25 Things

For my twenty-fifth birthday, I thought it would be fun to compile a list of 25 things about me. Making lists is one of my favorite things, so this is a treat in itself! It’s silly and fun, but so are the best things in life.

1. I teach 7th grade language arts, and you wouldn’t believe some of the conversations that I get to have on a daily basis. (I could write a book.)
2. I’m a chronic “early blinker” driver. It’s an issue. I find myself using my turn-signal at least a half-mile out (if not further in advanced). Sometimes I get embarrassed, so I turn it off, and then I turn it back on. The struggle is real.
3. I’m a hoarder. I have a hard time throwing things away, but after reading Seven by Jen Hatmaker, I have made a conscious effort to be better. Kev and I have gotten rid of eight FULL totes from our home in the past week!!
4. Even though I’m an English teacher, I’m not an avid reader. Sure, I enjoy a good book, but I’d rather spend my time doing other things. (oops).
5. Brian and Katie Torwalt’s album Here on Earth has been playing on repeat for the last few weeks. “I Breathe You In, God” makes me sob. It speaks right to my heart. All of the songs do, but I could repeat these words over, and over, and over again: “When I don’t understand, I will choose you, God.” For we serve a good God who is so, so faithful.
6. I’m a verbal processor; thus, Kevin is my sounding board. We aren’t planning to have kids for another few years, but we like to talk baby. Kevin is going to be the best dad, and it’s fun to dream about it. Names, nursery, cloth diapers--all talked about. Nothing decided.
7. I’ve been researching the idea of a capsule wardrobe. It might happen, but I’m nervous. Because, really, 37 pieces in my closet? That’s it? Read more about it here and help me rationalize this: http://www.un-fancy.com/category/capsule-wardrobe-101/
8. Group fitness is definitely for me. I’m ridiculously competitive, so when I see some chick in the front of the class doing more burpees than me, I push harder. I wish I had enough self-discipline to push myself on my own, but I don’t. I joined Kosama, and I love it!
9. Our front porch is my favorite part of our house. I can’t wait to finish staining it and hang my ferns! (Is this a sign I’m 25?)
10. I’m applying for a counseling and human development graduate program. Classes start next spring. I’m nervous and excited!
11. I’m an awful golfer, but I really want to be better! I’m a good athlete, but only because I try really hard and hustle. I get frustrated in activities where skill is required and where hustling won’t help me be successful. (Disclaimer: Hustle is involved when I sprint after the ball from the tee box if it’s within fifty yards--mulligan may be my middle name). I hope to practice and improve more this summer!
12. I’ve only worn dress pants a handful of times in the past two years. (I just got rid of six pair). Colored jeans, dresses, long shirts, and leggings are my jam.
13. I am a fan of the oxford comma. (clearly).
14. I love watching Jesus free people from bondage because experiencing this freedom has been so rich in my own life. I find such joy in watching chains break in the name of Jesus.
15. I drink a gallon of water almost every day. It’s pretty easy considering I have a number of “professional water bottle fillers” at my disposal. My secret? A 32 oz. Bubba with bright-colored, silicone straws and lots of ice to keep my water cold!
16. Kevin bought a scooter, and we have LOVED having it; however, he is ready to upgrade. My man is now a motorcycle guy. Ha! I’ve never really cared for motorcycles, but now that Kevin is looking to buy one, I need to support him and figure out my style as a “biker chick”
17. I am a procrastinator. I love to make to-do lists and write down everything that must be done, but the actual “doing” of the task is where I struggle. a lot.
18. I drive a manual 2002 Toyota Corolla, and as of last week, it just got a MAJOR upgrade! Kevin installed a brand-new stereo system with bluetooth and a usb port--I am smitten! How romantic, right? He even vacuumed and wiped everything clean; it feels like a brand new car!
19. I spend two nights a week and most weekends coaching a 14s JO volleyball team. I push them hard and give them tough love, but it’s only because I see an unbelievable amount of potential in them. They are hilarious, and they keep me updated on what’s cool and what’s not. (sandals sans socks is NOT cool).
20. I asked for a succulent plant for my birthday. Once again, a sign of turning 25? Maybe.
21. Every hot drink I sip must be had in a contigo cup, otherwise the drink gets too cool too quickly. I like my hot drinks to be hot. If my contigo mug isn’t around, I prefer an iced drink. I got it from my mama--we’re heat snobs.
22. In a recent spring cleaning purge, we came across the Super Nintendo. I played a level of Donkey Kong like a champ finding all the old “secret” tunnels etc. Kevin turned to me and said, “Who are you?!” I smugly smiled and was thankful for my big bro.
23. Peanut butter + banana toast is my go-to snack, but toasted cinnamon & raisin Ezekiel bread + coconut oil is a close fave.
24. Instagram is my favorite social media outlet; I love seeing life through pictures.
25. Being married to Kevin is my favorite thing in life. I love spending my time with him, and I love working side by side to accomplish a task. He is so driven and disciplined, and he is constantly encouraging me in every aspect of my life. He is such a gift, and life with him is so much fun!

Kevin asked me last night what I hoped 25 would bring, and ultimately, I hope it brings change. I love where I’m at in life, but I want to change for the better. I don't want to stay the same. I want to be more like Jesus. That’s the only thing I can hope this year brings. I so desperately want to surrender my bad habits, my bad attitudes, and my sin, and I want to allow Christ to shine fully through me. This year is a gift, and I plan to treat it as such. 

My family, friends, and students have made this day perfect!

Two Years of Marriage

I cannot believe that we’ve been doing married life together for two whole years. I think it feels so strange because it really hasn’t been that long, yet it feels like this is how life has always been--if that makes any sense? I can’t imagine what ten, twenty, and fifty years must feel like being married to your bestie! I can’t wait to find out!

Things I want to remember about our second year:

1. We bought our first house.
2. We welcomed our awesome nephew, Max, into the world.
3. We painted our entire house--with a brush. No rolling. No spraying. Just a bursh. What a loooong process that was/is considering we have to finish things up this spring!
4. I went to Rwanda.
5. Kevin changed jobs from Target to The Ransom Church.
1. AND I only cried ONCE during that budget change meeting!!!  
2. (Major victory here, people! Milestones must be recorded!)
6. We got a costco membership. (We like to go on dates there).
7. We started an FCA Huddle at my middle school.
8. We play basketball together on Wednesday mornings.
9. We started going to the chiropractor regularly--neither of us got sick this year! Yay!
10. We tried to switch to natural deodorant… and are still trying… my armpits stink
11. We are trying to eat real, wholesome foods that are minimally processed.
1. Key word here is “trying” --small steps!
12. We bought a ping-pong table & play often.
1. I used to be able to beat Kev, and now we’re fairly even--he has a wicked forearm slam!
13. Kevin finished 12 credits of his Master’s Degree (which get to transfer to seminary!)
1. Kevin will start online seminary at Indiana Wesleyan University in June.
14. We got ¼ of a “hipster” cow named Hoover.
15. We’re getting ½ of a “hipster” nameless pig!
1. -Kevin says that anything grass fed and raised the “natural” way is “hipster.”
2. I love him, so I go with it.
16. We floss & brush together nightly. Strangely, it’s something I look forward every day!
1. (Kevin flosses more often than I do).
17. Kevin does most of the laundry. He’s diligent and determined; it’s not for the faint of heart (me).
18. I usually start getting ready for bed first, but Kevin manages to crawl in bed before me 99.4% of the time. (How does that happen!?)
19. We don’t have cable, so we hardly watch tv.
20. We got a roommate, Austin, who brought Netflix to the family.
21. Thus, we finished the available seasons of Parks & Rec (Netflix).
22. Kevin is usually in charge of setting up double dates with our friends. He’s good at that connecting thing. He also takes full responsibility and makes his “signature dish” every time we have someone over for dinner. He even cleans the entire house, too! 

I don't think I have ever been more convicted or humbled than I have in this past year. This year has been a year of growth for me personally and for our marriage. We faced a lot of hardships as a couple, and we had to walk through some really tough seasons together. I married a selfless, driven man who stops at nothing to serve me and my needs. I am humbled to be his wife, and I absolutely love being married to this man. I love watching him pursue his dreams. To have married a man who is so generous in forgiveness is beyond me. Kevin is a man who extends more grace than I deserve. He is slow to anger and quick to listen. I married a wise, level-headed man. I laugh every day because of him; he is always making up ridiculous songs, doing funny dances, or speaking in foreign accents.  Sometimes I get a little embarrassed when he shows affection toward me in public, but I am learning to embrace the love that he is choosing to lavish.

We said from the very beginning of our marriage that we would be “honeymooners” for life, and that is exactly what we plan to do! Happy two years of marriage, Kevin! I love you a whole bunch!

Stop Sinning

We all have crap that we deal with on a daily basis. Hectic schedules, busy families, and a variety of conflicts that seem to plague us from every direction. I mean. We live in a world saturated in sin, and being sinners by nature, we can quickly become submerged.

I have been stuck in the bondage of sin for too long.

I’m currently working through a Beth Moore study right now called Breaking Free, and it is geared toward finding freedom in Christ (something I desperately need). Part of experiencing this freedom deals with examining and breaking any generational bondage or strongholds that have been passed down through the lineage of family. I know the power of generational strongholds, for I have seen firsthand what alcoholism and anger have done to my family. But when my parents became Christians, they worked diligently to change the course of my generation and those to come, and they set a new standard of living for our family--the inheritance I am now experiencing as a daughter of God.

As I prayed through my family’s past to eliminate any chains of bondage remaining, I found myself wishing that I would find my own garbage in the dumpsters of my ancestors. I kept hoping that maybe, just maybe, I would find out that somewhere in my lineage, someone struggled with the same things that I do. At least that would give me an excuse for why I’ve been marred by these sins for years.

I called my mom to find out, and she set me straight.

She said, “Stop sinning.”

And that was that.

I got so blinded in trying to figure out “why” I was having these problems with sin, that I lost sight of the actual problem. I got so caught up in discovering the “root” of my issues, when really, I am making the choice to disobey and sin. I was trying to find a rationale for this cyclical sin that I’ve been clutching onto for so long, that I was relinquishing my control of choice and empowering satan.  (The “why” and the “root” certainly serve great purpose in experiencing freedom in Christ--but for this appointed time--all I needed was for someone to tell me to stop it.)

When you are tempted to fall into the snares of satan, resist.

"No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can endure it." (1 Corinthians 10:13)

God does not tempt us to sin. Satan does. “The enemy, that ancient serpent, has been around a very long time and knows man’s tendencies and vulnerabilities” (Beth Moore). Satan is alive and well, and he knows exactly what he is doing.

"Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour." (1 Peter 5:8)

Every time I give into temptation, I allow satan to have victory over me. I give him a foothold and practically invite him to come back to tempt me again because it’s worked before! I allow him to fill me with doubt and insecurities about my identity in Christ, and I have given him power; however, satan is completely powerless and has already been defeated under Jesus’ feet. (Why do I forget this?!) We are called to live in freedom. We are not called to be slaves of darkness but rather children of light. We need to walk in light, truth, and freedom. We need to stop sinning.

"For freedom Christ set us free. No longer be entangled in a yoke of bondage." (Galatians 5:1)

Jesus promises us that when we confess our sins, He will surely forgive us. This must happen first. We need to fall at the feet of Jesus and confess our sins.

"If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just and will forgive us our sins and purify us from all unrighteousness." (1 John 1:9)

This confession is twofold; in James, we also see the command to confess our sins to one another. Speaking our sins out loud to our spouses, our friends, and our families allows us to experience the fullness of the body of Christ. This confession breaks the enemy’s power of shame and secrecy, and it allows fruits of accountability and trust to be built.

"Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective." (James 5:16)

Just as we are to confess our sins, we are also to relish in victory with these same people when we have overcome the temptation of darkness! Celebrate the moments that you say, “Get behind me satan!” and continue walking in victory through Jesus.

Jesus promises that he will manifest himself to us if we are obedient to His word, and I desperately want this. Don't you?

"Whoever has my commands and keeps them is the one who loves me. The one who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love them and show myself to them." (John 14:21)

I know it’s been a long time since I’ve written. I have been negligent to my voice, and I have allowed the enemy victory over me in my silence. Jesus speaks, and I have quenched his voice--I have allowed my voice and my desires to resound louder than His.

It’s time to stop.

Life Update.

I feel such a need to write and record everything that is happening in our lives right now, but everything that I have typed thus far seems like worthless garbage, so I’ll just word-vomit everywhere and wipe my mouth when I’m finished.

Kevin has a new job, and it is the best thing that has ever happened to us.

We have known that Kevin has had a call to ministry on his life for quite some time, but we didn’t know what it would look like. It wasn’t until this summer when our good friend and pastor brought up the “potential” of Kevin working at our church that we realized this was the right fit for him. After seeking the counsel of the Lord and of our family, we understood that Kevin was called to leave Target to become the Connections Director at our church.

The fact that I just received a text from Kevin that read, “Man I love my job…” is enough proof that we have been so blessed by this job transition. Every time he says this, which is often, my heart is filled with gratitude. Our schedules are more normal, we can actually hang out with our friends together past 8:30pm, we go to bed and wake up at the same time, we drink coffee together in the morning, and we have so much more time to play games and do fun things! Yes, our income has drastically changed, but at what cost is this measured? The blessings and freedom this job has brought are absolutely priceless.

We bought a ping-pong table when my family was in town a couple of months ago, and it is quite possibly one of our favorite activities, along with watching Parks & Rec, of course. We usually play a few games a night, depending on what time I get home from coaching. I feel it is extremely necessary to publicly document that Kevin has yet to beat me in a game; however, this is only necessary because he is increasingly improving in his ping-pong abilities, and I know that this season of winning will be short lived.  He can beat me in just about everything else in life, but for now--I’m the champ.

We are painting the outside of our house. Holy cats, we are painting our house! So long, nasty old paint! This has been a month-long project that is nearly finished. Kevin’s parents came to visit and helped us get an amazing start as we finished the front of the house. Kevin had some time off between his job transition, so he worked tirelessly to paint the trim and the peaks of the house. (He only took one 30ft. ride down the ladder.) I try to help when I got home from school and can get about six boards painted in a night. We only have one side left, but it just happens to be the biggest side. (yuck.) It’s either been too cold, raining, or too windy to finish it up, so hopefully we will get that finished before the snow comes. I absolutely love the color that we chose. We went with a Grizzled Gray from Sherwin Williams. It seems to take on more of a bluish tint rather than pure gray, but it looks so rich and bold against our fresh white trim.

I only have one week left of coaching 7th grade volleyball for the season, and there is one week left in the first quarter. It’s always tough to get back into the routine of school, coaching, and life in general after summertime, but this year has been going really fast and really well. Things get pretty hectic and crazy, especially when I hang out with 7th graders all day, but I wouldn’t change one thing about my job! (Unless there was a way to do what I do without all of the papers to grade…) Speaking of grading papers, that is exactly how I am going to spend the rest of this beautiful Sunday. or not. Chances are I’ll grade about five papers, get bored, and decide that I need a snack, decide I should dust our filthy book case, empty the dishwasher, make a blueberry crisp, go for a walk, or finish my book… Then maybe I’ll grade a few more papers. or maybe not. my toenails need a second coat.

(insert wiping of mouth here.)

 

Three Cups of Coffee

It’s midnight.

I’ve had three cups of coffee within the last three hours. And this, my friends, is a recipe for disaster for a girl who can’t consume caffeine after the noon hour because she will lie awake in a quandary wanting so badly to go to sleep but whose body refuses to let her…  (gasping breath)

Hello, crazy.

Why did I consume three cups of coffee so foolishly late in the evening?

Because whenever you pair freshly ground Caribou Coffee with Cold Stone’s Sweet Cream creamer, you are morally obligated to partake indulge.

Tonight, the unbelievably amazing team I had the opportunity to serve with in Rwanda met for a fellowship of reflection, and I had the opportunity to really talk with my people.

There is something significant and sacred about doing life with a group of people during a special season. 

You know what I’m talking about. 

Whether it be a really joyful, happy experience like the birth of a new child; or a dark, mournful experience like the death of a close friend, there is certainly something in our human nature about experiencing things with other people.

When you walk through an intimate season so closely with a person, it’s easy to relate and communicate with one another because you both walked through the same thing—you may handle or react to the events differently, but you were there together. You experienced the same things together. A bond is formed. 

You just get it.

I love these people. We all get one another because we walked through this special season together. When people ask me, "How was your trip?" It's almost threatening. It's not supposed to be, but it is. There are so many intricate things that we experienced as a body that can never be replicated or explained. It's as if putting certain aspects of our trip into words wouldn't do justice to the beauty and sacredness of our experiences. But when we are together, we don't have to explain details or talk logistics, we already know all of that. So being together, we had the opportunity to really reflect on the spiritual influence that Jesus had on our hearts.

I know this sounds dramatic, but it's the best way I can describe it. Maybe you can relate?

Regardless, my heart is filled to the brim hearing about the reflection of each of my team members’ experiences and how it is affecting their every day lives. 

You wouldn’t believe the impact that this trip has had on each one of us, but what is even more crazy is the impact this trip has had on entire communities! People are eagerly seeking out my team members to hear about their experiences. People are longing to hear about the miraculous things that God did on our trip. People are longing to fellowship with the members of our group—they want to partake in the experiences that we had. That is awesome. That is God.

I’m trying to write a letter to my supporters explaining the things that God did on this trip and thanking them for their generosity. I want to tell them how overly grateful I am for their prayerful and financial support on this trip, and I want to explain how God showed His favor on this trip. I want to show them all of my pictures, my videos, and physical evidence of God's reality. I want to pour out my heart and share with them the dreams, visions, and prophecies that were shared on this trip, but it is hard. It is hard to decipher what to share with people. How much is too much? How much is too weird? How much is too spiritually crazy? 

But then I remember the last post I just wrote. 

I care.  

Guys, be patient with me.

(I once had a professor who told me I couldn’t refer to my class as “guys” because it isn’t gender appropriate, and I realize that a majority of ya’ll are female, but I am going to refer to you as “guys” because I can—please don’t be offended. I can also use the term “ya’ll” with confidence because I lived in Nashville for a summer, so I’m practically 1/3 southern.) I digress.

Eventually, I am going to share those things on this blog, but I need to write through them, first. This is how I best process things. I need to rediscover just how BIG our awesome God is, and just how PRESENT He was on that trip, and just how REAL He is with us today. here. now.

Reflecting and debriefing with my people tonight gave me such encouragement and motivation—even though a lot of us have felt spiritually attacked in the area of motivation since our return; I am confident that through the power of Jesus, the chains of that spiritual stronghold were broken tonight, and I can feel the freedom already.

Satan doesn’t want us to share the mighty feats of God we experienced first hand with our neighbors and communities. Satan wants to inhibit the things that we experienced on this trip, and he wants to downplay the power of God in order to eliminate our capability of sharing. This isn't surprising. The enemy comes to kill, steal, and destroy. 

By withholding my experience from others (both intentionally and unintentionally), I am allowing Satan to steal my voice. I’m allowing Satan to hinder the sharing of God’s amazing healing, grace, and glory. That just can't happen. I need to speak. I need to share.

Forgive me, Lord, for being impartial, for being unmotivated, and for being selfish. Encourage me, Lord, to use this trip as an extended mission field to speak of your power; and help me, Holy Spirit, to share about the mighty ways you moved through our team in Rwanda. Give me the words to speak, and establish my steps as I share your gospel through this experience.

And help me, sweet Jesus, to go to sleep before 3:00 am.

Amen.

A picture of our incredible team (minus Charlie), three sweet volunteers, and our beloved Rwandan gems!

A Half-Mowed Lawn

Let’s chat.

I have avoided writing (once again) because I haven’t taken the time to invest into this blog or what I really want it to be. The truth is, I don't know what I want it to be.

I literally debate writing on a daily basis, but too many things have taken precedence to my writing lately. What things you may ask? 

Probably unpacking (or probably not since I have avoided it like the plague…) It turns out I’m pretty much a hoarder, and I am really awful at throwing things away.  It also turns out that moving three days before you leave the country for two weeks,  and then unpacking from that trip as well can be quite challenging. I’ll be lucky if I can find my nice clothes by August. 

Or maybe I’ve been too busy refinishing old furniture, divulging in good conversation, decorating our living room and kitchen, playing sand volleyball, and buying front porch plants with my mama. 

Or maybe instead of writing I’ve been wrestling with my trip to Rwanda and everything I saw and everything the Lord taught me while I was there and is still teaching me now. I’ve dabbled in writing about this experience, but I just can’t articulate what is going through my heart quite yet… 

Or maybe I’ve been too busy playing golf, rollerblading, washing cars, playing soccer and volleyball, eating a lot, and relishing in the precious time spent with my best friend, Andrea.

Or maybe instead of writing, I’ve been mowing our ridiculously long, thick grass with our beloved lawn mower that absolutely hates my guts. I seriously pray the entire time I’m mowing in hopes that the Lord will show His sweet mercy and grace and allow me to cut for a mere 15 minutes before the thing stops working altogether. Phew. No resentment built up in that relationship at all... Especially since I've mowed a whopping ONE time which happened to stretch its duration over three grueling days. Three days that felt like ten.

**on a side note—I may or may not have a habit of giving too many pumps to prime the engine and flood it every time I try to start it--Praise Jesus for husbands and fathers!! 

Or maybe I’ve just been living life with my man—grilling everything possible on our new grill, eating dinner every night on our front porch, attending weekend weddings, catching up with old friends, playing sand volleyball, eating popsicles, and enjoying our new, partially unpacked home together!

(I am also painfully aware of my annoying tendency to remain consistent in tense and phrasing when writing in lists… Kevin will probably make fun of me later.) I also feel it necessary to include that since moving in, Kevin has taken over the role of "baker" and has used our oven more than I have in our home! Hello, brownies!

And now that I have drug you through a not-so-brief update on everything I’ve been doing BESIDES writing. Here are a few of the conversations that go on inside this sweet little head of mine any time I even ponder the idea of writing for this blog:

Who cares. Who cares about the things I have to say, and why does it matter? 

You care. And Kevin cares. You’ll look back on this time and you’ll want to remember the lessons you are learning about being a wife, a teacher, a new home owner, and a child of God. 

How personal should I really get? How much should I share? How vulnerable can I be in front of an invisible audience? Or worse yet—a tangible audience?

No one has to read your blog. This is your space. You can make it what you want. Four people actually follow your blog. You aren't a super star.

What if it’s stupid? What if I become too “preachy”? What if other people judge me for what I write?

Well. I don’t really have answers for these questions that resound in my mind, and I guess this is where I am at. I am going to write stupid stuff. I am going to write about silly things that happen to me at school and in our marriage, and I’m going to write about the things the Holy Spirit is teaching me. And realistically, I probably won't write at all when I get busy.

I don’t have gluten free, dairy free, or calorie free recipes.
I don’t know how to sew, or craft, or DIY anything.
I don’t have any workout tips or tricks.
I don’t have cute kids to write about.
I procrastinate and can be rather hypocritical.
I can’t even spell correctly.

I have honestly feared this space because I get embarrassed when people talk about it. I don't know why I do. When people say, “I read your blog!” I get all sorts of twisted up because rather than appreciating the time they took to read the words I have written, I get super goofy and wonder what they thought, or why they said something, or whatever crazy, weirdo stuff I can concoct in my head. 

I'm insecure about my writing. My ideas. This space.

But I’m here, people. This is me. I think I’ve just accepted that I am a crazy, weirdo. So, deal with it. Don’t bring any expectations or anticipation when visiting this blog—because you will be let down. Just like a kid on Christmas. (okay, maybe I am being a little dramatic)

“Assumptions suck. They’re like expectations. Assumptions and expectations will kill any relationship, so let’s you and me not go there, okay?”

          –A Tale for the Time Being

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

 I just had to shoot things straight--not for you, but for me. If we're really going to get to know one another, and if I'm really going to open up, then you need to know that a I'm a verbal processor and extremely selfish. Most of the things I say and do are for my own selfish sanity. I hope and pray that you, like my husband, will give me grace as we walk this journey together.  

And what better way to start a journey than with a half-mowed lawn?

The struggle is REAL.

Our neighbors judge us. You can, too.

making a house a home...

Hi friends!!

Spring is finally here!!!! We have so many exciting things going on in our life that I've struggled to find the time to sit down and write! With 16 school days left, my planner looks like a coloring book, and I can't decide if I want to cheer or cry. What a fantastic first year it's been! Besides school coming to an end, the change that spring has brought this year simply puts a pep in my walk and a grin on my face. This song certainly helps… : )

Here are a few of the exciting things that have been happening lately:

Our sweet nephew, Max, was born on April 17th, and we can't get enough of him. We got to go down to Iowa and meet the little guy this weekend, and it was such a perfect time.  Lucky for us, our brother and sister keep us updated with daily photo streams of our sweet Max!

Along with the arrival of our first nephew, we have some more exciting news to share… 
I am going to Africa at the end of May! (this will be a whole post in itself sometime soon!) I will be traveling on a short-term missions trip to Rwanda from May 27th through June 9th with the most amazing team ever! God has blessed each of us with this opportunity to partner with New Mercies Ministries (www.newmercies.org) and the local Rwandan partners at Faith Victory Association (http://faith-victory.org) to serve the community of Kigali. Please pray for the preparation of our trip and the people of Rwanda. I will give more details in my next post!

So, not only have we welcomed our first nephew into the world, and not only am I preparing for a trip of a lifetime, but we have officially closed on our first home this week!

If you've been reading along with our blog this year, one of our goals was to save up for a down payment for our first home. Kevin marked off a mason jar with price check-points, and we filled it with sugar as we saved… We didn't quite make the 20% mark to nix the mortgage insurance, but you better believe Kev has been crunching numbers trying to figure out the fastest way to get rid of it!

We have been praying for our first home for a long time, and we know that God has blessed us with this home for a reason. We cannot wait to get moved in and actually live in a HOUSE, but there are many things that we are planning to do before we actually live in our house. In fact, if you haven't picked up on the context clues I've been dropping over the past few months, we have slowly accumulated a plethora of amenities to add to our new home, and now it's finally time to add them!!!

…but as for me and my house we will serve the Lord

-Joshua 24:15

A few things about our home. We absolutely love the neighborhood it's located in. The yard is huge and fenced in (so much room for activities and fires!); however, the fence needs a little love. We love that the house has a lot of potential and room to make it our own. Kevin loves this challenging aspect and is eager to start projects and fix things. We also love the high ceilings and open floor plan the multi-level offers us. The house has four bedrooms (although two are smaller) and two baths. The lowest level is perfect for a ping-pong table and DDR, so get your game face on and come visit us!!!  

Thankfully the snow is now melted, the sun is out, and our grass is turning green!!

Our Home:

We are excited to put rocking chairs on our front porch! 

From the living room looking toward the kitchen.

Master (left), Bedroom (right), Bath (right)

 

Lowest Level (stained concrete) & Utility Room

Downstairs Bathroom & Upstairs Bathroom

please excuse the poor picture quality taken with my phone

(the bedrooms are not pictured--more to come!)

There are a lot of projects that we are excited to get started on… In fact, we've already begun!

More updates will be coming very soon with the rest of our life and our house. We are so excited to serve the Lord with this house, and we cannot wait to make this house a home! 

We're ready to tear things up!

but first….

let me take a selfie.