Meet PIPER

Well it is official! Nic and I have finally put down our deposit on our sweet little puppy! Originally I wanted a male. Growing up with them I found that they were always the more loyal dogs but things changed alittle :) The other day I called the breeder and she said she had one male available! I was so excited and Nic and I hit to road yesterday after church to go meet the little booger and put down our deposit. Well on our way there the breeder called me and said that someone had put a deposit down on the male that MORNING! Needless to say I was bummed. Nic (while grinning because he some how found my being bummed a tad bit funny haha) said that we could turn around if I wanted too. But I insisted to keep going so we could meet the girls.

We got there and they brought all the girls that were available to us. And right away this little puppy who is still trying to figure our how to run and walk runs toward me with her little front legs STRAIGHT! Haha it was the cutest thing to see her run like that. She immediately climbed right into my lap....so sweet! I didn't want to fall in love to quickly so I continued to play with the others. One was the runt and to be honest she is so small I am unsure if she will make it, poor little thing was precious but did not stand a chance as our pick. They other one went straight for my shoes and if you know me...I can not risk my shoes being eatin haha. But she was definitely spunky but after a minute of playing she went off by her self and found a bag to chew on, she did her own thing and didn't even care that we were there. The next one was at first Nics favorite but she was WILD!! She was terrorizing all her sisters and she was always fighting for the attention. She was a player though which is what caught Nic at first. Then he got a hold of the little girl that I loved at first. He got up in his arms and did not want to leave. If he put her down she would come back to him. I think that she chose her owner before we even chose her :)

It was a hard decision because I really had my heart set on a boy. But the breeder brought the boy out for me to meet and I would have never chosen him either. They called him Mr. Mean and he was just like that little way to wild girl. But we got to see the Mommy and Daddy and they could not be prettier. So we decided that this sweet little girl was going to be our little baby!

I still can not believe it is real. I grew up with Dogs and love them more than anything and the last 5 years living in Boone all I have ever wanted was to get one but it was never the right timing or I never lived in a place that would except them. But it is really happening and Nic and I are getting the sweetest baby girl!

We get to take her home in a few weeks and it will be an adventure for sure! Nic and I were already talking last night how we wish she was here! And can I just take a moment to say how wonderful my fiance is! I honestly never saw all of this happening so easy and he has been so supportive about getting the dog and so for it! And although it is just a dog it has blessed me beyond measure that this wasn't a fight but it was an agreement. I have been so impressed and in awe about how FOR this he is! He used to say that he never wanted an animal in the house and now he is just excited about this puppy as I am! God has blessed me with a great man! Here is our first family pic :)

"I got it" - God

Well the Lord speaks again :) I really believe I am in a season of maturing and increasing as I am preparing to go into marriage. I have recently learned so much about prioritizing life according to operating out of a family/marriage mindset instead of a individual mindset. You got to hear a lot about that a few posts back. Well yesterday the Lord was showing me just how big He is!

Isn't it ridiculous how we forget sometimes that God is God! He is the maker and Creator of this earth. He has promised his blessing over us and he takes delight in seeing us prosper. His word is TRUTH! And when you read his word you will begin to realize what he has said about you and how you should live your life abundantly here on earth and when you have the revelation that it is TRUE it will blow your mind.

I am going to take a moment on this blog post to declare the word of God over my own life. I hope it inspires you to do the same. I would say that 99.99% of people that have talked about their marriage or given us advice about marriage have made it seem like we would financially go through a terrible time in the beginning. The Lord convicted me strong of this thinking. No where in the bible does it say that in your first year of marriage you will starve. But it says that...

"Praise the LORD. Blessed are those who fear the LORD, who find great delight in his commands. Their children will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. Wealth and riches are in their houses, and their righteousness endures forever." Psalm 112:1-3

"Honor the LORD with your wealth, with the first fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine." Proverbs 3:9-10

"The blessing of the LORD brings wealth, without painful toil for it." Proverbs 10:22

"This is what the LORD says— your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel: “I am the LORD your God, who teaches you what is best for you, who directs you in the way you should go." Isaiah 48:17

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work." 2 Corinthians 9:7-8

AND FOR MY GRAND ENDING....

"Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that there will not be room enough to store it. I will prevent pests from devouring your crops, and the vines in your fields will not drop their fruit before it is ripe,” says the LORD Almighty." Malachi 3:10-11

The Lord goes as far to say TEST ME IN THIS!! If you bring him your first fruits he will open the FLOODGATES OF HEAVEN and pour out SO MUCH blessing that there will not be room enough to store it!

You may think I am being ignorant to the possibility that we may not always have enough for everything. But yesterday when that thought also crept into my mind the Lord said...."Kira...stop planning for lack and start planning for abundance." If we plan for lack we will get it! But if we leave room for the Lord to bless us he will fill it.

There is a key word in what the Lord said to me....PLAN! When you know how to handle the blessing and you are mature enough to cherish it and to not abuse it the Lord will give it. I am not ignorant because I have FAITH in God to prosper my future husband and I. I am blessed to know that if I plan well the Lord will show off the truth of his word. And as Nic and I move forward into the unknown and unseen of where our money will come from in the next season I can tell you one thing...the Lord is my supplier and he can do above and beyond my own understanding. I refuse to plan for lack I allow my FAITH TO ARISE in believing God for exactly who He is...GOD!

When I received this revelation I received it in the financial realm but it really goes for everything! The Lord has promised us SO MUCH GOOD! Declare His word over your life, give back to him your first fruits, and let his Glory rise!

Our God is Faithful!

I love you,
Kira

It isn't easy but it is Possible

I dedicate this post to my Uncle, Brian Keith Paul.
Today is his birthday and I wish he was here.

In November 2006 my family went through something awful. We lost a dad, a husband, a brother, a son, a best friend, and an uncle. Today I am not here to talk about the tragedy, the pain, the sorrow, etc. but here to talk about the strength, love, passion of a man and a family and ultimately our GOD.

Loosing Brian was the hardest thing this family has been through and there is hardly a but that can come after that statement BUT here are a few :) BUT the way the Lord designed our family to be together during every hard time was amazing. My family lives in Wilmington and the rest of my mom's side lives in West Virginia. We some how still remained as close as ever. My cousins are not my cousins they are my brother and sisters. My parents and their parents are best friends and have been since they were little. My mamaw and papaw are hands down the BEST mamaw and papaw in the world. When we found out that Brian had cancer Lenza was in Wilmington with me, we were together. When Brian had his intensive surgery at Wake Forest, we were together. Before we found out the cancer had come back we all spent the week in Wilmington on the beach and hanging out, we were together. When Lenza won homecoming queen and we got to see my uncle released from the hospital to walk across the field with her, we were all together. And when the day had come for my sweet uncle to be with the Lord, we were all together. Our houses were over 7 hours a part but how good is God to know that we needed each other. We were one. We were each other's strength, each other's smile, each other's comfort.

My uncle was a man of courage and fight. I learned a lot from him in this sense. When he saw something that needed to be done he went after it. Some would say he was stubborn and in some ways he was but he still got the job done :) He was hilarious and never passed up a time to be completely ridiculous to make everyone laugh, you should see some of our home videos! On his birthday, he loved cakes made out of donuts, he loved to watch his kids succeed, he supported them like crazy and loved them to no end.

I think about him not being here with us now and us not being able to celebrate his birthday and it makes me sad, but then I imagine him around the throne of God, worshiping him, singing, loving, etc. and I know he is in a far better party than we could have ever thrown for him here.

A woman prayed for me one time and she referred to my uncle and said...who ever you lost is surely with the Lord. Praise God! She was right and no matter how much I miss him here I push through to realize where he is and I smile. I have an amazing family, a strong family, and a loving family. It hasn't been easy but it has been possible. For the Lord will not give you anything you can not handle.

Just needed a moment to get this out. Sometimes it is hard to bring something like this back to the surface but today I choose to look at the few BUTS that there are to the difficulties of loosing my uncle.

I love you Uncle Brian and I am happy that you are having the best Birthday today! I wish more than anything that you could be here this summer for my wedding! I know you would love Nic and there is no doubt that I can feel your support from heaven :) Miss you always...

I end saying the one things that can always be said...OUR GOD IS GOOD!

Love you all,

Kira

Coffee Dates

Today I am going to let you in on one of Nic and I's secrets. We love love love to spend time together and do all sorts of things but our absolutely favorite thing that we do is have....

COFFEE DATES!

It seems so simple but to us they are so special. Nic and I both like to read, although he is a much more avid reader than I am, I still enjoy a good book. So we read books together often. And at any given moment in the last 3 years we have been dating we have most likely been reading a book together. It is not for everyone but it has definitely worked for us. We read something that will build us up in our relationship with each other and our relationship with the Lord. Reading these books have really shaped us and we give this time together a lot of credit in our relationship :) But back to the coffee dates...

Today we had our first one in a while. Life has been so busy lately and schedules have been crazy but we were able to sit down and go over some of the book we have been reading. More than the book these times together are so encouraging because we have the most wonderful conversations. A lot of times, in any relationship, we can get into a routine. We talk about life, people, and everyday things but good, genuine conversations that cause you to grow and fall more in love can sometimes be overlooked and unspoken. This is exactly what our coffee dates do for us. They set aside a time where we get to hear each other's hearts, dreams, and visions and both be challenged in the same way as we read the same book.

It was such a blessing to spend this time with Nic today :) We have always said that even when we are married we will continue to do this. It's just our thing and I think every couple should have their own :) Something that allows two people to be refreshed, gain joy in each other, learn more about one another, and grow together. Without having the time to do things things I can only imagine how bored we would get in our relationship after time.

Life is sweet. It is now less that 2 months till we get married. There is a lot to do but what's bigger than wedding plans is our personal growth together and the Lord is speaking clearly and blessing big! With out my trust being in Him I can totally see how Bridezillas can be created ;) Thank you Jesus for delivering me from that mindset haha

Love you all & have the most wonderful week!

Kira

From Independent to Intertwined

Marriage. I'm not quite there yet but I am already experiencing the Lord shifting my mind and heart into that of a wife. I find myself making decisions that were once a battle but are now unquestionable. Selflessness, support, trust, & faith is coming to me more strongly than ever. Soon it will not just be me fighting for my own dreams but US fighting for OUR dreams.

What I love about Nic and I is that we are both driven and purposed people. We understand that there is a calling of greatness on our lives. And please hear me when I say that, I am not boasting about who we are, I am just confident that the Lord has called us to a specific purpose (as He has done to us all). We are not people that sit in the shadows for the most part but we are go getters. We help in a time of need, we have visions, dreams, and believe that we are here in this time and season to make a difference in the lives around us.

But for each of us before there was an US there was an I. Before Nic and I started dating or even knew each other he knew he was called to greatness. And before he was ever in my life I knew I was called to greatness. We both had dreams and we both still have them. The Lord birthed visions inside of us and we both still have them. Before now we have done what we can to nurture those dreams, to fight for them, to position ourselves for achievement in them, and to be souled out in our God given purpose.

Well now we are given a new God given purpose. We have not exchanged the old for the new but we have added on to what has already been placed in our hearts. We have been given the purpose of Husband and Wife, the purpose of representing the picture of how Christ loves the Church. It is not an interuption to the way life was before but it is a new mindset, a new way of thinking.

I find myself now more than ever caring more about his dreams than mine. Are my dreams still there? Yes. Will I still go after them? Absolutely. Will I continue to operate in the gifts God has given me specifically? Yes. Will I continue to nurture my dreams? Yes. None of this changes but there is a change in the process. I will do all of these things but never at the expense of what is ultimate...my marriage. I love supporting Nic in his dreams and it gives me JOY! That is a ministry. And although I find myself caring more about his than mine does that mean I will never get to see mine come to pass? Absolutely not.

There is no greater tangible picture of dying to self than marriage presents. There are no more room for secrets or unknowns. Your spouse will learn every detail of who you are, good and bad. It seems like the scariest thing in the world but yet it is the most beautiful thing in the world. Because ultimately the more we see the more our love will grow. It is truly the most vulnerable relationship. But selflessness goes both ways. Because I am the woman in the relationship and I am called to submit to him as the leader in the house does not mean I am the only one to gain selflessness. As I care about Nic's dreams coming to pass he also cares about mine. We will work together for the good of the Lord....we will work together to see these dreams come to pass.

I will go after my dreams but never at the expense of my relationship with Nic or without the greater need for the union, the family, in mind. We will lay down personal agenda's and will pick up the agenda of togetherness. I praise God for the way that he is forming me and preparing me to be a wife because I know in the past this type of selflessness would have ripped me to shreds as I felt entitlement to my dreams. Praise God I have been delivered from that and Praise God for this new understanding.

Someone once told me that I was so independent that I would end up pushing everyone away (that wasn't a very nice statement huh?!) And although it may have been semi true years ago I can say confidently today that I lay down my independence and I pick up togetherness. TOGETHER we are called to greatness.

These are just a few things I have been learning in my spirit about becoming a wife. We are only 2 months and 3 days away from entering into the greatest relationship. The newness of it all is raw and it sometimes turns my stomach but when I see how magnificent it is in the eyes of the Lord I can not wait to embark on the journey. I know I will not always be the best wife and Nic will not always be the best husband but as long as we can always lay down self and pick up togetherness we will push through to greatness.

"Submit to one another out of reverence for God." Ephesians 5:21

I love you all,

Kira

Road Trip

Geez, I didn't realize how long it had been since I had blogged. Sorry about that :) So this weekend marks a mile stone in my wedding adventures!! My DRESS CAME IN and I went to Wilmington to try it on for the first time!!!

Nic and I left Friday morning to make my boutique appointment of 2:00pm in Wilmington. I was SO thankful he came with me! First of all, we are the best road trip partners, which I am very thankful for. And who doesn't want to be in the car with the love of their life for 5 hours! To Nic and me road trips together are the BEST!! So we got to Wilmington and he dropped me off at the boutique where my mom met me. The time had come!! How exciting but honestly very nerve racking. I didn't say a whole lot which is a normal reaction for me when I am excitedly nervous. But we got in there and I put it on. My mom immediately began to get emotional and I really really loved it. Except....let's just say there were a few things that I would have liked to be different. Wish I could tell you the detailed story but Nic may read this and I can not give out any clues :) The lady at the store assured me that the things I wanted could be done, so I took the dress off, put the stress away and waited till my seamstress appointment in the morning.

In the mean time I went back to my house to find Nic passed out on the couch haha, I love that he can make himself comfortable in my parent's house. We relaxed for the rest of the day and then went out the the baseball fields to watch my brother's game, he coaches for our high school. I was so excited about this night for many reasons. One: I love baseball. Two: We were going as a family and Nic was there to be a part of it. Three: More than anything those baseball and softball fields are home to me. Four: I was so excited for Nic to see the part of my life that took over probably 75% of my childhood. Five: Nothing compares to a warm summer night at the baseball fields, no matter what field it is.

Well my exciting night didn't turn out to be so exciting! It POURED down rain! We went anyways but it was not as enjoyable that is for sure. But we stuck through it and supported my brother and hung out with my parents. It was still nice to all be together!

Saturday morning....aka the seamstress appointment. It didn't go as easy as planned but non the less it was successful. The first 30 minutes we were there we went round and round on if what I needed done was even possible at all. Can I just say that I do not think I even took a breath in that 30 minutes. I believe it was stressful for everyone in the entire room. But eventually we came to a quick fix conclusion and I took a risk but I let the seamstress do something on the spot that could have been dangerous if I didn't like it. But guess what....it made the dress PERFECT!! I was finally able to exhale, take a deep breath and relax! I'd say that is the most stressed I have been so far in the whole process.

I came back to Boone that evening welcomed by our INVITATIONS! Everything is becoming so official, and it is so exciting! I LOVE the invitations and I am having a girls party tomorrow at my house, hosting all my friends over to help me assemble them. Taking something tedious and turning it into a night to remember with my sweet friends! Although, time is getting shorter and seems to be running out this season of preparing for marriage has been a blast :)

Love you all,
Kira

Houses & Puppies

Happy Sunday :)

After a good lunch of leftovers from eating out this weekend and a good nap I am just resting before I decide to get up off the couch and clean! I have had a great weekend and I would have to say that the best part was the fact that Nic and I signed a lease on our new place!! I am so excited about it. Most of the places we have looked at so far have been really unpresentable. When looking for an affordable price range you never really know what you are going to get, especially when you are also looking for a place that accepts pets. It has been difficult to find a great place in this little town but we finally did. The place is brand new, we have our own private deck, a little yard for the puppy we don't have yet :) and 2 bedrooms, a washer and dryer and the biggest plus for me...a DISHWASHER! I have gone all year with out a dishwasher and I can honestly say that I have not gotten used to it. I just do not like dishes. I try but it just doesn't work for me haha. I told Nic that I truly believed this dishwasher would prevent us from a lot of first year disagreements...I was partially kidding ;)


We signed the lease on Saturday, put down our deposit, and took lots of pictures so I can stare at them in the next month and imagine how I am going to decorate everything! How fun! I still can not believe we are getting married and will be living in the same house. It is very surreal but I am so ready for it!

Now we just have to find the next member of our little family. Our puppy! I have found a breeder I want to buy from but the litter will be ready to go home before the wedding and I am really just trying to make sure that I am fully ready to take that on before hand. I think I am but I am just trying to be as smart as possible. I would say we will 80% get this puppy and guess what....it was born this week! When the breeder emailed me to tell me they were born I was so excited! (I am already a little emotionally attached, can you tell :) )

Look how sweet these little things are...and look how beautiful the mommy is! Don't you think I need one of these lil boogers?!




I will let you know when I finally put down the deposit, hopefully I can bring myself to do it! But for now I am going to get up, do dishes, put a way clothes and get ready for another awesome week.

I hope you all find lots of rest and refreshment on this beautiful sunday!!

Love,
Kira