Q*A*L

Queen Anne's Lace, also known as wild carrot: A little gift from the hubs tonight!  I love you too, big M!  This reminds me of my grandmother, Juke.  Thank you.  (For everyone following the love dare challenge, it's in the little things!)

To live content with small means; to seek elegance rather than luxury, and refinement rather than fashion; to be worthy, not respectable, and wealthy, not, rich; to listen to stars and birds, babes and sages, with open heart; to study hard; to think quietly, act frankly, talk gently, await occasions, hurry never; in a word, to let the spiritual, unbidden and unconscious, grow up through the common - this is my symphony.  ~William Henry Channing

Wild Carrot with Randy Barrett - "Real Love" YouTube video uploaded by FallingMountainMusic on June 20, 2007.

Kindness Convoy

Love Dare, Day 2: Love is Kind

Yesterday's post compared love to a battlefield.  After starting the Love Dare with my husband Matt, I realized that my "house of love" was a figurative war zone (as observed in all of the "little things") and the imagery seemed appropriate.  If you want to improve the relationships in your life, particularly with your spouse, and also viewed love as a battlefield in your own home, then hopefully you are starting to wave your white flag in surrender.  Hopefully you are starting to practice patience in your home, and in your life.  Hopefully you, too, are starting to let go of the little things.

In thinking of patience as "reactive," protective gear to keep negative situations from happening and becoming life threatening, you can think of kindness as a convoy that is "proactive"... in that, kindness moves forward to significantly increase positive scenarios.  Perhaps the aftermath of casualties could be minimized drastically if you hopped in the hum-v and were the first to arrive in the kindness convoy.

Kindness is planting seeds of hope with those you have "been at war" with.  It encourages new beginnings and the possibility for a brighter future.  It encourages others in your life to act in kindness as well.  How does one act kindly?  They discuss 4 core points in "The Love Dare."  1. Be gentle (acting mild or kind in nature).  2. Be helpful (beneficial).  3. Be willing  (agreeable and giving).  4. Take initiative (hop to action first).  Don't wait for those you love to act in kindness first, or you might be waiting forever.  Let your defenses down and pave the way, if you show them kindness, perhaps they will step-up and reflect kindness back to you.

Scripture referenced in the text ("The Love Dare," Day 2: Love is Kind) which I think says it best:
"Be kind to one another, tender-hearted, forgiving each other, just as God in Christ also has forgiven you" (Ephesians 4:32)

"Do not let kindness and truth leave you; bind them around your neck, write them on the tablet of your heart.  So you will find favor and good repute in the sight of God and man" (Proverbs 3:3-4).

Scripture I found: "Therefore, as God's chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.  Bear with each other and forgive whatever grievances you may have against one another.  Forgive as the Lord forgave you.  And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity" (Colossians 3:12-14).

My journal entry from Day 2:
I observed Matt was already acting in kindness.  He started doing things around the house that I normally have to beg him to do, or remind him constantly to do at the least.  But he was already doing these things without me asking.  I found, too, that the other things he forgot to do... didn't even bother me.  Normally these things would have caused me to get irritated, but I found myself doing them for him out of love.  I wasn't flipping out over the little things.  Love succeeds!   As I acted in love with patience and kindness, I found myself actually enjoying the mundane tasks of daily life.  Normally, I'd hem-and-haw over them.  I might even complain.  Those negative thoughts never entered my mind or heart.  I've also noticed that our last two days have been filled with more "please" and "thank yous" than ever before!  Also, we spent more quality family time together today.  Part of the day's dare was (in addition to remaining patient) to give one unexpected act of kindness to your spouse.  Our gifts, gestures, where more beautiful and meaningful than they have ever been in the past.  (Matt cooked dinner for me.  I enjoy cooking, but I love it when someone else does all of the work!  Haha!  To me, this act of kindness was like being given a handful of diamonds!  I gave him a back massage.  Fingertips on skin speaks his language of love!)  God is really starting to fill our hearts with unconditional love!

Although this was a wonderful day, it wasn't completely perfect.  We did have a few minor setbacks in patience.  But we immediately recognized and corrected our behaviors and the situations.  We are becoming more aware, and that is good as it will help us to act first in love in the future.

Matt's journal entry:
"I asked Courteney what she wanted for dinner tonight, and I cooked for her.  I hope I can do this for her more often.  I was tested in patience twice today, and failed the second test.  I apologized.  I tickled Court today, and she didn't get mad."

(Yeah, okay.  I HATE being tickled.  But in that particular instance, I was just so happy to receive loving, fun attention that for once it didn't bother me!)

Matt and I waved our white flags of surrender.  We are meeting each other half-way again, instead of waiting on the other to act first.  We are shaking hands and calling a truce to this love battle... we didn't even know we were fighting.  When we compare the last two days to the last several years... the difference in finding unconditional love and acting on it is amazing.  We loved each other before.  But it feels like we are dating again, and that kind of love is fun and rewarding... and it should never be in only the beginning of your relationship.  Unconditional love is something you should PRACTICE every day for the rest of your life!  (Remember standing at the alter and making that promise?  Yeah, actually try keeping it and see how your life at home in love will be rewarded!)

Again, hope this helps!

"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."  AESOP

Our "House of Love" Is Like a War Zone!?!

Several years ago, this Carolina Mom proudly wore combat boots to work every day... and NOT the kind you purchase is some generic, civilian shoe store.  My combat boots were issued to me by trainees on detail in Basic Military Training, supervised by hard-working, dedicated troops of the United States government per regulation set-forth by good 'ole Uncle Sam.  And even though I no longer go to work wearing my marauders, I suddenly feel the need to put them back on!  Several days ago, Big M and I started the Love Dare Challenge, and I realized the "house of love" I share with my husband is like a war zone!  Pat Benatar wasn't kidding when she sang, "Love is a Battlefield!"

Pat Benatar, "Love is a Battlefield"; Video from Youtube.

Now, I served in the United States military, and although I never deployed to an actual combat zone, some of the descriptive imagery I use will be relevant (as I've heard numerous accounts from close friends and family over the years.)

When I say my "house of love" is like a war zone, I don't mean to paint a picture of hand-to-hand combat between myself and my husband.  Let's get that straight right now.  We have never raised a hand to one another!  There are no sprains, strains, or broken bones.  There is no hair-pulling, eye-gouging, bruising, or physical threats of any kind.  No grappling.  No modern army combatives.  There is no bloodshed.  Period.  And we don't yell either.  You won't hear "blasting" at our house.  Our home is really quite peaceful.

Our battle in love is the figurative warfare type... it's in the "little things."  I mean to paint a picture of committed spouses who have "deployed to the sandbox" of self, post marriage, and are in the daily grind of things.  We got caught up in the world and what we are supposed to do to meet deadlines for the world.  We are not "attacked" with a constant bombardment of bullets and shells in our "house of love/sandbox deployment."  Throughout the day we may experience a mortar (i.e. impatience, selfishness, irritability, snapping, or even a RARE hushed "F-bomb" flying out of one of our mouths) or rocket...  or two.  But because this isn't constant, we don't see those few that buzz-by as life-threatening anymore.

That, my friends, is where the battle lies!  When you get used to the little things (the bad habits you let slide at home behind closed doors - "little terrorists" as I like to call them... things you would never do in front of friends or strangers), your situational awareness can fail you, because you have become complacent (and numb) to the dangers around you.  I'm here to tell you that the "mortars" and "rockets" you face at home in the battle of unconditional love are far more risky and detrimental than you might think!  These weapons are an emanate danger to God, to your family, and to your treasures in heaven.  Those little mortars and rockets you allow to fly-by without concern will become WMDs (weapons of mass destruction).  "Friendly-fire" is no joke.  It is serious.  It causes more pain.  So why allow it in your home, in your marriage?  One day, the big one will drop, and everything you were working for will be blown sky-high to smithereens.  And you will surely lose it all.

Please do not allow that to happen.  Take the time to reflect on your relationship.  Are you showing unconditional love to your spouse?  Don't know how?  Pick up a copy of  "The Love Dare" by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough.  We did.  We want to end the "war" and allow the unconditional love we showed to each other when dating and first married to shine through again!  (And for always... as vowed!)  And that brings me to Day 1 of our challenge.

The Love Dare, Day 1: Love is Patient (Consider patience as the protective gear you issue to your spouse... a Kevlar helmet and flak jacket to protect the one you love... from yourself.)

Every short chapter starts with scripture and they use Ephesians 4:2 NIV: "Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." 

I once heard someone say, "If you speak words of honey, you'll accomplish more than using words of gasoline"... or something like that.  I feel this thought can be used in behavior with regards to patience as well.  Patience maintains self-control.  You choose a kind emotional response to get you through a tough situation.  (You choose not to shoot bullets of impatience at your spouse.)  This will more likely bring about a positive outcome.  You know that little math rule where two negatives make a positive?  Not in this case.  This isn't math!  Don't react to wrong with wrong.  In the book, they write, "Patience is where love meets wisdom."  They also write, "[It] gives your spouse permission to be human."  So, as it says in Ephesians, be humble and bear with one another.  Choose your battles wisely.  What's more important?  Does it really matter?  Maybe it's time to let-go of the "little things", and just be patient.

I stumbled across this quote on Day 1 of our challenge: "Patience means to abide in faith, knowing that sometimes it is in the waiting rather than in the receiving that we grow the most."  ~Dieter F. Uchtdorf

[I should probably mention that Matt and I are reading this book, one dare/day at a time.  We both keep a journal.  We both read our journal entries aloud to the other at night, and then discuss points that catch our attention.  We discuss how we could change things or fix things to make it better.  And already, it's getting better!  Much better!  The changes are astounding!  (And it's observed in the tiniest of details!)  Matt is starting to thank me and sing my praises.  Hello!  On my way to becoming a Proverbs 31 wife after all!  Then, we read the challenge for the following day.]

My Journal Entry for Day 1:
(I wrote multiple pages.  As this post is already getting long, I'll try to give only the highlights... to spare you!)  Day 1 we were challenged "to resolve to demonstrate patience and to say nothing negative to [our] spouse at all."  I was tested in patience multiple times and failed about half of those instances.  As quickly as I would pass one test, I would fail another.  Some of the rewards for maintaining patience: extra quality time with my family,  I was more calm and at peace after putting my spouse first (being more careful to consider his feelings, etc.)... maintaining patience and letting go of "the little things" which also brought peace to my home, and our initial spark of love seems to have flared instead of flicker!  I was also rewarded with a back massage... totally unprompted/unrequested.  (Haven't had one of those in a while!)  The downfall when I failed: I hurt God.  I hurt my husband.  I hurt my family.  And this hurt my heart.

I realized I have become extremely selfish and impatient.  I am quick to snap without even knowing it at times.  I continue to work on patience every day.  Just because it was the first challenge and I have a new challenge to take on in the next day, doesn't mean I let go of what I've learned. I don't want my negativity in the little things to poison the good thing we actually have going.  I want my positivity to enrich what we have - make it Fireproof.

Look at what my husband had to say.  Matt's Journal Entry for Day 1:
"I have noticed that Courteney is getting better with her overall patience; she has started to turn around in a better way.  Since she is not flipping out over the small stuff I am feeling more relaxed at home.  In the past I have felt my inner-voice screaming and cursing at her outbursts, but not this week.  I feel I am growing in patience as well.  I hope this will become the norm."

Our little outbursts of impatience, those "little terrorists," were poisoning our love.  We didn't notice it in the moment-to-moment grind... oh he snapped/she snapped... moving on.  But upon deep reflection we were hurting each other more than we actually thought. 

Don't like the smell of Napalm in the morning?  Then be the first to put your "weapon" down.  Safe-guard your love/home base from "bad habit insurgents."  Stop hurling insults and slinging obscenities at your spouse.  Don't get mad and snap if something doesn't go according to plan.  Get rid of the short fuse.  Count to ten.  Think and edit what you will say and do in response with love.  REMAIN CALM AND ACT IN PATIENCE.

How to act in patience you ask?  I think there is a verse of scripture that says it best, which is provided after the journal section in the book: "Everyone must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger" (James 1:19).  Also provided in the text, "See that no one repays another evil for evil, but always seek after that which is good for one another" (Thessalonians 5:15).

Hope this helps!  Try being patient for a day and see what happens!

This is just a reminder that comments on military/war content represent my own views and opinions.  In no way does this represent the views of the government or the U.S. Military.

I Triple Dog Dare You! (In The Love Dare, That Is!)

My husband and I have known each other, and have been best friends, for a decade; 123 phases of the moon to be exact!  This year we will celebrate our 8th wedding anniversary (EXCITING).  We've had good times and bad.  We've rolled through easy times, and slammed up against the proverbial wall in hard times.  We've laughed together.  We've cried together.  (Don't tell him I'm telling you this!  And for the record, I cry WAY more than he does.  His tears are like Halley's Comet, okay?)  And we've managed to navigate through it all... together.  (Man, it is so wonderful having a partner here on earth to help share and deal with those rough, chaotic, crazy, numbing, shocking, scary, mind-blowing, and all-the-good-stuff-too, etc. moments in life!  Where would I be without my husband?  Oooo, don't even want to think about that!)

Recently, I have been overcome with an immense desire to grow in my walk with the Lord.  I have a yearning to honor Him... in every way possible... (not just through prayer and reading my Bible... occasionally.  When I face the music, I've been selfish.  EXTREMELY selfish.  I truly want to make God a priority in my life.  I don't want to be a "lukewarm" Christian.)

Now, bear with me.  I'm not passing judgement here, and I'm not trying to "shove my Bible in your face."  If you are a nonbeliever, I feel God will be the one who works in your heart if you are called.  Not me!  And I am not perfect, so please don't judge God by me and my thoughts.  Like I said, I've been selfish.  I've struggled... a LOT!  Within the last three years, I've only started to study my relationship with God, and I have TONS to learn.  I am imperfect because I live in the flesh.  But, I'm working on it.  And while this post is about spiritual growth for me, I write because I think it could help anyone in a relationship... no matter your religion, beliefs, age, status, etc.  (But if I'm being honest here, I do hope you are getting to know God.)

In reflecting upon my "house of love" with my husband, I am disappointed with myself because I have fallen so terribly short compared to the potential mark I could measure up to as a friend, spouse, and mother to our child.  I thought our relationship and home-life was great.  Don't get me wrong, it is pretty wonderful.  But it could be amazing and fabulous.  My focus has been in the wrong place... my focus has been on "us" instead of God.  And now, more than ever, I want my "house of love" to honor the Lord.

I realize I have not been doing all I need and can do to put God first in my life; I feel in my heart that my lack of honor has been reflected greatly within my role as a wife and mother in my home.  I've barely attempted to become a Titus 2 woman, or a Proverbs 31 wife, even though I pray for this change constantly.  So, I have finally decided to turn those thoughts into actions!  Because, let's face it... I have to meet God half-way!  I can't expect Him to do all the work!  Especially if I'm not doing my part to build a relationship with/and honor Him.

"My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife" by Sara Horn and "Girls Gone Wise in a World Gone Wild" by Mary A. Kassian are great reads!  And these two books, particularly the latter, are helping me get back on track.  After finishing those books, I stumbled across a third book, "The Love Dare" by Stephen and Alex Kendrick with Lawrence Kimbrough.  While the previous two books are helpful to me as an individual, "The Love Dare" is a challenge for me and Matt to work on together.

My husband is a nonbeliever, bless his heart.  But because he loves me and respects me, he has agreed to take this spiritual challenge with me to improve our love and marriage... to honor God.  I want God at the center of my life, and I want Him to be at the center of my marriage.  I do not take this lightly.  This is for God.  This is for husband.  This is for daughter.  This is for love.

I first heard about "The Love Dare" when I watched the movie Fireproof.  It really captured my attention.  When I stumbled across the book, I was ecstatic!  (A few days before I found the book, Matt had asked me what he could be doing on his end to improve our relationship - he noticed I was starting to make all of these changes on my end.  I walked up to him at the store, showed him the book, and said, "This.  You can do this with me to improve our relationship."  He agreed.) 

"The Love Dare" is about unconditional love, and showing unconditional love to your spouse.  (You can take it a step further and apply this to every relationship in your life.)  This 40-day challenge is a journey to help spouses improve and/or repair their "houses of love" (fix those loose floorboards, cracking foundation, and sagging roof!)... a "love-home repair" maintenance manual to help you "understand and practice unconditional love."  You should know, there is a disclaimer at the beginning of the book.  This dare is not for the faint of heart.

I encourage you to give considerable thought to your spouse, and others in your life: how do you treat them?  How do you talk to them?  Do your thoughts, words, and actions respect them?  Do you honor God in your attention to others, particularly your spouse?

My husband and I are only five days into the 40-day Love Dare Challenge.  Our findings and discoveries about our "love" have been mind-blowing thus far!

So, I TRIPLE DOG DARE YOU (if you are familiar with the childhood ritual of daring... this one, the triple dog dare, is the mother-load.  It is the most serious of dares!) to take the Love Dare.  You'll be amazed at your growth as a couple... or friend.  Or parent.  Or child.  You get the picture?

[Stay tuned to see how we fared in Day 1 of our Love Dare challenge!]

  

Carve Your Name Next To Mine: The Story of Us

"Carve Your Name Next To Mine" Music Video
http://www.myspace.com/video/wavidart/carve-your-name-next-to-mine/49593019
Video posted by WAVIDart on Myspace; released on January 3, 2009. The Nadas on New Year's in Colorado.

Lyrics (as found on www.azchords.com):
Carve Your Name -The Nadas
Chorus- Am C G Verse- C G [then Em C G later in verse]... for all of you guitar pickin' fiends!

Carve your name next to mine, in a wood stump with a jack knife
Cross the "T" and dot your "I", carve your name next to mine
Made my mark and left my name, maybe you could do the same
Grooves on a window pane, made my mark and left my name
Won't you stand next to me, and tell me who you want me to be
Only your eyes can see, won't you stand next me

Carve your name next to mine, in a wood stump with a jack knife
Cross your "T" and dot your "I", carve your name next to mine

So I press the ink to skin, hopping you would let me in
Well it may have been a sin, but I press the ink to skin
Now everyone can see that you're a part of me
Almost like a guarantee, that everyone can see
And the years roll by, and soon I'll surely die
Baby don't let me lie alone, let me carve your name in stone

Carve your name next to mine, in a wood stump with a jack knife
Cross the "T" and dot your "I", carve your name next to mine
Carve your name next to mine, in a wood stump with a jack knife
Cross the "T" and dot your "I", carve your name next to mine
Carve your name next to mine, Carve your name next to mine
Carve your name next to mine, Carve your name next to mine

Why am I posting a video clip of this song, with following lyrics, you may ask? I want to tell you how I met my husband, my college sweetheart. Imagery of carving our names into a tree just seemed so fitting. I also want to share our journey through love (over time, in numerous more postings, of course!)

Well first, my husband and I have recently decided to take the Love Dare challenge (as seen in the movie Fireproof! The book is written by Stephen & Alex Kendrick, with Lawrence Kimbrough) which has prompted a series of postings, including this one, which will be labeled "Love Dare Challenge." Now, I have to say that before we decided to take this challenge, Big M and I both felt we had a very strong, loving relationship. We don't fight often. We like to do things together. We talk to one another often and get into some really great discussions from time to time. We are on the same page, as far as hopes and dreams, how to raise our kid, etc. What could possibly be wrong with our marriage? We sort of thought we'd take the challenge to polish and shine our marriage/home... to make it better. Day 5 into the 40 day challenge and we see we have a real fixer-upper here. This house of love is a doozie. Loose floorboards. Nails sticking out. Broken glass. Cracking foundation. Sagging roof that leaks. To us, our home of love seemed beautiful... we thought the world saw our home as beautiful. And that was the problem. The world's viewpoint. Once we started inspecting everything carefully from God's viewpoint... we realized we had much more work to bulldoze through. Sadly, the appraisal has reflected low. (I should save all of this for future entries. It really isn't the point of this particular entry. So let me get back to the point, the reason for this post... how the story of "us" began.)

It was a cold, winter day in January, many, many moons ago. One hundred and twenty-three phases to be exact. (Doing the math? Shoot, did I do the math correctly? Again, not the point.) Spring semester classes just started back up at the local community college. To add a little history, I bombed my first year of college at a university. I had a 1.12 GPA the first semester, and I don't think it improved at all the next! This was unusual for me as I was in National Honors Society and Beta Club (both academic clubs) in high school. I moved back in with my dad, after failing miserably (in some ways, not in others) that first year. My parents cut me off. No more college fund. If I wanted school, I would have to get a job and pay for my education myself. It was time to literally earn those A's again... which I decided would be crucial to my future, lest I work minimum wage for the rest of my days, and fall behind all of my peers who were successfully advancing forward in this crazy game of Life. My, now, husband had recently separated from the military, and had moved back in with his dad. He decided to attend the same local community college. I had been working 8 months and completed my first fall semester (completely starting over) when I entered a film class one January eve, ready to maintain my 4.0. Yes, I was back on track.

And that's when I saw him... and didn't think much else of it.

Class went on for weeks. The films we watched were some of the classics; High Noon, Rear Window, Citizen Kane. Papers abounded and projects surged. I knew someone in the class; he and I worked together at the local bookstore. We often chatted on breaks. Every once in a while, that guy I noticed but didn't think much else about, would notice me. One day, he actually asked me a question in class. I was already dating someone, and didn't want this "other guy" to get the wrong idea. I answered his question politely, and turned back around in my seat, and didn't talk to him again.

January rolled into February and before I knew it Valentine's Day was upon us. We had a major paper or project due in film class that week, I had procrastinated past the point of making my deadline, so I decided to skip the class. The next day, Val Day, I was at work, ringing up books at the register when said guy-I-ignore-from-class comes waltzing in the store... and up to me! Oh wow. He was cute! Extra cute that day. I had been ignoring him for a reason. I was still dating someone else and didn't want to get myself in trouble!

Matt just happened to be in the store and saw me working. He remembered that I was not in attendance for class the previous evening, and asked me if I was feeling okay... assuming I was out sick. Bless him. I informed him I was a slacker and had not completed the work necessary to turn in my assignment. He laughed. Then, as luck would have it, it was actually my lunch break. He was going to the food court for lunch too, so we decided to eat lunch together. Do you see my downfall? Haha! More like uplifting, live-saving path!

Lunch was fun. We talked and laughed. It was friendly, and innocent, so I thought. Matt walked with me back to the bookstore... that's the side of the mall he parked on anyway. As I entered the door to work, I had a phone call. So I took it, Matt standing by, waiting. It was my boyfriend. He should have been called boyenemy (because a friend would have had my best interest at heart. That may be a story for a later date.) He was calling to tell me that he could not come to town, he lived 45 minutes away, and would not be able to take me out that night for Valentine's Day. I was hurt. I was disappointed. And I felt silly as it was just another red flag that had popped up in the last few months of our relationship... flags I tried so hard to ignore. I hung up the phone in anger. The sting still stung.

I turned around to Matt, the air whizzing around me. I asked him if he had plans that night. He said no, that he actually didn't. I said, "We're going out to dinner. And a movie. As friends. I refuse to sit at home on a Friday night, Valentine's Day none the less, and do nothing while my boyfriend goes out and has a good time... without me." Matt hesitated, and simply said, "Okay."

Matt and I had such a great time hanging out that night. We went to a steak house, and then saw a movie. Afterwards, we went to a donut shop and talked for hours. Matt told jokes and I laughed hysterically. We shared stories... all kinds of stories. I couldn't remember ever smiling so much in my life. I drove. I always drive when going out with new male... friends. I like to have an escape route if I need one.

It was now well after midnight and I needed to get home.  We'd lost all track of time.  I drove Matt back to his car (we met at the mall) and we sat for a minute. Matt confessed that he really liked me, but he respected me and the fact that I had a boyfriend. Matt said he could be friends with me, but if I was ever interested in dating him, to let him know. I told him I had a good time, and that I really liked him. I also told him I could not start a relationship with him, until I ended the other relationship. So for now, we were friends. Then, we said goodnight.

The next day, I drove 45 minutes to the town in which my boyfriend lived. I told him it was over, I'd been miserable for months. Also, I was tired of being cheated on. He didn't even care. He didn't fight for me. This didn't phase him. I should have known it wouldn't. So I let him get back to his precious game of golf.

When I got back in my car, I was super shaky. I was still angry. So before I started driving, I called Matt. I told him I'd dumped the... well, I won't use that dirty name on this blog. I told Matt I wasn't ready to jump into another relationship just yet, though. We agreed to continue hanging out as friends. Then I was calm, and at peace. This "being friends" business lasted all of two weeks, maybe. And so we finally agreed to call it what it was - we were officially dating! (Years later Matt confessed that he was at the bookstore to ask me out, and had no knowledge at the time that I was dating someone else.) So that's the story of us: how I met my husband, my college sweetheart.

The rest is history!

The above photo was taken in December 2009. It's one of my favorites!

Oh, Dear...

Well, this Carolina Mom certainly has not been "creating" any blog posts recently. I have been so busy having fun and taking care of my human baby, that I sort of neglected this "baby" project. Lately I've been feeling inspired; let's just hope I can sit down and actually type-up something creative... or at least interesting. Or just something, anything at all! (Okay, I'll stop now.)

Gotta go grab the Canon out of the bag too. Must get creative with photos again as well!

Wish me luck!