.Mommin'.

Mother's Day!!!! I love it. Because I am a mother. And I have a mother.  Easy enough.

                Mother's day became so special to me when I became a Mom for obvious reasons, but also, I never wanted more to show appreciation to  my Mom and all  the mom's in my life than after I was one. I joined the club. I knew what it was about. The unconditional love. The mother's touch. The mother's heart. Man, it is good stuff. I never knew I could shed literal tears because I LOVED someone so much. I thought I was crazy. Until, I remembered that's how my mom felt.

                I never knew my heart could physically and literally HURT because my baby's did. But, I can remember my mom doing the same thing.

                My kiddo says the things I say, acts the way I act, sings the songs I sing, and most of the time can be found attached to me. I can remember being the same way when I was his age.

                He looks to me for encouragement, and he's getting old enough to make his own decisions. He looks to me for approval and he knows when I wouldn't give it. Sometimes he tries anyway. Most of the time he would rather make a good decision than suffer consequences, and that makes his momma's heart proud.  Let's just be real though, mommin' is hard. It just is. It was hard for  my mom, it's hard for me, it'll be hard for all the momma's to be. It's harder than middle school drama, harder than high school hormones, harder than college finals, harder than marriage and harder than divorce.  (and that's just stuff I can personally compare it to)

                I look at my seven year old and think to myself, more than ever, that I'm raising a husband, a dad, a man of God, and if that doesn't just hit you right in the " momma feels" , I don' t know what will. I want to raise a man that loves Jesus more than his family. More than his momma. More than his wife. More than his kids. Is there an easy button, yet?  I want to raise a man that  has self-respect,  that respects women, that has a heart for the less fortunate, for the community. I want to raise a leader. I want him to go against the odds if it means standing up for what he believes in. I want him to know how to be successful, to have good work ethic, and to provide for his family. I want him to have the strength of a lion and the gentleness of a lamb.

                                                     

                Then, I want to raise a son who is athletic, musically inclined, well educated, can change a flat tire, fix a car, build a house, shoot with the accuracy of a sniper, hunt, fish, catch rats, kill spiders and snakes, cook, clean  and travel to the moon.... because his family might "need" him to be all these things one day. Realistic? Probably not. But this momma heart wants EVERYTHING for him.

                     I have big plans, as you can see. Then, everyday life hits. Every. Single. Day. I'm picking out clothes, making him brush his teeth and comb his hair, then assuring him over and over that his outfit and hair is "cool". I'm stepping on Lego's and trying to keep my "cool", because he's watching and doing everything I do .  I'm fighting through homework, because "I did this at school, why do I have to do it at home?" I'm fighting through bath time because, "I took one yesterday isn't that good enough?" Breakfast time. Dinner time. Play time. Bed time.

Then, he comes home from school one day and tells me he's going to unload the dishwasher because he knows I've been busy, and that he gave a boy at school money for "something" because he forgot his, and he asks if we can watch movie on the couch together. My heart.  (All good husband skills, right?)

I've  decided that many great people were raised by moms who thought they were subpar, not getting the job done, and failing daily. You know,  there's a  saying, "there's no way to be perfect mom, but many ways to be a good one".  I know I can't teach my son EVERYTHING, but there's one thing I know that I can do. I can love the heck out of that kid. I can embrace day to day life, and know that he's learning by watching me and pray that what he's learning from me is exactly what he needs.

So to my MOM, good job !!!!!! In my opinion anyway.  Thank you for EVRYTHING! And to my momma friends,  Happy Mother's Day!!!!!! You are doing  a good job, even when it feels like you're grinding the gears of day to day mommin'.

 

  Oh, and this is the newest Master UnPlanned apparel.. Mom shirts. It's the hardest and most rewarding job of my life. Man, I love being a mom.

                                                                 

 

 

WEDDED BLISS.

            It's almost time for weddings to start popping up all over the place, and I just LOVE wedding season. This is a wedding I did last year, but am just getting around to blogging about. Morgan and Hunter's big day was just perfect. Look for this article I wrote and beautiful pictures from the wedding day in East Alabama Living's March edition.

For Morgan and Hunter the Best Day Ever began the morning of May 23, 2015. The weather was perfect for a most beautiful wedding at The Hay Barn in Collinsville, AL.

 

 

 

              Morgan first had her eyes on Hunter three years earlier in a math class that she dreaded everything about except for getting to see Hunter. He obviously had the same feelings as they shared their first date on a weekend hunting trip to Selma. Morgan knew from the first date that there was something special about Hunter and knew she did not want to spend a day without him.

They began dating in October before Morgan lost her very best friend in the world, her Paw Paw, in January. In the years to come Morgan and Hunter ran her Paw Paw’s business together. Morgan knew she would honor her Paw Paw on her wedding day and did that by lighting a candle for him, carrying a small picture of them around her bouquet, and leaving the ceremony in his Chevy.

After hours of preparation the big day finally arrived for Morgan. The bridesmaids, groomsmen, and families arrived early at the barn to finish all of the decorations and to get ready for the ceremony. Morgan spent precious time getting ready with her bridesmaids as did Hunter with his groomsmen. Morgan’s Maw Maw arrived with loads of the most perfect flower arrangements that she made herself. The family scurried to adorn the barn with all of the decorations and flower arrangements. Tristan Cairns Photography arrived to capture special moments in bridal and grooms suites, Morgan’s first look with Hunter and with her Dad, and pre ceremony pictures of the bridal party and family.

 

By early afternoon the decorations had all found their own perfect place, pictures were wrapped up, and Morgan and Hunter were tucked away into their separate rooms to send the last few moments before their “I do’s” with the people most special to them.  Guests began to arrive and fill up the church pews, chairs, and loft. The time came for the music to begin and the bridal party to gather outside. The mothers and grandmothers were escorted to their seats first, followed the bridal party and flower girls and ring bearers. Finally, Morgan and her Dad took their place behind closed doors. The music started, the doors opened and John took his little girls arms in his and led her down the aisle to light a candle for her Paw Paw and then to meet the love of her life. Her Dad gave her away and Hunter took her hands as they vowed before God, their family and friends, to be each other’s partner for the rest of their lives. They chose to assemble a unity cross during the ceremony that they could display in their home. The preacher, Morgan, and Hunter each had a piece to place together symbolizing the Father, Son , and Holy Ghost as a basis for their marriage. Finally, the preacher blessed their marriage; Hunter got to kiss his bride and lead her out the back exit.

 

As the sun was setting the guests made their way to the patio and lawn as they anxiously awaited seeing Mr. and Mrs. Billingsley for the first time. The band, Teenage Daddy, announced the new couple and played “Thinking Out Loud” as the couple shared their first dance. Morgan and her dad danced to “Daddy’s Angel” and Hunter and his mom danced to “I Hope You Dance”.

 

The guests enjoyed food catered by Breaking Bread, drinks, the happy new couple, and the dance floor for hours. Into the night, Morgan and Hunter left the ceremony in her Paw Paw’s Chevy under a banner of ribbons flown by friends and family.

 

If you fins yourself looking for a wedding planner or any kind of event planning, decorating, organizing help, please contact. I'd love to be a part of your event this year!

masterunplanned@gmail.com

Find us on Instagram and Facebook at Master Unplanned

2015.... 2016
     From closure to new beginnings, and loss to addition, you've been a roller coaster of emotion, and I dare say brought more wisdom than previous years. So, thanks and adios.
It's been real.
It's been fun.
    I am  looking forward to an amazing 2016 for me, my fam jam, and for the Master Unplanned tribe. I've said before and will continue to do so.. Y'all are the best!
     Lots of new, fun and exciting things coming for Master Unplanned this year, so stay tuned.

     P.S. One of my New Year's Resolutions is to blog every week... obviously I may need some accountability in that area since I'm two weeks in and am writing my New's Years post. :/ but from today on.......

   If you find yourself looking for an event planner, decorations, or custom décor this year please give me a call. 256-458-8520   masterunplanned@gmail.com
Look me up on facebook and instagram!!!!

love.
 and Roll Tide.

 

EEEK...New Things!

   I am so very excited this week! Well.. It's fall in Alabama. Is there anything better? Hoodies, bon fires, pumpkin spice latte, pumpkin spice candles, pumpkin spice... everything, football, family, and it's only three days until Halloween. And I have a date with a 6 year old Clark Kent-Superman. He's the cutest.
   This time of year gives me all kinds of good "feels". As if I needed another reason to enjoy the season,  I just finished an awesome outdoor, backyard,  fall wedding. (pictures to come soon) I mean really. Please. Stay. Forever. Fall. Please stay forever pumpkin spice.
Obviously. I'm season giddy. BUT I have a big announcement that has me even more over-the-top excited. I'll probably need an intervention soon. Or...more pumpkin spice latte.
Since I first started Master Unplanned, along with planning all the events I could possibly squeeze into my schedule, I've wanted to make this announcement more than you can imagine. I thought about it. Prayed about it. Dreamed about it. Once. Twice. A million more times. It has seemed in arms reach a couple of times, and then didn't happen. BUT it is finally happening. Like this weekend!!
   Master Unplanned will launch APPAREL... and it will be live, available to purchase at the beginning of next week. The first batch coming out is graphic print shirts for women and kids.. all are my own hand lettered prints. I can not tell you how excited I am about this. I have all the love for printed shirts, and a collection that could clothe a few families myself. There is just something about wearing a shirt that can inspire or encourage yourself or anyone who reads it, or about putting on a shirt that will make someone smile, or that will make someone stop and ask you what it means- giving you a chance to tell your story and share your faith. And hello? Cute kids in cute printed shirts?? Need I say more?
   I won't until they come out because they each have a story that I cannot wait to tell you about each one.
    Now... I'm going to get all the flannel, denim, cute kids, pretty ladies, pumpkins, and all the fall things ready for a photo shoot with Master Unplanned Apparel!!!!
Get ready for the shirts to be released early next week on our facebook and instagram page. Thanks to all the Master Unplanned tribe. You are awesome.

New Year.. New blog!
New Year Resolutions  ... Throughout the year last year I gained so many things that were not on my   list of resolutions. Courage, self-respect, mental toughness, spiritual strength, internal motivation, and self-worth are just a few. I'm learning to look at life differently and there are some simple truths I have found that speak volumes in my life such as: trust the process, embrace the journey, value good friends, family and advice, and live life with a purpose.
So, for 2015 I am not making many resolutions but instead more of a prayer for the year. It seems that God does a pretty fine job of making sure I learn the lessons I need to each year, whether it come the hard way or the easy way, and whether they are on my resolution list or not. So this year I pray to have an open heart, mind, eyes and ears to embrace each and every opportunity that God allows in my path, and to use every gift He has given to me to make the most of each opportunity, and to learn absolutely every lesson that each opportunity holds. To be a better ME for HIM.
Thank you to all who were a part of MasterUnPlanned in 2014, and here's to 2015. Bring it on!!
I would love to work with you this year! Contact me for any event planning, directing, coordinating, or custom artwork, ect. I can not wait to see what this year has in store.

immori.burton@gmail.com
Follow on instagram and facebook @MasterUnPlanned.