Take Me Back Tuesday | Aunt Mary, Sweet Blessings and Oan Powell

My cup is so full. God is so good.

I got a text last Monday morning that my oldest sister was headed to the hospital to deliver her son. She lives with her husband in Oklahoma, only 3ish hours away from me. Well, I immediately kicked in to high gear! My second nephew in less than 3 months was about to make his much-anticipated arrival and I did NOT want to miss it! It’s in moments like those that I find myself being reminded how grateful I am that I have a job that allows for flexibility. What a gift! Inevitably though, I found myself frantically running errands and packing a bag as I tried to get out-of-town. It was about 100 degrees outside and my stress didn’t help my temperature or my mood. I needed to get there! Well, I finally got on the way. My car was in the shop so my parents let me drive my mom’s car, leaving me only the key to the ignition (important information for later on in the story). Glad to be on my way and excited to be there for the birth of my nephew, I was happily chatting with on of my best friends on the phone as I headed north on I-35. Not realizing that I was speeding, my heart sank as I passed a cop. “I’m gonna have to let you go…I am about to get pulled over,” I told her. Sure enough he pulled out and followed me as I slowed to the shoulder of the highway. Coming over on my passenger side he told me I was speeding and then he paused as if something caught his attention. “Ma’am, whose car is this?” he asked skeptically. “Well, it’s my mom’s,” I told him thinking that was an unusual question. “Hmmm…and why are you driving it?” ” Well you see, mine is in the shop,” I replied, still not understanding. “I see…and where are you headed exactly?” “Well, my sister is in labor and about to have her baby,” I said, getting a bit nervous. That response is probably THE most likely made-up story whenever you are speeding. “Do you have your license and registration?” I frantically started looking through my wallet for my license and of course…I couldn’t find it!!! ‘Where is it?!?’ I thought to myself. Getting frustrated and obviously skeptical for some reason, he asked me to go get in the cop car! What?!?! My nephew is going to be born any minute and he wants me to go get in the cop car with him?! For speeding?!?” I thought that was a strange procedure for speeding and made me a little nervous…horror movies flashing in my head. “I don’t think I understand, Officer. Why am I getting in the car?” “Ma’am, you only have one key in the ignition and this car isn’t yours. That is the first thing we look for to see if a car is stolen. I need you to come get in the car so that we can check the registration,” he explained. Freaking out inside but trying to remain calm so that I didn’t seem more suspicious, I headed toward the car and opened the door. “Sir, I still don’t understand why I have to get in the car. I’ve heard horror stories.” “Look, miss, I’m not going to hurt you. This is standard procedure…and you’re letting out my air conditioning. Can you please get in the car?” Well, Lord protect me, I thought as I got in. Still not being able to find my license and with my hands shaking, he said, “Look, you aren’t in trouble so just relax,” he said, obviously trying to get me to calm down. “Well, I’m not worried cause I know it’s my mom’s car.” After taking everything out of my wallet, I finally FOUND IT! He checked out the registration, saw that my parents name was the same as mine, was actually very pleasant and then let me go with a warning. All the while, my phone was blowing up with texts about how my nephew was almost here…and I was inside a cop car. It was in that moment that I thought, “What is my life?!”

I made it to the hospital about an hour too late but it didn’t matter. I held that precious little boy in my arms and fell in love…immediately. Oan Powell was perfect. Ironically, he had the exact same measurements as Jude, my nephew that was born a few months ago. They are destined to be buddies. My sister was a champ and their sweet family looked so wonderful having grown by ‘two feet.’ I was blessed to have been there, to be an aunt twice over and to have been able to share in such a sweet time of life…even if it took my first experience inside a cop car. It was worth it.

So, in the name of speeding, ‘stolen’ cars, adventures inside a cop car, Aunt Mary and sweet nephews,

I Say, Take Me Back!

I love this next picture because my Granny is turning 80 in 4 days. She was hoping Oan would be born on her birthday but he wanted his own day apparently. So fun to have so many generations present. 

It’s a bit out of focus but I don’t care. Aunt Mary is super smitten. 

Such a precious family of three. 

I LOVE these next two. Such a beautiful mama!

Home!

I love the fact that my nephew has a bit of a mullet. Is that weird?

Starting him off right…

I’ll close with this one because I love it. This is my dad’s hand. Excited for my parents to be influencers on this next generation of our family!