Once in a lifetime...

Of all places I found this on facebook and had to share! 

"Only once in your life, I truly believe, you find someone who can completely turn your world around. You tell them things that you’ve never shared with another soul and they absorb everything you say and actually want to hear more. You share hopes for the future, dreams that will never come true, goals that were never achieved and the many disappointments life has thrown at you.

When something wonderful happens, you can’t wait to tell them about it, knowing they will share in your excitement. They are not embarrassed to cry with you when you are hurting or laugh with you when you make a fool of yourself. Never do they hurt your feelings or make you feel like you are not good enough, but rather they build you up and show you the things about yourself that make you special and even beautiful.

There is never any pressure, jealousy or competition but only a quiet calmness when they are around. You can be yourself and not worry about what they will think of you because they love you for who you are. The things that seem insignificant to most people such as a note, song or walk become invaluable treasures kept safe in your heart to cherish forever. Memories of your childhood come back and are so clear and vivid it’s like being young again.

Colours seem brighter and more brilliant. Laughter seems part of daily life where before it was infrequent or didn’t exist at all. A phone call or two during the day helps to get you through a long day’s work and always brings a smile to your face. In their presence, there’s no need for continuous conversation, but you find you’re quite content in just having them nearby. Things that never interested you before become fascinating because you know they are important to this person who is so special to you.

You think of this person on every occasion and in everything you do. Simple things bring them to mind like a pale blue sky, gentle wind or even a storm cloud on the horizon. You open your heart knowing that there’s a chance it may be broken one day and in opening your heart, you experience a love and joy that you never dreamed possible.

You find that being vulnerable is the only way to allow your heart to feel true pleasure that’s so real it scares you. You find strength in knowing you have a true friend and possibly a soul mate who will remain loyal to the end. Life seems completely different, exciting and worthwhile. Your only hope and security is in knowing that they are a part of your life."

Jason, I am blessed to love you, and can't wait to start our life together!!! 

 

love this thought

The Christian faith is a practical faith. God employs experience in order to teach us, to develop our abilities. And even then, He is more interested in the interaction He has with us in the process than He is in teaching us anything at all. God is not our boss, He is our Father. The whole world is an educational playground God is using to bring you toward perfection, to raise you as His own child. - Donald Miller 

The Perfect Weekend

Cindy's shower, Jenn's surprise Grad Party, wedding dress shopping, and having all the girls together again makes for a perfect weekend!!! Cindy's shower was a huge success, and Jenn cried tears of joy when we surprised her at the Wine Loft! We're so happy and excited for Cindy to start her life with Michael. I can't believe it's just 2 months away!!! I'm so thrilled for Jenn, and she gave me good news that she'll be my neighbor soon!!!! Chicago, watch out! 

Sunday we headed to the dress shop...it was better than anything I'd ever imagined it could be. My mom did good, no tears, just BIG smiles! Everyone was wonderful, and I did find THE DRESS! It's my dream dress...and I can't wait for everyone to see it! (I'll write more about this on our wedding blog...we're still doing some fine tuning on that...so stay tuned!) 

I love you mom, and girls you are my sisters, my family, and I could not live this life without each and every one of you!!! 

I love the 80's

I loved growing up in the 80's! Now, I know that the toys back then aren't as "high tech" as most of what there is now, but I remember playing in the sandbox with the tonka trucks (I was a bit of a tom boy) and then entertaining myself for hours and hours as I was building my own city with Lincoln Logs in my Grandparents basement. I'd throw in some Lego's here and there and when I'd get bored with that I'd go play with my chemistry set. I am sure I made my mom very nervous a couple of times...ok, who in their right mind thought that was a good idea? Really..children playing with chemicals...I think I might have been 9 or 10, ...I remember making something like sparklers, and yes, actually making sure they worked by lighting them on fire...oh boy! If I wasn't busy attempting to burn the down the kitchen, I was playing Nintendo, trying to beat the 8th level (I think that was the highest one) with Luigi. I liked him better than Mario. When I'd get bored with that I'd head to my Rainbow Bright room and read one of my many Babysitter's Club books! Wow, so many great memories! 

Now there's Wii, and Xbox, and tons and tons of electronic games...don't get me wrong these are fun too (especially Wii, I love that you can make one that looks just like you) but I have to say that I'm glad we grew up with what we had...and I love reminiscing...kind of makes me feel REALLY old!!!

What was your favorite toy?

the next generation

First came love, then came marriage, and now the babies are here or on the way! Jason and I made our way to Indy to visit Jess & Kris who are due to have their twin boys in August! Jess looks beautiful, Kris can't stop smiling, and the babies are healthy and things are right on track! We were also so happy we got the chance to see my pretty Greta! She's going to be heading to Fiji in May for involvement in the peace corp. She'll be working with children over there, and they are going to be so lucky to have her! She has a huge heart and can't wait to make a difference!!! Just this past weekend we met Miss Brooklyn Bohms, and cutie pie Reese Matzka! Aunt Courtney loves them both so much, and I think Uncle Jason was just as smitten! Everyone is happy, healthy, and the new baby adventures have just begun! We're so happy for all of you!!!

obsessed with live music

Last night Jason, Rachel, and I went to see Dave Barnes @ Lincoln Hall. It was amazing! I didn't realize how close I lived to this great venue, and I will definitely be keeping my eye out for more Sunday night concerts! It was a great ending to a very productive and busy weekend! Andrew Ripp opened for him, and he's incredibly talented too. (I bought both of their cd's and have been listening to them on repeat all day!) Dave played "God gave me you" and I was VERY happy! He also played this song called "Home" and it tugged at every last one of my heart strings...it was about family and friends...we never know what tomorrow holds, so appreciating the people in our lives and letting them know how much we love them is so important! 

"Home" 

Your voices swirl and welcome me,
Hem me in, make me see.
That we are all familiar now,
We're in each others blood somehow.

I will never be a stranger,
I will never be alone.
Cause wherever you are is home.

So raise a glass and gather round,
Toast the night and friendships found.
And I'll lay to rest my troubled face,
And breathe deep this amazing grace.

I will never be a stranger,
I will never be alone.
Cause wherever you are is home.

Sometime soon this road may part,
Mine may end where yours starts.
But should you ever need me,
You know right where I will be.

You will never be a stranger,
You will never be alone.
Cause wherever we are is home.

yellow or blue?

Let's not forget that the little emotions are the great captains of our lives and we obey them without realizing it.  ~Vincent Van Gogh, 1889

All the places we will go...

(Heading to Indy...driving down Lakeshore Drive last weekend!)

The traveler was active; he went strenuously in search of people, of adventure, of experience.  The tourist is passive; he expects interesting things to happen to him.  He goes "sight-seeing."  ~Daniel J. Boorstin

We experienced the calm before the storm in March...April blew in and the traveling has just begun. I found the above quote and thought it fit perfectly for the upcoming months...Jason and I will be traveling A LOT...and everywhere we go, and everything we do will create memories that will last a lifetime. Especially when we will be creating these memories with the people we love so dearly. 

Last weekend we were in Indy....this weekend Kalamazoo....and Atlanta, and Hawaii are on the horizon! 

I also think, one of the best parts of the trips we make are the conversations that Jason and I share. We laugh a lot, share comfortable silences, and always find ways to learn more about each other...we're making our own amazing race! 

Swan or Shark??

Jason and I finally watched "Up In the Air" the other night and as depressing as it was, I loved it! I loved the snarky commentary, the storyline, and most of all being able to stare at George Clooney through all of it! For those of you who have not seen the movie, I won't throw out any spoilers...but there was one huge part that I thought was so spot on....it was in one of the first scenes where George's character speaks at a seminar...

"How much does your life weigh? Imagine for a second that you're carrying a backpack. I want you to pack it with all the stuff that you have in your life... you start with the little things. The shelves, the drawers, the knickknacks, then you start adding larger stuff. Clothes, tabletop appliances, lamps, your TV... the backpack should be getting pretty heavy now. You go bigger. Your couch, your car, your home... I want you to stuff it all into that backpack. Now I want you to fill it with people. Start with casual acquaintances, friends of friends, folks around the office... and then you move into the people you trust with your most intimate secrets. Your brothers, your sisters, your children, your parents and finally your husband, your wife, your boyfriend, your girlfriend. You get them into that backpack, feel the weight of that bag. Make no mistake your relationships are the heaviest components in your life. All those negotiations and arguments and secrets, the compromises. The slower we move the faster we die. Make no mistake, moving is living. Some animals were meant to carry each other to live symbiotically over a lifetime. Star crossed lovers, monogamous swans. We are not swans. We are sharks." ~Ryan Bingham

I ask myself...am I a swan, or a shark? ...maybe a little bit of both? I love and value the many relationships I have in my life. I love the arguments, and the compromises. I love the predictability, or spontaneity each can bring. I love the laughing, and crying, and being able to depend on others and love being depended on. So, if this makes me "move slower" then so be it!

What about you?

Goosebumps

It's Easter Sunday, and I'm sitting with Jason and his family in the second row waiting for the service to begin. People are filing in, everyone is hugging, talking, smiling, and most of all celebrating! I love Crossroads. It's humble, real, and honest. Everyone is so friendly, and despite the fact that it's held in an elementary school gymnasium, it's members make it larger than life. 

I can't help but feel this huge calm come over me every time we attend a service and this visit was no exception. With the holiday being Easter, it brings with it lots of Easter dresses! There were kids everywhere and the little girls were all dressed to impress. Purples, pinks, yellows, and every other color of the rainbow was out in full force and they were all so adorable!!

The worship began, and we sang our hearts out. Like every time before I feel the goosebumps start to rise on my skin. The music, the people, the love, and the energy are electric, and contagious. In the middle of the second song, I close my eyes and say a little prayer of thanks for all that God has done. When I open my eyes, I look over to the left and in the very front row I see a young father and his little girl. I'd have to guess she was just shy of 2 years old, with fiery red hair, and she was decked out in the most adorable little purple dress and shiny white patent leather shoes. Just as I looked at her, she turned my way and looked right back at me and smiled this huge cheeky smile, and of course I couldn't help but smile back. I continued to sing and just before the song ended I look back over at this little angel and when I do, there she is, standing her small 2 feet tall and has her tiny little right arm raised to God, reaching as high as she can. My heart just leaps. I am so overcome by the sight of this that I start to cry. Tears of joy. 

Now, I know she's very young, and maybe she didn't know what she was doing, but I'd like to think that God was working in that room, with her, and with everyone else that was there to worship and thank him. Goosebumps are the best part...the tugging of my heart strings never gets old.

Good Friday

I am the good shepherd.  The good shepherd lays down his life for his sheep... No man takes it from me, but I lay it down myself. John 10: 11

Christ died for our sins because he loved us that much. I am who I am because of him! 

Proposal Pictures!