Open or Closed?

One of the crazy things about being married - something that people warn you about but you just have to experience for yourself - would be the way two styles combine. That two people's dreams, desires, habits and funny little quirks begin to mesh right from the start.

We've had a lot of those moments from the very beginning of our brand new life together. Moments where I shut the pantry door, and he will open it. Moments of standing in front of the Red Box discussing movies or how many pillows should be on the couch.

One of my favorite things is our pantry door, believe it or not. We all grow up picking out little things that make us tick or flip us out. We become so set in our ways, so particular about the foods we like to eat or the places we like to go. For me, one of those things is keeping the pantry door shut. Guess what? My man likes seeing the pantry door OPEN, and after a month and a half of living with him, I've yet to understand just why.

But the really cool thing is, I'll do my best to make sure it always stays open. My man likes it, and I'm happy being able to do something small and insignificant.The other day, he shared with me that he sometimes shuts it for me. I had no idea, and with only two people in our house, you would think I would have realized. But in that moment, I realized again how neat it was | is that God put US together. We get tickled over small things, silly things, seemingly insignificant things.

Sometimes, I get the urge to shut the door as I'm cleaning or when the pantry needs to be rearranged and I don't want to be reminded. But instead, I leave it open and know my man will be happy. And it might sound crazy but I feel loved!

God has really been teaching me to appreciate the little things. To relax and enjoy life as it comes, to live in the present and not get so caught up in the planning - even though my two favorite Holidays are just around the corner!

All I can say is, So Far So Good!

The Knot Is Tied

I sit here on the couch all cuddled up with my cup of Coffee, staring at the set of rings glistening off my left hand. We're a few days shy of our 1 Month Anniversary and I have to admit, I'm just so ... amazed.

I'm baffled. My heart is kind of flipping out. 

I'm right where I've always dreamed of being and it sure hasn't been a disappointment. I am so thankful for where the Lord has brought us, the other side of the altar where God saw the desire of my heart and gave it to me. Married life is ah-mazing! It isn't without it's ups and downs of course. We grow together, we learn together, we strive to work as a team and listen to one another's hopes and desires, thoughts and opinions.


My husband is all I desire and even more. I am grateful for the Godly man he is, for the way he works hard every day to provide for us, the way he makes the bed every morning and kisses me before he walks out the door. I'm thankful for the little surprises; taking me for a drive down to the river and down little back roads I've never been, for little notes of encouragement and love. For redoing a little rocker we found at an Antique shop when he could be sleeping, for helping around the house and driving me all over creation looking for thrifty finds on a whim. Oh yes, and for his shared love of Italian Food and Movie Nights.

Can you beat that? All the little things I never could have thought to pray for; that would have sounded crazy to ask for in one compact package. But well, you see how it turned out. Quite splendid! Whew.

This girl is super excited to live out this crazy brand new adventure ...

 To master the challenge of cooking for two rather than 8 -- which, by the way is excellent for brushing up on the math skills: trimming down practically every recipe I'm used to eying. Haha! To make our house a home, to live a life full of laughter with my friend for life, to help him shoulder the weight of problematic situations and comfort each other in times of heartache. To hold his hand and seek the Lord for guidance when we don't know which way to go, to learn to depend on this sweet man to take care of me and protect me over himself. To be a crown and delight to him for the rest of our life.

The Crock Pot is quickly becoming my best friend on busy work days. Coffee is a great motivator when scrubbing the bathroom or folding laundry at 5am. The thought of coupon clipping is daunting to me but I'm giving it a fair try. I have a live-in fashion consultant who knows my style and keeps me from second and third guessing outfits on Sunday mornings. Girls recognize the awesomeness in that last one. It's awesome. :)

Thirty Two Days

Thirty one days and seventeen hours.

That is the remainder of life as I know it. In thirty two days my goodbyes will all become goodnights. My life will change. My name will change. My address will be new, and my home will go from a three story house to just two.

In thirty two days I will wake up and be the wife of a wonderful man who has come to love and cherish me with every part of his existence. The man who has taught me that a Father's love can never be replaced, but can be mirrored. The same man who respects my family and treats them as if they were his own.

In thirty two days, I will begin to face a whole new set of challenges. I will sometimes wonder how our needs will be met, and how our schedules will coincide. I will begin each day with a brand new look on life, and constantly wonder why God would bless little old insignificant ME with so many sweet treasures.

The furniture has all been moved, and positioned in places we could both happily agree upon. The many boxes I've been collecting for years have all been stowed away or unpacked. The little house is beginning to look like home to me; Our Home.

Each time I think of it, I have to grin. Our Home. It just sounds so ... crazy to me, to think I'm sitting here on the brink of being a married lady and having a home of my own. Sharing a roof and a whole new life with a man I'm thrilled to death to call my dearest and best friend.

I'll be honest. I pinch myself sometimes, just to see if I'm dreaming or not. Turns out, this big crazy feeling dream is REALITY! Whew, what a rush I get every time it hits me anew.

 

Splish Splashing & The Responsible Momma

The girl is all curled up in a lounge chair, the smell of chlorine filling her senses and the sounds of half a dozen children screaming and shouting above the splashing into the pool  surrounds her.

She is quite oblivious to the rest of the world as she scans the electronic pages of her kindle. Oblivious yes, but with one rather large exception. Her siblings, the happy little shriveled up fish children have made a friend or two and she watches them as they race from one end of the pool to the other ...

I can't help but laugh as Josh waves at me, bracing himself on the tiled edge of the pool. He's squinting through foggy blue goggles, his hawaiian shorts dripping wet. "Hey Bwit, watch me okay?!"

I wave and smile, knowing he's done this three dozen times in the course of almost two hours. His tiny feet leave the floor and he lunges into the air, landing with a great big splash into the water. His new friend, Zane, claps. Its obvious they've made a game of it.

About the time my blonde haired fishy child climbs back out to do it again, big sister sees a middle aged woman heading for the towel bin. Sissy ignores towel-lady, she's of no consequence to fishy child's little antics.

But then, towel-lady walks over to the boy, and big sissy is instantly on her guard. She watches with eyes peeled, ready to pop out of her chair in a seconds notice. She doesn't play games.

She tells him not to splash. And asks where his folks are. Joshy looks uneasy around his dimpled smile, he points at me. And as towel-lady makes a bee line my way, I give her a leveled gaze. I dont like strangers talking to my fish children. After all, they are playing in the opposite side of the pool where no one else is sitting. They're not being extremely loud and I warned them to be respectful of people passing by ...

She looks at me, straight up serious like I should know better than to let them splash. "You do realize its wet over there. You're aware of that, aren't you?"

I offer half a smile over the book I had been reading five minutes ago. "Yes. We've been here for awhile."

She looks unamused, " ... and what are you going to do when they slip and fall? They're going to crack their heads open."

Honestly, fifteen different responses sprang to mind just then. I am quite an imperfect human, I'll admit. Instead, I returned her unamused glare. "Yes, I know. They're fine."

She looked disgusted, I might've laughed if she hadn't been so rude. Without further adoo, she shook her head and began to move past me muttering.

"Thank you." I said. "I'm responsible."

I didn't catch if she looked back or not, I was too busy shushing my sister whose mouth was agape in amused shock. Mckenna shook her head and finally covered her mouth. I swear, people in this world sometimes.

* The girl shakes her head *

But the kids all had a wonderful time at the pool, they're running around now like little tan-white prunes. Whether legit momma or just momma for the day, it is never wise to bother their children. They take their munchkins seriously. The End. * smiles *

Sunshiney Saturday.

Today was chocked full of goodness. We spent most of the day up at my grandparents, just hanging around and swimming. It was such a relaxing kind of day and everybody had an amazing time as always.

Just a handful of pictures to sum up it all up, because if the girl chattered about every second of it she might go on and on ... Typical of chippery kind of days.

*Description of pic in order as they're posted below. * wink *

1) The twin-boy cousin of mine. It feels like just yesterday we were both toddling around the grandparent's house, Papa's old white t-shirt (our pjs of choice) dragging the floor while we fought over who got to use their tiny red Dirt Devil vaccum first. Now ... He seems to be towering head and shoulders above me overnight, picking me up and talking sports cars.

2)  Abs & Brandon. Just a picture of people taking pictures 'cause well, we're all about capturing the moment and everything.

3) Auntie and Me ~ we shared a moment over a lesson in the making of a single cup of coffee with the lovely Keurig. She makes me smile ... Mainly because she got excited over that crazy thing like I did when I first tried it. It's the small things in Life | embracing that moment and enjoying the simplicity of a tiny happiness.

4) The cousin and I with one of my most favoritest men in the whole wide world, my Papa. The man who let me steal his t-shirts for pajamas | the maker of the best fried apples my mouth ever experienced | the man who turned a small munchkin girl of three into a John Wayne fan and basically any sort of Western | who taught her b&w movies are special and good in the midst of a Disney crazed age of wild colors and sparkles | the man who promised me half a million wonderful things and gave me a world of priceless memories.

5) Aunt "Winnie" and her "Gilly-Boy". That guy with the goofy fish face | a smirk working to break lose just behind it adores my auntie to bits. Whats more, he makes her smile. He gives her a heartshaped world with two suns, sparkly clouds and still he surrounds her life with happiness.

6) Um ... I cannot say enough about this woman. She's so crazy, I mightn't claim her if it werent for us being together here. I kid. My grandma's the coolest, most amazing woman a girl could ask for in a second mother | a best friend and official "spoil the world rotten" kind of person. She makes me laugh and I downright adore her.

7) We were putting a hurtin' on them dishes till a certain somebody hit her funny-bone on the edge of the counter. Laughing over dumb things is always buckets of fun. * winks *