on to atwell adventures

Eeeeps!

We are married! {And isn't he so handsome?}

photo by the wonderful Amber Phinisee

We're celebrating day 18 of marriage and since then we've partied at our reception (dancing, desserts and my favorite fa-jah starting the Harlem Shake while wearing a Star Wars helmet? #memories:)), honeymooned in St. Lucia (absolutely incredible!), packed up my things (thank you Miami for delaying our flight so we this had to be done at super speed), and moved into our apartment (I still feel like I'm playing house!)!  It's been a beautiful whirlwind and so fun!

It felt only appropriate that we create a new blog to update our family and friends of our new adventures - so I present to you, Atwell Adventures!

Come visit our virtual front door and say hello!

xoxo, Rachel Atwell

just breathe...

I remember pinning this image around the same time last year. 

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God had started working in my heart to show me the man He made for me and this picture reminded me to trust Him and just breathe. 

And here I am a year later, on the home stretch - 44 DAYS! - trying to remember the same thing. 

Trust Him. 

Just Breathe.  

While I can't remember the last time I talked to G other than text or email (because of his training in California), I'm thankful to know he is safe and stateside and that this is only temporary. Also, I'm thankful to know that in 44 days we won't be long distance! 

And that is a reason to celebrate. 

I can't wait for life with you, Mr. A...

photo by Amber Phinisee

the day I met G

I've never written about G here. {pssst - G is the name of the boy you see inundating my facebook, instagram and twitter}

There were so many times that I've come close to talking about him, I just didn't know where to start or even if I should say anything. However, now that I know he isn't going anywhere and that he is all mine - forever and ever - AMEN - I feel like I can share about him and how he won my heart.

And how appropriate that I begin this walk down memory lane exactly one year after the day we met. April 18th.

I guess I should take it back a little further... here's the quick version of how we "met", before we met.  

2008

Barbara Jane (friend) tells Gary about Rachel.

2010

Barbara Jane tells Rachel about Gary.

August 2011

Gary deploys to Afghanistan.

October 2011

Caleb (Rachel's brother) deploys to Afghanistan.

Barbara Jane tells Gary about Caleb and asks Gary if he can try to find out where Caleb was in Afghanistan.

Gary sends Caleb a friend request on facebook. Caleb rejects. Thank you, Caleb...

Gary sends Rachel a facebook message asking about Caleb.

November 2011 - March 2012

Gary and Rachel keep up with each other on facebok until he returns from his deployment.

April 2012

Gary comes home to Nashville, Georgia for leave.

Gary asks for Rachel's number - on Friday, the 13th.

So yes, the quick version. We had vaguely known about each other for a few years, and then the Lord used G's and Caleb's deployment to Afghanistan - halfway across the world - for us to make a connection.  

God works in mysterious ways, don't you think?

So his first call came on April 16th while I was working away at my desk.  I saw the number come up, didn't recognize it, quickly realized it was probably him, panicked, decided I didn't want our first conversation (knowing me - probably awkward conversation) to be audible to anyone who happened to be walking by, and then let it go to voicemail.

Yep, I let it go to voicemail. Bless him. 

Fortunately for me though, he left a voicemail... which I still listen to from time to time and sometimes when I'm in a really fun (read:annoying) mood, I play it for him, because he just loves to hear it.

Why yes, I definitely took screen shots of his first call and first voicemail! I guess I was a little excited. 

Actually I was very excited.  See that fake smile? I took a selfie to show how excited I was and to remember that moment forever.  I guess you could say at this point I already was a little interested and definitely had alot of peace about this guy that I barely knew but felt like I really knew.

So as I left the office shortly after to go pick up lunch, I prayed. I prayed for peace, direction, more peace, and just that the Lord would be in whatever was about to take place.  

I listened to his voicemail and I was so excited! He didn't have a high voice! nothing against high voices...

A few minutes later, I made the call back. We had a brief conversation, talked about when would be good to meet up and... I think that was about it. 

But again, after getting off that call - peace. 

Two days later, I was surprisingly calm and able to focus on work.  When I got the call he was a few minutes away, I went downstairs to our front entrance and saw a silver Jeep pull up, not knowing if he drove a silver Jeep, but thinking to myself, that's him. I made my way to the car and to the drivers side so I could officially introduce myself to him - my future husband - without a center console in between us.  

I'll never forget that car ride up Zebulon Road and our first lunch at Zaxby's. Everything was so natural, like we had known each other for a while.

And as we said our goodbye's after lunch, he wished me well on my trip to California, and said he would try giving me a call whenever I got back.  I believe my response was something along the lines of "why are you going to wait that long?" to which he gave one of his smiles - the kind where he smiles with his eyes.  

And if I wasn't already falling, I started to then.  

a valentines memory

It was my sophomore year in college and I had just finished classes for the day. I walked into my room at my apartment and saw tulips and a note.  The note read:

    

    "Someday two-lips will touch... No dating - just waiting."

Nope, this wasn't from a stalker who had snuck into my bedroom and was trying to tell me something through a cryptic message. My parents had arranged for it to be in my room that Valentines Day.

I've thought about that memory more than a few times since then. While it was nice to have flowers in my room for a few days, I'm more thankful for the lasting impression those words had on me. When my parents wrote, "no dating - just waiting" that wasn't there way of saying that I wasn't allowed to date; it was actually a quote from a song that I'm sure I had shared with them. Those words have been a sweet reminder to be comfortable in waiting for the man God had for me. Although I wasn't always the perfect image of patience, and there were many days that I wanted God to bring someone into my life on my schedule, I know God protected me with His plan that was so much higher and so much greater than I could have ever orchestrated for myself.

So to my parents who were my valentines and prayed for me these last 26 years: THANK YOU, He has shown me His faithfulness! I love you!

our family tree is getting two new leafs

In a little over month, we will have two new babies in our family.  I've had people ask me before if it ever gets routine going to the hospital to welcome nephews and nieces into the world...

I can honestly say, it never gets old.  I think I've been able to be at the hospital for each delivery so far, and I'm hoping these next two will be the same.  So thankful for the blessings the Lord continues to provide as we watch our family grow!

picture from the shower this morning for Kelly and Baby Queen #3! 

We missed you Carman!

the smallest act

I told myself that come February 1, I was going to write. And here I am laying in bed, with my alarm set for 4:40am (4:40am on a Saturday!) not really ready to say anything. 

And thinking about that reminds me of one of the things I love about my Jesus. Even though we aren't really ready sometimes, He decides to guide us into things anyways. Maybe out of our comfort zone, maybe into an unknown adventure, and away we go. He knows best after all. 

I want to write and share how the Lord has shown me His way is best and that He knows exactly what we need, exactly when we need it.  

So here's to February 2013; thanks for reminding me to step out and do.

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length and width

my last Friday as a 25 year old.

hello, wrinkles...

I am on the downward slope to becoming a forever young mature 30 year old. (which by the way is less than 1500 days away, you know...)

but even though those numbers make my head starts producing even more gray hairs, I love looking back and seeing where God has taken me these last few years, post-college. I pulled a few old posts from 2008, 2009, 2010, and 2011. looking back, I'm reminded of how faithful He has been. in the moments of joy, peace, satisfaction, confusion, unrest, quietness... He has been there.

I saw this quote sometime this last year and it has stuck with me since.

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often I find myself scratching the surface. while it's definitely the easiest {read: laziest} thing to do, I don't think that's what I need to do.

so here's to my last two days of a quarter-of-a-century... see you soon 26!

ocd gets the best of me

if I worked for Papermate things would look alot less like this...

and alot more like this...

organized by color with the logos facing out for everyone to see.

and now you've wasted approximately the same amount of time reading this as I did reorganizing these pens.  but look at how much prettier it is! Happy Saturday!

how to create a fabric bookshelf

This is my first how to on my blog!  I'm sure you will all be enlightened at the end of this post... or maybe just inspired to go look at pinterest.  Either way, I call that a win!

While pinning away one day I came across this bookshelf.  Hello pattern... Hello color!  

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I thought this looked simple enough to recreate.  And since I had this ugly little shelf that was screaming, "please make me over," I headed to the fabric store one afternoon and bought a yard of fabric.  And then – appropriately dressed in a skirt and high heels – I made my way to ACE Hardware to buy some primer and a roller. (note: I use this roller. It works really well, it's super cheap and I throw it away when I'm done.)

After ripping off the cheap backing board, a quick prime and paint update, I let it dry like this... 

And then I pinned the fabric to the back of the shelf.  I read on some blogs where people stapled the fabric to the back but I didn't have a stapler handy and I liked the freedom to change out fabric if I came across something I liked more.

 

Here is the finished product.  I'm still learning how to arrange shelves (as you can tell, it's not something that comes naturally to me).

Does anyone have any tips on arranging?  Or places that I can buy pretty (and inexpensive) fabric?

plane ticket, please

I saw this video when someone posted it on twitter today...

And now I have a new place I want to travel to: Barter Books.


Won't you join me?

I can't move my legs...

This week I decided it was finally time to get back into the gym.  After a month and a half of using the "I just had minor surgery" excuse, I decided it was time to get back.

So you want to hear the sad part... the way I convinced myself to go? I rewarded myself with a hot gym shower post-workout.

Whatever it takes, right?

Last year we had our bathroom renovated and ever since then, our hot water heater and I have not been friends. It neverrrrr gets really hot which can be really frustrating. I know, I know... #FirstWorldProblem

So while I pushed myself on the treadmill and a little medicine ball action, I kept telling myself, "this is good for you... you ARE having fun... HOT SHOWER, HOT SHOWER, HOT SHOWER!" And then I finally made it to the shower I had been dreaming of.  And it was miserable. A hot shower after an afternoon workout? Gross.

And now I'm left with no motivators (other than all the super-fit pictures of women floating around pinterest) and two very sore legs and abs.

And of course, this picture...

Because we all know we look that good while we're running.

{seek}

Trying to remember that in even though I may be busy, I have to take time to continue seeking Him.  To be in constant communion so I can hear His voice and know - without a doubt - it's Him speaking.

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And I'm so thankful for those moments that He does reassure me that He is there to "uphold me in His hand" (psalm 37:23-24)

In other news... do you ever do something that confirms without a doubt that you are w-e-i-r-d? Well if you haven't, I challenge you to spend some time talking about yourself to a video camera.  All kinds of craziness will come out.  So today, I'm thankful that's now how we are required to make friends.  

On second thought, I'm probably even more awkward in real life.  Eeeps... I may never leave the house again. 

living for Jesus

we sang this song last week in church and it's been pretty hard to shake.  

live for someone other than myself... yield... follow... give myself... no others... 

This is what He requires.

Living for Jesus, a life that is true,

Striving to please Him in all that I do;

Yielding allegiance, glad hearted and free,

This is the pathway of blessing for me.

Living for Jesus Who died in my place,

Bearing on Calvary my sin and disgrace;

Such love constrains me to answer His call,

Follow His leading and give Him my all.

Living for Jesus, wherever I am,

Doing each duty in His holy Name;

Willing to suffer affliction and loss,

Deeming each trial a part of my cross.

Living for Jesus through earth’s little while,

My dearest treasure, the light of His smile;

Seeking the lost ones He died to redeem,

Bringing the weary to find rest in Him.

O Jesus, Lord and Savior, I give myself to Thee,

For Thou, in Thy atonement, didst give Thyself for me.

I own no other Master, my heart shall be Thy throne.

My life I give, henceforth to live, O Christ, for Thee alone.

"living for jesus" - thom­as o. chis­holm

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simple truth

obedience  >  sacrifice.

Whoever has my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me. 

And he who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and manifest myself to him.  

john fourteen twenty-one

trying to remember this.  easier said than done.

...those who do

well I'll be real honest. I've been enjoying the slacker train for far too long when it comes to updating my blog.  but don't you worry, I still remember how to do it {even though blogger got a nice little facelift since my last visit}.

so speaking of doing... I've been challenged by this little saying lately.

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Do you ever feel like you have to wait... and wait... and wait for something? I always struggle with that in between time.  If I've learned anything over this last year and half {and trust me, He's always having to remind me of this one} it is to continue to move during that waiting process.  I often get trapped in the wondering that causes me to lie motionless rather than trusting His timing of it all.  But I realize over and over how much precious time and the many opportunities we miss when we do things that way.

So instead, I'm going to move right along... I'm going to do things... I'm going to live... enjoy the sunshine... and of course, smell the flowers along the way.

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And while I'm at it, I'll pick up some of those flowers so whenever I arrive at where He has me going, I'll have a sweet little bouquet to remind me of my journey.

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hello friends, it's good to be back!

remember me?

since I last blogged I've...

played in and sat by the Pacific Ocean...

read through this post and was convinced that Jon Acuff was inside my brain...

went to my first SoapBox Derby in Macon...

finished my taxes... on time...

witnessed Cicada Swarm '11...

been busy, busy, busy with everything at work...

completed my first live tv interview...

and then talked to the same station about seniors and technology...

watched Michael Scott say goodbye forever...

helped host a shower for Baby Muffin...

found my first WHITE hair...

watched (drooled and gasped) during the Royal Wedding...

visited Turner Field for my first game of the season...

had a flutter in my heart...

met Nick Arrojo...

been challenged by this article...

cheered Ruthie on for her first triathlon...

had a mini-reunion with sweet high school friends...

(note: the two boys in the middle were my junior and senior prom dates=)

ran/crawled/swam/walked/jogged/climbed the Warrior Dash...

welcomed niece #3, Isla Grace into the world...

helped/laughed while my friend made beautiful flowers for another sweet friend's wedding...

got back into running...

started planning lots of moves at work...

got out of running... (but just went today!)

was reminded that even on a bad day, it's a good day because I have Him on my side...

watched these two wayyyy too many times...

started using Pinterest (looooooove this site)...

witnessed God's sovereignty...

and learned more about myself.

All of the above were good {well, ok, I was a little upset about the white hair} with the exception of the that last one. You see, I am what some would call a perfectionist and when the perfectionist in me starts measuring up to the only One who is a good rule of thumb, I come up far short.

But the good thing is, I am realizing where I need to grow and how much more I need to rely on Him during that "growing" process. I don't want to be comfortable with the complacency I often find myself floating in. I don't want to be consumed with the things that I think are important but really have no point after tomorrow.

So here goes... to being real.

eeeps, I'm scared.

pauses and procrast... (I'll finish the title later)

In approximately 24 hours I will be landing in California.

A little pause from my Macon, Georgia life.

But currently, I have four loads of laundry in baskets that have to be done before I leave (or it will drive me crazy while I'm gone). And did I mention I've yet to start packing? I wasn't too stressed out this little minor detail... until my sweet little brother (who I'm going to visit) kindly sent this week's forecast.

It's going to be in the 50's & 60's, people. Not exactly flip flop, tank top weather like I was dreaming of. And now I'm back to square one. And now that I'm thinking about it, I don't even know if I have a suitcase to pack my stuff in. oh goodness...

But all this to say, who cares. I'm going to Cali-FOR-n-i-aaaaah (said just like Ah-nuld would say it) with Dad, Mom and Ruthie to see my little brother Caleeeeeb.

Maybe we will get sun, maybe we won't. But we will have fun.

And I will be sure to dance to this song while we explore a new place.

how sweet it is to be loved by you...

My favorite part just might be when he calls her "Wrinklestiltskin".

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speed bump(s)

woweee.

It's been a day. Normally when I go into work, I don't plan on crying off my makeup before 10am, but hey who doesn't like a little surprise every now and then?

Friends, you remember when I wrote just a few days ago about feeling God move? Well today, He was having fun surfing on the waves of my life! (wait, does that even make sense? I do not know. I blame it on the fact that my brain is dried out from crying so much today.* [*note-that doesn't make sense either. brains and tears? what? that's it; no more metaphors today.] )

Through all that I went through today, stress at work, heartache for friends, answers to other questions I've been waiting on, my God was aligning everything in place. And the part that is incredible, is God used the person who was experiencing the most heartache, my dear friend C, to send me a text that would be exactly what I needed to hear then - and in the few hours to come. While I was trying to think of words to comfort her, to encourage her, to be an example of Christ love but still be sensitive to what she was going through, she sent these powerful words:

My faith and the love of God is holding me together.

I do not question why and will not let this shake my faith.

I know all things are done through Christ.

I don't think I realized until today what His love does for me.

His will be done.

Written like someone who knows what is going on. And like I said, I read that, paused, and just thought to myself, that is someone who understands that the Lord has it in control. The things I had faced are somewhat trivial in comparison to what she is experiencing but she is confident in our Lord and the plan He has paved before her. Speed bumps and all.

So for now, my eyes - although a little puffy- are dry, and my heart is mending. But through it all, I remember these words of truth that I learned recently from here: I already know who's going to save you. I already wrote the end of your story. You were made for me and I'll never leave you; in the end, it's all for my glory!

Thank you, Jesus.

And thank you family and friends that have guided and encouraged me during my moments of uncertainty and weakness. Oh and speaking of friends, please go read this post by one of my sweet Oklahoma friends, Jena Carper. I read this while typing and uh, I think she is inside my head!

p.s. - I like listening to this song on days like this... beautiful.

pardon me...

... while I update my look on my little blog.

check in soon to see a (hopefully) fresh look!