Whirlwind

Sorry for the gap in between posts! You know how it is with the holidays... ok or Im just lazy. Anywho... Chip has started working and is really enjoying it so far- he has to take a big test to get licensed to sell insurance however and is feeling overwhelmed with all of the material, starting a new job, oh yeah and the tiny detail of getting married- so please pray for him :) I know he is going to pass that test with flying colors (sometimes he just needs a reminder of how amazingly talented he is, so if you see him, tell him!).

Last Thursday night I got spoiled rotten by my friends and had my first wedding shower! The girls featured in this picture are just a few of the ones who came out to the Mello's house and showered me with love and gifts. We got such cute things from every store on our registry! I can't begin to tell everyone how blessed Chip and I are to know you and to feel y'alls love for us! Signing off til after the holidays- Merry CHRISTmas!

Wedding Season Has Begun!

This past week has been super busy so sorry for the lack of posts! For starters I was finishing up school/finals for the semester, wahoo! In bigger news CHIP GRADUATE ON SUNDAY!! yayayayayyyy! I will post picture of his handsome self in his cap and gown as soon as I can :)

On another happy note, our first wedding shower is tomorrow night! 3 of my sweet bridesmaids are throwing a shower and serving desserts for all of my age group of friends- I am oh so excited for this because I know it will be such a great time of fellowship and a fabulous opportunity to catch up!

House Hunting

Ok blogosphere (sp?)...wait I just realized i am asking for help on spelling and I am going to be teaching english next year. I love irony... okay got distracted here we go again... Chip and I are currently in the process of trying to figure out where to live. His job is located on 8th Avenue and we are hoping to live somewhere in the Green Hills/ Hillsboro Village/ Belmont area. I don't feel like I can accurately describe to you how overwhelming the whole process is. We have a budget in mind, and have found a few places that we like, but quite frankly, I'm picky. I want to live in a cute little house or condo or apartment that is nice on the inside and I would feel comfortable having people over for parties and such. In the aforementioned area. That isn't a bajilliion dollars a month. We are looking to lease or rent, not purchase yet since it's just the two of us and are looking for a 1bedroom or 2bedroom apartment/condo/house. So there you go. If you stumble upon a cute house or something for rent or know of anyone who is trying to lease or rent their property, please let us know :) Craigslist and Apartment Finder are great, but so much to sort through...

Graduation!!!! (Almost!)

ONE WEEK FROM TODAY CHIP GRADUATES FROM UT!!!!! wahoooooo!!! This will be the second graduation of his that I am lucky enough to be a part of, the first being his high school graduation :) This is a picture of him from his CPA graduation! Next week I will have one from his college graduation- So strange!

That's the next big thing coming up for Chip and myself (12/13). And today marks the 3 month marker til we say "i do"!

How do I love thee?

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of Being and ideal Grace.
I love thee to the level of every day's
Most quiet need, by sun and candlelight.
I love thee freely, as men strive for Right;
I love thee purely, as they turn from Praise.
I love with a passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood's faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints, -- I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! -- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

-Elizabeth Barrett Browning

Scripture of the Day

Don't urge me to leave you or to turn back from you. Where you go I will go, and where you stay I will stay. Your people will be my people and your God my God. Where you die I will die, and there I will be buried. May the LORD deal with me, be it ever so severely, if anything but death separates you and me. -Ruth 1:16-17

Thanksgiving Break

This past week Chip and I had much to be thankful for! Less than 100 days til the wedding, great family and friends, safe travels, a break from school, the list goes on forever. We spent Wednesday and half of Thursday in Fall Creek Falls with his family and had Thanksgiving lunch with them before driving home to Nashville and having Thanksgiving dinner with my family. Needless to say, we were more stuffed than the Turkey (named Edward by my cousin Braden). Below are some pictures from our trip to Fall Creek Falls.

Employment

Guess what? Chip and I both have jobs! Praise the Lord!! This is a huge weight lifted off of our shoulders, especially in this economy (I'm so sick of that phrase, it's so cliche but true). I will be part of Teach For America's 2010 Nashville teaching core and I will be teaching secondary english (the subject not the language) to either middle schoolers or high schoolers for Metro Nashville Public Schools. I am absolutely THRILLED about this and cannot wait! Of course, that doesn't all start until next fall- except for the Summer Institute June 5-July 11. In the mean time I will be babysitting baby Charlotte- who many of you hear me talk about on a daily basis, and baby Alex. This cutie-patootie is Charlotte.
Chip graduates from UT December 13 and starts working for a great company in Nashville December 15! We are so blessed to have a God that provides for us so well. However, part of me can't help but feel bad because I know there are so many families out there struggling right now. I have to remind myself that God places everyone in every situation for a reason, that His timing is perfect, and the greatest thing that Chip and I can do for these families is pray without ceasing for them and remind them they are loved.

Check here for updates

Hello friends and family! Chip and I officially have a blog for you to follow. You can check in here for updates on our lives, work, school, etc all in one nice, easy location!