Rouse Mouse's First Photo Shoot

Meet our baby!

This was by far the most incredible experience of our lives.  There are no words.  The closest comparison I can think of is walking down the aisle and seeing Clint for the first time on our wedding day.  But, you've never seen them before.  It truly is love at first sight.  We don't know our babies hair color, eye color, or even their gender, but we know baby is healthy and growing strong!  And, we know that we love this child more than anything in the world!  So, yes... this is the appointment where we would have been able to find out the gender, but Clint and I decided to keep it a surprise until June 12th.  It was difficult to see the ultra-sound nurse turn the screen and watch her face as she discovers the sex of our baby.  Leann and God are the only 2 people who will know, they didn't even write it in our chart or tell our Doctor.  Speaking of Doctor and doctor offices, we LOVE Greenville OBGYN.  It has been SUCH a blessing to be patients here.  It is obvious the staff loves Jesus.  The Doc we saw Friday prayed for us, he spent 15 minutes with us just encouraging us, his wife is on YL staff in Greenville, and knows and understands our life.  Such a gift!  My favorite advice that Dr. Gay of was that I am made to be pregnant, this is not a sickness.  The Lord and my body were made for this.

So meet little Rouse Mouse!  Look at that profile and little nose!  What is your prediction?  Boy or Girl?  Do you think this profile looks like Clint or Mary?

So, we don't know who this baby will look like... but... I can guarantee they will love Chipotle.  Greenville JUST got a Chipotle.  I mean, you can say that we planned our pregnancy around their Grand Opening... Before or After each appointment Clint and I have a lunch date here.

First picture of a family of 3! (Minus Reynolds of course, which would make us then a family of 4... Reynolds, you will always be our first 4 legged baby!)

Here is a video of the ultra sound.  SO many tears of joy!  

"Mom and Dad are getting me a Human!"-Reynolds Rouse

Reynolds has had some very exciting news that he couldn't wait to share with the world.... He is getting a HUMAN!

Yep, that is right!  You may have already heard the big news!  But, Clint and I are having a baby in June.  June 12th is our official due date!  It is hard to believe that as I type this there is a human inside of me the size of an avocado (and boy is this mama to be LOVING some avocados during pregnancy!) Clint and I have LOVED our almost 4 years of marriage with just the three of us, but we can't wait to raise a child together.  I love Clint Rouse so much and can't wait to watch him be the father to our children.

Thank you Lindsay for taking this beautiful photos for us!  You are such a sweet friend and such a talented photographer!  311 Photography <---Check out her blog!

Proud Parents to be!

 Dear Rouse Mouse, 

These two people CANNOT wait to meet you!  You have no idea how loved you are already.  We have heard your heart beat twice.  Your mom and dad were so excited to hear it the second time, that we recorded so we could listen to your little heart each day as we pray for you as you enter the world.  14 years from now if ever you are doubting how loved you are, I hope we can remind you of December 2, 2014 when we got to tell the world you were making an entrance in June.  There was a flood of texts, "likes", "comments", phone calls, tears, and screams of joy!  You are so loved little one!

Love,

Your Mom

#YouWereMarriedForThis

Malibu.  Malibu.  Malibu.  The most beautiful place on the planet.  Malibu.

Clint and I had the great gift to travel across the country to British Columbia to Young Life's camp, Malibu Club.  Not only were we able to be in this beautiful place, but we got to sit, talk, and focus on our marriage.  IT WAS INCREDIBLE!

So, it is kind of confusing... So, is it Malibu, California or is it British Columbia?  Where were you guys?  But, this place is the most remote place on the planet.  To get to this beautiful place you have to 1) Fly to Seattle (roughly 8 hours of traveling) 2) Take a 2 hour bus ride to the Canadian border 3) Go through security and all that jazz 4) Get back on the bus for an hour and a half ride  5) Get on big ferry boat to Vancouver (1 hour at sea)  6) Get back on the bus for a 2 hour ride to Egmont, Canada  7) Get on water taxis to take you to camp (another hour and a half at sea)

But, nothing beats this view pulling up the Princess Louisa Inlet...  Am I right!?

This is Malibu.

 

The beauty of this place is evidence of the Lord's Creation.  The mountains declare His majesty.  There is speechless grace and creation everywhere you look.

The whole camp feels like a tree house.  It is built on rock, so you are always walking on boardwalks.

Here is main street with the store, the club room, the coffee shop, and dining hall.

The beauty of this place is humbling.  But, the true beauty we found spending a week at Malibu was the gift we get to take home: our Marriage.  Our Marriage is the #1 thing we can investment in.  Our Marriage refines us, teaches us, and points us to our maker.

SO thankful for this week to be completely disconnected and off the map to focus on what matters most: Jesus and Clint Rouse.  I still cannot believe that this man who was placed on my Young Life Team in 2006 is now my husband.

The Post When My Dreams Came True

So, I have always been fascinated by photography.  I love taking pictures of people and capturing emotion to be remembered.  I purchased a Nikon D40 when I graduated college in 2009 and have always had the dial set to the green auto square.

So, fast forward to moving to Kinston.... Clint and I met Josiah and Lindsay Corrigan who instantly became dear friends.  Little fun fact, Lindsay is a photographer (an incredible photographer!)  And she was on the look out for a new assistant to help with her shoots, so of course I told her PLEASE!  I did everything but get on my knees to beg for the opportunity to learn from Lindsay... She took me as her assistant!  Which now has led to being an intern with 311 Photography! Check out Lindsay's blog here:  311 Photography.

Last month Lindsay allowed me to purchase one of her cameras that I have made the deal with myself to keep it on Manual and become comfortable with setting the aperture, shutter speed, ISO, white balance, ect!  Then, to add to the excitement even more... I got to shoot a Senior Shoot with 3 of my sweet Young Life Senior girls!  Lindsay trained me through out the shoot how to choose lighting, how to pose, and how to capture images that Mimi, Charlotte, and Sallie would treasure.

Here are a few of my favorite images of these beautiful girls!


Meet Sallie Sylvester... This girl can make me laugh until my sides hurt and has the best stories.  I am so thankful that we have been instant friends for the past year and a half!  This is Richlands finest right here.... She will be attending Ole Miss (or as of now that is what she is thinking) next fall!  Love you Sa!

Meet Charlotte Snead.  This girl is as sweet as sweet tea with a side of Bo Berry Biscuits.  Isn't it obvious why Char was the homecoming queen this year at APA?  She is not only just beautiful on the outside, but SO beautiful on the inside!  I am so thankful for your gentle spirit and servant heart Char!  Love you friend!

Meet Mimi Piner.  I love this girl right here!  She is my go to girl for all things Young Life.  She can lead a skit with no problem or serve 600 campers a meal at Crooked Creek with no sweat.  I don't know what I will do with out you next year Mimi.  I am glad you will be close and hopefully at N.C. State next fall (now that's my girl right there, GO PACK!)

From where I sit today

I mean... Does it get any better than this y'all? Beaufort, NC is some kind of special to me! On that dock right there is where I knew I wanted to marry Clint Rouse! On that dock right is where we had our wedding pictures made! I love sitting on that dock in all seasons! And now today I sit looking at it escaping the chaos of the fall in Kinston. LOVE the fall, but it is exhausting! (It's kind of a love hate relationship)

But, like I said.. Today has been a gift to hit the breaks and just sit and be still! My day has been filled with reading, napping, journaling, walking, eating delicious crab bisque from Taylor's Creek Grocery, shopping down town (yes, those Wolfpack red toms I got for a whopping $13!). It has been a great day!

As I sit and read in the quietness the has been a theme for the past 3 weeks and I think the Lord really wants me to get it, because it keeps coming up again. It all started at women's weekend... One of Jen Hatmaker's main points was that we cannot make God known to others if we have forgotten that we are known by him. We have to claim our identidy (we are beloved children of the most high God!) before we GO and love people like Jesus would. I mean, can I get a virtual amen?! I am the worst at this because I am always in GO mode! I love saying yes! I love doing God's work! I love feeling purposeful in my actions! But, this was a HUGE reminder that I have to be still! I have to come before God daily be filled with his love. Because if I'm not doing that, what am I giving people?

And then today, the Lord did it again! 

Everyone should go to Amazon right now and peer this book..

IT is so good! I haven't been able to put it down! Chapter 3 just rocked my socks... "Your ministry is not your life" is the title! Wow! But, it is all about Jesus is my life not Young Life not Chick-fil-A...but just straight and fully Jesus! Here is a little except...

"Relationship is more important than responsibility. It's about making Jesus your life and then letting the ministry flow out of that relationship."

OR this excerpt...

I love how the Lord can reveal the same message in different ways to us! But, I hope this post has been encouraging to you today and that in this moment you can know that you are fully loved by God.... More than anything or anyone in this world!

Yikes! Has it really been 3 months?

 Y'all it has been a LONG time and I don't even know the words to say or the update to give. 

So, the last time I wrote was in July. So, I will just give a highlight or two of each month in the life of the Rouse House.

July: 

::country music star Joe Nichols came to Kinston and we got to meet him and some other famous country men wearing cow boy boots with low voices.

::Reynolds is still our pride and joy and 4 legged son who enjoys sitting in the drivers seat.

::chick-fil-A started selling ICED COFFEE! Yes, the ton of Kinston has a delicious ice coffee option. Let's just say I still drink one daily.

August:

::celebrated working at Chick-fil-A of Kinston for 1 whole year! Sweet Clint Rouse brought me flowers, blue bell, and a card to celebrate! He is the best husband on the planet!

::we saw my favorite band Nickel Creek with our Kinston BFFs, Josiah and Lindsay. It was INCREDIBLE!

(And I had a hot date...)

September:

::mom and I went to women's weekend at windy gap with Jen Hatmaker!

::Kelly Odom got married!!!!

And Clint, Reynolds, and I did a whole lot of this...

Being on the beach! Our favorite place to just sit! We have our best memories on the coast! From falling in love, to getting married!

Well there you have it. I just felt like I needed to get that out of the way before beginning with life today. So thankful for you if you are reading this! 

Cow Appreciation Day!

Want to know what my favorite day of the year is at work? Cow Appreciation Day!! I mean, you dress like a Cow and you get free food, does it get any better than that? Am I right??

As a Marketing Director it is our dream... you get to decorate the entire store in black and white and give a lot of food away for FREE.  You see your regular customers coming in to eat decked out looking like our dearly beloved Bovine.  You get to be creative in what you wear to work.  Team Members get excited to decorate shirts and everyone is in a happy mood not wearing their normal uniform.  And, did I mention free food?

This was my first Cow Appreciation Day in Kinston, and it was a blast.  In Raleigh, you would see herds visiting up to 9 Chick-fil-A's a day just getting a TON of free food (I still love and miss you Raleigh and Cameron Village Chick-fil-A) , but in Kinston there is only one option, we are the only option in Lenoir county, we are the only option in 3 surrounding counties.  We are THE Chick-fil-A. So, people are so excited to see THEIR Chick-fil-A on this special day.  To have their favorite Team Member whom they know quite well serve them in their spots.  So, it gives us a fun excuse to go a little above and beyond!

So, tonight I am getting to sit for the first time since waking up this morning....but, I am still smiling thinking of families dressing up their new born baby as a calf or the elderly couple that eats breakfast with us every morning putting their bed sheets around their shoulders with black spots to look like a Cow.  Today is the best day.

Here was my outfit with my prized shoes.  I would like to thank Walmart for the white Keds, Sharpe for my black permanent marker, and some red ribbon for my laces.  These shoes may have been cute, but they HURT.  But, isn't that what they say, "Pain is worth the Bovine."

So, did you visit your Chick-fil-A today?  What did you wear?  And, what was your experience?