My Love

Friday night was rough.

It was one of those moments that started slowly; in fact, it has been building for awhile.

Like the kind husband he is, Travis started asking questions.

And my heart started coming out.
And then the tears started coming.

It was one of those moments when you start crying and then the tears won't stop.

I stopped a few times, but each time, within a few minutes, the tears just came flowing back out.

And my husband was so sweet and gentle.

He cleaned the living room, played a board game with my, let me cry all over him, listened, and then carried me to bed when I finally fell asleep on the couch.

It is one of those days where I am just blown away by how blessed I am. Travis in my life is simply the grace of God toward me.

So today, I want to take time to express my thankfulness for one particular area of my life...
     my husband

Travis,
Thank you for being mine, and only mine! I'm so thankful I can trust that completely.


Thank you for loving me unconditionally


Thank you for being willing to say the hard things out of love.


Thank you for constantly trying learn how to love me best. Thank you for asking things like: "How could I have said that better? What would you prefer? And, does that make you happy?"



Thank you for being close to me: physically and emotionally.



Thank you for working so hard to provide for and take care of me.


Thank you for patiently explaining things to me...over and over and over again.


Thank you for making me laugh everyday!


Thank you for singing to me and for me and about me constantly! I love your singing.


But truly, the one I need to thank is Jesus. It is from Him that all good blessings, like my husband, come.


Lord,
You have blessed my life so much, most of all through the your sacrifice on the cross. Your grace is amazing and makes me thankful everyday.
Thank you for my husband. He is truly the biggest blessing of my life. I am humbled and amazed that you would bless me with such a godly and wise husband. Keep him close to You. Teach me to love, serve, and honor him well. Bless him richly. Thank you again for the beautiful gift of my husband.

I am blessed,
<3

I Don't Want to Forget... {Part 2}

{Part 2 - Home}

That for the first 21 years of my life, Washington State was my home.

Source

What mountains look like...particularly this one.

Source

The smell of the earth when you know that rain is coming, and the freshness of the air after it rains.

How no one ever slows down for rain or uses umbrellas

How there truly, truly is no more beautiful place on earth than Western Washington State on a sunny day.

How Capitol Lake was filled with runners every morning and how I loved to join them.

{taken by my sister}

That there were so many odd and unrealistic for the "mima mounds" that my parents lived on.

{Taken by my sister}

The beauty of the Camus Lilies every spring.

The joys (and cold and wet and mud) of going to a pumpkin patch in the fall.

The beauty of snow!

How we were amazed when the snow was a 1/2 inch and lasted more than 4 hours! Haha!

What it's like to stroll down the pier (boardwalk) on a sunny afternoon.

The beauty of the Puget Sound.

How the most comforting feeling in the world is curling up on a cold, rainy afternoon with a coffee and a good book

How there  (LITERALLY) is a Starbucks on every corner. <3

The incredible beauty of cherry blossoms in the spring.

How the tress go from bare dead skeletons to trees bursting with life and color in just a few weeks in the spring.

But no matter what, the one thing I will never forget is my family! Aren't they beautiful/handsome? I miss them so much, but am incredibly blessed with modern technology. I talk to my beautiful mother on the phone everyday often get to Skype and FaceTime with them as well.

God is good. Even if Travis and I never move back, our separation is still only as temporary as this life. I am blessed beyond to have such a loving and godly family supporting and loving Travis and I.

Be blessed.

<3

New

Unfamiliar

I don't know where

Excited

Lost

Expectant

New to me

Freedom

Temporary

Craving consistency

Goodbye

Hello

Home

Where am I

Draw close

Family

Jesus

More of Him

Less of me

Sun

Sky

Clouds and Rain

Unexpected

Ocean

Awestruck by beauty

 Settled

Not at home

Messy

Life

Here we are

God is good

Sometimes its hard to put all of the thoughts and emotions running through you into logical order.

So here they are.

The thoughts of my heart and mind.

Thoughts on moving, on Florida, on current life.

But in the end, no matter what my heart feels, God is good.

God is good!

Be blessed.

<3

Where I Have Never Been...

Until last Wednesday...

I guess I've never been a lot of places until this whole drive-across-the-US-in12-days-seeing-as-much-as-possible thing. But my number one vacation goal for probably the last 10 years has been Washington DC. And now, I've been there!

The feeling I got standing inside the Lincoln Memorial, gazing up at the statue and reading the Gettysburg Address, was unparalleled awe. I was really here...I couldn't quite believe it.

So enjoy this massive photo dump of our 1/2 day in our nation's capital yesterday!

White House Gates

The White House

Security People On the Roof of the White House

A cop on a horse!

I love all the amazing architecture on the East Coast! 

Should I know what this memorial is? ...I don't

The flowers in front of the Red Cross building were all coordinated red and white! =) ...it's the little things!

This cute little guy was not afraid of us or our camera at all.

I don't remember what this monument is

I had always dreamed of seeing this view...looking down the reflection pond.

WWII Memorial with the Washington Memorial in the background.

Walking along the reflecting pool

...amd I've always wanted to see this one.
(Looking back from the Lincoln Memorial toward the Washington Memorial)

The Lincoln Memorial!!!

 

One of the coolest and most surreal moments of our trip was standing here and looking up at this famous statue

I stood there and read this whole speech as well.

Washington on the WWII memorial

Florida on the WWII Memorial.

The Korean War Memorial 

And the final main attraction...the Capital Building! 

I hope you enjoyed this little photo journal of our day in DC. It was a such a wonderful experience and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience.

Be blessed.
<3