Monday, July 29, 2013

making a home.


  So there is this thing that happens when you grow up... and that is having a home of your own. Now at this point I do not live there, but Jason does, and the process of making it our own little place has begun. Thankfulness is in order to those who have generously given of their discarded, or at the moment unused furniture. When just starting out, you have little. My hope is that we will remain with that amount. Accountability and a great amount of self-control is the ticket.
  On Friday we got the keys to our first apartment. After a couple weeks of making multiple trips to the leasing office with various forms of valid documentation, we finally got a yes! So, Saturday evening the moving process began. It was no surprise that it did not take much to move Jason in. Apart from the bed that was given to us, Jason owns a lamp, some books, two guitars, and some family gifts and heirlooms. What a start! We giggled a bit while deciding what should go where and how we should set up the few items.
  We went to Anthropologie to get some dishes that I had been wanting and the assortment of deliciously colored latte bowls, featured above, made their appearance in our kitchen cabinets. One thing I am learning is to be grateful when things are given to you. It is true that we all have our personal tastes and preferences for what we would like, but there is something to be said for the excitement that should follow receiving a blessing from another. It does not have to be exactly what you pictured, and over time we will begin our own collection of furnishings. For right now, I need to receive and be thankful.
  Jason is an amazing person. He is sweet, gentle and always reminds me of the blessings I have been given. (Not to mention encourages me to have a good attitude).
  To new beginnings and a place to call home!

Currently Listening: "Cats and Dogs" by The Head and the Heart

Monday, July 22, 2013

preparation.


  Every little girl dreams of her wedding day. While getting older, the dream becomes more of a reality. Blogs, Pinterest, and Tumblr feed this ethereal experience of that "one day." We all end up having ideas about what we would like, however detailed we choose to be. Then the time comes to plan and you learn more about yourself than first realized. Many grooms fear the woman they asked to marry them within this season, and others hope that their lady will get everything done in time. Honestly, there are good aspects on each side. The former gets everything done and is (hopefully) perfectly satisfied with the outcome on the day of the wedding. The latter will mosey along, doing tasks here and there, whimsically pulling together ideas and possibly pulling everything together just in time.
  I stand here today to say that I am completely and utterly the latter of these personalities. I guess I am a dreamer who figures everything has worked out before. My laid back approach has saved the added stress of this season, yet there are still plenty of tasks to finish before October 19th. In my mind, all of the pieces will float together almost magically. The morning of, I will find this perfect field of wildflowers to string together as my bouquet and my attendants' dresses will flow with an ombre perfection as the decorations are placed daintily around the barn. Sounds wonderful to me. Thankfully, I have sweet women who love me and give of their time to coordinate and direct me in the ways I need to go to get things done.

  The exciting portion is still to come. Craft nights, ordering decorations, and picking out bridesmaids' dresses all mean time with the ladies who will stand with me that day. For a focus and goal, I choose to make the most of this time, to have a good attitude and to above all be someone that others want to be around. Easy enough? I guess I will see. In just under three months, I will never have this season again. I will never again be able to gaze at wedding pictures and envision my own day. I want to do this well and to be proactive in my efforts. When it is all said and done, Jason and I will be married, the people will all have some food, and everyone will be smiling.

Currently Listening: "From this Valley" by The Civil Wars

Thursday, July 11, 2013

georgia.

  
The part of me that thought around this time last year that I would never love New York City as much as Georgia was simply incorrect. I miss that place. After making the decision to remain in the suburban terrain of Buford for the coming year, floods of emotion missing aspects of New York came over me. The coffee shops, the subway, the people, the experience was like no other place and there is a piece of longing within me that cannot wait to get back. There is something to be said for contentment, and I recognize within myself that it is something I will have to choose consistently. There is beauty in being grateful for what is surrounding you in any moment. In this season of life it will be my family that is welcoming a new baby in January, the precious family I will gain in just over three months, and a rekindled fondness of the place where I grew up.
  More than just NYC, I will miss having those relationships, which I was sweetly blessed with, close by. Those seven ladies made the biggest impact on my experience in New York. Through frustrations, one-on-one talks and great food, we learned to support one another.
  Seasons change. New pieces of life spring up and I want to be in a place where I can be receptive to them. I will be back, New York. All in due time.

Currently Listening: "Madder Red" by Yeasayer