Most likely, it's a mix of all three of these, and many more things we're not aware of. We are so happy to have shared this year with many of you, and can't wait for what the next one holds (Japan training for one!).
The trip to Frog Holler is likely to be incredibly like the first time around since a snow and ice storm is predicted for Monday (I do believe the streets will be rolled up once again, the shop owners nowhere to be found, and the driveway to the cabins likely hard to get down...but at least I won't be lugging things in, in a wedding dress and slippery shoes this time! ;) We have no problem being snowed in though. In fact, I'm pretty pumped about it myself. I only hope it snows while we're in the hot tub like last year. Watching snow fall, all whilst keeping warm and next to your favorite person in the world is pretty fantastic and magical [insert fairy dust]!
We are all ready with food from my grandma once again (she is awesome!), cookie mix that Geneva, Matty, and I made, and a display we borrowed from gram for movie watching ("Knight & Day" is on the list!).
This 2nd Honeymoon serves as a mile marker for us, a one year Ebenezer stone. It's so crazy to think about all this year has held for us new Englishes. I thought that in celebration and thankfulness to God and those who have shared it with us, I'd post some highlights of this first year, so with no further ado...I present...
Highlights of the First Year of Marriage!!!!
[du-du-du-du! Spotlight. LOL]
I Got Married to the Most Wonderful Man on Earth...
We moved into my grandfather's lakehouse and shared some special memories of
our first few months of marriage including...
Hosting the most awesome birthday party for my dad ever,
for which Isaiah made his first cake (an English man tradition),
(And also getting sick together, loving each other,
me working at the YMCA and with Colton for a bit,
keeping house, arguing, making up,
and generally settling into marriage)
I left my part time jobs, and we drove up to The Boardwalk Chapel
in New Jersey to experience our first official time of ministry
together, Isaiah helping with Evangelism and me helping with Drama.
It was a phenomenal summer during which we...
1. Spent couple time together on the beach, at Dragon House Chinese,
getting ice cream at Bananas, riding the tram car to
the end of the Boardwalk, and many other epic dating adventures...
2. Made some awesome friends and had amazing community
with fellow brothers and sisters in Christ that we worked with on staff,
met on the boards, and talked to over the summer via visiting youth groups
or musical guests (Renee & Romi were among my favorites)...
3. Performed awesome skits together, sang together, and ministered together...
4. Hung out with the Byrd (the most epic bro on earth),
and later visited New York with him & Sarah,
enjoying gourmet pizza and wine,
learning about Egypt at the MET,
touring churches, eating from our first food truck,
and singing Andrew Peterson songs about pennies...
Also we went to a Waterpark while in Jersey...
Isaiah's first time!...
Next, come the end of September, when crowds had dwindled
and most of the staff had headed home,
we moved back to Lexington, NC. This time we moved in
with my mom who graciously decorated an amazing room
for us! I taught for a semester, and, once again we lived,
laughed, and loved our way to deeper affection and maturity via
everyday life together....
We also did some awesome stuff like go on a family vacation to
Florida with my dad and brother Mitch (We went to 3 theme
parks and had an amazing time in general!), visited Childress Vineyards
[pictured above], used all the gift cards we got from our wedding,
Christmas, and teaching (a lot of great dates!), and continued to prepare for Japan...
We got a special visit from some awesome friends for the New Year!
It was so amazing to see some beautiful faces from the Chapel to kick
off 2016! These are beautiful people...
Next, I stopped teaching with the end of the semester, and
we went to "Wicked!" with the Englishes, this marking our next transition.
Isaiah took on more work and started TESOL certification
and I began Theology courses for Japan...
One of the best things about this year has been the
time that we've had with both the English family
and various members of the Cleary Clan
(esp. some amazing time with my dad)
We continue to pursue Christ and each other in
this new phase of our marriage.
Japan training is in May, and we hope
to send Isaiah off in April for a short-term
trip to Sendai, Japan, while I attend a conference
with my dad at the Creation Museum in Kentucky...
Thank you for sharing this first year with us!
Here's to another!
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