Gratefulness + Birthdays

I realized as I was brushing my teeth last night before bed that tomorrow (today) is in fact Monday. Didn't I just leave work a few hours ago on Friday?? I digress. Of course the saying is true - "Time flies when you're having fun."  We must've had lots of fun this weekend!

 

I love how God always brings beauty from pain. He is faithful and good and loving - thank goodness for Him. He always brings people into our lives at the right time and for great purposes. We were introduced to a sweet couple through one of Hunter's best friend (hey Cody!) and it's one of those things where you feel like you've known each other all your lives but you've only just met in the last couple months. Their heart for God, ya'll, it's contagious. I'm so grateful for their friendship and connection!

 

Today is my baby sister's 18th birthday. Let's just let that sink in for a minute..... HOW can she be 18?! She's the baby, the munchkin, the little turd. She cannot be 18. But she is and I'm so so SO grateful for her and her life. I'm so thankful that her birth mother chose life for her and gave my sister the chance to be a beautiful young woman, and a sister to me. Erin, we love you more than words can say.

 

 

I truly hope each of you have a wonderful Monday. I leave you with these lyrics from a song we sang yesterday in church: "I lift my eyes up. My help comes from the LORD." Wherever you may be in your life, whatever you are going through, always seek Him. Lean into Him. Hunger for Him. And KNOW that you are loved tremendously.



His + Hers

Last night, I finished a project that I've been putting off until we got through with moving. If you haven't picked up on it yet, my husband is an avid hunter and fisherman. It's only appropriate that his name is Hunter. Some perks to dating a hunter include things like (but not limited to) having all-natural meat in your freezer, lots of me-time when he goes hunting, and his prized trophies on your wall....

 

God love that man and his trophies.

 

When we moved, the first thing Hunter did was take his prized trophy, Fred (yes, I named him), around to each room to decide where he would go best. The living room wall was the lucky winner. So I jumped onto Pinterest to find all ideas possible to incorporate Fred with some cute, farmhouse style flair. And this was the end result....

 

 

 

It got me thinking though, about how this scenario is a great depiction of marriage. Marriage is all about compromise, bending a bit, meeting your partner halfway to try and find a happy medium. Don't get me wrong, I love Fred and I'm so proud of my husband for his trophies. But I love Fred so much more with a cotton wreath around him.

 

If there's ever any advice I can give to somebody starting out in a relationship or newlyweds - be willing to bend and compromise. The look on your spouse's face when he sees his trophy on the wall is enough to make you want to hang more (slight kidding, we don't have the room honey #tinyhouseliving). But be willing to give because at the end of the day, it's just a deer mount and his happiness is so much more important.

 

Now I've just got to figure out how to incorporate ducks into all of this.........

Gratefulness + Country Living

Happiest of Monday's to ya'll! It's been a hot minute since this blog has received any attention but for good reasons. If you haven't heard...

 

 

 

We've moved! A couple of weekends ago, we packed up our little 3/2 townhome in the city and moved to a quaint 2/1 in the country. And it is quaint! But we're so in love with where we are and all that we get to experience with this new place. I thought I was raised in the country but ya'll, this is country country. As is, Comcast doesn't even service us because we're so far out.

 

It has literally been about 2 weeks of moving, unpacking, relocating, shifting, sweating, maybe some swearing.... But we really couldn't have done it all without the help of family and friends. We've had to be very creative in our storage and style of this home because it's much smaller than where we were. I love that we've had to donate a lot of our things because it reminded me how materialistic we can become.

 

As I mentioned, we really couldn't have done it without people. From the heavy lifters to the unpackers, to folks that have literally just given us items to help us with designing our home in a more efficient way, to the people that have prayed for us and asked about us... Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU. Those simple words will never truly convey how much love is in my heart for each of those folks.

 

Fun fact: Hunter and I will be married for 2 years this month. Where has the time gone?!



Having {faith}

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A couple of weeks ago at my bible study, we were going around our small group (love my T group ladies - hey Jenn, Amber, and Deretha!) and sharing different characteristics or qualities we saw in each other. One of the sweet gals mentioned "faith" when it came to me and it completely struck me as odd because more times than not, I feel like my faith isn't strong.

 

Throughout these last few weeks, we've been having our house shown for potential renters. Now we're not nasty people by any stretch but it was dang hard work keeping our house tidy and ready to show at the drop of a hat. Add in 2 dogs and it's would be considered an adventure. During those times, I really struggled to have faith that all would work out. Especially after each showing would pass and we wouldn't have an application.

 

My sweet husband really is perfect for my soul and pride. He continuously kept reminding me to have faith, trust that God is working things out, it'll all be okay. My usual retort was to smile and say okay, all the while I'm running about 500 different scenarios in my head for when things don't work out. It's a flaw, ya'll.

 

Surprisingly enough, things are working out for our house. Just yesterday we received a great application that passed all the requirements and the folks are planning on moving in in October. Wow - talk about having faith. God knew what He was doing and I fully believe that He was also using this opportunity to teach me a few things. Like how to be patient, trust in His timing, actually believe what I preach (because I'm always telling folks to have faith... Ironic, I know).

 

So whatever you're going through in this moment, have faith that things truly will work out for the best. Sometimes the best doesn't necessarily look like what you pictured, but it's still the best for you.

#WelbornWoodworking

I love coming off of a weekend that was full of time well-spent. When I was younger, I was quite the queen at procrastinating. I always said I worked better under pressure and maybe I did. But somehow, as I'm getting older and hopefully more wise, my procrastination ways are a thing of the past. I guess maybe I'm more appreciative of the time I have and know that each second is precious. Who knows, but I have to say that I'm really liking my on-the-ball ways.

 

Hunter and I have been working on various pieces for our Welborn Woodworking adventures. We've mostly been repurposing lately but there may or may not be a kitchen table in the works. I wanted to share with ya'll a little bit of what we've been working on...

This 18' grapevine wreath brings a rustic, farmhouse feel to your front door. I'm currently waiting on my shipment of cotton bolls to arrive to make a cotton wreath.

 

 

 

 

We've been trying to find ways to bring life back to old dresser drawers and what better way than to add plant life to it. It seems that succulents are all the rage these days.

 

This last guy I'm finishing up now but couldn't help but to snap a quick picture of it. How many can agree with me that dryers eat socks? I'm always finding a lone sock looking for its solemate (see what I did there??).

 

 

There ya'll have it! Just a few things we've been working on here and there. In the midst of all of this, we're packing up our home and trying to rent it out. We've had a few showings and have received positive feedback - which has been great! But I'm ready to be back in the country and away from all the chaos. Prayers please!

 

 

Letters to Hunter

 

Huntman,

 

Oh how is it that we will have been married for 2 years next month? I'm pretty sure the world has started spinning faster since we first met each other. Our awkward first moments are long since past and we're quite the 2 peas in a pod duo. We more times than not know what the other is thinking without a word ever being said. I'm still always amazed at how well you can read me - my eyes give me away every time.

 

This marriage stuff has been fun but people don't tell you about the real marriage stuff. Like how we have to make hard, scary decisions together and hope that they work out. Or how all our little quirks can really drive us closer to each other. Or they way we just lay and giggle over the stupidest things until we can't laugh anymore. Sometimes, the real marriage stuff is holding the garbage bag open while the other scoops dog poop up. It's the little things.

 

We balance each other out so well - when one is the dreamer, the other is the realist. When one is moody, the other grounds. When one is feeling far from God, the other reels them back in. And we always rotate our positions, like fluid dancers on the floor of life. Moving, shaking to the beat of the drums. I don't think you'll ever truly realize how much I cherish your friendship, Hunter. The fact that we are the best of friends with each other is the driving force behind my love for you.

 

We're on a journey and I'm eager to walk beside you. I'm not sure how everything will end but I know one thing for sure - you will be there in the end. Your strong guidance leading us down into the dark valleys until we come out on the other side where the light is so bright that we will have to squint to see. And when our eyes focus on what's in front of us, we will know that this journey was done hand-in-hand.

 

I'll love you forever, my gentle giant,

 

K

Busy bee's

First off, let me get my bearings. It's really Wednesday already?! I feel like I've been in the twilight zone for the last few days.

 

Late last week, we were hit by Hurricane Hermine (not Hermione, like from Harry Potter) and she decided to wreak a bit of havoc on our community and surrounding areas. Linemen have been working relentlessly to restore power back to homes and businesses. Limbs and debris litter the yards and roadways. You can see where massive trees were twisted and snapped in half like they were toothpicks. And ya'll, this hurricane was just a category 1; imagine if it had been higher! Thank you God for keeping us safe.

 

In the midst of no power and cleaning up after Hurricane Hermine, we've been preparing our house to rent it out. We've been offered to live in the cutest country home ever. When we went to see it this past weekend (me more than Hunter, he's seen the place), my heart literally just melted and I fell in love with the place.

 

Last night, we celebrated my mom turning another year younger. It's always so nice when my family and Hunter's family come together to celebrate each other. Folks are always telling us how lucky we are that our families are good friends and actually love spending time together and yes, we agree, we are very lucky.
 

 

So now it's Wednesday and I'm sitting here enjoying my cup of coffee, thanking God for His never-ending mercies.