an apple and a river

Six years ago today is a special day for Andrew and me. We frequently explored the outdoors of Athens, each with an apple in tow for a snack. One day we found a spot by the river, and he pulled an apple out of his bag and asked me to be his girlfriend. He knows I am sentimental, so he had even bought a fake apple and written on it so that I could keep it! I said yes, and then as I lunged forward to give him an awkward sitting hug, I proceeded to accidentally kick the apple over the rock cliff and into the river below. Whoops.

I would have liked to have been able to keep the apple, to have it bring up a sweet memory each time I came across it in a box or on a shelf. But I guess not having it is a symbol for me not to hold onto material things, or to be stuck in nostalgia- but to appreciate each moment for what it is... To keep the past close to my heart, but to make room for and enjoy the presence, as well.

Since that day, we've seen graduations, marriage, living internationally, starting real jobs, and having a baby- and we are still so early on our journey. I love the things we've done together, and I am excited for all that's to come... but what I love most is that we are together now. What a joy it is to grow up and grow old with you!

xo


First two photos by Gracie Blue Photography // Last photo by Hannah Forsberg

me + you

I still remember so many details from three years ago today. The cool, gentle breeze and the tall grass in the field blowing softly. The calm and peace I felt, though embarking on a completely new, unknown, and exciting adventure. The sounds of favorite songs and joyful, laughing friends. I love that I have such a beautiful day to remember so fondly. But I love even more the partnership that's been shared since then.

I saw this video a few days ago, and of course it had me in tears. What a beautiful, precious, sacred thing it is to share a life with someone. I am so blessed.

Happy Anniversary, Andrew!

Anniversary number 2, our engagement pictures, wedding pictures here and here, and the winter wedding we never had.

xo

do you remember.. the 25th of september

On this day 5 years ago, Andrew used a (fake) apple to ask me to be his girlfriend. I don't have any pictures of that day, because smartphones still weren't the mainstream. I don't have anything to remember the day by because I accidentally kicked the apple in the river in excitement, ha! I remember thinking we knew each other so well and were the best of friends. Man, life just gets sweeter.

One day later, we went on our very first date with two good friends to Six Flags. We've been matching clothes, rooting for each other's teams, and exchanging facial expressions ever since. 

Happy (dating) anniversary, my darling and my dearest friend!

xo

quarter time

We camped. 

We hiked.

We tried. :)

We dined.

We celebrated.

Happy Birthday, my love and my heart.

xo

sometimes... it's one of those nights.

Some nights you get mad at your husband for something stupid the second he walks in the door, and it turns into something long, drawn out and even stupider because you just can't move on even though you kind of already have. Then, sometimes, because of said "fight", you look at the clock and realize it is 7pm and you have not even thought about what to make for dinner. Then, it takes you another 30 minutes of very adult conversation (ha) to decide if you do or do not have food in the house, if you should or should not go out to eat, or if you should or should not just go to Trader Joe's to buy groceries since you have not done that yet this week (and it's Wednesday night...). Within said discussion, once it's decided to go to Trader Joe's you must then take an adequate amount of time deciding if you should drive and fend for parking in the same parking lot as Mellow Mushroom who coincidentally is selling all beers for 75 cents on the same night of this dinner fiasco (parking lot wars!), or walk and sweat and be forced to take a second shower for the day. Don't even get me started on then not knowing if you should wear your work clothes or change into something else, because you feel fat and ugly and uncomfortable no matter what you're wearing if you can't just be in your underwear.

So then.... sometimes.... you decide to go to Trader Joe's and buy all appropriate ingredients to make your own pizza. But when you leave, you see something super crazy happening in the sky and you don't even care about risking your cool factor by stopping and taking pictures of it in the over crowded parking lot. And then you get home and turn on something fun to watch and you make homemade gluten-free flour out of oatmeal and your husband shows off his pizza dough spinning skills from his first college job. And you don't even officially sit down to eat dinner until 9:04pm, and you think, "what the heck" and make a margarita as well because this once sour night has turned into something spontaneous and fun and you're with your favorite person. 

So, sometimes... you just have to eat dinner at 9pm on a work night and it doesn't mean you fail as wife- you're actually pretty awesome because you just fulfilled every man's inner little boy's vision of what a wife really is by having pizza and beer at 9:00 at night in front of the tv and being perfectly okay with it. Ah, the joys and perils of marriage.



Top Image found here //

another year in the books

Happy Day, my love! This time two years ago, we were preparing for a beautiful day. 

After a day full of magic, we whisked away to Maine for two weeks.

This past year has brought more tears and challenges than before, but with it, so many more laughs and an even fuller heart. I'm so grateful you are my partner and best friend through it all. I love you, Andrew.  

P.S. Our wedding soundtrack and see more of our wedding pictures here and here.

Top 3 images by Gracie Blue Photography //

what's your birthday tradition?

Do you have a go-to birthday celebration? We tend to celebrate a lot of birthdays (and any event in general) at an Athens local Pub & Restaurant, Trapeze. Andrew "surprised" me with a dinner there along with several of our close young married friends. 

Now that we no longer live in Athens, we treasure time spent with these people! It was great to swap funny stories and just be a part of the group once again. 

Three of the girls all gave me gifts from the local shop, Frontier! I always find myself wondering around in there, admiring all the little trinkets and handmade jewelry by local artists. I realized I have never bought anything for myself there, because, as Marilisa puts it, it's the perfect place to buy gifts for other people. So I am glad to have been on the receiving end this time :) (p.s. isn't Alise's baby bump just too precious?!)

I also got a dramatic hair cut, and it is now the shortest it has been since probably middle school! I'm kind of wishing I went shorter though… now that I'm not so attached to my once-Rapunzel length hair, it's fun to mix it up ;)

Thank you to all friends and family for a great 25th celebration! 

have a relaxing weekend xo

have a cheerful weekend!

What are your plans for this weekend? With the snow days this week, the past few days seem to have gone by so fast! Andrew just let me know that he is taking me on a surprise weekend trip for my birthday (on Tuesday)! I'm not sure where we are going or what we are doing, but I am told to pack a bag and be ready to head out straight from work this evening! 

I hope your weekend is full of pleasant surprises and smiles :)

xo

Image found here //

my hubs, the model

Our good friend and favorite photographer, Gracie, needed to test out some film and asked Andrew to help her out. With how quick and it easy it is to use digital these days, using film has become quite an art- but it produces the most beautiful pictures (some of my favorites from our wedding were shot on film). She definitely has the skill, and although she is still in the beginning stages of learning, her film pictures always come out so beautiful. It doesn't hurt that for this shoot she had an equally attractive model ;)

Follow this link to see the rest of the photographs from this shoot on her blog. 

xo

what was your wedding soundtrack?

With it being Christmas time, I have heard the classic "Come Thou Fount" in multiple settings. It immediately brings me back to our wedding day, because this is the song that played as Andrew, the groomsmen, and the bridesmaids walked down the aisle. 

Although I was tucked away and hiding, waiting for my entrance and unable to view this part of the ceremony (boo!), it still brings to me the imagery of the warm, early summer day with a gentle, cool breeze, the field of tall green grass, Andrew and his closest friends riding up in the old, beat up, baby blue pick up truck, and each of our favorite people making their way down, preparing for the vows soon to be exchanged. 

Here's a list of some of the songs we used, that still fill me with sweet memories any time I hear them:

Precessional: "Home"- Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros, "Half Acre"- Hem, 

"Ho Hey"- The Lumineers, "Strawberry Swing"- Coldplay

Honored Guests, Grandparents, and Parents: "Sweet Afton"- Nickelcreek

Groom and Officiant, Groomsmen, and Bridesmaids: "Come Thou Fount"- Sufjan Stevens

Ring Bearer, Flower Girl, and Bride: "Awake My Soul"- Mumford and Sons

Washing of our Feet: "For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti"- Sufjan Stevens

Recessional: "The Dog Days Are Over"- Florence and the Machine

Our First Dance: "Swept Away"- The Avett Brothers

What was your wedding soundtrack? Or, if you're not married, what do you want it to be? 

Which Christmas songs bring you special memories?

To view more of our wedding photos, click here or here.

xo

All Images provided by Gracie Blue Photography

birthday flashback

Andrew celebrated his birthday back in August, while we were living in Haiti. Since he was unable to celebrate with all of his friends back home, I organized a video with messages from each of his closest friends. Each of the boys gave such heartfelt messages, I felt so grateful for him to have so many godly and loving men in his life! I promised to post the link, and finally got the video uploaded to youtube. We had a great time with our new friends in Haiti, but nothing beats the love from home :)

xo

how to become a hero

We love this little guy. He is full of curiosity and passion and many wild ideas. I hoisted him up onto the back of the moto while Andrew was parking it in the driveway, and his face just lit up. You have to watch until the very end- his reaction is priceless!

(click the icon in the bottom right corner of the video to enlarge it)

belated birthday pictures

I never posted pictures from Andrew's birthday two weeks ago! It already feels so long ago, but I have to share the pictures from his first birthday in Haiti, celebrated with a Haitian birthday party :) Click the link below to read more and see pictures!

preacher man

Andrew had the opportunity to preach at church yesterday, with the help of a translator :) 

Two weeks from today, we will be on American soil. We unfortunately have a 9.5 hour layover in Ft. Lauderdale and could drive home faster. But, we will be in America none-the-less and already have plans to scout out a white sandy beach and a Chick-Fil-A... Do they have those in Florida? Please don't burst my bubble and tell me no... 

We are still in a transitional state- still looking for an apartment that is the right fit for us, and waiting to hear back about a job Andrew interviewed for, etc. Praying and hoping to be led to what is best for us.

xo 

the golden birthday

Happy 24th birthday to my love. You make life so fun!

Today is special not only because it's Andrew's birthday, but it's also his golden birthday, meaning- he is turning 24 on the 24th!

I experienced mine at the ripe age of 4. Have you already had your golden birthday? Did you do anything special?

We had a small "Haitian" party last night with some friends, and today are taking it easy with plans to hang out at the Best Western Hotel for a couple hours later. We're party animals! Wishing we could be celebrating with our family and friends. It'd be so fun to have a "golden" themed party. But we are happy to just be together and do things a little simpler than usual.

Happy Birthday, Andrew! I am happy to celebrate each year of life as we continue on this adventure together. 

Have a good weekend xo

Top photo by Gracie Blue Photography our wedding day // 
photo of young Andrew found on Aunt Michelle's Facebook // 
bottom photo from friend's wedding May 2012 //