The Story of Us...

July 26, 2013 marks the 10-year anniversary of marriage for Matt and I. It's hard to believe it's been that long and yet, for others, it probably seems so short. I met Matt in my high school chorus class in 2000 (Matt's graduating year). He was an 18-year-old senior and I was a 16-year-old sophomore. I was more into band than singing (surprise, surprise) but I joined chorus to help accompany the chorus teacher on piano (I mean, I didn't join for that puffy-sleeve green dress!). Matt always sat near the front and was easy to pick out of the crowd because he thought he was hilarious - the class clown. It wasn't until a field trip to our Solo & Ensemble festival that I got the chance to actually sit and talk with Matt. Yep, clown. But a cute clown. Anyway, my "band friends" weren't on this trip (you band nerds out there know we always stick together in clumps) so I sat next to Matt on the bus. He wore a blue shirt and a ridiculous yellow tie with blue flowers on it. We ate chinese for lunch at the Citadel Mall food court and decided to play into the whole fortune cookie deal. Matt sat across from me and watched me open mine. It read "Happy life is just in front of you." So, yeah, fortune cookies kind of became our thing for awhile. So, we did what any 16 and 18 year old would do with that. We used it as an excuse to hold hands and act like we were "going out" (not sure what they call it now). At the end of the day Matt held up two tickets to his church picnic and said I was welcome to come. I replied nicely with "thanks" and took them both. :)

Lucky for Matt, as young as I was he got to go to 3 proms with me - yep, three. I don't count any that he went on before me. He even got to go on one a few years ago at our church (hehe, he hates prom). We walked to class together, ate lunch together, went on chorus field trips together, watched each other walk the stage of high school and continued dating until May 2003 when he proposed to me on the beach of Isle of Palms. Those who know me know that I can't stand to wait for anything so instead of a year's worth of planning, we planned our wedding in two months and at ages 19 and 21 were married July 26, 2003.  

We had a Cinderella wedding. I walked down the aisle to "Someday My Prince Will Come" (Barbara Streisand version). We ate chocolate mice cookies, had a castle ice sculpture, and I wore a ginormous, white sparkly dress. We moved into our first rental (thanks Mom and Dad) and became Mommy and Daddy to our first baby, Sammy, at ages 21 and 23 - while we were both going to CSU full-time. We then eventually bought our first home and had our baby girl, Maddie, at ages 23 and 25. We graduated from CSU in 2009 together, which was pretty cool, and finally felt like grown-ups (probably because of the amount of bills and diapers we had)!

I have shared some of the best moments of life with Matt. And I've also shared some of the hardest. But in each and every moment he has been there for me and he has loved me no matter what. Marriage is hard - really hard. Anyone who says it isn't is lying and deceiving you. The walls in our home have witnessed arguments, family talks, hugs & kisses, wrestle matches, nigh-night songs, laughing kids, yelling matches, giggles, tears, more hugs & kisses, prayers, meals, and moments that I wouldn't trade for anything. Ten years has flown by yet I am left with SO many thoughts and memories that I hope I never lose. I know that a fortune cookie wasn't what brought us together. Looking back over the last 12 years, it so obvious that the Lord chose him for me and me for him. The Lord has been the glue that has held us together in hard times and that has bonded us together in great times. All glory and honor and anything good in and from our marriage be to Him alone.

Matthew,

I really do think you're funny. 

Happy Anniversary!

Love,

Crys

To Maddie on Your 5th Birthday...

Baby girl...

Oh, how I wish you were still a baby. In only one year you have already become a mini lady. I fall in love with you every morning and miss you after you fall asleep each night. You just have that effect on people. Not much has changed in your habits and patterns over the last year...

You will only wear silky, dressy PJ's to bed. You still do not sleep under covers. You listen to the same Disney princess CD every night, and your bedtime song ritual has not changed a bit. You like to tickle Mommy and wrestle Daddy. Your song choice for Daddy is, of course, "A Whole New World" from Aladdin. And you both sing it so well together. For Mommy, you prefer "Revelation Song" (or what you call the "worship song") and "You Have Called Me Higher." I think you are my biggest fan, Maddie.

You are a healthy eater and (thank the Lord) will eat anything I put in front of you. You absolutely LOVE strawberries (well, any fruit really) and you enjoy eating red apples - completely whole - so that you will look like Snow White while you eat it. :)

You are a hopeless romantic already. I feel sorry for your future husband (even though Daddy says you're not allowed to have a future husband) because he has a LOT to live up to - especially with the Daddy you have. You have a strong connection to your Daddy. You tell us all the time how much you love his "fwuffy hair." You think your daddy is SO handsome and you love playing with him and hugging him.

You also love your Bubba. You and Sammy actually play really well together. You are his Lego sorter and he brings his Lego's to any kitty or pony party you throw in your room.

You have a ginormous heart. It breaks very easily. It is sensitive. It is big. It is passionate. And I love it. You are learning forgiveness each day and it breaks your heart when you realize you have made a mistake or hurt someone's feelings. You are so good at telling us exactly how you feel and we can see it on your face just as easily. I love that about you.

A few months ago, I realized that I missed you so much during my day working that I needed to be with you more. I know this will be hard for us both but already I feel closer to you and I feel like I am where I belong. You are by no means fully dependent on me all of the time, but I can see that your world is right when we are together and I can feel our bond growing stronger day by day. I look forward to learning from you as much as you learn from me. You are my littlest best friend.

I am so happy to be your mommy. I'm glad that it's me you call for when you're hurt or sick. I like that you think I'm awesome and great. I love holding your little hand and looking at your big "princess eyes." Your voice is so sweet and I look forward to hearing you sing the praise songs one day to Jesus like you have already started. You bring joy and happiness to my life and not a day goes by when I don't thank the Lord for you. I would change nothing about you.

I wrote you another letter on the inside page of my Bible. I'm not sure if you're going to get this precious book of mine on your wedding day or much later, but I am making notes for you daily in my margins and am looking forward to being there for you through every moment I am given with you.

You're my baby girl. I love you.

Mommy

They Call Me "Warden"

So, I'm a rule follower. Go ahead and make fun of me. I like rules. I like boundaries. I like guidelines. I was even nicknamed "Warden" at the office. Even my Strengths Finder assessment results indicate that "Discipline" is listed in my top 5 strengths. This particular strength has this to say about my kind:

"Your world needs to be predictable. It needs to be ordered and planned. So you instinctively impose structure on your world. You set up routines. You focus on timelines and deadlines...Faced with the inherent messiness of life, you want to feel in control. The routines, the timelines, the structure, all of these help create this feeling of control." (Strengths Finder 2.0)

(Mom, does that sound like me or what?!)

Anyway, I say this to share that reading the Bible can be both a joy to me and a burden at the same time. A joy because, well, there's lots of "rules" (God's law) listed there...right? So I start to feel in control because I have a written list of guidelines from which I should live. But, it's also a burden because, well, who can really obey them all?! Surely not me - I probably would have already broken many of them before even finishing my quiet reading time! But something caught my attention today as I read Chapters 1-3 in Romans:

1) Rules are important to God. Obedience is just as important. 
"For merely listening to the law doesn't make us right with God. It is obeying the law that makes us right in his sight" (Romans 2:13) By the way, Paul is talking to the Jews at this point who could recite the laws and just as quickly sentence you for not following them, even though they were not "practicing what they preached." I was excited at this part. I was like, "thank you! Somebody is calling them out for not following the rules!" But then I was like, "wait. I'm pretty sure I fit into that category of people Paul was talking to." The only problem with reading this verse as a stand alone statement at face value without any surrounding verses is that it would be easy to assume that Christians need only be rule-followers to be right with God. But who can do that?!?! No one. So, no, that's not it...

2) God's law is to show us we are sinners in need of a Savior.
"Obviously, the law applies to those to whom it was given, for its purpose is to keep people from having excuses, and to show that the entire world is guilty before God. For no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. The law simply shows us how sinful we are." (Romans 3:19-20). So, Paul just said that we have to obey rules to be right with God. But then he said that no one can ever be made right with God by doing what the law commands. So, what's a sinner (rule-breaker) to do then, Paul?!

3) God provides that Savior.
"But now God has shown us a way to be made right with him without keeping the requirements of the law, as was promised in the writings of Moses and the prophets long ago. We are made right with God by placing our faith in Jesus Christ. And this is true for everyone who believes, no matter who we are. For everyone has sinned; we all fall short of God's glorious standard. Yet God, with undeserved kindness, declares that we are righteous. He did this through Christ Jesus when he freed us from the penalty for our sins. For God presented Jesus as the sacrifice for sin. People are made right with God when they believe that Jesus sacrificed his life, shedding his blood. This sacrifice shows that God was being fair when he held back and did not punish those who sinned in times past, for he was looking ahead and including them in what he would do in this present time. God did this to demonstrate his righteousness, for he himself is fair and just, and he declares sinners to be right in his sight when they believe in Jesus." (Romans 3:21-26). Amen! and Amen! Did you catch that? We are declared righteous? We are freed from the penalty of our sins? And all we have to do is place our faith in Jesus and believe? Yes - that is Good News!

4) What's the catch?
I'm not gonna lie. I struggle in this area. Hello, I'm a rule follower!!!!! How can I possibly get by and make the cut to be counted as righteous by God if I have broken any of His rules? Paul, don't let me down now! Seriously, what's the catch? Then Paul slapped me upside the head when he wrote, "Can we boast, then, that we have done anything to be accepted by God? No, because our acquittal is not based on obeying the law. It is based on faith, so we are made right with God through faith and not by obeying the law. After all, is God the God of the Jews only? Isn't he also the God of the Gentiles? Of course he is. There is only one God, and he makes people right with himself only by faith, whenever they are Jews or Gentiles. Well then, if we emphasize faith, does this mean that we can forget about the law? Of course not! In fact, only when we have faith do we truly fulfill the law." (Romans 3:27-31). 

Whoa...mind...blown! It can not be any simpler, folks. The Good News for ALL is that God made a way for us to still be called His. The way is simple. It is free. I take that back. It came at a high price. It came at the sacrifice of one man who paid the ultimate price and who took every bit of my sin and my rebellion and my rule-breaking and my evil desire and my shame and my guilt and let it hold Him to a cross in order that He could carry out my sentence. He was the final sacrifice for my sins. Amen!

Yes, I am still a rule follower as much as I can be. Remember, I'm "discipline" by nature. But, I don't follow God's commandments and instruction now in order to gain favor in His eyes. Or to be able to boast about myself like Paul mentioned. I do it because it reminds me daily that I fail and need Him. It reminds me that, had he not sent His son, I wouldn't have made the cut. I have said before I have a "sin rebound" of like 3 minutes! So to me, this truly is Good News! Because of this gift that I accept on faith and belief alone, my heart has a new desire to be obedient to His word and to follow Him and to love him and please him. It is to bring Him glory through everything I do. Even as I write this I feel a conviction to confess that I am going to sin daily. And you who are closer to me will see it more than others. So thankful that each morning brings new mercies from God and thankful for all of you who show me grace and forgiveness, which you also understand because of your love for and faith in Christ. That's all. I just wanted to share my random 15-minute quiet time explosion of thoughts with you all!

Love & Marriage...And the CHURCH?!

The topic of marriage has been all over the radar for the McCall's lately...a several-week series at church, deep discussions at home, talks with the kids, and capped off with a covenant renewal service at church later this morning. But also with the topic of marriage has come the topic of whether or not Christians "have to" attend church - or better yet whether or not Christians "have to" attend church to be Christians or to be saved or to "guarantee" their salvation. The answer is "no" - they (we) don't "have to." We should "want to" - and here's why:

A change takes place in a person's life when they accept Christ as their "personal" savior. It means they are no longer lord of their own life but allow Him to be Lord. Their attitude, actions, thoughts, and heart all shift toward the likeness of Christ. We aim to serve like Christ, act like Christ, live like Christ, and dare I say think like Christ...unless!...well, unless that means going to church, right? Truth: Christ is for the church. That's an understatement.  Not just FOR the church - Christ loved the church (us) SO deeply that He gave His life for her and commanded that we model that love in our own marriages. 

Read this:
"Husbands, love your wives, just as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word, and to present her to himself as a radiant church, without stain or wrinkle or any other blemish, but holy and blameless. In this same way, husbands ought to love their wives as their own bodies. He who loves his wife loves himself. After all, no one ever hated their own body, but they feed and care for their body, just as Christ does the church - for we are members of his body. 'For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and the two will become one flesh.' This is a profound mystery - but I am talking about Christ and the church." (Ephesians 5:25-33).

Now, picture this:
If we were to model our own marriage (husband and wife) around the way we view the church, we would be leaving each other left and right because we offended one another or didn't get our way or didn't like the leadership of one another or weren't comfortable with our roles. We would essentially be "marriage-hoppers" much like the way we have become "church-hoppers".

Now, go further:
What if Christ treated us the same way we treat the church? What if His commitment level to us went only as far as our commitment to the church? Ouch. I know for me personally through the years, this puts me to shame because there have been MANY times that I have wanted to abandon ship - and have.

The good news is:
Like it or not, we ARE the church. And our marriages with each other go hand in hand with our marriage to the church. Christ is the Bridegroom and we are the Bride ("Let us rejoice and be glad and give him glory! For the wedding of the Lamb has come, and his bride has madder herself ready." Revelation 19:7). The good news is that Christ IS devoted to us. He IS committed to us. He DOES love us. He DOES cherish us...no matter what!

The point?
As Christians (followers of Christ) we should want to love Him in this same way, with this same level of commitment. Not because we have to. Not because our Sunday School teacher from when we were in 1st grade put the ever-loving fear in us if we didn't. Not because our parents made us. But because we cherish His word and we live to love and serve Him. You can't have a fulfilling marriage with your spouse without commitment. Otherwise, it's not a marriage - it's a prostitution. It's the same with the church. What message are we (the bride) sending Christ (the bridegroom) when we say "I'm only going to commit "this" much or only "these" days. How hurtful would that be to hear from your own spouse? 

In closing...
It's not 100% our fault that we don't "get" the whole church thing. I know that when I was baptized at a young age no one explained to me the magnitude of the covenant I was making. I was giving my life to Christ - not just for a season or for a brief period in my life. I was entering into a covenant with my savior to love him and serve him the rest of my life. I haven't fully understood that until the last few years, months, weeks, and even days. I'm thankful to a church that is sending out the truth and helping to mend broken relationships between man and wife, man and church, and man and Christ. 

Disclaimer:

This post was written to you who are believers - who have at some point in your life stood in front of others, was baptized, confessed that He is Lord of your life and promised to commit your life and all in it to Him. I write this to encourage you to find your way back to church. It is full of sinful and crazy people, people who fail daily, who say things they shouldn't, who act like children at times...but people who love the Lord, who forgive easily, who seek to follow Christ, and who are willing to call you family. Churches are full of people (I know, shocker, right?)...but Christ loves the church and calls them together for His purpose. 

To Maddie on Your 4th Birthday...

My sweet Maddie, 


You are four year's old now! Wow! Time has gone by so quickly! Before I start forgetting all the wonderful little details of this precious age I wanted to share them with you in a letter. I hope to do this every year in hopes that you will know what a joy you are in my life! 


There are a few characteristics that most everyone knows about you. For example, your hair is forever in a disarray-no matter how often we brush, braid, or fix it the next time we see you it will be full of tangles, sand, wood chips or food. I love this about you. You are never afraid to have fun and let that hair fall in your face! you don't really wear bows or rubber bands. You're a headband girl and have a ton! 


 You also have a huge affection for kitties! Any size, shape or form-including a little pink dog that you think is a kitty. We don't have a real kitty but you have enough stuffed ones to make up for it. Every chance you get you are "playing kitty" with family and friends. You also love when we sing "Soft Kitty" which is actually from a funny show mommy and daddy watch called The Big Bang Theory. The song goes: "Soft kitty, warm kitty, little ball of fur. Happy kitty, sleepy kitty, pur, pur, pur". You love it! 


 Your bedtime routine hasn't changed much over the years. You rarely sleep under the covers, you don't like anything in the bed with you, you talk in your sleep, and move around in so many positions throughout the night. You don't have a favorite stuffed animal or kitty but you love three blankets: Lovey, Bumpy, and Stripe. If they are lucky you choose to let them stay with you at night. Oh, and you will only sleep in long sleeves and long pants regardless of the season or weather-probably because you're not under the covers. Anything else is unacceptable. 


 Your best time of the day is first thing in the morning. You wake up bright-eyed and crazy-haired, ready for hugs and kisses. Hearing "good morning, mommy" is my favorite part of the day. You still take naps and go to bed around 7:30. You must have your beauty sleep. 


 You will probably be a singer like your daddy because you are always singing and making up songs and most Disney movies make you very happy...especially The Little Mermaid and Tangled. You have a necklace that plays the Ariel song and you say that it makes you happy to hear it. You pressed that necklace button during your entire 4th birthday party! 


 You love to eat ANYTHING...especially broccoli (yes, broccoli). You would eat all day if I let you. You are a very emotional young lady-happy, sad, mad-you never hold back a tear, smile, or silly face. You love your brother very much and you always try to hug and kiss him any chance you get. You also love your daddy very much. He is the one you go to when you don't feel well and he's the one you like to do silly things with before bed. Your latest thing is balling up your little fist and shoving it in his neck. You think it chokes him and tickles him and you think it's hilarious! When you play before bed you get a crazy look in your eyes and we laugh because we really can't guess your next move. Your laugh is so cute and funny because it's almost a low creepy growl, unless you're being tickled-then its a high pitch squeal! Either way, I love those sounds! 


 And of course, you are a mommy's girl to the core! You have always preferred mommy over most (which is fine by me) and I hope that you will always want to hug, kiss, and snuggle as much as you do now. You are such a blessing and I pray over you and for you throughout every day. You're beginning to understand more about Jesus, although I'm pretty sure you think there's a physical miniature Jesus living in your heart. My true joy will come in seeing you one day accept Jesus as your personal Lord and savior. I hope to show you love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control as we grow together. 


 I love you with all my heart! Or, as you so often say: I love you fifty twenty two eight nineteen zero! (wow, that's a lot!) 


 Mommy

Glamping? I don't think so...

So, we leave today for our "couples camping trip" - twelve of us to be exact. Jared and Dorothy are picking us up shortly and have told us that they are carrying ONE bag between the two of them. So, I told Matt last night that we need to try and fit all of our things in one bag, too. Can you imagine how our three hours of packing went?! Between the two of us, I'm pretty sure we went over every "outfit" possibility - tried on every article of clothing - cried a bit when we didn't match - mourned over lost articles of clothing (Matt thinks he is under a curse where his favorite clothes disappear) - unpacked - repacked - unpacked again - reconfigured outfits - and eventually shoved everything into ONE very large bag. We may have no underwear when we get there but, by golly, we are packed!

Our first stop is Moonshine Creek in NC where I'm told we will be sleeping in a cabin with a mattress. I've packed a set of flannel sheets and will be sleeping in cuddly penguin and hearts for the next two nights (sorry, Matt). I asked Matt if I should prepare activities for us and the Winter's - cards or fun question games or something - he said no. Sonny Holmes will understand me on this one because we both share the strength of "woo" - which basically means we want a party around us all the time and want to make sure everyone within 20 feet of us is happy and comfortable and having a great time! I'm told we'll be sitting by a camp fire or exploring places nearby. At least there is a restroom at this facility and showers.

On Friday morning we are scheduled to go on a canopy zip line tour at Navitat in Asheville. I have had one other experience with a zip line at Look Up Lodge - it didn't go very well. I never made it off the platform. Twenty minutes after I was hooked up and after leaving everyone around me agitated, I was allowed to climb down. I was told that I am doing this - no matter what. So, I've pretty much dismissed the idea until this morning. God may be sick of hearing from me at this point because I've been praying pretty hard - not really for safety or for the poor souls who have to listen to me whine and pout and cry and try and talk them out of hooking me to the cables...but for courage so that I will enjoy myself and open my eyes while I'm gliding past the amazing scenery. If I can do this, this will be a big break through for me!

Saturday we begin a FIVE MILE hike up Mt. LaConte - I have a "big girl" pack with a "bladder" (that still cracks me up) so I will have everything a good hiking girl needs - water, clothes, rain gear, my little hot pink forehead light, campers toilet paper, bug spray, first aid stuff, and even the pink rice krispie treats I made for the occasion. I didn't listen to Jared who said I should have began prepping my body for this trip weeks ago. He wrote out an exercise plan but I didn't follow it. I better start practicing my fake "I'm ok" face now because I'm sure my pride will be too huge on Sunday to admit I can't move! There's no shower at the top of the mountain - not even a bathroom really - just an out house (or "long drop" as Matt calls it - ew)...

I can't wait to see my babies and have had a hard last few days - especially after Sammy has reminded me of every possible fatality I may encounter! I'm very excited about this trip and am thankful for the opportunity to spend time with my husband and friends (thanks Carlile's and Luttrell's!). Please pray for our journey these next few days. You know I'll have 800 pictures posted within an hour of our return on Sunday! Ha! Wish us well - Happy Glamping!

Desperate Housewives?

Just needs an 11x14 frame

So, my friend Dorothy and I are always planning: grocery lists, meal plans, cleaning schedules, financial goals, birthday party themes...If you can plan it, we're on it!

One of the charts I found at Dorothy's house was her cleaning schedule (I'm sure you've seen versions of them on Pinterest). While some of you are already rolling your eyes at this idea, stop and think about it. If you're like me, you're either CONSTANTLY cleaning or CONSTANTLY overwhelmed with the feeling you've been defeated YET AGAIN by your messy house. So, I decided to follow Dorothy on this one and made myself a chore chart.

I made it to measure an 11x14 frame (that hopefully I can find at Goodwill or something - love a good deal!). I used regular scrapbook materials and made it to match my kitchen where I'll probably hang it. I made Tuesdays and Thursdays my "off" days since I work 9-10 hour days on them.
And, of course, Sunday we rest! Enjoy!