For Granted.

I haven't posted in a while because life has become so busy. And with the craziness of work, school {for Matt}, and everything in between, I've slacked on updating you all. Butttt, as I've been struggling to juggle all the new challenges in life, I've had some time this weekend to reflect on how wonderful this life is and how often I take it for granted.

So, after my second week of work {and my first week out in Georgia}, I was sent back to Georgia for one more week. It was great getting to know my co-workers, but a little sad to be gone from Matt for so long {he was so lost without me I'm sure}. But a week back at the office helped things settle down a bit both at work and at home. It was so nice being in Raleigh and getting to go to our new bible study together last week.

This weekend Matt and I were able to spend time with both our friends and our families. Friday night Matt and I journeyed to ole Fuquay-Varina in whoknowswhere, NC and met up with our good friends Andrea and Greg. We had such a blast at dinner and were able to get to know some new friends!

But that was just the beginning, the night really started at the NC State Campus Crusade Barn Party. And what a party it was {sorry UNC, they have you beat on this one}. Candied apples, fried oreos, mechanical bulls, and line dancing made this night quite a rowdy one!

But unfortunately it was cut short by a 7 am wakeup call the next day. Matt and I rose early Saturday morning to visit our families in Charlotte {and pick up my new car sold to me by Jeremy} for the first time since we've been married. I also had the privilege of wedding dress shopping and venue searching with my childhood and lifelong friend, Cassie. Although Matt's mom was missing {she was visiting his sister and brother-in-law in Fl.}, we still so appreciated seeing our loved ones. By the way, Jessica and Josh (Matt's sister and bro-in-law) are going to be moving to Goldsboro, NC, which is an hour from us! Yayyy!

After a day of family and friend time, Matt discovered he would be training for his brand new Best Buy job early this morning {praise the Lord for a job!}. So he had another early morning and drove back to Raleigh at 6 am. I, on the other hand, finally caved to going to a golf tourney with my always-golfing-dad and mom today and was surprised at how much fun I had. It was the Chiquita Classic so there was a Banana Man and a Chiquita woman {which obviously meant picture time}.

All these events, have made me realize how often I forget about how blessed I am. To have a wonderful husband who loves me so deeply, beautiful friends, and a loving family is such a treasure. Yet, I often forget about how truly special it all is. And buying my brother Jeremy's car makes me miss him especially {he is all the way in Cali training, and I'm just praying he finds a blonde babe over there! Ha}. But I'm thankful for the struggles Matt and I have faced so far and for the good times that make me realize just how sweet life is {and how good our God is for giving us this life}.

All Grown Up.

Wow. So a bunch has happened since I last posted.

Starting with the fact that last weekend I {finally} turned 21!!!! But this was not just a special birthday because of the age I was turning, it was special because Matthew Taylor finally surprised me. {I'm still struggling to see how I somehow missed all the signs}.

It all started last Friday night, Sept. 7, when Matt and I went to my lovely alma mater of Chapel Hill to celebrate our good friend, Greg's, birthday. He was turning 21 as well and we had a grand time with our very much missed friends in Chapel Hill.

After carefully observing all of Greg's party's events, I was sure mine would fall along the same lines. Matt explained to me that Saturday night we would be having dessert at Top of the Hill {best restaurant ever in Chapel Hill} with all my friends and then hang out until midnight when I turned 21 and could have my first drink.

I was excited for this plan until none but my dear friend Morgan Sims and her boyfriend Jake showed up for dessert. I was a little confused but so happy to have an impromptu double date.

Then toward 11:30 several friends started showing up, which quelled all my fears and made for a wonderful 21st celebration!

The day of my birthday, I awoke like any other day and Matt and I ran some errands and hung out at our place. I knew he would be taking me out that night for a special date like he always does for my birthdays :) but something still felt off.

You see, I'm a HUGE birthday person. I love love love celebrating birthdays no matter whose it is. So naturally, I anticipate big things when any 21st comes around. And I guess it just kind of felt weird that there was no party this time around, but I resigned to it being due to most of my best friends being out of town.

Matt and I went to the amazing 18 Seaboard in downtown Raleigh {we splurged} and then headed back to our apartment. When we arrived the door wouldn't open, like the deadbolt was locked inside. I started freaking out that there was a burglar in our house and Matt tried to console me saying it was probably just maintenance. For some reason I believed him at 9 o'clock on a Sunday night. But finally as the deadbolt unlocked by the {maintenance} people inside, I heard "SURPRISE" and lost it. Tears. Oh definitely tears. I was just sooooo thrilled and happy for this wonderful surprise. And I came to find out that Matt had planned it all {with a little help}.

There were subtle signs along the way that I wrote off as Matt wanting to practice his bar tending skills from our home. But I was oblivious to those signs this time around. So finally, I was surprised! And my amazingly awesome best friends were all there to celebrate with me :) Ahhh how I love them.

Unfortunately, the next day I had to leave at 5:45 am for the airport for work. Not only did I turn 21 last weekend, I finished my first week of work and was starting on my next! I couldn't believe I would already be traveling, but it was such a growing experience. I really enjoyed the time there with my new colleagues and gained a lot of industry knowledge. The best part: I flew back to Raleigh first class :)

Andddd my husband surprised me with a pumpkin spice frappe when I got home...how blessed am I?!

After such an eventful last couple of weeks, I had to write a long post! I will try not to torture you with such a long read next time.

Thank you everyone who is praying and blessing my and Matt's life with your love and support!

Labor Day

Labor Day weekend turned out a success. Although we experienced some of Hurricane Isaac's wrath, we had an amazing weekend with our families.

The weekend started with a Habitat build Friday morning. Matt and I had never experienced doing a build before so it was quite a treat to do it for the first time together :) We got to use a circle saw and I handled a drill for the first time. I was pretty much a construction stud, I have to say. (Matt may disagree with that).

After our build, we went home for a few hours of rest before we ventured to good ole Chapel Hill to help our dear friends, Lauren and Tom Kuell, move into their first house! It was so fun seeing our old friends and getting to help them in such a huge transition. {They even fed us pizza}. It makes me and Matt really really want to buy a house. 

And with all of that our weekend had only just begun! Matt's family arrived in Raleigh at 10 am on Saturday and we met up for brunch before the Tarheel game. And what a glorious game that was! I wanna say 68-0...guess that new coach must be doing something right ;)

Once the game was over, we headed back to our apartment to show off our new digs to the in-laws! My parents got into town just in time to see our place. {i hope they liked it}

Together all 9 of us went to Summit church (best church ever) and then dinner to celebrate early my 21st! It was such a fun time! It's not until I don't see my family for a while that I realize how hilarious and fun they are. I guess I kind of like them ;) 

Then came the hurricane which meant a sad journey to the beach. But, the Wrights and the new Taylors chugged ahead and had an amazing time in Wrightsville! After all, it is our namesake. We went shopping and had lots of froyo and went to the beach for a whopping TWO hours!!

But I think we ended up having more fun without the sun than with.

These boys are literally crazy. But oh so funny.

It was such a treat to spend the weekend with our families, and especially to share our new life with them. There was definitely no laboring on this weekend!