1 thessalonians 5:18

Happy Sunday, y'all! I love Sundays.

I was up to some fall crafting around our house this morning. One of the things I made was this little printable. You can put it in a square picture frame, post it on a bulletin board, save it, pin it, or (the best yet!) commit it to memory. 

I am definitely trying to arm myself with more Scripture knowledge...the kind that involves knowing where it's written the Bible. I'd say I am a-okay with knowing verses in a very general sense, but when it comes to consistently remembering which book/chapter/verse number(s)?! Not so much. I am working on it!! 

Rhonna Designs // Rhonna Designs app

Join me in committing 1 Thessalonians 5:18 to memory! And have a happy, restful, rejuvenating Sunday. :)

what's in a name

I'm into names. What they mean, where they come from....all that good stuff. I mean, my future kids' names are already picked out. Middle names included. Yup, I'm owning it.

Naturally, I gave special thought to the name of this blog, and I figured it would be appropriate to explain how "cheers y'all" got its name. Some decor details from our wedding day say it best. They were made personally and perfectly by the oh-so-lovely Becca from Rebecca Rose Events (Thanks, Becca!!!).
 

Image by Elizabeth Scott Photography

"Cheers" in the title our blog isn't meant to be interpreted merely as the afterthought of a post-toast-drink-clink. With my English hubby's influence, it's also meant to be an expression of gratitude. A way of saying thank you. 

I added "y'all" to put the "down home" feel on it. I'm a Southerner born and raised. "Y'all" has always been a part of my vernacular. Even Mark has been caught saying it on many occasions...even though he can't take himself seriously when he does (and neither can anyone else). :)

Photo by Elizabeth Scott Photography

 I loved this glowy candlelight setup at our wedding!!!

 Can you spot the dusty miller too? Also obsessed with that greenery. It's my favorite.

Photo by Elizabeth Scott Photography

 Koozies for clinking the beer bottles in a toast AND as a "thank you for coming!" 

So...thanks for coming to the blog. Cheers! Forever expressing my gratitude and toasting to everyday life.

5 on Friday: Wilmington Edition

My first 5 on Friday link-up....and I'm pumped about this! Cheers to the lovely lady creators of this fun idea (hiii Darci, April, Christina, and Natasha!)!!

Since we are new residents of Wilmington, NC, I figured I should make my first 5 on Friday about our new beach life. Here are my 5 most favorite things about our move so far!

  
BEACH PROXIMITY

Did I mention that we live at the beach now? ;) Still can't get over it. Pinch me. This is where we went last weekend...
 

Can you guess what we're doing this weekend too? Eee!

 HUBBY TIME

Cheeeeeeeesssseeee. I know. But really. We had a (BIG) summer together. It was filled with lots of travel and both of us having some down time together before beginning new jobs with our relocation. To me our summer of travel + moving to a new place where we don't really know anyone/have a lot of friends (...yet!)  just means that I get some extra qt with my honey. I couldn't be more thankful for it. Last year with me teaching kindergarten and Mark coaching soccer, we had completely opposite schedules...since the only time kids can play soccer is when they're, of course, out of school.

All that to say, I've been soaking up every minute I've gotten with this handsome hubby of mine!

:)

ROOTS

Mark did a really great job living life in Charlotte, NC, with me. Our first year of marriage was super fun, but I couldn't help but notice how he so selflessly dropped himself into my hometown, my family, my church, my friends, my favorite restaurants...you get the picture. 

I am so happy that we moved somewhere where we can grow our own roots.  Just our little family! A place we can discover together.  :)

Rhonna Designs // Rhonna Designs app

NESTING

As the daughter of an incredible interior designer, I think my love for all things home is in my blood. I love making our new place reflect my style (because the hubs isn't too into decorating...free reign for me!) and who we are as a family.

These are the pillows I just posted about here! 

COOKING

Let it be known that I used to hate cooking. The fanciest meal I made in our first year of marriage consisted of 2 frozen crab cakes and mushroom risotto, both precisely from the frozen section of Trader Joe's. Heat it up, serve, bam.

I knew that with this change from teacher-to-nanny, I could put a lot more time into being the wife I have always dreamed of being. Knowing my way around the kitchen came along with that dream. I definitely wouldn't proclaim myself as a "good cook" yet (I still have a LOT to try/learn), but I am surprising myself and actually enjoying meal planning and attempting recipes. Truth.

I find myself texting pictures to my sister and girlfriends around dinnertime every night and asking the question, "Who am I?!?!?!"

This week I tried a butternut squash and kale quesadillas recipe. Y-U-M! 

Did you see this pic on my insta? Recipe coming soon!!

Okay...woo!!! I hope I did this right! 5 on Friday FUN!

throw pillows. i love.

My husband doesn't understand my love for throw pillows. Which is fine. I don't want/expect him to.

We moved to Wilmington just over a month ago, and with a new job (this kindergarten teacher turned into a nanny!), I have much more time and energy to pour into our little family and our home. Thank you, Lord!! 

With that said...throw pillows. Adding those around our home is a legit part of nesting, right?! 

I found society6 through Pinterest not too long ago. After browsing through the pillows and making a wish list that was way too long, I settled on these three designs for three different rooms in our home.

For our bedroom:

http://society6.com/AldariArtStudio/Beige-Tan-Damask-Pattern_Pillown

For our den (because leopard print is forever my favorite neutral):

http://society6.com/Daniellebourland/Leopard-pUg_Pillow

And one of these cuties for the chaise lounge in our guest room:

http://society6.com/product/Louis-Armstrong-told-us-so_Pillow

The best part? Society6 has free shipping worldwide through Sunday!

That makes me want to order a couple of my other favorites that I pinned here...eeek!

Go ahead and follow me on Pinterest or Insta! 

For now...happy Friday and happy WEEKEND!

here i am!!!

So, remember when I made this blog to keep up with our English family? Yeah, that didn't work out so well. I posted!...but that hardly counts when it happens once a month or so. Yikes!

Here is the new game plan: keep up with the blog. But not just for our family. This time I'm writing for any/all!

As a self-proclaimed open book, I am always a fan of wearing my heart on my sleeve and "doing life" alongside a community of people I love and cherish. Why not make that community a little bigger?! :)

So, here we go. Re-vamping the blog. With everything life. Ventures in cooking, homemaking, travel, faith, family, ups, downs, and the little things in between.

Let's do this!

                                                        

 

 

Nashville, Tennessee

I don't like that this is no longer in chronological order. Just saying.

But the weekend before Mark and I left for Burundi, we took a road trip to Nashville with our friends Mallory and Kyle (who you might have "met" on the blog here).

The four of us left on Thursday evening and made the 7 hour journey at night so we could have a full day on Friday. We had the best time!!

hello, nashville!!! it was BEAUTIFUL like this all. weekend. long.

afternoon at hoky tonk central :) don't know what i would do without this sweet friend of mine!!!

:)

the first of many future hoidal/houston family vacays

Mal and Kyle's friend (and ours now too!), Cole, was a wonderful Nashville host and took us on our own personal tour of Fontanel Mansion. Thanks, Cole!!!

Fontanel (You might recognize it from Country Strong!)

Fontanel

Fontanel is also the home of the Southern Living Idea House.
Yes, I was drooling the entire time.

as these friends of mine know...i have a thing for neutrals when it comes to decor. i adored every room in this home!!! sigh. and swoon.

the city from cole's balcony -- cannot do it justice!

In a nutshell:
- Nashville rocks. Home of amazing live music everywhere you go.
- Country music is the best. (Duh.)
- We are so thankful for our friends! There are not a lot of couples that you can spend 14 hours in the car with plus 2 nights in a hotel room without having some tension/getting on each other's nerves. Thanks for always putting up with us (especially me!!), Hoidals!

...i've been putting this off.

Really. I know that I cannot even begin to sufficiently or effectively describe our mission trip to Bujumbura this past June.

My recent thoughts have included:
Why write about it? I know I can't do it justice. 
No one will be able to feel what we felt or see what we saw.
And most people probably don't even care. 

Nonetheless, I feel compelled to share some [small] snippets from our [big and endlessly amazing] journey...our first mission trip together...to the capital city of one beautiful country, Burundi.

What makes Burundi so beautiful?
Its people. Particularly, the teachers, staff, and students of The Discovery School.
The way they live their lives...so faithfully, so undistracted, so full of God, so trusting, so JOYFUL.
It made me think that we, the visitors, full of ourselves and the so-called "American Dream"...we're missing the mark. By probably a million miles. Myself (very) included.

We busy ourselves with this and that and how "stressful" our lives are. I looked into the eyes of our Burundian friends and saw children of God that know Him in ways I've never known Him. From the eyes of a nation that is still healing from a long, brutal civil war (read more about it here)....these people have faith MUCH deeper and more tangible than mine. Not once do they blame God, ask why, or live their lives in self-pity or doubt. It was a blessing for me to learn from their example. Their hearts are blameless and indescribably full of Jesus.

To my friends at the Discovery School....I LOVE YOU! You have changed me forever and knowing you is nothing more than a joy, a privilege, a blessing, and a GIFT {James 1:17}. And the way you worship...I could have sat on the floor and bawled like a baby every time. Listening to you sing and pray in Kirundi is the closest I've ever gotten to knowing what heaven will sound like when I go. Thank you for that. :)

Fellow teammates...I LOVE YOU as well!!! Being together and getting to know each other so deeply and so quickly still reminds me of summer camp (only my favorite place on earth, as your know!). So obviously it was like the best thing everrrr! ;)

Family + friends who are family who supported us financially/emotionally/prayerfully before, during, and after this journey...thank you. And thank you, thank you, thank you some more! There is no way we could have experienced this without y'all. Glory to God!

Now (of course) some photo highlights!!

fellowship with the discovery school teachers at a lovely restaurant on lake tanganyika!

left: mark and i at the lake right: mary!!! my dear friend and sister forever in Christ. after she had me crying at the dinner table with her testimony! i love you!!!! this is only the tip of the iceberg with your dreams and how God will use you!

Discovery School :: teaching and loving on these kiddos! 

friends :) discovery school teachers -- you are amazing!! WE MISS YOU!

faces of burundi

our team + the discovery school staff 

the houstons <3 burundi

 In closing:

Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God's grace in its various forms. 

 If anyone speaks, they should do so as one who speaks the very words of God. 

 If anyone serves, they should do so with the strength God provides, 

so that in all things God may be praised through Jesus Christ. 

 To him be the glory and the power for ever and ever. 

Amen.

  1 Peter 4:10-11

Thanks for reading :)