Our City

Today has been an exciting day already and it's only lunchtime. This morning Justin and I met my mom and dad at a condo in the downtown area. My dad is a real estate agent so he was able to get us the key to go in an look at this place. We liked what we saw, but are going to keep looking and see what other condos/houses we might like in that same area. We took a little drive through Charlotte after finishing up at the condo and it was so beautiful. I love driving through the busy streets of the city on a bright and sunny day. After those adventures we came home and took a little family walk in this amazing weather. This weather is really making me crave summertime like you wouldn't believe! I am getting very excited about this transition to a new home that is going to be happening in mine and Justin's lives in the next month or so. We appreciate all of your prayers for God's guidance during this time. Also, the condo we looked at today is right around the corner from Area 15 in Charlotte. This is a really neat prayer house that Justin and I have been to. Check out their website for more info. Well folks, just wanted to give a little update to let you know what's going on. I must return to lesson planning now before we're off to Emma's big 4 year old birthday bash! :)

Hugs,
Meredith

Nut-Shell Update


I really cannot believe that I have not updated our family blog since the Christmas. WoW! Things must have gotten pretty busy for me to have neglected writing for nearly two months. So, here is the nut-shell version of what has been going on in our lives.

Meredith-On January 2nd I began my full time student teaching at David Cox Road Elementary. For those who don't know what that means, I will share. I am at David Cox in a first grade class all day everyday. I began picking up one subject a time to take over teaching until last week when I picked up the final one. I am now on the second week of full time teaching. Meaning, I teach all subjects everyday for the next two and a half weeks. As student teachers at UNCC we have to have 20 full days of full time teaching. After I have taught for 4 weeks straight I will begin releasing one subject at a time back to my CT (cooperating teacher) Patti Eagleburger. I cannot tell you how much fun I have been having being back at D.C. (I was a student there from 2nd-5th grade) and getting to be apart of this experience. I have told several people this, and I know it to be true: I was born to teach. When I am in my classroom I just feel so confident in what I am doing. Yes! There are very stressful days, and I just want to go home and go to sleep. But, I will keep pushing forward and keep thanking God for placing me at such an amazing school with wonderful people to work with and precious children. I absolutely love my CT! She is the best! I feel so fortunate that she and I have built such a great relationship over the past several months. So, needless to say this has been much of my life for the past month and a half and it will continue to be until May.

Justin-First of all I just want everyone to know how much I love my husband! He is absolutely amazing. Two weeks ago I was having a crappy day, and when he came home he handed me an envelope and said, "This is from me to you, and it's your student teaching survival kit." It was a YEAR long membership to Massage Envy!! If you know me at all you know how much I love massages! And it gets even better! (I know-how could it!?) He handed it to me and said, "Oh, and they are waiting for you right now so you'd better get ready and go." So I left right then and there and received a solid hour of stress relief and relaxation. Next on the list of updates, is that Justin and I have decided that Charlotte is our city and we are going to plant ourselves here for a long while. We have decided not to renew our current lease and we are beginning the process of looking for a home to rent in the downtown Charlotte area. We are extremely excited about this change in our lives. Justin is really working hard at his current job and also with our student ministry at Kinetic. He really has a passion for working with these kids and I am so proud of him for all of the effort he has put forth. He is also beginning to pray about starting a ministry here in Charlotte, called Charlotte Missions. He is still thinking, praying, and working through this so I will update you a later time.

Minnie-Of course I must include my sweet Minnie. She is still adorable and as cute as ever! She just had surgery last week to get fixed. YAY! No more doggie diapers! We love playing with Minnie and I especially enjoy snuggling with her by the fire. I am excited for warmer weather so we can go on walks together and take a little family outing to the park.

Well, I think that's all of the updating I can muster up right now. My fingers are starting to cramp up since I have been typing for almost three hours. I think I will call it a night and go cuddle up with my hubby and my puppy.

Hugs,
Meredith

Our First Christmas as a Little Family

This Christmas is very special for us because it is the first Christmas that Justin and I get to spend together and with our families as husband and wife. It has been so exciting already to do fun Christmas things as a married couple. We decorated our apartment the weekend after Thanksgiving and I must say I think it looks pretty cute. All of our presents have been bought and about half of them are all wrapped up and are looking so pretty underneath our real Christmas tree. (Note the emphasis on REAL tree). Anyway, this past weekend we spent Saturday afternoon with my mom's extended family as we do every year about two weeks before Christmas. We enjoyed some yummy food and good family conversation. This coming Saturday we will be going to my Grandad and Judy's house to celebrate Christmas with my dad's side of the family. Thus, the Christmas train ride has begun. Christmas eve we will be with my family all day/evening. I am so excited that me, Justin, and Minnie are all going to be spending the night at my mom and dad's house that night!! I can't wait to wake up Christmas morning with my whole family together under one roof!! (We will miss you Copper). Christmas morning will consist of festivities at Maw-Maw Soup's house and then Justin, Minnie, and me are off to Topsail Island to be with his family for the rest of the weekend. I really can't wait! Oh...and then the weekend after all of that MY SISTER IS GETTING MARRIED!!! Wow! Things are about to get crazy folks!! But throughout all of the craziness and the hustle and bustle of this time of year, I am trying hard to stay focused on Christ and the true reason that I celebrate. And not just at Christmas time, but throughout every other day of the year.



THE RESOLVE


Just wanted to write a quick blurb about Kinetic Worship's new CD, The Resolve. I honestly say that it is all I have listened to since buying it Sunday night after their CD release party. Justin and I feel so blessed to have such talented friends who are willing to share their hearts and their love for Jesus unashamedly! Congratulations Kinetic Worship!!

CLOTHECHARLOTTE

Hey everyone,

clothecharlotte is at it again and we need you. You came through and collected over 1100 kits last year. That is over 3300 items in 5 weeks which is absolutely amazing! clothecharlotte has a vision to meet the need of every single homeless person in the city of Charlotte. While speaking with many of the shelters last year we realized a common need, sleeping bags. clothecharlotte will remain an advocate for the homeless, so we are responding to the needs of the shelters this year by pushing all of our efforts towards gathering 5000 sleeping bags.

clothecharlotte will always be a grassroots organization making a huge impact in the city. We have all been effected by the financial state our nation, and we all have a real understanding how easy it could be to find ourselves homeless. clothecharlotte was a success last year simply because you responded to a need. Join the clothecharlotte Movement again and spread your impact.

IMPORTANT INFO:

1) clothecharlotte.com will launch this weekend
2) volunteer for a specific spot on the website
3) we are collecting sleeping bags this year -- for men, women and children

What we need YOU to do:

1) start a clothecharlotte donation in your area, your work place or your church
2) forward this email to everyone you know asking them to join the movement
3) donate your sleeping bags --- we are 5 weeks away. you CAN make this happen
4) visit the website often to stay connected and prepared for December 19th


Event Info: clothecharlotte

Distribution Date: Saturday, December 19th, 2009

Location: Freedom Park

Time: 12:00 noon

Visit website for multiple drop off locations. If you are out of state please mail donations to this address.

clothecharlotte
12708 Mosby lane
Charlotte, NC 28273

Contact info:

info@clothecharlotte.com
704-916-9356

never forget the thousands of homeless in charlotte fighting daily to survive the elements. give warmth. give hope. give just because. give your sleeping bags.

October & November Madness!

I can't believe it has been so long since I last updated our blog. Well, actually I can believe it because Justin and I have been so busy these last few weeks that we have hardly had time to just sit and spend time together! Over the past few weekends we have been going, going, going! In my last update I mentioned that Justin and I would both be out of town for the weekend. I had an amazing time on the 2009 Kinetic Women's Retreat to Myrtle Beach, SC. It was such and encouraging and uplifting experience! Justin really enjoyed being to spend time with his family in his hometown of Savannah, GA. While he was there he found a 60 year old school desk at a yard sale, and guess what!? It had HIS name carved in it!! I am not even lying! So of course he had to buy it and it now resides in the corner of our cute little living room. The following weekend we spent the weekend visiting Justin's grandparents at Topsail Island, NC with all of my family. What a fun and relaxing weekend that was! I wish we could have stayed for a week! So that brings us to this past weekend which was also quite eventful! Alyssa has her first two bridal showers this past weekend! One was held on Saturday at Trent and Lacy Peacock's home. And the one on Sunday was held here. Lyss got some awesome stuff and it was great to be around so many women and watch them support and encourage Alyssa through this exciting time in her life! Needless to say our little family has had A LOT going on over the past few weeks!! This is just some of the craziness that makes up our daily lives.

And of course...what blog post would be complete without pictures to show you all that we have been up to!?
Getting ready to do some shopping at Broadway at the Beach!
Anyone up for a "facial scrub??"
Streets of Savannah.
Justin posing.
Minnie in her new beach outfit!
Engaged kids sleeping on the beach.
My cute mom and dad.
Katelyn, Blair, and Me catching some rays on Halloween.
Lyss and two of her lovely bridesmaids at shower number one.
Tweety Bird Pajama's from Kayla at shower number two.

I suppose that's all for now!

I am so excited to be getting away this weekend with the women of Kinetic Church. I feel like I need this weekend to rejuevenate myself after what has been a very busy, stressful, and overwhelming couple of months. We will be headed to Myrtle Beach, SC from Friday-Sunday and will be given the opportunity to grow relationships with women who we may not know all that well. I am excited to be refreshed by God's word and to worship Him with a room full of His daughters. As for Justin, he will be visiting his older sister in Savannah, GA this weekend with the rest of his family. I hate that I am unable to go with them, b/c I've never seen Savannah before. But it just so happened that this trip was planned for the same weekend as my retreat. I'm sure he is going to have a great time being with his family and re-visiting the place where he grew up. "What about Minnie?," you might ask. Well, she is going to be staying the weekend with my Maw-Maw Soup! She is super excited to spend time with one of her favorite people. That is all for now, I've got to get to class!
Hugs,
Mere

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