Well, I'm sitting in the Richmond airport and my flight is delayed two hours.  So, why not update my blog?

1. I have the worst luck flying... especially when my destination or connecting flight is to/through Atlanta, Georgia.
2. It's pretty stinkin annoying that I can look at the Delta gate right across from me and hear that their flights to Atlanta are leaving.  C'mon AirTran, get it together!
3. Mark and I planned it so that he would get back from Costa Rica this afternoon, and then pick me up tonight.  Yeah, his flight ended up being tomorrow, so "our problem" has now become his parents' problem.  :(  I'm gonna be so nice to them when I see them after midnight tonight.  Ridiculous!

Anyway, things in Atlanta are going alright.  I go through days where I'm incredibly homesick.  Homesick for my family and my friends, and for a church that I love.  Things with Mark are great, but finding community hasn't been easy.  I feel like my identity is wrapped up in the fact that I'm Mark's Girlfriend, and that very few people really know me yet.  Its been hard, really hard... but I wouldn't want to be dating him long distance, so it's worth it.  I'm thankful for him and his family, for sure.

I started a new job at a church about 15-20 minutes from my house.  I'm working in their office, and doing some communications stuff.  So far it's been good.  My schedule is great.  I have health insurance, so my parents can sleep at night.  I get Fridays off, and so does Mark, so I get to spend lots of time with him.  I'm also not required to go to church there, so I can continue going to church with Mark.  It's a huge blessing.  I'll be happy once I figure out all thats expected of me, and considered part of my job, so that I can sort of gain some independence there.  Everyone has been incredibly nice and gracious with me during this transition.  I'm thankful the Lord gave me this opportunity and opened this door.

This past week, I flew home to Virginia.  I haven't been home for Father's Day since 2004 because of camp, and so I was super excited for that, and to spend time with my family.  My nieces are so stinkin cute.  I also got to spend time with my pretend niece and nephews and their parents, which I loved.  Stacy and our friend Meghan and her sister Shannon went to see New Kids on the Block, with Boyz II Men and 98* at the Verizon Center.  That was such a fun show!  I wont go into great detail, but I would have been super embarrassed for anyone else to have seen me carry on like that.  Everyone in that arena reverted to their 12 year old self, and it was wonderful!

Life is good.  At church on Sunday, everyone who Facebook stalks me kept saying they were so happy to see me looking so happy.
I liked that... because I am happy.  Really happy.  I've never been happier and I'm glad that that can be seen in the things I post on my facebook, and when people interact with me after not seeing me for awhile.  I am the luckiest girl on the planet, and so thankful for the ways the Lord has changed my life and blessed me in this past year.

 We got a year parking pass to Stone Mountain, and so we've climbed it a few times over the last few weeks.  I fell down on the way down the first time and gushed blood everywhere, but hey, it made me look super wimpy tough

.

 We went to the Braves game with our home group.

Despite the super sun in our eyes for a portion of the game, I got to see Dan Uggla and so that was lovely, and so was spending time with our friends. 

 We've been to a few weddings, including his brothers.

These two pictures are some his paparazzi sister took of us.

Check her out here!

 Mark brought his kayak over to the pond/lake behind my house.

He saw some snakes as we were getting out of the water, so of course, this girl hasn't been down there again since!

 Ariana and Zoe!

 Ari on Father's Day

My parents had a pool set up with the water already warmed up by the sun for their grandbabies.

 Zoe was straight chillin in her bumbo in the pool

We are fully aware that putting bumbos in water is the kind of thing that gets them recalled...

However she always had a grownup's hand on her, and 8 others watching.  

New Kids on the Block in all their glory!

We had great seats.  Had we been any closer, I'm pretty sure Stacy would have jumped up on stage and kidnapped Donnie Wahlberg...  and I probably would have helped. 

This weekend was so much fun!  It was probably my favorite one since moving down here to the good ole state of Georgia!

I waited a long time to have a sweet valentine on Valentine's Day, and so you know I took advantage of that back in February.  haha.  Just kidding (sort of)!  Right around that lovely day for love, Needtobreathe tickets went on sale at the Fox.  I LOVE Needtobreathe, so I made sure to inform Mark about the concert... about a hundred times.

Well, that kid didn't disappoint! On Friday, we started the day off heading downtown, to meet up with one of my housemates from Liberty.  She was in town to see her sister, whom I also went to college with.  It was so great to spend some time catching up with Liz.  I feel bad dragging Mark along to my girly coffee dates, but he's great and never complains, and he really likes good coffee, so it wasn't a total loss.  It was a great way to spend our Friday afternoon.

Then we went to a fun restaurant for dinner, and then made our way over to the Fox theater.  Oh man, that place is beautiful!  I was so stinkin excited to be there!  Drew Holcomb and the Neighbors opened for NTB, and even though I hadn't ever heard of them, I really enjoyed them.  In the intermission between acts, we went out in the lobby and met up with one our friends in the corner.  It was packed out, full of people waiting to get merch from Drew Holcomb, and so I was content to hide out in the corner, by the curtain separating us from the auditorium.  Well, a couple minutes into our conversation, Drew Holcomb himself, pushed aside the curtain and stood right by us.  First, it took me a hot second to realize who he was (hello, I was in hipster, weird dressed people kingdom), then I was happy that Mark and our friend who like Drew Holcomb, got to see him, and our friend Cat got to get her CD signed.  Then, I looked up and saw all of those people who had previously been in line for merch were now descending upon us.  Um, no thank you.  Mark and I peaced outta there quick.  I wish we had gotten a picture, I really liked their music, but not enough to get trampled.

Needtobreathe was so good.  My face hurt from smiling so much throughout the whole show.  They are so stinkin talented.  They did most of my favorites, and then they had Drew Holcomb and his band come out and they sang "Stand By Me"... Oh man, it was AWESOME!  Youtube that junk.  It was so good!

It was such a good day!

Then Saturday we drove down to Macon where Mark was the BCM intern for two years at Mercer.  Switchfoot was playing that night at a music festival, and Mark wanted to go and see them, and some of his former students.  It was a BEAUTIFUL day.  It was fun to meet people Mark had done ministry with, and Switchfoot was super good.  Unfortunately, we had to endure some pretty awful music beforehand, but hey, we survived it (just barely).

Fun weekend for sure... and I paid the price (well, Mark paid the price) yesterday, when I woke up tired and grumpy.  I was so glad to be in my bed asleep by 9pm last night! I love weekends like that!

I'm home in Virginia for a few days.  I came here to meet my new niece, Zoe for the first time, and to spend time with my family.  Let it be known that when I say, "my family" that that will always include my favorite pretend family the Griffitts/Marshall crew.  I typically spend just as much (if not more) time with them as I do my actual family whenever I'm home.  Love them all!

Stacy and Baby Jackson (who isn't such a small little baby anymore!) met me at the airport on Thursday, and I was so stinkin happy to see them.  I mean, to see Stacy standing there healthy and happy, holding the happiest, most adorable little guy I know... my heart almost exploded.  I love those two, and it was the best way to start my trip!

My older sister, her husband Chad, and baby Zoe came into town Friday, and so did my aunt and uncle from Ohio, and then my mom went up and got my other niece Ariana so she could spend the night with us too.  Friday was full of family... and crying (thanks to Ariana's first tooth arriving on the scene).  I ended it spending time with Ben, Becca, Noah and Chloe.  It was a perfect day.

Over all, my trip has been wonderful.  Weather permitting I'll be heading back to Atlanta tomorrow evening, with a full heart.  I love Mark and I absolutely would not want to be up here while he's down in Georgia, but a girl gets homesick for her family, and I am so grateful I got to come home for a quick trip.

On Sunday, Todd preached on God's perfect timing and I know the Lord had a special message for me as I head back to the real world.  God has perfect timing for my job situation, for my relationship with the Markster, and for a few other situations going on in my life.  I'm trying hard to be patient, and to remain faithful and confident that He is for me.

I read this passage the other day, and then a friend of mine reposted someone's blog, and its spoken to me as well...

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer; from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy. Let me dwell in your tent forever! Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings! (Psalms 61:1-4)

Lead to me the Rock that is higher than I....

2012 Recap

I started out 2012 full of uncertainty, after having just left my job at the church in Chattanooga.  I had no idea what the next few months would hold, but was certain that the Lord had a plan.  Did I worry? Yes. BUT in the midst of it all, I knew He was in control. 2012 was a year of some tough low moments, and extreme highs... thankfully the high moments far outweighed the lows and made this year one of the best ever!

Here are the highlights:

*I started off my year at Passion where I got to see Hillsong United, John Piper(!), and all the other Passion regulars.  I got to spend time with some friends from both Chattanooga and home, and had a great time worshipping with other believers.  I'm sad to miss it this year!

*January and February were rough in my personal life... real rough.  In February, after a couple weeks of crazy insomnia and sad days, I hopped in my Honda and headed home for a little bit.  It was such a comfort to know that I could always go home to my family (and my second family) when things are hard.  It was exactly what I needed to come back to Chattanooga refreshed.

*I saw Gavin Degraw in concert again with my friend Rebecca!

*I went to Florida with two of my favorites to be a bridesmaid in Leslie's beautiful wedding!

Erin and MeLissa and me

*I also stood up with my friend Addie as a bridesmaid, as she married one of the SMB band boys.  It was a great moment to stand up there and see Addie and Drew committing their lives to one another, but also to look across the stage and in the audience to see all the people in Chattanooga that had made it feel like home.

Some of my Chattanooga family, minus the bride and groom

*I moved back to Virginia, uncertain where I would be in August after the summer ended.  One thing that I was certain of: I had made an incredible family and some wonderful memories in Chattanooga, and regardless of whether or not I'd be back in the fall, I knew I would forever be grateful for that chapter in my life and the friends I have there.

My going away party with my Chattanooga Family

I felt such mixed emotions this night.

Thankful, sad to leave, excited yet worried about the unknown

*In May, my older sister got married in a beautiful ceremony, to a wonderful guy!

* I found out someone that I love a whole stinkin lot would be facing a pretty big medical situation, and my heart broke.  Her strength amazed (and continues to amaze) me.

*I worked my 7th summer of Fuge.  The summer was tough, but we had a great staff and the Lord's faithfulness was incredible, and humbling.

*I saw some bears. One got super close, but I was not about taking pictures in that moment.  I screamed like a crazy person.  He was just as surprised to see me!  Poor guy!

*I slid down a waterfall.

*I broke my tailbone (please see previous bullet point)

Why yes, that IS an ice pack

Thankfully I had a few days where we didn't have camp.

I spend the majority of it in bed icing my butt and texting a cute boy who had left camp the week before

*I got a new nephew AND niece just a few days apart!  I was SO SAD to be away at camp, and I couldn't wait to go home the following week and hold those babies!!

Me meeting my niece Ariana for the first time

Baby Jackson my pretend nephew

Love this kid and the joy he's got in him, that he freely shares with all of us who love him!

*I met a boy at camp.  I tried really hard not to, but eventually, I liked that boy... and then once I got home from camp, I decided I loved him... and HOLLA he loves me too!

*I stood up next to my college roommate as one of her bridesmaids (Do you see a trend here?!)

My other roommate and wonderful friend from CNU, Leigh Anne and me, after Erin's traditional Christian ceremony

*My best friend Mary, who has been a friend since I was 15, married the love of her life.  I had the honor of standing up beside her as her maid of honor.  The speech I gave at her reception, once I started working on it, was the easiest thing I've ever had to write.  She's an amazing friend, and I couldn't say enough about what she means to me!

Jack's Chix Reunion

My best friends from High School

Stacy, who has been my best friend since the 5th grade (and who told me that day she was PREGNANT!), Mary the beautiful bride, and Kacie, who I am SO EXCITED lives so close here in Atlanta!

We hadn't been all together since our high school graduation in 2001!

*I moved to Atlanta for a boy.

*I picked an orange off an orange tree for the first time... this was also in Florida where I spent Thanksgiving with Mark and his family.

THE YEAR OF THE BRIDESMAID DUTIES:

April (I think?!)

Addie and me, my roommate from Chattanooga.

She met my pal Drew when she came to Fuge in 2010 as a chaperone

So blessed to be a part of this wedding, and for a friend like her!

May

Leslie, my Fuge roommate from 2007

WONDERFUL, HILARIOUS friend

She keeps it real, and we laugh a lot!

May

My beautiful older sister

August

Mary had a beautiful ceremony in San Francisco.  

It was an honor to stand as her maid of honor. 

She was a beautiful bride!

October

My college roommate, Erin. 

I met Erin my first day at Christopher Newport, and I am so thankful for her friendship!

She had two ceremonies, a Hindu ceremony, and a tradition Christian wedding.

Her traditional Christian ceremony wins for my favorite bridesmaid dress!

PURPLE!

In all, 2012 was a great year, but I am so excited about 2013.  I can't wait to see what the next few months hold for me in the job search, and in my relationship with the Markster and my life in Georgia.  I can't wait to meet my niece that's due in January, and to see all the other exciting moments that are to come!

Bring it on 2013

I'm ready and excited for ya!

mush.

What a crazy last two months this has been.  Good crazy, though... the best actually.

Last week I packed up some of my clothes in my faithful red honda, and headed for Atlanta.  This time, it was to start phase 1 of moving here.  On Monday, I started a new part time job at the church Mark's mom works for, that will help give me some income while I look for a full-time job and a place to live.  It's much easier to job search while I'm here, rather than at home far away from where I'm looking.  Plus it's great to be close to Mark, and to continue getting to know his family.  I'm going home in a few weeks to get the rest of my stuff there, and hopefully I'll have a job by then too!  Hello health insurance, I need you.

I can't believe I moved to Atlanta for a boy.  I can't believe I moved here for a boy I've only been dating two months... but I also can't believe what a peace and excitement I have about it all.  I've never been happier, and I'm so excited about Mark and our future together.  He's just great.  He's perfect for me, and it just didn't make sense being in Virginia while he's here.  It didn't make sense to look for jobs at home, when I wanted to be close to him.  So here I am... sitting in Starbucks, while he works (here at Starbucks).  I'm here because, well, he's my only friend (well, him and his sweet mom) in this town, and because I think he's cute in his green Starbucks apron.

Last weekend we went to not one, but TWO weddings in TWO DIFFERENT STATES!  I drove down Thursday, and then Friday night we left to head to Ridgecrest, NC (where we worked this summer) for two of our friends' wedding.  Matt was our director this summer, and Matt and Lee Anne met and worked with Mark the summer before at Ridgecrest.  Fuge weddings are super fun.  It's the greatest family reunion.  I didn't know many people on his team from the summer before, but it was so great to see friends from our team this past summer.  We did A LOT of driving, but it was through the beautiful mountains, and I was with my boo, so I didn't mind at all.

After the Fuge reunion, we drove from NC to Chattanooga to celebrate Jon and Mandi.  It was wonderful to see the Chattanooga crew, and introduce them to Mark.  The wedding was beautiful.  I was exhausted by the time we got back to Mark's parents' that night, but it was such a happy weekend.

Life is good. I miss my family (especially my cute niece Ariana!), and my second family back home, but lets be honest, we all knew I probably wouldn't be in Stafford for too long. Excited for a new chapter!


Here are some highlights from the last few weeks:

 Erin and me before her wedding ceremonies.

Erin was my college roommate

Round 1: Traditional Hindu Ceremony

 Round 2: Traditional Christian Ceremony

Leigh Anne, Erin, and me

My two college roommates, and wonderful friends

I mean, is this kid serious?!

Noah at one of his games. He is serious about baseball, and super cute too!

Stayed with Stacy and B's girls while she was having surgery, 

and this is the kind of craziness I endured all week! 

BUT when Stacy got home, I got plenty of snuggle time with this little man.

Jackson is the cutest!!

Hanging out at the outlook with the girls before Matt's wedding!

 Some of the 2012 Ridgecrest team!

 In Chattanooga for Mandi's wedding!

 Yay for my Chattanooga family!

Sure do love this kid!

As the story of my life seems to go, it's another season of change and job searching. The last few weeks at home have been great, but I'm ready to find a job and figure out life for this next chapter. I've been looking for a job in Atlanta, and applying to all kinds of non-profits. I'm really praying that in this terrible job market, somehow, my sweet little resume will stand out amongst all the others in these jobs I've applied for. Pray for me!

A few weeks ago I took a trip to Atlanta/Chattanooga. It was great to see Allison and Mary, and to see Mark and meet his family. I was really sad to leave Atlanta at the end of the week. The one consolation was that I was leaving Atlanta to stop by Chattanooga for a couple days to see my friends there. I had such a great time with my people. I miss them, a lot!

Me and Rebecca!

Rebecca, me, Olivia, and Addie

Miss these girls so much!

Last weekend Mark flew up here to meet the parents (oh yes!) and to hangout for a long weekend, and it was so much fun. My weekend planning skills weren't as stellar as his were when I was in Atlanta a few weeks ago, but we had fun. One day we met up with Mary and Ryan and spent the afternoon in DC. Uh, it was H-O-T. HOT. HOT. HOT. I was exhausted after about 3 hours of walking around! I took him to church, and he met my pretend family (the Griffitts/Marshall Clan) and we had a lot of fun hanging out. He's so great. I can't wait until we live closer!

Mark's first visit to the Capitol!

This picture does not do the sweatiness that's happening here any justice.

IT WAS HOT!

The museum of modern art was quite an interesting experience but hey,

they had AC and that's all I cared about!

Hanging out with my man on my front porch.

Aren't we the cutest!?

This weekend I'm heading to Williamsburg to celebrate the wedding of one of my college roommates. It's my last weekend of bridesmaid duties for awhile, and I'm sure it's going to be a lot of fun! Erin's fiance is Indian, so the wedding is going to have a lot of Indian culture, which I'm excited to be a part of too.

Maybe, if I'm lucky, I'll be heading to Atlanta next week for job interviews!

Oh man, life has been crazy, and I have become terrible at updating my blog.  Forgive me, the two or three of you who might still read this thing.  I know you've been waiting on the edge of your seat for a life update from Molly.

I had a great (sometimes exhausting and tough) summer at Ridgecrest working Fuge.  I saw the Lord move in mighty ways, lives were changed, and He was worshipped.  Camp was exhausting and being on leadership at Fuge's largest location was occasionally really overwhelming, but it forced to me to turn to the Lord and really place my trust in Him to get me through.  By week 2, we were all so tired because of the new schedule Fuge had us working (for a lot of different reasons), that really, if anything good happened, we knew it was because God had moved despite our inadequacies.  I really have never had to rely on Him more than I did this summer, and yes, while it was hard, I'm grateful to have had a summer of such dependency on God to get me through.  I learned a lot, and I feel like my faith is stronger because of my two months in North Carolina.  It was a good summer.

I made a lot of great friends this summer, laughed a lot, saw some bears, climbed a mountain (which I might add was a lot easier at 29 than it was for me as a chubby 17 year old camper) a bunch of times, and got to wear hoodies in July while the rest of America sweat their booties off.  While I didn't expect to even be working another summer of camp, I'm so glad the Lord allowed me another opportunity.

 This is what 1000+ people gathering together after Mega Relay looks like!

 Katelin and me always brought the sass to Mega!

 Duckface!

 Indoor Registration Crew!

 Alex and Steve came to special team with Lucas and me our last week of camp!

It was so great to have my brothers there.  Felt like home!

 Morning Glory Crew

We'd go to breakfast early every registration day before camp started

Rachel, Mark, Matt, and me

 Were we not the most beautiful staff?!

 Ridgecrest Fuge Staff 2012

Oh yeah...

I also met an amazing guy at camp this summer.  He was a great friend to me during the summer but the Lord had something even better in mind for us after camp ended.  So, Mark is now my boo.  He lives in Atlanta, but we're making it work.  He's wonderful, and so great to me, and I've never been happier.  Definitely a huge blessing and gift from the Lord.  I'm excited to see what the future holds for us.  

He's great.