Patio Project

This past Saturday Nathan and I started on our patio project!  Friday night we had our band over for a cookout, and I had the patio area set up and it made me even more excited to get this project started!

We started Saturday morning about 9 and it was already scorching outside!  I dont know how hot it was, but I do know that by about 11:30 I couldnt hardly stand up anymore because I was so weak from the heat!  Nathan started tilling up the ground where the patio is going to be laid and I start shoveling.  I can tell you right now, I am not cut out for that line of work!  Its okay for projects like this, but I have the utmost respect for people who work outside like that everday.  Hats off to you!  We probably hauled off about 15 or 20 wheelbarrel loads full of grass and dirt that we tilled up!  We had to quit because it was too hot, but last night we tilled up again and got the area as level as we could with what we had!  I used a rake and a shovel to even everything out after Nate had tilled.  One area was a lot higher than another side so we had to go over that part a couple times.  After we got the level out and put it a couple places we got the tamper and packed the dirt in as much as we could where I moved the dirt.  Then I sprayed it with water in hopes that it would help pack and settle everything else down again where we had tilled.

Our next step is to steak everything off so we can get things squared up and get our boards cut for the edging.  We are probably going to use treated wood as the edging as it will be cheaper, but our measurments will have to be spot on for everything to fit right because we have to get everything cut at Lowes when we buy it since we dont have the saws and all that mess.  After that we will dig out where the edging will go in the ground, make sure its squared up, then it will be time for the sand.  We will put in the sand, make it level, tamp it down and then begin with laying the pavers!  Put them down, and then sweep sand over the pavers to fill in the cracks.

I hope all this works out as we hope.  I have never done anything like this, so mostly I've asked EVERYONE I know who knows ANYTHING about doing this type of thing, and the most consitant advice I've gotten is "just make sure its level and square"  and "make sure when you measure from corner to corner you have the same measurments."  We havent got to this part yet, and thats the part that makes me most antsy, but Im sure whatever happens it will all work out and we will have a beautiful patio to enjoy for the rest of the summer and fall months.

Im enjoying summer, but I will be honest, I cant wait till those cooler evenings when we can load up our firepit and enjoy the fall air!

Music

Im so excited about what God is doing in our ministry these days.  Back toward the first of the year I found myself praying often, that if it was His will, He would send Nathan and I band members.  Up until this point it has only been Nathan and I, and before Nathan it was just me!  When I pray for our ministry, my prayers are very simple.  First of all, I give it all back to Him daily, then I pray that his will be done in it, open doors he wants open, close doors that need to be closed, and to have favor and lead us in whatever He wants us to do.  I had a longing in my heart for a band to play with us, and I knew that he would not place that desire there if it was not of him because of the way I had been praying.  So a couple months after praying this, things began to fall into place!  Nathan and I were invited to lead worship for a new church in Gastonia called The Fathers House.  Its located at the Gaston Co. YMCA.  A good friend of ours who we used to play with at our home church had contacted us about this and he plays bass, so of course we wanted him to play with us!  As a side note, one of the many reasons we wanted a band was for Nathan to get to play his electric guitar.  This boy is CRAZY tallented, and playing acoustic all the time is just not the same and very restrictive to someone who normally plays leads on electric.  He never complained, but I knew he wanted to play pretty bad too.  So anyway, since we had a bass player all we needed was a drummer to complete our little set up so Nate could play electric.  We called up our good friend Jeremy and there it began.  We played a little worship set that morning, having NEVER practiced together and made it through with flying colors!  Nathan and I had a date booked that following weekend for a full concert type setting so we recruited the guys and they came and we did it again, no practice, and this time a 45 min. set.  With many less mistakes as would have been expected I knew we had something special with these guys.  Our newest member, who we also played at our home church with recently joined us on keys this week, and is an awesome asset to the team!  We are set to record 4 of our original songs on July 17th, and we are so excited about what all God is doing!  He directs our paths and orders our steps.  Pray HIS will for you life, pray HE orders your steps.  Give it to him, and then trust that he knows best!  Even if it doesnt happen when you think or how you think it should, doesnt mean NO from God.  Trust in Him today to give you his BEST!  We are his children and he gives his kids good gifts, not junk! 

Taylor Made: (from left)

Nathan Taylor
Laura Taylor

Jeremy Pendleton

Phil Barker

Vince Willbanks

Brenda Barker (on camera) 

I Do - Year #2!

Yesterday was the closest thing to perfect that we can have here on earth!  I just want to start out by saying that I have the most wonderful husband and he went above and beyond this year in the romantic and thoughtful department!

My day started off pretty early, Nathan said he had to run some errands and for me to get ready while he was gone.  He had told me a couple weeks ago that he had a scavenger hunt planned out for our anniversary!  So I got ready and the excitement began.  He told me to get in my card and instructions would be there for the rest.  So I did and he had a card waiting for me on the steering wheel.  It said that the scavanger hunt represented our journey in life and included the address of my first stop, so I put it in my GPS and off I went.  This first stop took me to Franklin Square.  All I had was the address so I had no idea which building it was so I put the address in my phone and it was Krispy Kreme!  :)  I got VERY excited at this point lol.  The card also told me that when I got there I was to go inside and tell them I need to pick something up for Laura, so I did and the lady behind the counter handed me a Chocolate covered Kreme filled doughnut, a bottle of milk, and a card!  So I went back to my car and opened the card!  It said that this stop is to show how sweet our love is for each other!!  :)  I had a BIG ole smile by this point, and couldnt wait to see where I was headed next.  So I plugged in the address in my phone and discovered my next stop was Lowes!  So I scarfed down my doughnut which was O SO GOOD, and headed into Lowes.  My card instructed me to see customer service.  So I went in and had to wait in line but when the girls asked how they could help I told them I needed to pick up something for Laura, and said ARE YOU HER?  And I said yes and they said We were wondering what you looked like, are there any other men in the world like your husband?!  You better treat him right!  haha this made me feel like a MILLION bucks!  Then they handed me another card and a Red Forever & Ever Hydrangia.  I thanked them and went to my car to read the next card.  It said that the hydrangia is actually a hybrid of two different kinds and when it matures it makes beautiful red blooms and this was just like us we came together as two to make one and every day we mature and get better!  It was at this point, the woman in me came out and I cried like a baby!  Im so blessed!  :)  My next stop, after I plugged in the address, I found out was Daniel Stowe Botanical Gardens!  I was estatic over this one because I had been begging Nate to take me there since we moved to Gastonia a year ago!  I got there and Nate was waiting on me in the parking lot with my admission braclet ready to go.  We toured the gardens and they were absolutly gorgeous!  It was HOT outside, but it was still fun, and I was happy when I saw that they had some of the same plants as I do in my flower garden!  When we were finished there He gave me another card which had a gift certificate to get a manicure and pedicure!  So I went and did that and then went home so I could give him his new TOMS shoes (it pales in comparison, I know...)  He also had a giftbag waiting on me at home with a beautiful glass flower vase with our wedding date and names engraved and the # 2 for our second year along with a picture frame that had a wedding picture of us and then a picture from our last cruise we took! He also had went to Harris Teeter and bought half a cow.... not litterally, but they were the biggest steaks I've ever seen!  So for supper we had steak, sauteed mushrooms and we were supposed to have a grilled videllia onion, but we were so full we couldnt even eat them!

We also got our new washer and dryer installed yesterday, which took FOREVER since they are in like a hallway type room.  They ROCK!  I did 2 loads of laundry, washed and dried, while we watched a movie!  It was fantastic!!!!  :)  The only bad part about that is, that they are larger than the old washer and dryer and our bifold doors wont fit back now!  So... we have to figure something out there....  but for now I have no doors lol

I just had to share this day with everone, it was one of those days that was so wonderful you just dont want it to end!  Im so thankful for Nathan and our marriage.  It hasnt all been perfect like yesterday.  No ones is!  But Im also thankful for all the imperfect moments because they make days like yesterday all the more special.  Those imperfect days are the days we grow, and the perfect ones are there to remind us that we survived!

Be Blessed!!

Oh Look!  A fat girl eatin a doughnut!  Who woulda thunk it! 

A Pink Pineapple Plant?!

Beautiful!

Lantana = my fav!  I have some of this in my garden!  Not this big but just as pretty IMO!

Me w/ my awesome Hubby!

In the greenhouse!

LOVE IT!