Thankful Thursday.

This has not been the easiest week! I'm tempted to just grump my way out of this and say, "I'm thankful it's almost Friday". But, then I remind myself, quit pity-partying and be thankful. Be THANKFUL. Sooo...

I'm thankful for Pandora. Seriously, how else can you get your Christmas music fix in June!? 

We're both thankful for our friends! David and Robert got to enjoy a "boys night" last night and just hang out, eat crab legs, and be boys. I know David's thankful for him! 

And I'm thankful for Mrs. Kathryn Jones-Porter. She's all the way out in North Dakota, trying to settle in to her newlywed life and living in the same apartment...let alone same TOWN...as her husband for the first time ever. And, she takes time out of her busy life to shop for vintage pyrex for me, AND get it washed and shipped?! She has a heart of pure gold. 

I'm thankful for my dad. Got to have some one-on-one time with him last night, and it was so good. He cooked my favorites for dinner - black beans with yellow rice, blue cheese, bacon & balsamic wedge salad, and sweet jerk chicken. If you're unaware, my dad is like the best chef EVER. 

And, we topped off the night with watching a western!

And, at the end of the post, I'm feeling a bit better about my week, but I'm still going to say it... I'm thankful tomorrow's FRIDAY!

Thankful Thursday.

I'm going to try something new. Each thursday, I'm going to post a list of things I'm most thankful for that week, big or small. Here goes!

I'm Thankful for my sweet husband, for fixing my car late the other night (and for everything else he does for me!) - she's driving like a dream!

I'm Thankful for a huge new freelance opportunity that I've taken on. It's scary, because it's a very high end event coming to Charleston this fall. And, the director (my client) said it could lead to big opportunities for me as a designer in the future. Eek! After my preliminary meeting, I was SO excited to get home and start working! (That's when you know you're in the right field - when you're more excited to go home and work, than go home and relax!) I'm thankful to be passionate about working - and being able to use the talents God gave me - and get paid for it! 

I'm Thankful for my Daddy! Father's Day is this weekend, and I don't know anyone with a cooler, more faithful, more servant-hearted, kind, genuine, hard-working, loving, generous daddy than me! I'm truly blessed!

I'm Thankful for where I live. I get the Voice of the Martyrs email updates, and today's email was titled "North Korean Labor Camps Confirmed". What!? It said at least 200,000 North Koreans suffer brutal living conditions in 6 confirmed labor camps throughout the country. We're talking Holocaust and Soviet style labor and concentration camps. That sure popped me out of my "The world revolves around me and my little life" bubble q u i c k l y this morning. Maybe I'm the last to find this out, but I was unaware of these camps. I knew things were bad over there, and North Korea is a restricted country (for missionaries, at least), but I had no idea it was that bad. Oy. So, needless to say I'm overwhelmingly thankful that God directed my path, and planned for my life to be lived here in the safe harbor of Charleston, SC, US. 

*If you want me to forward you the email, with the exact statistics, comment below - it's fascinating...not a good fascinating, a deeply disturbing fascinating.

"Oh give thanks to the Lord; call upon his name; make known his deeds among the peoples!"

Psalm 105:1

My Handyman

Just wanted to take a quick minute to brag on my sweet hubby. 

This time of year, his days are long and hot, working in the A/C industry. My car's been having some overheating problems (the fan isn't running)... and last night after working a long day and cooking dinner, he went out to fix my car at 10:00! What a sweet gesture to make me feel safe on the road! 

Perks of being married to a handyman :) 

conGRADulations!

Last weekend was filled with joyful celebrations for our two younger siblings, Caroline and Josh, for graduating high school!

Caroline graduated from Wando last Thursday Afternoon, and will be going to Carolina in the fall. (Still trying to warm up to this idea...haha!) We had her party afterwards at our house, and despite none of our out of town family coming to celebrate (no comment :/), we had a great time with local friends, who we love like family! :)

Saturday was Josh's turn! He graduated from James Island High, and will be a Citadel Cadet this fall! His party was Sunday afternoon, and we had a great time there too! I LOVE this picture below of my silly Irvin Family! :)

Congratulations, Caroline and Josh, We love you!!

Myrtle Beach Days

Married Life adventure #1 - Weekend Getaway to the ever-classy Myrtle Beach.

About a year ago we got sucked into a TimeShare presentation/free weekend stay when we were shopping at Bass Pro Shops (David's little piece of heaven on earth). 2 Free nights in a resort, $100 gift card to Bass Pro (That's all David needed to sign up!) and all we had to do was sit through a 2 hour presentation? Sign us up!

The weekend was great! Turns out it was timed just right too, because Bike week started the day we left. Whew! Despite the 2 hour, which turned into 4 hour presentation, We enjoyed all the typical Myrtle Beach things - outlet Shopping, putt putt (which I killed David in!), Broadway at the Beach, Barefoot Landing, Resort Pools, Johnny Rockets, etc. We even went to a show,  Le Grand Cirque (which was like a mini-Cirque du Soleil) which was amazing! Trapezes, Motorcycles in a cage ball, acrobats, the works. If you're ever in MB, you should SEE it! So good. 

After being so busy right after the wedding, with all the moving and such, it was so nice to spend a quality weekend of just the two of us. Here's a few pics from our adventure!

 Part of The Cast of the Show - they're all one family from Romania - mom, dad, aunts, uncles, cousins, you name it. Talk about a family business!

THIS GUY - was hilarious. He was the mime/entertainment while we were waiting on it to start, and during all the breaks when they were re-setting the stage. So funny. Perfect for the part. 

One of the pools at our resort

Fun drinks from the poolside bar. David wanted his in his new Bass Tervis. Silly boy.

Relaxin' by the pool (which was freezing...so we just soaked up the rays!) :)

Our last day we went to Barefoot Landing and they had a TIGER exhibit! David had to pry this Clemson girl away from the fence to keep shopping. They were so beautiful...and HUGE!

These two loved each other. 

Our only pic together of the weekend...At least it's a good one!

As for our next adventure, this low country soul is craving some mountain views... so hopefully we'll make it happen soon!

The Times, They are a Changin'

As I sit down to write this blog, I don't know where to begin. But I think my mom put it best last night. It's a good time for change - for all of the "Fraylicks". (I totally still count myself as a Fraylick girl...although I love being Mrs. Irvin!) 

We've all found ourselves at brand new beginnings. I just got married (woo-hoo), Kristen got a new job (Children's Minister at FBC), Caroline's going off to college, and the big finale....my parents sold their beautiful house, and have moved. Though some changes have been tough, some have been so good (ahem...getting married!). Thus, I  am clinging to Romans 12:12 – "Let your HOPE make you GLAD; Be PATIENT in times of trouble; and NEVER stop PRAYING." I've claimed it as my verse through this season of life. 

Let's face it, as humans, we crave comfort. Contentment, being comfortable, and having somewhat of a routine, normal life. Throughout the wedding planning, I found myself saying "I'm just ready for a normal, daily life again. Ready for the constant busy-ness to be over." We like things the way they are, and big change often throws us for a loop. 2012 has been a year of constant change, so I'm trying to be patient until life settles down. 

Be patient in times of trouble. 

Last night was a tearful goodbye (for me, at least) to 344 Bermuda Towne Row. Our dream home. What my parents worked so hard for. But, it was time to let it go. I must confess, I was heartbroken. Angry, sad, and all around upset. It's our home. It doesn't seem right for someone else to be living there. I am trying my hardest to repeat to myself "It's just a house. Just four walls and a roof." But change is tough. I loved that house. The past four weeks (yes, pretty much since we returned from the honeymoon) have been non-stop packing, moving, and cleaning. But last night was the end of that road. 

Let your hope make you glad.

But, we have hope. It is absolutely evident that the Lord has provided, in what may seem to us, just in the knick of time. To Him, it was his perfectly timed plan. My parents were needing to sell the house, after being on the market in this toilet-bowl of an economy for 3 years. That's a long time - it had to go. God's timing was all over it. They got a contract the week I was on my honeymoon. I remember during wedding planning, my dad told me his prayer was for time. They needed to get through the wedding, then sell the house. And that's what God did. Precisely when He knew was best. And, they found a fantastic new town home to move to. 

Our hope is in all these new beginnings. Hope that comes with a new home to create memories in. Hope that comes with Kristen's new job - and molding all those little minds to know the love Jesus has for them. Hope that comes with a new beginning for Caroline, in starting a new life in college (FYI: I'm still trying to accept the fact that she's going to be a chicken, lol!) And hope for David and I, in finally being able to settle in as newlyweds and start our life together. We can move on from cleaning out my parents' house, to finishing our house, and making it our home. 

And never stop praying.

On Monday, I saw a verse on pinterest..."When my heart is overwhelmed, lead me to the rock that is higher than I." Psalm 61:2 ASV My heart is most definitely overwhelmed. So I haven't stopped praying all week. Another confession, I have been slacking in this area for a while now. But, yesterday (coincidentally, the national day of prayer) I was in constant prayer. Every time I had a thought in my mind, I was praying. And God reminded me, in His ever sweet voice, that He's there. Just that simple message...He's there. He has been all along, just waiting for me to talk to Him again. He loves to listen. He loves when I come to Him. Which makes me want to come to Him even more. Such a sweet, comforting, restful, peaceful feeling. 

In short (after this  l o n g  vent of a blog), the times, they are a changin'. And we're hanging on. And knowing, that God's not done with us yet. If anything, this is all a reminder that we're not home. A house is not a home...our home is yet to come.

The MiniMooners

Finally got around to uploading some of the few pictures we took on our mini-moon!

We had a MUCH needed relaxing trip to a quaint little cabin in Bryson City, NC.

Before going to NC, we spent our first night in the honeymoon suite at the Andrew Pinckney Inn. It was beautiful and wonderful and perfect...wish we could have stayed longer!

Will never get tired of looking at these! 

Our little cabin!

What the website did NOT show when we booked it, was that our cabin was SO close to a cabin next door! For our privacy and the couple staying next door, David fashioned up a redneck-wall out of a camo tarp we found in a fishing tackle store up the road. 

Our sweet mugs my sisters made us!

Hot stuff - had to run out to the car and David's boots were closest! Busted.

Our night at the Cherokee Casino! We went with $100 to blow, played penny slots for a few hours, and left with a little over $100 - pretty fun!

But first, we enjoyed Paula Deen's restaurant inside the Casino - this place was HUGE!

Another sappy honeymoon-ring-shot :)

Our cabin backed up to a huge field, and the cows came right up to the creek!

Our little cabin. We so enjoyed this porch overlooking the creek and cow field!

Yay for self timers!

I LOVE this picture of my hubby. Doing his favorite thing - fishin'!

While David fished, I read a book on the creek bank. Such a peaceful, perfect day!

And on our way back from fishing and walking around Cherokee, this BIG guy was just hanging out on the side of the road! Weird!

All in all, our mini-moon was just about perfect! We so enjoyed just being together - with no sort of agenda. It was so nice to sit by the fire, enjoy the hot tub, watch the creek, do some fishing, watch movies, and just BE. We even did a puzzle & lots of crosswords...I guess we're old souls!