Letters by The River

We met under bizarre circumstances this past February. He was traveling through town and stopped to visit his brother who just happened to be married to my boss at the time. We giggled together and ran through the rows in Ikea. However, I was in a delicate time in my life due to an avalanche of changes. I couldn't simply give my heart to this man who just put the wind in my sails. I wanted to keep in touch with patience and understanding, so we wrote. We wrote letters long distance to each other to learn about each others past and our desires for the future.

Since then our happy worlds have been molded together under extraordinary God intervention, and now we live down the street from each other and interact almost every day. But the hand written letters have continued, the letters addressed to me in my full and proper name.

This past Friday began like all of the wonderful Fridays before it. At lunchtime, texts are exchanged regarding our date night plans. He pulled up our list of must eat places in Atlanta, and picks one that is the closest to our hearts and our homes, Ray's on the River.

Fully dressed in our finery we take the steps down to the river behind the restaurant and meander to a bench. He pulls out a highlighter and lots of letters. All of the letters that he has written me, all the way back to the beginning. He asks me to highlight the first word of the first paragraph and the second word of the second paragraph in each letter. I begin highlighting and highlighting, each time scribbling down each discovered word to form the beautiful secret message that has been waiting to be discovered for months.

The last word gets highlighted and the message is complete and I feel my emotions tipping over. He stands up only to bend back down on one knee. I understand what is happening and I just want time to stand still. We are going to be together forever is the only thought running through my head as he places the ring on my finger and I say yes. I hear people clapping who just witnessed our love.

This is our story. Well... just the beginning of it.

Click here to see our amazing engagement photos!

Redefining Traditional

If you were organically introduced to me before I spoke a word, you could say I am average girl with brown hair, fairly short with a nice smile. In a single glance you would say oh she is pretty traditional.

The thing is, despite my traditional so to speak looks I thoroughly enjoy breaking traditions and molds.

One of the most thrilling parts of my job is shocking the advertisers that walk in my doors with the knowledge that I have in my industry and how well I know my numbers.

The most baffling thing to me lately (due to my serious relationship with this hunk) regarding tradition is wedding day madness. 

Cake by Perry Olsen

Do you have any idea why people have white three tiered wedding cakes? Me either. But people do it weekend after weekend during the wedding season. A little nuts (if you ask me)!

I would love to know what people did or are planning to do to break traditional wedding boundaries! Do you want to play heavy metal at your reception? Did you pour light and dark coffee grinds together instead of sand?

How are you redefining traditional for generations to come?

Maiedae Mixer

This past weekend, I had the privilege of helping out with one of the most fun events ever, the Maiedae Mixer! This event was a long time in the making and came with lots of craft days and extensive planning, but ultimately was totally worth every single second to see lots of wonderful bloggers come together to meet up in person and have a fabulous time! Below are just a few of the shots from the events from Smilebooth!

All of these women are incredible and such a blessing in my life!

Jessica and I with a few of the Raffle items we gave away!

We all attempted to get into the Smilebooth at the end of the night and well, you can see the top of my head! 

Resting in Him

Art by Cliff Wassmann

I was given a time to rest, but to be honest I haven't been doing very well.

It is in my nature to achieve, to get things done, so not having a job to be productive at is starting to take its tole on my heart.

Everyday my quest continues to find the correct career path, but I felt like something was amiss since I started my time of rest. Something was tugging and crying to be discovered, but I couldn't place my hand quite on it.

Then I started reading a book that my friend Leah mentioned called 24/6, which is about remembering the Sabbath and how important and holy, a day of rest is in our lives.

It clicked, God has given me this opportunity to rest and to chase after him, but instead I have been racing trying to find my own path and filling up my time with random garbage. I now have time to read His word more, spend time meditating and praying. All things that I have said I would do more of, if I only had more time.

I was given the gift of more time, and I wasn't using it. I was just working for my own gain, and it left me feeling empty. After the realization of my stupidity, I am bound and determined to not feel sorry for myself for the lack of achievement of a job at this moment, but instead use this time of rest to trust Him and learn more about the Maker of the world.

My Birthday, Disney Style

I had the pleasure of going to Disney on my 26th Birthday! Ok, so me being a big kid at heart, I absolutely loved getting to be surrounded by happiness and wonder on my birthday.

The beauty alone of the park was breathtaking.

All of the colorful flowers blew me away!

However, something more special than even the flowers and beauty of the park and the over abundance of Happy Birthdays due to the button I wore that said my name and that it was my birthday was just the pure joy of spending the day wondering around the most magical place on earth with this amazing man who put it all together!

Also pictured is the lovely spice board, which is the gift that he made for me under my instructions that he had to make me a birthday gift and not purchase one!

I enjoyed spending my birthday at Disney and I am excited to see what year 26 of my life brings, something tells me it is going to be awesome!

Picture This: April Sun, Poster, Smiles

The warmth of the sun touches the trickling water.

Some apple bread that was taken to make french toast with friends, the beautiful quilt made with love from a grandmother and a poster bringing whatever you need in life.

The smiles are those of a yummy dinner and the conversations of joy yet to come.

Speakeasy

It was 1929 in Chicago and Hal Capone had just been murdered, and one of us did it!

My friends and I all got together for a murder mystery dinner, where we were all actors.

The whole night was hysterically funny, and I would do it all over again in a heartbeat!

Singleness Season: Goals

This whole being single thing is proving to be way more difficult than I imagined. I have been thrown for a loop already. My mantra was going strong until:

This guy ran in and jumped into my life.

Me being a keeper of promises, deemed that I would stick to my single lane road for six months no matter what. So this man, who I want to continue to get to know was told of my journey. The gentleness and patience he is showing, in understanding my situation, means that he is staying at arms length. So, how to build a friendship and encourage each other to live more for the Lord without daily communication?

 46¢ at a time.

Oh yeah old school pen pals. We are trying to keep the dying industry alive. It will be an interesting journey to say the very least. However, my heart is ultimately focused on myself and pursuing God during this wonderful opportunity to grow.

Choices

Doubt, Smile, Day Dream, Whine, Be Angry.
They are all are things that we choose to do.
Each choice we make weaves together to build our personalities and character.

Happiness is a choice.
Loving someone is a choice.
Worrying is a choice.

It is hard sometimes, when we get caught up in the emotion that fills us daily to step back and actually think. You will never be able to control anybody's actions, but you always have a choice on how you react.

Over these past few months, I have been constantly testing myself, measuring and weighing the big life choices that I was and am making. However, I think the one choice that I have been the most grateful of is living the life that God wants me to live and just being happy!

Take an active stand to capture your thoughts and make wise choices!

Boyfriends

Everything in life is a journey.

For me, most of my journey has involved a male counterpart, my boyfriends of ghost past so to speak. And each and everyone of them has played a part of who I am today and encompasses what I am looking for in my future partner in crime love.

JC- My first true love. He was by far the most romantic of the bunch! His rose petal entrances and notes simply could not be topped. His love for me was real and true with romance spilling at the seams.

BE- Oh goodness was he a blast! His energy and excitement for life was amazing. Always wanting to push everything to the top, to the next level. He loves living.

CC- His soft spirit and outdoor nature drew me to him. The peace that he brings with him is outstanding. Confidently helping others is always his goal.

TP- Genuine authentic lover of life and family. He was fabulous with children and had a heart for those that he loved. Small community driven and wants nothing but the best.

TD- He knows his stuff. The business mind and wheeling and dealing. He is drawn to connect with people for the love of the game. He knows what it takes to get things done.

GG- Lover of the Lord. He constantly strives to live up to the perfect will of the Lord. His exuberance for life and his dependance on God is astounding. Wanting to be a better man every day.

The qualities that these men have shone to me, make me so incredibly happy! Each one in their own separate ways has shown me what I desire to have in my perfect for me mate.

Romance
Energy
Peace
Family Man
Get it done attitute
Lover of the Lord

I can't wait to see what/who the light will be at the end of the tunnel, but I am thankful that I am getting to spend this time focusing on God and myself during this singleness season.

Singleness Season

To level with you straight, I am a serial dater. I don't mean that I date lots of guys at one time, I mean serial dater as in I always am dating somebody. I have not been single for more than three months since 8th grade so we are talking about over 84 months. A bit ridiculous considering Mr. Right has not been one of them clearly.

I did some self-digging a while back and found that one of the hidden roots to this problem stems from the fact that my dad passed away when I was in the 8th grade, so having a male in my life to talk through things is like a security blanket. And carrying around a blanket for a gal my age is a bit much.

So, in keeping in line with of my life changing moves (and being slightly urged/encouraged by my friends) I am starting a singleness season.

For the next six months, I am not allowed to date anyone. Not to say that if the perfect for me person comes along, I can't be friends with him, but no one on one dates/talk on the phone every day kind of relationships for me.

I need time to discover who I am without another person. To grow independently.

To be honest, I am scared to death that 25-year-old me is going to just die alone (I jokingly/not really jokingly say to my mother every time a guy and I break up). But, I need to learn that it is important just to be me.

So folks, over the course of the next few months I will begin all kinds of new journeys, a new town, a new job, a new apartment and a new season of singleness which is the one that truly scares me the most. I have some goals that I will try to will accomplish during this time that I can't wait share with you soon!

Gulp!

P.S. I am so thankful for my friends during this time of craziness and here is a link to us being crazy for Jenny's birthday.

Reformation

My job. My house. My relationship status.

They all have changed in the past two weeks.

Via

This time in my life is proving to be more volatile than I had ever imagined. I am currently the caterpillar who just wants to curl up into my cocoon to be transformed. The tears, heart break, doubt and uncertainty, I am ready for them to disappear. The beautiful colors that encompass the butterfly, those are what I am ready to embrace.

Christmas Expressions

The holiday season is filled with wonder and awe.
The unexpected gift, that delivers joy!
The icing of sugar cookies, that prove to be great till the last bite.
The first taste of homemade eggnog, filled to the brim of a glass boot.

These are just some of the wonderful moments I have captured of my beautiful friends faces during this season of love. I can't wait to see what the next few weeks holds.

Oh and the tea party photo shoot that I was asked to take part in has been featured here. 

So check out my expressions!

Christmas Gift Guide for Your Girlfriend

I have been a girlfriend, for a long time. I mean a really long time. I haven't been single for more than a couple months at one time since 8th grade. So, I had a guy friend of mine ask me what to get his girlfriend, whom he has only been dating a couple of months (so jewelry is out of the question) for Christmas, me be being the expert on what girlfriends like and all, I came up with the following:

Soy candles (dulce de leche scent), yummy loose tea, bubble bath bombs, and a soft colorful throw blanket.

No matter what gift you give a girlfriend at Christmas it needs to show that you care for them, and that you put time and thought behind it. Therefore, I put together a pampering package. My guy friend's girl, lives states away so they spend a lot of time apart, therefore it is important that she knows he is giving her a big hug through the cold months even though he isn't physically there. Everything in this pampering package brings warmth, and thought. Accompanied with a handmade card, this gift package will make her truly smile!

Toasting Tea Party

Two wonderful photographers Erin Michelle and Sarah LaRue got together and decided to throw a tea party photo shoot and I was asked to take part in this wonderful event.

We had so much fun laughing, eating homemade strawberry cake and eating sugar cubes!

All of the little details, really made the event feel super special and over the top!

They did such a wonderful job, and I enjoyed every minute of it!

Prayer, it changes things.

We were running a little bit late, so I drove a smidgen faster than I should have down the winding roads towards church. Along the way my boyfriend and I were discussing the power of prayer. Since he is currently in seminary, these biblical talks are frequent and enjoyable.

The question is, how much does the power of prayer change the outcome of a situation? How much influence do our prayer have? Does it change the plans God has in mind for us?

Getting lost in our thoughts, we almost didn't notice the blue lights flashing behind us. Three weeks before, I had a similar experience that ended with a pricy speeding ticket, so I was less than thrilled.

After the state patrol man came up to my car window to get my information, Glenn prayed. He prayed that the officer would have mercy and grace on us.

I got a warning.

I don't believe in coincidence.

God was making a point.

Whatever is going on in your life this week, big or small, pray about it. It will change things.

Collisions

Words /// Picture

Emotions Flood the Soul

Photo Via

Mountain Day

This was an extra special weekend, because I got to see fabulous alumni from my college for an annual homecoming event called Mountain Day! Lots of laughs, stories and lack of sleep were had.

Then Sav, Glenn and I participated in the Sofa Shuffle! Sav is taking my sofa, and I got a new one and she is pictured above being a beast. That chick is strong! The last photo is from yesterday's tea party photo shoot that I was asked to be a model in. I loved the whole installation!

Happy Monday and stay warm out there!

Johnson Family Reunion

The People

The Fun

The Place

My mother's side of the family had the annual Johnson family reunion this weekend and boy was it a treat! From gag gifts to stuffing our faces with food it was fabulous to spend the weekend with people that you absolutely love. I have such a wonderful family and I treasure the time I get to spend with each and every one of them. We even had T-shirts made for the occasion, because why not :)