Oh Baby!

I'm getting so so excited because my little newphew Liam will be here in a matter of weeks! I can't WAIT to meet the little guy and just see how God raises him to be a mighty man of God! (that is my prayer for him!) Matt and Katie are going to be the sweetest parents! I'm so excited for them!  Last weekend we threw a shower for them and here are some of the homemades I made:

 

Life Changes!

Oh my...it's been way too long since I last blogged.  My life has currently been full of change and busyness, but I think it's finally slowing down!  This past week, Jake and I went down to Daytona Beach, FL with our high school ministry students and leaders and attended Big Stuf Camp - a week full of late night girl talks, fun afternoons on the beach, hearing guys like Donald Miller and Andy Stanley talk about God and relationships, and awesome worship led by Kristian Stanfill.  It was incredible to get to baptize my students Megan Dionne and Sam Hendrick - I was so blessed to get to lead them into more of their relationship with God through this public stand!  I'm constantly blown away by these students and their desire for more of Jesus!

Last year on the ride home from Big Stuf, my mind was filled with challenges from Francis Chan, one of the speakers at camp, as he challenged us to really give it all up for the gospel.  Little did I know that God would use his words and that bus ride home for a radical change in mine and Jake's life.  As we rode home, our friend Kevin challenged us to pray about going to India in October.  Jake and I had always wanted to go out of the country for missions together, because neither of us had done it before.  I thought to myself, "there is NO way I could 1) get off of school for 10 days during the school year and 2) raise that much money!"  I'm sure God was laughing as He had a huge adventure ahead of us.  As we got home and I got back into school, I went to see my principal who said he could "make it work" and granted me permission to be off for 10 days! Jake and I were blown away at just how fast family members, church friends, and college buddies sent in money to support us financially to go on that trip.  It was on the ride home from India in October that I felt a strong voice telling me that the reason I've been a little restless in my teaching job was because He had created me and called me into full-time ministry!  Wow! I continued to teach of course, but had a calm and peace about my teaching job knowing that since God called me, He would provide a means for that type of full time ministry. 

Spring Break 2011 rolls around, and I'm still unsure about what to do once the school year ended.  I knew I loved my school (Sanderson) that I taught at, but just didn't see myself going back for the next school year.  Leaving Sanderson, however, wasn't the decision that "made sense" in everyone's eyes...it also meant leaving behind a steady pay check and financial and "American Dream" stability.  Our friend Kevin then told Jake and I that he was leaving his job to pursue the ministry called Global Hope India - and asked us if we wanted to be apart of what God was calling him to!  Global Hope India will be helping provide sponsorship of pastors, villages, and orphanages as well as planning trips to India to spread the gospel. I jumped at the opportunity to join in connecting America's resources to India's poverty.  There was a big need for an event planner - someone to coordinate fundraising events and church events and future trips.  After much prayer and debate and bittersweet emotions of leaving my students at Sanderson, Jake and I felt complete peace about me making this transition.  I resigned from Sanderson on the last week of school and was overwhelmed by so many fellow staff members who said things like "wow, we can totally see you doing this!"  Two weeks after school was over, we traveled to India with 21 of our high school students from Hope - God continued to confirm that He is calling me to full time ministry focused on bringing the gospel to ALL of India!  Throughout this whole transition, God provided Jake another job - his dream job as a surgery P.A. in the Raleigh hospitals!  It is crazy to look back and see how through our constant prayers and patience, God has literally dropped these opportunities in our life!

Katie, Me, Allison - my "travel trio"

Two of my favorite students at The Jesus Way International School

Love these girls! Maleshweni and Krishnavini

I'm so stoked by what God is doing in our life recently - and definitely humbled and at peace!  I'm honored to be working for my fellow brothers and sisters in India!  Although stepping out has been full of risk, a tighter budget, and even questions from family members and friends, I know without a doubt that this is the door God has led us to for this season of our life and marriage. 

Be encouraged that God has a HUGE purpose and plan for whatever season of life you are in currently.  Remember that He is building in you the person He has created you to be, through whatever situation you are in.  I'm so glad He always has plans for a HOPE and FUTURE for His children!

New York, New York!

New York was quite a good time! What a neat, fast-paced place!  We drove through the night Wednesday night and arrived in the city around 8 am on Thursday.  We hit the ground running with tours of Radio City Music Hall and NBC Studios. We later completed Thursday with some shopping and seeing the skyline from Top of the Rock.  Top of the Rock was AMAZING - I think I could stay out there all night just looking at the beautiful lights of the city.   

Beautiful Staircase in the extravagant lobby of Radio City Music Hall!

Inside an old phone booth at Radio City Music hall!

We met a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall!  In this picture: myself, Rockette, and some of my Interior Design interns!

view from Top of the Rock!

Friday was another fast paced day with meeting a Hat designer of The Hat Shop in Soho district.  Soho was a really neat side of town - full of boutiques and neat little markets.  The store front reminded me of Charleston!  Next, we went to Lee Jofa interior design firm and spoke with designers about their job then viewed the beautiful, expensive displays of their fabric and wallpaper designs.  We then went to Mood Fabric store for a bit  and perused the wonderful fabric selections they had! Wow! I could spend money there for sure!  We wrapped up the day with a little more shopping and then had a yummy dinner at B.S. Smith's and headed over to Mary Poppins on Broadway!  Mary Poppins performance blew me away! What neat stage mechanics they had and super talented acting!  It was a neat experience!

This week has been catch up week since New York was so fast paced! I don't know that I could ever live there, but I really enjoyed and appreciated seeing all of the interior design and architecture of the city - definitely the place to be to learn anything about fashion and design!

Spring break is finally here! I hope to kick back and relax in Myrtle Beach and then Wrightsville! Thank God for a break, finally!

Back at It!

What an extremely busy winter it has been! Updates:

• Holly Days was a successful event - it was great to meet new clients and network with other "in-home" businesses.
• Next week, I travel with some of my students to NYC where we'll meet with interior & fashion designers, seeing Mary Poppins on Broadway, shopping in Chinatown, and visiting Mood Fabric Store! I'll post pics soon!
• Jake and I are applying for a 10 year India visa this week in hopes to take more missions trips there!  We just have fallen in love with those people who are so full of poverty and hopelessness.  Jake recently got back from Hyderabad where they shared the gospel, met with pastors, and spent time with those sweet orphans! We'll be traveling in June with a group of 20 highschoolers and 10 adult leaders to Hyderabad to do concert outreaches and neighborhood/backyard bible clubs for the kids!  God is doing huge things in our life through visiting India AND huge things in the lives of people there!
• I'm going to be an aunt!  Katie Taylor, my fabulous sister-in-law, is pregnant!  This news received around Christmas was so fun to hear! She's due in early September - I'm dying to know what sex that sweet little baby is!
• Plans are full in force for my sister's wedding!  My bridesmaid dress is great!

All of this to say - it's been a busy winter! I'm ready and able to tackle some new organization projects and decorating gigs - so please pass on the word to family and friends!  A good portion of my proceeds from any organization or decorating gigs will go straight to sending us to India in June!

Holly Days! This weekend!

Come visit me at the Taylored booth at Sanderson High School's annual

Holly Days

craft/gift vendor fair THIS weekend! 

When? Saturday, 9 - 5 pm, Sunday, 11 - 4

Where? SHS, 5500 Dixon Drive, Raleigh, NC 27609

Great place to finish your Christmas shopping!

 

 

.:Updo:. Taylor Office/Guestroom

Towards the end of this Summer, Jake and I renovated our guest room.  It was always the room of our 2-story, two bedroom townhome that "bothered" me.  I wanted a space that could serve as a practical yet lounge-ish type office but a comfortable and relaxing guest room.  We choose a relaxing, almost sea green and matched it with tans and expresso browns in hopes of it one day being able to easily transition into a gender-neutral nursery.

...before/left wall...

...after/left wall...

...before/right wall...

wall art in this picture: plywood covered with inexpensive placemats!

...after/right wall...

 New Items:

• Hudson Daybed from www.daybeds.com 
• Expedit bookshelf/shelving unit from IKEA 
• Asker White storage cubbies from IKEA 
• Basic Tan bed quilt from Target

Oh India!

Lately I've been MIA trying to get back in the routine of things since our India trip.  Everyday since we've been back it's been work, work, work and our past two weekends were filled with 1) HSM student ministry retreat which was awesome, and 2) seeing our good friends Lindsey and Kasey get hitched! What fun!  This week I'm leading a renovation of the Sanderson High School teacher lounge - we're trimming and painting every second we get this week! (I'll post pictures soon!)

Here are a couple highlights for me from India:

Some of the girls in the orphanage greeted us with fresh Jasmine leis the first night we visited.  Next, we walked through the small cinderblock chapel as girls and boys sat on each side singing praise songs as we entered.

                                    

Delivering the gift bags to the leper colony families was really special.  This young lady's face would light up when I showed her the toys, shampoo, soap, lotion that was in her bag.  I was humbled by their excitement in such "little things."

These were two girls from the village who on our walk down to the river for a baptism, held my arms the entire way.  Their welcome, despite me being a complete stranger who did not share their language, they welcomed me with incredible love and kindness.

 What a wonderful, challenging, life changing trip! If you are interested in reading more about our trip and how we are continuing to be involved in the people's lives in India, please check out www.globalhopeindia.org