Mississippi Coaches Wives Association

"This organization is meant to minister, share, laugh, cry with and encourage other women who have dedicated their lives to the gridiron - or any other field or court - in support of their husbands calling. Join with me as we grow in what God has called us to - "a helper fit for him" (Gen. 2:18) - the very important role known as "the coach's wife". - Carrie Cook

This morning I rode with Ashley (teacher friend & coaches wife from West Point) to Jackson to attend the 1st Annual Sterling Rose Brunch put on by the Mississippi Coaches Wives Association (MCWA).  A super sweet coaches wife named Carrie Cook had a vision several months ago to start this wonderful organization.  I found out about it on facebook, and instantly knew that I had to go.  I was a little nervous because technically I'm not a wife yet, but figured that since I will be a coaches wife in 10 days that it would be okay for me to attend.....and I am SO GLAD that I did.

Talk about encouraging!  We had four wonderful speakers. 

But the most touching of all was Ron Price.

As many of you know, New Albany's head football coach Ron Price lost his wife earlier this year.  While holding his 5 year old daughter, he spoke to us at the brunch this morning.  I was so touched by the way he talked about her and how she lived her life for the Lord and how she supported and loved her husband and her coach.  The entire New Albany football staff and their wives were also at the event.  Amanda's parents were there.  It was truly a special time for them and for coaches wives from around the state.  I learned a lot today.  I am blessed to be given this job as "coaches wife".  It's not for everyone, but it is for me.  Why "sterling rose" you may ask?  Because as a coaches wife, you have to be as strong as sterling while also being as delicate as a rose. 

If you are reading this and you are a coaches wife and haven't heard about this great organization, please visit Carrie's blog - Mission Gridiron and I promise you will be touched just as I was.

And if you want a super cute shirt like the one I got, you can order them on her blog!

MCWA Tshirt

Have a blessed week! - Leslie

July is here already?

Long time no write!  Haha!

I have been super busy and as much as I love blogging, I just have not had the time.  I can not believe July is already here!  I went to Booneville for the fourth and celebrated with the Ward clan.  Booneville has an annual Fourth of July parade and it's always a ton of fun.  People ride in pretty much anything that has wheels and throw candy to folks like me who are sweating, sitting in a chair in the yard!  Here are a few pics from the parade!

Coach Ward's American flag

Some people ride in gators or firetrucks...

Some folks ride in a golf cart
(the Ward grandgirls)

Some people even ride in their trucks and pull people riding in a boat!!!

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I came home Thursday and began the wild adventure of packing my little "villa" and packing wedding gifts and dinnerware that were at my parents house.....for the big move to Booneville!  Trey and I both agreed a few months ago that we wanted to be moved in before the wedding...well, I think we got the majority of it done on Saturday!  We loaded my car, my parent's suburban, and Trey's truck (and trailer) and drove to Booneville.  I am so thankful for my parent's help and the help of some strong boys in Booneville!!  It couldn't have gone any smoother.  All boxes were unpacked and everything (pretty much) put away by 6:00 that evening.  I still have some more things to move, but all of the big stuff and furniture is in our new home in Booneville!

Loaded up & ready to ride!

The LONGEST hour and a half in my life!!!
Had to stare at this the whole way and make sure nothing fell off!!!!

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Tomorrow is Monday, July 9th and that means there are only 12 more days until I become a wife, a sister-in-law, a daughter-in-law, and a granddaughter-in-law!

Trey and I are truly blessed.

Hail State!

Our First Home

Today we officially have our first home together.  No it is not a house.  It is a loft apartment in downtown Booneville.  But a house does not make a home.  A home is made with lots of love and family.  Trey and I are so excited about our new adventure and are going to make this loft our home.  As you will see in the pictures below, it is full of character and is very rustic and historical.  There are original brick walls and even concrete walls that were once part of a hardware store many years ago.  The owner said he wanted to leave the original walls, so they cleaned them and sealed them and I think they are gorgeous!  To some it make look like the walls are falling apart and missing some pieces....but it is really so much prettier in person.  The hardwood floors are reclaimed from an old county schoolhouse.  I have never seen floors that were so beautiful!  So, next time you are in Booneville...please stop by and see us!  (after we getting moved in, married, and back from Key West of course)  :)  We feel very blessed to have found such a pretty place to start our new life together, as The Wards!

community courtyard/patio

kitchen
{look at those floors}



bedroom #1

bedroom #2

bedroom #2 again

hallway

I am so excited and can't wait to start moving stuff in the coming weeks.

I can't believe our wedding is 26 days away!

Time is flying by and we are getting excited!

Key West here we come!

{have I mentioned we are going to Key West?  :)}

I'm just a little bit excited...can you tell?

Have a blessed week and be kind to one another!

throwback thursday

One of my favorite pictures.

In the hospital on my day of birth!  My mom had just turned 28 years old.

I love my family so much and am so thankful for their love and support.

Excited for the day when Trey and I begin our own little family.

P.S.- To those wondering...no, we are not already planning kids...

we are too busy planning a wedding! 

We want to enjoy married life for a few years and then start our little family!  :)

For some reason, when you get engaged...people wanna know when the babies are coming.

Now you know (if you even cared)...haha!



Thank you.

Today we said good bye to my precious Memaw.  The service was beautiful and perfect.  Her coffin was pink and full of memories.  It was a hard day, but my family and I held tight to each other and tried to remember the wonderful memories we had with her.  She was 78 and had battled cancer twice before it came back at the beginning of May.  She was so optimistic and ready to battle it again.  But the cancer had taken over, and she was called home to be with Jesus. 

I miss her so much already.  But I know that she is in a painfree place....reading, cooking, and traveling through the mountains in heaven.  Thank you to everyone that has texted, called, and most of all - prayed for my family.  All were very heartfelt and appreciated.  I now ask you to please pray for my Pepaw, who has lost his best friend and wife of 58 years...Mrs. Mary Lou Blaylock Matthews.

I hope everyone has a blessed week!

- Leslie

Our Direction Is Changing...

I am very excited and thankful to share some news with yall!  (all 5 of you who read this silly thing)  A few months ago, we had plans to move to a city south of Starkville, off of Highway 45....now we have a better opportunity and have made a U-turn and are moving to a city NORTH of Starkville, off of Highway 45!!!! 

“The road of life twists and turns and no two directions are ever the same. Yet our lessons come from the journey, not the destination.”

We are moving to Trey's hometown of Booneville where he will be teaching & coaching at his alma mater - Booneville High School!  We are very excited, but also very nervous.  I am looking for a teaching job while we are also: looking for somewhere to live, planning a wedding, writing thank you notes, packing up my house.....the list goes on and on.  Don't get me wrong, I am NOT complaining.  We are so blessed and are excited about our journey to Booneville!  I am just starting to get overwhelmed and feel like I can't get anything checked off of my to-do list!

Anyways, we did get our honeymoon booked today!

Key West here come The Wards!!!

We changed our destination several times, and we are very excited about flying to south Florida in July!!!  Yippee!!

I hope everyone has a wonderful week and is kind to one another!

{too much of The Ellen Show?}

Showered with Love...

This past Sunday we had a beautiful bridal tea at First United Methodist Church Booneville, Trey's church.  Everyone was so sweet and the food was delicious!  My parent's drove up from Starkville and got to meet a lot of wonderful people at the shower.  I was so excited for them to be there!

Trey and I with our parents

Trey and I with our hostesses

I know I'm going in the wrong order on this post, but we got to witness a sweet wedding this weekend too.  Trey was a groomsman in C.J & Kristen's wedding and we spent Friday and Saturday celebrating this wonderful time with them!  Kristen looked BEAUTIFUL and CJ was rather handsome himself as well!  Here are a few pics from the weekend....

Josh, C.J., Trey, and Blake after the Rehearsal

Trey and I at the Rehearsal Dinner

Best Buds :)

Me and My Handsome Groom!

 Everything was so pretty and perfect and it made me very excited about our upcoming wedding on July 21st!!!  Mom and I are almost done stuffing and addressing invitations and are mailing them soon!  Can't wait for that to be over!!!

Keep us and our families in your prayers...have a blessed weekend!