im a deer huntress (so my man says)

The weekend of Thanksgiving my sweet Tripp made plans for us to go deer hunting in Taylor County. I consider it a gift that Tripp not only asks me to go with him, but truly wants me to go with him. All last year I felt rather selfish when I used the excuse over and over again that it was way too cold and way too early to hunt! So he took care of that: prior to this weekend 's trip he took himself to Bass Pro and bought me my very own warm coveralls and camo. So, I really couldnt let him down and not go.
We packed up and headed to Taylor County...and had a blast! Friday night we jumped into a stand and waited, and waited, and waited. Nothing. Saturday morning we woke up realllllly early and headed to another stand on the property. And all of a sudden Tripp punched my arm and there he was (an 8-pointer about 175 yards away mind you) I grabbed the gun, aimed, closed my eyes and pulled that trigger. I just knew I had hit him but as I pulled the trigger he was heading for the woods and we didnt see him drop so we werent sure. After not seeing anything the rest of the morning we called the troops (Brian, Stuart, Bad Brad) and went tracking my deer. Sure enough there was blood and muscle. I did hit him!! But where was he!?! So we tracked blood (piles of it) for 3 hours and never found it. :( So I didnt get my picture with him and I didnt get to keep his antlers (that I was honestly looking forward to putting up somewhere in my house). haha. But the experience was what it was all about. And again I state that I am so thankful Tripp genuinely wants me to go hunting with him and I plan to go again-next time Im bringing home the antlers! Here are a couple of pictures of our weekend hunting adventure:

*Love like you mean it*

On the weekend of November 12-14, Tripp and I were blessed with the opportunity to go on a marriage retreat. My sweet in-laws gave us a gift of a  Family Life "Weekend to Remember" at the Chattanooge Choo Choo in Chattanooga, TN. Being that Tripp and I are still in the newlywed "honeymoon" phase of our marriage it was very encouraging, but also eye-opening to the commitment of marriage.  There were over 300 people attending the weekend and all were in different stages and places in their marriages. There were some engaged, newly married, starting a family, those who have been going to weekends like this for over 10 years, and there were also couples who this weekend was a make it or break it weekend for their marriage. I was reminded how thankful I am for being in the stage in my marriage that I am in. Its new, its sweet, and its full of a future ahead.

Day ONE: The first night was an introduction to a very intense and informative weekend ahead. The message of the night made such an impression on my heart. *Marriages are never static-they are either moving towards oneness or they are moving towards isolation. Dennis Rainey (founder of Family Life) defines oneness: "Oneness in marriage involves complete unity with each other. It's more than a mere mingling of two humans-it's a tender merger of body, soul, and spirit." After each days' sessions we were encouraged to spend time between the two of us to work on a project of the day. The project usually had to do with the topics discussed in that days sessions. It was such a special time to really focus and learn from each other. After day one we were starving and tired. Staying at the Chattanooga Choo Choo was so fun. There was an awesome pizza place that was actually in an old train car. So fun!

Day TWO: The second day was a lonnng day, but it was full of information. The focus was on communication and understanding that each of us have our own weaknesses and differences. But understanding those weaknesses and differences helps us to appreciate the balance it creates in oneness. If we turn our thoughts to being thankful for our differences we then gain an appreciation for how God created us for each other to stand as a balance, because no two people are the same and absolutely no one is perfect. For the project of the day were were asked to write a love letter to our spouse. The letter was to tell them what attracted you them, to thank them for their differences and weaknesses, it was to tell them what we had learned from them and to write your commitment to them for your marriage and what it means to you. It was absolutely the sweetest moment of our marriage. As Tripp read his letter to me, I couldn't help but be overwhelmed with his genuine sweet and sincere words. His letter is something I will hold on to forever. At the end of the sessions for Day TWO we were encouraged to have a "date night" in the city of Chattanooga. They encouraged us to find something to do that would be memorable, bonding, and a way to grow closer together. And while it is assumed most of the couples probably went to a nice dinner, or to the aquarium, walked by the river, or visited one of the many tourist attraction sites of Chattanooga-the Smiths had to do something completely off the wall. WE got tattoos: it was def. memorable, its was def. a bonding experience that will be remembered FOREVER, and I feel it grew us closer together. (I will be honest-I had many a meltdown days following this "date night" and am still getting adjusted to the fact I have something so sweet and meaningful to my heart but so ever permanent on my body.) But you only live once right?! My tattoo is a reminder of the commitment I made to Tripp and is something I have always admired and desired from a distant-but now have it as a part of the new me :)

Day THREE: The last day was a shorter day concluding all we had learned for the weekend. At the start of the day they separated the wives and the husbands and each group was led by a different speaker. Each group discussed the differences in the role of husband and wife, the needs of the husband and wife, and how to encourage and love each other better by understanding each aspect of the way God specifically created us. When they brought us all back together the speaker had us all stand and face our spouse.The speaker then prayed over our lives and our marriages and asked us as we faced our spouse to repeat the traditional wedding vows to each other. The speaker emphasized that this was a reminder of the commitment and covenant made before God and each other. Having the opportunity to say these vows to each other was such a special and intimate thing for me. When Tripp and I got married we chose to have a very private ceremony in the Dominican Republic with only our immediate families in attendance. We had chosen to say vows that were more personal, more modern, and were similar to the traditional vows but more personal to us. So to be able to say the traditional wedding vows to each other in such an intense and intimate setting again brought an overwhelming emotion to us both. It was another moment that I will never forget in how I felt, how to look into Tripp's eyes and feel the love he had for me, and to know the words we shared with each other were eternally binding. I could not think of a more appropriate and meaningful way to end such a great weekend. *And you may now kiss your bride.

I am so thankful for the opportunity to have been able to go to something like this so early in our marriage. I feel that every couple should attend a weekend like this. A chance to get away, be reminded, and to grow closer to each other. I feel that it jump started a greater passion in my marriage and truly grew Tripp and I closer together. Like I mentioned earlier, we attended a Family Life Weekend to Remember and they are held all over the US. I encourage you in whatever stage you are in your marriage to consider attending a weekend for just the two of you to reconnect and to strive for oneness. You wont regret it.
Sorry to have written a novel (as Tripp just pointed out) but I feel it is important to encourage each other and my blog is an opportunity for me to share more about my life. So I hope you dont mind all the wordage. May you and yours be blessed :)

Thankful Thursday :)

Today I a thankful for:

-My Bible Study group. I have been praying and hoping to be a part of a bible study and finally I have a sweet group of girls to share in the word with and grow with.
-The mentors in my life. Thank you for the constant encouragement, motivation, and for never being to busy to minister to me.
-Again, I am thankful for my husband. I love him more and more every day. Our weekend marriage retreat was so refreshing, connecting, and enjoyable.

I am so blessed, and very thankful :)

Thankful Thursday

Today I am reminded how thankful I am for :

-The extra free time my schedule now allows for. I am finally able to cook and (learn to cook) for my sweet husband.
-My wonderful in-laws. I am probably the most blessed and luckiest girl in the world.
-Lifelong friendships. The ones where you dont see each other or talk to each other daily, but you pick up where you left off and are confident knowing they will be in your life forever.
-Gods faithfulness.

May you be blessed this week :)

Wordless Weekend: the places that we go.

PERU-Macchu Picchu

NICARAGUA

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC

CARTAGENA, COLOMBIA

a milliondy reasons to love him..this is just one.

So today was the Pregnancy Resource Center's big GALA Event night and it called for semi-formal attire. Since Tripp would consider "semi-formal" to mean jeans, a tshirt and TOMS-he needed a little help getting ready this afternoon for it. Bless his heart, he just had surgery on his knee yesterday so he was already a little handicapped. After ironing his pants I walked into the room to find this:

I couldn't help but laugh. I asked him how in the world he was ever able to find anything in his closet and he without hesitation replied ever so seriously, "babe, that is the beauty of being a hoarder-you always know where to find what you're looking for."  (I just couldn't do anything but laugh while thinking, "arent you looking for your belt?")

And that is just one of the many reasons why I love this perfect man God created for me.

Thankful Thursday for the Month of November

On this Thankful Thursday, I am thankful for the following:

-My life. I am very blessed and healthy. These things I often taken for granted-I want to give thanks!
-My wonderful, adventurous, sweet, loving husband. He has made my life better and gives me so much   to be thankful for! He is my best friend and I am so proud to call him mine.
-My job. A ministry that encourages, builds, and celebrates the gift of life.

"I will be glad and rejoice in your love, for you saw my affliction and knew the anguish of my soul. You have not handed me over to the enemy but have set my feet in a spcious place." PSALM 31:7-8

Wordless Weekend: Halloweens Past

Wordless Weekend: A reflection of the happiest day of my life.

list list list list list

i feel as though i have a million things i need to do. i feel like im drowning in list. i make list for things i need to get done, things i want, things i want to accomplish, and try my best to organize it all. but i truly feel as though i have ZERO motivation. its just plain easier to say what i want to have accomplished than to take the steps to do it. i get so frustrated with myself and maybe my way of dealing with it is to make a list.
i am so beyond blessed right now in my life to have as much free time in my schedule as i currently do. a year ago i was the busiest i had ever been and while working a job that i loved with a great passion-I was allowing it to take over my life and every second of it was spent caring for someone else in crisis. not to mention i was learning the hardest task i had ever encountered: my role as a WIFE. oh, how i had envisioned this role with great excitement. but i found out quickly it was hard to figure out. (i am soooooo blessed with a very patient, encouraging, and loving husband-Thank you GOD for making that easy on me!)
so, my conclusion to this madness is that i create list as a way to organize in my mind all the things i feel i need to be doing and accomplishing and all while adding the things i am currently desiring. and now that i have these list and the free time-i need the motivation. i need the organization to prioritize (always been an issue for me). and i need a place to start.
i envy those that wear 8670467 hats. they seem to be able to do it all. but i am encouraged by them and find myself wanting to be like them. i want to be the best wife to my husband. i want to make our home a welcoming place that is tidy (hard to do with a Tripp living there) and safe. i want to allow our home to be inviting and comforting. i want to be a coupon expert saving our family money. i want to be creative. i want to be enticing to my husband. i want hobbies (my husband and all of his friends have a bizillion of them-i have come to believe its a man thang). i want to be a part of a bible study-i feel the need to grow spiritually and be apart of group of women growing together in their faith. i want to devote time to children in need. i want to ministor to teens facing unplanned pregnancies and i want to be apart of soemthing that will help put a stop to these destructive behaviors that are creating never ending cycles.
(and as you have noticed in the mist of sharing my heart, i have created yet another list-lord, pray for me.)

OUR LOVE STORY

They say, "love comes to those who wait". Who would have thought that a blind date in 7th grade would  years later lead to me marrying my sweet Tripp?..God did! This so called blind date was set up by friends and was a double date to watch some Batman movie at the Movies 8 in Buford, GA (come to find out we were each others "first date").

Though we had many run ins over the years following and mutual friends we never really ever "dated".  Life just kinda went on...
Little did we know that during our time apart we were both growing in who were were and learning more about ourselves as we struggled through some difficult relationships and hardships. I had reached a place in my life where I was in no place to settle for anything but God's best for my life. I had journaled "the desires of my heart" and prayed over them, knowing that in Gods timing I would receive what I had been praying for.
Tripp and I were reunited in December of 2007 by his friend who was one of the friends that set up the double date years earlier. We were pretty much inseparable from that day on.

Tripp asked me to marry him April 25, 2009

and we were married in the Dominican Republic on September 9, 2009. It was everything I would have ever dreamed of. We had a beautiful private ceremony on the beach with just our immediate family members.

 And here we are ONE year later on our journey to "infinity"(as Tripp always says) :). Our first year of marriage has been so much fun. I honestly feel like I learn something new everyday! It was definitely an adjustment and I really struggled with understanding my role as a wife. But Tripp was so patient and encouraged me and reassured me that this thing called marriage was gonna have its up and downs. I am so thankful for a husband that I truly feel God created just for me. When looking back on my journal entry where I had written out "the desires of my heart" I cannot help but smile with tears in my eyes that God answered each one of them.
For our one year anniversary we were fortunate enough to be able to take a trip to the beautiful country of Colombia. We had so much fun reflecting on our first year of marriage and it is our hope to be able to take a trip each year to remind ourselves of the importance in keeping our marriage about each other.

I am reminded daily that God is so faithful in His promises. I am thankful for all I have learned through this journey that led me to the man He had created for me. My prayer is that Tripp and I fall more in love each day than the day before. That through our disagreements we understand and appreciate each other and that whatever life may throw our way, we love each other unconditionally from this day until infinity.

mouse. trap.

gross. disturbing. violating. did I say GROSS!?!? we have a mouse..potentially more than one..and it is located in our pantry!! we have heard it for a couple of days (clue 1) but assumed it was in the wall somewhere, and in living in a townhome i was hoping that it was closer to the neighbors house than to ours. But OHHH NO! it innocently-as i like to say -"desserted" on my reeses cup from my candy dish on my kitchen counter top (clue 2). i noticed that last night as i was preparing supper for my sweet husband. and then..i heard it! lucky for me the pantry door was closed. BUT i could clearly hear the rustling of some type of bag (clue 3) and instantly knew that whatever it was (mouse, squirrel, monster) was no longer in the wall as i had hoped but was feasting on MY snacks yet again. i immediately called Tripp and apologized that his dinner would have to wait until he rushed home to kill the beast inside my pantry because i was not gonna step foot in the kitchen knowing that thing was in the pantry. when he said that it would be 20 more minutes..i quickly called MamaJoy. i knew she would have a resolution to this. i gave her the play by play as i stood on top (mind you i did not let my feet touch the floor from the time i heard the beast and ran onto the couch) of the oversized chair closest to the kitchen. thats when i saw it (final conclusion)..it flattened itself under the pantry door and quickly slid under the stove. I SCREAMED and jumped from the chair back onto the couch. MamaJoy laughed-and gave me some advice and then thankfully my prince charming came to the rescue and entered the kitchen completely calm and ready to catch the predator.
At this point I am gagging and on the verge of a panic attack. Tripp opened the pantry door and another (could be the same one??? i am hoping there is only ONE!) mouse nose dived from the third shelf of the pantry on to the floor into a corner and i am sure was praying for dear life that tripp would not see him. tripp gathered a couple of boxes and a dish towel and proceeded to chase the mouse out of the pantry-they circled around the kitchen-and then tripp slammed the box over what we hoped was the mouse. now i would have paid to see what i looked like while this was all going down. what i remember from it was-screaming, jumping on the chair, laughing, and screaming some more-all while waving my arms in the air (as if to cause some kind of diversion..i have no idea?).
now the main question was..is the mouse under the box..or did it go back under the stove??? after shaking the box back and forth and deciding the mouse was not in the box, tripp lifted the box to find that the mouse had truly escaped and was now back in its hiding place under/behind the stove. i was beyond overwhelmed. so we went to wal-mart....bought mouse traps..set them out..and prayed that they would be gone by the morning. they were not. the traps with their yummy glob of peanut butter were untouched. and i woke up this morning at 6:30 and could hear them in my walls again. complete devastation.
now, i am not a girlie girl...and have roughed it with the best of them while camping, trekking for 4 days with no shower while climbing machu picchu, and staying in hostels all over central and south america...but this is MY home-the home i try really hard to take care of-and these are MY snacks-and the thought of a mouse jumping out of my pantry and running across my kitchen floor and desserting on my reeses cups on my countertops is so disturbing that it brings chills down my body. i want them gone and i want them gone NOW. so if you are reading this little mouse (with or without friends) you have until the morning to leave. AND if you dare touch my mt. dew I will squish myself into your little hiding place behind my stove and take care of you myself!
and this my friends is just a glimpse into the life of mr. and mrs. smith :)

life is a journey...welcome to mine.

After much debate, procrastination, and encouragement I have started my very own blog. I have noticed that most start the whole "blogging" process when they are at a monumental time in their lives (i.e. engagement/wedding planning, new home, pregnancy/new baby). Since I have made it through one successful year (almost-9/9/09 :) ) of marriage I really have no excuse to start a blog other than the fact I want to ;). I feel as though this blog will be a way to share more personal thoughts, experiences, and adventures to those who care to peek into my little journey called life. I have followed others blogs that have been inspiring, informative, and helpful. My hope is to do the same for those who choose to read it.  I consider myself to be pretty boring, but lucky for me, I am married to a very special man with LOTS of energy and that tends to make things entertaining.

So, this is the start to my blogging journey...or as I should say, a window into my world! Enjoy :)