Saved, Simple and Southern: 2013

I never had a life verse before. I understand that certain Scriptures just really apply to believers at certain times, maybe the point of their salvation or a hardship in their life, and they adopt that as their "life verse." Well, I love all of God's Word! I needed a life journal not a life verse because I simply could not chose just one. However, this past Sunday as Keith and I sat in worship in a new (to us) community of believers that we were going to be making our home, the Pastor read Philippians 3:13, "Brothers, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead." Verse 14 goes on to say "I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus." Tears began flowing down my face as I had the final affirmation from God that we were in His place doing His will. So many times in my life I have been guilty of living in the past or not overcoming completely that which is behind me, but as those tears streamed down the shackles fell off and I am free! Not only do I have a life verse now, but I have the assurance from God that we are to strain forward towards what is ahead without looking back. God is good, all praise and glory to Him on His throne.

Hello! I'm Charity and this is my blog. I decided to restart the blogging life as a request from my Mother. All good things start with Momma, right? So back into the blogging world I go. I love Jesus! That is most important. Outside of salvation, grace and a personal relationship with God there is no purpose, meaning or reason for life. All things were created by Him and for Him and that includes me. I lavish in the freedom that walking with the Lord brings. I am not perfect. I mess up. A lot. Daily. BUT, Jesus knew me and He knew I would when He took on my shame on the cross. AND, He still chose me. In fact, He called me. John 15:16 says, "you did not chose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit - fruit that will last." 1 Peter 2:21 says, "To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example, that you should follow in his steps." I am eternally grateful for His sacrifice and I live for Him! Not under the law, but under freedom in Christ. (all Scripture that I site is from the NIV unless otherwise noted for a translation preference). This freedom talk is definitely for a blog post for another day. Huge lesson for me!

I tend to ramble a lot! If you didn't want to hear it, you wouldn't be reading this so I assume that it's ok. I love to talk. Obviously! So much so that my head is full of things and I have decided to share them with you!

I fell in love with Keith the 2nd time I saw him and I was just 14. We started dating when I was 16. All I can say is I even worked in tobacco to spend time with the boy!! We have a very sweet story that I may share one day. I didn't say perfect or easy, but sweet. Well, I am content in saying perfect because it is perfect for us. It has been a road with some bumps, but the bumps you cross only make you stronger and I love my man today more than I ever have (but I know it's not as much as I will love him tomorrow. That is the beauty of a committed marriage and the blessings of the God we both serve.).

We got married the day before our 6 year dating anniversary. We were blessed to be able to build our own home from the beginning! We spent our first night in our home before heading off to our honeymoon. We had been married 5 years when we decided to have A (meaning one) baby and it was an huge surprise to find out there were...2! Twins! I told the doctor I didn't ask for twins and that my mother-in-law didn't want twins, but he wouldn't change his mind and twins we had indeed. I wouldn't have it any other way. Makayla and Addison have added so my joy and excitement to our family! Having 2 meant that we worked as a team to keep those babies satisfied, so as our family got bigger our marriage got stronger. We have so much fun with our girls. Thank you Lord for entrusting us with them! They are beautiful, smart, funny and so very loving. I might add they look or act absolutely nothing alike! Which we are grateful for. We like them having their own identity.

What else? I am a preacher's daughter! In fact, I am Teddy's Shadow, or so they called me when I was little. I have the most amazing parents ever (except for Makayla and Addison's, haha!). God gave me a father and mother that are the best role models a child could have. My Daddy is my hero and my Momma is my best friend. The love and support they have given me exceed greatly what anyone could ever want or imagine. I have an awesome sister, Christy who is 6 years older than me. She is the best sister a girl could have and spoils me rotten...always has...still does.

Hmmmm, I am a Meredith grad. Class of 2002! That was an experience! All girl college. Enough said. We had a blast til 2 a.m. (or 6 a.m.) daily. I have tons of memories that I wouldn't trade for anything! I am a passionate person, all or nothing kind of girl. I love long walks through the woods or on a trail, most commonly called hiking! I love the beach, I love the mountains - both for the beauty, majesty and peace of God's creation. I love to have family or friends over (or vice versa) to cookout and sit outside (or inside) and chat the night away. I love pictures and making memories with Keith and the girls. I love shopping. Shoes! Blue jeans! I enjoy cooking and a moderate amount of crafts and decorating. I maybe a little hair and makeup crazy; basically your typical girly girl, but I can throw on some comfy clothes and hit the great outdoors in no time at all. I'm versatile ;) I like to shoot...guns (for the yuppies reading this, and yes I absolutely adore Duck Dynasty!!!!) We live on a farm and I love it! I love country living! I love my front porch and rocking chairs! We love the Carolina Panthers, Keith is a Mets fan, and we are a house divided for the ACC...we have a State Alum (Wolfpack fan) and a Tarheel fan by the wise nurture of my Daddy. Above all, I love the Word of God, studying it intensely and teaching. God's Word fascinates me, the miracle of it, the perfection and beauty of it. I am a graduate student at Southeastern Theological Seminary where it's required to read and study God's Word, how awesome is that?!? OK, one more thing...I read. A lot. A whole lot! Everything. Fiction, nonfiction, books, magazines, blogs...whatever my blue eyes can find. In the words of Sandra Dee in the 1959 movie Gidget, you can find all the answers in a book!

There's tons more...but time is up for now. Just keep checking back (and reading) you'll keep learning and I'm pretty sure you'll like us too! I am going to leave you with some pictures that will help explain all this a little better :)

8 years ago (back in the day) hiking in Tennessee:

The beach...

And here we go...I still had 7 weeks to go so I was 30 weeks here. I delivered at 37 weeks and I worked up until the day before the scheduled caesarean.

What miracles!!

and here is my loves, God is so incredibly good to us!

Just me and Keith having fun!

Suzanne's wedding... I am sure you will hear about her later.

I love this man!

Hiking on our 10 year wedding anniversary! What else would we be doing? Well we did do a night away and a wonderful supper! That decade flew by! Looking forward to many, many more!

And here is a day hiking...locally...Clemmons in Jo Co. (Johnston County) It starts with Addison resting after our picnic lunch and then a few more cute ones!

I just like this picture... I think it's funny!

The next few are from Christmas day...(2012)

Keith and I had a date Sunday afternoon while Aunt Net and Regina spent time with the girls. Of course we chose to find a new trail and hit the woods! It was wonderful!!