5 Reasons You Should Explore Your Own City or Town

It's hard to believe, but Taylor and I have been living in Charlotte for 9 months now! For a while, I thought I'd never get used to the busyness, horrendous traffic, and my stunning lack of friends. But thankfully, I've made some friends, I've adjusted to the busyness (but not so much the traffic), and the Charlotte Spring-time has captivated me. I'm finally settling in, getting used to it here, and maybe even starting to like it! *gasp*.

One thing I learned when I went to college, was that exploring "hidden gems" and looking for places I've never been before is a lot of fun. That's what I've been trying to do in Charlotte.

I'm also of the belief that no matter where a person lives- no matter how tiny the town, or how gigantic the city- there's always something new to explore and learn about where we live.
I'm trying to apply that to myself, and I definitely would like to see others apply it too! Here's why.

What I've Learned From My First Six Months As a Seminary Wife

Since moving to Charlotte in August of 2015, there have been a lot of ups and downs. Between Taylor's classes, Taylor's job, Taylor's homework, my job, my blog, trying to find a church, and trying to get settled into a city that is much larger than we are used to, life has been hard.

There's always some bill we haven't paid yet, always something left to clean, and always something to "get through". Don't get me wrong- I have a great life- but I do get weary of some of these trials that keep coming our way.

But trials are not without lessons. I've already learned a lot since moving here, and I have a feeling I'll be learning a whole lot more.

1.) I am not nearly as nice as I thought I was

Seriously, this is hard for me to admit. I always thought of myself as super nice. I thought of myself as "the sweet girl who gives everyone the benefit of the doubt". But I am learning that when I am in a rough situation, I am not very nice at all. I put all the blame on my hubby for things that are at least partially my own fault. I am learning to be humble and realize that I am more flawed that I thought.

2.) I am selfish

When Taylor and I decided to move to Charlotte so that he could attend seminary, I was well-aware of the fact that I would have to be the "bread-winner" for a while. I knew I might have to put in longer hours than I was use to, and that I may have to "just deal with it" for a while. I agreed to that. I encouraged Taylor to go to seminary (and I am still so glad that he did).
Yet I find myself constantly wanting to be lazy. Constantly wanting to lay on the couch every second of my day off. Yes, I am tired. Yes, my hip and back are in some pain. But I am also just very selfish about my days off. Taylor only gets one day off a week. I get three. I have come to realize how selfish I am with my time.

3.) I am desperately in need of a savior.

I've been a Christian for a long time now. I know I need Jesus. I know that He is my only way to God. And yet, when I look at my list of flaws, I continue to try to fix it myself. I just keep striving to stop being selfish, and stop being mean, instead of allowing God to work from the inside out to correct those issues. I see myself more clearly, and I cannot fix what I see. God has to do that.

And the thing is, those flaws I mentioned above? They don't make me a terrible person. They don't make me less of a Christian or unlovable. They make me human- a human in need of God's grace.

I need God's grace every minute of every day. I didn't just need it when I became a Christian. I need it in every moment, all the time. And thankfully, that's how often God gives His grace!

4.) My husband is a hard worker

In college, Taylor and I both slacked off. We were so excited to have each other, and be in college, that we did a lot more hanging out, playing disc golf, and going to coffee shops than we did on our school work. But as our marriage has progressed, and especially since moving to Charlotte, I have seen my husband work very hard. He spends nearly all of his time either going to school or working at his part-time (nearly full-time) job. Add to that how committed he is to going to church on Sundays, even though that is his only day off, and I have to say, I've been very impressed.

5.) I expect perfection

I never thought I expected people to be perfect- and maybe I didn't for a while. But as I have gotten older, I have given people less grace. I have some suspicions about why that may be, and in some ways, I don't really blame myself. But in other ways, I see very clearly that I expect too much of a fairy tale. I have been expecting my husband, my family, my friends, and everyone I come in contact with to be perfect, yet I have given myself a whole lot of grace.

6.) Perfect doesn't exist

Other than God himself, perfection is a myth. People will hurt me. People will disappoint me. But guess what- I'll do the same to them. Perfect people do not exist. That doesn't mean that I quit trying. It means that when people fail me, I give them grace and cling to Jesus and His perfection.

7.) I like myself

It sounds strange, but as much as I have seen my flaws recently, I have also started to see my good qualities. I used to have a lot less self-esteem. Now I do like some things about myself. I do think I am funny. I think a lot of my quirks are endearing. I think I can encourage people really well. It's not that I never thought those things about myself before, but I see them more clearly now too.
Yes, as far as my sins go, I don't like myself very much. But as far as some of my personality traits go, I actually like me. It's hard for people to learn to like themselves. I've got a long way to go, but I think I've begun to learn.

8.) Things really are for a season

Before Taylor and I moved to Charlotte, we were hosting a bible study in our home. We weren't the "leaders", we were just the hosts. And though we didn't do anything huge for anyone, I still felt like we were able to be an encouragement. I felt like we were able to make tiny little differences just by opening our home to others and hopefully being a light while they were there.
But now that we have moved, we only have a few friends, and we never see them. We are very secluded, and it gets very lonely. We don't get much time together, so we definitely don't have time to serve together, host anything, or make a difference in the community together. I tend to beat myself up about this. I think things like "Christian couples should be out in the community leading people to Christ, or hosting a bible study that helps someone grow".
But every marriage has seasons. Taylor is following the call of God by going to seminary so that he can- we can- make a difference for the Lord even more fully. Just because we aren't serving at a soup kitchen, feeding the homeless, leading people in prayers for salvation, or bringing people in our home for Bible study, doesn't mean we aren't pleasing to God. God has us in a very busy, very trying season right now. The next season (whatever it may be) will hold different things. But all of it is for God's glory. Taylor going to seminary and working at his job is for God's glory. Me working as a nanny and working on my blog is for God's glory. I hope that the next season of life brings more opportunity for joint ministry with Taylor, but that doesn't make this season any less worth-while, any less rewarding, or any less God-given.

Don't read this post and think, "wow, she is just beating herself up". I do that sometimes, but that's not what this is. I want everyone to know that wherever you are at, you can still learn and grow. Whether your current situation is easy or hard, fruitful or bare, frustrating or rewarding- you can choose to live free, live well, and grow. Just because something isn't perfect doesn't mean God has no purpose for you there. Seek God more than you have been. Ask Him to make your heart right, to change you, and to produce the fruits of the spirit within you.

You may end up learning some painful things about yourself, and you may have to make some changes, but learning those things and making those changes can help you get better. Ignorance is not bliss in those cases, because ignorance hinders growth.

Think for a moment about your life right now. What can you learn? What have you already learned? How can you better yourself during this time?

Week in Retrospect

When I have free time, I am very good at procrastinating. I have time to blog and make stuff for my Etsy shop, but I have the oh-so-important task of solving crimes with the good folks at SVU, that I just have to pass on all those other things ;)

But currently, I am sitting here blogging and getting a lot done. I have done more today than I have in the past three days combined and it feels good. I feel like an adult again!

I think it can be hard to stay motivated when your scheduled is changed up. This week, I worked Monday, had a half-day Tuesday, and then have been off the rest of the week. The change has been nice, but I am definitely off-schedule. Still, it's been a good week.

My week in retrospect:

- I was able to add an amazing new candle to my Etsy shop. It smells so good!

- My hubby and I had our two year wedding anniversary.

- I spent a day with my mom and brother out on their farm holding a baby goat       and playing with Blaze the giant Pyrenees puppy.

- I caught up on some blogging.

Favorite blog posts of the week:

A Blissful Haven- Lexi shares what she has been up to and her link-up. If you are looking for a link-up to join, Lexi's your girl!

Coffee With Summer- Summer has some pretty good reasons for why she loves coffee!

Hey There Chelsie- Chelsie shares some very helpful Pinterest Tips.


I hope you enjoy some of these posts, and I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Mug-spiration Monday *Vol. 19* Hodgepodge

Happy Monday, all! It is actually chilly and I am so excited that I can wear a hoodie without fear of roasting by mid-day! Woot woot!

There's a lot going on in the world right now. Paris is the issue that stands out the most, but there are so many others too. Chandler Larsen of Life as Larson had an excellent blog post about all that's going on in the world right now (read it here). It is important to actually be aware of all that is happening and to figure out ways to help. I may not be able to do anything for Paris, but I can find things in my own area to help with. We have a duty to know what is going on. Living in our own little bubble should not be an option. But, with that being said, we also have a duty to remain thankful and optimistic in all circumstances. It does no one any good to just be a blob of fear and sadness all the time. Don't sit around in self-pity wishing for good- be the good.

I'd like to remind each one of you that God has got this in His hands. God being in control does not mean a lack of evil in the world. As long as sin is around, terrible things will continue to happen. But God still holds us, and still has a plan. It isn't always easy to see in the face of tragedy, but He still holds us and still loves us.

I'd also like to encourage each one of you today that you are worth more than you think. You have such great worth, but it has nothing to do with anything you do. You have many gifts and talents- each one of us does- but even if all of that was stripped away, you would still be worth everything in God's eyes. He loves you.

Carry that with you today as you brave another new week. Despite all of the horrific things going on in the world, He is still good. Despite your own personal struggles, He is still with you. Even if you feel worthless, you are worth everything to God. And on a smaller (but still very real) note, even your meek and meager week may be filled with a good bit of dread. Regardless of what you are going through- whether you are fearing the Paris attacks, or just fearing how to pay rent next week- remember that you are loved and that the week will end, but God's goodness is eternal. I am so thankful that it isn't the other way around!

I hope that this bit of knowledge makes this Monday (and everyday) a whole lot sweeter. There's a lot that goes on in a week- some good, some bad- and we can choose to dwell on the tough stuff, or we can pull it together and reflect on the good. Sure, there are bad parts of the day, but there are always reasons to be thankful, and there is always something to smile about.

Think back on your week. What was the best part? Was there anything that stood out as worthwhile, even though it was difficult? What are you enjoying at the moment?


I definitely had some good moments!


Weekend Recap!
This weekend, I spent Saturday at the farm with my mom, bro, and their new Great Pyrenees puppy, Blaze. Blaze is the sweetest little guy. He is so mellow and he just follows everybody around on the farm and sits there when they stop in one area. He is a heart-melter!

On Sunday, Taylor and I went to church with our friend, Jeff. We are still trying to find the right church and the hunt has seemed to take forever.

Holiday Excitement!
I am really excited about Thanksgiving, you guys! It'll be so nice for me and Taylor both to be off for a couple of days, and we get to go see his side of the family. It'll be a really nice visit and a good little break. I love the little girl I take care of, but sometimes I just want my hubby :)

And personally, I think my November has been a great success so far, simply because I have already watched six Christmas movies, listened to Michael Buble's Christmas CD about three times, and have had my Pandora Christmas station set for about two weeks. Yep, you are very welcome ;)

Coloring Fun!
I have also really been enjoying my new adult coloring book lately. I don't color in it super often, but I will get it out every once in a while and it is really fun. I didn't know adult coloring books existed until about a month ago. I am thinking it would make a great gift to color a page and then frame it. I think a lot of people would really enjoy that.


I know that coloring books, puppies, and Christmas movies don't matter in the grand scheme of things, but I really do believe in seeing the good. We should never hide behind those things, but we should find joy in them and be thankful, despite any hardships that come.

Happy Monday! Stay strong!


What are you thankful for and taking joy in today?

September- The Teeter-Totter Month

Happy September!

September has always been a month that evokes mixed feelings. When I was younger, September meant that it was time for school to start, and time to give up Summer vacation. But September also meant better weather, seeing friends, and playing basketball.

And even now, at 24 years old, September is still a teeter-totter month.

Fall is my favorite time of year. It makes me ridiculously happy to breath in the cool air, stare at multicolored trees, and have all-things-pumpkin back in my life.

I have an excuse to drink pumpkin coffee, make pumpkin bread, and decorate the house with pumpkins and gourds.

But September isn't quite there yet...it isn't fall, yet it stands there tempting me, teasing me, telling me that fall is here, and yet it's still hot, the trees are not yet painted, and no one is selling pumpkin coffee creamer. Darn you, September!

But I'll give this frustrating month a little credit- September gives me more time to get ready for October (the best month around). It gives me time to enjoy my fall decor before Christmas decor goes up. It gives me time to plan for Fall festivities like apple-picking, harvest festivals, and birthday parties for both me and Taylor.

I know I'm probably over-thinking this whole month business, but it's how my brain works. You're welcome :p

And even though I am looking forward to October, there is so much to enjoy about each day, each week, and each month, that I have decided to make a list of September goals. I need to find things to do, enjoy, and plan on for this month, instead of waiting until a better time (month) comes along!

September Goals

1.) Watch Florida football with Taylor

My husband loves the Florida Gators. And now that we don't live close to his family and we don't have cable, he has no place and no one to watch his beloved Gators with. Never fear! Super wife is here!

I really don't enjoy football, but it means a lot to him, so my goal is to at least watch a few games with him. And a friend of ours recently told us that one of the bars in Charlotte is a designated Florida Gators bar, which means that if there is a Florida game on, they will be showing it. I plan to spend some September Saturdays in that bar, watching the game with my cute hubby :)

2.) Decorate 

I have a few fall-decor pieces that I bought last year. I want to get those up in our living room, along with some pumpkin and apple cider scented candles. I'm swooning at the thought!

3.) Blog at least four days per week

Over the summer, I absolutely failed at my blogging goals. I could not seem to get on a schedule or get fully motivated, which really held me back. If I can keep myself blogging 4-5 days/ week, I know that my blog will soar a lot higher than it has been recently!

4.) Get Outside

There is a park not far from my job that is so pretty. It's got several nice walking paths, a large pond with ducks and geese, and a nature center. We also live fairly close to the White Water Center, which I just found out has paddle-boarding! I want to get out and get active now that it will start to cool off, but I also want to paddle-board before the summer weather is gone completely. I have got to get active, and I need to get outside.

5.) Plan Another "Get It Together" Challenge

For a month over the summer, I organized and ran the Get It Together challenge via Facebook. I had some friends, some family, and a few fellow bloggers participating in the group. One girl lost around 12 pounds in a month, and another lost around 8! I was so proud of what the girls accomplished, and several of them expressed interest in  having another challenge soon. I would like to get that organized so that we can have a challenge before the holidays.

I want to get better at actually doing the things I set as goals... instead of just making a goal. That does nothing.

Do you have any goals for this month? Comment below and tell me about them! Do you have a plan to make sure you accomplish those goals? Let me know!

Finally Here: The Cooks Go Charlotte

Hello, blogging world! I've missed you tremendously!
How have you been? Have you been loving life, having new adventures, and drinking good coffee? I sure hope so! It's only been a week since I last posted, but it feels like it has been so much longer!

As most of you know, my husband and I just moved from our small North Carolina mountain home to the very busy city of Charlotte. We did this so that my husband could follow God's call for him to attend seminary. We have a lot to get used to, but I am sure we will enjoy Charlotte once we get the hang of it.

Actually, on Saturday when we moved in, I even got to meet a blogging friend that I had spoken to in The Peony Project, an online Christian blogging group with writers from all over the world. How awesome is that?! Vanessa, over at Tapestry Chronicles, and her husband came over to our home to help us move in, along with two Waynesville friends, and three other friends from Charlotte. We are truly blessed. We even had help from our church and family the night before with loading up the truck. We are incredibly grateful for all the love, support, and help that everyone has shown us.

Once all the rooms are fixed up and all the boxes are gone, I plan to do a post showing  how we've decorated the house, but for now, I figured I'd share a few "so far" pictures. Enjoy.

Our living room. We LOVE the mantel. Please excuse the slippers and red snuggie ;)

My new succulent friend, a close-up of our mantel, and our coffee wall in the dining room.

Our house is coming along slowly but surely. We have plenty more boxes to unpack, we are trying to help the dogs transition well, and it will take us a while to learn the area, but we are so excited about this new adventure God has us on, and we know it will be good. To God be the glory.

If you are following our new adventure on social media (Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook), search the hashtag #theCooksgoCharlotte and #Cooksonthemove to see more pictures and posts.

Update: Cooks Go Charlotte

Hello all!
I've been talking about Charlotte and house-hunting a lot lately and I figured I should give an update.

Taylor and I found a house to rent!!!!!! WOOT-WOOT!
We are so excited. The house is in a safe area, has a yard for the dog-daughters, and has even more space that our current home. We are going to have room to make a small office/study, which will be of great use to both of us.

Now that we have found a house, our biggest concern is out of the way. That sounds a little strange, since we still need jobs. But the thing is, there are plenty of jobs in Charlotte, but the "pickin's were slim" on houses. We are both looking for jobs and that is a huge priority, but we feel incredibly relieved that we found a house. Praise the Lord! Seriously! Praise the Lord!

So if you are in the Charlotte area and know of any decent jobs, we'd love to know about them :) Also, we are excited to meet new people and be a part of a great church community and group of friends. We are going to miss our family, friends and church members so much, but we are very excited for this time of adventure and newness!

Also, I plan to still keep the blogging up during this move, but it has been tough lately to be consistent. If you don't see a post for a day or two, it's probably because I am packing my 7,788,998,022nd box, or doing something related to that ;)

Do you have any moving tips? Or are you from Charlotte and can recommend a church, a job, or even just your favorite restaurant? Comment below.

House Hunting In Charlotte

House-hunting in Charlotte, NC takes a lot out of a girl. Thank God for His trust-worthiness and for an awesome hubby, family, friends, and coffee too!

Last Wednesday, Taylor and I headed off to stay with my mom at my family's new farm just outside of North Carolina. Staying with her was great. We were able to visit with her in the evenings and go look at houses in Charlotte during the day.

Thursday was the first time I had ever really seen Charlotte. And I have to admit, it was terrifying! I to me, downtown Asheville is bog enough, but downtown Charlotte makes Asheville look like a toy!

We viewed a house and an apartment that morning, to no avail. One was ridiculously expensive and one was not in a very good area (and wasn't a very good property). We at lunch at Bad Daddy's Burger Bar in the Dillsworth area. That burger was so, so good! It had fried bacon on it!? Who does that???

Any-who... after lunch we continued our apartment and house hunt, which didn't result in much success. We did, however, get to visit my friend Stephanie and her mom, who I had not seen since our wedding. That was a plus :)

The next day was much of the same as far as housing goes, but we were able to finally tour Taylor's school, which was a huge blessing. One of the head honchos, a very nice man, took us out to lunch. We also met Beth, a super-sweet woman around our age who came to RTS from Australia! So cool! She told me all about the women's ministries the school has that reaches out to and builds community among the female students and wives of male students (that's me!). I am very excited about that. I am going to have a hard time leaving all of our loved ones in the mountains, so establishing a community in Charlotte is really important to me.

We viewed another house after touring the school, but that one wasn't the right fit for us either. Thankfully, that afternoon, Taylor took me to Smelly Cat Coffee, in the NoDa district of Charlotte.

That was on my list of things to do in Charlotte, and I already marked that one off! Woot-woot! A let me tell you, guys, that was one of the best frappe's I've ever had! Go try it. Now. ;)

After visit Steph and her fiance' again, we headed back to spend the evening with my mom. I really enjoyed having time with her again. I am thankful for any chance at get with her, but I never feel like it's enough. I cannot wait to live closer to each other!

Taylor and I headed back home the next morning. We had a good trip with mama and with each other, but we went away feeling very discouraged about the housing situation.



But regardless of our frustration, regardless of the fact that we want to know where we are living and yet we have no clue, we absolutely know that God will provide. We know He will lead us where to go; we just have to trust Him. And I am thankful for that. I am thankful that my impatience doesn't negate His faithfulness. My grumpiness doesn't take away His provision, and my over-planning doesn't freak Him out.

Hunting for Houses But Finding Patience

Lately, my days have been filled with hours-upon-hours of searching for houses online. Believe it or not, one must have a place to live if one plans to move...just sayin'.

But between the high-crime in Charlotte, the fact that we have three dogs, and our limited budget, it feels like we need to succumb to purchasing a box and calling it a day. Maybe we could even get a deluxe box ;)

Despite the stress and annoyance though, I fully know it will all work out. I am not really worried at all- just peeved. I want to know right now: where we will live, where we will work, where we will meet our friends, and how long it will take to make those friends. Unfortunately, that's not how it works. Much of the time, God waits until the "last minute" to do things. Or at least that's how it appears to us. But even when God doesn't make us wait that long, He still calls us to patience and trust.

God calls us to patience for many reasons, but I think the biggest reason is because it reflects our trust in Him. Even though I trust God to take care of everything, by not being patient, I am showing that there is still a little part of me that feels I have to do it all myself. I don't, and I know I don't, but my "human" is showing ;)

I also think that when we are antsy about something, it shows that we are making that thing more important than God. Maybe we really do fully trust him, but by our lack of patience, we are saying, "God, my desire for things to happen now is more important than the way you want it to happen". Whoops. That's not good.

So I would encourage us all, be patient and wait on the Lord's timing. Let's not push ahead, making our way and timing an idol in our hearts. Let's not be fooled by the lie that we can do it all ourselves. And let's not fret, forgetting to trust the One who always knows best!

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Five Things To Do in Charlotte

As I recently announced, Taylor and I plan to move to Charlotte in August for him to begin his seminary adventure. Though there is a lot we have to leave behind (which is difficult), we are also very excited for all that God has planned for us.

As I have been thinking about all of our transitions, I've also thought about all the fun things I want to do when we get there. The list goes on much further than this, but I have put together a small collection of things I'm excited to try.

Check it out!

Coffee

Visit Smelly Cat coffee shop- If any of you have seen the show Friends, you will understand the name of this shop. Even though I love the show, I stopped watching it because I felt it was affecting me negatively. But with that said, I still think it is super funny and I happen to adore Phoebe, who came up with "Smelly Cat". The fact that they named their coffee shop after this part of the show is actually pretty clever, and I definitely feel like there would be a hipster-vibe going on at this particular cafe. Once we get settled in, this is one of the first places I'd like to go. I mean, come on- it's coffee!


Food

Luna's Kitchen- After reading a review about Luna's Kitchen by Taralynn McNitt- author of Simply Taralynn and creator of Young in Charlotte- I definitely need to try this place. Although the restaurant is mostly plant-based (and I am a carnivore), it looks fresh and delicious. The first day I am craving a salad in Charlotte, I am heading to Luna's Kitchen. The question is, will I be successful in dragging my husband there?

Vapiano's Italian restaurant- This was also highly recommended by Taralynn. It looks expensive to me, so we'd have to save it for a special occasion, but this place definitely makes the list. Look how yummy their food looks!


Activities

Ride my Bike!!!!- I feel like Charlotte is calling to my inner-self, saying             "Welcome back to flat-land, Kristin. Pump up those bike tires. It's time to ride". Though I sound a little nutty when I put it that way, I am seriously excited about riding my bike. Hopefully, we will be in a neighborhood that is safe to ride around in, because I need to ride. Don't get me wrong- I love the mountains- but they aren't exactly conducive to riding my cute, little, classic bike around town, ya know?


Find a Church- Taylor and I are so blessed by Providence Church (our current church home). I have never been a part of a more wonderful church than Providence. We love the preaching, the people, and the genuine love that is felt there. Leaving our church behind is going to be tough. But thankfully, we already have several people in Charlotte giving us advice about different churches to try. It seems like there will be some good ones to visit.

Though there are plenty of other things I want to do in Charlotte- like going to festivals and exploring the different parts of the city- and many things I have to do- like finding a job- the list above is just a glimpse into that. This is an exciting time in mine and my husband's life, and I want us to embrace it. Sure, we are sad to leave his family, our church, our friends, his teaching job, the Bible study we host and the gorgeous mountains behind, but we are expectantly waiting to see what's next. It's adventure time!