Indiana Road Trip in a BLIZZARD...

...Siiiike!

Last weekend, Rance, lil Frank, and I headed back to Indiana for the weekend and although we did not get in a blizzard, we did get to see and drive in A LOT of snow!  The three of us (or maybe I should say 4 counting "hootie") headed down on Friday afternoon and back on Sunday.  Rance and I were pumped to have lil Frank join us and also estatic to be staying the weekend with Eric & Ellen (Eric is one of the leader's in the church and Ellen is his rockin' out wife). 

Saturday consisted of several hours of amazing conversations about the Lord, what we are all learning and the crazy spiritual journey we have all been on this past year.  It is so encouraging to be able to share these conversations with others in the Body of Christ and to edify and pray for one another. 

I love this building in Eric & Ellen's back yard -
 it looks like it belongs in the mountains!!!

Roads were covered even though they were constantly scraped!

Rance, Eric and Lil Frank scraping the neighbor's driveway! 

Saturday also consisted of playing in the snow & building a very unique snowman.  Part of this time I was in the house with Ellen building a fire and taking pictures from the window.  We honestly laughed nonstop watching these 3 build a snowman (going about things totally different than we would have).

Here it goes...

Eric rolling the center of the snowman!

Please notice how uneven the layers are and when they
added the head (Ellen & I predicted this) - it broke the
center of the snowman b/c the head was bigger than
the center!  Oh how we laughed inside!

They asked for a red kitchen table cloth for this lovely cape!

Yes, that is BLACK spray paint and YES, those are abs!

And apparently the snowman got SAVED!

Lil Frank and I were beyond excited at the site of snow because that meant SNOW CREAM!!!  Eric & Ellen had never had snow cream so we had to show them all of it's goodness!

Oh my this was amazing!

Ellen, Lil Frank, Eric

So much love between these two!

 

The church parking lot was lovely and safe on Sunday morning!

 

The troops heading back to North Carolina!

*Thanksgiving & Deer Hunting*

The week of Thanksgiving seems like yesterday yet NEXT week is CHRISTmas - what is happening?!  Thanksgiving week was full of family time & hunting for Rance.  He was able to go on a family camping trip Monday & Tuesday before we headed to Nahunta on Wednesday.  We enjoyed MUCH quality time with our families.  It was restful & wonderful!

Please enjoy the hunting pictures :)  I think my husband is possibly wanting to be on Duck Dynasty with the insane beard he is growing!




Rance & his dad



Rance, cousin David, Uncle Marvin,
and Ronnie (Rance's dad)

Campfires

Don't you love the face paint?!

Hunting in Nahunta!

...and another one I received while
Black Friday shopping with my mom!



Selfie's continued! 
I love receiving these while he is hunting!


The following weekend was the LAST weekend Rance could go hunting in Graham County since deer hunting season here is VERY short!  I absolutely LOVE the beauty of where he was hunting with his dad by Fontana Lake.



Seriously - I would take up hunting to just
look at the view!

My friend Sara (who I met freshman year in college) and her husband, 2 little boys and her parents were in Bryson City riding the infamous POLAR EXPRESS on this same Saturday Rance was hunting so I THOROUGHLY enjoyed them all stopping by for the first time since we moved to Robbinsville.  I was a slacker taking pictures of Thanksgiving and all that but I did remember to sneak one picture of Sara & Cooper & I right before they were walking out the door...

How cute is he?!

HELLOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO DECEMBER!


Returning back to Indiana!

I often times want to write a letter like Paul wrote to the church of Ephesus or Philippi except mine would be to the Church of Zionsville!  Rance and I may have only spent a summer in Zionsville, Indiana but from February (when our journey began with our brothers & sisters in Zionsville) until now...

• Father has given us a paradigm shift when it comes to church - from how Father designed it, to how it should function, to how leadership should operate, to the purpose of the Body. 
• Father has allowed us to experience the unity of working together with a like-minded team with the same goal, same Spirit, same mind with a variety of different spiritual gifts. 
• We have been able to understand a whole new realm of discipleship and what it means to say 'follow me as I follow Christ.'
• Our view of Jesus love for His Bride has blown us away - when most would focus on numbers and results - Jesus mindset is completely different.
• Father has challenged us and is currently challenging us on what being a family of faith looks like and what it really means to 'walk by faith.'
• We may not physically be there living among our brothers & sisters now but we are privileged to get to go to battle for them daily in prayer as they make many tough  decisions for the future & we are grateful to be in constant contact with them.

Two weeks ago, Rance, myself, and a few members of our church family here in Robbinsville headed to Zionsville, Indiana for the weekend!  IT WAS SO LOVELY TO BE BACK!  Don't get me wrong, I AM SO THANKFUL FOR TECHNOLOGY AND PHONE COMMUNICATION BUT seeing people face to face is far more precious!  It almost felt like Rance and I stepped back into our previous life for the weekend.  It seems like the time there was so quick but we are thankful that we were able to see almost everyone in such a short time span.  

One of the most encouraging parts of the weekend was to hear the leaders in the church & their wives share with members of our church family back in Robbinsville what the Lord has done in their lives over the last 7 months.  WOW.  They are different people with a totally different mindset that have been and are willing to change and continue to be all in no matter the costs.  How beautiful it is!


I was a slacker with my camera for the weekend but here are a few snapshots!

We couldn't help but take a picture with this bear since it reminded us of ROBBINSVILLE!

Ellen & I - it was so fun to finally squeeze her again!

Shootin' some hoops with Dylan & James & Andrew!

This definitely felt like old times again - playin' cornhole! (except we had to move it to the gym instead of outside since the weather was a HIGH of 28 degrees that Saturday)

Notice the cornhole boards Eric built after we left from the summer! AWESOME!

*David, Rance & James*

Just to share a really fun story - when Carrie, David, and Chloe came to Robbinsville to stay with Rance and I back in September - she told us that she had just found out that she was pregnant!  Oh what fun it was celebrating that news with her.  Keep in mind, I was not pregnant (to my knowledge).  I had a really crazy (actually AWFUL) dream that I shared with Carrie that Sunday and her immediate response was 'You are pregnant!'  My response 'You are crazy, I'm not pregnant!'  Apparently you have really crazy off the wall dreams when you are pregnant.  Anyways, it wasn't until 2 days after she left that I took the pregnancy test and was in fact, PREGNANT.  Long story short, I got to tell her in person when we were in Indiana and we realized we are only FOUR DAYS apart.  What fun timing!


Yep, FOUR days apart :)

This picture makes my heart explode - oh how I miss Dylan & Jeanna!

 
MUCH LOVE to our family in Zionsville - We will be back again soon ;)

*Soon to be a Family of Three*

As I write this blog, it is still hard to believe I am pregnant.  Seriously hard to believe.  So let's rewind a little shall we...

Rance and I have been ready to have children for a LONG time.  So many people say 'you can never be ready' but we were ready to start that next chapter of our lives.  For over a year the Lord led our family (my husband) to not pursue having a child yet and we gladly submitted to Father's leading.  The desire for a child was there the entire time but our desire to pursue how we felt Father was leading us far superceded that desire for a child.  When we felt released to pursue having a child, it was no 'quick' process for us.  What Father did in my heart during this time was worth waiting for all over again.   Believing wholeheartedly that He knows what is best for me each day is so refreshing!

On Saturday, September 28th, 2013 - I finally decided to take a pregnancy test after Rance insisted.  I fully expected NOT to be pregnant so when the test showed POSITIVE I stood there in shock.  I went and showed Rance and you can only imagine his flipping out excitement yet I remained in the 'am I really pregnant?' mode for forever and still think I am there sometimes!  How you go from not being pregnant to being a factory for another human being is unbelievable?!?!?!

At 5 weeks, we had our first doctor's appointment where they confirmed and tried to convince me I was in fact, pregnant!  At 8 weeks we had our first ultrasound and got to see baby hootie and Rance could not stop giggling the whole time.  At 12 weeks we heard that little heart beat at 155bpm (what a sweet, sweet sound)!

How have I felt?  Nauseas, nauseas, nauseas.  Tired, tired, tired.  Rejoicing, rejoicing, rejoicing!  You all know Rance and I are super energetic people so this has been a whole new world for us in adjusting to me physically being exhausted!  It was hard for me to come to terms with the fact that I need to rest, say no to some things, and be okay with staying home and laying on the couch if needed.  WHEN HAVE I EVER JUST SAT ON THE COUCH???!!!  The last few weeks :) 

Everyone has told me since day one that I can look forward to the 2nd trimester because I will have abundant energy and the nauseas will be GONE.  It's neat how the Lord prepares your heart because the last several weeks I have prepared myself for the fact that this nauseas feeling (most of the day every single day) may not go away the entire pregnancy.  You know what?  I am totally okay with that.  Is it fun?  Heck no!  Would I like to just be able to eat anything and not be so daggone picky?  YES!  Is it worth it?  Duhhhhhhhhhh!  I have officially entered into my 2nd trimester and the nauseas is still hanging out so we shall see what the next few months hold.

Moving right along...

When it came to telling everyone we were pregnant, that overwhelmed me.  I am NOT a 'center of attention' kind of gal and the thought of everyone being focused on ME is just not something I enjoy or dream of.  Rance had the idea of announcing our pregnancy through the mail and I could kiss him a million times for loving me so well and even being the one who took our pictures for the cards (Yep, he is a pro at setting up the camera on timer). 

So it's official people - Lord willing, we are expecting Baby Shuler in June of 2014 (June 7th is the official due date).

In the meantime, we would LOVE your prayers for our family and many unknown future decisions! 

BIG THREE Year Anniversary!

NOVEMBER 20, 2013 = WE CELEBRATED THREE ABUNDANT YEARS OF MARRIAGE TOGETHER YAHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!


We love looking back and watching our wedding video and this small clip of *OUR WEDDING DAY* just to recall those exact moments and feelings and excitement from one of the best days of our lives.  I also must admit that I love to make fun of my country accent when I say "I have never been so ready in all my life" in response to getting married that day!



 

I will spare you of thinking I am trying to write a mushy love novel about my husband and our marriage but we both agreed that neither of us are the person we married back in 2010.  THANK GOD.  We have both changed and grown spiritually over the last three years in so many areas (areas that were never even revealed to us until we were married).  We know that process will only continue as we seek to walk by faith and deal with our "Son of Adam/Daughter of Eve" nature so that we can continue to be conformed to the image of His Son.  


On another note, an inside joke between us since all of my belongings were moved to Robbinsville back in 2010 was that Rance really loves 'meaningful' things on the wall.  In other words, random pictures of art or flowers or whatever just doesn't 'speak to him.'  (You'll have to ask me about this sometime).  Ever since we got married he has wanted our wedding vows posted in our house (since we wrote them) so that we can be reminded of them daily and remember the covenant we made before Father on that day.  For three years I have intended to do this as a gift but this year I made it happen.  This lovely gal on Etsy did an amazing job and it has the exact look I had hoped for - rustic!  I didn't take the best picture of it below but you get the point! 


 Here's to another 50 years of being newlyweds!

Kenleigh's FIRST Birthday

On Saturday, November 9th - our niece, Kenleigh, turned ONE year old!  Rance's mom and I headed to Blairsville, Georgia that Saturday to celebrate!  Unfortunately, I forgot my camera so a few iPhone pics will have to work!

Marla, myself, and Kathleen (Rance's sister & mama)

Sweet birthday girl!

The birthday girl got sick in the middle of her party hence why she is a naked baby ;)
Rance and I got her this chair for her birthday and she was quite entertaining with it. 
She would not leave her chair.  I think she felt like an adult!

 

And I must share some of her 'one year old' pictures taken by Marla, her talented mama!

 

I

SAVED

THE

BEST

FOR

LAST

 

HAHAHAHA!  I think she was burnt out on pictures or cake one ;)

 

Dee & Brandon's Wedding

On October 19, 2013, my Roozy said "I do"! 
 
Just to some up our friendship, here is the speech I gave at her wedding reception:
 
Let’s start back in the 6^th grade, where this friendship began,
That was the getting to know each other phase & obviously neither of us ran!
 

The Middle school years were awkward to say the least,

I’m thankful our tacky looks and clothes finally did cease!

Off to High School we went in 1998

Thank God we were not boy crazy, we were always each other’s date!

Oh the hot days we spent on the tennis courts with Coach Vail

We were determined to give it our very best without fail.

The time we spent together and fun with friends!

We were pretty much inseparable so college together only made sense.

When we both signed on to be a future Wolfpacker until the end,

So many warned us NOT live with your best friend.

Thankfully, we did not listen to anyone’s advice

We thought “this would have to work I mean we are both pretty nice?”

I’ll never forget moving into our dorm freshman year,

When our parents drove off and we were crippled with fear!

Are we really living on this big campus alone?

One thing is for sure, we were there and our parents were gone.
 
I’m pretty sure I proved my need for my mom or a parent of some form.
Considering what I put in the microwave in the first week could have burnt down the whole dorm J

It wasn’t long after that the name “Roozy” came about

The name has stuck like glue without a doubt. 

Oh the memories we made during our college years,

From tailgating, to random road trips, to lots of laughter & tears.

Let’s not forget all the traveling we did too!

From Disney, to the Bahamas, and HELLO, the graduation cruise!

I laugh when I think of how many times we moved from place to place?

I am pretty sure our daddy’s were ready to abandon us but what dad can resist a daughter’s face J

I’ll never forget all the cereal we ate together at night sitting on the kitchen countertop

Those were the best before bedtime talks, yep the cream of the crop!

There definitely came a point where we were more like family than friends,

I mean, sometimes I wondered if we would be living together when Jesus come back in the end.

There is one thing for sure when you live together for 9 years,

The thought of living apart brings about all sorts of fears!

Not many people can understand our “Roozy” mood

Brandon please see me, because this is NOT an attitude!

I recall very well all the days you did NOT enjoy talking about the ‘icky love stuff’

You said you were never getting married but I called your bluff!

I’m thankful for you Brandon because you proved her wrong

But more than that …with you…is where she belongs!
 

I look back and thank God for His sovereignty, His grace & His love.

We cannot deny this friendship was ordained from above.
 
We may be grown up now and living 5 hours apart.
But one thing that won’t change is that I love you from the bottom of my heart!
 
So here’s to my Roozy and Brandon on your new journey,
May Christ rule & reign in your marriage from now through eternity.

Now a few pictures from the wedding weekend!

Bridesmaids Luncheon at "Our Picnic Basket" in downtown Kinston, NC

Rehearsal Dinner in LA decorated by Engaging Events

Absolutely LOVED this pig cake!

*Dessert table with all sorts of goodness*

A table of family memories!

BabyDG & Blake
thankful I met her freshman year at orientation

 


*Roozy Squared*
It's WEDDING day time!



I would love to know how many diet cokes were consumed that morning ;)

Seestars - going all the way back to high school!

Honey jars as wedding favors!

The Bride ready & looking stunning!

 

the bridal party

Mr. & Mrs. Brandon Cox