Charleston, S.C.

At the end of June we celebrated our two year wedding anniversary with a trip to Charleston, S.C. Before going we had only heard wonderful things from EVERYONE, seriously EVERYONE, about Charleston. We were excited to hear so many people enjoyed it and we would say that we too thoroughly enjoyed Charleston as well. I wouldn't say it is my favorite place to ever go, but I hope to go back again someday! Below are a few highlights from our trip:

Us in the car heading to Charleston!

The PERFECT place to stay! Right downtown in the middle of everything! We walked everyday to most of the stuff we wanted to do and see. Also one of the fanciest places I've ever stayed. Neil and I felt like we were accidentally living the 'high' life because this loft was in a resort hotel, but the loft is privately owned and we rented it from the owner.

Waterfront Park
We just missed a couple getting engaged, but we got to see the reenactment. It was really sweet!
The park also had a really cool sheltered area that had benches and huge porch swings. They were all taken when we were there. :(

The Battery
We brought our bikes alone and rode them along the battery. This was the only time we rode our bikes because we were so close to everything else! The battery is along the waterfront and it is really pretty to walk and ride bikes. I would suggest at least walking along the battery and alone the park next to it: Battery Park. The one souvenir we got from Charleston was an ornament of the old houses along the battery because we liked them so much!

Old House on the Battery
This house is my favorite house in all of downtown Charleston and there are a LOT of old Victorian houses in downtown Charleston!!!!!! I love the arches, the rod iron fence, and that fact that it blue and white. I love blue and white houses, very classic, clean look to me. Yes, pretty sure someone lives here.
There is one house we went by that is 24,000 square ft. UNBELIEVABLE! I think Neil said that 13 of our house could fit in that house!

EXHAUSTED.
I was TIRED of all the walking we did that day. Pretty sure we went back and I took a nap. I got pretty tired and nauseous several of the afternoons we were there because the of the heat and humidity! Usually once I got inside and could rest I would be fine for the rest of the afternoon and evening.

Historic Carriage Ride
The carriage ride was DEFINITELY historic for us! We had heard that the carriage ride was a MUST DO in Charleston and we would agree-despite our trip. Here is the LONG STORY, short: We went on Monday which is also trash day in downtown Charleston. About half way through our tour, which is an hour long, we were in the Battery turning to go down a side street. Before we turned down the road a dump truck and street sweeper went ahead of us. So our tour guide stayed a long distance behind them and pulled over on the street and continued to tell us about the history of Charleston. All of a sudden the street sweeper backed all the way up down the street TOWARDS US with its horn blaring *BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP* and stopped about 15 ft. away from us. Well, the mules who were pulling our carriage FLIPPED OUT! They reared up and tried to back away backwards because they were scared. Well one mule got its leg caught over the rigging of the carriage and couldn't get free or walk/run very well. When it reared up its foot when through a car windshield!!!! Then the mules, trying to get away from the sweeper who has NO IDEA any of this is going on and still *beeping* away, jackknife the carriage trying to head away from the noise. The mules side swipe another car and then get stuck in front of a third car (the first picture). Neil had jumped off the carriage when the mules jackknifed and he thought I was right behind him, but I wasn't! I stayed on because the guide said to, so Neil came after me and was able to walk beside the carriage and help me off. Then everyone else, about 12 of us total, got off. The mules were stuck in front of this third car for a few minutes and when the one mule would try to get its leg over the rigging it would smash the hood of the car! The mules finally got free of the car and then tried to take off again and got themselves stuck over a residents 2 ft. privacy wall!!!!!!! (The second picture) Which was actually good because then they couldn't go anywhere and they preceded to eat the house owner's bushes. In the meantime some of our fellow riders were able to call the tour guides boss and the police. The boss and helpers came and took care of the mules, which they were both just fine and enjoying the bushes. The police took care of the scene and the carriage company provided us another carriage to take us back to the barn where we started. SSSHHHOOO!!!! PRETTY CRAZY! No one was hurt just shaken up from the experience. Neil and I still enjoyed the ride back to the barn, the second tour guide continued to tell us about the history of Charleston and point out interesting things. We got our money back, of course, and we got a REALLY CRAZY memory!

Anniversary Dinner
Our last night in Charleston was on our anniversary so we went out for a FANCY dinner! I love doing this for special occasions and Neil is always very sweet to plan a fancy dinner for us. This restaurant, Magnolia's, was fancy and very tasty, probably my second favorite of the ones we ate at there. Several people told us that we had to eat there and that is was a great place for special occasions. We split everything, which is usually the only way we eat out anyway, and it was perfect for us! We were able to get dessert there and it was AH-MAZING! The food in Charleston is SO good in general and the area is known for their Shrimp and Grits, which are SO GOOD!


So, there is a small glimpse of our Charleston trip. We did a TON of historic things there but I didn't include pictures of most of them because they were kind of random and would have been hard to explain. I really enjoyed learning the history of Charleston because SO much happened there!!!!! Pre Revolutionary War and everything! I would definitely suggest going to Charleston to learn all the history and they have nice beaches too, which we went to one afternoon, and we aren't 'beach people'!

Redeemed Day

Friday May 13, 2011
The Redeemed Day

For as long as I can remember people have talked about "Friday the 13th" as a day of horror, superstition, and bad luck. Many people may really be anxious about Friday the 13th if they have ever experienced anything bad happening to them on this day specifically or they may be anxious about the possibility of something bad happening to them because it is Friday the 13th.
Well, Neil and I don't believe in superstition or become anxious about Friday the 13th and we may not even notice it is Friday the 13th, but we might from now on...

Friday the 13th has become a redeemed day for us, a day of answered prayer that we don't deserve. On Friday the 13th we found out that we are PREGNANT!!!!!!!!!!!! Well, only I am pregnant, but you know what we mean. We were BEYOND SHOCKED when the two pregnancy tests came out positive. Yes, two, well o.k. actually three total because we took another one- a different brand- later. We didn't take the test thinking I was pregnant, but as a formality to say we weren't pregnant so we could schedule an appointment with a specialist. Well, no appointment necessary. We are amazed at God's faithfulness to us! I am especially amazed and humbled as I see how unfaithful I am to God. Not that being pregnant would have been a 'reward' for any great faith I had- if I had had it. When we were able to go to the doctor for an ultrasound, they confirmed I was 8 weeks along (well the baby was, but you know what I mean). We are amazed to look back and see how God was silently at work in my body and we had NO IDEA!!!! In fact we thought NOTHING was happening since my cycles never regulated and it never seemed like I was ovulating! I am so encouraged to know that I really can't lean on my own understanding and there will continue to be SO MUCH that I will never understand. We are so thankful and so humbled by this answered prayer.

I am now 11weeks and 5 days along and we just had an ultrasound. Everything was great and we got to see the baby move some and 'his' (general term so we don't call the baby 'it'.) heartbeat!!!!!!!! It has still been so humbling for me to see the heartbeat and hear the baby is healthy because I can so easily fear and expect the worse. I'm fighting for faith to believe I can trust the Lord for this baby's life, however long it is, because God has created this baby and placed him in my womb. God is knitting this baby together and God has numbered this baby's days. This baby is God's baby first and God has graciously given him to us thus far and we do not deserve it. We are so thankful and look forward to meeting our baby in early January!

p.s. I don't think that the 13th was a 'redeemed day' because I 'got what I wanted' or 'the wait is over', but that something great happened on a day when only bad things are suppose to happen.

Quasi-Moto

One thing I REALLY love about my husband is that he encourages the crafty side of me. He supports my ideas and encourages me to put them into action, helps me think through how to do them well and willingly helps and pushes me to do them! Even at his own expense!

I'm working on a current craft project for our house. It isn't a big project but it requires twigs and sticks. So the best place to get them is obviously outside. Well Sunday Neil noticed that a small tree in our neighbors' yard had fallen down. PRIME OPPORTUNITY for free twigs and sticks! So we asked our neighbors, who we are friends with, if we could take some of their branches. With weird looks they said of course. So Neil went away hacking off a lot of the twigs and branches. He was all over the tree and we gathered a lot of branches that would be good to use.

Well on Monday night we were eating dinner at a friend's house and I noticed that his eye looked a little swollen, but it was hard to tell. I asked him if his eye itched because it looked swollen and he said, "Yes it does and this bug bite on my wrist itches too!..." He went to the bathroom and when he came back he said... "Yeah, its not a bug bite... I have poison ivy." Poor guy it ALL OVER his face and spots on his arms, legs, and back!!!!!!! The bumps just kept coming up throughout the night! We stopped at CVS on our way home and got some generic benedryl to hopefully help stop the swelling. The next morning he looked pitiful!!!!!!! His eyes were pretty swollen, but not swollen shut and his other spots were pretty big. He went on to work, but once there several of his co-workers told him to go to a walk-in clinic and get it checked out. So that afternoon he went to a clinic. It was confirmed that it was poison oak and they gave him steroid shot in the butt. The next day he was all better! Seriously, all swelling gone, very few bumps, and no itching!!!!!!!!

Guess we've got to come up with a new plan and new twigs!

This is also not the first time he has had it on his face. When he was younger he got it MUCH worse ALL over his face. I have pictures to prove it, but I couldn't get them on here.

I couldn't resist taking pictures because he did look like quasi-moto from The Hunchback of Notre Dame. He grudgingly let me take pictures and he knew I was taking them so I could post them on here! I love him!

Guardian of Hope

One of my best friends, Lacy, asked me over a year ago this question that I have chewed on since she asked me:

"How has your mom's death changed you"?

I think at the time I answered her the best I could with what I truly believed. This question has popped back in my mind throughout this past year and in the fall I think I started to gain some clarity on at least one way my mom's death changed me. I can't remember what I told Lacy at the time so I could be repeating myself, but hopefully my thoughts are more clear this time around.

My mom's death changed me as death changes anyone who experiences it closely and 'too early'-though when is it the 'right time' or 'late' to lose someone. Through my mom's death God shattered my view of the world, life, and His Sovereignty. Through the years I have learned that death happens and hurts because we live in a fallen, sinful world. I learned that this world and life is not my home. Because of Jesus my home is in heaven and I really am an 'alien and stranger' here right now. I learned that all the expected patterns of life: marriage, stable family unit, children, grandchildren, security, and loving relationships, are not 'rights' that I 'deserve'. The only 'right' that I 'deserve' is hell, but God sent Jesus to take that 'right' from me and give me his 'right' of sinlessness and unity with God that he deserved because God loves and has mercy on me. I learned the reality of hopes deferred and dreams that don't come true in this life. I learned that I am THANKFUL that my hope isn't left to rest here in this life and world, but I have eternal hope in heaven with God where there is no pain, suffering, disappointments, or despair.

Before my mom's death, I was pretty naive about life and this world. After my mom's death, I became aware of and embraced this 'reality' that life is hard and we don't always get what we want and that is ok because God has better for us.

I think I have embraced the 'reality' a little too well, because while it is so good for us to realized the temporary-ness of this world, life, and our dreams, the sinful reaction of this 'reality' is bitterness and self preservation.

Through this trial of waiting for pregnancy and children I have been encouraged to 'Hope in the Lord'. While sometimes I can clearly see this truth and hope in him, there are times when this phrase feels impossible and trite. I realized that I believed that I couldn't hope in the Lord because I didn't trust him. He had hurt me and disappointed me before so why would it be a good idea to hope in him now? I really believe(d) that God is not for me. That God's love for will only be manifested in his discipline towards me, therefore my life will always be hard. I believed that if it seemed like God was possibly giving me a desire or answered prayer that he was only teasing me and wouldn't actually come through for me. So, I started to 'guard my hope'. I knew the world wasn't a friendly place for it, but I didn't think God was a friendly place either so the only option left was to 'guard' it for myself. I guarded my hope by facing 'reality' that I may not have children or get to 'grow old with Neil' or always be financially stable or any other fears and possibilities that come across my chaotic mind.I believed that by guarding my hope this way I was keeping myself from the crushing blows of disappointment and despair. But the truth is I found myself MORE despairing because I believed these things.

You know what else is true:

'My hope' isn't mine. Hope doesn't belong to me, I didn't create hope for myself. and I can't sustain it in my strength.
'My hope' is from God.
Psalm 62:5-8
⁵For God alone, O my soul, wait in silence, for my hope is from him.⁶ He only is my rock and my salvation, my fortress; I shall not be shaken.⁷On God rests my salvation and my glory; my mighty rock, my refuge is God.⁸ Trust in him at all times, O people pour out your heart before him; God is a refuge for us.

God gave me hope because he loved me and sent Jesus to die for my sins so that I might know the hope of eternal life with him. God gave me hope so that I would have someone to give my hurts and disappointments to. God gave me hope so that I could have joy and fight for joy in all circumstances. God gave me hope so that I could trust him and believe that he is worthy and faithful to this trust. God gave me hope and God guards this hope in the surety of his Son

God opening my eyes to see that He is the one who gives hope and is hope revolutionizes my current active belief system. It really is hard for me to believe that God loves me and will give me good gifts without a trial attached, but I'm asking him for that faith. I'm choosing today to believe that I no longer have to guard hope alone, God has been faithful to give and guard it from the beginning! God has secured this hope in the fortified wall of His Son's death and resurrection. This hope can NOT be destroyed or stolen. Praise be to the God of our hope!

May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope. Romans 15:13

Winfield Scott Lake

This past weekend we went camping with my grandparents and my aunt!!!!!!! Yes, I said my grandparents. They are still moving and kicking at 70. They were the ones with the plan to camp and we invited ourselves since they were going to be close by. We went to Winfield Scott Lake which is outside of Vogel State Park in Georgia. We had a GREAT TIME!!!!!! Here are the pictures to prove it!

Here we are hanging out by the campfire on Friday.











Neil and Chuck are cooking Hamburgers for dinner. Neil is fanning the flame so the fire will start! Neil is cooking bacon for breakfast. His first time to cook bacon! And probably his last because I don't like bacon and he wouldn't fix it just for himself.












Neil and I in front of our tent. Chuck, Jan, and I before Neil and I start back home.










Neil and I hiked up Blood Mountain- the highest point on the A.T.! It was about six miles round trip. This is me tired and hungry from the first part of the hike.










It was a great weekend and great weather except for chilly nights. I didn't think through the night temperatures when packing so I was pretty cold and wore all my clothes to bed both nights we camped. I was pretty cozy after that. I still smell like campfire (yes, this is after my shower) and the smell is permeating my car and our laundry room. I love the smell, but not that much! Wish me luck on getting this smell out!

Andrew Peterson

Last week Neil took me to see Andrew Peterson in concert!!!!! He was at a church here in our town doing a benefit concert for a family that is raising money to move overseas to be missionaries. Neil taking me to a concert is a PRETTY BIG DEAL! I really enjoy music and LOVED going to concerts and shows in college with friends. My friends and I use to go all the time, but then stopped as life got busier. I haven't been to a concert or show in three years, except for the Tommy Emmanuel show in February, but that doesn't count since I went along and wouldn't have naturally chosen to go. Anyway, I a music lover married a great man who could care less about music. To him it can be an unnecessary distraction that keeps you from intentional thought. Where I believe that music helps me think and draws my mind to the truth when I'm not able to draw those thoughts up myself. We basically agree to disagree right now in this area as neither of us are right or wrong in our views, but it is merely a preference issue. Before I got married I dreamed of having a home filled with music throughout the day. I dreamed of having the soft sound of worship music playing through out the day as I took care of the home and kids and oh how sweet that time would be! How calming, peaceful, and restful our home would be! However when I've shared this dream with Neil he doesn't see calm, peace, and rest. He sees chaos and distraction. I need to die to this dream because I do love my husband MORE THAN music, dreams, and preferences though I confess I do have to remind myself of this some days.

So anyway, you get the picture- Neil on his own choice taking me to a concert= BIG DEAL! He found out about the concert on his own by looking up Andrew Peterson and finding out he would be in town. He wanted to surprise me, but couldn't and told me at dinner one night in April that he wanted to take me and he bought the tickets and everything!!!! I am a new Andrew Peterson fan so it wasn't like this was a life long dream fulfilled to see him specifically in concert. I have heard of him on and off for years from several people, one being my best friend Lacy, but just never paid attention to what they were saying about him and his music. Then this past Christmas season when Neil and I were making our Christmas 2010 Melodies c.d. Andrew Peterson came to mind and we downloaded two of his songs. I also heard and enjoyed Dancing in the Minefields and told Neil about it.

To sum up the concert, it was BEAUTIFUL!!!!!! That is the word that kept coming to mind while we were listening to him play. I enjoyed his songs- the depth and beauty of the lyrics, and his stories about his life. I asked Neil afterwards what he thought. His quote, "I thought yeah man, this a great song... wait I don't know what he is talking about. What is he trying to say?" So, Neil liked him, but didn't really get his lyrics since they aren't completely straight forward and Neil is a pretty straight forward guy.

So there was our concert experience and I think Neil is willing to go to more since last night he asked me what other shows I'd like to go to!!!!!!!!

Really, How Old Am I?

Yesterday, it happened. I turned 27. Can you believe it? I think my turning 27 really did surprise many people, even my dad! I am officially in my 'late twenties' and saying 'twenty-seven' just sounds older!!!! However, most people wouldn't guess that I'm 27 because I do look young, especially when I don't wear makeup which is more often now a days. I'm also guessing that most people wouldn't know how old I am based on the presents I got this year either!!!!!! Let's see if we can figure out my average age based on my presents this year:

My parents came into town last weekend and bought me a bike!!!!!! I am discovering that I might actually like riding bikes! Neil has a bike and enjoys riding and I enjoy riding along with him so it made sense to ask for a bike so Neil and I can ride bikes together!!!!
Here we are trying out my bike! Yes, its BRIGHT pink!!! Now I realize that a bike isn't a childish birthday present and the bike being BRIGHT pink doesn't necessarily qualify it as a childish bike. However, I'm not sure if I will be able to reconcile that fact that because of my height, or lack of height, I had to get a GIRL'S bike!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes, it's true. The bikes are sized by the inches from the seat to the pedal or something like that. Well, you have either 24inch or 26inch. I had to get the 24inch. Who knew that a measly two inches would become a chasm between childhood and adulthood! So, not only do I have a BRIGHT pink bike, but its a GIRL'S bike! I feel about 7 years old.

Yesterday I got to open my birthday presents from Neil. He was SO sweet and thoughtful, but what I asked for doesn't quite match any particular age range. I got Trusting God by Jerry Bridges which I think qualifies me as a 27 year old. However, I also asked for Tangled the Disney movie that recently came out on video. We saw it before Christmas in the theaters and we BOTH enjoyed it. I got excited when I heard it was coming out before my birthday and asked for it. Again, I feel like I'm 7- but don't judge me till you see the movie. Lastly he got me
a back massage tool. I don't really know what else to call it and that is what it is for. I LOVE giving and receiving back massages. Of course it is therapeutic to receive one, but it is also therapeutic for me to give them as well. Neil doesn't really care to receive them, but he is very kind to give them without me asking. This gift is a hard to qualify an age to, but since it is kind of a 'gadget' I will qualify it with age 12 because I think that is the age when people start noticing gadgets and thinking they are cool enough to own.

Last BUT DEFINITELY NOT LEAST, Neil took me on a VERY GREAT DATE! First we went out to eat at Chipotle which opened here a few months ago. I LOVE IT! I asked to go there because I love it! It is a tex-mex restaurant like Moe's or Qudoba, BUT it has organic ingredients so I can eat there without worry!!!!!! It is nice to feel like you can go to a place that other 'normal' people like as well. So I think the restaurant choice qualifies me for 20 because other 27 year old's would probably choose something fancier, which I've been known to do as well. Now, the BEST part of the date is that Neil took me... SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!
Yes, that's right folks! Neil Williams took me on a shopping spree!!!!! This wasn't his idea, BUT he was encouraged by our small group leader from church to consider ways to bless me on my birthday that are 'outside the box'. Believe me a shopping spree is definitely 'outside the box' for my frugal love. He was VERY sweet to me. He took me to the mall and we sat on one of the benches and told me that I was a gift to him and he wanted to treat me as a gift and do something I enjoy for my birthday. He gave me money- more than our clothing budget allows- and said let's go shopping! I teared up and it was almost reminiscent of his marriage proposal! Well, the sitting on the bench and me tearing up part was reminiscent. Anyway, He freed me up to go to my favorite stores and buy whatever the money would allow and of course he went with me. He was SO encouraging of me to find what I liked, try stuff on, go to different stores, etc. I went to GAP first because it is my favorite store and they were having a GREAT sale! BOGO free on ALL their tops, sale and regular price!!!! I found two shirts and I got them for a total of $13.00!!!!!!!!! Then we went to Forever 21 and I got two fun necklaces and Neil even encouraged me to get 3!!!!!!!!! Then we ran to T.J. Maxx- not by the mall- and I tried on a few things there but they didn't fit. Oh well. We had SO much fun together and I felt so LOVED and SO free to be feminine and enjoy clothes shopping. It was REALLY nice! And we have money left over!!! He sad we could go again another day!!!!!!! AAAHHH!!!!!!!!! I may have gotten giddy over that prospect! So shopping definitely made me feel 27. But we ended the night with going home eating cake and watching Tangled. Again I feel like I'm 7.

Okay, here are the numbers: 7, 27, 7, 12, 20, 27, and 7
so the average age that I act is: 15

Great, I can't even drive on my own... well maybe next year I'll be old enough to vote.