Two car family!

As most of you know, for the past 5months, Nathan and I have shared a car. We had not been very diligent and it took us a bit to decide what we wanted in a car and how we wanted to go about getting a car. Well yesterday afternoon Nathan wanted to look at a few dealerships after I got home from class so off we went. We decided to start with the dealership that was furthest from us and work our way back which was a Toyota dealership. We got to there and told the salesman what we were looking for and our price range. He was a bit concerned he would not have anything but he got his used car list and started looking. He found a 2003 Honda Civic Hybrid and so we went and looked at it. It was out of our price point but we realized we might have to stretch that a little bit for a car. It was decent looking but it was missing mirrors from the sun shades and didn't have cup holders in the back. We test drove it and it was a decent ride. Thus far, it was the best car for the price that we had seen. We told our salesman we needed to talk about it so we went back to the jeep and made a few phone calls to consult our parents on what they thought. There were some concerns but we knew we needed to do what was best for us. So before we went back inside we prayed that God would guide us as we looked into this car.

When we went back in, Nathan asked a few questions and we realized that the honda was not for us but our salesman had a trick up his sleeve. While we had been consulting our parents about the honda, there was a 2007 Toyota Yaris that had just come out of detailing and was preparing to go onto the lot for first time. Our salesman told us that even though it was more expensive, it would fit better into our monthly budget. We decided to look at it and I personally fell in love with it when I saw it. It had fewer miles on it, wasn't missing random parts and was still very good gas mileage. The drive was very smooth, granted most anything feels smooth compared to the jeep. After we came back from the test drive, Nathan and I talked about it and knew it was the right car. It had the four doors like I wanted with the fewer miles that Nathan wanted. Plus it's a Toyota which my family loves and it gets excellent gar mileage which everyone loves. The payments ended up being more than we wanted but we are still able to stay within our budget. It's crazy to think we have two cars now. The challenge for me is getting used to Nathan's jeep and making sure I take care of it. We can afford 1 car payment...not 2. Today  has been my first day with jeep and I love the freedom. After class I was able to go to Target and pickup some stuff we didn't get last time we went shopping, then I checked the mail and I came home. I really do love the freedom but I will always try to not take having a car for granted. For 5months, I relied on Nathan and many friends and neighbors to get me from place to place. For everyone who helped me get from point A to point B: Thank you from the bottom of my heart, your willingness to make that type of sacrifice for me is something I pray God will allow me one day to pay forward.

Five months married with updates

Five months ago today, I started on the most insane adventure of my life when I married Nathan. Two weeks later we would move up to NC where the craziness truly began. But man where did October go? It's seems like yesterday I was baking a cake for Nathan's birthday. I experienced a milestone birthday with turning 21 but since I made the decision that I didn't want to drink alcohol when I came of age, it just seems like another birthday.For my birthday, I worked an 8hour shift but the next day Nathan took me shopping which was a lot of fun. We ended the night with ordering chilli's to go and renting Car 2 from red box. It was a great way to spend my birthday.

Overall life has been nuts. I am working 28-31hours a week with no chance of my hours being cut. We are slowly shifting into holiday hours which after Thanksgiving mean we will be closing at midnight. Up to Thanksgiving we close at 11pm meaning I don't get off until 11:30. Then, since we share a car, I have get up at 7 to leave with Nathan so he can drop me off at SEBTS and then normally I walk home. It's crazy but we take heart in knowing that it's only temporary. Nathan found out this week he's being transferred to a bank about two miles away from the branch he works at now. It's not ideal but it is what it is and I know he will do well.

We have been approved for a car loan through the bank so we are semi actively looking for a second car. I'm so ready to have another car and gain some independence. Nonetheless this season has made me very appreciative of having reliable transportation which is something I think we tend to take for granted. In other news, we still have yet to find a church home. We have visited around to about 10 churches visiting most twice. I know we are both ready to find a church home and I'm hoping God will show us where He wants us soon.

Five months in, I am still beyond thankful God has allowed us to be here. It's crazy to think that a year ago Nathan first mentioned going to SEBTS and told me he wanted to move up here.I honestly couldn't imagine that we would be here. It's crazy just how much life has changed in my family. Rachel and I are both on our own, married, and thriving. These changes in seasons are never easy but they are so worth the effort :)

Speaking of seasons, I will post pics so of this gorgeous fall we are experiencing in NC. I love the weather!

Dancing in the Minefields

When Nathan and I got married over three months ago, we knew the journey we were starting on together would not be an easy one. It kind of felt like we were sailing out on the ocean knowing there was a nasty thunder storm directly ahead but not know how big it was or what it had the power to do. It took us about two months to make it to the thunderstorm but we saw it coming. The waves were getting bigger  and the wind was gaining strength. Nathan got more hours at work and I was looking for work.We started really working together as a team in order to make it through. Then it hit. Waves crashing on the deck of the boat and the was wind sometimes too hard to pull through. We started working more and then added school in the middle of it. Where we stand right now, Nathan is working 38-48 hours a week and I'm working 28 hours a week. We are both taking classes and our schedules are opposite.I have class in the morning and work at night. Nathan works in the day and has online classes at night. This is very tough. We are sailing in the middle of our first real storm and we working together to make it through. Seminary and college is not easy when you are single and worse married. Last week I broke down and got up to make it through the rest of the week.

Even though I say all of that, I wouldn't change where I am. We are right where God wants us and He is giving us the tools to make it. Does it stink that I barely see Nathan? Oh yeah but I thank God for allowing us to not only pay our bills but put some into savings. I am thankful that God is providing for us even though it comes with some sacrifice. There's a song called Dancing in the Minefields by Andrew Peterson. It's about a young couple who get married and even though they struggle, they stick with it. Moving up to NC right after getting married was extremely hard but I can't imagine doing this with anyone else. I am more in love with Nathan now than I was three months ago when I married him and that also makes everything more difficult but it's worth it for where we are.

So in review of the past three months: the most difficult yet rewarding three months of my life.

Here's the song I mentioned above:

Married life, Two months in

I know it's been awhile since my last post but I just felt like there wasn't very much that had gone on that was enough to blog about and then when there was stuff to post, I was just too busy.  Nathan and I have gotten into a routine here. We wake up around 7-9 depending on that morning. We get our showers, Nathan does his devotional and I come down stairs. Some mornings Nathan even makes breakfast. After that we just hang out around the house and we do what little bit of cleaning needs to be done. Of course that varies if one of us works. Yes I said "us". I finally got a job late July at Kohl's and the best part is it's about a mile from the aparment! Honestly, I really enjoy working there. It's so nice to not work fast food and I'm not handling as much money either. Nathan also got a second part time job at a bank as a teller. From Aug 15-26 Nathan is in Raleigh for training from 8:30am-5pm. The bank is a huge blessing in that Nathan and I can get off our parents' insurances as well as giving us a chance to bank with a larger bank. I was accepted into the College at Southeastern and I start my classes Tuesday. From August 14-19 I was put through a long and somewhat painful orientation but it's done and I'm happy to start classes. I declared my major as BA in Christian Studies with a minor in Music. It feels strange to go back to music in school after abonding it in high school. Nevertheless, I am thrilled to get back into playing clarinet, my primary instrument. My ultimate goal now is to get connected with a homeschooling group teaching music and giving private lessons to elementary and middle school aged kids. I started playing clarinet in the 4th grade so the age group has a soft spot in my heart.

In other news, my brother in law finished Navy boot camp early August and I am so proud of him and my family for making it through those two months. I'm not sure when my sister will get to move up with him but I know it will work out in God's timing. Also, Nathan and I are getting more settled in. It seems like every few days or so, we meet someone new and there a friendships that are starting to form. A family friend on my mom's side moved up right before orientation and it's been fun having her  around as well. So that pretty much sums up the last month for us. It's crazy to think we have lived here two months already but it's been such a blessing.

The Journey of 577miles Begins With the First Step

It's hard to believe it even happened. I think back on moving and it feels like it was ages ago. Once we got back from our honeymoon with set our sights on trying to get everything together before June 17. June 10-12 we spent with my family and getting my room packed. Then on the 13th we said our good bye to Orlando by visiting Disney. Tuesday and Wednesday (14th&15th)we spent packing Nathan's room up and getting our wedding gifts in order. Thursday (16th) we picked up our moving truck. We packed up the stuff at Nathan's place first and then we packed up mine in to the truck. Friday June 17, we woke up early, got everything else together and, with my parents,  we headed to NC.

Honestly, the drive was not as bad as I thought it would be. It was very long but it gave Nathan and I time to talk and listen to music. If we were bored enough we even sang along. We also continued to play a game called Penske. It's like punch buggy without the punch. If we saw a Penske truck then would call it and who ever called it first won. We didn't keep score but it was still fun for a 11 and half hour drive. We also would pick out cities that we would see on signs and keep track of how close we were to them. Once we passed the city, we picked a new one. The worst part of the drive other than going straight through middle of SC was when we hit Raleigh traffic at 4:30. With a 16ft long truck plus a car carrier on the back made for a very interesting drive. Plus Nathan was not used to the hills that NC has. It's a lot different than flat Florida. But we finally made it safe and sound.

Once we got the townhouses, we located the housing office and got our keys. Then the fun part of unloading began. For the most part it was just Nathan and my dad. Half way through we realized that the AC wasn't coming on. So we called the emergency maintenance guy who came and looked at it. He told us that they would have to replace it on Monday so for the weekend they would have us stay in another apartment. Near the end of it a neighbor one door down came over with her husband to help us finish getting stuff done. After that we went a got dinner before heading in for the night.

The next day we started settling stuff in with the help of my parents. It was nice to have their help with getting some of the stuff accomplished. We went to some of the stores and started getting the extra things that we still needed. Sunday was bittersweet with having to say good bye to my parents. I know I didn't make the most of my time with them and that was hard. It felt so strange being there by myself with Nathan. There was no turning back. We were here to stay. We spent most of the day at the townhouse getting more things done and putting more things in place. Nathan also found out that his job wouldn't start until July. I wasn't too happy knowing that we would be without a paycheck for two weeks but I was happy I would get extra time with Nathan before he started at Best Buy. I wasn't going to have to start straightway with being a stay at home wife. Now that we had a home, married life was really going to start.

Honeymoon

The thing I loved most about our honeymoon was how close it was to the wedding. Once we got there, we didn't have to worry about a flight to catch or making a reservation; we just checked in and settled in for a relaxing week with each other. Now we told most people we were staying St. Augustine for our honeymoon but we actually were in Palm Coast. We took three days to spend in St. Augustine but would always go back to our resort in Palm Coast. Now the place we stayed in was a vacation club. The room  was basically an apartment. It was 1,100 square feet with a living room, full kitchen and two bedrooms (one with a queen size bed and the other with a king). Plus the master suite had a whirlpool bath tub. Once we got checked into the resort we went to Walmart and picked up breakfast and lunch foods for the week that way we only ate out once per day. Sunday morning we woke up, ate breakfast and decided to explore the resort. Later on we went and saw X Men: First class and ate at a Japanese steak house for dinner. For rest of the week took little day trips out for shopping at to see St Augustine. One of the really neat things we got to do was go on a kayak tour in a salt water marsh at sunset. It was an interesting experience for Nathan and I because it was double kayak. It took a lot of teamwork but it was fun. We even got to see dolphins twice. The first encounter was at the beginning of the tour and our guide told us it was two males who had probably been kicked out of the pod. The second encounter was at the end of the tour and our guide told us it was a small pod. It looked like two females and juvenile.Our guide was going to let us get closer but one of those huge charter cruises came through and scared the dolphins away.Overall the honeymoon was a great time for Nathan and me. We enjoyed going at our own pace and relaxing.

Wedding!!!!

So the day finally came. June 3rd I was a mess but everything went fine for the rehearsal. June 4 morning I woke up feeling calm. I was too nervous to really eat but I did feel very serene. We got to the church and started getting things set up. I went into holding take number 1...I mean I went into the room to get ready. Unfortunately for us someone forgot to tell us that the AC was broken in the room. I was fine but the rest of my bridesmaids and family weren't doing so well. After getting my hair and make up done, I got into my dress and then I felt the heat everyone else had felt for the past hour. Then it was time for pictures and after that people started showing up. I was put into a small room attached to a bathroom to hide while everyone came in. It was a lot cooler than the other but eventually people stopped coming in and out I was left by myself in holding tank number 2. I was there for probably 10 mins when my wedding coordinator (my aunt) realized I was missing haha. The ceremony was a blur. Seeing Nathan was amazing. He had the biggest smile on his face and I felt so blessed to be marrying him. The only thing I really remember from the wedding is when we were saying our vows my dad thought it would be funny to add in "obey" to the end of my vows and so I stood there for what seemed like minutes before I choked out "obey" to which all of our guests busted out laughing. We made it through the rest of the ceremony pretty painlessly but then came the kiss. My dad said "You may now kiss the bride" but he should have said "You may now kiss the groom" because I unknowingly grabbed the sleeve of Nathan's tux and pulled him in to kiss me which caught him completely off guard. After the recessional we took pictures for  what seemed like forever and then it was off to the reception. It's funny because I see brides always so relieved to be sitting down and never understood why. Well after walking around in my dress all day, I understand now. It was heavy even for an A line dress and poor Nathan kept stepping on it during the reception. The fellowship hall looked beautiful. When we picked a meadow theme, I was worried it would look too country but all you could see was colorful flowers that just brighten up the room. The reception for the most part was a blur as well. We went around to all of our guest's table to thank them for coming and that was tiring. The cakes were beautiful. Again I was worried about how they would look and it was beyond my dreams. Nathan did get me with cake after we took the first bite but I didn't take revenge right then and there. I know I will get an opportunity later on for that ;) After the speeches and the tosses, it was time to get ready to leave. My mom helped me out of my dress and I changed into my going away dress. Nathan and I posed for a few more pictures in our going away clothes and the headed out into the storm of birdseed. It truly was a storm and it was everywhere. The right as we were about to leave Nathan's cousin took a cup of birdseed and threw it into the jeep. It's been 2 and half weeks since this happened we still have birdseed in the jeep. Overall the wedding experience was hard work but worth the effort. My parents and the rest of the family gave me a wedding I won't ever forget. Thank you to all who were there, all who helped and my parents.