absence makes the heart grow fonder...

John and I were long-distance our entire dating relationship.  From the time we met, to the time we got married - we were long distance.  We still managed to see each other every other/or every two weekends.  We couldn't make it much longer than that.  I looked forward to our wedding date THAT much more, knowing we would never have to say "goodbye" again.

The Lord knew it was better for us both to date long distance.  I was a sophomore in college and John was a senior when we met (in early 2010).  Dating long distance allowed us to focus on (a. my college studies, babysitting, friends, student teaching...) and (b. John's big move to Maryland to begin working for his father's company - Quick Servant Company - HVAC).  We were able to focus on priorities in our individual lives on a daily basis, while getting to spend good quality long-length of times when we were together - days at a time.

That being said....(listen to me sounding all strong and positive)..don't be fooled. I was a wreck!  I lived for our times together and cried like it was the end of the world every time we parted ways again.  It was a crummy feeling.  Whether I flew or drove...he flew or drove...I had a heart full of pain and hurt every time we left each other.

Marriage has been so amazing thus far and gets better each day.  Yes - we have our arguments...Yes we have our fights and disagreements...But, that's marriage.  It's all about communicating (BIG time) and learning/growing together.  Keeping Him at the center of your marriage always is the key.  To go to bed next to your best friend and wake up next to him/her everyday is the best gift anyone could receive.  Marriage is a beautiful thing.

John left for a business trip Wednesday to Florida with his boss, Sherman.  It has been tough. It has been lonely. It has been a sad few days without him.  However, I haven't been in sheer heart wrenching pain as it was when we dated....I've thought about this a lot since he left and realized exactly why it's different.  John will return tomorrow and we will be back to our life together....I will go to sleep next to my husband and wake up to him the next day.  Rather than spending weeks apart and looking forward to the 3 or 4 days together in between.....Now it's a lifetime together and spending 2 or 3 days apart every so often.  I'll take it!

My mom always told me that when she got married, she felt so content, so happy, so comforted to know that she would never be alone again.  She had her husband - her best friend and her love - there with her always.  What a good feeling that is. And it is so very true.

And just because I miss him...Here's my handsome husband singing the father/daughter dance for my dad and me at our wedding. XOXO

Thanks for walking with us,
JL

a special year

So long 2012...you will be one hard year to beat.  The past year was definitely a year for the books in our little family.  It was the most important and exciting year in my life thus far, in many more ways than one.

On January 2, 2012 I began student teaching.  I loved my sweet second graders (all 23 of them) and really grew a lot during those 6 months of working.  Yes, it was full of stress, not much sleep, hundreds  of lesson plans, peer/mentor/and principal evaluations (all on top of meeting all the final credentials for graduation in May) and so much more.  But - it was a memorable time in my life that I loved every minute of.

On March 30, 2012, John and I settled on our very first home.  We built a 3 bedroom stone townhome in Ellicott City, MD.  It was so fun designing every aspect and picking out all the features in it.  HUGE props to my husband for handling all the difficult work, mortgage/loan stuff, and all the annoying hoops he had to jump through to make it happen (all the while - I just designed the interior and was on my way back to Raleigh to teach).

On May 6, 2012 I walked across the amphitheatre of Meredith College, graduating Summa Cum Laude.  What an amazing four years those were.  I met friends that I love and will call my friends for a life time, the traditions were endless and each one amazing and special in its own way, I had professors that are now friends and worked hard to provide one-on-one assistance during extra-hours in order to make sure every student had the best education possible (only at Meredith would the professors give out their home/cell number in case you needed help/had any questions during the evenings), and the list goes on...Four years that went by WAY too fast and are some of the best memories and experiences of my life.

On June 2, 2012, We vowed to love each other for the rest of our lives.  Through the good and bad, pretty and ugly, highs and lows.  That was the best decision I ever made.  I married my best friend, my love, and companion.  It has been 7 months (TODAY) and it only gets better every day....Can you believe it has almost been one year? No way..

On June 3, 2012, We took off to St Lucia for 7 nights... Ahh, pure bliss. enough said. I want to go back!!!

June 10, 2012, I moved up North and we started life in Maryland as newlyweds.  Though I had anxiety about this move for months and months prior to it actually happened, the good Lord gave me grace and strength through it all.  I cried the entire 5 hour drive and for 2 days straight at home (my poor husband was so good through it all), but after that, I got my stuff together.  It has been such a good thing for our marriage and I'm so grateful for the Lord and all He's doing in our lives.

On June 22, 2012, we got our sweet Noe! Well, everyone knows we just love her to the moon and back.  Sweet baby girl!

On December 25, 2012, we celebrated our first Christmas as a married couple.  We had both sets of our parents up and that was just the perfect Christmas all-in-all.  It snowed Christmas eve and the day after Christmas...Talk about a dreamy first Christmas! (and we threw out first christmas party for family and friends on christmas eve eve - it was such a fun evening!)

2012...you will be ONE hard year to beat...Good morning, 2013. We can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

Thanks for walking with us,
JL

just me and you...(and noe)

You may notice the adorable sleeping puppy picture above.  Yes, that's our precious baby, Noe.  She was born April 10th and we got her the week after we got back from our honeymoon (in June).  You may think we are crazy to jump into something like that, but truly, she is the best thing that ever happened to us (besides getting married, of course).  

Noe (pronounced like Zoe but with an "n") is the easiest, sweetest, and pinkest little puppy I've ever met.  She was potty trained within 2 weeks of us having her.  She knew how to "sit" on command as a tiny little 6 lb baby.  She cocks her head with every word you say to her, as she is truly listening (do you think I'm crazy yet)?  I never knew I could love a dog so much.  Noe is my little buddy, sidekick and baby.  Did I mention she is a DADDY'S GIRL? She loves loves loves her daddy - and he does love her! Noe is the biggest snuggle bug and will sleep all day and curl up with us all night.

Except for last night...

Well, let's just say not a whole lot of that precious sleeping was taking place for ANY of the 3 of us.  

I'll start by saying that yesterday, John surprised me with a trip to DC for the day....We took the metro and enjoyed lunch, walking around DC, and seeing Les Miserables at the National Theatre (which by the way was AMAZING).  Shout out to my husband for the best early surprise birthday present, ever! It was perfect.  Since we were gone from 9am-5:30pm, I had my friend Kelly (who lives in our neighborhood) come take Noe out twice (knowing her little body can't hold her potty that long!) 

As John and I got home around 5:30, I walked in to be greeted by that sweet little wiggly puppy and a FOUL smell. I mean foul. After looking around, it seemed that Noe's tummy was upset and there was diarrhea (sorry, TMI?) in a couple corners of our home.  As we walked upstairs, there was a little more...and up to the 3rd floor, a little more...Poor little thing had a rough afternoon.  It was the first time this had ever happened.  So, we (or John I should say) spend 45 minutes cleaning it all up while I started making dinner...We enjoyed a nice evening at home.  

9:30pm hits....We 3 go up to bed...(yes, we caved months ago and let her start sleeping with us - we both love it since she's the best little snuggler around) and (yes we are old farts going to bed so early - it was a work night!) Around 12:45 am we both wake up to poor Noe with the same problem all over our bedroom floor.  We both get up, turn the lights on and start cleaning.  1 am - back in bed.  1:30 am, Noe jumps off the bed so John immediately takes her down 3 flights of stairs to let her outside.  She goes to the bathroom. Back up to bed.  2:30 am, Noe hops off the bed - I take her down (3 flights of stairs) to stand outside with her in the freezing cold to take her potty.  Back up to bed.  This morning 6:00 am - we wake up to 2 more little accidents and I started a load of laundry.  

Needless to say, Noe is all better now (thank goodness, I don't know what else she'd have to get out of her system)... She must've just gotten a little bug or gotten in to something that didn't agree with her. 

At work? Yes (thank goodness for baby's morning naps). Tired? Definitely. Coffee? Of course.

Well - after a night like that, we looked at each other and didn't have to say a thing.  We both knew... "Thank goodness it's just us...Me and You...(well, and Noe)."  It confirmed our plan in waiting a while to have kids.

One of the pros of getting married young...(one of many)....You get to enjoy newlywed life for a good long while without feeling the pressure of rushing in to having kids.  

And there you have it.  From 2 exhausted people - Happy Monday! But hey, at least tomorrow's New Years Day and we both have off!  

Thanks for walking with us,

JL

once a reader, now a blogger

I'm one of those true-blog-followers.  I have my favorite blogs in which I follow regularly and look forward to new posts every time I have a moment to sit down with my computer.  As much as I enjoy reading them, it has always inspired me to start my own blog.  A place where I can write and reflect on our family's ups, downs, ins and outs.  So, with one day left in 2012, I decided to step up my game and get my stuff together.  So - here I am, beginning my first blog.

I sat a very long time staring at my computer screen trying to come up with the perfect title....Life as we know it, The Peters, Life as a Mrs, and the list goes on...However, nothing seemed just right.  I thought back to my high school and college English-Course days...The title or heading of a book or passage should nail your purpose down for your reader.  My purpose? What is the purpose of my blog...The purpose is to bring glory and praise to the God who loves me unconditionally and gave his only son to die on a cross for MY life.  Everything I do, think, say, and feel should be for his son, Jesus Christ.  Though I am not perfect (or anywhere near it), I serve a Sovereign God who is full of redemption and grace.  Therefore, I pray and hope that everything I write will somehow, someway be a blessing to someone out there who reads my posts; to Him be the Glory!

Excited for a fresh start as a blogger, but for now - I'm off to spend the rest of my Sunday evening with my husband and our adorable little puppy, Noe!

Thanks for walking with us,

JL