The Best Gift

See this??

 

 Yep, it is the motorcycle Reed and I got engaged on, left our wedding on, and then sold 2 years ago. But guess what?! WE GOT IT BACK!

Yep. After years of dreaming, and many failed attempts to save the funds up I was able to purchase this beauty back and surprise him with it on our 3 year wedding anniversary.

After this I had so many people say “you are a keeper”, or “best wife ever” and Reed even said he could never get me something as good as that. But ultimately that wasn’t my goal. I wasn’t trying to win a battle of gift giving, or the best wife award, or have the coolest pictures on social media (even though I do because my super awesome and talented friend Mary, of Mary DeCrescenzio Photography, made sure we captured this moment for all time).

My goal was to love my husband well. Show him that I see those long hours, I see that sometimes he feels like he works all the time and never gets time to just do what he wants. I see that. I see him agonize over being able to put gas in the boat to go fish or go out for a quick bite at the Mexican restaurant. I saw him sacrifice his wants for me and our family for over 2 years. I knew he wanted to give me more, he would tell me constantly that he was sorry he couldn’t just let me go out and get the shoes I wanted. But each month he took me out for a fun dinner, I got to buy fun little pieces for my wardrobe or save funds for a trip with friends. He made sure that even when he wasn’t getting what he wanted all the time that I was feeling loved and supported.

During that time, when he was so selflessly giving to me, I didn’t have a job. I tried, and my pride always got in my way but Reed would remind me not to worry. We would figure it out. He would tell me not to get a job just for the money, he had our needs taken care of. I could do what I felt I needed to do, even if that was wait for my dream.

So when the time finally came that our budget grew, that my dream job came true, I knew I had to let him know I saw all his sacrifice. That is what this was about.

That my husband acted out the love of Christ for me for 2 years. He put me first. He lead our family the way we needed to go, even when it was hard. I wanted to give him something to love him well and let him know that HE gave ME the best gift. So no everyone, I am not the best wife ever; Reed is the best husband ever and I am just saying thank you.  

PS> if you need some awesome photography for your fam and you are in SC go check out Mary and her photography blog! She is so talented and a blessing of a friend :) 

Two Years as a Wife

Today has made it two years that I've been a wife. 

I don't feel like it's been two years, but at the same time I feel like I can't remember a day with out him. It is amazing how your life changes once you're married and it is even more amazing to me how much more it continues to change! Reed and I thought we knew everything about each other, then we got married and I remember being so surprised by so much about him. And I keep being surprised, some how I just found out this summer Reed doesn't like watermelon. I'm pretty sure if I knew that sooner it may have been a deal breaker ;) 

But seriously, there are so many things that make up for him being a weirdo and not liking watermelon that I think we are gonna make it. Other than that shocker we've had so many other lessons over the past year. Like budgeting, man the first year was so fun we didn't think about money we just enjoyed life and spoiled each other as much as we could. This year we've really buckled down and have a set budget with spending amounts and we have learned how to keep each other accountable. (You can check out our budget system here!)

Along with learning how to budget we've also learned the difference between dreams and goals. Obviously, both of these things are important but there is a huge difference. I've had to learn that even though not every one of my dreams are coming true (like owning our very own, completely renovated by me, home) it doesn't mean that I'm not meeting my goals. I've found that my goals are more important things, like the memories being made in the home, and not what the kitchen looks like (thats a dream). Dreaming is great, and Reed is putting up with me and all those dreams; some times on Saturdays he indulges my dreams by letting me make some ridiculous project that we don't really "need". Through this I've learned that with a plan and a goal I can reach dreams that I didn't even think I had!

I've got big dreams for us, and we have goals set but realize that life happens and it's beautiful that way. So this next year we may not know what we are going to do, but I have a feeling we will be continuously surprised by small things like watermelon and also learn how to do life together more fully.

I think that has been my favorite part of our second year of marriage. We've known each other forever, dated and knew we would spend forever together from almost the beginning. But we still had our own lives. Even our first year of marriage, with still being in school our lives were pretty separate. It was an amazing time and I would never go back to change it, but we were basically really awesome roommates. This past year we've found roles that fit our lives TOGETHER. And I'm not just talkin about me finally getting over my dislike of doing dishes. I mean that we've learned that doing the dishes is something we do because it needs to be done and when we can do those things we then have time to do life! Ya know like; camping, fishing, working in the shop/studio, watching dumb shows on TV, sitting and planning trips, and so so much more. That is what life is, not who is going to bring home the bacon and who is gonna clean the skillet.

So this year my prayer is that I'll learn how to follow my husband with a more humble and generous heart. I've learned to trust him with decisions that I wanted to be the one making and it has proven to do nothing but improve so many areas of our marriage.

I also pray that I will be continuously reminded of my vows for the rest of marriage. This past year I've been reminded constantly of the part of my vows that said "where you go I will go". That means I need to be understanding in the fact that York is where he has decided to take our family and despite the struggle of my ability to find a job. I hope I can live up to my vows not just in my actions but also in how my heart because Reed is a good man who deserves to have someone trust him fully. 

It blows my mind how much we've both learned. We've moved to a new place, gotten over the struggle of finding friends, and come to peace with the fact that my place is at home and not in the work field for the time being. I'm so grateful that I've had a year to learn to be a wife with out the stress of a job. I've been fully dependent on my husband but learned how to be strong for him regardless. We've learned that sometimes it is better to live with less instead of being miserable with more. We've learned how to linger together whenever we can. It has been amazing how much time we have had just the two of us, and how much we've helped one another grow with out the distractions of other people. 

I'm ready for year 3! Bring it on, life just keeps getting better as we figure out the little nuances of being married. I can't wait for all the other watermelon size surprises! 

This post is a little scatter brained and I'm sorry but man we've grown in just a years time. 

So now I'll address our photos. These are just some simple pictures Reed and I took ourselves one afternoon on the ranch. I think you can see a huge transformation in our physical appearance but also in how we interact with one another. Obviously we have become even more comfortable in our lives together and think these photos reflect that perfectly! 

If you have nothing else to do with your life and wanna Reed more sappy stuff about me and my man you can check out our other "marriage" posts here (yes that includes 3 sets of wedding photos way back in there)!

Social Media and Being A Supportive Wife

I'm just going to admit it, I've become totally addicted to Social Media. It sounds horrible, and yes addiction is a bad thing regardless of what it is to, but I don't think all social media deserves a bad wrap. The internet, social media, and blogging have kept me sane while I get used to living in a  new town and becoming a stay at home wife. I've met great friends and started some pretty awesome friendships because of my use of Instagram and other social medias. 
I'm not saying to ditch the real world, but I wanted to let you all know I'm not wanting to bash social media with this post either. 

Despite my fond feelings for social media I realized recently that maybe some of my language isn't really painting the most supportive picture of my life. I think we are all guilty of this some times. We want to be "real" so we share struggles, issues, and just our every day life. Thats all fine and dandy! But sometimes those should be thought out a little bit more before we hit that share button.

Soul Settling

We have officially been York, SC residence for 3 weeks and 4 days. I've finished the kitchen {mostly, I still plan on painting the floor, getting a spice rack, and possibly refacing the cabinets. But those are all projects for down the road.} finished the living room {except covering our big chair} and bathroom. I've still got a LOT to do for the studio/guest room and mostly just cosmetic fun stuff in the bedroom. I promised Reed that I would try and mash our two styles better this time, at the tiny house I basically just hung my art and all my funky colors easily took over the house. Having the attic is helping a lot, because I don't feel like all of my stuff has to be up on a wall. We have the space to store it for later, ya know like this winter when I decide to redecorate :) 

Sunflower field on the Ranch 

So I realized that I've shared the house and how the make overs are happening but I haven't shared much about life in general. If you follow me on Instagram then you see pictures of the Farm/Ranch pretty often. It is stunning and I absolutely LOVE living some place that has such spectacular views. But unless you are one of my closest friends you probably haven't heard much else.

I realized on Wednesday that I've pretended to be settled in the house. I've had fun decorating, painting, and crafting like always but I haven't totally settled. This hit me when I forced myself to do a load of laundry (that wasn't sheets or towels) and unpack my clothes. Yep it had been 3 weeks and I was STILL not unpacked. I don't know what I have been doing. But I know I wasn't really settled.

I thought it may do me good to share why I feel that I haven't totally settled in my soul. 

Old Town, Rock Hill 

I think most of it has to do with what my future looks like. I'm a planner and I love planning. I like knowing what is coming next and that I'm gonna be busy for the next however long. But moving here I dropped all of that. I didn't have a plan, I don't have things I HAVE to do. I've learned that if I don't have set projects or goals for the day that I literally do nothing. Even when dishes are stacking up in the sink and I could easily wash every dish in the house 700 times in the day because thats how bored I am, I still do nothing. I'm not good at taking care of the house. Usually I have a clean house, and I cook dinner, and take showers, and do productive things. But I've found that if I don't have a reason  like a project, or class, or work to get up and do, that I don't DO anything. Right now I look around the house and I've pulled the back cushions off the sofa, dishes are all over the kitchen, all the floors need a good sweeping, and some how Reed and I have 10 dirty towels that haven't gotten washed all hanging on the bathroom door. I have lots to do but I can't force myself to do them. I need to but I don't.

After talking to a friend about this we decided that laziness strikes like a sly and sneaky snake. It sneaks up, I know I'm not doing anything and yeah thats lazy but I think laziness really becomes an issue when you KNOW and acknowledge you are just being lazy and STILL refuse to get up. I'm struggling, like seriously. The things I want to get up and do require money, and after the move we just don't have it in our budget for me to go out and buy all new curtains, or even fabric to make any! Its hard not having my creative juices flowing everyday just for a few hours. I watch HGTV and get so annoyed that I can't have that, not always the house but that job! I want to be able to redecorate, repurpose, and  be creative every day with some one else's stuff and money!

This has been the first time that my thankful instagram posts have been pretty forced. I'm glad I'm keeping it going but man I don't feel thankful like I should. We have been so blessed by this job. How many college graduates get there dream job that they could keep as a life long career 2 weeks after graduation? Not many, but Reed did. I'm so thankful, he has worked so hard to get to where he is and he loves it. He has worked odd jobs that he has enjoyed and some that he hasn't enjoyed. So having a job that is hard, challenging, and different everyday is everything he could have asked for. Then on top of the amazing job he has made friends with his boss, they eat lunch together almost everyday and have a cold beer together at the end of each day. I'm so glad that he has found a mentor and friend, its so unbelievable to know that we are taken care of and that the people WANT Reed here and will help us make that happen. 

 {I got to ride around with Reed one morning to count the cows,  it was a sweet time seeing what he does daily}

Not only have we been blessed by a dream job, but its a job that comes with a home. It may not be everything I ever dreamed but it is a home that I get to do as I please with AND not pay rent. Reed and I are going to be able to really practice saving and tithing in this stage of life and are so excited to see how we can learn from that for the future. Not paying rent not only allows us to save and tithe but gives me the chance to find what I want. I'm not pressured to find a job so we can live. Obviously more money is nice but at this point we aren't feeling the pressure that we are gonna miss rent or not be able to get groceries and gas. 

Our back yard 

The Front porch 

I want a job, I'm unhappy and have become lazy because I'm bored. 

I hate this. Not where we are, this is something I never could have even thought to ask for. Being blessed with time to be bored is unreal! Now I need to honor this blessing by making something of my time! I've got to learn how to be a better wife and clean the house and do the laundry and cook dinner even when I don't want to. I need to show Reed that I'm proud of him and that I support him working so hard every day and I can do that by making our house a home and someplace he wants to come home to and invite friends over. I can use this time to make more art! I've always wanted time to grow my blog and etsy store, and now that I'm blessed with time I need to do it! I need to better my body, not that I'm unhappy with it but if I get in the habit of taking better care of it with small little work outs and runs then later in the future I wont have to worry so much. And mostly I need to make a habit of spending time with the Lord each day. He is the one who has blessed us. He has taken care of us better than anyone ever could have. And by being lazy and bored I'm slapping him in the face, basically not being grateful for the blessing he has so generously given us.

I'm starting to get better, I'm forcing myself to do things through out the day. I hope I get busy soon and I pray that I can handle it when it happens. I'm thankful for everything we have and for the summer that has given me the chance to learn and grow already. Hopefully I will finish up some of the other projects around the house and share more with you soon. I'm thankful to have y'all hear to talk to, sorry if this was long and wasn't fun and creative like you were hoping :)

New Chapters

Long time no see! I've been thinking about yall for a long time now I've just needed to figure a little bit of life out before I got back to my regular posts :) 

I've been going non stop for the last 3 months. 

This busyness was expected and welcomed, but boy was it harder than I thought! 

Over the past few weeks not only have Reed and I made some big decisions but we have also had some major events happening around the house. I've had my senior show in Lee Gallery and had a sculpture be selected to be part of the Contemporaries Artist of the Year gala. Then Reed and I BOTH just took a walk across the stage of Little John and are now Clemson graduates! 

It was hectic and crazy but so amazing to share my graduation day with the man I share my life with. 

Even though I always wanted to get married in school it never crossed my mind that I would be sharing another mile stone celebration with the man I love. I still can't get over how cool it is that in less than a year and a half we will have gotten engaged, married, and graduated together! 

I love it!

I thought I would share some of the pictures as the beginning of all of my updating posts :)

Trust me I have a lot to catch you up on! 

It is so unreal to not be a student any longer. I mean seriously I've been nothing but a student for 17 years of my life, that means only FIVE years of not being a student and I wasn't even old enough to really remember those! WEIRD. 

But Reed and I are starting this new phase together, so it isn't as scary as I thought. God has blessed us beyond measure with support from friends and family and is pouring his blessings on us daily. 

I'm so proud of how we have sat down to discuss our plans with everything from budgeting to dreams. It is weird to be an official adult. I don't feel old enough at all. But I know the Lord is with us always. And one thing that is giving me the most comfort are the lyrics from a song we sing at church

"I know who goes before me

I know who stands behind

the God of angel armies

Is always by my side!" 

Knowing that no matter what Reed and I choose as our next step that God has already been there, and that he is going behind us, and standing beside us is SO unbelievably comforting. 

Thank you to everyone who has supported us! 

My Baby Tepe

I feel like I've talked a lot about our new puppy, Tepe. 

But she is just so cute and cuddly!

She is 18 weeks old and already 25lbs! She is growing up so fast and I DO NOT LIKE IT :) 

But, she still likes to cuddle and thinks that she should always be touching someone. 

Yesterday we had to take her to get spayed. 

I was a total nervous wreck and just didn't want to admit that my little Tepe is growing up!

So basically I went down memory lane and looked at every picture and video we have of her from the first day we got her, January 8th. 

And now I'm gonna share some of my favorites with you! 

(if you follow me on instagram then you have probably seen a few of these before)
Also, please excuse the quality. Most of these are taken with my phone.

Day 1! Just leaving the shelter in Liberty, still nameless at this point :) 

Finally home and needed a bath.

Aren't those eye just killer?!

Yes, she is on our counter top. Don't judge, I cleaned it super good after. I just wanted some light from the window. We were having a photo shoot with her new collars :) 

You can see the post about the hand made collars from Etsy HERE. 

more beautiful eyes :)

Here is a series of photos I like to call "Tepe getting comfortable" 

When she was little she did not like her crate. We would try to get her to go in with food and everything but she would hang her little bitty legs out. 

Yes she fell asleep like that. 

Tepe doesn't like to sit on the floor. She will find anything to sit on as long as its not the floor. 

Laundry basket. 

Bar Stool

Reeds hunting bag

And her favorite. 

FEET. 

And this is Tepe in the car. 

She LOVES the car, one day we left the door open and she just sat in the passenger seat for an hour :) 

 She thinks she can drive. 

And always wants to be close to the driver. 

 

But then passes out in the back seat. 

These are from yeasterday after her surgery. She had us both so worried. 

She got sick twice once we got her home and was so not interested in anything related to food. 

She just looked so out of it :( 

And then this morning after LOTS of sleep she was ready to roll :) 

 This is our most recent family portrait. All cuddled up on the sofa watchin TV. 

No we didn't pose her she did that all on her own :)