Our First Year

It's hard to believe it's already been one whole year since Peyton and I exchanged vows at our wedding...and what a year it's been! Do you remember this hanging "G" outside the church on our wedding day? I found it in my parent's garage this weekend, and now it's hanging outside the door of our house. Appropriate, I thought, for our anniversary!

It's difficult to sum up a whole year in a few words, so I'm going to do photos instead. One word that comes to mind as I look back through these pictures and think back over our first year of marriage: blessed. We've had our challenges, but in the big scheme of things I am humbled at how God so carefully brought us together and how he's so faithfully sustained us. Here are a few moments--both big and small--of our first year of marriage...

The view from our hotel in St. Thomas on our Honeymoon

A ferry ride from St. Thomas over to the island of St. John 

Our first dinner at home after coming back from our honeymoon

Our first road trip as a married couple...up to Wheaton! (And, maybe more importantly, Peyton's first sandwich at Shane's Deli)

Our first trip down to Garven Gardens for the light show during Nate and Christi's Thanksgiving time in Little Rock

 

Our first Christmas tree

Our winter weekends consisted mostly of traveling to Taylor's basketball games. Truly, this picture sums up our life from November til February quite perfectly! We'll both miss having games to look forward to and hoarse Saturday mornings.

 Here is the Little Rock part of the family at Little Rock Christian's graduation this May.

This weekend we are headed to the Capitol Hotel to celebrate, but tonight we are settling in with a bottle of Hogue white wine--the same wine Jordan bought us to kick off our honeymoon. Here's to our first year of marriage! The sweetest part of time and love: I love Peyton more today than I did when I walked down the aisle one year ago.

San Diego

Together at last! Seeing old Wheaton friends was such a happy start to my summer...the fact that we met up in San Diego was the icing on the cake! Truly, getting to be with Lauren and Michele was a blessing, and I think that every time we are together is a reminder that we need to continue to make an effort to be with each other, even as we move on to new stages and places. Our time in California consisted of lazy afternoons at the pool, a quick trip to the beach, good meals, and mostly just catching up. Reunions are always bittersweet, though, as we rekindle bonds and then pack up to leave. I already miss you two! And Ily. And the Mosers. And Dan. Here are a few snapshots from our time together:

The view of the ocean on our misty morning hike

How can you not just kiss her?

Mama and baby at the beach

Just look at those blues!!

I remember being silly with Lauren in our Smith dorm rooms Freshman year and Stupe runs with Michele on Friday nights...it's hard to believe that now, more than six years later, we are flying across the country to see each other and watching the second generation grow up. Where has the time gone?

School's Out for the Summer!!!!

I know that it's been forever since I've written anything on here. As a teacher, spring seems to be the busiest, craziest time of year. But, today is the last day of high school finals and it's almost over!!!!! The last day of school for me is always bittersweet. There are always a few classes that I am happy to say good riddance to, but there are also those with a particularly sweet or fun mix of students that I know I will sorely miss the next year.

Right now I am proctoring my last final, and as I watch the students' furrowed brows I am reminded of the duty and responsibility I have as a teacher...I'm the one that's in charge of a whole year of their apprehension of the French language?!? I'm the one who is supposed to mold their minds for an hour every single day?!? When I really have the time to sit at my desk and watch them and think, it's a scary, humbling thing.

My third year of molding has come to an end, and with summer just around the corner (the weekend), right now it tastes sweet, not bitter! Here's to weekends at the lake, to San Diego, to nannying, to painting, to Washington D.C....to SUMMER!!!

It's the Daffodils' Fault!

I am having major Spring fever, and I think it's largely due to the fact that our yard has lots of daffodils in full bloom right now. In fact, they may actually be wilting a bit now because Spring came early to Arkansas. Actually, winter never really happened. Every time I look outside and see our daffodils, the yellow petals and Spring-y-ness make me want to:

1. Buy some Cadbury eggs. The creamies and the minis.

2. Pack up all my winter clothing and bring out the bathing suits and sandals and shorts. Even my straw beach hat!

3. Drink a mojito.

4. Hunt down my old Easter basket in preparation for a hunt.

5. Spray myself tan (which I won't be doing).

6. Leave school early and pretend like it's out for the summer.

7. Ride my bike.

8. Eat some frozen yogurt.

9. Roll out our grill to the patio. 

10. Drive to a beach. 

Happy Valentine's Day!

I love Valentine's Day. I don't care how commercialized the holiday may be, bring on the hot pink and red and chocolate and cute cards! Peyton and I ate an amazing meal at 1620 here in Little Rock last night, I made him pink pancakes and eggs this morning, and tonight we are settling in with Downton Abbey after Taylor's basketball game. Hope your day is a love-filled one!

one thousand gifts

 My sister-in-law Christi was the first to read this book in our family, I think. She recommended it to my mom, who gave me a copy of my own this Christmas, and now I am reading One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. I wasn't too sure what to expect, other than the fact that so many people I knew were raving about it. So, I opened it up on my 11-hour-long plane ride back from Madrid and began to read. I must admit, the book has been nothing less than life-changing. I'm only halfway through, and already am amazed at how easy it is to relate to, how much I've learned, how vivid her writing is. It's one of those books that's impossible to underline or highlight favorite thoughts or quotes--because literally every sentence is profound enough, important enough, to underline. I could go on giving you one thousand reasons to read it, but instead I'm going to write out a paragraph from the book that I read this morning.

I see what I am. I'm amputated. I have hacked my life up into grace moments and curse moments. The chopping that has cut myself off from the embracing love of a God who "does not enjoy hurting people or causing them sorrow" (Lam. 3:33), but labors to birth grief into greater grace. Isn't this the crux of the gospel? The good news that all those living in the land of shadow of death have been birthed into new life, that the transfiguration of a suffering world has already begun. That suffering nourishes grace, and pain and joy are arteries of the same heart--and mourning and dancing are but movements in His unfinished symphony of beauty. Can I believe the gospel, that God is patiently transfiguring all the notes of my life into the song of His Son?

What in the world, in all this world, is grace?

I can say it certain now: All is grace. I see through the woods of the world: God is always good and I am always loved.

Read it.

Joyeux Noel

Whenever I get a second in the midst of the Christmas hustle-and-bustle, after finals are over and before the rush begins, I can't help but reflect on the year that's past. Once the new year comes it's hard not to think about the year ahead and resolutions and plans, but this is that fragile time of year when it's easy to think back. This year there are more than just a few milestones to remember...

I got to see Italy and Monaco for the first time with a group of 18 students from Little Rock Christian.

As Junior Class Sponsor, I co-led a week-long ski trip to Colorado and planned prom for 330 students. Peyton put up with lots of cranky days and tears of stress and I loved him even more for it, though neither of us look back on that job with too much fondness!

Rachel and Ben got married!

My poor mom broke her hip in May, then her knee in December. She was a testament to us all of a woman of faith, who through major disappointment and discouragement, still reminded us all of God's sovereignty on a regular basis. She is amazing!

We bought a house!

...and got married...

...and went on a honeymoon!

And we returned home, and continued our jobs, and celebrated our first birthdays as a married couple, and settled in, and here we are celebrating our first Christmas. It's become a trite thing to say "time flies" because it's said so much, but it's still true. Every year has its highs and lows, but God is constant and faithful and good, and that never changes. As I look back on this past year I am thankful for many things, but mainly for God's blessing (that I don't deserve) and for his provision for my family this year.

Merry Christmas!