27

A few weeks ago was my 27th birthday. It was a great day! Charlie absolutely spoiled me as he does every birthday. Neither one of us are big birthday people. My birthday is 4 days after Christmas, so it was always overshadowed. And Charlie…well, he’s just anti any holidays or celebrations. He’s said on more than one occasion that the Jehovah Witnesses have it right when it comes to them. He always manages to set all of that side and celebrate my birthday. He’s such a sweet husband!

We started the day with an ultrasound of our sweet little one. This was our second time seeing our baby and hearing the heartbeat. Best birthday present ever! All was well and the dr. set my due date for August 9th.

After our appointment we headed to Panera for lunch and then to the North Carolina Museum of Art to see an exhibit I’ve wanted to see since I first heard about it! It was a children’s book illustration exhibit with some of Eric Carle’s work. I have to say, the exhibit was small and actually really disappointing. Charlie got lucky though. They had a huge exhibit with Norman Rockwell’s work. He was delighted!

Being the first trimester, I am constantly exhausted! So, we went home for a much needed nap! Followed by shopping, dinner, and a movie! What a full day!

Charlie’s birthday is coming up in a few weeks. Unfortunately, he never lets me make a big deal out of his birthday. It’s just not fair!

So, I’m officially 27. This year has been in the back of my mind for a long time. It was this nagging thought that something would happen at 27. I’ve had this suspicion throughout my 20’s. I didn’t know what it was. For a while, I thought maybe I would meet my husband or get married. Then I thought maybe 27 would be the year I would finally get pregnant. Sometimes I even thought that nothing exciting would happen and I was just crazy. Now I see that 27 will be the year I become a mommy! Such an exciting thing to look forward to! I’ll never celebrate another birthday the same. Every birthday from this point forward will be as a mom. How exciting!

The only similar thoughts I’ve had before was knowing that I was going to marry Charlie when we met. He said goodnight to me and from that moment on I knew we would one day be married. Thank goodness that came true too!

We have a wonderful life and I am incredibly grateful to God for the blessings he has given me. I couldn’t ask for a better marriage and I’ve been praying for a child for such a long time. I can’t wait to see what other blessings he has in store for our little family!

A Christmas of Lasts

Wow! So has it really been since June when I posted last? SO much has happened since then. Let's see, I am officially on a track this year. YAY! Basically that means that every 9 weeks I get a 3 week break. Charlie is immensely jealous of this luxury. Trust me, it's one of the few perks of being a teacher. Over our first track out we took a cruise! It was amazing! I had every intention of doing a post or seven about our trip and never got around to it. Oh well. Maybe one day. In October, Charlie got a raise only to get a promotion to Marketing Manager a few weeks ago! I am so proud of him! He has really moved up the corporate ladder since starting at the AICPA just 3 years ago. In October, we spent a few days in October when my wonderful MawMaw passed away. I should do a whole post on her as well. She is missed so much. In November, we took an awesome camping trip with friends and we spent Thanksgiving in Charlotte with PawPaw. Okay, so enough of an update, time for the real reason of this post...



A Christmas of Lasts.



It dawned on me as I was writing in Charlie's Christmas card that this will be a "last" Christmas for us in so many ways.



First, and most importantly, it will be our last Christmas alone. We are thrilled to announce that in August we will become a family of three! After many months of trying, lots of tears and prayers, and help from the Dr. we are finally expecting our first child. We couldn't be more excited about the news. We have had the luxury of seeing our baby twice via ultrasound and look forward to watching him or her grow in my belly over the next few months.



This of course leads to the last Christmas in our apartment. One bedroom isn't going to be big enough for all of us! Our lease isn't up until November of next year. We'll be sticking out the first few months of our new family in tight quarters. We aren't really concerned about this. Our biggest worry is where we will store all the baby stuff until we move somewhere bigger! There's been some discussion of turning the dining room into a semi-nursery for the first few months. We'll see. We have lots of time to figure it out. We love this apartment. We truly feel that it was a blessing from God to get this apartment and will be sad to move away. We used to joke that we could live here forever. I'm sure under the right set of circumstances we could.



And our last Christmas last...Scooter. This will be our last Christmas with Scooter, our dog. This is more of a sadder part of the post. Charlie will be very disheartened to say goodbye. Over the last few months Scooter has continued to show that he can't be trusted. He bit me one night which led to much pain! We realize that as parents we could never put our child in that danger. We would only blame ourselves if he ever bit the baby. So included in our preparations for baby will be looking for a new home for Scooter. If you know of anyone that could give him a home, please let us know.



It really is a bittersweet Christmas. We are more than ecstatic about what the future holds for us. The last year and a half of marriage has been incredible. As much as I look forward to our growing family, I will miss all of the the alone time we have. It's such a sweet time in our lives. We had a great day staying warm inside. It's nice not to have to be anywhere or attend to anyone's needs. I realize that our life together is about to change greatly. We will spending the next 7 months enjoying every second of each other, our pregnancy, and the blessings that God has given us.



So much is in store for 2011. We'll keep you posted!

One Year!

So I really don't get around to blogging much! Obviously. Tomorrow is our first anniversary! It's amazing how quickly the past year has gone. It's been a great year too! Here's a few highlights of our year...

June 27, 2009...We're married!

July 2009...Honeymoon in Banner Elk, NC. We enjoyed a wonderful week together in a great secluded one room cabin. It was great and I'm really looking forward to going back one day!

October 2009...Employed! I accepted a job as a teacher's assistant hoping it would turn into something more. This was all a sigh of relief to Charlie to have the extra income and to really be able to start putting a dent in our Student Loans!

November 2009...Our first Thanksgiving! We stayed home ALONE and it was lovely! I cooked way too much food! We also enjoyed a weekend of camping at Jordan Lake. The nights were COLD, but great for cuddling in the tent!

December 2009...Christmas! Once again, another holiday alone. We did visit family before and after the holidays, but Christmas morning was ours alone. This month was also my birthday. We celebrated with a fancy dinner at Ruth's Chris Steakhouse and a shopping trip for new clothes.

January 2010...My teacher assistant job turned into a full-time teaching job! Due to overcrowding in the school system they were able to create new classrooms. It was wonderful to have my own classroom again.

February 2010...Happy Birthday Charlie! We were snowed in for his birthday. Celebratory cuddles on the couch!

May 2010...My contract was renewed! Yay! A little piece of mind!

June 2010...Cruise! We booked our first cruise this month. It's supposed to be for our anniversary, but we can't go until August when I finally get a break from school. We're both really looking forward to this one.

We're celebrating tonight with a big, fancy dinner at the Angus Barn. It's amazing how quickly the past year has flown by. Everyday has been better than I could have dreamed married life would be!

Just a note

So I don't get around to blogging much. This doesn't surprise you because I haven't written anything in a while. I really don't have time to write at this moment, but I'm going to anyway! No new pictures or anything new to really report. Just a little about thankfulness, grace, and love.

I'm listening to Charlie's music. Something I love to do and wish I did daily. Sometimes his songs make me sad. Mostly the ones before me because I know his story and I don't like thinking about his broken heart. But today I realize his music is a blessing. He has a song called "Don't give me what I want". It's a song to God. The lyrics...

Don't give me what I want
Give me what I need
Don't give me what I wish for
Just help to believe
Cause I know that you're plans
They are what's best for me

I am so thankful that this happened in Charlie's life and mine as well. We both went through periods in our lives where we desperately wanted something that we knew wasn't God's will for us. If God has given us those things I know that we wouldn't have met, fallen in love, and married one another. Charlie is a wonderful husband. He is more amazing than any husband I imagined existed. I never knew a man could love me so much and that he would be just as excited as being married to me as I am him. He's a sweetheart and perfect for me.

I can think of numerous times in my own life where I was disobedient to God or questioned what he was doing with my life. I didn't want to trust. I even tried to run the other way. I now know that his plan is what's best for me. If you would have told me 5 years ago that I would be living the life I am today I never would have believed you. I would have pictured something totally different. And I am so grateful for what my life is. It's exactly as it should be.

People tell me how happy they are for me and that I "deserve it". I know this is just a saying, but the truth is, I don't deserve any of it. It is only by the grace of God that I have the life I have today. In fact, I'm so undeserving, that I can't even remember to thank God daily for what he's given me! I am more than thankful to Christ for Charlie and the life he has given us together.

So, that's it. Just a note. Sorry if you were looking for an update. The only one I have is that we're still busy and madly in love. I'm off to cook dinner and get ready for a sleepover with my niece and nephew.

If you want to check out Charlie's music click on the button on the right for his blog.

Charlie.

I don't get around to blogging much on our personal site. My food blog is constantly updated...but here...not so much! I find that we are a very busy couple, which is interesting for 2 introverted people, yet we never do anything interesting enough to blog about. I do have some Christmas pictures to post. We had a great first Christmas together. I'll follow up with a post about that later. But now, I want to tell you about Charlie, my dear, sweet husband.

I feel overabundantly blessed that God chose me to be Charlie's wife. He is more than I ever dreamed for or imagined. I prayed and prayed for a husband for a very long time. One of my major goals in life was to be a wife. I was terrified it would never happen for me. I'm sure my friends were tired of hearing me whine about it. I even began to pray that if God had chosen the single lifestyle for me that he would change my heart.

And then, I met Charlie. It's amazing that we even met. As introverted as we both were, we were never really in situations where we would meet anyone. Neither one of us was into the bar scene, nor were we bold enough to talk to a random stranger in public. We're both terrible flirts. Basically, if I didn't meet someone at church or work it was never going to happen! And I was an elementary school teacher...not very many men in that profession! You all know how Charlie and I met through my brother. I couldn't be more grateful.

We were very quick to fall in love and some people may say we "rushed". I think we both had people telling us to slow down. We said "I love you" after 3 days together, were engaged after 4 months, and married within 9. And the truth is, everything was perfect! I knew right away that he was the man God had picked for me. I couldn't wait to be his wife and spend everyday together. He is my blessing.

I have never had a man adore me the way Charlie does. Now I understand why my family and friends tried so hard to get me away from guys in the past. He loves me just as I am. He doesn't try to change me or even get upset me when I'm being "me". You know, the crazy, emotional, hard to please, me. When I cry, he holds me, kisses my tears, and tries to find a way to make it better. He talks to me about the Bible, prays with me, and pulls me closer to God. When I am being a gossip or judgemental, he gently reminds to turn to Jesus. He makes me laugh daily. I love how we can sit in the car, hold hands, and not even have to say anything.

I have never once doubted where I stood with Charlie. I know when he looks at me that he adores me. And when I worry about us ever being able to have children, I know that he isn't worried. I am enough for him. Yet he continues to pray because he knows how much it means to me. In the middle of the night, if I get out of bed, he wakes up and calls for me. He spoils me for no particular reason because he loves me. He makes my heart beat fast and I love kissing him when he walks in the door.

I love Charlie just as much today as I did on our 3rd date, even more. Not once have I questioned how quickly we got married or worried that I was making the wrong decision. He is a gift from God to me and for that I couldn't be more grateful.

Merry Christmas!

Our tree is up and decorated, our cards are mailed out, and the shopping has begun!

We like our tree, but we realize it is decorated very ugly! It's a tree that only we could love :)

New Pictures

Krystal took our pictures a couple weekends ago at Pullen Park. They're beautiful! Here's a sampling!

Our First Thanksgiving

We had our first Thanksgiving dinner at home as a married couple yesterday! I made all the food and it was absolutely delicious! It was a ton of work though, especially for 2 people! We have so much to be thankful for! Here's our menu...

Brined Turkey
Mashed Potatoes
Cinnamon Apples
Stuffing
Cranberry Sauce
Hawaiian Rolls
Banana Pudding Trifle

Check out my food blog later this week for the recipes!


We also got our first Christmas tree today! It's beautiful and looks great in our apartment! Stay tuned for a decorated pic...all the decorations I had are in storage at my parent's house! So we can't decorate until after next weekend!

Martha

You all know I love Martha Stewart. Her cookbooks, her merchandise, anything Martha, I'm all over it! I follow a lot of blogs. This writer was invited to the Martha show. Read her post. It's hilarious!

http://doughmesstic.blogspot.com/2009/11/new-york-state-of-minds.html

More Good News!

Charlie got a promotion today! YAY! He just got back from a business trip in Atlanta. It was hard to be apart! I don't think I'll ever get used to it. People tell me once we've been married for a while I will be glad for a few days to myself. Honestly, I hope this is never the case! I hope I always dread being apart! Although, I mostly wish we never have to be!

Work is going well for me. It's nice to be back in the classroom. This job is definitely not teaching, but I do get opportunities to work with small groups of students. I love that part. The best thing is the stress level is SO low! No lesson plans, discipline problems, or difficult parents!

Say a prayer for me, I'm getting my wisdom teeth out tomorrow! I'm thankful for Charlie. He'll be home to take care of me.

Answered Prayers

I finally have a job!!! I start Thursday at Middle Creek Elementary School as a 3rd grade assistant. It's not teaching, but in these times, I'm just happy to have finally landed a job in Wake County Schools. I'm hoping that it will lead to teaching soon. At least for next year. It's kind of a blessing because I'll be able to come home after work and focus on being a wife. No papers to grade, lesson plans, or conferences. Although, I can honestly say, I miss those things. The school is only 5 minutes from home. So that's also a blessing.

P.S. Did you see the buttons to the right? I designed them!!! Isn't that cool? If you click on them they will lead you to our other blogs. Enjoy!

Grocery Run

While making dinner the other night I realized I was short one ingredient. I had already started cooking, so I sent Charlie out. He came back with my can of cream of chicken soup and these...

Thank you Honey! Daisies are my favorite! Isn't he sweet?

Redesign

My mom was here visiting us last week. She's super smart about everything. Really, she knows so much stuff! So it was no surprise when I asked her to help me design a background for my other blog, Feed the Pig, that she would know how to do it. Check it out. It's adorable!

We have nothing new to report. Married life is fabulous and we still aren't sick of each other. I don't have a job yet, but I had an interview last week and one today. God is in control!

A dying art...

When was the last time you checked the mail and got a personal letter? Not a bill or advertisement, but a heartfelt note from someone? It saddens me to know that this rarely happens. The mail has been replaced by the Internet. Even email is being replaced by things like Facebook! Don't get me wrong. I'll be quick to write on someone's Facebook wall or send them an email, but what about letters? I love mail. I love someone's handwriting on a card or piece of stationary. Think about the joy you feel when you are lucky enough to receive one of these rarities. Even birthday cards are becoming obsolete! When you did get one it's usually from your dentist!

Even as I blog about this I know that I used to much better at sending mail than I am now. I used to send a birthday card to everyone in my family...distant cousins included! I didn't even send my brother a birthday card last week. When Charlie and I dated I sent him letters in the mail. It may seem silly since we talked everyday, but I love having all those letters. It's a piece of history that can be preserved forever. So, how much longer until the post office is out of business and it is totally turned over to instant Internet mail?

I have a whole box of stationary in my closet and I hope I never find a reason to throw it out! Thursday is my grandpa's birthday. I have a card stamped and ready to be mailed...along with a few other "thinking of you" cards for people I love! :)

A thankful heart...

Just over a year ago, last summer, I remember crying. If you know me well, you know this is nothing new. I wondered what God was doing with me. I couldn't find a teaching job in Wilmington and I desperately wondered where my husband was. I had a desire to be married. I had even come to the conclusion that there were no Godly men out there who wanted to be married. I figured they just did it because they were supposed to. I thought, hopefully, God will put one of these men in my life and I would eventually get married. I had a strong fear I would be 40 before this would happen.

I broadened my job search and ended up in Fayetteville at a great school. I thought, okay, God will reveal to me a wonderful military man. Little did I know that was not his plan. A month later I met Charlie. It was a year ago today that we were hiking together at Raven Rock. Yesterday, was a year ago that we met at Chris' birthday party bowling. And tomorrow will one year that he asked me out for coffee in the parking lot of the Hibernian Pub. I knew the night we met we would get married. I don't know how I knew, but I did. I didn't expect it to turn out this wonderful.

Who knew that in a year we would be married? Even as I write this I am amazed at what a blessing God has given me. Charlie is in the other room singing my song. The song he wrote for me. And I am once again in tears. This time my tears aren't in sorrow. They aren't searching God wondering what he is doing with me. They are joyful, thankful tears. Not only did God give me a wonderful husband, he gave me one that adores me. One that I never expected or thought existed.

I try so hard to use this as a reminder. Just over a year ago I wondered where Charlie was. Now I have different questions, some new and some reoccurring...like a job. God is sovereign and his plan is great. It is better than anything I can want or imagine. In my desperate thoughts of wonder God is my comfort. He knows my desires and my heart. So as I wonder why I have these desires, why he isn't answering my prayers in my time, and why some things can be so easy for some people and not me, I remember that God loves me and knows me. He reminds me not to fret over these things, but to trust in him. He reminds me this everyday as I go to sleep in my husband's arms. Or when I kiss him hello. Or when Charlie tells me he loves me.

So, thank you God for loving me. Thank you for Charlie. Thank you for the reminder that you are in control. Even when I don't get my way, you remind me that your way is so much better.

Yum

Have you checked out my food blog?

Feed the Pig

A weekend apart

Today Charlie and I said goodbye for a very long weekend apart. No phone calls included! Charlie is off to serve as a youth leader for a Chrysalis flight. He will be giving a talk on "Faith" to a group of high school boys, hoping to lead them to Christ. He has been praying for months for a way for God to use him. This is the door that God opened. I am proud of him for his obedience, but I will miss him like crazy! I am home in Wilmington with my family. I love coming here and spending time with my family. They are a great distraction from my longing to see Charlie again in a few days. We haven't had one day since September 19th, the night we met bowling, that we haven't talked to each other. And we haven't spent a day apart since we were married 2 months ago. I miss him already and am counting down the minutes until we see each other Monday night!

Scooter

Krystal, my sister-in-law, took some awesome photos of Scooter today for a special project :) She's an amazing photographer and it also helps that Scooter is cute...sometimes. Wait! Did I just admit that! Scooter and I are adjusting to one another. He has his moments of sweetness, but there are also moments oh sheer annoyance between us :)

From Scooter

From Scooter

From Scooter

Two Months!

Today is our 2 month anniversary! It's hard to believe we've been married 2 months. On one hand, it feels like we've been married forever. It's just so natural the way our lives fit together. On the other hand, I can't believe how fast 2 months have gone! I feel like I counted down everyday until our wedding and that it would never get here. And now we've been married 61 days!

Married life is great and I couldn't be more thankful to have Charlie as a husband! He is so good to me!