Fall Retreat 2014

This past weekend we went on fall retreat with the SOC. I promise it felt like Christmas morning when I woke up last Friday. 1. It was freezing in my apartment 2. because I knew we were leaving that day for retreat!!!!   There is just something SO refreshing and encouraging about being away, with hardly any cell phone reception, with your brothers and sisters in Christ for a WHOLE weekend! Plus, being in one of the most beautiful places!!!! We went to Camp Discovery, which is about 45 mins away from Cookeville. We had over 70 people this year. 70!!!!! We had to take 3 vans and some people drove up separately as well.   We had a "stress session" the girls and guys split up into separate groups. There were rules though which I thought were appropriate: -Don't talk about someone that's not there to defend themselves. -You are a Christian, act like it (no gossiping or tattling) -It's not a confession session (don't feel the need to confess all of the things you have ever done wrong) At first none of the girls really wanted to say anything but then someone said something and then everyone started. It was so good! Galatians 6:2 tells us to "Bear one another's burdens" and that is exactly what we did. There were tears and there was laughter but mostly there was encouragement. I have never been more proud to be apart of such a great group of girls.   I left Camp Discovery feeling closer to all those sweet girls and refreshed!  

The girls!

 

 

 

 

   It was the best weekend, with the best people, at the best place!                                     

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Fall Retreat 2014

NASHVILLE

If you are following along on Instagram then you saw last night where I announced that Matthew has accepted a position with a CPA firm in Nashville! A LOT of prayers, spreadsheets and decisions were made last week. He graduates in 59 days (WHAA) with his MBA and then starts work shortly after that! His hard work is finally paying off and I am so very proud of him! I can't wait to see how God is going to use him there and in Nashville. I also can't wait to call Nashville our home once we get married!!

Yesterday was an exciting day! It's fall break and I was able to take off from work.

So we spent the day in Nashville looking at apartments/town homes! Matthew will move to Nashville first and I'll stay in Cookeville until we get married. Once we get married I will move to Nashville with him! So, the place we rent or buy is a decision that will be made by the both of us since, Lord willing, that we be the place I move into, after we are married of course.

Talk about exciting!!!!

I still can't believe everything is coming together so quickly! We have talked about where we were going to end up for a long time. If we are being honest we were a little disappointed it wasn't Chattanooga. Matthew's older brother is there, we love the town and he really liked the accounting firm there. We really thought we would end up in Chattanooga, but that just goes to prove that God has a plan that's bigger than our own, and honestly that is so comforting to know.

We are very excited about Nashville and the opportunities we will have there. The company Matthew will be working for is GREAT, and we have heard only good things about them. He is SO excited.

We are so blessed.

We looked up places online this past weekend so we would know where to look and where to avoid. I am so glad we actually were able to see them in person. The first set of apartments were just nasty and didn't look safe. On top of that the prices for a one bedroom literally double what I pay for my one bedroom now. We knew prices would be higher in Nashville, but that definitely caught us of guard. Especially for all the extras that aren't optional.

We did tour a town home that we just fell in love with. The area it's in is nice an quiet off the main road, it looked safe and friendly. We just aren't sure if it will fit in our budget starting out.

If anything, touring it gave us plenty of motivation to SAVE, SAVE, SAVE and SAVE some more!

Please keep Matthew in your prayers as he wraps up this semester and starts this new season of life!

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NASHVILLE

Sweet Ila Mae's barn sale

I went to my first barn sale this past weekend and I fell in love. I could have spent the whole day there if I had the time. Think: shabby chic homemade crafts. They had everything there from homemade signs/windows/ornaments to homemade soaps and some pies :)   Sweet Ila Mae's barn sale is where tons and tons of vendors come out and sale their homemade goodness. These people have worked hard crafting away. For some of them this is their job. I met a guy who does wood working. He had homemade wooden benches that were to die for. He makes stuff, loads it in his trailer, and travels around to nearby sales like this. How fun is that?   Everyone was so nice and welcoming, too! It was about 50 minutes away from Cookeville, in the small town of Quebeck, Tennessee. We turned off the main road and drove down an old road for about 5 minutes until we finally were there. I'll let the pictures explain the rest :)

 Driving up to it...how cute is this?!

 

  (Sorry for the iPhone quality)

They had live music, too!

  Kat and Sarah drove up for it, too! So much fun!!

 

 

  I ended up only buying a cute shirt and some homemade soaps. There were a TON of things I wanted to buy but I limited myself (Matthew, be proud!!). The next barn sale is in June and I am already on the countdown!!   Have you ever been to a barn sale?

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Sweet Ila Mae's barn sale

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Watching...Friday Night Lights, still! I am finally on season five. Love me some coach Taylor ;)   Drinking...Spark! Fruit punch flavor, it is SO good!   Enjoying...This season of life. I mentioned yesterday how things are going to be changing soon and a new chapter will begin. I remember Matthew always talking about how fun intramurals were and how big of a deal they were to everyone here at Tech. I am so glad I am able to experience them now with him and everyone else. From long distance for three years to finally being in the same town, God knew better than we did (as always) and we couldn't be more grateful! Soaking up every second of Matthew's last semester here in Cookeville.

Our new intramural shirts ;)

 

Wishing...I had a few more hours to sleep in this morning ;)   Needing...to clean my apartment.

 

Loving...These sunsets lately!! There are probably 30 pictures of sunsets in my camera roll right now but Tennessee has some of THE best sunsets :)

 

Excited...for the singing tonight! This semester we have started having a singing every other Wednesday night at the SOC house after church. It is incredible. There is nothing better than singing praises with 30+ people in a small house.

 

Doodling....Lately I have been cranking out one or two random ones a day. Here is one I did the other day. It took a little longer to make than I expected but I loved it. I have learned this helps pass the work day a little faster ;)

 

HAPPY OCTOBER!

Today starts the best three months of the year, in my opinion ;)

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