Monday, August 26, 2013

new beginnings

WARNING: this post does not contain any wedding pictures...those will come at a later date! ;)

It's been a while... well okay, only a few weeks but a LOT has happen in that time.
I'm now a married woman...cooking, cleaning (as much as I have time for...which isn't often), doing laundry, being a wife, and so on.
So far the newness hasn't worn off too much...we still feel like we're just "playing house."
I'm sure one of these days laundry will become dreaded and cooking will wane but so far so good. (I think...but maybe you should ask Kirk for a better opinion...) I would say cleaning has almost crossed the line from 'play' to chore...but then I remember that I haven't really done enough for it to reach that point yet!
*sigh* there could be worse things in life...

School started off with a bang last week...so yet another adjustment.
Add studying into the mix of cooking, cleaning, laundry, and being a wife...and you have one jam-packed schedule!  Ok so not totally because I still found the time to blog...and maybe take a short nap... and I'm sure it could get busier so I guess I won't complain.  Plus...sometimes I kinda like busy.  I mean, what would I do if I ever reached the point of nothing on my to-do list?! YIKES. That would be epic!

So while the last few weeks of my life has consisted of numerous new beginnings...wife, cook, maid, 3rd semester nursing student, book keeper, hostess, secretary, babysitter, the list could go on...and at times my stress levels rise above desirable, I am soo thankful for God's peace and know that He is ultimately in control of our life. And while change isn't always the easiest for me to deal with, I am soo thankful for the path God has lead me down.  To God be the GLORY!

Now for some pictures...


Our view of the Smokies from our Cabin...photo credits go to Kirk! I didn't even help him a little bit!

walked around Pigeon Forge...watched the potters.  Very interesting!


took a ride up the mountain on the sky lift


Ziplining!

Home again, home again....to a pleasantly decorated house...nothing outrageous, thank goodness his friends forgot when we were coming back or it could've been much worse!




opening gifts the day we got back at my mom and dad's...we wanted to get everything oraganized a put away.

Our first supper...SUCCESS!  I'm thankful to have a husband who likes to cook...he gives me lots of good tips!
And if you can't tell what we had...it was stir-fry on rice!
Our first shopping trip...GULP!  Aldi + wal-mart + empty cupboards = $$$$$$$
Our first company the Sunday after we got back...I think I'm gonna like being a hostess!
Our first babysitting excursion...SUCCESS!  Hamburgers + french fries + a trip to the park!

such a little cutie! 

Friday night double date to Red Lobster w/ Josh & Amber.  Everyone but me enjoyed the Endless Shrimp.  I got pasta... :)

Steak night...couldn't resist pulling out my china for the fun of it!

Spent an evening with this cutie and his family!

moped rides!

waiting patiently for their turns!  

Thursday, August 1, 2013

life happenings

I can't believe I'm actually saying this...but life might actually be slowing down a bit.
Yeah yeah...my wedding is THIS weekend, so maybe it's not slowing down THAT much, but it feels like it.
Decisions are basically done being made, plans are all coming together, shopping trips are over, and as impossible as it may have seemed a couple months ago, I think I am ready to get married!
Praise the LORD!

had a few work days... so thankful for the wonderful ladies who helped us!

cleaned & painted the house one week...

enjoyed spending the 4th with Kirk's family...

got all of our stuff moved to our new home!  Can't believe how much stuff we have already!!

don't let the picture fool ya... the did carry in a few boxes! ;) 

trying on our mother's wedding dresses at my personal shower!  So much fun!

photo shoots...

Love you girls!  So thankful for all that you've been doing...planning...hosting...and so much more.  You ROCK!

Survived all of our showers.  They were such a blessing!  It's overwhelming how many gifts we've recieved!

Enjoyed an evening out with these 2...gonna miss our random last minute times together...but know there will be sooo many other special memories together!
Spent 10 days in Washington state with mom n dad n Jesse...

went on a tour at the Boeing factory...watched planes take off and land.

went on a few different hikes...this one was by Mt. Rainer

spent a night in Victory, Canada...went to Butchart gardens...so many pretty flowers!


Jesse wasn't so thrilled about looking at flowers all evening so he hung out on the grass with his Ipod!
went to Olympic Nation Rainforest...once again Jesse was quite thrilled! ;) 
Had the opportunity to meet up with this beautiful girl and her family!  So thankful I was able to see you for a bit, Tay. Love you!
God showing His beauty in the clouds on my flight home!
It's hard to believe that in a few short days all of the planning and decision making that we've done over the last 3 months will be over.  Life will begin a new normal.  School will be starting. And time will march on.  But that's the way life is.  We plan things.  Spend time looking forward to them.  And just like that, they are over.  To everything there is a season.... Praising God for all of his wonderful blessings!