happy valentine's day!

Andrew and I had a wonderful Valentine's Day yesterday. It was actually pretty low key, which is what we wanted - neither one of us wanted to wrestle the crowds to go out and since we're on a budget these days, the decision to stay home was easier to make. We had a lovely meal! A few weeks ago, we were visiting my parents and were sent home with a few steaks to stick in the freezer. So we thought this would be the perfect time to grill them (Thanks, Daddy!) We paired the steak with some steamed broccoli and sweet potatoes - delicious!

The highlight was probably the card that my sweet husband made. If you know him at all, he's not terribly sentimental, so Valentine's Day doesn't really make sense to him. But this thoughtful card was over the top for him! It said "Remember" across the bottom and he had sprinkled the front with a ton of different memories:

• "When you cried through your birthday dinner not knowing there was a surprise party waiting that weekend." (I thought everyone had forgot about me!)
• "Talking on the beach at leadership retreat." (That's when Andrew told me that he wanted to marry me)
• "Thinking about our children and their little Carolina cheerleader and football uniforms."
• "When the fireplace broke into our apartment." (Our first night in this apartment, the wind shook the fireplace chimney and made it sound like someone was in the apartment. We didn't sleep at all we were so scared!)

The inside said, "Q: Remember that I'm not sentimental or romantic? A: Well, that's what I thought, but this proves otherwise!"

There were several other stories written on the front of the card, many that no one else would understand without explanation, which is why I'm so in love with that boy. I love every single inside joke and special memory with him, and I'm so thankful that he remembers them as well as I do. I'm a lucky, lucky girl!

The table setting

Andrew pouring the champaign to have with dessert

Making the frosting

Our yummy dinner!

Happy Valentine's Day!

battle of the blues

The last time UNC played Duke, I was wearing a wedding dress, running back and forth between the dance floor and the hotel lobby where the game was on TV. UNC won, 76 to 68, and we sang the alma mater in front of the concierge desk and then said good night to all of our friends and family who had just celebrated the day with us. Absolutely perfect.

UNC and Duke match up again on March 8 this year and we plan on watching it from an undisclosed location (it's undisclosed only because Andrew has a secret anniversary trip planned and I don't know the destination!). But that's weeks away and first, we take the Blue Devils on in Cameron Stadium tonight. SO EXCITED. For the years I was at Carolina, my stomach was always fluttery on the UNC/DUKE game day. Today is no exception.

There's no real reason for this post, only to say this...GO HEELS! :)

great is thy faithfulness

Andrew and I chose this song for part of our wedding ceremony. It was played as soon as my dad and reached the end of the aisle. The lyrics seemed to represent how we trusted the Lord individually, so we wanted it to represent our marriage as well. We had NO IDEA how we would need to cling to the promises of this old hymn in our first year of marriage.

We sang this song at church yesterday and it was emotional for me, remembering the wedding and how we chose to trust God to move in our marriage. Here we are, almost 11 months later, forcing ourselves to trust Him daily. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided, great is thy faithfulness Lord unto me. We don't know what the next few months will bring - there are a ton of different opportunities and paths to pursue, but finding the right one is tasking. Will Andrew find a job? Should he go back to school? Do we have enough in savings? Is my job safe? Should we move? And there is a huge amount of uncertainty associated with each decision, which requires a huge amount of faith to counteract. Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow, blessings all mine with ten thousand aside. But we choose faith and joy because we have been provided for abundantly thus far and we know that God's nature is constant. So as we sang this song yesterday, there was this unspoken thought between us: 11 months ago we walked into a church, believing that Lord would guide our marriage. And, thankfully, He has done only that.

Thou changest not, thy compassions they fail not; as thou hast been, thou forever will be.