Thankful | Community

When we first moved to Charlotte, I was incredibly lonely. My life had changed drastically in a matter of weeks- I'd graduated from college, moved out of my parents' home, gotten married, and moved to another state. Even though married life was wonderful, it felt like my whole world had been turned upside down. There were many nights that I cried myself to sleep. I cried after every phone call with my mom. I cried when, for the first time, I missed one of my sibling's birthday parties and when I heard that my dad missed me so much that sometimes my mom found him in tears. I cried when my little brother told me he was going to play baseball and asked if I would come to one of his games. I cried when my big brother had his first girlfriend and I couldn't meet her.

My life was wonderful and awful all at the same time. At times I couldn't believe I could be so happy. At others, all I wanted to do was go home.

It took me a long time to realize that this could be home. 

 

We didn't have to search for a church when we moved to Charlotte. Josh already had an internship ready and waiting for him at King's Cross Church. This was our church, but not my church. My church was back home, in Ohio. And it wasn't until I opened myself up to the possibility that this church could be mine that this place became home.

Looking back, I can't believe how far we've, I've, come. 

We are experiencing community at King's Cross like I've never known before. 

We have friends, old and young here. 

 

These friendships. These people. I'm so incredibly thankful. Whether it's getting together for  impromptu picnics behind the church, or late night games of Settler's of Catan, or learning a new song in worship on Sunday morning, or planning an outreach event together,  I feel so at home here, in this community. 

We are so very blessed.

10 ON 10 | March

This past week, Josh and I spent 2 days watching some of our great friends' little boys while they were away. Ethan, Titus, and Josiah were such fun and SO SO good while mom and dad were gone. 

1. Farm fresh eggs // 2. Sweet Josiah // 3. Greenhouse // 4. Sunday afternoon bike ride // 5. Fort building in the woods // 6. Rubber boots // 7. Chicken // 8. Keeping up with his big brothers // 9. Ethan // 10. Laundry

Check out Holly's photos at unshakenhope.blogspot.com :D

My Husband | Thankful

As life trudges on before us and the daily grind takes hold, we often forget to stop and give thanks. At least, I do. But life is about giving thanks- "give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you" -1 Thessalonians 5:18. I've started a thanksgiving journal (if you haven't yet, read 1000 Gifts. You won't be sorry), and have decided to do a thanksgiving post bi-weekly on this often neglected blog. For now I'm going to try and do this every Monday, but my work hours will be changing soon, so that may change as well. 

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This week (and always) I'm incredibly thankful for my husband. He works so hard and studies so hard. Currently he is taking 6 classes at school, working 1-2 mornings a week at Starbucks, interning at our church where he preaches, teaches, and leads worship, working in the library and as a teaching assistant at the seminary, and working 20 hours a week for an editing company. Just thinking about trying to figure out what his daily schedule is makes me exhausted. Seriously. I just looked at his schedule for this week. He has his days planned out- every hour so that he makes sure he can do everything that he needs to get finished.

I know that he is stressed out because of all that he has to juggle, but he never complains. He never seems to get enough sleep. A lot of nights he crawls into bed with me and stays there until my breaths lengthen and he knows I'm asleep. Then he gets up and goes back to his studies. Often I will wake up in the middle of the night or early in the morning and he's not warming the other side of the bed, but instead he's sitting at the desk across the room, under the glow of the lamplight, prepping to teach Bible Study or editing middle school math lessons. One day last week, he didn't go to bed with me. And when I woke up in the morning to go to work, he was still sitting up, trying to meet a deadline.

And yet, in the midst of all of this, he still finds time for me. He is faithful in studying God's Word with me and praying with me every night. Some nights he's so tired that it's no more than reading a psalm and saying a quick prayer, but he doesn't ever skip it. He encourages me in my running endeavors and runs with me 3-4 times every week. A few times a week he washes, dries, and folds loads of laundry in between doing his schoolwork. He is always willing to help me with whatever it is that I need- dishes, dusting, cleaning the bathrooms. He takes me out on dates. He understands my need for people and is flexible when I decide at the last minute that he has to skip his Sunday afternoon nap so we can get together with friends. And then he still manages to spend time talking with me or making me laugh or just relaxing with me in the evenings. 

He is incredible and I know that I don't tell him that enough. 

I still marvel that he's actually my husband. This man who loves hard and dreams big is actually mine. Forever. I look forward to where God will take us in the future. Whether our life will be to stay here in Charlotte or to move to the other side of the world or something in between, I know that since we will be together and God will go with us, we can expect great things. 

I love you Joshua Grimm, to the moon and back!

10 ON 10 | February

Month 2 - decided to go all black and white for this post. This month's 10 on 10 is from a wonderful weekend full of family, party preparations, birthday celebrations, and a whole lot of fun!

Be sure to check out my dear friend Angela's blog for her 10 on 10!

//1. This beautiful lady turned 100! // 2. Sweet Anna // 3. Birthday roses // 4. These guys have so much fun together // 5. Puppy dog eyes // 6. I think they might like each other ;) // 7. Sweet stuff // 8. Game time // 9. Grandpa and the puppy // 10. Wrestling //

10 ON 10 | January

I am super excited to introduce month one of a new project I'm working on with a some awesome girls! Every month on the tenth, we will each be posting 10 pictures on our blogs taken the day before. 

This month on the 10th, I was out of the country with no access to the internet. So instead of posting 10 pictures on the 10th, here are 10 pictures I took on the 10th. Enjoy!

Oh, and when you're finished here, head over to Hannah's blog to take a look at her's for the month! 

//1.His eyes// 2.Morning light// 3.Ocean foam// 4.Boogie-boarding fun// 5.Walking on the beach with Little Brother// 6. Rain in the mountains// 7. Crazy kiddo// 8. Relaxing// 9. More relaxing// 10. Exploring//