Reflections

Happy New Year, friends!! A new year means a whole brand new, blank canvas of possibilities. Adventures to be had, goals to be achieved, weight to be lost (let's be honest), and dreams to chase. But it's also a time to reflect on where you've been and where you're going.

In moments like these, I can't help but think about a time, not so long ago, when Deek and I lived on separate coasts. I hope I'll always think back to those times because they help me appreciate the present that much more. It makes our lives together that much sweeter because we know what it's like to be apart and long for the life we have now.

One of our first "in person" pictures!

I remember spending holidays and birthdays apart from Deek. One time, we accidentally spent Valentine's Day together because of snow in both the South and Pacific Northwest, blocking his ability to fly out at all. It was an amazing Valentine's Day, not because we did anything special (hello, snow in the South--stay inside!) but because we were actually together for it. However, the fact he had to brave the leftover ice and snow the next day to head out to the airport did put a bit of a damper on it.

Together again!

Stuck in the snow!

But one thing about long distance relationships is they teach you live in the moment. When I was in college, we discussed the past, present, and future focuses of different nations. In general, Americans are quite future focused. We have trouble slowing down and being present because we're usually chasing that next thing. But you can't do that in a long distance relationship. If you step out of the precious moments you have together and think about the future, your heart can hardly bear it.

It also makes the small things in life--cooking dinner together, watching TV together, talking in person--so monumental. Those things that you might otherwise disregard as "regular life" transform in to precious, special moments. Remembering what it was like to cook dinner and watch TV alone or talk to Deek via FaceTime instead of face-to-face helps me treasure our times together doing the "simple things" that much more. Because, friends, life is in the simple moments. It's not in the big trips or the big adventures, it's in the every day things.

I'll never forget the day he stepped off that plane, and our time apart ended. He'd come to the South to help me pack and drive me across the country to live in the Pacific Northwest. From that day on, we've never spent a night apart, and we spend every second we can together. Because we know what it feels like to be apart. We know the longing, the ache of being away from the one you love.

Together forever

He won't have to catch a plane and fly away again. This time, I'm coming with him!

And we got married!

Twice!

So, on the start of this new year, I'm thankful, grateful beyond my capacity to describe it, to be with Deek. Thankful that we'll spend this whole year together, making memories and deepening our bond. He's the one I've waited my whole life to be with. He's my perfect partner, my soul's complete match. Last night, I rang in the new year with him, and when I awoke in my first morning of the new year, he smiled at me. I can't imagine a more perfect ending to 2015 and a more exciting beginning to 2016!

Dear friends, may your 2016 be filled with love, happiness, and adventure!! Enjoy the here and now with those who mean the most to you! Happy New Year!

2016, bring it, y'all!

My heart just cannot stand how cute she is!!!

Ok, I know I said this last year, but I still can't get over it. Until he met me, Deek had never gotten a New Year's Eve kiss. Wut the wut? I don't understand that at all! But anyway...we definitely had to rectify that situation. Here is his first ever New Year's Eve kiss and our first kiss of 2015.

First kiss of 2016. Looks like we started a tradition! :) And let's be honest, who doesn't like a big, sweeping, dipped-back movie kiss??

Happy New Year, y'all!