the Baily blog world! My name is Melissa, I'm a graduate from the University of Alabama, which is where I had the pleasure of meeting Baily. I graduated with a degree in apparel design & besides my love of fashion I also am incredibly passionate about leading the world to the truths & beauty of this life. It was earlier this week when I received a extra special gift from the one of a kind Baily. When she asked me to be a guest blogger on her blog it just made my day! Not only is Baily one of the most talented writers I know, she is also a true gift from God. There are so many people out there that are struggling with the same issues & it takes someone like Baily who can really make a difference in others lives. The way she goes about sharing the struggles & triumphs of her life is absolutely beautiful. Everyone needs someone to relate to & Baily has given the world just that. In my guest blog I will be sharing with you my take on the lives of todays youth & fill you in on a great opportunity these kids have to gain inspiration & do what our awesome God made them to do. Thanks for reading & thank you Baily for shining your light bright & being an inspiration to all!

Generation in Motion

So, let's talk about generation Z. You know, the ones who can talk, walk, text, & listen to music gracefully all at the same time....the ones also known as the I generation (internet or instant generation)....Yea, they’re pretty cool. You see, for these kids convenience is a way of life, as they walk around holding the world in their pocket....anything is just a click away. What makes this generation different from any other is the fact that for the first time in history these school kids have the opportunity to connect with the world 24/7. They go to school 5 days a week surrounded by fellow teens, influencing each other throughout the day, connecting on a personal basis with people their age all living in the same world. But as the school day comes to a close they don't just say goodbye until tomorrow like the rest of us remember from our school days....they pick right back up where they left off and start connecting through the cyber world of social networks. This generation has all the resources needed to reach out and make a difference. That's why I truly believe that

to make an impact on the world around them. I mean think about it...they can go to school already knowing what kind of day their friends had the day before and what mood they might be in at first period....based on their Facebook status of course. They have the opportunity to get an inside look into the lives of their fellow classmates. They live and breathe other people’s lives & know who is in need of a little encouragement. Even though this type of communication is not healthy for their young minds it has given them the platform to reach out and the opportunity

out there for all the world to see. It is at this age that what your friends are doing and saying actually has the most effect on what you want to be doing and saying. This generation was given a resource called technology that can be used one of two ways....for good or for evil. Many of these young souls are in constant exposure to the realities of this world as like I said before...they are holding the world in their pocket. This generation wants to be seen and heard.....as they have made it very clear in their growing array of reality shows about let’s see here......Everything!!! I think it is great that MTV is creating shows that our youth can relate to & allowing young people to share their struggles but at the same time I find much of the content of these shows extremely inappropriate for such young souls. Many teens are lost in their everyday struggles and turn to the media as a source for the answers to their troubling questions. Wouldn't it be great for this generation to really be awakened from their fast paced lives and realize that God has the answer to all their questions. Wouldn't it be great if they stopped using Google to look up the answers and started actually looking up to the God above who has all the answers that are guaranteed to be the right ones. We need to do whatever we can to supply this generation with the tools they need to successfully reach the world around them. We need to make it our priority to transform our youth into leaders. They are the generation that can take can take the love of Christ and the message of hope and truly put it

On the weekend of July 28-30, Church of the Highlands of Birmingham, Alabama will be holding its annual Motion Student Conference. With the theme this year being “Awake My Generation”, students from all over the United States will be given the tools needed to do just that. I cannot think of a better way for our youth to spend their Friday and Saturday night than to be gaining valuable knowledge and truths about the life God created them to live. Each and every one of them was born into their generation for a specific reason, making them a valuable resource for our future. God is calling this generation to wake up and shine their light for all the world to see. They are the generation in motion, and they are awesome! xoxo  -Melissa

Melissa is such an amazing girl.  Check out more about Generation in Motion by visiting the link below. You will be moved and feel God's spirit at work in today's youth.

GOD IS AWESOME!!!

                                   

http://www.motiononline.tv/what/



don't forget to visit and FOLLOW Melissa's blog as well...

I promise, you'll love it!

LEARNING to LOVETT

Thanks Melissa, you are the best!

peace and love

baily

Hello World!

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week! I am, pretty much!! I am still a little exhausted from the mad-dash of a trip to Alabama last weekend, plus the adrenaline and heartbreak from the World Cup loss, and the getting ready to go on another trip to North Carolina this week.  July is SO busy, but FUN. 

I am so excited about hosting Ashley's baby shower this weekend for our friends and family in Carolina and I am beyond pumped to see everyone at my cousin's wedding.  It will be another action-packed weekend with lots of running around and fitting lots of things in to a little bit of time.  But isn't that always how it is when you go visit family?  I love it!

Last weekend was a great time.  Ash's friends from college/nowadays were all there and we also got to spend some quality time with her mother-in-law and our extended family (cousins and grandmother) who came in from out of town as well.  Here are some pics from the fabulous shower in Vestavia Hills, Alabama!  (it was SO nice to be in Alabama again by the way... that IS my home away from home, after all)

The past couple of days I have kept busy helping Momma make this handmade wreath that will be displayed on Sissy's hospital door/front door of their home once baby Grayson is born!

I'm prety darn proud of it. (Momma did most of the hardwork but it was our team effort!)

I am now working on a rattle-shaped door hanger for her shower on Sunday! I will post pics of it when it is completed!!!

I got to hang with the girls last night while we had a healthy mexi-dinner and wine while we watched the Bachelorette's hometown dates.  I am slightly in love with JP.  Except, that grin reminds of me one of the ghost of boyfriends past.  What can I say... it melts me every time :)

Here are some pics of us at our super awesome girls night...

My contribution was my favorite Santa Fe salad that I made & some white wine!  We had such a great dinner!

The fish tacos with mango salsa and cole slaw were AMAZING!

Job well done, girlfrans!

Ok... and I PROMISE I am posting Melissa's post soon.  I saved it to my computer when I thought I saved it to Mom's - the one we traveled with - and I wasn't able to get it loaded.  I am working on it right now.

(Sorry girl... it's on it's way! Thanks for everything!)

PEACE & LOVE

Baily

Sunflowers

This little Wildflower loves her some sunflowers!  Always have, always will.  They can turn my day around faster than anything!  I especially love them when you see them on the side of the road in their wild and natural way. 

So when we saw a sunflower field on the side of a northwest Florida highway, I squealed with excitement as Dad turned the car around so I could step outside and snap a photo or two.  Eeeek!

Love love love them!  I love all flowers but sunflowers are just so big, bright, and happy.  They just scream SUMMER, Florida, and good comfort.  At least in my opinion! :)

Speaking of things that turn your day around and make you feel good, I have a friend named Melissa who does that just that.  She always has something uplifting to say and she is a true example of God's grace and love.  Be looking for her guest post... it will be posted soon!!!

I can't wait for you to meet her!

peace & love

baily

Busy July Plans!

Hello!

I had a great with the family in Panama City celebrating Mom's 50th Birthday!  I am glad we got to do something to spoil her... she deserves it every day!

You can see more of my pics on FB by clicking here: Mom's Bday/PCB Pics

This next weekend I get to see Sissy again because Mom and I are headed to Birmingham for a baby shower in honor of Ashley and baby Grayson!  Can't wait!

I LOVE my sister's college friends who are hosting this shower... can't wait to see them!

Then the next weekend we are traveling to Asheville for my cousin's wedding and for me to throw my sister a shower in our first hometown.  It is a neat experience to be there amongst the friends and family who knew US as babies and now we are welcoming the next generation!  I am looking forward to seeing the cousin-groom Zac and his pretty bride, Annie.  She has been a part of the family for so long and we've built great friendships with her so to see them officially tie the knot is something we are looking forward to. 

Lots going on this July! How is yours??

Big plans? Tell me!!

peace and love

baily

Ohhh, and Millie.  She says hi!

Yeah, she's doing alright... just chillin' out with her Momma this summer! ;)

Hey

Just popping in to say hello from Panama City! The Jones/Little clan is having a blast.

We've beached it, the girls have spa'd it, and the boys have golfed it. And we are only halfway thru.

I'm so blessed to have this family. I am lucky to have the life I have!

Sorry I haven't blogged in a while. No offense to the blog-world but my life doesn't revolve around this. I blog for me to vent and record my life. If you've ever lost everything you own - including yearbooks, photo albums, journals, scrapbooks, and memorabilia hen you would blog to record your life too. But if that makes me "selfish" like an ex-blogger friend says I am, then I'm sorry you judge me for what I do with my own life.

I've done a lot of thinking lately and so many wonderful people are in my life these days. A Godly guy, real life friends that rock 'n roll the way I do, and a family that thinks I'm an eclectic gem with home-grown values. Recently, a friend tried to drag me down but this friend did not know me. I'm glad I learned the trueness of them bc I know with Christ as my guideposts he takes people out of my life for a reason. Couldn't be more glad. My life is so happy!

I have a lifeboutside of this blog and if that is "sketchy" or offends someone I just don't get where that person is coming from. I realize some people only have a blog social life and only gets dates off of match.com but that's not me. I've enjoyed my technology detox and I encourage it for people who need to refocus on what's truly important.

Don't get me wrong - I loooove you all but if you don't like me then unfollow me. I'm also sorry that I don't spend hours commenting on everyone's blogs. I try my best but ibkeep a busy lifestyle and I don't always have a chancery fight with blogger when it kicks me off at every attempt to leave a comment.

Well, back to vacation. I hope you know I thank Jesus every night for the WONDERFUL people this blog has brought into my life. I also pray for the not-so wonderful. It's just who I am. And this blog is a perfect representationnof who I am. If you knew me-knew me then you would know that. Love & lots of peace!

TWT

I'm linking up for Tail Waggin' Tuesday for the first time in a while...

It gives me a reason to blog about the baby girl.

The 'theme' this week is to fill everyone in on what your dog's been up to this summer!  I am fortunate that I have such a fun and active dog.  She really is everything I brag about all the time and more, haha.  I am pretty obsessed with her and I just am so amazed at how happy she always is.

I have such a special bond with Millie because of how much happiness she brought to my life when there wasn't much of it.  Looking back on the 2 years that I have had her... they have been the most turbulent, the most life-changing, the most chaotic, and they've been my two biggest learning years.  She has been with me through it all and it is because of her that I have an unconditional friend and someone to always hang out with. 

This is our third summer together but really a first in many ways. The first summer she was wee-tiny (I got her on June 18th when she was 6 weeks old) and last summer we were separated the majority of it because of my post-fire living arrangements and her extended stay at my sister's house and my mom's house.  This has been our most FUN summer, by far and we are SO GLAD to be at home in Florida at "Granna's house!"  We loved Alabama... but it was time for us to come home and enjoy some time here in our transistion phase. 

meet millie jean

she's 2.

a pure-bred Boxer from North Alabama.

she's my soulmate.

here's what she looked like when I got her two years ago (6/18/09)

and here's what she looked like on July 4, 2009 --

(in the room that would later burn everything in this photo but us in a house fire! THANK GOD!)

two years later, a journey of life-changing events, and a dog/owner friendship like no other, this is

what we've been up to this summer:

We've played lots of frisbee!!

Taken lots of naps in the summer sun!!

Got our tan on!

Walked some trails! 

Gone on neighborhood walks!! 

Played with doggie-friends and human friends!! 

Watched the Casey Anthony trial!!

(and almost vom'ed when the verdict came back today)

Hung out with "Uncle Jackson" and "Aunt Lola"

(my parents Boxers)

Chased lizards and squirrels!!

Got a kiddie-pool and turned it into a doggie-pool!!

Grown even closer and become more special to my very loving Mommie!!!

She is so, so special to me and I thank the Lord for her every day. 

She is much more than a pet and much more than a dog.  She truly changed my life and gave me the privilege of experiencing "a woman's best friend."

Show us your doggie on Tail Waggin' Tuesday!

Peace and Love

Baily

Dear Millie,

I love you.

Thanks for saving me.

Love,

Mommie