S E V E N T E E N.

Happy GOLDEN birthday to my baby sister!

S E V E N T E E N.

Seriously, how is that even possible.

My baby sister is growing up&I can't do anything about it but smile at the way she is growing into such a godly young woman.

For her golden birthday I told her I was going write seventeen reasons why I love her or what I love about her...

So enjoy these reasons Kenzi---YOU are AMAZING!

Oh, and the adorable pictures of us from the last few years.

1} I love having you as my little sister. 

I love teaching you the little & big. 

I love having a "mini me". 

I love that you are growing up to be one of my best friends.

2. I love the way you love Jesus.

You are such a gorgeous young woman that loves living out God's word. You have amazing friends that you have grown up with and they are such an encouragement to your faith walk. 

I love hearing you talk about the serious matters, and giggle because you don't care about what normal teenagers care about.

3) I love your natural beauty. 

From day one, being a seven year old sister, 

I have always thought you were flawless.

 You, my dear, are so beautiful. 

Your natural beauty is only emphasized by your inner beauty.

4- I love the way you look up to me.

I love having a little sister watching me, learning from me.

It makes me a better person, for you.  

5] I love helping you experiences your firsts. 

I love being the one who can help you experience the joys in this life, but also be the one there for the heartaches. 

6} I LOVE our sleepovers.

The end.

7- I love that when I have blonde hair, we are blonde and brunette partners in crime.

I love that when I have dark hair, we definitely look related.

8| I have loved being able to share clothes finally.

You have such a cute style, half thanks to meh... ;)

It's always fun to swap outfits and shoes!

9] I love how much you and Scott love each other.

I love you being his younger sister, and you having another big brother. I love the silly relationship that you guys have!

10> I love that we are getting to the ages of being able to share friends. Most of the time. Hahaha.

11. I love that I was able to help name you.

More like I really did name you.

Thanks Mom&Dad for taking a seven year old's suggestion and naming my sweet baby sister MaKenzi! 

12| I love that you were my Maid of Honor.

I love how excited you were for me.

I love how you shared the experience with me.

I love that you were able to stand right next to me on my special day and I can't wait to repay the favor... MANY years from now!;)

13) I love that you love adventures.

Whether it be your spring breaks with me at college, spending summers together, Sno Biz, hanging out with my friends, Lucee drives, our Pirates of the Caribbean marathons&our Pirate dinner in Myrtle Beach, and the many more to come. 

14- I love your simplicity. 

Our mother probably loves it even more because her older daughter was not very simple. But the beauty of being opposites, is that I can learn from you as well! 

15\ I love our Cafè Rio & Sno Biz dates! 

I love our traditions and our sister dates.

Moments that will forever be cherished.

16. I love being an aunt with you.

It has been such a fun experience to share loving our Kohen Bug together. That boy definitely has crazy loving aunts.. Skye Lee included! 

17] I have loved watching you grow up.

I loved having a baby sister, probably playing with you as a doll.

I loved having you a little older and probably bossing you around.

I loved having you turn a teenager, being able to teach you 'the ropes'. 

I loved having you turn fifteen&sixteen to help you learn how to drive and actually being able to have you drive me around for a change.

I have loved the high school experience with you so far.

And now having you turn seventeen, I love that you are growing up to be such an amazing young lady. 

Someone who I look up to, learn from, and call a best friend.

Someone that travels with me, trusts me with secrets, and goes along with my crazy ideas.

I have loved you your whole life---

and I can say that I have never been so proud of you! 

I love you, Sister Sue, to Heaven and back!!

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY!!! 

God, Thank you for 2014.

2014

Two thousand & fourteen.

The year that I was definitely not looking forward to,

 the year that I was dreading.

The year that the military would take my Husband away from me on a long deployment. 

The year that I thought would be so lonely and sad.

 Definitely sad.

I remember coming back from our Christmas trip to Costa Rica last year dreading December 31, 2013---

knowing that the new year was fast approaching.
Knowing that all I wanted to do was keep on making memories as newlyweds.

But the clock kept ticking, the hours kept changing. 

And then the night where everyone watched the ball drop, Scott and I went to bed early.  

January 2014 was amazing.

The budget completely out the window, money not an issue.

I didn't want to waste any time with my Husband, constantly thinking of new memories to make. 

We went on dates, cuddled on the couch, talked for hours.

Celebrated his birthday in Myrtle Beach, baked him a delicious cake. All knowing that the time was passing by us, and quite honestly, faster than I even imagined.  

And then, February arrived. 

If anyone knows me--I am a HUGE birthday girl. 

I love everything about February, especially since it has Valentines Day&my birthday in the same month. 

I love the countdown.

I love being spoiled during this month. I love the surprises. 

I love that it's a month about love and laughter.

But this February was different.

This February meant something I wasn't ready to experience. 

This February meant love, tears, & heartbreak.

H E A P S of heartbreak.

This February meant my sweet Husband was leaving me.

There wasn't a countdown to my birthday, there was a countdown to the day I had to drop him off. Then the countdown to the approximate time he'd be back.

That cold, February day was marked by tears, lasts, & longing.

But do you want to know the beauty that came from that awful day? Family and friends came to me, showering me with love and prayers.

There were a lot of firsts, dimming the sadness of the lasts.

God created beauty out of the year that I had thought was going to be dark and lonely. 

God helped me become more independent, 

helped me be where I need to be, and reminded me each and every day that I was definitely NOT alone.

After a few adventures&new friendships, I headed to Utah in March.

This time was colored with family, new opportunities,

and some MUCH needed hugs.

I worked as a substitute teacher while I was in Utah and fell in love with teaching elemantary kids. I was able to give my sister a sweet sixteenth party, and send her off to prom in my prom dress. Spend time with my best friends, and send one of them off to her adventure in Thailand.  Was able to celebrate my Daddy's fiftieth birthday and shower him with love. I was able to have many mommy-daughter dates. I was able to spend time with my brother and get to know his now beautiful wife and adorable son. Made many memories with my Grandparents. Was able to spend time with my Grandma B, and be with my family when she passed away. I was able to spend time on my mountains and take in every thing around me. I was finally able to have the girls nights I was craving. Helped my Mom and her friend with their girls bible study and hang out with the crazy youth group. Was able to be a bridesmaid to my bestie Allyson, when she committed her life to her beloved AND join the wifey club! I was able to go on our family river trip to celebrate my Grandparents' FIFTIETH YEAR anniversary. I was also blessed to be able to be a sponsor at CIY with the youth group and spend quality time with my sister.  

When July came around, I had a million new lasting memories of the past four months. But the adventures didn't stop there. My sister flew back to North Carolina to stay with me for a month, to help the time without Scott fly by. But little did we know, the exact same time Scott was being told that he was going to be sent home from his deployment early due to his back injury. So literally three days after my sister and I landed, we headed back to the airport to pick up the sweet, handsome Husband I missed with every single breath. The month that was supposed to be just with my sister, turned into some major bonding time with my sister, Scott, & I. We went to Virginia to surprise his Mama, had a blast in Wilmington, New Bern, &Myrtle Beach, SC, and explored South Port. When it was time to send my sister back, we were in Raleigh making last minute memories before we were in the airport saying our "see you laters."  

August-now... has continued to be an adventure of learning more about each other, reintegration, &taking in the little moments that last a lifetime. Between staying home, our favorite trips to Wilmington, Greensboro with family, Charlotte football games, our perfect trip to Asheville and the Biltmore house--It was definitely time that I got blessed with Scott, since he came home early.

Our trip to Utah felt actually like a vacation and not just a trip home. Family, work, memories, our mountains, Thanksgiving, early Christmas, Holly Days, double dates, my Brother's WEDDING. Much needed time with my family, especially since Scott hadn't been home since our wedding in 2013. 

The rest of December was full of Christmas magic. Scott&I found our FIRST Christmas tree and all of our ornaments. We spent a whole day dancing around the house as we decorated everything and hung our lights. Winter Wonderland. Then we celebrated Jesus' birthday with Scott's mama and sister in Virginia and had a really good time. Scott and I have been blessed by being able to spend Christmas together since we have been married, and I definitely know not to take it for granted. 


So, as I look back to myself when 2013 was ending I had no idea of the miracles 2014 would unfold. 
   I had no idea that there would be many first, with what I thought would only be lasts. 
I had no idea that God would use me to touch people's lives through this season of my life.
I had no idea that when I imagined 2014, I only imagined tears and not the laughter that helped paint each and every day. 
 Thank you, God, for teaching me so many things through this year.
Thank you, God, for being with Scott&sending him home safe and sound.
Thank you, God, for helping me understand that I was never alone.
Thank you, God, for sending my family&friends to cover me with love, laughter, and prayers.
God, thank you for 2014. 

Without the hesitation that I had last year, 
BRING ON 2015.

Happy birthday Mallow Moo!!! And only FIVE more months to go!!

Mallow Moo turned ONE!

I know, I know.. I am one of thoooooose furr-mamas!

But seriously, with the help of my sister we had a lot of fun celebrating. With a birthday bone, a new toy, a birthday hat and balloon. 

She is loved! 

And baby girl, your Daddy told me to tell you happy birthday and that he loves you very much! 

Well I have come to a conclusion. We have passed the three month mark of the Hubs being deployed and do you know what that means?!

 Only five more months to go!

Why do I say "only", you ask?
Because once upon a time, before we were dating, my bestie and I had this dream to live in Australia. When the time came to depart America, I was madly in love with Mr. Scott Cummings.
He completely had my heart, and I had his.
I lived in Australia for five months.
See?!?! Scott & I have already done five {six until we saw each other again} months apart.
So this last part of the deployment will be easy-peasy ;)

But really, if we just cancel out the past three months and just think that we only have to be apart for five months... It won't be as hard because we have already accomplished that!
*Thank you God for knowing exactly what we needed to go through before becoming a military married couple! Praising God for trials & tribulations.*

So cheers for ONLY five more months!
We've got this, Honey! All the way! :D 

  

Living in Utah---Without Scott & with my family.

When I was a little girl dreaming of being married--- I never imagined being married to a man in the Navy who could possibly be deployed. Saying that, I would NEVER take that away. I love being married to my Navy man & being a Navy wife,

 but it does have its challenges.

The challenge that I am facing this season?

A season of living withOUT Scott...and staying with my family for four [blessed] months. Both are completely different challenges, but putting them together is the challenge of this season.

LIVING IN UTAH--without Scott & with my family.

I am such a family girl, so given the opportunity to live with my family after getting married is actually a huge blessing. As much as I feel completely blessed, it also comes with it's own set of challenges. Just a few,

1) Not my house anymore.

Scott & I have a beautiful home in NC that we have decorated our own way, our own rooms, our own chores, our own schedules. Now I am living with my family who also has their own sets of "own ways" that things are done. *And they are very different from even when I was growing up in our home* It's been a challenge from going from being a wife of my own home, back to a daughter of my parents' home.

2) I am working as a substitute teacher.

I never, ever thought that I would be working as a teacher (Art teacher). It isn't what I studied at college and so it's been challenging being thrown into it. The kids are great (K-5th grade) and it is making the time away from Scott more bearable.

With us moving every few years, my resume is going to be very colorful!

3) Not being able to communicate with my Husband.

I knew that I wasn't going to have the luxury of seeing, calling, or texting Scott whenever I would like...but I never thought that it would be this complicated. We have overcome long distance in very many different situations during our relationship, but that was either through dating or through our engagement.

Being married and not being able to talk to each other? Now that is tough! Even without all of the romanticness of hearing from each other, it is hard to deal with the business side of being married (bills, taxes, income, spending, etc).

Those are a few of the challenges of this season.

BUT with challenges comes blessings.

Here are some of the blessings that I have had since I have been able to be in Utah with my family.

 Going four-wheeler riding.
I am a mountain girl, I just love everything about it!
Going ten minutes from my home to the mountains are something that I just don't have in NC.

My mom and her friend started up a teenage girls bible study called C4. One of the main focuses of this study is service, and I helped them make cards to send to Scott & his guys! Our hero's. 

I am so blessed to be able to be apart of this!

 One of my best friends is getting married this June (YAY!) and I am so blessed to be able to be here with her to help plan...and make decorations such as these gold candles!

Another blessing is to be able to spend time with friends that I haven't been able to in a very long time. Catch up and remember everything about sixth, seventh, & eighth grades together!

 One of the things I was looking forward to the most about being able to go home--- My sister's SWEET SIXTEEN!
For her friends party, we decided to do an "Evening in Paris".

There she is ladies & gentlemen---

My baby sister with her DRIVERS LICENSE!
Everyone in Vernal, Utah--be careful on the roads!

"The joy of the Lord is my strength."

Thriving---even though I'm fragile.

I was going to title this post "Surviving", but really... I feel like I am thriving through this deployment. Don't get me wrong, I literally HATE being away from Scott and I would actually love to be able to be married to my Husband AND live with him. And well, it really only has been a month. BUT that means only seven more months to go! {Hopefully not any longer} So I have my "bad" moments, but as a positive person, I can't dwell on those pesky negative thoughts or I would go insane! 

But more on the thriving part, I had a great last couple of weeks in February. Of course it is my birthday month and Scott wasn't here to celebrate it with me [we still haven't been able to celebrate together for one of my birthdays---next year though!!] but my friend Breann came and stayed with me for ten days and we had a blast. We traveled up to Virginia Beach and celebrated my birthday with my second family! They sure do know how to spoil a birthday girl! (They love me WAY more than they love Scott ha) Twenty-three will be an exciting year!

 

Then we had down time in Jacksonville (showed her a little of how it is being a military wife), traveled to Wilmington, and then Southport. Traveling to Southport was a spur of the moment trip because we found out that is where Safe Haven was filmed and we just HAD to go check it out. We definitely did find most of the big locations in the movie! *insert giddy girls who definitely attracted some greaaaat looks from the locals*

Mallow got into my flowers and got pollen all over. Needless to say, this is how she looked on our trip to Utah!

And now?! Now I am living in Utah for four months, working as a substitute art teacher (K-5th) & loving the time that I am blessed to have with my family and friends. After living outside of Utah on different occasions, I never take advantage of time I am able to spend with everyone in person.

Mallow's first 4-wheeler ride--she absolutely loved it!

It's already been an adjustment, I am fragile, and I am sure going to miss my home and friends in NC {and my Lucee Bug}... But how better to spend the time apart from my Husband than with my loving family!? Exactly.

So--all of my family, friends, & strangers, please keep praying for Scott and I! He is having a great time traveling the different countries, being immersed into the different cultures. He has loved being able to help train the different militaries, but he misses home & would rather be with me in Vernal {Husband points!}. If anyone wants to send care packages, I can definitely let you now his address and I'm sure him and his guys would LOVE to have more care packages sent with love.

Back on the fragile part, this is very true. I'm only strong because God is helping me be strong throughout this deployement, but I am still a wife without her husband. I might need an extra minute to explain myself, a moment to cry on your shoulder, or just a moment to be completely distracted. Thanks again to everyone who is helping me be strong throughout this! 

Here are some of the military pictures Scott & I were able to take before he left, all thanks to Hearts Apart. 

Enjoy--and no crying!