the day I married my best friend.

falling asleep last night, j and i talked about being best friends. we talked about how thankful we are because our relationship was built on the foundation of a two year long friendship. he told me that he knows everyone says they marry their best friends, but that some best friends are just closer than others. and we are a little biased in thinking that we are the closest.

almost three months in, we have seen more bad things about each other than we thought possible. we have gotten angry over things that don't matter and said things that cut to the core. but oh man, am i crazy about my husband. i didn't know it was physically possible to love someone as much as i love him. we know that these months are building the foundation for the rest of our lives, and we are striving to share our hearts, forgive quickly, and love deeply.

so. the day i married my best friend was magical and beautiful and marvelous. we had our wonderful friends, Juliet Cangelosi and Christina Schuman, capture our day, and they did a perfect job.

  

Photo Locations: Covenant Presbyterian Church, downtown Chattanooga, the Ringgold Depot, and Sunset Rock.

For more photos, check out my Facebook.

tbt.

Throw back Thursday. It's happening right here.

26 years ago today, this happened.

Happy anniversary to the most wonderful parents I could have asked for. Their marriage has served as a beautiful example of Christ's love. So thankful for them.

living.

I've found myself just living lately. Going through the motions, and jot really taking time to enjoy or to pay attention to the beauty in life. I'm not a fan.

After praying through this for a while now, I'm beginning to see more and more what Ann Voskamp talks about in One Thousand Gifts. It's the Eucharisteo, the giving thanks, that makes the difference. When I celebrate the little things, I have the opportunity to acknowledge God's work. 

This month, I want to do more of this. More thanking, more praying, more acknowledging. 

absence.

girlfriend needs to catch up on this little blog. pardon my absence.

j is in africa on a business trip. i'm staying with my family in chattanooga. life will resume in lancaster on october 8th, and we will be making some changes and updates on this little page of mine.

marriage.

I am marrying my best friend today. And I can hardly wait.

travel.

today, we are on the way to st. louis to celebrate virginia and kevin's wedding. i am so excited to be a part of their wedding and blessed to have had the opportunity to see their relationship grow into what God has made it today. let the festivities begin! (if we ever get there... longest. road trip. ever.)

saturday after their wedding, we head to chattanooga for our wedding week craziness to start! it's so exciting i can hardly contain it. but let's be real. if you saw me, you would think that i was not excited at all. today, exhaustion is winning over excitement. i tend to procrastinate, which means that last night i didn't sleep. instead, i was trying to put finishing touches on our apartment and pack for Josiah and for myself for virginia's wedding, our wedding week, and our honeymoon. as far as i know, we have everything but josiah's wedding tie. we aren't super positive what we will do about that yet, but do not fear. he will wear a tie in our wedding.

i am the most exhausted i have ever been. the most stressed out. the most ready to cry at the drop of a hat. but i am also the happiest, most excited, and most overjoyed i have ever been. God has been so gracious to us in this time, and has drawn josiah and i closer to him and to each other. we are praying that is how the next nine days go, too.

then, after wedding, MEXICO. TOGETHER. nothing sounds better than the beach with my love right now.

i can't wait for next week. i can't wait for josiah to be my husband. i can't wait for my best friends to be in chattanooga with me. i can't wait for my family to come in town. i can't wait i can't wait i can't wait!

time to go.

this thursday, i move to lancaster.

God has provided so much. we have a perfect little apartment. josiah is loving his job. there are more churches than we can count in the lancaster area, so we hope to be able to get plugged in and join the community.

i have spent a good deal of time feeling overwhelmed. stuck in the limbo of sorts, waiting for change to come because it is. fast. i'm sitting on the floor of my bedroom at my parents' house with boxes all around me, knowing that this time next week this room will no longer contain any of my earthly belongings.

as intimidating as it is to move ten + hours from family and dear friends, i know that it is right. my heart is already living in lancaster, and has been since may 29th. i am so happy to be joining my love and having the opportunity to see him every day.

God has opened the door for him to do what he loves in an organization that he loves. i'm so thankful for the opportunity to walk with him in his adventures. because that's what it is, following Christ. it is an adventure.