GET MARRIED: We're home!

We got married! The most amazing day with the most amazing people celebrating alongside us. We are so excited to show you more wedding photos as they start to filter through, as well as a few shots from our honeymoon in gorgeous Tuscany, Italy (man, were we sad to leave that place). We're just about settled into our new house together too. It's pretty fun living with your best friend! Olivia has put one photo up of our day on her Facebook page (which definitely deserves liking) so far and we are so looking forward to seeing what else her & Blake managed to capture.

Nate & Lucy xo

CAPTURE MOMENTS: Ben & Helen

Ben & Helen are lovely. Though that doesn't really convey just how lovely they are. Ben was one of the main men behind this year's student conference and Helen is one year above Nate in med' school. They can both often be seen running back from a lengthy jog with a huge smile and not a hint of being about to break into a sweat. To me that in itself is enough to invoke feelings of astonishment, without their obvious overwhelming love for both each other and for God thrown into the mix. I love these guys and it was a privilege to snap a few cheeky shots at their wedding venue before their big day in June.

p.s. We are getting married (legally) tomorrow and officially (we are counting the blessing service as our 'official' wedding date) on Saturday then heading to the beautiful Tuscany afterwards. I'm so excited to show you photos when we get back!

p.p.s. You might recognise one of these pics from our new istagram account... make sure you're following us @weresolve :)

Nate & Lucy xo

CAPTURE MOMENTS: Instagram

Just a short one this week folks, seen as we are totally snowed under with wedding prep (11 days to go!). We finally have instagram! Here's a sneak peak of what we've been up to this week. Find and follow here (or just use @weresolve). I had forgotten just how amazing it is for instant inspiration. Definitely an addict all over again.



Nate & Lucy xo

GET MARRIED: Wedding Rings

Buying rings (or wedding bands) was another really exciting thing we've had to do in the run up to sharing a surname. We had three criteria that we felt were important:

1. The rings had to be fairly traded

2. The rings had to fit (more difficult than it sounds - Nate has teeny tiny lady hands)

3. The rings had to match

Initially, we thought that buying second hand was roughly the same as buying fairly traded gold. However, on reflection we came to the conclusion that not doing something wrong and actually doing something right are two very different things. A bit of research on Fairtrade/ Fairmined gold seamlessly led us to CRED jewellers ... and the rest is history (but you'll have to wait for photos to see which ones we went for).

Below is a little video about CRED and the work they do with Fairtrade and Fairmined gold.

Nate & Lucy xo

STAY INSPIRED: Oana Befort

We have been reading Oana's blog for a little while now. It is consistently beautiful and her little family have the cutest adventures. This week's treat is a free downloadable calendar, which we thought we would share with you. Brighten your desktop and have a wonderful April! We think we might, seen as our wedding is at the end of this month. Ahhhh!

BE OUTDOORS: A Snow Filled Weekend

The blizzard in Sheffield this weekend put January's smattering to complete shame. We ventured outside despite the snow coming up past the top of our wellington boots and then returned home to a delicious chicken casserole and old House re-runs. Perfect.

Nate & Lucy xo

STAY INSPIRED: Things To Look Forward To

Focussing on the simple things you can look forward to is so much more helpful than thinking about what you don't have.

We are getting married in 5 weeks! Honeymoon is near! There is plenty in life to celebrate.



1. This memoir comes out in summer and I am greatly looking forward to having a read. Sophie Fontanel describes how living life differently from the cultural normality liberate us and gives us new satisfaction and freedom.

2. Sandals, thank you for reminding me that the sun will shine, eventually. All this snow is no good for the soul. I'm waiting in hope for some serious rays soon.

3. Girls. I managed to whiz through this program in about a week. Seriously. I know I have already mentioned how amazing it is, but I just wanted to bring it home. It is comforting to know that every other girl in her twenties has felt the same as me at some points and has been equally as embarrassed or happy about small things or as neurotic or as naive (I'm looking at you, Shoshanna). Lena Dunham is a genius. Season three seems so far away, but just means I can look forward to it for longer.

What are you looking forward to for the rest of 2013?

Lucy xo

A Short Reflection

So things are a little tricky around here at the moment but we are strong, strong, strong and God is good. Sorry for not posting as regularly, please bear with us! This has been the most comforting quote and it is so beautiful.

"Happy storm that wrecks a man on such a rock as this! O blessed hurricane that drives the soul to God and God alone! There is no getting at our God sometimes because of the multitude of our friends; but when a man is so poor, so friendless, so helpless that he has nowhere else to turn, he flies into his Father’s arms, and is blessedly clasped therein! When he is burdened with troubles so pressing and so peculiar, that he cannot tell them to any but his God, he may be thankful for them; for he will learn more of his Lord then than at any other time. Oh, tempest-tossed believer, it is a happy trouble that drives thee to thy Father! Now that thou hast only thy God to trust to, see that thou puttest thy full confidence in him. Dishonour not thy Lord and Master by unworthy doubts and fears; but be strong in faith, giving glory to God. Show the world that thy God is worth ten thousand worlds to thee. Show rich men how rich thou art in thy poverty when the Lord God is thy helper. Show the strong man how strong thou art in thy weakness when underneath thee are the everlasting arms. Now is the time for feats of faith and valiant exploits. Be strong and very courageous, and the Lord thy God shall certainly, as surely as he built the heavens and the earth, glorify himself in thy weakness, and magnify his might in the midst of thy distress. The grandeur of the arch of heaven would be spoiled if the sky were supported by a single visible column, and your faith would lose its glory if it rested on anything discernible by the carnal eye. May the Holy Spirit give you to rest in Jesus." — Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892)

Things to be thankful about: weekends together, Girls, wedding planning (and the fact that this girl is our wedding photographer).

LOVE GOD ALWAYS: The Student Conference 2013

The Student Conference 2013, hosted by churchforstudents.com was amazing this year! A jam packed weekend of worship and prayer and listening to wise words from preachers from around the world.

It also made sure that I got my camera out again, after laying it down for a little rest for a short time. I have missed you! Hopefully this marks the turning of the season and a new burst of life. Hopefully.

Nate & Lucy xo

STAY INSPIRED: La Blogothèque

La Blogothèque has to be one of my favourite blogs, though I'm not going to pretend that my GCSE French carries me through well enough to read it in its native language. Fortunately, music is a fairly universal language, and most of the artists they review are Anglophones.

Their 'Concerts a Emporter' feature is among the best of the like out there. The cinematography is actually pretty good, and if you have a few minutes to go back through their archives it's like a who's-who of both well known and more obscure folk and indie music since 2006.

Here's an old favourite featuring Mumford and Sons. And Johnny Flynn. Attempting to sing in French. Brilliant.  

Nate xo

STAY THANKFUL: Our First Anniversary

Our one year anniversary was celebrated with candles, cacciatury and the A-Z of thanks. Seventy nine days and counting.



Adventures // Being constantly blessed // Community // Dads being dads // Eating great food // Family & friends
Grace // Honeymoon // India Roberts // Jesus // Knot (tying the) // Living so close to each other
Mums being mums // New starts // Opportunities // Photography // Rejoicing // Snow // Time together // Ulysses // Vows

A Quick Note...

... to say that we haven't forgotten you.

Lucy has been volunteering at Betel International so has been away for a little time. It is an amazing ministry for recovering addicts, which brings hope, freedom and truth to hundreds of people's lives. It is well worth checking out!

Nate & Lucy xo

CHARITY SHOP: Wedding Dress Shopping

Attempting to find a second hand wedding dress must be the ultimate test of whether I was fully committed to trying charity shops first. I really did try my best to make one of the dresses work (at £25 how could I not? £25!) before heading to a bridal boutique, where I bought THE dress. All further information is on a definite lock down for another 87 days ;)

Lucy xo

LOVE GOD ALWAYS: Psalm 16

I am itching to get outdoors again after being cooped up for so long. I'm desperate to start creating again after soaking up so much inspiration over the last few weeks (Pinterest has been a great boredom buster recently). I am also aware of my need for some colour after all of the snow and looking at these four white walls for too long. It's time to get back out there!


The upshot of not being able to get out of bed is having a whole lot of Bible time. We have been loving Psalm 16 recently:

Keep me safe, O God,
for in you I take refuge
I said to the Lord, "You are my Lord;
apart from you I have no good thing."
...
LORD, you have assigned me my portion and my cup;
you have made my lot secure.
The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places;
surely I have a delightful inheritance.
I will praise the LORD, who counsels me;
even at night my heart instructs me.
I have set the LORD always before me.
Because he is at my right hand,
I will not be shaken.
Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices;
my body also will rest secure,
because you will not abandon me to the grave,
nor will you let your Holy One see decay.
You have made known to me the path of life;
you will fill me with joy in your presence,
with eternal pleasures at your right hand.

Far be it from us to interpet this for you today. It just sounded like good news to us.

Nate & Lucy xo

1. I Hope You Feel Beautiful Today via Stone Fox Bride
2. UNDO via Amy Moore

EAT GOOD FOOD: Olive Us do Tzatziki

After nearly two whole weeks of being in bed, I am still ill. Seriously, how is that even possible?! Flu, just kindly get out of my body now please.

I thought there would be no 'eat good food' posts for a little while, seeing as the thought of moving around for longer than 10 minutes would feel like an intrepid adventure at the moment. Preparing dinner = biiig no no. Luckily I have the cutest family around to help me out. Olive Us put together short videos/ cheeky doses of fun and happiness and they have kept me well entertained this week. Their aim is to encourage their (6!) children to find ways to get on better together, which is really rather sweet. This recipe for Tzatziki is the bee's knees.

Lucy xo

P.S. I was delighted to have some words and photos featured here on the Cereal Magazine blog yesterday. Very exciting!

Ingredients:
1 cucumber
275g sour cream
275g Greek yogurt
1 clove pressed or finely chopped garlic
1 tbsp olive oil

Directions:
Peel and chop the cucumber, then squeeze out excess water.
Mix all the ingredients together and chill.
Simple.