growing up tales

One day you're laying on two adjoining leather couches in your parents living room dreaming about the first day of high school, the next, you're old married people discussing house furnishings and the like. 

My Bird got hitched this weekend and it was just about the best time ever. Getting to hug so many people we love and miss is straight up food for my soul. And and right now I am full. These moments…the ones where you get to spend more time face to face with people than you do your smartphone, the ones where you get to help your best friend get into her big beautiful white dress and watch her move into the next phase of her life…these are the ones worth living for. 

So here we are, Winkdawg and Bird, as the nicknames go, married. Feels like we should start a book or something. Our growing up tales sure do merit a sequel. Double check those seat belts everyone because this could get crazy. 

Lately

I come to realize that when I walk away from this little space on the internet for a short while that life has become full. It's not intentional and I don't feel guilty about it but sometimes a small hiatus from the things you love are good for a new perspective, fresh thoughts and a clear mind. Life indeed is full right now but the blessings are overwhelming and my heart is so thankful for this season. 

This year that we have being married, moved, new, and changed, has created this sweet spot in my personal life where I had the chance to go out on a limb and chase after some dreams of mine. These past six months have been full of entrepreneurship experiments, lots of graphic design work and a the creation of a business I didn't know I had in me. It feels so surreal to be doing what I love almost full-time now but it's happening and I am in awe. 

I have started focusing in on small businesses branding and marketing. Most of my time is spent on logo and marketing material creation, and social media management -- all of which frees up business owners to do what they really want to be doing and makes them proud of their business. I also run a (small) print shop on Etsy, creating prints to hang in the home or office that inspire creativity and encourage passion. I'm excited to continue growing that side of my business because, admittedly, it's one of my favorite parts. 

So needless to say, our days have been full and a lot of energy has been spent on the start up of all these things. But I have a special spot in my heart for this little space and am looking forward to using it more regularly. 

Cheers to Saturday, to little hiatuses in our life and home that refreshes us and reminds us that all of this, every ounce of our life, is a gift. Be thankful, be loved, be renewed. 

Wife Life | two people, one marriage

I trust you.

A chancy thing to mean, an easy thing to say, and an even easier thing to attach a tagline to. 

I trust you…as long as you leave the big stuff up to me.

I trust you…as long as you trust me.

I trust you…as long as things are easy for us.

I trust you…as long as you do what I want.

That last one is a doozy. Not only is it conditional, but it also implies that one or the other of you is in control of  your marriage. And that's just not the case. 

It's fair to say that, because you married your spouse, you trust them with your life. You've attached your journey to theirs and you now walk together. The two become one. 

But. There are still two people. Two people with inherently different needs, desires, thoughts, and habits. And it would be damaging to us to ignore those differences and assume that, because you are married, you sort of meld into each other -- unable to recognize where one stops and the other begins. The reason why you got married in the first place is because you were (hopefully) intrigued by the other -- you fell in love with another person, right? And you realized that your life together gives more glory than your life apart. 

Sometimes, that other person makes decisions or does things that you get and you you agree with. And sometimes they don't. Trust, real unconditional trust, is expressed in spite of your agreement. Trusting that they see a bigger picture, trusting that they are taking care of their individual, trusting their faith, trusting their heart, trusting that you may not be right. And trusting that in in the midst of the decisions you both may make, God is. And he redeems and reconciles all things to himself. 

Upholding and supporting differences in our spouse is just as important as supporting our marriage as one. We may never fully understand this marriage thing, but hopefully through experience we get to know our God better. And we get to know his desires better as we journey in relationship with him. 

[The picture above was taken during our recent trip to Jeremy's home town. It was so special to visit that place with him and experience a little bit of his past. It still amazes me how God can bring together two vastly different people for his unifying purpose. But we are overwhelmed by the blessing and look forward to all that is yet to come.]

2013

2013 will always be a precious year for me.

It's the year I got to live with some of my very best friends.
The year I said yes to journeying through this life with an incredible man.
The year I worked my first (and hopefully possibly last) corporate job.
The year I became we.
The year we moved to a brand new place together.
The year we discovered bed and breakfasts are right out of a dream.
The year I committed to my passions and started a little business.
The year I saw the desert for the first time.
The year I learned what it felt like to be truly free.

Big cheers to 2013 and all that is to come in the next 365!