happy birthday brian!

26 years ago today, my second little brother was born—
Brian Michael Nanney.

 I forget how much he weighed or how long he was but we were living in Bethesda, Maryland and I was the ripe age of 4 when we welcomed him into our family. 

My other brother was only 18 months old when he was born so we were a rather busy house-hold. My mom still vividly recalls the many times I carried my baby brother up and down the long flight of stairs we had in our house…and she said she never even considered that I might drop him (oh how things have changed).

 I was an automatic mama to my younger siblings. My mom stayed very very sick the entire length of all her pregnancies. All 9 months my mother hugged a toilet. And yet she did that 4 times. Bizarre.

But back to my brother…..

Brian was an extremely cute, (dare I say chubby?) child. He was all smiles, full of personality, and could out-eat any one of us. I remember when we would visit our relatives in Memphis that we always stopped by this one truck stop to eat—in Grenada. On several occasions, if we weren’t paying extra close attention, Brian would sneak over and hop in the lap of the truck drivers and eat their food as well.

Everyone has always loved Brian. Everyone. From old ladies to children, everyone has always been drawn to him. He’s one of those souls who has so much personality in his eyes alone that you can’t help but be charmed by him. And charming should be his first name I might add.

My brother is by far the funniest person I know. He has the quickest wit and thinks super-fast on his toes—something I’ve always been jealous of.

As he grew, he turned into our pickiest eater. If you ever wondered why my family was vegetarian growing up—you should ask Brian. Well, actually….he blames that on me. Since that fateful day when I told my brothers that the McDonalds hamburger they were eating came from a cow, Brian didn’t touch meat or ANY animal product for about the next 18 years. It wasn’t out of sensitivity to the cow either I might add—it was just about the grossest thing he had ever heard of.

One word that sums up my brother pretty well is quirky. I know you must be thinking that it would be hard to find someone quirkier than myself, but he gives me a good run for the money.

He hates tattoos, reading, and emo kids. He loves a good steak, polo shirts, and his gun.

He is a true southern gentleman. He’s always been proud to be a part of the status quo—(very unlike either of his sisters).

He has one of the biggest hearts on this planet--constantly giving of what he has.

He’s exceptionally smart with money. He’s been trading stocks since he was about 12. He is the first person on my “phone a friend” list.

He’s crazy smart even though he’s never read an entire book all the way through. The running joke in our family was that Brian was reading the autobiography of Payne Stewart….. for about 6 years….and he never finished the book.

I could go on and on but what I really wanted to say is….

I love my little brother very very much. And I cherish the relationship that I have with him today—there were years when our relationship was strained due to my lifestyle choices and I am beyond grateful that he and I are so close today. I admire the person he has become and hold him in the highest of regards. I know without a shadow of a doubt that he will be the most successful Nanney for years to come. He has always had that Midas touch.

Happy Happy Birthday B! I pray that this coming year will be your best yet. I pray that God will continue to bless you and keep you and that this year will be filled with even more grace and more peace and more abundance than the last.

I am so honored and humbled to be your big sister. You are a gift and a blessing to this world and I can’t imagine life without you.

I love you!

Jo

monday morning beach blues

Good Morning from Fort Morgan, AL!

It’s raining pretty steadily this morning but I cannot complain. It’s so peaceful and so relaxing to be here and especially since it was so last minute, I have no expectations of getting tan this trip at all.

I loved every minute of the 9 hours of sleep I got last night.

I love not having to study anything for one whole week.

I love that I’ve always been the earliest morning riser at my house—I always get those few extra minutes (or hours) of complete tranquility by myself before the rest of the family stirs.

I love that I get to have this special time with my family—as we are all grown and going in different directions it makes me realize how rare times like these are and how much more precious that makes them.

I’m looking forward to reading KAFKA ON THE SHORE that my sweet neighbor lent me awhile back….

And my mom is positively elated that The Artist is still playing here. I’m looking forward to round 2.

Wherever you find yourself on this Monday, I hope that love and peace and hope reside in your heart.

Happy Monday, everyone!

“"maggie and millie and molly and may"

maggie and millie and molly and may
went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang
so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

millie befriended a stranded star
who's rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing
which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone
as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)
it's always ourselves we find in the sea.”

~e.e cummings

2011 in pictures

It’s always hard to believe that our “new year” is almost over. Every year. Time always seems to speed up. Maybe it’s age. Who knows.

2011 was a good year.

I was just looking back over the montage I made from 2010 and remembering memories made….was it really almost 2 years ago?! Geesh.

I don’t have the time or memory to do a month by month play like I did last year but I will hit some of the highlights…..

I turned 29.

My nephew turned 1.

My sister got engaged.

I was accepted into Occupational Therapy School.

I have now completed 2 semesters (out of 9).

I spent a week at the beach.

I learned a lot this past year. I learned that I’m much more capable than I give myself credit for. I learned that if you quit participating in unnecessary drama, it goes away. I learned that good friends are hard to come by. And that I’ve got the best ones in my life. I came into a quiet yet unshakable confidence this past year and it feels good. I almost feel like my brain kicked back in after years of substance abuse. My thinking became clearer and I felt more grounded in reality than in previous years.

So here, in no specific order, are photos from 2011. The people in them are the ones that I am the closest to and that make up a large part of my life. I would not be who I am today if it weren’t for all the amazing people in my life.

2011, you were grand. Thanks for the memories!

FRIENDS

FAMILY

WE ARE THE OT1’S!

IRWIN

*the beginning photos of this blog were made possible by Tray Achorn, Clint, Brian, and Caroline Nanney. Thanks guys for putting up with my crazy, ridiculous ideas......