#MCDsTurntUp

Meredith College takes on Swansboro

What a fun weekend!!!!  These girls make me laugh harder then any group of girls I have ever been around!  They bring SO much JOY to my life through their friendship, thoughtfulness, and their love for one another.  I have had the incredible privilege to lead the Meredith College Life small group for the past 2 years.  Through this group we all have had a better understanding of Jesus together.  For real... they teach me more then I teach them!  

So, we all went to Swansboro for the weekend last weekend.  I had no expectations going into this weekend, but let's say it was the best!!  We went out to dinner Friday and Saturday, had late night game nights, lazy mornings with Jesus, walks downtown, crazy dance parties, truth or dare, and sweet time together to talk about Romans 8 and Galations 5 and 6.  

This was a mixed group of girls, some Juniors and some freshmen, some new to their faith with Jesus, some old souls of wisdom, some young life leaders, some non-young life leaders.  But, we all meshed so well!

Here is my prayer for these Meredith College Divas (this is where MCDs come from):

To Remember: To remember their first love! To constantly remember Jesus!! (Revelations 2:4, " "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken the love you had at first.")

To Relax: That Jesus has done the work!  We are not super woman to save souls, we are called to follow the one who has conquered this world! The battle has been won by Jesus, we are called to follow this warrior! (John 16:33, "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.")

To Run Together: That they have such an encouraging "cloud of witnesses" to run this race together.  Enjoy the community they have been given: take advantage of it: love one another and encourage each other daily! (Hebrews 12:1-3, "Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross,scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.")

To Respond: To daily give their lives to Jesus as living Sacrifices!  To be used and molded by Jesus!  To daily respond, may this be their act of worship!! (Romans 12:1-2, Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God’s mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship. Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.")

Here are a few group photos from the weekend:

 

All the girls in Beaufort Saturday Night!

Front Row: Brooke, Liesel, Maddie, Tess, Malissa, Maggie

Back Row: Maria, Krall, Gaither, Malissa, Sloan, Sarah, Carter, Mary

Leaving Sunday Morning!  Posing with the "Rouse House" sign!  

Love Swansboro and love these girls!

Have a great day and Happy Good Friday!

Mary

Happy Birthday Mom!

Happy Birthday Mom!

What a fun day celebrating Mom!  This was the first time Mom, Bigdaddy, Thom, Margaret, Carter, Stewart, Karla, Phoebe, Martha, Clint, Mary, and Reynolds shared a meal together!  What a gift to Mom and to all of us to be together.  It was such a sweet day!  Mom LOVES that her Birthday is right after St. Patrick's day, so she always has an Irish themed party.  This was by far Irish... She had us all decked out in St. Patrick's Day head bands, we ate a traditional Irish meal, and enjoyed Irish Coffee for desert.  Oh!  And don't forget the GREEN!  

It was so fun to be together! To laugh and to share stories!  It was also very special because Karla's birthday is March 9th, so what is better then 1 cake... 2!!! 

Clint's Moms Birthday is March 19th, so we also got to travel to Goldsboro to visit with Hannah on her special day!

We are so thankful for our Moms!  We literally wouldn't be here with out y'all!

Here a few photos for your viewing enjoyment!

 Stewart, Thom, and Baby Phoebe James!

Mom's Granddaughters (Cater-6, Phoebe-3 months)

The whole Family!

Stewart, Mom, and Phoebe James

Precious PJK!

Happy Birthday Mom!!! You are SO loved!!!!

Hope you didn't get pinched,

Mary

Reynolds turns 1

Happy birthday Reynolds rouse

March 20, 2012 a precious puppy was brought into this world!  His name is Reynolds!  He was born in Garner, NC with sweet dog parents Hope and Sonny.  He was the only boy in his litter, the only boy with 5 sisters (sounds like Clint with all sisters... this may be why Reynolds is so sweet!).  Clint and I had decided we wanted a boy Golden Retriever when our friend Gail Proper told us they were having puppies!  So, the decision was easy to which puppy we will bring home.  The Proper family has been the sweetest family to have in our lives.  They gave Reynolds a NCSU collar for Christmas and Gail made sure to bring Reynolds his birthday present yesterday.  Such sweet people!

So, Reynolds is 1... it is hard to believe!  He is one year older then the day we brought him home and 100 pounds heavier!  BIG BOY!  Words cannot describe how loved this dog is by Clint and I.  We don't have cable or internet, so Reynolds really becomes our nightly entertainment.  Okay... we aren't  that lame... we have bunny ears at least! ha ha! 

Some of y'all may be reading how obsessed I am with Reynolds and laughing, because I used to claim I hated dogs... For real... growing up and in college I would tell people I just didn't like animals.  Wow! My heart has had a change!  I am smitten over Reynolds and really any dog now.  My heart is still being softened towards cats....  But, I love Reynolds and thankful for such a sweet, loyal, joyful companion! Heres to the next 60 years Reynolds! You are loved!

First picture of Reynolds!  This is the day they were born! We aren't sure which is Reynolds! Make your guess!?

 There he is! Fitting in Clint's hand!

 4 weeks old! 

The Proper Family allowed us to bring Reynolds home for 1 night at 6 weeks to have a cook-out/Puppy Shower for Reynolds! 

Stuffed animal or Reynolds? Take your pick!

First Kiss with Maggie Reilly, ha ha.. j/k but they are best friends!

Reynolds comes home! Clint surprised me and he came home 5 days earlier when we were expecting!  He was a gift to each of us on our 1 year wedding anniversary!

 Puppy eyes

Getting bigger....

Reynolds drives to Swansboro, NC

He loves his toys and his air vents

Eat More Chicken

Best friends

The day he was neutered...

Christmas 2012!

March 20, 2013

Have a wonderful day!

Mary

Half Marathon Completed!

13.1 miles

"It is finished! Praise Jesus!" this is what I said while crossing the finish line at 9:22 am on March 17, 2013.  I ran a half marathon, 13.1 miles!  What a journey!!  This is something I NEVER thought I would do and actually complete... For real!  There were so many sweet lessons and spiritual nuggets in this process.  

First, the training... 5 months of training for this race.  I have never been so disciplined about something in my life.  Forcing myself to run, when my mind, body, joints, bones, heart, knees, ankles, hips, shins were telling me DON'T DO IT! But, I did it anyways.. and it paid off!  Learning to do things regardless of what you really want to do.

Second, the journey... I had no idea where the next mile would take me, but I would put one foot in front of the other and trust that I would make it to the finish line.  This is so applicable to where Clint and I are in this waiting game of where we will be with Young Life next year (YES, we are STILL waiting!) But, it was a fun thing to think about that it was one mile at time, you have to run a lot of miles to make it to finish line, or we have to wait a lot of weeks to make it to the final destination.  The real questions is... what is the REAL finish line/final destination.  This is something I thought and prayed a lot about while running.

Third, we aren't all marathon runners... So, I trained and I pushed to run the entire training plan.  And... I ended up in a boot.  I was "booted" for 2 weeks, 4 weeks before race day.  I had Perinial Tendonitis in my foot and ankle.  I learned true perseverance through this running injury.

Fourth, run the race with a friend... My sweet friend Kelly Odom stuck beside me the entire race!  This was the greatest gift, a friend, and a partner in this journey!  She is once of my greatest and sweetest friends who now lives in Colorado.  Kelly works at the Young Life Camp Trail West!  So, I do not get to see her often enough!!  6 of my closest friends completed this race together, all at different speeds!  But, so thankful for these girls!

This is the route! 13.6 because I started my app .5 miles early!

The whole group! Becca, Kelly, Anna, Kelly, Stacey, Rachel, Mary

 Reynolds was at the finish line!!!

First mile at Wrightsville Beach!

My number 1 cheerleader!! I couldn't have done this with out Clint Rouse!

Running Buddy!

Have a great day!!

Mary

Date Night!

The rouse house has a night out on the town!
Date Nights are the best, and this specific Date Night was ON POINT... at the FIVE POINTS! This past Tuesday Night the weather was SO nice!! So, we grilled out at our house on Clint's new Charcoal grill.  Clint grilled a Deer Tenderloin (yes... DEER... I can say now I have developed a taste for deer... and I like it!), grilled corn on the cob.  We had a fresh spinach salad with delicious strawberries.  It was a delicious meal, enjoying the meat that Clint killed, cleaned, and packaged all on his own (what a MAN!)

Clint then surprised me with a fun Raleigh movie theatre outing to the Rialto.  This is such a fun little theatre in Raleigh's Five-Points.  It is a local theatre with only 1 theatre, they serve the BEST popcorn, and has $.75 refills!  We watched Silver linings Playbook.  It was a real intense movie, language was hard to listen to at times, and it was hard to watch the reality of mental illnesses, but it was a GREAT movie.  Jennifer Lawrence might be my new favorite actress, she was incredible in Hunger Games, and really great in this movie, too!  If you live in Raleigh... Clint and I would suggest going to go see this movie at the Rialto.

I hope you are having a great week!

Mary

PS: Still no OFFICIAL update on where the Rouse House might be living next year!  Still trusting the Lord in his perfect and pleasing will!  We are learning a lot about PERSEVERANCE in this race the Lord has for us!

Mary's Play List

Songs of praise and encouragement

There is nothing like a new playlist to jam out to.  I have listened to a fair amount of music these days with training for a half marathon and with receiving a gift of Spotify. Speaking of the half marathon... it is THIS Sunday (March 17th).  I am super excited because my great sweet friend Kelly Odom are going to do the entire thing together, even if we are walking!  The part I am dreading the most is beginning the race at 6:15AM. AH! That means waking up at 4:30 AM to eat breakfast and begin the water intake! So, the songs I am most excited to JAM out to on Sunday while running are below:

All Sons & Daughters: Oh How I Need You

Nothing I hold On To!

Bones-Hillsong

Have a great day!

Mary

Investments

"...Where you invest your LOVE you invest your LIFE..." -Awake My Soul by Mumford and Sons

I would like to say Clint and I have a lot of Investments.  Majority not in a monetary form, but in a loving relational form.  The investments that I get to see grow on a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly basis are through Young Life/College Life and Chick-fil-A.

Chick-fil-A Investment:
I am so thankful for my job with Chick-fil-A, where majority of the marketing I do is based on just building relationships with Team Members and the community we live in.  It has been wild working for Chick-fil-A at Cameron Village for a year already!  The Lord has provided so well in this year, with new relationships, new business, and new partnerships! Here a few pictures of the fun adventures in Raleigh with Chick-fil-A:

 We took the Chick-fil-A Cow to the N.C. State Dance Marathon to dance for 3 hours in the middle of the night!

 We met Miss North Carolina (Should out to Garner, NC... this is her home town in this great state of N.C.)

 We get to feed the N.C. State Men's Basketball Team each game!  This is Owen posing with the players meals after a home game!  Such a fun partnership!

 Chick-fil-A at Cameron Village had their 1st Birthday!  The sweet team I get to work beside!  They were such fun sports wearing Birthday hats and pins!

I am not a baker by any means... so this is my attempt at baking and being creative!

Young Life Investment: 

Wow!  Where to begin! I have been honored and blessed to be a Young Life leader for the past 8 years of my life.  I led at Leesville Road High School for 4 years, N.C. State for 2 years, and Meredith College for 2 years.  The relationships built over the past 8 years have brought SO much JOY to my life.   With Young Life being Clint's job, we like to call it our "Family Business," where we invest as a family in this ministry of Young Life!  If you want to read any extra about Young Life, check out their website: Young Life.

Here are a few pictures of this past year with precious girls at Meredith College:

 Friends at Campaigners Weekend (Ocean Isle, NC)

Sending Maggie, Gaither, and Sloan to Nicaragua for Spirng Break!

(Lauren, Sarah, Maggie, Sloan, Gaither, Carter, and Emily)

(Shout out to all the girls not pictured in these 3 phots!)

Let's just say the dividend earned is eternal!

With Love,

Mary