Seeing Through the Illusion: Becoming Who God Created You to Be

We live in a world full of illusions. Filters, highlight reels, quick fixes, and constant noise telling us who we should be. It’s easy to get caught up chasing things that sparkle on the outside but quietly starve the soul. But the truth? It’s not about doing more. It’s about becoming more of who God made you to be. Here’s how we can walk through this world with clear eyes, grounded hearts, and unshakable peace.

See the Illusion for What It Is

Illusions lose their power when you name them. The need to impress, to be “enough,” to keep up. All of it fades when you remember it’s not real.

Ask yourself:

Is this feeding my spirit, or just my ego? When we pause long enough to notice what’s pulling our attention, we start seeing the truth behind the glitter.

Reflection:

• What “illusions” have I been believing lately?

• What helps me come back to what’s real?

Anchor in Identity, Not Image

The world chases image. God builds identity. You don’t have to perform your worth. You already have it. Therapists call it values-based living; faith calls it walking in who you are in Christ.

“You are fearfully and wonderfully made.” – Psalm 139:14

Write down who God says you are, chosen, loved, enough, redeemed and repeat it until it feels like home again. Find out the definition of your name. See what it means and walk out the nature of who you are.

Reflection:

• Whose voice am I listening to more? God’s or the world’s?

• What truth do I want to believe about who I am?

Make Space for Stillness

In a world that glorifies constant motion, stillness feels rebellious. But that’s where peace lives. That’s where we remember what truly matters. Stillness lets us breathe, listen, and let God remind us that we’re already on the right path. We just have to be still and know.

Reflection:

• How often do I give myself quiet space with God?

• What would it look like to protect that time more intentionally?

Discern the Fruit

Not everything that glitters is gold. Some things drain your joy while pretending to feed it. When you’re unsure if something is healthy for your soul, look at its fruit: Does it bring peace or pressure? Love or fear? Rest or striving? “You will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:16

Reflection:

• What voices, habits, or routines bear good fruit in my life?

• Which ones secretly leave me feeling empty or anxious?

Surround Yourself with Light

We become what we’re around. Choose voices that speak life, friends that hold you accountable, and spaces that lift your spirit. Community is the soil where your roots grow strong.

Reflection:

• Who helps me become the best version of myself?

• What kind of environment helps me stay close to God?

Focus on Becoming, Not Proving

You were never meant to “arrive.” You were meant to become. Every season, even the hard ones, is shaping your character, softening your heart, and drawing you closer to Him. The goal isn’t perfection. It’s transformation.

Reflection:

• Where do I feel God inviting me to grow right now?

• How can I show myself grace in the process of becoming?

Final Thought

In a world obsessed with doing, may we be the ones devoted to becoming. Becoming more kind, more grounded, more faith-filled. More like the One who created us. Because that’s where the real beauty lives. Not in illusion, but in truth.

Resting at His Feet in a World That Runs

This one’s for the woman whose mind feels like it’s running a marathon with no finish line in sight. For the one who can’t quite quiet the noise inside. Even when everything on the outside looks fine.

Let me remind you: Faith is intentional.

And the thing about intentional faith is that it doesn’t always look the way we expect it to. Sometimes it’s not about what we do at all. It’s about who we’re becoming in the process.

For the Woman Who Feels Like She Has to Carry It All

You know who you are. The one who feels like the weight of the world always ends up on your shoulders. The one who thinks she has to figure it all out, fix it, and make it happen.

But what if you didn’t?

What if, instead of switching into “work mode,” you dropped it all. Every worry, every “I have to,” every “what if” and just placed it in God’s hands?

What if being intentional looked like sitting at His feet instead of striving? What if clarity came through stillness instead of stress?

What if REST real, soul-deep rest, was the most radical faith move you could make today?

Learning to Rest Again

For so many of us, rest feels foreign. Like we have to earn it. Schedule a massage, plan a vacation, or squeeze it in between errands.

But what if you just… stopped?

What if you took a day off, dropped the babies off at school, daycare, or grandma’s house, or waited until naptime and used that moment not to catch up on chores, but to simply sit with God?

To breathe.

To be still.

To trust that He’s got it handled.

The Lie of “More”

We live in a world that constantly tells us to do more, get more, buy more. Whether we realize it or not, many of us are running circles around an invisible bronze statue. Chasing things God already freely gives.

Don’t get me wrong, I love nice things too. But if your takeaway from following us is just stuff, then we’ve missed the mark. Because all that stuff? It can only give you a quick rush. It can’t give you peace. God can.

Go Higher

Let this be your gentle reminder: Go higher.

Let faith, not striving, be your default.

I’m a bona fide striver. I’ll admit it. But at my barest essence, I’m an abider. And like Jesus told Martha, “Your sister has chosen the better option.”

To sit at His feet.

To be still.

To know.

So today, let’s choose the better thing, not productivity, but peace.

Summer 2025 recap: Memories, Lessons, and God’s Faithfulness

As the sun sets on Summer 2025, I find myself looking back with gratitude at the moments that filled these months with joy, growth, and a few surprises along the way. Summers always have a way of reminding us that life is a beautiful blend of sunshine and storms, laughter and lessons, endings and new beginnings.

This summer was no exception. From road trips and beach days to quiet evenings soaking in the warmth of community, every moment carried its own special story. Some days felt picture-perfect, while others stretched me in ways I didn't expect.

But through it all, God's fingerprints were everywhere - weaving His plan into the ordinary and the extraordinary.

Lessons from the Season

Summer has a way of teaching us things if we slow down enough to notice. I learned the importance of rest, the joy of saying "yes" to spontaneous fun, and the peace that comes when you trust God with what you cannot control.

I was reminded that He is present not only in the mountaintop moments but also in the valleys — and that sometimes the most meaningful memories are born from challenges we didn't see coming.

Looking Ahead with Hope

As we turn the page from summer into a new season, I carry these lessons with me. God has been faithful through every detail of this summer, and I know He will continue to lead in the months ahead.

And maybe that's the beauty of reflecting on a season: not just remembering what happened, but seeing how far you've come and how God has never left your side.

As you look back on your own summer, where can you see God's hand at work — and how might He be preparing you for the season ahead?

2022 PLAYOFF BOUND

TALK ABOUT CRAZY FAITH!

Buckle up, because the 3 team is in the 2022 NASCAR PLAYOFFS! There are 28 races in the regular season which means each team has 28 chances to get into the playoffs either by winning a race or by points. Daytona was the last race to make it into the playoffs where the top 16 compete for a championship. We were 22nd in points so we were in a must-win situation.

A little over two months ago, I listened to a sermon by TD Jakes called ‘It’s a Faith thing,’ and every little thing in that sermon spoke to me. I knew that getting into the playoffs would be ‘a Faith thing.’ I wrote in my calendar ‘It’s a Faith thing’ on every Sunday for the rest of the regular season up until Daytona. The Bible scripture in Austins car was Romans 8:28. I didn’t realize that Daytona was a Saturday night race until it was rained out and pushed to Sunday. After we left the racetrack, a notification popped up and said ‘it’s a Faith thing’ for Sunday, August 28. My heart sank because 8/28 is so special to us. Romans 8:28 is our anchor verse. When life gets crazy, we anchor ourselves with that scripture. ‘And we know that in ALL THINGS God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose.’ All of us were so excited and just knew that God was up to something special.

The week of the race, NASCAR was replaying Austin’s Daytona 500 win which was so special to our squad because it was the first race that Paul was on Austin’s pit crew. Paul filmed pieces of the win and tagged us on social media. He said, “From the moment I turned on the TV and saw our Daytona 500 win recap, I knew we were going to win that race. The goosebumps I felt in that moment was unreal. It was nothing but God showing me that sign.”

Days before the race, I had a FaceTime call with a former NASCAR journalist and dear friend of mine, Mrs. Ronda Rich, and I had told her that I knew we were going to win! She wrote this Faith statement on her Facebook page and I wanted to share it here.

Before the race, I think we prayed three or four different times. We put Holy oil on his race suit and a Bible scripture to protect his car. Sunday at 10:00 AM, the race cars took the green flag for the final race of the regular season. During the race, things weren’t going our way but we kept saying ‘it’s already done,’ and an incredible calmness would come over Mariel and I. With about 25 laps to go, we were one lap down but a caution came out so that put us back on the lead lap. The very next lap, the cars up front started wrecking and it was chaos. It involved every car in front of Austin. Austin went from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and we were screaming like CRAZY. Then, all of a sudden a major storm came over the racetrack with rain and lightning. We jumped on the golf cart and raced to pit road because we thought they were going to call the race due to weather. We had so much joy because we watched God take Austin from 21st to 1st in 5 seconds and I have never seen a race car do that before. It was like God had His hand on Austins car guiding him to the front. We ran out to pit road and we were so overwhelmed with God’s goodness! I started doing a victory dance and singing crazy Faith. It was the precious hand of God and I know it was because of everyone’s Faith!

Austin, Paul, Mariel and myself have a ‘squad’ text so before the race our chat was going off. Paul was saying, “I know we’re going to win.” Mariel would say, “It is already done.” I would say, “CRAZY FAITH.” This community that God has blessed us with is truly so special. When one person lacks something, the other one steps up and vice versa. We have witnessed Jesus in amazing ways and watched Him do incredible things in our lives. To God be the Glory!

During the rain delay, Austin hung out at the bus. He didn’t like me dancing and celebrating because it wasn’t over but I kept saying, “IT’S A FAITH THING! I GOT CRAZY FAITH!” Before he went out, he asked for prayer one more time so we prayed together and I just looked at him and said, “God said go finish it.”

There were only 21 laps to go and after a 3 hour rain delay, we started back racing. Austin got passed by the 2 car and when the time was perfect he took the lead. With 6 laps to go, we all ran out to pit road and watched the 3 car cross the finish line. It was the perfect scenario! God is just good like that. When His hand is in it, it is perfect! It had been 73 races and almost two years since the 3 car was in Victory Lane. Thank you Jesus!!! If you’re in professional sports, you know how hard it is to win. Especially in NASCAR, because everything has to come together perfectly. The driver cant make mistakes, the crew chief has to make the right calls, the engineers and road crew have to make sure the car is fast, the spotter has to tell the driver the right calls, and you need Jesus to dodge the wrecks.

WHAT A FINISH! WHAT A WIN! It was Bella’s first race and the first time Ace and Bella got to experience Victory Lane. Better yet, we were all together! WHAT A DAY! To God be the Glory!!

Now that were home, God led me to this scripture and I wanted to share it with you all. Acts 20:24, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me – the task of testifying to the good news of God’s grace.”

To God be the Glory! Share this with someone who needs a good ‘crazy Faith’ story! Our God is so good and He makes a way where there ain’t no way! I heard a preacher once say that when you see God do a miracle for someone else that means he’s in your neighborhood and get ready because what he can do for one, he can do for another. We’re all God’s children and He wants to bless us beyond our wildest dreams. The real question is — is your heart open to Him?

Pray with me:

Father, thank you for the breathe in my lungs and for waking me up this morning. Each day is a gift from you and we thank you for it. Father, remove the blinders from our eyes so we can see you and hear you. We know that you are a miracle worker, a way-maker, a life changer, and only you can do the impossible. We ask you to please come into our situations where we think there is no hope and restore our Faith. We thank you, praise you, celebrate you right now for what you’re going to do. In Jesus Christ name we pray, amen!

hospital birth bag by baby Boldly

A hospital birth bag that packs itself

Instagram @bAbyboldly

As a first time mom, I didn’t know what all I really needed for my hospital bag. There are TONS of blogs and “checklist” but it can still be overwhelming. As I was researching I came across the coolest company and had to share with you guys! Babyboldly.com has hospital bags for expecting mamas with EVERYTHING you need! And when I say everything, I mean they went above and beyond.

They offer three types of bags for different budgets and two different colors. The minimalist bag for $120. The happy medium for $170. The fully prepared bag for $225! I snagged the fully prepared bag and it blew me away.

One of my favorite things is the actual bag. It was made for organization and I’m going to use this for a lot of things. It can transition with you into motherhood to a diaper bag, pumping bag, work bag, over night bag, gym bag, beach bag, or weekend bag. It has pockets along the inside on both sides of the bag and I love the way it opens up. The entire bag opens so you can see everything inside. Absolutely no digging for anything.

This would be the best baby shower gift for expecting mamas! It takes one less thing off your ‘to-do’ list.

Here’s a list of everything inside the bag!

Instagram @babyboldly

What you get:

Overnight bag (two color options)

Shower Flip flops

Bath towel

Robe

Lip balm 

Changing pad

Toiletry bag with shampoo, conditioner, body wash

Plastic Envelope (for all your hospital papers)

Vanity kit - cotton balls/swabs, nail file

Face wipes by Burt’s Bees

Natural deodorant 

Natural toothpaste + tooth brush

Hair ties

Folding hair brush + mirror 

Maxi pads

Pure honey sticks

Massage ball - I LOVE this! 

Thank you cards + pen (Coolest thing ever)

Nursing pads 

Organic nipple balm 

Phone charger 

Water bottle 

A Book to read - "This is Ridiculous, This is Amazing" Parenthood in 40 Lists by comedian Jason Good

I found this bomb company through google search and after I received my bag… I was so impressed! All the products are top notch. I highly recommend this amazing company. Click here to shop!

Happy shopping expecting mamas!

XO

Whit

Gender Reveal: Baby Dillon

ITS A BOY…..

Photography: Jodie Brim Photography / Instagram: @JodieBrimPhotography

We decided to wait until the 18-20 week mark to find out the gender of our baby and I’m so glad we waited. The gender reveal had SO MUCH suspense and excitement and I think its because we broke it all up. We didn’t announce until 3 months and did the reveal at 5 months. Next on the list is the baby shower and then it’ll be baby time. I feel like a lot of people rush everything and then you have a long waiting period rather than breaking up the excitement so the process doesn’t feel as long. I can’t believe I’m already HALF WAY and I do feel like the rest is going to fly by. 

So as you all know, WE’RE HAVING A BABY BOY!! I have dreamed of being a boy mom for as long as I can remember and I’ve NEVER seen Austin so happy in my life. The first night I met Austin (July 11, 2015), he talked about having a family one day. I knew from the get-go having a family was his biggest dream and I can’t believe we’re here! I remember when we got married, we started praying hard for all of this. Even throughout everything, we’ve continued to pray and pray and pray. There are so many risks involved in a pregnancy, all you can do is lean on God.

We’ve been looking forward to throwing a gender reveal party ever since they became popular. This adrenaline rush was the equivalent to winning a NASCAR race. We all felt like we were in victory lane celebrating a MASSIVE win.

We shot off the biggest cannons I could find. We choose the cannons that were FULL of smoke and confetti. We also had our friend fly over us and drop more smoke. I ordered 10 cannons that were 32 inches. We had 10 guys set them off because they were pretty powerful. We did a short countdown…. 3-2-1… and we also went “live” on instagram so everyone could see.

Also, thank you to my family and friends who drove all the way from Tennessee to be with us. I can’t thank you enough for making this day so special!

Needless to say. BEST. DAY. EVER!

I wanted to share some of the companies I used for the reveal. If you’re in the Charlotte area, I highly recommend any of these awesome people.

I also have to give a BIG thank you to my mother-in-law Tina. She did the entire set up. I don’t have my family here to help and she always comes in clutch. Thank you Tina! I love you!!

Cannons: PoofThereItIs.com 

Candy Bar: All candy was from PartyCity.com and Amazon.com

Balloon Backdrop: Confetti Castle - Instagram @ConfettiCastle

Baby Dillon Cake Topper: ETSY.com/AtomicKraftwork

Cakes: Deweys Bakery

Cupcakes: Deweys Bakery

Flowers: Homegoods and Reggie’s Flower Shop

Food: Served Fruit and finger foods

Beverages: Pink and Blue punch made by Childress Vineyards

Photography/Videography: Jodie Brim Photography

NASCAR Productions also filmed the event. It will air during the week of the Daytona 500

BABY BOY….. you are so loved already! We can't wait to hold you, meet you, and tell you all about the last 10 months. We are patiently waiting on your arrival!

All our love,

Dad and Mom

Baby Dillon

Dillon Party of 3

Thank you Jesus! 

What a fun journey this has been so far. I’m officially 3 months pregnant and it feels so good to be able to tell the world. We had to tell a lot lies to everyone who had been asking and wondering, including our own family. And literally half of the NASCAR community. LOL. Austin and I promised our doctor we wouldn’t tell anyone until my 3 month check-up. So we stuck to it.

The morning I found out:

Funny story, I had NO idea I was pregnant but my trainer thought I had symptoms of being pregnant so she told me to wait until the next morning and test. I woke up the next morning and forgot about what she had said but Austin was like, ‘hey babe, take that test.’ So I took the test and waited a few minutes. Nothing happened and it seemed like the test wasn’t working which is exactly what my last test did so I just assumed I wasn’t pregnant. So, I take Gucci Girl out to go potty and come back in the bathroom. And boom... WE ARE PREGNANT! I yelled at Austin, “HUNNY, GET UP OMG!” Lol. Even though the test said pregnant, we didn’t believe it.

I called the doctor and she got in me the same day. Literally, hours later I was at the hospital. They triple tested to make sure it was accurate. When Doc came in the first thing she said was “Congrats, you guys are definitely pregnant.” Then she asked if we wanted to do an ultrasound. We were only 6 weeks pregnant at the time but we got to watch the baby’s heartbeat. Baby Dillon is a wild one. He/she was swimming all over the place. I immediately started tearing up. I was watching my baby dance in my belly!!!!!

We were laughing because as I was making my next appointment a guy came up to Austin and said good luck this weekend. LOL! 

A lot of people in NASCAR had suspicions of me being pregnant because in Phoenix during pre-race I almost passed out. I was so incredibly fatigued that weekend. I didn’t get out of bed except to eat and that was it. The week before we were in Vegas for PBR and I was 100% fine. But those few days in Phoenix weren’t good for me. I ended up not going to Miami for the championship race because I didn’t want to do the same thing again. Y’all know I can’t stand missing races so I had to lie and say I was doing something for the jewelry company. Lol. 

Meanwhile, sneaking this from RC (Austin’s grandpa) and Mike Dillon (my father in law) was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do. RC was so worried about my health and Mike called me a few times saying you might be pregnant. Lol. They are SO detailed I couldn’t be around them because I was afraid they would put two and two together. 

Our next sneaky plan was to tell everyone at Thanksgiving! My family and Austin’s family all in the same place at once.... I knew this would be so special. 

How we told:

Right before it was time for the prayer, Austin asked everyone to gather around the kitchen because he wanted to start a new family tradition. Little did they know, we were about to tell them about Baby Dillon. He asked everyone to get out their phones, click on ‘video,’ and push record. Once everyone had their phones on record, he said, “Whitney is pregnant.” We got EVERYONES reaction from every angle. It was so good!

I think the coolest thing about it all was RC’s reaction. I’ve never really seen him cry or tear up over anything. He had tears in his eyes from the moment we told him to the time they left. It was just so special. I’ll never forget that Thanksgiving. 

We had to keep this secret for ONE month. If you know my husband, you know this was the hardest task he’s ever had to do. The only people who knew were our moms and of course Pauley and Mariel. 

Later on, we FaceTimed our friends and family and recorded their reactions. 

What a blessing

We are SO EXCITED to be first time parents! Baby Dillon, you had a lot of people praying for you and all I can say is that you are so loved already.

I can’t say this enough but thank you Jesus!

Cheers to you Baby Dillon!

Decorating 101: Halloween Table

How to: Create a Spooky Halloween Table

I love decorating for holidays and Halloween is one of my favorites to decorate. It took me a lot of trips to the store, returning/exchanging, and playing trial and error to get my table right so here are a few tips I have for decorating!

Decorating for a tabletop:

1. Usually, the more on the table the better. One mistake I kept making is that I wouldn’t buy enough and it just looked bare. Its better to over buy and return what you don’t need but chances are you will use it.

2. For the plate setting, do all 4 - The placemat, service plate, dinner plate and salad plate or bowl.

3. Have a focal point. Mine is usually the tallest item on my table.

4. You need different levels to give dimension. So if your focal point is the center of the table you should add things that are shorter and smaller in size. See my table for a better description

5. Must have a table runner. Sometimes I use two

6. Pick a color scheme. Usually, stay between 3-4 colors that go together

7. Start with what you like and stick to the theme. The biggest “no no” is getting multiple themes within one table

Candle holders and silver cups that always stay on my table

Here is a photo of my table for Halloween. Everything you see is from Home Goods, Pier One and Hobby Lobby. I will say that Hobby Lobby has 40% off right now and Home Goods always has the best deals.

One thing I keep on my table year around are two clear and silver candle holders. I also keep the same silver wine glasses on the table as well. This helps so you don’t have to buy brand new items each time for your table.

As you can see I did two table runners just to give it a little more dimension. 

I did a variation of skulls and pumpkins. I stayed with the colors white, black and silver. To add a pop of bling, I added in some glittery pumpkins.

Happy decorating!

Cheers,

Whit

30 things before 30

30 things that shaped my 20s

Photo from Pinterest

Have a vision for your life. My dream job was to work in television. Work towards that goal everyday. Even if it feels like you are off track. JUST KEEP GOING! Everybody’s path is different. This was mine and I hope it inspires you to do everything you want to accomplish. This has been a WILD ride…. Cheers to the next 10!

1. Being the first in my family to graduate from college - I graduated with my bachelors degree in four years. It was my goal to do it in 4 years and A LOT of blood, sweat and tears went into achieving that. Thank ya Jesus!

2. College athletics - I cheered all four years in college. I have always loved, lived, and breathed cheerleading. Being a cheerleader in college was a whole other level. Balancing school and cheering every game for football and basketball was really challenging. It kept me really busy and dedicated. I was captain my senior year and the responsibilities grew greater. This began shaping me for the future.

3. Live in a different city, at least once - I moved to a different city where I didn’t know anyone. I moved to Nashville after I graduated in 2012. After you graduate college, it’s a really weird time in your life. You’re starting a new chapter... and a scary one. You feel so lost and it sucks because you have to start at the bottom of the totompole and work your way up. I was in a new city trying to find a new job with no friends or family. I had so many moments where I asked myself, ‘what have you done?’ But now, I realize that was the best decision I ever made.

4. Don’t be “too good” for anything - I landed a crappy first job in the corporate world making $24,000 a year WITH a 4 year college degree. I was going door to door, business to business, selling copiers and printers. I would call my dad at least once a week crying but he pushed me to stay in it. He always said be the hardest working in the room and you will succeed. Good thing is, you will move up quickly and you’ll be making double before you know it.

5. Take a risk - I auditioned for an NFL cheer team without trained dance experience. I cheered in college but its very different than professional cheerleading. This was legit one of the coolest things I had ever accomplished. Over 400 girls auditioned and I was one of the 27 that made it. This was truly a pivotal moment in my life. Looking back, this is where it all changed for me.

6. Don’t force it - Friendships, relationships, or anything in life. I found that fighting to hold on to something that is not fighting to hold on to you will ruin you. Free yourself of anything that makes you feel trapped, unappreciated, disrespected, and lonely. When you let go of toxic people, you make room for so much greatness your life.

7. Have a roommate - Some of my funniest memories are living with my best friend in a crappy house with no internet or cable. All we had was us and legit cockroaches. We paid a lot of money to live in a good part of town but the house was caving in. It was disgusting. We were paying our own bills and we were proud of it. THIS is my favorite past time. Living with Kristen and Mariel completely changed my perspective on life. I would call mom and be like THANK YOU for doing all that you did for us. You never realize what mamas do until you have to do it. HA! This experience humbled me. Never ever forget where you came from... and for me, I’ll never forget these amazing times.

8. Be single - This was always hard for me because I love relationships. I was single for about 1 year until I met my husband. That year was one of the most fun I’d ever had. I really grew into who I was so when I met Austin I had so much confidence in who I was. I had my own life, my own friends, and I took pride in that. I just think it takes time to discover who you are. Give yourself that time to grow so that when you do meet your significant other, you’ll be ready and it will be right.

9. Vision Boards work and so does journaling - Make a vision board and journal daily of what you want most. Whether its a career, a partner, or spiritual. It is a journey! But I found that if you make specific goals, you will reach them much quicker than you think. Even if its as simple as reading 50 books a year, write it down.

10. Travel to a different country OR go somewhere new - experience is key. I had the pleasure of traveling to Japan for the Super Bowl. It was really cool connecting with other NFL cheerleaders around the league. The trip was eye opening, fun, exhausting and memorable. That year I had on my vision board to travel to a different country. And it happened. Pretty cool!

11. Have a mentor - It’s always so nice to have someone to talk to or look up to in all aspects spiritually and mentally. I had a really good community around me at the time. I looked up to my boss, coach, preachers and others who were around me. These people helped shape who I am and I’m thankful for that.

12. Learn to let go and follow God’s path - I had to let go of people who I didn’t want to let go of... But when God is tugging at your heart you have to listen. Trust me! He knows.

13. Be thankful - because appreciation goes along way. When you’re appreciative of what you have, you’ll end up having more. Focusing on what you don’t have will make you believe you don’t have enough.

14. Find your person - When I met Mariel, my life changed forever. She’s my soulmate in girl form. We are connected in a way I can’t explain. When we became friends, our lives elevated at a rapid pace. Having a good community around you will make you better. If you’re lucky enough to find that person, never let them go.

15. Give back - Even if its not money, give your time. There’s so much in every community that we can be doing. For us, helping other women was something near and dear to our heart. This is how ‘Girls Tour’ formed. This is an event for women to come and listen to other women of all walks of life speak. It’s powerful and life changing. We donate canned food and the money we raise to a local women’s shelter.

16. Enjoy the journey - LIVE every moment and take it all in - Life is short! We’re not guaranteed tomorrow so I wanted to be able to look back on my life and really be able to say, I LIVED IT to the max. I took every opportunity that came my way and made the most of it. More than anything, the goal is to make God proud and fulfill every assignment on earth.

17. Don’t take yourself too seriously - My motto has always been to have fun, be goofy, and don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Yall, we don’t make it out alive anyways.....

18. Own who you are - Be so completely yourself that everyone else feels safe to be themselves too. There’s a confidence that comes with not being afraid to be yourself. Sure, people will hate it but there’s always going to be people who love you and hate you - and their decision has nothing to do with you.

19. What God puts in your heart is for YOU - A lot of times, others will not understand because God didn’t put it in their hearts. When you have a dream or vision, only you know what to do with it...

20. Be selfish - and I MEAN this. Your 20s are for YOU! You have your whole life to live it for other people.

21. It’s okay to make mistakes - I made A LOT! I’m not afraid to admit it or say that I wish I would have done a few things differently. But one things for sure, I learned from every big and small mistake I made. I made a decision a long time ago that I would grow from every experience. Focus on your growth not your mistakes.

22. Be fearless - DONT BE AFRAID TO FAIL - legit, just go for it because it’s better to do that then to live the rest of your life dreaming and wishing.

23. Not everyone deserves your energy - Know what and who is worth it. What you focus on is up to you, remember that.

24. Be a blessing to others - Mama always says leave people better then how you found them. However that may be...

25. Do it for you - Whatever you decide to do in life, make sure it makes YOU happy. You gotta be proud of your own self. You’re the one who has to live with the decisions you make so make sure you’re making yourself proud.

26. Don’t have a ‘type’ when dating - sometimes what we want isn’t what we need. You’ll know when you meet someone if it’s right. There wont be any doubts.

27. Know your worth - This took me a longgggg time to figure out. But always remember that it’s not who you are that holds you back its who you think you’re not.

28. Learn to forgive - We’re all just people. We make mistakes and hurt people without knowing. Sometimes you have to accept an apology that you never got and you’ve gotta be okay with it. I’ve had a ton of these in my life. Just forgive! ‘Blessed be the peacemaker”

29. Perspective is key - Happiness lives inside of the smallest moments. Don’t take it for granted. Focus on the good.

30. Life is full of ups and downs - The bad things that happen in life aren’t meant to break us, but to shape us. I love the saying that says ‘not all storms come to disrupt your life, some come to clear your path.’ You just never know what God is up to. What the devil meant for bad, God uses for good!

Stop shrinking to fit in places you’ve outgrown. Live, Love, Grow!

Even if the odds are stacked against you, keep going and striving. I’m just a country girl from Soddy Daisy, TN that had big dreams. I truly believe that my life has just begun and I haven’t tapped into my true potential. All you have to do is believe!

All my love,

Whit

Glamping 101

Camping can be extremely difficult and intimidating if it is your first time. With that in mind, we decided to go to Bass Pro Shop, and pick up some essentials to help you with your next camping trip!

First, you are going to need shelter. Now a days, there is something called “Glamping,” where shelter is already provided. Glamping is where luxury meets nature, but if you are going old fashion camping you will need to purchase a tent. What is inside of the tent is just as important, so don’t forget your sleeping bag/air mattress, blanket, and pillow. Depending on what time of the year, pack extra blankets just in case.

Second, you will need equipment to capture your dinner for the night, such as fishing poles. Fishing always makes for a fun activity when camping.

We would also suggest packing snacks and food to bring along with you if you do not capture any dinner that day. If you have a trailer/motorhome with you, it would also be nice to bring a grill. If not ,no worries, a good ole campfire will do the trick.

We would also suggest packing sunscreen and bug spray. For your convenience, below we added a checklist of everything you may need for your fun night out with nature.

Checklist:

1. Tent/ poles/stake

2. Air Mattress/ Sleeping Bag

3. Bedding/ Blankets

4. Grill/ Cook Stove/Untensils

5. Fishing Pole and accessories

6. Flashlights

7. Clothing for the time you will be there ( check weather)

8. Tools ( an Ax and Knife)

9. Matches/ Flint

10. Rope

11. Bug Spray/ Sunscren/Hats

12. First Aid Kit

13. Map of Area

XO

Whit + Mariel

Happy Birthday AD

AD’s Fiesta

I love celebrating birthdays but especially Austin’s. We make sure to go ALL OUT when his birthday comes around. I’m so proud of my hubby and all that he’s accomplished but I’m even more proud of what he does off the track. He’s the first to help and share all that he’s been blessed with. He works so hard in so many different avenues and does it with ease. I don’t know how he does it all but he is just like his dad and grandfather - working machines.

Every year, AD grows tremendously as a racer, a business owner, a friend, and a husband, and I can’t wait to see what all God has in store for him and for us. I’m thankful for you boo and all that you do for me. I love you beyond words and can’t wait for the future! Blessings to come!

DJ: DJ Hek Yea

Theme: Fiesta

Food: Salsarita’s

Floats: Amazon

Decorations: Party City

Cake: Dewey’s

Photographer: Daryl Shawm Photography / Insta: @DarylShawPhoto

Thank you Daryl Shaw for the photography

XO

Whit

The Swan Wedding: Photo Book

Below are a collection of photos from the wedding! Hope you enjoy. Trinity Photography were our photographers.

My Best Friends Wedding

My Best Friends Wedding

Photographers: Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_photo

What a day! My BFF is MARRIED to my hubbys BFF. THANK YOU JESUS!!!

January 5, 2019, was one of the greatest days of my life. I witnessed my best friend marry her God given husband. Paul and Mariel are two of the most genuine and loving people I’ve ever met and their wedding exuded just that.

Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_photo

I was honored to be standing by her side on the biggest day of her life. I was Mariel’s Matron of Honor and she was my Maid of Honor. Her hubby, Pauley, is like a brother to me and I’m so thankful he let me be apart of every little event leading up to the wedding, including the engagement. He even let me help pick out the ring!

From the engagement in Vegas and bridal shower, to the bachelorette party and rehearsal dinner, every event was so epic and full of love and happiness.

December 1, 2017 / Las Vegas

Mariel’s Bridal Shower / Childress Vineyards

Bachelorette Party / Bahamas 2018

Mariel is so much more than my best friend. We’re bonded together by God and I’m blessed to have her in my life. It’s not what you have, it’s who you have!

Trinity Photographers / Instagram: @Trinity_Photo

We started off 2019 with a bang! Congratulations to one of the best couples I know, THE SWAN’S!

All my love,

Whit

COSTA RICA

VACATION

Four Seasons Resort in Costa Rica

Our first annual family vacation was one for the books. Costa Rica is one of our new favorite spots to travel. It’s a quick and easy flight from North Carolina and its beyond beautiful. Flight Time: 3.5 hours.

We booked our vacation through Todd with Avenue Apart. You can check out his Instagram @speedofflight. We stayed at the Four Seasons Resort and it was unreal. The staff were some of the sweetest and accommodating people.

The mix of ocean with forest is a sight to see.

ZIP LINING

Diamante Eco Adventure Park

Costa Rica is known for zip lining. They have some of the best in the world and I would say this is a must if you visit here. We rented a boat for a day and they took us to zip line. You can also go by car. We ate lunch there and snorkeled the rest of the time. Renting the boat was so nice to relax and see everything around the island. Zip lining is no joke so beware if you’re scared of heights. However, they have a cool hangout spot to watch and take pictures.

The Superman

FISHING

Mahi Mahi

90 pound Rooster Fish

You can’t come to Costa Rica and not do a little fishing. This was one of my favorite experiences of the week. We caught a 90 pound Rooster Fish and Mahi Mahi. They filleted the Mahi Mahi for us and we ate it for dinner. I recommend doing this activity early in the morning and with a big group of people. 

Whitney Dillon, Shawnee Ward, Rick Ward, Austin Dillon, Tina Dillon, and Mike Dillon

The resort offers complimentary paddle boarding, surfing, volleyball, and other activities. We had a lot of fun with these as well. This was also a kid friendly resort. They had a game room and a kid pool only. They also had fun activities on the beach at night like s’mores. 

SNORKELING

The day we went zip lining, we also went snorkeling. We rented a small boat for a private tour. This was really cool to experience and Austin’s favorite of the week. There are all kinds of spots around the island and will take you to as many as you want.

HIKING

Our resort had a hiking trail that wrapped around the island. They have tons of trails and this is where you see the best views. You also see monkeys along the trails which was wild to see.

Overall, this was the BEST trip we’ve ever been on. Costa Rica is amazing and we were blessed to share these experiences with our family. Now, on to Daytona!

XO,

Whit