cranberry muffin surprise!

I love packages no matter what's inside- but especially when they contain something that I love, from someone I love. Today was one of those days....I got home to see a Fed-Ex box on the front step. I'm already excited! Then, I find out it's from Nav, Robert's former boss in Starkville and one of our very best friends. He really may be the sweetest and most thoughtful person we know. Then I have to wait the agonizing 30 minutes for Robert to get home to open it.

This is what we found!!!!

a dozen cranberry muffins!!!!

this is my absolute favorite food at "the bakery" on MSU's campus. there was rarely a time that I met with someone at the bakery that did not involve this muffin accompanied by some hot coffee. this muffin encompasses all my warm and beautiful memories of being an RUF intern at State. i have already eaten 2 and am excited about eating another for breakfast!

the guy on the left is Nav. we love and miss him A LOT!

we're here....I promise

It's been over a month since our last post- sorry! A lot has happened in the last month or 2.... Here's what we've been up to!

Robert: finished and passed Greek 1 YAY! Those 3 weeks were really busy and hard but we both successfully got through it and are now stronger because of it. It sounds silly...because it doesn't seem that bad when you aren't in it....but during it you really aren't sure if you will get out alive. And I wasn't even the one taking the class! Robert is now a few weeks into his regular semester. He is taking Greek 2, Gospels, History of Christianity, and Intro to Theological Studies. He is also busy with working 2 part-time jobs.

Jessica: has finally found a job! I had a nanny position that came up in July but proceeded to fall through in August. I was applying to anything and everything and nothing was working out. Finally, I was asked to interview for a Teacher Assistant job at Dilworth Elementary and I got it! I had orientation today and will start tomorrow!

Some other highlights include- settling on a church home, yard sales and the farmer's market on Saturday mornings, Jess's trip to Starkville over Labor Day, watching FRIENDS -we started season 1 in July and are already on season 10 :), running into old friends around town, finally getting internet at our house, and enjoying our new life in Charlotte.

Here are a few pics around the house

the back of our duplex

we have a clothesline!

our view from the backdoor- the gregory's house! so fun to have friends as back-door neighbors :)

Our sink

looking out sink window- our side yard! lot's of room for frisbee and parties

My little brother is married!

On August 7th my little bro Peyton and his new bride Emily were wed. It seems like just yesterday that Peyton and I were building forts and jumping on the bed. Now we are both married and our conversations seem to be more about jobs and health insurance instead of name-calling and cartoons. So it is with great pleasure that this post is dedicated to the newlyweds- Mr. and Mrs. Peyton Merriam :) Enjoy some old and new pics of the happy couple.

lil P

sweet Em

the wedding day!

It's all Greek to me

August has always marked the start of another school year in my life. For 16 years of my life it was me that was starting school. The year after I graduated college- it was the beginning of teaching at a school in Ethiopia. The following 2 years were the RUF internship at Mississippi State. August in Starkville, for me, meant moving in the freshmen girls, getting ready for tailgates and fun fall events, and of course- sorority rush....a different kind of Greek than I am dealing with this year.

Robert has started his first seminary class this week- Greek 1. Our friend and fellow RUF intern, Paul, is staying at our house while looking for a place to live and taking Greek with Robert. This intensive class is only 3 weeks and crams in everything you need to know to read, write, translate, and study the New Testament in its original language. Every day, they go to class from 9-12 then they study the rest of the hours in the day. I get to just enjoy Greek as a spectator. While my husband and Paul are studying- I play the part of making flashcards, quizzing the boys, cleaning/doing the dishes, chef, and overall encourager (or I try at least). I'm starting to sympathize with mothers this week. Major props to my awesome mom who cooked, cleaned up after me and the fam, and was always there- even when I wasn't. This is only the beginning of understanding I am sure! Here are some pictures of Robert and Paul during the first week of Greek.

1st day of school- they are growing up so fast!

study sessions

"Oh my sweet Carolina, What compels me to go?"

There are no words more appropriate to start our blog than with these lyrics by Ryan Adams. Robert and I are excited to start this blog as we begin this new adventure in Charlotte, North Carolina. We hope that this will serve as a place to keep our friends and family updated on life (since we are obviously bad at phone calls), to share our random thoughts and ideas, and, of course, expand my horizons in "technology". It has taken me over a month to even figure out how to go about creating the background of the page! Hopefully we will keep you entertained along the way :)

A quick update on us to catch you up to speed:

Robert and I got married last November and have lived in Starkville, Mississippi, where I was serving as the RUF intern at Mississippi State until May. This summer we moved to NC so that Robert can pursue his Masters of Divinity at Reformed Theological Seminary in Charlotte. He starts school August 2nd. I am currently looking for a job in any field that pays the rent :) We miss our friends in Starkville but are loving our new place and our Dilworth neighborhood.

this is our street- we love the trees!

We have been so blessed to already have a few friends here. There are several people from our RUF intern class who have moved here this summer to start seminary as well. We already loved them- but they have been so encouraging and helpful through this transition. Whether it be helping us move in, a bag of groceries, learning the art of couponing, letting us use internet and a washing machine- we have been WELCOMED far beyond what we could have expected. We are very excited to see these friendships grow as well as make new ones this year. Here are a few photos of our Charlotte friends at Mary Grace and Trey's engagement party.

Anna and Michael Whittam

Randi and Josh Meyer

the newly engaged Trey Bundrick and Mary Grace Giles