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Showing posts with label Just Married. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Just Married. Show all posts

Tuesday, August 7, 2012

What my Church Community Groups have Meant to Me

As a member of the Northpoint Ministries I can tell you first hand how important and influencial my Community Groups I have been in have been to me! When I first joined Buckhead church I got involved in a Community Group right away.  It was so great to meet people who were interested in growing together and developing relationships centered around the body of Christ.  Community Groups are intentional relationships and are a great way to surround yourself with people who have a common interest in the Lord.

Before joining the Community Group, I had just gotten back from college and the only people I hung out with were people that didn't share my faith.  I was not growing spiritually through these relationships and it was a change from my college experience when I had believers that were holding me accountable.  The leader in my first small group quickly became one of my best friends and it was so great to have someone in my life who was genuinely interested in my spiritual walk and committed to being there for me as I became closer to the Lord.  The other girls in the group were also pivotal as I decided to take the next step in my faith.  On September 28, 2008 I was baptized and it was such a powerful experience to declare publicly that Jesus Christ was my Lord and Savior.  (The video on the BIG screen wasn't as scary as I first thought it would be.)

The group multiplied and the next two groups were just as influential and I also expanded my group of friends that I walked with in my spiritual journey.  The girls I met and did life with all became some of my best friends and it is amazing how God uses these relationships to bring people together for his glory.  The groups helped me become a better person and in addition to Andy's messages I became the Christian woman I was designed to be.  I became prepared for marriage and invested in my relationship with myself and also with the Lord.  Becoming complete and satisfied with these relationships, I didn't need to rely on a man to fill that void.

On August 21, 2010 I married the man of my dreams and because of these groups I was ready to be united and continue to grow together with Christ in the center of our marriage.  The best thing we did for our marriage was joining a "Just Married" small group.  This unique group is designed for, you guessed it, couples that have been recently married.  With a mentor couple that has been married for more than 10 years they were able to lead us together as a couple closer to the Lord.  After that group multiplied about a year and a half of being together we joined a second married small group.

These married small groups have been pivotal in the transition from being single and then being married.  They have blessed us with new friends that are in the same stage of life and that has been so great since life is so different now than when we were single/dating.  When you get married your goals and heart move to a different place.  So as a new Group Link is coming up to join small group I would really encourage you to consider taking the next step and joining a small group.  This as an investment in your walk with Christ and the value is remarkable.  You can learn more about Group Link here.

Tuesday, February 22, 2011

Everlasting Friends and 6 month Update

It's been said that everlasting friends can go long periods of time without speaking and never question the friendship. These types of friends pick up like they just spoke yesterday, regardless of how long it's been or how far away they live, and they don't hold grudges. THEY UNDERSTAND LIFE IS BUSY... But you will ALWAYS love them. Re-post if you have at least 1 of these friends. They will know who they are...
This picture is includes some of the women that mean the world to me!  We get busy but when it comes down to it they were there for me and I was there for them.   They are my best friends.  I think it is so cool how they are all beautiful on the inside and on the outside.  I treasure each and every one of my friends.  It was amazing that we have so many good friends.  
Between me and my husband Kyle we invited over 120 people just from our friends to the wedding.  I wish we could do it again because I feel like I didn't really get to talk to everyone.  The wedding went by so fast I can't believe I might not have even talked to everyone there.  But knowing they were there meant the world to me and Kyle and our parents.  But the wedding happened so fast and then it was Kyle and me together for the Honeymoon in Cali.  We loved being in wine country and on the beach in Pebble Beach!  
Pebble Beach is so nice in August and I would definitely recommend staying there in a condo on 17 mile drive like we did.  There is so much to do there with the Monterey Aquarium and wineries.  Shopping is really cute with the sweetest little shops in nearby Carmel.  This picture here is in a Christmas store in Carmel.  It was so cute they had Christmas trees decorated and the cutest little things you could buy.  I had fun taking pictures in the nooks and crannies of the store.  
Going to California was great, we had such a fun time!  But better than all that was spending time with my amazing husband.  Yesterday was our 6 month anniversary of being married.  I guess some would say we are still in the honeymoon phase, but yeah it is amazing to be in a committed relationship and know Kyle will be there for me no matter what life throws at us.  I know we can handle it!

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Turning Rows into Circles- Small Groups

I am really excited about my first married small group tonight.  Kyle and I have been looking forward to this day since we got married.  We both have been going to small groups since we have known each other over the last three years.  I even led a group.  So we know all about groups.  Now we are taking the next big step in our marriage and sharing community with other married people. 

Some people may ask what is small group? Small group is where our church turns the hundreds of rows into circles.  The Buckhead church is a group of people in the 10s of thousands.  What we like to do is turn that huge number into smaller groups of  10-12.  Since we are married we could join individual women or men small group or do what we did and join a married small group.  We actually joined a new type of group called a just married small group with a mentor couple that has been married 10 years and then the rest of the group is just married from 0-2 years. 

So tonight is our first meeting and we are having a potluck dinner to get to know everyone, maybe play a couple games.  I made some delicious mash potatoes and can't wait to eat them.  After boiling the potatoes I added shredded cheese, half and half, buttery spread, salt and pepper, and garlic and herb seasoning.  I tasted it to make sure it was just right and oh yeah it was.

It has started to sleet and we are hoping the small group won't get canceled.  After tonight the small group will start a series on being married and we will incorporate bible verses and answer questions.  We will discuss things together and learn about one another.  Hopefully we will grow closer to Jesus Christ and in community we will be there for the other people through prayer and support.  It takes time but we should develop meaningful relationships.

Friday, September 10, 2010

Unpacking and New Married Life




So to wrap up the honeymoon and easy into this new life I have, it has been some adjusting an getting use to being married. The clip here is from the honeymoon and there were so many sea-lions just chillin on these rock buffer into the cove of Monterey. This was probably the best part about the glass bottom boat tour!! Check it out, the lady's voice in the video is awesome, love that accent!

I finally finished unwrapping all the presents from the wedding and from before the wedding. I am well on my way with the custom ordered thank you notes writing to tell our friends how much I love every present! Kyle and I put up three shelves in our red kitchen to put glasses, bowls and vases on... let's hope there aren't any earthquakes in Atlanta! I wanted to design an open shelving space that would compliment the room and let it feel open. This weekend we are having another garage sale. Last weekend being Labor Day we didn't have much of a turn out and we still have a bunch of stuff left. What ever we don't sell is going to Good Will. It is nice to be home and I am getting into a routine. Without having a job I feel like a stay at home wife! I take care of the dogs, make delicious dinners most nights clean up the town house. I just take care of two vizsla dogs instead of kids! To be fair I had three interviews over the last couple weeks and I am waiting to hear back from two of them.

I love being married to Kyle, there is a sense of security and comfort and I feel so loved and desired. It is really nice and we have a lot of mutual respect for one another. I love our community we live in and our gorgeous town house. I feel very blessed, especially since my wedding felt like a fairy tale with me marrying my prince!