Celebrate GOOD TIMES come ON!

The weekend before last was an extremely fun, anticipated weekend for quite some time!!!  You see, it was jam packed full of wedding showers & a wedding & seeing my family from Florida!  It was a big deal people.  Due to lots of planning - we were able to fit this all into one weekend so the mountain folk (aka The Shulers) and the Floridians (aka The Larsons) could enjoy ALL festivities in one weekend.  It was perfect!

My friend Helen got married on Saturday in Cary, NC and she was one beautiful bride!  It was super special seeing her marry the guy she has prayed for for a long time.  I can remember countless talks we would have about her husband and to actually see how God provided and lavished His love on her and blessed that time of waiting is incredible.  I thank God that this marriage is centered around Christ!!! 

Then it was time to celebrate Mandy & Brandon.  For all of you who do not know, I met Mandy on my 2nd mission trip to Trinidad.  We instantly bonded and have been friends ever since!  On my 3rd trip to Trinidad my cousin Brandon came along.  By the 4th trip - both Mandy & Brandon went and the rest is history :)  I could write pages & pages on all the incredible blessings the Lord has brought simply through Trinidad but I'll try to stay on topic.  It wasn't until this weekend of celebrating that I realized Mandy will actually be my COUSIN now.  Is that not WEIRD?  I mean I already considered her family but I like best friend better.  Even more crazy, Mandy will be moving to Goldsboro and will be living approximately 5 miles from my parents house!  She's going to be a little Nahuntian yet ;) 

This weekend was super special because Mandy's parents & her sister drove from Florida to be a part of all the showers!  I absolutely adore Mandy's parents.  In fact, they are in my phone as Mom Larson & Dad Larson. 

The first shower was on Saturday night in honor of Brandon - it was a lawn & garden shower!

Mom Larson (Vera), Brandon, Mandy, Dad Larson (Eric)

Me, Mandy & Lauren

Mandy, her parents & I

*The Future Brandon & Mandy Pierce*

Lots of fun lawn & garden gifts!




On Sunday afternoon - we had a wedding shower for all the Nahuntians, friends, family, etc.  for Mandy & Brandon.  I loved every minute of this day and watching them open a million presents!

Food, food, & more food!

Funfetti & Key lime cupcakes

I am getting hungry looking at this!

Dunkin Donuts - Mandy's favorite!

*Pink tissue flowers*
It's a pinterest thing

Gorgeous engagement pictures!!!

Mandy's sister Summer, Mandy, and Brandon's mom (Mandy's Future Mother in law)

Mandy and her mommy!

I love that Mandy's dad just takes it all in!

SiStErS

I made them do this!

ohhhh a new last name is coming!

September 29, 2012 = the BIG day!

Celebrate good times COME ON!  I didn't want this weekend to end; however, I did not have a choice in it!  I headed back to the mountains & the Larson's headed back to Florida.  We shall meet up again VERY soon for the big day though :)

*I love you Mandy & Brandon*

GaRdEnInG & FlOwEr'S

We planted a garden again this summer!  I should really say Rance planted us a garden because he worked on it during the day while I worked!  We have thoroughly enjoyed watching it grow day by day.  We have had a few predators this year and unfortunately if they were caught, they did not survive (don't worry I didn't include the dead animals in this post).  We also enjoyed planting lots of flowers around our house!  We are super thankful for a bigger yard and area to enjoy for the Glory of God :)

Let it grow, let it grow, let it grow!

Shabam, look at that crop!

Ahhhhhh yeaaaahhhh!!!

It's a harvest!



Beans baby!

The Shuler's will survive this winter ;)



It's been awesome watching these flowers grow!

We found the plant holder in the woods ;)



*Good Morning God*



Heavenly Father,

Thank you for this Monday morning.  Thank you for each day you allow me to wake up. Thank you for the breath that I just breathed right now in this very moment.  Lord, I know you breathe each breath of life into me.  Thank you that Your mercy & Your grace are new each day.  Thank you that YOU & YOU alone make this life worth living.  Thank you that I never have to question my purpose in this life because Your Word makes it clear.  Thank you for Your Holy Spirit that always leads & guides me into all truth.  Thank you for how captivating my morning drive is and the way you speak LOUDLY to my heart & my spirit & remind me that you are FAR greater than anything I will face today.  Thank you for loving me in a way that I cannot fathom.  Thank you that I never have to wonder what I have to be thankful for because Your Son was more than enough.  Thank you for today because it's one more day I get to live for Your Glory!  

YOU make everything GLORIOUS

First Day of School Yikes!

Can you believe today is the first day back to school for students?  Teachers started last week but I am still in shock that the summer flew by so quickly!  This morning was a ton of fun getting back into the normal school routine and I could not help but take a picture of Mr. Shuler on his First Day of School 2012-2013 AND his FIRST day as the Seventh Grade Middle School SCIENCE Teacher! :)  

He's got his Bible, his coffee, and his bookbag!  He's ready!

I cannot wait to hear if he breaks a desk or chair today!  The first day is always a BIG day in Mr. Shuler's class!

July Highlights Part II

July - you seriously FLEW by!  Thankfully after vacation the first week of July (see previous post) - we have not traveled at all the rest of the month which has been wonderful!  It's nice to be home on the weekends even though they are full of activities and weddings.

• Fun Summer Dates - Rance and I have enjoyed some fun date nights this summer!  We love to eat, be outside, and just talk about our DADDY.  I think about the time period in my life when the Lord starting changing my heart on relationships, dating, marriage, the role of a Godly wife, and the role of a Godly husband.  I will not forget how my standard for everything changed.  It became God's standard.  But what did that look like?  The world was showing me something entirely different, yet I knew God's Word to be true and I knew He wouldn't talk about the Ephesians 5 husband if he did not exist.  Every relationship I was in - NO PEACE.  I was to the point that I was 100% okay with being single for the rest of my life instead of married and miserable.  In fact, the word marriage scared me to the core.  My husband had to love the Lord more than me and more than himself.  My husband had to be a leader.  My husband must be seeking after God's heart daily.  My husband had to be so in love with Jesus and whose every heart beat was for Christ.  In other words, my husband's number one passion had to be Jesus Christ.  These were not options.  These were without question.  Few thought he existed sometimes I even thought he didn't but I did NOT care.   I did not go places 'looking for my husband' and I certainly did not plan on meeting him in Trinidad.  I will never get over the sovereignty of God.  I will never get over His hand in everything.  I will never get over how RELENTLESS He is for my heart and for your heart.  I just went on a rampage but all that to say - the Lord exceeded my standard for a husband.  I cannot fathom marriage being more abundant, yet it gets more abundant everyday (that's the character of my Father).  I cannot imagine if I had settled.  I cannot imagine walking in day to day life without a man who is captiviated by the Lord, who craves the Word of God daily, who labors in prayer and begs for wisdom to be poured out onto him and our family daily.  To say I'm thankful is an understatement.  God's grace is beyond measure.  His love cannot be fathomed.  Yet He allows me to experience a glimpse of that love daily through my marriage.  Christ loved His bride (the church) SO MUCH that He gave Himself up for her.  The way God designed marriage is absolutely beautiful.  It would not be possible without two people willing to die to self every single day.  Rance and I are not perfect people but we serve a perfect God! 

Dinner date on the Nantahala River

River's End



• Revelation Skit - Last week, Rance and I took a group of teenagers to see the Revelation skit in Andrews.  To say this is one of the most amazing skits ever is the truth.  The skit is a part of Snowbird's camp throughout the summer and it's every Thursday night.  I had no idea until I came to Robbinsville that such incredible summer Christian camps existed.  Teenagers from all over the United States come to be poured into, loved on and grow in their relationship with the Lord.  Back to the skit - it is based on the book of Revelation in the Bible and it is powerful.  It creates a clear picture of how real Satan is, how deceiving he is and how well he knows the Word of God.  It shows the end times and several martyrs that refuse to DENY Jesus no matter the cost.  It portrays just how real heaven and hell is.  The best part?  JESUS!  When He comes riding in on His white horse and crushes Satan which WILL happen one day.  I pray that you have trusted in Jesus - who He is and what He did.



Sweet Lily and I!
*She LOVES a crowd of people*

The picture below brings me to tears!  Rance has known Hamilton forever.  He coached him in cross country a few years ago and he had no interest in the Lord.  Last summer, Hamilton called Rance and said he wanted to talk.  That talk led to more talks and we have been able to watch him go from one extreme (not interested in the Lord whatsoever) to the other (living for Jesus) in the last year.  He also got a job at Snowbird's Christian camp this summer and recently decided that when this job ends in a week that he will be raising support to go to Mexico on missions for 6 months.  To hear his heart, what God is teaching him, and to see it with our own eyes - leaves me speechless. 



Rance & Hamilton

Katie, Hamilton & Lindy

Rance lovin' on Lily!  I love her facial expressions!

Kelly, Lily & I

The Trammel's & The Shuler's
Tacey, me, Faith, Desta & Rance

• Mountain Trails - You would NOT believe the trails behind our house people.  I am talking miles and miles and miles of trails that go up and up and up!  Last Friday night Rance and I decided to do a little exploring and we went to the very peak. 

• Whisper Mountain ShinDig - First of all, Whisper Mountain is a beautiful place/Christian ministry that offers youth camps, retreats, etc in Robbinsville.  You can learn more about it here.  Every summer, teenagers from all over the United States come to Whisper Mountain to work for the summer as a camp counselor.  We love having the staff here over the summer and getting to know each of them is a blessing.  Since Rance teaches the college aged Sunday school class at our church, we got to know the whisper mountain staff incredibly well this summer (they are a part of our church on Sundays!).  I love how the Lord formed bonds among staff members and us that I will cherish forever.  It is so encouraging to see teenagers truly on fire for Jesus and sold out for the Father's plan to love God, serve others & make disciples.  Last Saturday night, we had them all over to our house since they will all be departing soon to go back home to where they are from.  I am convinced I was blessed this night probably more than anyone at our house.  I observed and watched everyone interacting and I was overwhelmed with joy.  I watched a part of them playing guitar and just singing praises to the Lord.  I watched a group of them just randomly grab hands and pray for something God put on their heart.  I watched no gossip, no drama, no cat fats...simply God's people coming together and fellowshipping in His name.  I was blessed beyond measure. 

There is always food when you come to our house!

Heyyyy Rance!

Kaleigh - One of the Whisper Mountain camp counselors and I bonded in a super special way at the beginning of the summer.  It did not take long for me to realize she is just as crazy as me.  We have VERY similar personalities and so we instantly bonded.  Over the summer, I got to know Kaleigh more & more and to see her maturity in Christ at 19 years old is simply fascinating.  Her inner beauty is out of this world.  She reminds me so much of myself a few years ago when it comes to relationships & marriage.  As I mentioned above, I was scared to the core of getting married and didn't think I ever would.  Kaleigh is the same.  She has such a high standard set for her husband and she will be blessed for that!  What caught Rance's attention during one of our conversations was the fact that Kaleigh's dad has always been a leader in her home.  I thank God for men who fulfill their calling as a husband & a father! 

oh lil Frank!

Here we go...

Take two...

We're pretty much the same.

Melissa & I
She will be leaving for Africa for a year very soon!  Be praying for her!

That might be the highest leg kick yet!!!
Meet Aaron also - his love for the Lord ROCKS!



Extremely jealous of their musical talent!
Meet Charley & Jeremy (whom all of you have met before on here)




Cornhole & ladder golf never get old!



Worshipping our KING!
Kyle, Katie, Hamilton, Jeremy & Chris
(Please notice my dear sweet Kaleigh in the background)

HAHAHA!  Aaron is about 3x the size of lil Frank!

Pastor Noah & Jennifer taking it all in!



Chelsea & Emily
Chelsea has such a sweet spirit at ALL times and Emily is ALWAYS full of smiles & laughter

I could go on and on about the memories we made with the Whisper Mountain staff this summer but I'll leave it at this - there is something so special and a fellowship that cannot be explained when a body of believers come together in one accord!