My name is Briana Whistler and my story is not much different from your own, I’m sure.  I met a boy when I was 15 at a swim party.  We started talking and we haven’t stopped since.  He is my absolute best friend and his name is Drew.  We got engaged when I was 17 and a Junior in high school.  We got married 3 weeks after I graduated high school on June 11, 2011. I was 18 and he was 20.  He is the love of my life, and I am so blessed that God brought us together at such a young age.  We are so thankful that we have gotten to spend so much of our lives together.

Now, on to the next thing that may be an even bigger part of my life.  We got married young at a beautiful resort called Hyatt Regency Lost Pines.  We lived very happily, just the two of us, until one night I decided that I had been a little moodier (is that a word?) than normal.  So I did what any woman does when she is moody and has been married less than two years:  I took a pregnancy test.  Turns out my moodniess was completely normal!  We were pregnant with what would be our first beautiful daughter named Reagan Grace Whistler.  She entered into this world on October 23, 2013.  She weighed in at 8 pounds and 2 ounces.

Life was great with our little princess, but God was not quite done with us.  In February of 2015 we found out we were pregnant yet again.  Of course we were so excited that God chose us to be parents again.

After a very challenging pregnancy, we brought another beautiful little girl into this world on November 4, 2015.  Her name is Sadie Faith Whistler and she weighed 4 pounds and 6 ounces.

God has blessed my family tremendously.  His grace and love continuously amaze me.  He continues to be faithful in our life even after so many times we have doubted Him.  I am so incredibly thankful for my husband and best friend.  He helps keep me on track with being the woman that I want to be.  My daughters are by far my greatest accomplishment.  They remind me of the strength that I have in me and the goodness that comes from God.  Their beauty isn’t just superficial (although they are the cutest children I have ever seen), but it is deep as well.  Their hearts are pure and full of love and wonder.  They remind me of what I am in the eyes of my creator and Father.

My family is without a doubt my life.  Everything I do in my life is for them and I am happy to do that.  I may not have been called to be a teacher or a nurse (both great professions by the way), but he did call me to be a mother and a wife.  That’s not to say I am not my own person.  I definitely have my own likes and dislikes.  Just ask my husband.  For instance, I love anything that has to do with bread and butter, but I am not a real big fan of super spicy food.  It makes my nose run, and let’s be real, That.  Is.  Disgusting.  I like dogs and not so much cats, my favorite color is green, and I cry when people lose or break their glasses. I am the youngest of three siblings.  I have an older brother and and older sister.  Both are married to wonderful people whom I am so blessed to call my family.  There is no such thing as an “in-law”.  Family is family.  I am super close with all of my family (cousins included). Christmas is “the most wonderful time of the year”.  And I would be liar if I said I didn’t sing that last part.

I work in a print shop.  I know what you are thinking “Wow, that is such a glamorous job.  I want to do that.”  But truth be told, I actually really enjoy it.  I work on some pretty high tech printers and it is something I never thought I would ever find interesting, but I surprisingly do.  It is a great job and I work with some pretty amazing people.  I am currently in school to become a teacher.  I will hopefully graduate December 2017 and be on to my student teaching internship.  My true passion, however, lies in crafting, cooking, and photography.  I created Raising Arrows Blog because I wanted to share my thoughts and ideas with other people.   This blog just goes hand in hand with my crafts and life.  So please sit back, grab a cup of coffee or hot chocolate if you are like me, and enjoy reading about my life and passions.

“Children are a heritage from the LORD, offspring a reward from him.  Like arrows in the hands of a warrior are children born in one’s youth.  Blessed is the man whose quiver is full of them.  They will not be put to shame when they contend with their opponents in court.” -Psalm 127: 3-5