Keeping up with the Capra's: An Update

Sometimes I forget to tell people what is going on in my and Jon's life, and then I'm surprised when they don't know what is going on! Lol. I'm a mess.
SO. Here are a few random updates!

1. We are working in Maryland.
Jon and I both were offered a full-time job that is too complicated to get into over blogging (just assume it's top-secret and super intriguing;) BUT we're still living in Virginia.
Which means we are driving back and forth from home every weekend.
Which means a 3.5 hour drive normally takes 6 hours.
Which means a lotttt of books on tape and tired car selfies ft. Starbucks.

We even pick up a passenger sometimes!

The "moving" back and forth each weekend has been a little tiring, but we get a lot of fun time together. Especially when it comes to my next update!

2. LOTS of new date night locations!

Living life with this man is always an adventure. He's never satisfied with staying in one place for too long, but it means we have a lot of fun exploring and adventuring. 

Not only that, we really try to have a homework-free date night every week, so it gives us a great excuse to take off on a drive to see what we find, or to plan something a little more special.

 Our first Tides' game together (which was technically in our hometown, but still, it counts)

 National Harbor, MD (our new favorite date spot!)

We both visited Annapolis, MD for the first time, too! 

(And yes, that caramel-covered chocolate-drizzled rice crispy treat was uhmazing)

 Finding new places that neither of us have been to (AND THE BEST FUDGE SHOP EVER) is always super fun.

We even got to see one of Jon's favorite artists at a swanky DC venue... for a really cheap price!

 The Great Falls were appropriately named, and was a great way to spend a drizzly afternoon last week.

3. We moved into our first little house!

My parents recently moved back "into town" and their new location has the cutest little in-law-suite-type house on the property, completely detached from the main house. My parents offered to rent it to us cheaper than our apartment on-campus, so we will be living there until Jon and I both finish our undergrad degrees.

So far, we love it! My family is the best, and they love Jon a lot, so living close to them is great. Not only that, but the house is adorable, and just the right size for us, so we are looking forward to staying there for our last few semesters.

....BUT moving houses while we are working in MD means that our weekends home have been packed with packing! Not to mention the endless trips back and forth, car troubles involving a broken window, and the loss of everything you need when you need it.

So that's been not-so-fun, but we are almost finished and settled in!

4. We're Going to ALASKA
Yep. And we are STOKED. Jon's brother and his wife are stationed in (or near?) Anchorage, Alaska, and his parents got us plane tickets for Christmas! That trip is fast-approaching, and I can't wait.

Now I just have to find which box is hiding my camera..!

5. We are so blessed
I cannot begin to describe how much we have experienced the Lord's grace in our first ten months of marriage. It sounds cheesy, but we have experienced His provision in ways that neither of us have seen before. Not only does He provide for our basic needs, but He blesses us above and beyond! He absolutely knows our needs before we even ask Him.

We already have so many stories of His faithfulness over the past year, and love sharing testimonies or how good He has been to us.

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Jon and I don't have any crazy plans for this holiday weekend (we're just looking forward to being home for an extra day!) but what do ya'll have planned for Memorial Day??

Wedding Pictures Part 3: The Ceremony!

Ok, now for the best pictures!
(If you missed Part 1 and Part 2, you can find them here and here!)

I can hardly remember what I was feeling before I walked out onto the altar, except for asking my dad to get the venue to change something about the lighting! It was like brain knew that if it was truly present in the moment that it would be flooded with too many emotions, so it settled on being pre-occupied with something stupid... Like lighting.

The only other thought I can remember was, "You have to walk in to the right part of the song." The woman standing at the doors asked me, "Can you hear the music to know when you should go in?" I remember nodding, but thinking "No, wait, I can't, I have no idea when I'm supposed to walk out!"

I ended up walking in a little late because I was so afraid I would walk in early, but I don't think anyone noticed. I sure didn't. I was just looking at this studly waiting for me at the altar.

 This was the moment I started to get just a little emotional....

 Can you see why I married him?? No man has ever looked at me like that.

 This was my favorite part of the ceremony. After my dad gave me away, and before the ceremony officially started, we wanted to worship. I'm thankful we did, too, because worship is when I, personally, feel closest to the Father's heart, and in the moments we sang I think I finally realized what was happening. I also felt so much joy and peace and pleasure from my Heavenly Dad that it was overwhelming.

We sang the song Holy Spirit (not the one by Francesca Batistelli, the one by Jesus Culture and Kim Walker-Smith) and Shiloh (the most beautiful voice I've ever heard) sang for us.

The only time I cried was the few tears that slid down my face in this moment. And if I was given the chance to relive one moment in my entire life, I would choose these couple of minutes, worshipping with my soon-to-be husband, asking the Holy Spirit to come and guide the rest of our lives together.

This picture made me tear up, and I'm so thankful Daytona captured it. I love how you can see both my parents and Jon's worshipping together.

I've tasted and seen

Of the sweetest of loves

Where my heart becomes free

And my shame is undone

In Your presence 

 Holy Spirit, You are welcome here

Come flood this place and fill the atmosphere

Your glory, God, is what our hearts long for

To be overcome by Your presence, Lord

My face is so cheesy... but I just couldn't help it!

 It was really special that Adam was able to do our ceremony. Adam was my youth group leader in high school, and a mentor to me after that. He has been a spiritual father to me of sorts, and one of those people I don't know where I would be without. Him and his wife, Stephanie (and their three kiddos!) are definitely close to my and Jon's heart.

 I will admit, though, that I had to have Adam send me his notes afterwards because I didn't hear a single word the entire ceremony!!! I just couldn't stop looking at Jon, and I could hardly believe that everything that was happening wasn't a dream.

 Jon prayed for us and led us, as a new family, through communion as the first act as husband and wife. My anticipation for Jon to become my spiritual leader in a new and deeper way was unreal in that moment.

And just like that...

We were married! 

The whole experience is still totally unreal. Somehow, in two months, the perfect-for-us wedding was accomplished. I have no explanation for it except for that the Lord was so so so involved. He was definitely sweet to me, and brought together so many details that I feared I wouldn't be able to have with only a few short months to prepare.

Also, NONE of this would have happened without my parents. My mom was a rock-star when it came to the details, even though my indecisiveness made me a pill to work with sometimes, and my dad made sure every decision was exactly what I wanted. Going over these pictures always makes me incredibly thankful.

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Next up: the after-party! Not just reception pictures, though... you won't want to miss pictures of my fabulous wedding party, too!

Wanna see more? Check out our wedding page, and our #CountdowntoCapra on Instagram! I also just made my wedding Pinterest boards public! If you want to check out where I got my inspiration, go check them out;)

Introduction to The Modest Budget! (A New Direction for Fashion Blogging)

   In my time away from my beloved Style{in} Skirts, as you may have noticed, my life has transitioned from focusing on skirts as a fashionable expression of modesty to finding the same balance with pants. Last spring, after 10 years, I began the process!
   One of many reasons I had originally chosen to wear skirts was because it cut out a lot of gray areas with modesty. Skirts gave me boundaries and definition to what I would and wouldn't wear. And anyone who knows me knows that I can't stand gray areas. They drive me nuts.

   But you can't always avoid gray areas!
   So, after much prayer, welcome to my NEW journey of finding a modest way to wear pants!!
   (if you want to learn more about why I think modesty is important, go here!).

   Since my goals include less skirt-wearing, I thought it might be time to shift from Style{in} Skirts to a new outlook.

Perhaps...

   The Modest Budget?

   I think we'll stick with that one for now.

   So, introducing, the Modest Budget! My goals will involve modesty and fashion on a budget (if that wasn't already obvious).

   Style{in} Skirts was an awesome time for me, and if you go to my Fashion Page I still have all the links up for every post! Still have much love for skirts, and my passion for modesty has not changed, but Cattails, Rabbit Trails and Thistlefish is growing with me.

Jacket: borrowed from a friend // Shirt: Under $20 // 

Shorts: Mermot // Shoes: Bobs (Clearance at the Air Force Exchange!)

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   Let me know what ya'll think! Excited to jump back in to fashion blogging and see where it takes me this time:)

   In other news, Amanda from Knock on Wood Designs is the talent behind CRT's new look!! Do ya'll think it is as fabulous as I do??

Linking up at Sandy A La Mode, Myriad Musings, Sydney Fashion Hunter, Pumps and Pushups, Shopping My Closet, The Pleated Poppy, Cappuccino & Fashion (my new fave!), Classy Yet Trendy, Tucker Up, The Mummy Chronicles, Happily Ever After Etc, Living in Color, The Red Closet Diary, Doused in Pink, Curly Crafty Mom, Mix Match Fashion, Adri Lately, & Two Peas in a Blog