There's a first time for everything

We just got home today from another fun-filled weekend with our Washington friends. We managed to tailgate for 6 hours in the nonstop rain and make it through the first (almost) 2 quarters of the ECU football game. What an awesome time. There is just nothing like a college football game, on the home field of your Alma Mater. Anyways, I digress...

We were talking, as usual, and we realized all of the "firsts" I have experienced since these great folks came into my life. And we decided that I needed to document all of these things. So, here it goes:

1. My first grown-up-full-time-teaching job. I started my student teaching with the amazing Kim Copeland, which was next door to the hilarious Merilynn Crisp. I ended up in my own classroom at the same school 1 year later near the fabulous Emily Bland. What would I do without these ladies in my life? They have become some of Dustin and I's favorite people to spend our weekends with. 

2. My first time holding a newborn baby. Weird I know. And maybe I held my brother when he was a newborn and I was like 3. But, the first time the grown up me held a newborn baby was at Down on Main at one of our monthly girls nights. And, BTW, that newborn baby just turned 3.

3. My first time at a funeral visitation. This was not such a fun experience, but it was a first nonetheless. I am thankful and lucky to not have had to attend one of these until the ripe ol' age of 23. And glad to have that "first" over with. 

4. My first (and only) time living alone. And by alone, I mean all alone. No roommates, nothing. Just me and my Sophie-dog. This should prove how much I love these girls- I was willing to live alone just to continue to work and play with them daily!

5. My first time calling 911. Oh dear. This story. There aren't enough words to describe this one. Let's just say that we came across a man, laying in the street- literally in the street, across from my house (where I lived ALONE). The guy was drunk? Or high? We still don't know. But I called 911 and Meri talked him through it, if you want to call it that. What is important is that he was not there when I returned the next day (because there was NO way I was sleeping in the house alone after finding that crazy clown man outside). 

6. My first time tailgating in an RV, which is definitely the way to go when it comes to a tailgate. Every time I had to pee, which if you know me is a lot, I did not have to walk to the Port-a-potty. Or the nearest woods. I was actually able to use a somewhat regular bathroom. Luxury I tell ya!

7. My first time buying gold, which explains why we are the "gold girls". Miss those gold days!

A lot of memories have been made with these girls, and I look forward to many more "firsts" together! Here are a few pics from the most recent tailgate/football game fun:

ECU colored Bud Light? Yes please!

The new iPhone system takes panoramic pictures, so I had to try it out :)

Our tailgate set-up

The Gold Girls

With the Gecko

It rained. A lot. But don't we look good in our ponchos??

One year

One year ago today, I married my best friend. This past year has been the most exciting and wonderful year of my life. Being able to enjoy all kinds of amazing things, with my husband by my side, has been better than I ever could have expected. Here is our first year in pictures :

Looking forward to many more wonderful years to come! I love you D!

Wait for it...

Anyone that knows me knows that I am a very impatient person. It is definitely one of my major flaws. When I decide I want something, I want it. Not in five minutes or 5 months or 5 years. I want it right that moment. And, when I don't get it, I can be ridiculously slightly difficult.

If only I could control life. If only everyone would do what I said, when I said it. If only I could control it all. Life would be so much better right?

Well, I used to think so. But, I am trying to take a new outlook on things- that God has things timed, perfectly, for me. I try to remind myself this when I question things or become impatient. Throughout my whole life, He has shown me that His plans are even better than the plans I could make for myself. And if I can't be the one in control of certain things in my own life, who better to do it for me?

One major event in my life that has led to my strong belief in this was when my husband and I decided to look at houses. We were not married at the time, but we both knew we were heading in that direction. We looked at a lot of houses, online and in person. We found a house, in Kernersville, that I liked. Dustin decided it was sufficient, and we put in an offer on the house. I was so anxious. I wanted to know, right then, that we had gotten the house and we could move in tomorrow. Those of you who have purchased a home know that this is an absurd idea, but I thought I was special :) Anyways, we didn't get the house. Another person put in a better offer, so ours was declined. I was so disappointed. I wanted a home, and I was so discouraged that we did not get that one.

A few months later, however, after seeing a few more houses, we found our house. We made an appointment to see the house, and fell in love. It was the perfect combination of my taste and my very picky, very difficult husbands taste. We put an offer on the house, and 30 days later, it was all ours.

When we moved in this house, I suddenly understood why things did not work out with the first house. That house wasn't home. God knew that. He knew there was a better option for us. He knew what was coming for us. And I am so glad that He did.

Of course, there have been many more times in my life when I have had this same realization. That "Aha" moment, when you completely understand why something didn't work out before. It is always because something better is yet to come. And, let's be honest, the longer you wait for something, the more you appreciate it when you finally have it.

I leave you with this amazing quote, as it is my newest life motto:

Markie

"There is a little boy inside the man who is my brother ... Oh, how I hated that little boy. And how I love him too." - Anna Quindlan

For those of you who do not know, I have a little brother named Mark. I always call him my little brother, but he isn't really so little anymore. He is now 24 years old, with a full-time job and living on his own. So, I guess the right term is younger brother. 

Anyways, he currently lives in Boston. Before moving to Boston in July, he spend 6 months in Greenville, SC. And before that, 6 months in Cincinnati, OH. And before that, 6 months in Connecticut. I think you get the point. For the last (almost) two years, he has been at least 3 hours from home and at most, 14 hours. I have come to the conclusion that, whether 3 hours away or 14 hours away, Mark is too far. 

When we were younger, I remember thinking how annoying he was. It drove me crazy the way he always wanted to play with MY friends, and MY toys. He always wanted in my business and it drove me crazy. We fought, a lot. We yelled and screamed and hit and kicked each other. We had mean nicknames for each other- I called him "Rabver" (long story) and he called me "Train tracks" when I got my braces. We drove my parents crazy. As the older sibling, I always felt like I had to sacrifice things for him. Like I was expected to be the bigger person, just because I was older (even though I was still a kid myself). I remember wishing he would just go away.

But now that is he away, and we are all grown up, I wish he would just come back. I want him in my business, for us to share friends, and hang out together. I want to call each other names and drive our parents crazy. I wish for the time when my brother is in town. When he and my mom and dad and I are all together. There is no time I cherish more. Especially now that those times are so few and far between.

I am so thankful to have that once annoying, dorky little brother, who has grown into an amazing young man. I see the person he has become and it makes me proud. He is a hard-working, loving, hard-headed determined, loyal man, who would do anything for me. For our family.

I love my brother, my family, so very much. I hope that, one day, when I see my own children fight and call names and annoy each other, I can think of the times spent with my brother, and pray they become as close as my little brother and me.

Just a few of the most recent memories with my Markie

It's the little things

Just a few of the little things in life I am grateful for right now:

* ECU football tickets for the 9/29 game with lots of good friends.
* My new, grey converse and the shirt I found at Target to match.
* Cooler weather.
* Riding home from work today with the windows down.
* Music. More specifically, "Pontoon" by Little Big Town and "Carolina" by Eric Church .
* Leaving work at the end of the day feeling happy, and not discouraged.
* Chocolate. I will always be grateful for chocolate.
* An improved, and now usable, sun room (see pics below)
* Our upcoming wedding anniversary :)
* Picture text messages. They are so much better than regular ol' texts!
* A glass of wine, especially when enjoyed with good company.
* Dustin's agreement to re-do the third bedroom, which we started this weekend.
* The fact that I haven't bitten my nails in almost two weeks!


Every once in a while, you have to give some recognition to the little things in life that make you happy!

And, here are the before and after pictures of our latest project:

Sun room before:

Sun room after

Sticks and stones

Sticks and stones may break my bones
But words will never hurt me.

Whoever made this up is a liar.

Sure, sticks and stones break bones, but those kind of breaks can be healed. Words hurt more than any stick or stone could ever hurt. And heartbreak does not heal easily.

Nothing makes me happier than a compliment from my husband, a friend or a co-worker. And nothing makes me feel inadequate like that one person who says it's not good enough.

Maybe it is because I teach elementary school, but I am a firm believer in the old Bambi saying:

 "If you don't have anything nice to say, don't say anything at all".

The only thing that stays the same is...

Everything Changes.

It is one of my all-time favorite songs, by Tracy Lawrence. It is a song about how things in life are crazy, unpredictable and constantly changing. I remember loving this song in middle school, when it first came out. Mostly because I liked how it sounded. But now that I am getting older (AHHH!), I love the song for a different reason.

Because it is so very true. I wish it wasn't sometimes. Unfortunately, there isn't much I can do about that. I am learning to accept it, but it isn't coming easily. I have a hard time with change. I am not flexible. I like routines. I like familiarity. It comforts me. And when things change, especially drastically, I do not adjust well.

Sometimes, I can understand why things change. I am aware of a reason. In these cases, although I may not be happy about it, I can cope. I can grieve and move on with life.

Other times, however, there is no reason. Things change. People change. For no apparent reason at all. I do not handle this type of change well. I can't help but wonder what I did wrong. Wonder why this is happening. And no matter how many people tell me to move on, I can't.

Maybe I just need some closure. An explanation. A reason.

But life, and people, don't always give us an explanation. So, I guess it is up to me to find some kind of closure for myself. And, remember that it is like the song says "Time marches on...".

15 things you should know about me

1. I love pizza. When I say love, I mean I could eat pizza for lunch and dinner, 4 days a week. I especially love the $5 Hot & Ready Little Caesar's special, which most people find disgusting.

2. I hate when my plans get ruined. Nothing disappoints me more. If something is planned, in my mind, it HAS to happen. So, don't make plans with me unless you intend to keep them.

3. I try really hard to eat well. I buy fruits and vegetables every week at the store, but find myself spending too much time in the candy bowls at work (Thanks Lisa and Jessie!).

4. I love teaching. I may not tell you that at the end of a very long day, but I do. I have wanted to be a teacher ever since the 4th grade, when my teacher, Mrs. Beatty, changed my life. She got me through a very tough time in my life, and I hope to be that teacher to someone one day.

5. I love my family. As my brother once put it " Mom is your BFF". This is very true. I would prefer to spend a Friday night with my family than out at a club or a bar.

6. Green and Purple are my favorite colors.

7. I hate carrots, red hot dogs and tomatoes.

8. I love North Carolina. All of it. The mountains are beautiful in the fall. You can't beat a boat ride on the Pamlico River in the summer. And even good ol' Kernersville has its perks :)

9. I wish I was more fashionable. Every once in a while, I get on a kick, where I give it try. But, it never fails, I always end up in a solid t-shirt and jeans/khakis. Maybe one day...

10. My husband rocks. I know I already bragged on him in my last post, but he is the best. Enough said.

11. I feel happy when I save money. Whether it be using a coupon at the grocery store, or finding a cute top on the clearance rack, saving money is guaranteed to put a smile on my face.

12. I try very hard to be a positive person. No, it does not always work. Yes, I sometimes drink beer and complain about my day. But, I try very hard at the end of the day to be thankful for what I have.

13. I miss my grandma. She lives in Buffalo, which is TOO far away. We are very close and it is hard to be so far away from her. Oh, and my grandpa, too :)

14. I love Luke Bryan. Like, in a thirteen-year-old-celebrity-crush kind of way.

15. I bite my nails. Right now, I am trying to stop. I know it is disgusting and I don't need a lecture. I am working on it. If you see me biting, slap me. Thanks.


There ya have it...

Here goes nothing...

I suppose there is no better way to start a blog than to explain the title: Pirates and Promises. If you know me, you know that these are two things that hold a lot of meaning in my life. So, let's start with the easy one: Pirates...

When I graduated high school, I had a tough decision to make: stay close to home and attend Elon University, or, move 3 hours away, and attend East Carolina University. I had no friends who planned on going to either university, so I knew I would be alone either way. The decision I made was one of the best in my life.

During my time at East Carolina, there were many football games attended, many beers drank, many nights without sleep, many hours spent studying and many friends made. Some of those friends, however, have turned into much more than typical college friends. They have turned into family. The time I spent in Greenville with these girls was like no other time in my life. I realized what it was like to have real friends. Friends who have seen you at your best and your absolute worst. Friends who did anything to help heal a heartache. Friends who knew you better than your family. Friends that truly were family. For this, I will always hold ECU, and my pirates, close to my heart. 

One of many Pirate tailgates

Beach Trip

Flip Cup team

This girl <3 

Caught in the rain...

Captain Hook.. He's a pirate... get it?? :)

Night at the Bell Tower

My boo!

Now, onto the promises...

There is no real explanation for this one. I have never been abandoned by a parent, or significant other, or experienced any kid of drastic heart break. If I had, at least there would be an explanation.  But, something about the word "promise", is so reassuring and soothing. I often cannot accept a simple "yes" for an answer. I need a "Yes, I promise". Don't ask me to explain further, because I really can't. It's just how it is for me. 

Last September, my husband made the ultimate promise to me. To love me, and cherish me, and honor me, all the days of our lives. He promised me this in front of all of our closest family and friends. What he didn't know, is that he has been doing those things for me since the day we met. He goes out of his way to help me, to make me happy, to prove his love for me. The promise we made to each other has held strong for (almost) one year now, and I look forward to seeing how it continues throughout our lives together. 

My handsome hubby

Promising to each other

First Dance