30 years

.July 30, 2013.

Happy 30th Anniversary to my parents.

"Grow old with me, the best is yet to be..." - Robert Browning

 

      After 30 years...

 

    They've still got it...

 

 

 

 

I want to be like them when I grow up.

 

 

You've inspired me. Inspired others. After 30 years, I'd say you know a few things about marriage.

 

 Thankful everyday I witnessed your love firsthand. Thankful everyday you loved each other more than anything else on this earth, and only second to your relationship with God. Neither of you pretended to be perfect, but you certainly showed off the ability to work through frustrations. Your marriage is and has always been fun-filled, loving, exciting, romantic...and you made our home fun. safe. a joy to be in. Thanks.

 

Maybe this had something to do with me becoming a marriage and family therapist...  

 

I love you!

Happy Anniversary! And may your next 30+ years be just as grand!

 

 

Sweet Birthday

Happy 24th Birthday!!!

...to my sweetest, dearest sister and best friend, Brittany.

Words could not capture how much I adore and love you "little" sister. Going through pictures on my computer to collect pictures from the past six years (my laptop doesn't have any earlier pictures) reminds me how constant and consistent the good times have always been. I feel so blessed to have been given a sister - a sister who defines loyalty, trust, and friendship. An argument only lasts briefly before we are laughing at something funny. It only takes a brief glance toward the other before we erupt in uncontrollable laughter, knowing exactly what each others thinking. In some ways we are the exact same. Some ways completely different. We've cried together. We've dreamed together. We've celebrated in met goals. We've shared...everything. We've encouraged in discouraging times. We've prayed in trials. We've rejoiced in victories. We've taken care of each other when we've been sick. We've been super protective of each other (just ask the kids on the playground!). We've saved each other from fashion errors. We've grown up together. We will grow old together. Best friends. Old women. Cantankerous (to each other), sophisticated, merry old women.

"There were never such devoted sisters,
Never had to have a chaperone, no sir,
I'm there to keep my eye on her
Caring, sharing
Every little thing that we are wearing
When a certain gentleman arrived from rome
She wore the dress, and I stayed home
All kinds of weather, we stick together
The same in the rain and sun
Two different faces, but in tight places
We think and we act as one
Those who've seen us
Know that not a thing could come between us
Many men have tried to split us up, but no one can
Lord help the mister who comes between me and my sister
And lord help the sister, who comes between me and my man."

- Irving Berlin

Britt, we've shared a lot in life -parents (Ha!), bathrooms, dorm rooms, an apartment, friends, college, a Greek club, oversea travels, trips across the US, memories, cars, money, textbooks, clothes, Christmas presents, laughs, tears, ideas, ambitions, stories...It goes on. I am so thankful I've got you in life. So thankful for the adventures we've shared. So thankful for the person, the woman of God you have been, are and are becoming. Thank you for being my best friend. I would not have wanted to shared sisterhood with anyone else in the world. Me and you, pook. I love you and I hope you have a wonderful birthday and a VERY blessed and abundant year!

This is me being kind with the funny pictures...and you know it :)

 I love your crazy self.

P.S. I hope you got your birthday card in the mail today. :)

Pancake Day

Pancake Day really exists. It's not National Pancake Day. It's Pancake Day.

Mardi Gras are a major holiday around here. So much so, public schools now let students off the entire week. Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, is known as Fat Tuesday, Shrove Tuesday or as TC and I prefer, Pancake Day. TC and I were grateful for the day off, even mid-week. By the way, we had the day off because it was University President's Day, not because it was Pancake Day - our entire campus shut down, thus giving us a mid-week vacation; we kindly obliged. To jump start the day we naturally celebrated Pancake Day with a stack of pancakes. We then jumped in the car and headed to the beach. I've been wanting this getaway for awhile now. It was so peaceful; just the escape we were looking for to enjoy the time off. We enjoyed walking around, listening to the waves, playing cards and watching the sunset. Only one epic fail. I brought my camera with my new portait lens TC got me for Christmas. I was super-excited because up to this point, I've not had any time to try it out (as you can tell, with the lack of posts, time has not been my friend lately). I started shooting away and realized there was no memory card and my camera has no internal memory. A pouted for a bit, but then settled for the iPhone and instagram app.

I am thankful for the time off we are given. Mental breaks and lazy days are important for recharging even if they do make a Wednesday feel like a Monday.

Birthday Wishes

TC's gift of Fiestaware purchased from an antique store in Tennessee to add too and brighten my collection. A new strap for my camera from my parents who appreciate my new love of documenting. Dinner at my favorite restaurant with the people I love so much. Roses delivered to me at work from my sweetest and dearest TC. The song which for years has been my birthday alarm, playing through my phone. Daisies given to me by my kind, sincere and incredibly fun co-worker. A new, desperately needed pillow from my healthy sister and brother-in-law. Coffee and pancakes made for me in the am. A decorated office to greet me. Lunch dates. My favorite kind of cake. A picture frame from my boss who recognizes things of great importance in my life. A call from my best friend who remembered it was my birthday even though she's thousands of miles away. All of the texts, voicemails and facebook messages from the greatest of friends wishing me the happiest.

This and so much more made my birthday exceptionally special.