After class snack

Well Tracey and I had a lunch date today so needless to say we were not very hungry for dinner. So, while Tracey was in class I promised to whip up a little dessert for his after class snack/dinner. Healthy I know. Wile browsing pinterest of course I came across this recipe for rice krisy treats.
Reeses pieces peanut butter rice Krispy treats.

                       

Hopefully there good!!

Meet Bella Girl!!

This is my precious puppy, Bella. Yes, you will be seeing pictures of her instead of children since I don't have any. One day, just not today. 

We just live this crazy dog. She sure is a handful but she is the sweetest thing.

                                                 

Seminary begins!!

     

Tracey's books for semester 1 of seminary

                                                               

    Well friends we are in Charlotte, NC where Tracey will be attending seminary school for the next 3 to 4 years. So far we are really enjoying it here. Tracey has survived his first Greek class so all is well. We have met some pretty cool people and I have started work once again as a nurse.

    Adjustments are being made as we begin our new season of life, but so far we see each other a lot more than we did when we were both working crazy hours. Tracey is so much happier and is already really enjoying his classes. It is so nie to see him happy again. The lord is truly blessing us here. I know there will be lots of growing and pruning to do over the next few years, but I do believe the lord has called us here and will truly take care of us. 

   He has provided me with a job at presbyterean Matthews hospital here in Charlotte. I have been on the floor about a week, and I think it is going to be a good fit. I am praying it won't be as crazy as my other job. But I am so thankful for that job now looking back, it has provided me with wonderful experiences.

    Just wanted to give a little update with on our life. I finally figured out how to post pictures so maybe it will be a little more interesting. 

Trace and I on one of our last nights in Augusta 

A year of learning

Tracey and I celebrated our 1 year anniversary about a week ago. It is so hard to believe its been a year, but sometimes its also not hard to believe. I start thinking about everything we have been through. We have both started our careers and transitioned into the working world. It has been a year of grace and mercy by our lord and that is the way we have made it through. It has not been a horrible year at all. The best way for me to sum it up is that it was our first year of marriage and our first year out of college.
I was definitely not prepared for the real world, where you actually have to make a conscience effort to make friends, find a church and get involved. You have to work hard to meet people and create a new life for yourself. I guess I just thought we would join a church make friends and be happy and have things to do all the time. Boy was I mistaken. We work a lot and other than that we try and spend what little time we have together doing things meaningful.
Marriage and life has shown me that I am so much for selfish than I ever really knew. Marriage has shown me more of my sin than I ever really thought I was capable of. I think so much more of myself than I ever do Tracey. One of our biggest struggles is our schedules. We pretty much have opposite schedules, and it really does suck. But instead of me crying all the time and throwing a pitty party for myself I should be thankful im married and that we both have jobs. It is so hard to turn away from sin and look to Jesus. Over this entire year I have been struggling with not making Tracey my idol. I have found when I am looking to Jesus for wisdom and grace I am incredibly joyful and thankful. But as soon as I turn away and let my sin take over I become the girl who hates her life. I am so dramatic. I mean when we were engaged I would have done anything to have the life I have now. And of course when I get what I want so bad I cry and hate my life because it's hard. It always seems to happen that way.
Over this year I have been reaffirmed of how sinful I am but I have also been reaffirmed of how much I am loved by my savior. Not because of anything I have done, thank goodness, but because of what Jesus did for me on the cross. I must constantly remind myself of the cross, because that is where I can truly see how much I am in desperate need of Jesus every single day.

New Traditions

 Being newly married and fresh out of college with a real job, I have been forced to grow up rather quickly. I graduated nursing school last December,moved my things to Augusta, got married in January, took my boards in January and started working as a nurse in February. Lets just say it was a whirlwind. Since then Tracey and I have been trying to adjust to "life in the real world". Tracey works as a manager at Fatz Cafe, and I am a nurse, which equals crazy schedules. Finding time to spend together has been a big challenge. There has been many meltdowns by me. The Lord has forced me to realize that Tracey is my Idol and I must find rest in Jesus and not Tracey. Lets just say that has not been an easy thing to do. I have only been married for 10 months and I have already been sanctified so much. I have seen more of my sin than I ever have. I have seen how selfish I am and how much it affects someone else. On a brighter side, marriage is so rewarding. I love having someone to talk with, laugh with, cry with and sing with.

This thanksgiving I find myself sitting on the couch watching the Macy’s day parade by myself. This Thanksgiving is so different than any other thanksgiving day. I am not surrounded by my sweet family. I don’t have my sweet sister here to laugh with. My family is in North Carolina, Tracey is working, Amanda is working and my in-laws are at Tybee celebrating with family. Although I am bummed about having to stay home and wait for Tracey to get off work, I am so thankful to be where I am. I have a loving husband who loves me and provides for me. I have two families that I love and adore. I have a job that keeps me on my toes and forces me to love people more than myself.

I won’t lie, it’s not easy sitting on your couch alone on thanksgiving, but I am reminded that the Lord is sovereign and I am here for a reason.  He loves me and wants me to rejoice in the fact that I am a child of his. Despite the fact that I am totally depraved and sinful I have something to rejoice in, and for that I am so thankful and blessed. So when I am tempted to throw myself a pitty party I remind myself of the gospel. I remind myself of Jesus who gave his life for me. I remind myself that I am more sinful than I will ever know but more loved then I can ever imagine.

Even though it may not be the ideal Thanksgiving day, I get to cook for Tracey and my sweet sister Amanda. I am so excited she is coming to eat with us. I don’t get to see her very often so when she told me she wanted to eat with us my heart filled with joy. I love to cook, so this just gives me an excuse to cook a really big meal for only 3 people. Yes we are having a whole turkey and ham. You can judge that’s fine, but we should be able to have a big meal to, so we are. This is my first time cooking a turkey, my first time hosting a big holiday, my first Thanksgiving being married and my first Thanksgiving in my own home. So I guess I do have things to be excited about.