{An Anniversary} Four Years.

Today, Kevin and I are celebrating four years of marriage. It's hard for me to fathom that almost eight years ago, I set my eyes on the man I call my husband. My best friend in the entire universe. My biggest supporter. My confidant. My shoulder to cry on. The father of my child and future children.

Our first date night at the Dixie Classic Fair

On May 21, 2011, I walked down the aisle of the church I grew up in and vowed to love, honor, and cherish the man of my dreams for the rest of my life.

Over the last four years, we've made so many memories. Some good, some bad, and some I'd downright like to forget. Our courtship and our marriage have in no way been perfect. We argue, we fight, we get on each other's nerves. I know how to push his buttons, and he knows how to push mine. But at the end of the day, we can't go to bed angry. We know how to apologize and make up. We move on and we forget. Because despite how it may not always be pretty, it's life, love, and marriage. and neither of us are perfect. At the end of the day, there's no other man I'd want by my side.

Love you more, Kevin Holt. 

*For more pictures from our wedding, visit the wedding tab at the top of the page. 

A Surprise Day Date

If you've been a reader here for a while, you might remember that Kevin and I rarely exchange gifts for any occasion. It hasn't always been that way of course. When we dated, we exchanged gifts like most normal couples. We purchased Christmas, Valentine's Day, and anniversary presents. But then we got married, got a joint bank account, and realized gifts were a little pointless for us as we can get whatever we want, whenever we want and it comes from the same bank account regardless. So instead of exchanging gifts for each other, we worked out a little system. For Christmas we usually complete a project for the house be it redecorating a room, getting new furniture, laying hardwood floors, etc; Birthdays and anniversaries we splurge at restaurants that we wouldn't normally go to. And for our anniversary, we usually take a trip somewhere be it a trip to the beach or just spending a night at a hotel to get away. In the end we give each other the gift of our time, which is something we don't often get these days. I'll take that over a new shirt that I don't need any day.

With that said, this year our home project was Harper's playroom. If you didn't catch the reveal, you can see it here. It was a labor of love that was worth all the time, energy, and money that went into it. However, since this project was really part of Harper's Christmas, I decided to go a bit above our usual Christmas gifts and decided to surprise Kevin with a little road trip to Chapel Hill; the home of our beloved Tarheels. Christmas morning I gave him a gift bag. Inside was a bag of coal (it happened to be candy haha) as well as a ticket for a surprise day date. Of course Kevin was curious and had many questions but other than telling him we could go Monday or Tuesday, that's all the details I was willing to offer up. 

So come Monday, December 29th, we dropped Harper off at daycare then hit the road with my brother in law and his girlfriend. It was so much fun with all of us knowing where we were going and Kevin not having a clue (;

Our first stop was to grab lunch at Top of the Hill Restaurant, Brewery, and Distillery. None of us had ever ate there but it came with great recommendations from several of our family members who lived in the area. And I have to be honest.. the food and scenery did not disappoint!

Kettle chips with homemade sour cream dip. 

Cheeseburgers and beer battered fries! Yum!

Our second stop was to browse Franklin St. for a little shopping. Johnny T-shirt happens to be my favorite Carolina shop so we popped in so I could pick up these cute UNC themed people for my car that I saw online. Corny I know :P

Our last and final stop in Chapel Hill was the Carolina Basketball Museum. None of us had ever been, and quite frankly, I never knew it existed until Amanda over at A Sweet Simple Southern Life shared about her experience there on her blog. After seeing it, I knew it would be a big hit for each of us. Combine our love of history with a love for Carolina Tarheel basketball and you have a sure fire hit! 

Love the marble floor entry way with their logo. 

The inside entrance.

Tarheel themed Christmas tree.

Championship game balls. 

Who knew when you win a NCAA Championship that they give the winner the hardwood flooring from center court?!

Standing at a point of a game winning shot!

I remember this game winning shot like it was yesterday!

Had no clue this many Tarheels had been drafted into the NBA.

Look at all those 'Heels!

And on to the trophies...

Check out all those National Championships!

As you can see, it did not disappoint. The museum was filled with history of Tarheel basketball. It took us nearly two hours to get through the museum after reading all the plaques and watching most of the videos. If you're a history buff or Tarheel fan like myself, you'll love it. And the best part, it's all free. A bargain lover like myself can't turn a deal like that down :P

A Date Night for Two

Last night the hubs and I had an impromptu date night and it was nothing short of amazing. Since the hubs is having surgery this morning  and will be out of commission for a little while, he arranged for his parents to look after Harper last night so that we could have an evening just the two of us. He's seriously amazing and sometimes I forget just how lucky I am to have snagged this man. At times he can blow me away with his thoughtfulness.

I arrived home later than usual yesterday afternoon because I went and had my hair chopped off (more on that Friday!) and it took longer than I had expected. But when I got home the hubs was dressed in his best and was waiting for  me. I did a little fixing up of my outfit so I'd be a bit more presentable and then we were out the door. For dinner we headed to Texas Roadhouse, one of our all time favorite places. Their steaks and homemade ranch dressing always hit the spot. We spent an extra long time at the restaurant just chatting away even long after our plates had been cleared. It reminded me so much of when we were dating. And let me just say, it was nice. It was nice to be free from distractions, free of cell phones, free of a toddler throwing food on the floor and reaching for more, and free from the cares of the world. So often we don't get to experience those freedoms but when we do, it's precious and we do our best to soak them up.

Following dinner we made a Target run, as we always do. Who can say no to Target? We picked up a few groceries and of course a few things for Harp. By the time we got back home it was well after 10 o'clock and Harp had long been in bed. We soaked up sights of our little girl sleeping in her bed, kissed her good night, then thanked the good Lord above for the little family he's given us! There's no other people I'd want to go through life with! 

Happy Wednesday ladies! If you get a chance, say a little prayer for the hubs today! 

Baby Bump Pictures

A month or so ago, my wonderful cousin, who just so happens to be a photographer, came home from Jacksonville, NC and took some maternity photos for Kevin and me. Over the weekend, I got the cd from her with all of the edited images. I am so in love with them that I just have to share a few of my favorites!

If you live in the Jacksonville, NC area, please look up April! You can see more of her work at her facebook page.... A.Elliott Photography! I promise you'll be as happy with your images as we are with ours (:

A Much Needed Weekend

Over the last couple of months, I have been an awful wife. I blame it on pregnancy. I feel so sorry for my husband. By the time I get home from teaching my amazing class of 22 students, I am exhausted. So exhausted in fact that at 4:00 I have my pajamas on and I could seriously go to bed at 6;  our house is a complete disaster; all of the laundry baskets are completely full and by all of the laundry baskets I mean all five of them; I haven't cooked a meal in forever; I couldn't tell you the last time I swept or vacuumed the floors; and quality time with the husband now consists of a few text messages during the day and a kiss at night. Like I said, I've been an awful wife. But I sure do love my husband. He takes it all in stride and constantly supports me by telling me he understands and trying to do all he can to help out. But I still feel bad and last weekend I did my best to fix it.

One of the perks to being a teacher is that schools are closed on holidays and the teachers get a much needed day off. Lucky for me, Veteran's Day fell on Sunday so school was closed on Monday. Knowing that I had a long weekend and the hubby also happened to have those days off, I told Kevin I wanted to head to the beach. Thankfully, he was game!  

So on Friday, I left work a bit early, came home and packed, and by 2pm, we were heading to Myrtle Beach. On the way the hubby and I acted like fools singing to some old school 90's music (aka Backstreet Boys, N'Sync, & Savage Garden). It was great. By the time we made it to the beach it was dinner time and we were starving. We ended up going to Sir Pizza, a delicious pizza chain in the south. Their pizza tastes just like a local pizza parlor in our home town that recently shut down so it's become a new favorite of ours since we discovered it back in July. After finishing up dinner, we headed to our condo to check it out; we were quite impressed with how nice it was. After we unpacked and got everything settled, we headed off  to North Myrtle Beach Bingo and played bingo for the night with Kevin's parents and grandparents who also came down. I was pretty ecstatic because I won $50! (Nevermind the fact that it cost me $45 to play haha). 

Saturday morning Kevin and I slept in. We got up around 9 and then headed out to the balcony where we soaked up the sun. After a while, we started getting hungry so Kev went and got us some Chick-fil-a. After eating we sat around and watched tv and took a nap. By 3:00 I was ready to get out and go do something so we got ready and headed out to do some shopping. I was a little disappointed with the current sales but nonetheless, I did purchase two cute shirts from Old Navy and a pair of shoes from a factory store. By the time we finished shopping, we were starving so we met Kevin's dad for dinner and went to Damon's. After dinner, Kevin dropped me back off at the Bingo Parlor and I played with the ladies while the men went to catch a movie.

Sunday was our last full day at the beach so we enjoyed each minute of it. We slept in till 10 and then got up and got ready for lunch. I was craving vegetables so we headed to Cracker Barrel to beat the church crowd. After we ate, we sat outside in the rocking chairs and played a game of Checkers per the hubby's request. He ended up regretting that as I beat him miserably. haha I was proud of myself considering I hadn't played Checkers in years! We then headed back to the condo and went walking on the beach. When we returned I was exhausted and took a nap. By the time I woke up it was time to get ready again and head to dinner. We ended up going to Nakatos which just so happens to be my absolute favorite Japanese restaurant in the world. They only have three locations: Charlotte, NC; Atlanta, GA; and Myrtle Beach, SC. Needless to say, we never go to the beach without eating there at least once. As always, the food was delicious and I actually ate all of it! When dinner was over we headed to the strip and did the SKYWHEEL. It was amazing. I'm a lover of all Ferris wheels so I enjoyed every single breathtaking minute! Since we were riding it at night, we got to see all of Myrtle Beach lit up. It was quite a site. You have to do it if you're ever in the area!

Sunday morning we got up early and packed up to leave. It was rather depressing. The sun was shining bright and it was 75 degrees at 8am. If Kevin would have had Tuesday off, we'd have stayed an extra day. I could guarantee it. But unfortunately he didn't, nor did I, so we packed up our belongings and headed home. We arrived back shortly after lunch and it was raining and only 60 degrees :( Told you it was depressing. But at the same time, it was great to be back home with our little guy who spent the weekend with his Aunt Debbie.

Overall, we had the most amazing time and it was so great to actually relax and regroup with my husband. It was even better to be able to actually sit and talk with my husband again for hours on end...something we haven't done in ages. So if you're pregnant or just need to regroup with your husband, take a weekend vacation, I promise it'll make it all better (:

I'll be gone now but before I go, I'll leave you with a few photos!

the view from the porch

on the Sky Wheel

The view from the Sky Wheel

The view from our bedroom

{Link-Up}: How I Met My Husband

Hi Ladies! I'm linking up with Becky today over at From Mrs. to Mama to tell you about how I met my hubby! Link up with us too!

1. Tell us about how and when you met your love and what attracted you most to him. 
Well I've talked about this before in previous posts but I'll be more than happy to tell you all about it again.. though I'll give you the short version this time. Kevin and I actually met on Myspace in August of 2007 (That's so absolutely comical to me when you think about it but that's our story). Technically we'd crossed paths many times before but we'd never actually spoken to each other so when Kevin came across my Myspace profile, he sent me a friend request and a message. From there we hit it off and became great friends. When I initially met Kevin, I didn't really think of him as "the one". At the time, we both had been in relationships with other people for a little over a year. It wasn't until the summer/fall of 2009 that the two of us even considered dating each other. If you want to read more details about how I met the hubby you can read more {here}.

2. Show us the very first {or one of the very first}pictures you guys ever took together. {Feel free to show us more than one}
This picture wasn't our first picture together, nor was it the second but it's one of my absolute favorites from when Kevin and I first started dating back in 2009. It's amazing how different we both look three years later! {FYI, it was Halloween, hence my outfit!}

3. Tell us some of your favorite memories you two have together. 
I have so many favorite memories but I have a few that top the list. 
- One of my absolute favorite memories of us together is when Kevin and I headed to the beach together with our friends during the summer of 2009. That week will always contain some of my favorite memories. I think I can honestly say it's my favorite vacation ever!
- One of the things I remember most about mine and Kevin's dating relationship is the many days we'd spend just laying around talking ALL day. I mean ALL day literally. I remember one day I went to Kevin's house around lunch time and we ended up laying in his room just talking until 8:00 that night! We'd have talked longer until we both realized it was pitch black outside and we hadn't ate yet! haha 
- Our most recent favorite memory I have is the day the two of us saw our precious baby and heard his/her heartbeat together. It was so surreal. Seeing my hubby tear up at the sight of our little baby moving its arms and legs and hearing its strong heartbeat will always be a favorite memory of mine. I'm not sure I could ever forget that.

4. Tell us your favorite qualities about this man, what makes him the "one".
Kevin has so many qualities that I admire. He's hilarious, so kindhearted, always supportive, always willing to listen, slow to anger, very family-oriented, he loves God, and he puts me first. I mean, what's not to love about him?! 

5. Tell us what your "date nights" typically look like. 
Our dates night vary! Some nights we're content to just lay in bed in our pajames, eating a snack, and watching a movie with each other and our precious fur baby. Other nights, we'll get dressed up, go to a fancy restaurant for dinner, and do something after such as meet up with friends or take in a movie. Either way, as long as I have time with my man, I'll take it!

That time we celebrated our 1st anniversary & I forgot to blog about it...

Well the hubby and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary on May 21st..(over a month ago, I know) and I completely forgot to blog about it! So let me fill you in on the details which actually take place over an entire month (:


The two of us both had to work on the day of our anniversary so we decided to go out the weekend before and celebrate. Because baseball & softball have played a huge part in our dating and married life, the two of us headed out to watch the Greensboro Grasshoppers,  our local Minor League baseball team, play. We chose to eat at the game and stuffed our faces with delicious fried chicken fingers and french fries. They were so unhealthy but worth every single bite! After the game was over we headed over to Krispy Kreme and got some hot & fresh donuts... just like we'd do after dinner during date nights! 

Our actual anniversary fell on a Monday so when we got home from work we headed out to Jaycee Park for the hubby's softball game. Many of my coworkers asked if it upset me that I had to spend my first wedding anniversary sitting at a ball field instead of at a nice fancy restaurant but in all honesty...it didn't bother me at all. Jaycee Park is the first place we met and was the very place where we had our first conversation so it couldn't have been more perfect. 

Because our anniversary fell during the school year, we couldn't take a trip anywhere. So when school finished up at the beginning of June, Kevin and I headed to the beach. Unfortunately, I didn't take hardly any pictures of our vacation. But we enjoyed every minute of it. We slept in every morning, got up and got breakfast, then laid out on the beach till a little after lunch. Then we'd come back in get ready and head out. We had dinner at our favorite restaurants, did some shopping, and went and played bingo one night. Cheesy I know, but we won!  

All in all, it was an amazing first anniversary and I can't wait for many, many more!

My Favorite Thing About Being Married

I love this quote because it is SO true. Before the hubs and I got married, the thing I looked forward to the most about us being married was that we would finally get to fall asleep together each night. We wouldn't have to part ways and say our goodbyes at the end of the night. And now that I am married, I have to say, it's still the thing I love most about marriage.

I love laying in bed each night holding hands and saying prayers with my husband. I love when my hubby comes to bed later than I do and I wake up to him wrapping his arms around me and locking his legs around mine... like he's afraid I'll get up and leave him! I love waking up in the morning to see my sweet hubby's face staring at me or to see him in that peaceful sleep with his hair sticking up every which way... a look he can pull off very well if I do say so myself ;) I just love it all and I look forward to coming home each day from work knowing that I get to crawl in bed with my hubby at the end of the night. 

What's your favorite thing about being married?

Praying for my Husband

Each night before going to bed, my husband and I pray together. We pray for our friends, family, those sick and suffering, the lost, the needy, and we thank God for all He has done for us in our lives. We also ask God to guide us and help us lead a life that is pleasing to Him and to help us use words and actions that represent Him daily. 


Then a few days ago, I stumbled upon Christina's blog, Wifey's Notes. Her challenge for the month of April is to spend 31 days in prayer for her husband. I immediately fell in love with this idea. Christina had came upon a list of prayers here that she could pray daily to help her husband. After reading through these prayers, I knew I was going to participate in this challenge too. I offer up prayers for my husband but I know they should be more specific and tailored to his needs and now, I'm equipped to do that. 


So I offer you the same challenge. Why don't you spend the next 31 days in prayer for your husband? Maybe you aren't married yet, but can you still pray for your future husband or boyfriend? Of course. The same prayers will still apply!


Here is your challenge!

Day 1
Pray that your husband will grow spiritually and consider his accountability before the Lord. Pray that he will guard his heart by developing spiritual disciplines—Bible reading and study, prayer, meditation, scripture memorization, etc. (2 Peter 3:18; Prov. 4:23)

Day 2
Pray that your husband’s relationship with God and His Word will bear fruit in his life. Pray that he will be a man of wisdom and understanding, fearing the Lord. (Prov. 3:7, 9:10; Ps. 112:1)

Day 3
Pray that your husband will be humble and quick to agree with God about his sin. Pray that his heart will be tender toward the voice of the Lord. (Ps. 51:2-4; Micah 6:8)

Day 4
Pray that your husband will grow in leadership skills in your relationship—protecting and providing for you. Pray that he will lead you wisely and love you sacrificially, so that God will be glorified in your marriage. (Eph. 5:25-29; Col. 3:19)

Day 5
Pray that your husband will be faithful to his wedding vows. Pray that he will have a desire to cultivate your relationship as a sign of his loyalty and commitment to you, and as a picture of Christ’s love for the Church. (Prov. 20:6; Gen. 2:24)

Day 6
Pray that your husband will love righteousness and hate wickedness, especially the evils of the culture. Pray that he will recognize and avoid wickedness in his own life, and if necessary, take a clear, strong stand against evil. (Prov. 27:12; John 17:15; 1 Cor. 10:12-13)

Day 7
Pray that your husband will safeguard his heart against inappropriate relationships with the opposite sex. Pray that his heart will be pure and undivided in his commitment to you. (Prov. 6:23-24, 26; Rom. 13:14)

Day 8
Pray that your husband will work hard to provide for your family, to the best of his ability. Pray that the character qualities necessary for a successful career and ministry will be a growing part of his character—persistence, decisiveness, strength, an analytical mind, organizational skills, positive relationships with people, determination, etc. (Rom. 12:11; 1 Cor. 15:58)

Day 9
Pray that your husband handle finances wisely, will have discernment concerning budgeting and investments, and will be a good steward of his money in regard to giving to the Lord’s work. Pray that money will not become a source of discord in your family. (Prov. 23:4-5; Rom. 12:13; Heb. 13:5)

Day 10
Pray that your husband will cultivate strong integrity, and not compromise his convictions. Pray that his testimony will be genuine, that he will be honest in his business dealings, and will never do anything that he needs to hide from others. (Prov. 20:7; 1 Tim. 1:5, 3:7; Eph. 6:10-12)

Day 11
Pray that your husband will have a humble, teachable spirit and a servant’s heart before the Lord. Pray that he will listen to God and desire to do His will. (Prov. 15:33; Eph. 6:6)

Day 12
Pray that your husband will yield his sexual drive to the Lord and practice self control. Pray that your sexual intimacy together will be fresh, positive, and a reflection of selfless love. (Prov. 5:15, 18; 1 Cor. 7:3; Song of Solomon 7:10)

Day 13
Pray that your husband use practical skills to build your family and make wise decisions for your welfare. Pray that he will serve unselfishly. (Gal. 5:13; Phil. 2:3-4)

Day 14
Pray that your husband will speak words that build you and your family, and reflect a heart of love. Pray that he will not use filthy language. (Prov. 18:21; Eph. 4:29)

Day 15
Pray that your husband will choose his friends wisely. Pray that God will bring him men who will encourage his accountability before God, and will not lead him into sin. (Prov. 13:20; Prov. 27:17)

Day 16
Pray that your husband will choose healthy, God-honoring activities. Pray that he will not live in bondage to any questionable habits or hobbies, but that he will experience freedom in holiness as he yields to the Spirit’s control. (1 Cor. 6:12, 10:31; 2 Tim. 2:4)

Day 17
Pray that your husband will enjoy his manliness as he patterns his life after Christ and strong men in the faith. Pray for his physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual strength. (Eph. 3:16; 1 Peter 2:21; 1 Cor. 10:11)

Day 18
Pray that your husband will have an eternal perspective—living in light of eternity. Pray that he will reject materialism and temporal values and put God first in his life. (Matt. 6:33; Deut. 6:5;Eph. 5:16; Ps. 90:12)

Day 19
Pray that your husband will be patient and a man of peace. Pray that he will not give in to anger, but will allow the Holy Spirit to control his responses. (Rom. 14:19; Ps. 34:14)

Day 20
Pray that your husband will yield his mind and thoughts to the Lord. Pray that he will not entertain immoral or impure thoughts, and that he will resist the temptation to indulge in pornography. (Prov. 27:12; 2 Cor. 10:5)

Day 21
Pray that your husband will learn how to relax in the Lord and, in his greatest times of stress, find joy and peace in his relationship with God. Pray that he will submit his schedule to the Lord. (Neh. 8:10; Prov. 17:22; Ps. 16:11)

Day 22
Pray that your husband will practice forgiveness in your relationship and with others. Pray that he will recognize any roots of bitterness, and yield any resentment and unforgiving attitudes to the Lord. (Eph. 4:32; Heb. 12:15)

Day 23
Pray that your husband will be a good father—disciplining his children wisely and loving them unconditionally. If he is not a father, pray that he will find a young man to mentor in the things of the Lord. (Eph. 6:4; Col. 3:21; 2 Tim. 2:1-2)

Day 24
Pray that your husband will have a balanced life—that he will balance work and play. Pray that he will fear God, but also gain favor with people he knows at work and church. (Luke 2:52;Prov. 13:15)

Day 25
Pray that your husband will be courageous in his stand against evil and injustice, and that he will stand for the truth. Pray that he will protect you and your family from Satan’s attacks. (Ps. 31:24; Eph. 6:13; Ps. 27:14)

Day 26
Pray that your husband will discover and live his God-given purpose. Pray that he will offer all his dreams to the Lord, and pursue only those goals that will bring God glory and count for eternity. (Jer. 29:11; 1 Cor. 10:31)

Day 27
Pray that your husband will understand the importance of taking care of his body—the temple of the Holy Spirit—for the glory of God. Pray that he will practice self-control by making wise food choices, and get sufficient exercise to stay healthy. (Rom. 12:1-2; 1 Cor. 6:19-20, 9:27)

Day 28
Pray that your husband will be a man of prayer. Pray that he will seek and pursue God in purposeful quiet times. (1 Thess. 5:17; Luke 22:46; James 5:16)

Day 29
Pray that your husband will surrender his time and talents to the Lord. Pray that his spiritual gifts will be manifest in his career, at church, and in your home. (Eph. 5:15-16; 1 Cor. 12:4, 7)

Day 30
Pray that your husband will serve God and others with pure motives. Pray that he will obey the Lord from his heart, and glorify Him in everything. (1 Cor. 10:13; John 7:17-18; Col. 3:23-24)

Day 31
Pray that your husband will recognize the lies of the Enemy in his life. Pray that his attitudes and actions will be guided by the truth as he brings his thoughts into captivity to the Word of God. (John 8:44; 2 Cor. 10:4-5)