The Great Move East

Hello, everyone! Whew, it's been a CRAZY month, but I'm so glad to be getting settled into our new home and life and to be getting back to writing and blogging. Let me catch you up to date:

When I first moved to the Pacific Northwest to live with Deek, we knew we'd only be there for about 2 years (though my family and friends were convinced I was never coming back--LOL) before he moved with me to my home state. At the time, 2 years seemed to be a long way off, but boy, they flew by.

Here we are over 2 years ago before we set out on our journey to the west!

Deek and I started prepping for the move back in January. We scanned pictures, pared our stuff, laterally traded our compact car for an SUV with a tow package, etc. But when we stared inside that 6x12 U-Haul trailer, we realized we hadn't pared down enough. So, we sold more than half our remaining belongs on Craigslist and at a yard sale with the intention of getting new things off Craigslist when we arrived. We shoved everything we could into that tiny trailer (thank goodness Deek is the master packer and got way more stuff in that U-Haul and on top of our vehicle than most people ever could have) and headed east. Deek wrote all about our adventures in his blog post here!

Since Deek had several job interviews lined up, we had to book it across the country. We didn't do our normal leisurely pace, nor did we get to do that awesome route we'd planned. But don't worry, we will go that route soon, and you'll get to see all the pics. LOL! So, weirdly, because our days consisted of 12-13 hours of driving, we didn't take many pics. Wut the wut? I know, we're just as shocked as you are.

Here are a few we managed to snag:

The red rocks of Utah

The open road and my smiley face socks

Gorgeous sunsets

As soon as we arrived, Deek hit the ground running on interviews and received 6 offers (I'm so proud of my super intelligent, charming man!!). After we selected the job, we hunted for houses nearby. Since Deek's used to walking to work, we didn't want to live very far away. With the job and house selected, we began the waiting process--waiting for the first day of work and waiting for our house to be ready to move into. And while we had to wait and live in a hotel, we decided to live in a hotel at the beach. My favorite beach, to be exact--Myrtle Beach, SC. Deek has heard about Myrtle Beach ever since he met me, and he finally got to go!!

From sea to shining sea! Deek made it coast to coast!

Myrtle Beach is called the "Las Vegas of the South." Here, everything is "go big or go home." There are so many wonders to feast your eyes on as you drive around. And, you know I have to say it...it's a warm beach! Hallelujah! I have missed a warm beach. There's just something about feeling the blazing sun on your skin and getting the good ole suntan sweat going that makes me smile. Ahhhhh...

Wait, is that King Kong??

Deek and I had a blast walking around Broadway at the Beach. There's so many crazy things to see and so many interesting restaurants and shops!

Wonderworks, the upside down building

Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville restaurant

My superman! <heart eyes>

The leg lamp!!! A Christmas Story is one of my favs!

I don't even know what to say about this one. LOL!

My vote for 2016!

Hard Rock Cafe. 

For some inexplicable reason, they're tearing down the pyramid and making a regular, boring old building. Glad Deek got to see the cool one before it got torn down.

Heehee. Not biased.

So true!!

The gorgeous, warm beach!

View from the pier

Skywheel and fireworks! What a great way to end the night!

We decided to give the upside down building, Wonderworks, a try. Such a fun place!!

Experiencing hurricane force winds. 

Deek compared to Shaq. 

My hand compared to Shaq's hand.

Bed of nails!!

Astronaut Deek

Laser tag. Watch out! Team Tenacious in da house!

We decided to eat at Margaritaville and got selected to help the staff dance during the Margaritaville song. OMG, it was so amazingly fun!!! 

That night, we went to the Carolina Opry. I haven't been there to see a show since I was a teenager. I'm so thankful to have gotten to share a piece of my younger life with Deek! 

More walking around Broadway at the Beach

Last weekend, we moved into our new place, and the following Monday, Deek started his new job. We're still unpacking boxes and getting settled, but after nearly three weeks in a hotel, we're beyond thankful to have our own home. And Deek LOVES his new job. We're so glad we selected that one out of the bunch. He even gets to wear shorts and flip flops every day! Wut? 

PS. If you ever need to live in a hotel for a while, LaQuinta offers exceptional weekly rates, and they allow pets to stay for free.

Now that the big move has happened, it's time to figure out our "normal" routine here in the South. This morning, I'm writing a blog and Deek's editing, so we're starting to ease back into it! 

And of course, we have our "wall of us" up in our bedroom. We're representing both weddings and both coasts! 

Let me just brag on my husband for a minute: Holy cow, y'all, he's the most chill person I've ever met. Even with all the heightened stress of moving, living in a hotel, interviewing, house hunting, and all that craziness, he never lost his cool. He constantly joked and kept me laughing too. Every day, he made sure I felt loved and cared for. I appreciate him more than I can ever say. There's a reason my dad refers to Deek as "the saint." He's the best man I've ever known, and I'm beyond blessed to call him my husband!  

Thanks for taking this amazing journey with us! We are officially Southerners! Yee haw! 

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!