Oh the places {WE} will go

Happy Monday morning folks! I know, I know. It's Monday. But still, it's the start of a new week with new adventures. That can't be too bad, right? Now that 4th of July has passed, I'm pretty much ready for Fall weather to be here. I'm ready for the boots and scarves, cool mornings, and the holidays that come with the Fall season. It's going to be a good Fall, ya'll!

Facebook decided to lovingly remind me of the time that Hunter and I traveled to Honduras for mission work and talk about memories flooding back. 

Look at those little babies! And that view! It got me thinking about all the adventures we've been on over the last 6+ years of our lives together. Some really great adventures, others we didn't enjoy so much. But just seeing how far we've come together and how God has held us in His hands throughout everything really puts it all in perspective. His love for us has never wavered.

So on this Monday, as I'm eagerly anticipating the Fall season, I'm also looking back and thanking God for His mercies, grace, and love. I'm thanking God for the man in my life that I am so utterly in love with. I'm thanking God for our little country home that keeps us warm and provides a place of rest and retreat. I'm thanking God for loving me endlessly, never ceasing, no matter how far I may stray.

Sweet Memories

There's just something about memories that always does a soul some good. Being able to reflect on periods of time in your life that brought happiness, joy, laughter, and learning curves. Memories can mold us into who we are today, shape us as the person that God intends us to be. It's even sweeter when memories have family and friends involved, life that was shared together.

 

Just the other day, I was able to catch up with a sweet friend of mine that I have known since birth. No lie. Our mothers were friends {and still are} while they were pregnant with us and she was born just 2 months before me. 29 years of life lived together in different parts of the world, in different life situations, and we find our way back to each other. You know it's a true sisterhood when you can see each other after months apart and pick up right where you left off.

 

 

As my friend and I reminisced over life and the adventures we've had together and individually, I couldn't help but to thank God for her. Lapoo {as I call her} is a true woman of God - strong, independent, fiercely loyal, and above all, loving. She loves without end and fights for the good. I've always admired my sweet sister in her adoration of her Father, the way she finds joy in all things. She IS Proverbs 31:29-31.

 

To all the women in the world - let's cherish each other, build each other up, and root for each other.
To my sisters in Christ - let's love each other and represent to the world what God's love looks like. Can you imagine the change that could come about?

It's been awhile since I first {SAW} you

My goodness folks! It's been about 1.5 months since I've even logged into this place and I'm blown away by the sheer fact that it's June already. As in summertime. As in OMG IT'S BEACH WEATHER. And we have plenty of beautiful beaches in the Panhandle of my home state.

 

Enough ramblings... What in the hay have ya'll been up to??

 

Life sort of took over in mine and Hunter's world. God has really been stretching and growing us (it's been painful, not gonna lie), we've experienced firsts and lasts, had our hearts broken and on the rebound, and just really have endured some of our wildest days yet.

 

we clean up pretty good...

Let's catch up...

 

- Hunter got a new job! He's still doing the same line of work {forestry} but he's now with the State so that means a little bit more normal hours. Hunter is currently working hard to become certified to fight wildfires (yes, it makes me nervous, but I'm super proud of him) so he'll be one of those guys that will be deployed when wildfires break out. Be sure to hug a forester today!
 

I seriously swoon over him every.dang.day (And this is during a burn)

 

- I survived sessions here in the Florida Legislature and I honestly learn something new every day. Hunter and I are very fortunate and thankful to have our careers and the ability to have a roof over our heads, food on our table, and a little extra spending money. We live simply but wouldn't have it any other way.

 

- Hunter and I have also been veeerrrrryyyy busy with Young Life in Tallahassee.  Don't know what Young Life is? CHECK IT OUT. I seriously wish I was a teenager or college student again JUST so I could do Young Life and the summer camps. We're actually in our down time right now since school is out but we're super excited for everything to kick back up come Fall. God has some really big plans with Young Life and we're excited to see where it grows to (we're looking at you Quincy, Florida).

 

- We've been dealing with some family illnesses in the last few months. This is where faith comes into play, people. Not knowing what is going to happen, not really understanding why someone you love so much has to get so sick, and not being able to heal them has really forced us to trust solely in God and His purpose. Yes, we don't understand things that happen but HE DOES. And His ways are always good (even when it totally sucks). Faith is having that hope and belief that everything is going to be okay regardless of the outcome.
 

My FIL is literally the best.

For you non-southerners... Sug (n): a term of endearment (pronounced "shoog")

 

- We recently had to put one of our pups down. I won't go into reasons and I'm not quite ready to dive into that topic {and probably won't on the interwebs}, but I can honestly say it was one of the hardest things I have ever done (Hunter will agree with me). I would not wish that decision on my worst enemy. Our hearts are still healing but we know we made the right decision. As bad as that hurt, we survived it and are learning from it. Don't want a pity party, just ask that ya'll continue to pray for us.

- My baby sister graduated high school!! I officially feel old as dirt, thank you very much. Fun fact for all you local folks - she's a photographer. And a dadgum good one at that. Feel free to check out her page on FB and contact her should you want any pictures done.
 

 

All in all, I feel like we've lived a lot of life in the last 6 months. We've rejoiced and jumped around wildly; other days, we've hit our knees begging God to take the pain away. But that's life and we wouldn't have it any other way. It's beautiful, ugly, wild, calm, and above all, it's ours to live. No matter what our circumstances are in that moment, we thank God and give Him all the glory for allowing us to experience those moments.

When the {UNEXPECTED} comes knocking

Monday morning was just like any other typical Monday morning for me - running slightly late to make it into work on time, fumble around for my badge to enter into the gate, try to manage carrying multiple items in without dropping them. And then my phone went off with a text from my mom with news that truly rocked me to my very core.

 

A family friend of ours had been killed in a tragic, unexpected accident.

 

It's the kind of news that kicks you in your low gut, causing you to drop everything and gasp in shock. It's the kind of news that you mull over throughout the day and your inner mind wars with itself on the insane thought that he's actually still alive (this is all one bad joke, right?!). It's the kind of news that makes you desperate to hold your loved one as close to you as possible.

 

Brad was a father, husband, brother, friend, son, firefighter, and so much more. He was the neighbor to my parents; his son grew up with my sister; I babysat their boys in between the parents' shifts; they are real people. Real people who's lives were turned completely upside down and inside out Sunday evening. I've tried to wrap my head around it all and quite frankly, I'm too numb to process it.

source

 

Please take some time today to say the words I love you to your loved ones and hold them tight. Tell them how much they mean to you, how much you appreciate them. We're never guaranteed tomorrow and can only live for today. Embrace today as if it were your last to live and soak in each moment as it comes.

There is a Go Fund me page to help the family. If you are able to give financially or prayerfully, it would be much appreciated. Pray for God to surround this family right now with peace and love, as well as the community, as we are all reeling from this devastating loss.

Where {imagination} runs wild

 

The other day, I was having coffee with one of my sweetest friends {hey Amanda!} and we were commenting on how much adulting sucks. What we wouldn't give to go back to our care-free days when the biggest worry in the world was whether we wanted to play cowboys and Indians {yes, get over it all you "I'm offended" peeps} or roller skate until the sun went down.

 

When I was young, iPhones were not a thing and being inside on a video game console was the last thing we wanted to do. My siblings and I were always outdoors - being active and using our imaginations to create the most perfect worlds where we could live in. We climbed trees that, in our minds, towered over the yard. We discovered new species of birds and plants, used them in our search for the great wild animals.

 

On rainy days we ran amok in the house {sorry mom}, pretending we were horses or dogs. My parents had a linen closet that allowed us each to have a full shelf of our own; we would take snacks and flash lights in with us. Daydreaming was part of our every day lives. Occasionally we would watch a movie but we were determined to live life to the max.

 

Oh how I would love to be back in those times where our inner child-like faith was exuberant and contagious. I'm not a parent, and certainly don't claim to know anything about parenting, but I would like to think that Hunter and I would make a point to create a home and environment where our little wild things could roam, play, and dream.

Little moments

Moments that steal the soul and capture the essence of life - those are hard to come by. But when you do, they make you pause and smile, soak up the time that is the present, and store it for a later date to look back on. Moments make the heart grow fonder and the evil less prevalent. They can be big or small but no matter the size, they are perfect.
 

 

It's when you open your lunch box and your husband has left you a little note. Those handwritten words make you smile and giggle at his attempts to want to learn a new recipe. It's how he signs his name "HW" with a "Love ya". As a lover of words, little notes like these bring beauty to a new day.

 

It's when you are sitting and just being in the moment, as you watch a storm roll in. It brings with it flashes of lightning that stretch from sky to ground. And you realize how infinitely small you are in a world that is so vastly huge. The smell of oncoming rain washes away the dirt and grime from all that life throws at you, and the freshness it brings.

 

It's when you're sitting by the water's edge watching the sun go down after a long day. Knowing that it'll come up again tomorrow, and tomorrow will bring its new set of adventures and obstacles. Tomorrow can hold so much, yet so little. Embracing the here and now moments make tomorrow seem so beyond my reach and that's a good thing.

 

Soak up your little moments today and every day.

Vacation Blues

Hello Monday-after-a-weeklong-vacation! Our time spent at the beach was so needed and loved in every sense of the word. I will say though, coming back to routine really does my little soul some good. We stayed in Mexico Beach, visited Port St. Joe, Apalachicola, Pier Park in Panama City Beach, and the famous 30A drive. We really are so fortunate to live just 1.5 hours from the coast. LOVE my state!

 

An honorary photo dump for your eyes to feast on while I try and get this next load of laundry going...

 

 

 

 

Farmhouse Style Kitchen Table + Marriage

Shortly after Hunter and I were married, we took on the wild notion that we wanted to build a kitchen table for our home. Something that would last us years, sturdy in every sense of the word. We wanted a style that exuded simpleness because that defines who we are.

 

After searching around for a design that we felt we could accomplish, we visited our local Home Depot to purchase all the materials. As our eyes roved over the various shapes, sizes, types of wood, our hearts settled on pieces and parts. I was the visionary - I saw the final picture, the end piece; Hunter focused on the details that would comprise our wood work. Much like our marriage, I see the end design all placed together nice and neatly, not entirely sure what all it will take to get there, while he reminds me, shows me, and guides me on how to get to that end piece.
 

 

We laid out our wood panels on the rough concrete driveway, debated length x width, concurred with each other on various things while disagreeing on others. He allowed my jumbled words to so poorly describe my dreams and visions - and he shuffled about ensuring they would come to fruition. I held the pieces while he operated the tools because I trust him more. I trust that he will align the boards properly, guide the screws into each little nook and cranny, all while I watch with glee and follow his lead.

 

Sanding and smoothing out the rough patches commenced thereafter. Paint and a light staining was applied to the bare wood pieces. Seeing something so clean and plain become a vision I had imagined, all done by our hands, was exhilarating. I already knew exactly where this table would go in our home, the artwork that would hang around it on our tan walls, and the mix-matched chairs to accompany it.
 

 

We chatted lightly over the memories that were being made and would be made at this table. We would wine and dine, host and boast, say our prayers over this table. We would make hard decisions, laugh over frivolous things, shed tears in each others' presence. Our children would learn "please" and "thank-you's" here; how to eat properly with an occasional food fight because spontaneity; homework would be fussed over and noodles will be glued to construction paper. Spills and stains will mar parts of it. Dogs will eagerly await from under the table while we not-so-secretly slip food down to them. Life, marriage, family, love has been and will be lived and celebrated over this farmhouse style kitchen table.
 

 

February {Life}

 

My sister's sweet pup decided to sunbathe with me

 

I'm not a fan of Greek yogurt, but the hubs can't get enough. We're experimenting with different foods and textures in our healthy adventures #WelbornsGetHealthy. I'm so grateful we're finding routine in it.

 

Cry the ugly cry when God doesn't give you your way, and be grateful. I may or may not have laid in bed one night, mad as all hell at God for killing my wish-dream, and yet still thanking Him through it. What I had envisioned isn't what God had planned, and I'm learning that that's okay.

 

Working out can become addicting. That's such an odd concept for me (still) but I have found that I'm craving and thoroughly enjoying my time working out. Not to mention, I'm sleeping like a champ at night #WinnerWinnerChickenDinner.

 

Change is hard. Plain and simple - moving forward isn't easy. But I'm so lucky to have Hunter by my side, and I by his, as we navigate through this life. My go-to song lately has been It Is Well by Kristene DiMarco & Bethel Music. Seriously, the lyrics are enough to soothe my soul.
 

Saw this the other day and just loved it

 

What's been happening with ya'll, friends?

Grateful + Memories

As I was sitting on my couch the other evening, I was immediately struck with a blog post that I had written some time last year, before we were married. I knew I had to find it because I wanted to reflect on where we were (pre-marriage) and where we are now, almost celebrating 1 year. To catch ya'll up to speed with me, here is the post I had written back in July 2014:

 

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In the midst of all our times together, and leading up to the wedding, it's been exciting and an honor to watch Hunter grow.

Over 3 years ago, I was so smitten by his sweet smile, his caring heart, and his southern ways. He had stolen my heart early on. As our time together grew and we began to learn more about each other, it was when he fully decided to follow Christ that I just fell head over heels in love with him.

Don't get me wrong, I was in love with him before he decided to follow whole-heartedly his Savior. But once Hunter made that decision to walk in the Spirit, I had never experienced a love and respect for somebody as deep as I did for him.

I'm talking gut-wrenching admiration for a man that I didn't know was possible. Because he was adament in loving like Christ did, loving him became so easy. And amazingly, that love and respect only deepens with each passing breath.

For me, the latest song by Lee Brice called "I Don't Dance" reminds me so much of Hunter's journey over the last 3 years. He used to be hard-headed, go-with-the-flow kind of guy. A guy that loved, but with reservations. He'll be the first to admit that, in essence, he "didn't dance."

 

I’ll never settle down,
That’s what I always thought
Yeah, I was that kind of man,
just ask anyone

 

As we have grown closer over the years, and as he learned to trust and love like Christ, his heart melted and he opened up. It was inspiring and still is to this day, and moves me in so many ways to be a better woman.

 

Thank you Lord for loving my husband-to-be so much that you changed his heart. Thank you Lord for bringing a man into my life that loves me just as you want him to. Thank you Lord for our every day struggles, triumphs, and dreams because we're experiencing them together.

 

I thank God EVERY DAY for Hunter's life intertwining with mine, and for allowing me to be a part of his.

 

Love’s never come my way,
I’ve never been this far
Cause you took these two left feet
And waltzed away with my heart

Hunter, for a man that never danced, it's been a blessing dancing with you. I cannot wait to dance away the rest of our lives. I love you.

 

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Wow, that brings back so many memories and all I can do is smile. And just be so grateful for all that God has blessed me with. I am not worthy of anything, especially His love and grace. But gosh dang it, He gave it to me and you and all of us so freely; what a concept! Happy Monday folks :)