Keeping up with The Clackums! (May-June)

Well, I know I promised previously that I would do a "Keeping up with The Clackums" post every month but I have been a little busy keeping up with the Clackums myself! ;)

May was our busiest and most tiring month as a married couple so far....by the end of May I had been in 2 weddings and photographed 2 and the hubs had been in 3! It's really exciting that so many of our friends and family wanted us to be a part of their big day so a little exhaustion was totally welcomed. :)

May also welcomed multiple car problems, but luckily we have some amazing parents/grandparents/friends who love and support us and a God who always knows all about provision. Hopefully our car problems have subsided for the time being! :)

In June we had the opportunity to be a part of Table Rock Youth Camp again as staff. As expected middle and high school teens grew closer to God and walked away different. We are continuing to pray that those changes are the kind that last a life time. We personally are excited to see some changed lives in our very own youth group. We were so proud of how awesome our teens did at camp! Please continue to pray that they only grow closer and more obedient to Christ.

Needless to say these past two months have been somewhat of a roller coaster. So, these next few weeks we will be working to get our home back in order! It's amazing how fast laundry can pile up ;)

Currently George and I are making lists and beginning to pack for the beach with Franklin and Lydia the first week of August!! We aren't super organized people so the fact that we are beginning to prepare a month in advance should bear witness to the fact that we are STOKED about vacation with our newly married brother and sister-in-law! 26 days until we are Florida bound....ahhh!

Be on the look out for a July update in a couple weeks :)

Thank You Note Confessions

For those of you who posses the "A type" personality...you may want to take a deep breath before reading this post.

It has been over 8 months since I said "I do" to the most awesome man on the planet and it has been 9 months since so many NC friends and family showered me with gifts for my soon approaching nuptials.

I have yet to send out Thank You notes.

I know....I am quite possibly the most tacky person ever. I am terrible at sending cards, letters, etc. and these words of gratitude have been no different. I have always been the biggest procrastinator on the face of the planet, but this is REALLY bad...even for me.

Honestly, I have had the best intentions...but every time I have sat down to get them addressed and ready to go there have been other things I needed to get done as well (like someone else's wedding pictures!).

So, I am more than sorry to those of you who took the time, and money to shower us with gifts and attend our wedding. You should have been properly thanked months ago and I truly have no legitimate excuse. I promise I will get your hand written thank you note in the mail as soon as humanly possible.

BUT in the meantime....

I would like to thank each and every person who came to our wedding, lovingly sent us a gift, or helped with our big day in any manner (physically, financially, or prayerfully). You all have made our marriage so much stronger.

I look at all the things we have been blessed with and I see so much more than material items. I see so much love and thoughtfulness. George and I are so grateful...and apparently extreme procrastinators. :)

I hope that you all can find it in your hearts to forgive a young 24 year old wife learning how to manage her time and household!

Engagement to "marry"ment...where has the time gone?

It seems just like yesterday when we watched Franklin get down on one knee at the Georgia Aquarium and ask Lydia to be his wife. I could barely contain my excitement then...how in the world will I make it through their wedding day tomorrow?

Please excuse my embarrassing giggling in this video :)

Even though I have only known these two for a few years.. its clear even to me that God designed them with the other in mind. From their personalities to their blond hair they are a perfect match. Tonight as I watched the slide show about their lives I found myself thanking God through the tears. There aren't too many people who find a soul mate so early in life.

7 months ago I gained a brother who has been nothing but wonderful to me and tomorrow I get a brand new sister. I feel so blessed to even know Franklin & Lydia, but to be a part of their wedding....it's such a dream come true.

George and I have been praying for their marriage for quite a while now, and have given as much marital advice as we can for our short but sweet 7 months. So, we know God is going to use their marriage for His glory....and we are so excited to see how. 

I love you Franklin & Lydia and I am so unbelievably blessed to be able to call you family. 

Let the celebrating continue!

6 Months Married!

It's been 6 months since I said "I do" to the best man I have ever known. In the days since our wedding we have been tested in many ways, and have had to overcome obstacles...hand in hand. All of our experiences so far have helped to shape us into people October 20th, 2012 wouldn't recognize.

I had no idea the ways in which marriage would change me. I am constantly reminded that by vowing to love my husband forever I have promised to put him before myself and serve fully and with out fail...always. I have learned that marriage is work, but at the end of the day I am filled with joy knowing that I am doing all I can to bring glory to God with my relationship with George.

I wish I could say that we have done everything perfect over these past few months...but alas, we are human and made of flesh. So, I will have to say that we have made mistakes, hurt one anothers feelings, and disappointed each other on many occasions. However, we have grown and George is showing me with his patience, grace, mercy,  more of who Jesus is.

Often I find it hard to fathom how much Christ loves me because I can't imagine being loved any more than my husband loves me, but God loves me so much more. Sometimes I can only weep at the thought of that much love.

Last night we were talking after going to bed and George reflected on how grateful he is to be a part of my life and I quietly listened thinking: "I can't believe God gave me this amazing man to love and he thinks he should be grateful."

I wish I could put into words how blessed I feel to even know George Clackum...much less be the one he is sharing his life with. I know I don't deserve his love, but I will spend every second, moment, hour, and day being thankful that I have it. These 6 months have flown by...it's hard to imagine that a lifetime would ever be enough with this man.

I love you sweet one. You have changed me for the better and you have brought me unspeakable joy. Here's to many more months and years side by side. This is only the beginning.

Forever & Always. 

18 on the 18th

My brother is 18 today. Wow, I never ever realized how fast time flies. I can see him clearly as a tiny baby, a precious bleach-blond-hair 4 year old, and a 12 year old annoying little prankster but all grown up and 18 is much harder to wrap my mind around.

In my teenage years I was so worried about growing up myself I never stopped to think that my brother was doing the same.

He and I are different in many ways but I am seeing a lot of myself in him these days. 18 for me was all about having friends and having fun. I wish now I would have taken more time to cherish or even just pay attention to how fast my  little brother was growing.

He has his own life and his own friends now and he is becoming his own person. I am so proud of the man that he is becoming. He is loyal, strong, loving, impulsive, smart, and the absolute best little brother.

I thought that he would always look up to me...but as Tyler enters adulthood I am finding myself slowing looking up to him instead.

I love you sweet brother...I hope you have had the best birthday ever. I only wish I was there to hug you and tell you in person how thankful I am for every second I have had the privilege of being your sister.

Burgers + Barnes & Noble

Last night the Hubs and I went on a date for the first time in a LONG time! 

We haven't had a whole lot of free time lately so we took full advantage of our spare time last night!

Red Robin has recently become one of our favorite restaurants...so we jumped at the opportunity to start our our date night with the best burgers ever...seriously. Thankfully Red Robin didn't disappoint. We started out date night RIGHT! 

After an amazing dinner Barnes & Noble was the next stop. Yesterday I found a bookstore date idea from one of my favorite sites thedatingdivas.com. The date instructions outline the steps to a fun filled evening at a bookstore...these are the first 3...and the only ones we had the time to complete!

#1 - Visit the COOKING section & chose a recipe that you would like to make for your spouse.

#2 – Visit the MAGAZINE section & find a quiz in a magazine that you and your spouse could do together.

#3 - Visit the CHILDREN’S section & find a book that was a favorite when you were a child or that holds a special memory for you…and read them to each other when you meet back up.

We ended up starting with the magazine task...George chose an HGTV magazine with a quiz on different style homes for me, and I chose a baseball magazine with a quick quiz on baseball history for him! It seems that I know quite a bit more about homes than George knows about baseball history! ;) It was so much fun to see who knew more about our selected subjects!

Next our task was to find our favorite childhood book and read them to one another! Since I have always loved reading...I had to ask my Mom what exactly my most favorite book was when I was little. She informed me that I was quite fond of The Very Hungry Caterpillar. After re-reading the book I completely understand why it was my favorite. It's all about food :) 

George had already told me a while back that his favorite book growing up was The Foot Book by Dr. Seuss...which is fitting because he and Dr. Seuss have the same birthday! I must say...I laughed and giggled the entire time he read to me because he went all out! He started using different voices and everything. It definitely warmed my heart to think our little ones will be laughing and giggling at their Daddy's crazy story telling antics one day! 

Unfortunately our recipes didn't go so well...I ended up finding one recipe that I would like to make for George but he couldn't find one for his picky wife ;) we ended up agreeing to use mine for the both of us because it sounds so good!

We had an amazing night dating. I can't stress enough how important it is to keep being creative when it comes to dating your spouse! Experiencing new things with George makes me fall in love with him all over again! 

I'll remember you when I'm famous.

Up until college I wanted nothing more than to be famous. I even have the embarrassing email address to prove it. I wanted everyone to know who I was, and I wanted everyone to love me. I would spend hours practicing scenes and monologues in my bedroom. I danced, acted and sang my little heart out. I even gave myself imaginary awards (always academy) ;) I was convinced I was bound for Hollywood someday.

I was so confident in my acting ability I signed everyone's year book in eighth grade "I'll remember you when I'm famous." It's super fun to laugh at now, but my little middle school heart was set on making a name for myself.

Sometimes now when I think about it....I almost believe I really could have made it....that if I would have tried hard enough I could be famous, and then I think....

His plans are far better than my own. 

No, I no longer desire to be famous because my heavenly Father changed my heart.

Do I still sing, dance and act my way around the house? Absolutely. But my only audience fell in love with me and all my crazy antics a long time ago. So, even though I have given up my dreams of stardom I consider myself a critically acclaimed triple threat. I'm South Hamilton St.'s best kept secret!

However....even with all my pretend...

I realize the only name I was placed on this earth to make famous is the name of Jesus. Now, don't get me wrong....I totally appreciate those who are called to make a difference in the entertainment industry in the name of Christ , but I now know fame and fortune were dreams of mine...not His.

He wants my marriage to bring glory to His name, and He wants my home to serve only Him. He wants me to be an amazing wife, mother, sister, daughter, aunt, friend, and witness. He wants my families legacy to be one of service, rock solid faith, mercy, love and making Jesus famous.

Now knowing how much better God's plan is....
I would chose the joy of abundant life and these crazy blue eyes over fame any day.