Happy Birthday Hubby!

Happy birthday to my sweet husband! I love that the first thing I do in the new year is celebrate my hubby. People say it all the time but you really do love someone more and more with each passing day.  It has been an adjustment living together with learning each others habits, likes, and dislikes, but we work through it.  That's the blessings of marriage: sharpening each other and becoming selfless by thinking and serving that other person before yourself. 

Brett, thank you for dealing with my many many days of ups and downs.  For my craziness and sometimes moodiness. Thank you for making me feel secure in our marriage and for the countless "I love you's."  I hope you have a wonderful birthday.  Looking forward to what this year has for you.  Love you!

Happy Engagement

As you may know, Maggie and Sam (Brett's younger brother) got engaged in the middle of November.  Christmas was the first time both extended families have been in town so Maggie's family hosted an engagement party, an oyster roast.

Oh my goodness, I have never felt so southern in my life.  There were so many foods I have never tried before.  I had collards, chicken bog, rutabagas/turnips, and black eyed peas. Maggie's family is in the restaurant business so I shouldn't have been surprised that all the food was wonderful. Her grandma makes the best cornbread I've ever had, and the homemade apple pie and ice cream was out of this world.  Maggie's grandparents live on the river so they harvested the oysters themselves.  They had pans and pans of them.  There were even some left over, which was amazing given that about 30 people were there.

I really enjoyed meeting her family.  Everyone was so nice and warm.  You really feel like you've known them for years.  I think that's a testament to how wonderful her family is.  They have taken Sam in as one of their own, as we have with Maggie.  We can't wait to have Maggie as part of the family!

Blown and Tossed

As I sit here writing this post, there is a storm rolling through Holden Beach.  It woke me up at 5:30 this morning.  The thunder continues to boom and the wind howls past the bedroom door leading to the deck.  I look outside and the waves are building, crashing, the receding back into the ocean.

I just started doing Beth Moore's James study.  How fitting to be at the beach when I read the following verses:

"If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind." James 1:5-6

One of the things I struggle with the most is doubt/worry.  I doubt God always has my best interests in mind.  I doubt he is good all the time.  I doubt he will answer prayers (even though I know in my head that "No" is an answer).  It's a constant battle to remind myself that God is good and wants to bless until my cup overflows.

Looking out the window to see these waves made the verses above hit home.  I don't want to be blown and tossed by the wind.  I know what it feels like to be so unstable, and it's exhausting.  James 1:5 says all I have to do is ask God for wisdom, and it will be given.  He won't laugh at what I ask for, nor will He scorn me for it.  He will give it generously.  However, there's a catch.  I must believe that He will give me wisdom.  There can be no hint of doubt.

Oh God, give me faith to believe.

Merry Christmas Y'all

Today is the day we celebrate one of the biggest events that altered our history.  Our Savior, Jesus Christ was born, the perfect gift.  Such a sacrifice to come from heaven to a lowly beginning, born in a stable.  The infinite in finite form.  The beginning of our reconciliation with God.

Let's not forget that even though we are celebrating Jesus' birth, we look to the Cross as the cornerstone of our faith.  Thank you God for your precious gift to us, Your one and only Son.

Merry Christmas to all,
The Hickmans

The Sellers Wedding

This past weekend I traveled with Brett to Ocean Isle to participate in Drew and Meghan's wedding.  Drew is a childhood friend, one of the four other guys Brett grew up with.  We were able to take off Thursday night so we could get there for the rehearsal on Friday.

Meghan and Drew got married at the beautiful St. Thomas Preservation Hall in historic Wilmington, originally built in 1846 and located within blocks of the river. After the rehearsal, we walked down to the River Room for the rehearsal dinner.  Meghan and Drew's favorite meal is pizza and pasta so Susie and Donald (Drew's parents) had that catered.

After we ate, the bride and groom wanted to have an open mic for people to tell stories.  I really enjoyed this part of the evening.  You see, Brett grew up with a very close knit group of friends: Drew, Jordan, Stuart, Peanut (Chris), and him.  When you saw one of them, you typically saw the other four.  I never got to experience this because we moved around so much.  Brett always talked about their friendship, but I never really understood until I watched Jordan, Stuart, Peanut, and Brett get up at the mic and talk about Drew.  Each brought something different to their group.  Even when they don't see each other, they know without a doubt that if something happens, they have each others back.  I love that.  Made me somewhat teary watching them interact with each other.

Meghan and her 11 bridesmaids

Brett telling stories about Drew

Saturday, Brett had to get to the church early to take pictures with the rest of the bridal party.  I rode with Yogi and Gail. We got to the ceremony early so we could get a seat close to the front.  Laura, Maggie, and I were talking so much that Sam ended up switching with Laura so we could all sit together (sorry for taking Maggie away from you Sam).

Meghan and Drew's ceremony was beautiful.  They really wanted to showcase God's love in their wedding and make it a worship experience.  They and their guests sang a worship song.  They also washed each others feet as a symbol of serving each other, just like Jesus did to the disciples.  That got me a little choked up, especially being married myself now.

You could really tell how excited Meghan was to get married.  Don't get me wrong, all brides are excited to marry her love.  Meghan jumped up and down with the biggest smile on her face after the reverend pronounced them husband and wife. It was so cute.

My sisters

My only picture from the wedding. Love Drew's smile here.

After the ceremony, the staff at the hall had to flip the upstairs for the reception.  We stood outside and ate some munchies.  During the reception, as soon as the music started, Brett hit the dance floor.  He, Sam, ad the rest of their friends danced until they were drenched with sweat.  It was quite entertaining to watch.

The love of my life

Peanut, Drew, Jordan, Brett, and Stuart

Yes they actually pretended like they were using a jump rope, even double dutch at times.

The groomsmen dance

Meghan and Drew, thank you for including us in your wedding festivities. Christ's love is so apparent in you and in your relationship.  I have no doubt that your marriage will be used for His kingdom.  Congratulations Mr. and Mrs. Sellers!

Happy Birthday Maggie!

Today is my future sister-in-love Maggie's birthday!  I am beyond excited to officially have Maggie as my sister on December 28, 2013.  From the beginning I knew we would be fast friends.  It took a while longer than I thought to start to get to know her since the Hickman men sort of dominate conversation... they're talkers ;)   We love them. 

Maggie has a very gentle spirit, is extremely patient, and very tolerant of Sam's sometimes embarrassing comments.  I will never forget the night when I really got to hear her thoughts and get to know her.  We stayed up until almost 1 a.m. talking.  That's when I realized how similar our backgrounds are: raised in the church, didn't go through that big of a rebellion period, pretty sheltered lives, and we both have very tight knit families.  Because of that, I think I understand her.  Like with Laura, my other sister-in-love, we can speak to each other with our eyes.  It's such a wonderful thing to have given that I don't have a biological sister.

With each day, I have come to realize how blessed I am by having Maggie in my life.  I am really, REALLY, enjoying looking for decorations for Maggie's wedding and giving her advice... I may have gone slightly overboard by creating a Pinterest board the day I found out she and Sam were engaged.  She is the little sister I didn't have.  I love her to pieces and would do anything for her.

Maggie, I look forward to sharing many more birthdays with you.  We have a lifetime of them.  Have a wonderful day!! I love you!!

Isn't she beautiful?!

This was the first time I met Maggie.

At Sam's graduation

The Hickman kids

A Few of My Favorite...

Ornaments!  The Sunday before Thanksgiving, Brett and I put up our Christmas decorations.  I love putting up Christmas, especially the tree.  I typically put it up fairly slow because I take my time taking each ornament out of their boxes.  Each ornament has a significant meaning to me, and I love thinking back on the reason why I have the ornament.

Click here to see a few of the ornaments I posted last Christmas.  Here are some ornaments that caught my eye this year.

This is a new ornament that Gail and Yogi bought us when we went to the Biltmore.  I absolutely love the detail and the slight shimmer.  It's almost like you can see the magic that the Biltmore has at Christmas.

This is the ornament I gave Megan, Jessica, and Michelle (my three best friends) a couple of years ago.  They really are the sisters I never had.

Mom and Dad bought Brett and me this ornament last year when we went to visit Chris in Montana.  You can't really see it but one is a doe and the other is a buck.  It's special since this is our first Christmas as husband and wife.

I bought this Coca-Cola ornament in Atlanta when the Fantastic 4 (Megan, Jess, Michelle, and I) went to Jeremy and Mandy's wedding.  I can't believe it's already been almost 2.5 years!

Our wedding photographer Lauren Mann is simply wonderful.  She surprised us this week with a wedding ornament.  I have been looking for an "Our first Christmas" ornament but this one is just as good.  If you're looking for a wedding photographer in the Raleigh area, I strongly recommend you checking her out.

What are some of your favorite parts about putting up the Christmas decorations?