An encouraging week in K-Town

We have celebrated our 1 month birthday in Kinston! And it has been such an encouraging week! For real, such a fun week! 

Monday night: we grilled Spanish Mackerel and had fun visitors over to paint out office/guest room: Leslie Wiggins and Liesel Nix! 

Tuesday night: I lead campaigners at our home with 6 high school friends who went to camp this summer. Then Clint and I went to a Young Life leader interest meeting! And holy smokes! Our hearts were so encouraged! We had prayed that 10 people who be there thinking that was an astronomical goal, but there were 25 people there! Yes! 25 college students and young adults who are interested in being a Young Life leader! There are 9 of us headed to Windy Gap next weekend to enjoy North Carolina's leader weekend! Talk about the lords promises being revealed!

Wednesday: I was invited to a House Church through a local church here in town, Grace. House Churches are their version of Sunday school for adults. I didn't know what to expect, but it was incredible! 6 other girls my age who love in kinston! I keep asking people, where are these people coming from? Another one of the lords promises: friends! It was a very cool unity feeling in the room because 10 of the 12 women in House Church were not originally from kinston!

Thursday night: Clint and I went I Sand in the Streets in kinston where they have live outdoor concerts! Similar to what North hills on Thursday nights! It was so fun! Then we went out to supper with 3 families whom we love! The Mcphaul's, The King's, and the Jenkins'.

Friday: my sweet friend Lauren Richards came to kinston to hang out and eat fro yo! It was so fun to just catch up and be in Kinston with such a sweet friend!! Then Friday night we went to a new restaurant in town called the boiler room! It was AWESOME!!! It is owned By the same people as the chef and the farmer! They specialize in burgers and oysters! For real, this place felt just like Chucks or Raleigh Times! We went to dinner with a fun couple in town Josiah and Lindsay! They are expecting their 3rd baby any day now!

Then this weekend!!!! We are having breakfast with Clint's grandfather in Goldsboro and the 18 of our closest Meredith college and Garner Young Life Team Extended friends will be coming to spend the weekend with us! We are SO excited!

All in all we are growing to love Kinston!

Chipotle!

An ode to Chipotle:

C:an't resist your lime salt on your chips!

H:old the meat, so I can get that free guacamole!

I:f we had you in Kinston I'd eat you everyday!

P:lease, open one in Kinston!

O:h, the joy your cilantro rice gives my soul!

T:hat sketchy manager, Dave, thank you for all the free food!

L:oaded with cheese and pico, it makes me smile

E:very time I am near you I will eat at your incredible Restaurant!

Yes, I LOVE Chipotle! And on this beautiful Friday evening my sweet husband spoiled me by driving me to Raleigh to get my hair done and then romanced me with a chipotle date! Clint is so thoughtful! 

Life in Kinston

Life in Kinston is happening, 2 weeks in town under our belt. It has been a wild 2 weeks and to say it has been a change or transition would be an understatement for what has happened in my mind, heart, body, soul, and life. My newest pet peeve that I have been asked 20 times a day is this: (conversation listed below)

Person: "welcome to Kinston, where did you move here from?"

Me: "thank you! We are excited to be here, my husband and I just moved to kinston from Raleigh!"

Person: "Lawsy, why did you so that?!? Why in the world would you ever leave Raleigh to move to KINSTON?"

And today I cried when the 5th person told me this at work. Really awkward...

But these people are very accurate in asking, "Why in the WORLD did you move to Kinston?" There is no reason of this world we have moved to this small town other then Jesus (who is NOT of this world). Jesus is the only reason! And to say this change and transition hasn't been hard, I would be lying to your face (or computer screen). It has been difficult and I have cried missing Raleigh and the familiarity of "home." Little things I miss: my preset radio stations in my car (no more 94.7, 105.1, 97.5...) or still calling the Piggly Wiggly Harris Teeter, or craving a Target with a Starbucks, or dreaming about Chipotle!!! But, in all that remembering The Lord has called us to this small town and He has blessed is with the most incredible community and friends! For real, we feel so embraced by this community with neighbors bringing cookies, meals, decorations for our house, inviting us over for supper, taking us out to lunch after church, texts, phone  calls! So, we are clinging to Jesus and His faithfulness! Here is our life verse for this day! Genesis 28:15!

We are on the lookout for the lords promises to be revealed and completed!

Thankful for y'all!

Beaufort with great people!

Beaufort... Oh Beaufort! This is my favorite place on the planet! Clint and I are super fortunate to have a home to vacation at in Beaufort! This is the place we vacationed while dating and the place we decided to get married at! This weekend we spent quality time with some of our favorite people too!

1) Leigh Kellerman and her new boyfriend Brentley 

2) Clint's parents Hannah and Charlie

3) Clint's grandparents Biggie and Betty

We paddle boarded with Leigh and Brentley on Friday. We decided to paddle board 2 per board, which was very unsuccessful! Then we ate super on the water at Finz. Saturday we went to Cape Lookout with Leigh, brentley, Hannah, and Charlie! It was beautiful! Very relaxing! Then we ended the night by watching Tootsie with Biggie and Betty!

Here are a few pictures for your viewing enjoyment!

Model couple... Literally!

Fav. Pic.!

Here fishy fishy fishy! Biggie and Betty!

Best friends! So thankful for this woman! My roots!

Sharp Top Cove 2013 with Kinston, NC

Kinston Young Life takes Sharp Top Cove! Now, kids are told they will have the best week of their life at Young Life Camp and I am 100% confident this is true for leaders as well! Clint and I had the BEST week! We had 10 high school girls and 1 high school boy, 2 girl leaders and Clint! These 10 girls are truly amazing! I love them a lot and The Lord planted some seeds in hearts! Here are a few pictures of the week:

For the volleyball tournament we dressed up as Chick-fil-A cows!

We were the red team for the rodeo! Charles was the flag handler!

Kinston hiking to the top of Sharp Top! Sweaty! Great view!

Kinston young life leaders! Summer, Clint, and me!

My new sweet friend Anna pied me in the face! Highlight of the week!!

Messy on western night! Love this man!

Happy birthday Teigha Beth!

Dress up night! Right before the bottom fell out!

My main squeeze!

Kinston with Sunny, Rooster, Uncle Pie, and Kernel Sanders

Kinston with Crock (the camp speaker)

Clint and Charles (aka: Chuck, Charthur)

Incredible work crew on work crew night!

On our way home we stopped at Whirly ball in Atlanta!

We closed and moved!

We did it! We bought a house! In a crazy 3 days: Clint comes home from Sharp Top Cove with Raleigh, we drive from the airport to Kinston to close on our house, I have my last day at Chick-fil-A at Cameron Village, we pack 75 boxes and 1 biggest size Uhaul, and a Highlander to the max and we move to our new house! This was a crazy 3 days! And to add this transition and excitement we pack up and leave that next day, Sunday morning, at 5am to go to Sharp Top Cove with 12 Kinston high school friends/strangers! It was the craziest of 3 days, but the best! It is 100% evident The Lord has us here In this small town! We love our home and we are so excited to let The Lord use this home to love and care for people through these walls! Here are a few pictures of the move:

There she is! Our new home! Taking down the for sale sign and carrying me over the threshold! I know... Cheesy...had to do it! 

It was so fun when we arrived to 1103 Margaret Lane there were 15 people (neighbors, committee families, ministers, friends, children, cousins!) waiting to help us unload and unpack! I wept with overwhelming love and support that we felt! We unloaded a truck that took us 2 days to pack (THANK you Raleigh friends for loading us up!!) in 35 minutes! It was incredible, and it was in the pouring rain!!!!!

Check out those Chick-fil-A waffle fry boxes!

Reynolds...

My emotions to a T! 😁

Blue skies headed east!

More posts to come about the inside and  from Sharp Top with my new sweet friends!

Until then I leave you with my life verse for this day: 

Biggie and Betty's 60th Extravaganza

Happy 60th wedding anniversary Biggie and Betty! Wow, what a marriage to celebrate! For this special occasion we headed to Beaufort for 5 days with 34 other Wilkins to celebrate this precious couple. The week consisted of sitting, eating, laughing, and sleeping! A good time was had by all, that is for sure! I am so thankful to be a part of this family through marrying Clint. My grandparents are sweet memories that I have from my childhood, but I was never given the opportunity to have a relationship with them as an adult...so I cherish Clint's grandparents!! Biggie is always the man making jokes and making people laugh! Betty is always the sweet lady concerned  for others needs.  Biggie and Betty still went fishing on the boat everyday,truly  remarkable for a 91 and 89 year old! Here are a few pictures from the week:

Clint and I on a night time cruise up Taylor's Creek!

The whole family (minus one or two members!)

Clint and Biggie paddle boating! Yes he is 91 and paddle boating!