The Rouse House is moving to.......

KINSTON, N.C.

Wow! What a 10 days it has been!  We went from April 8th deciding to stay in Raleigh on Young Life staff because there were no openings as an area director to then receiving 2 phone calls asking us if we were interested in becoming the area director in the towns.

We have had 2 interviews, 2 town visits, and 1 decision be made.  And we are headed EAST!  Moving to Kinston, NC.  For the past 3 days I felt like Clint and I were on the Bachelor and we had to hand a town a "final rose," not exactly about romance... but a very big decision! This is an exciting decision, but also a bitter sweet decision.  In accepting the position in Kinston we had to turn down the position in South Charlotte and to staying in Raleigh.  I love Raleigh!  I will miss this town and the people here more then I can put into words!

So, Kinston here we come!  Clint will have such a fun opportunity of being the first Area Director in this town.  There is volunteer led Young Life at Parrott Academy, where they took 35 kids to fall camp.  He will be leading and training a sweet Jesus loving committee.  He will be helping raise the budget for Young Life! Please pray for the budge to be met.  This is the step of faith we are taking.  As of today Kinston does not have the budget to hire us, but they are having a banquet on May 17th to begin raising money for Clint to begin August 1st.  We are confident the Lord will provide this budget!!  HE has faithfully called us to Lenoir County and Greene County, so we are not worried that HE will also provide the means to do ministry!

We are so excited to buy a house, join a church, and to invest in this community!

Mean while in all of these interviews and town visits, life has carried us on some fun journeys!    We had a very sweet visit with my Bunkle Buh in the Charlotte Hospital (He has an awful infection in his body around his liver, so please pray for my uncle!). Bigdaddy had a heart attack, but is doing great!!  Praise the Lord for great medicine and doctors!  He had two stents put in his heart!  In all of these things we are reminded how sweet life is!!  What a gift it is to live this day and to take advantage of each opportunity and moment.

So, in closing!  We are so excited to invest in Kinston, NC.  But, it isn't about us... It isn't about Clint and Mary... It isn't about what town we choose to live in... It is ALL about Jesus!  Jesus could do this work with out us, but he chose us because He has something for us in this journey!  Bring it on!!  He is faithful!

My nugget of truth that I have clung to in this stage of life is John 10:33...

"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!"

Easter

Happy Easter! He is RISEN!

"He was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us PEACE, and with his stripes we are HEALED!" Isaiah 53:4-5

Happy Easter! Happy Holy Week! He is risen!  What a fun time to remember Jesus!  To remember His death, to remember the pain, to remember that he did it for us, to remember the sadness of Jesus saying "It is finished!," to remember he rose from dead 3 days after his death, to remember that he conquered death!!!! To remember the Holy Spirit that raised Jesus from the grave is alive and active in our lives!  What faith and confidence we have in our Savior!  What JOY we have to celebrate the full story of Jesus in a week!  Forget the Easter Bunny, I want Jesus!!!  

Easter was incredible for the Rouse House!  We had such sweet, intentional, and quality time with each other and with our families.  We were sad to not see my brothers and our Statesville family, but it was a family full 4 days!

Here is a fun time line in pictures of our sweet Easter East Coast Tour:

Stop 1: Little Washington with Mom and Bigdaddy

 Taking My Girl for a cruise to the Washington Waterfront 

 The Captian and the Skipper!

We want to be like each other

 Beautiful Day!

 Crusin'

Stop 2: Goldsboro for Easter Saturday and Sunday Church

We hung out with Riley and Ginny with their new puppy Maddie!  Reynolds was jealous and wanted to be held like a puppy... Big Boy!

After church on Easter Sunday.  Biggie and Betty!

Stop 3: Swansboro with Hannah and Charlie and Biggie and Betty... and Reynolds!

We played a TON of Mexican Dominoes!! So funny with sweet Grandparents!

On the beach in March... COLD!

Reynolds thought the water was just right! He found this soccer ball!

A sweet summary of 2 days in cold Swansboro!

Here is a song that I enjoyed jamming out to Easter weekend, it really shares the entire story of Easter!

Christ Is Risen!

Have a great day!

Mary

#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!