just lovely.

Today is Wednesday

but this Wednesday is my Friday.

halle-freakin-lujah

{my old testament professor used to say that. ha.}

and for some reason I'm feeling all lovey dovey today.

and I like it.

I feel so fortunate to have love in my life.

my family. my friends.

and Morgan. especially him.

I've had the love of my family since the day I was born.

And my friends, the real ones, their love I've felt for years.

and I'm so lucky for all of it.

but this love, this love that has developed over the past year {and 2 months}

has literally changed my life.

every morning I wake up grateful I have the chance to feel this unwavering, unconditional love for another human being -

who feels the same exact feeling for me.

there's no inequality. no doubt. no missing piece.

I feel whole in a way that I never really felt was possible, or knew I needed

until I met Morgan.

I know we have miles and miles to go, so much to learn,
and many mountains to climb over

but how comforting it is to know I won't be doing it alone -
I'm not doing it alone right now.

It's days like these, where I wake up, shower, and a sleepy eyed sumo-wrestling-shirt-wearing boy walks in my door at 6:30 AM to make me breakfast.

 just so we can see eachother and spend time together for oh, about a half hour, before we both jet off to our run-of-the-mill-day-to-day lives.

and times where he looks up from his studying and says 'thankyou for all you did tonight' even though he's said it a million times.

and it was just dinner.

that he even helped with {i can't for the life of me cut onions}

and those moments when I'm so frustrated, so annoyed, and all have to do is dial his number and hear his voice on the other end and

know it's all going to be ok.

and when holding his hand is all that's really necessary.

no words, no discussion, no music on the radio. just that reassurance -

that we're here...together.

and that moment when I walk in the door from traveling all week for work - sick -

and I find a vase of flowers, my favorite chocolate,

and the sweetest note {on a post-it note, which by the way may be the best part} ever

and he does it all for me.

I'm lucky, and everyday I gives thanks for that.

only one of the many surprise bouquets. :)

Drum roll please............

This year Morgan and I were 

Fred and Wilma Flintstone!

--no thanks to my creative thinking {my mom gave me the idea}--

After a week of measuring, and sewing, and threading and gluing,

{and some colorful curse words thrown in for good measure}

our costumes were created

and though they aren't perfect

I learned a lot through the process, and I think they turned out pretty good

{and bonus: everyone thought they were store bought! boo ya!}

and of course the night couldn't end without some drama...

we weren't the only Fred and Wilma.....

on the bright side: we {all} got 2nd place in the costume contest! 

It was a very Happy Halloween 

love, Fred and Wilma

Maddy Face turns numero UNO.

So I think that everyone knows Morgan has a sister - who is exceedingly younger than he is - and well, she finally turned one!

I remember when I met Morgan I didn't meet his family until about 2 weeks into when we were dating - which was about 2(ish) months after we met. He had told me that his mom was prego - but not how far along (8 months by the way) - and when I met her, his dad and his brothers (who are 21 and 12), I won't lie... I was a little surprised. But, so was Madeline. 

When she was born I was actually out of town for work. She was born on a Monday and I met her that Friday. Morgan had sent me pictures of her from the hospital, and then throughout the week, and  so I already knew she was adorable (and tiny). When I met her that Friday though, I fell in love.

Over the past year I have gotten to know this little fire ball and her personality has completely blossomed into a little girl. and I'm still in love.

pumpkins and music.

This October has been crazy, to say the least.

But it has been packed full of memories, too, and that's what's important.

When we were both {finally} in town together on a Saturday we all went to the Farmer's Market/Pumpkin Patch to pick out a pumpkin for Madeline's first {well, technically second} real Halloween. She was just happy we let her mess with dirt/large objects without taking them away :) 

Later that day we went down to Minglewood Hall and caught the 3OH!3 concert.

It. Was. Amazing.

The end. :)

Hope...

I don't know why but I was looking back on my blog and read this post - from right after the new year.

and it became entirely evident that I have not made any progress.

OK so that's not exactly true - but during the moments when I begin to worry entirely too much it feels like I'm 15, 18, 21 again - and haven't learned a thing.

Deep down I know that I have, I know that I have come a long way from who I used to be

more mature

more aware

more wise

And then there are times, times that seem much more vivid in my mind than those where I have felt solace, that I feel like I have actually taken 10 steps backwards.

I feel lost

I feel uncertain

I feel aching.

And as I look back on those two conflicting thoughts, and the many experiences that go along with them, I'm grateful

for the contrast of happiness and sorrow

because I find my happiness great outshines the darkness of uncertain times

Though sometimes I may not notice until after

after too many tears have been spilt

and my eyes are a little too puffy

after I have felt empty for no reason at all

I do finally notice the difference.

and it gives me hope.

Hope in uncertainty - my 15, 18, 21 year old selves would laugh at the 23 year old me for even thinking that

{23 and 8 months, as Morgan would remind me}

but I know its true. 

However uncertain the future is 

However overwhelming it seems

and however incapable I feel

I know there is hope. for me. for Morgan and I {for us} to be

indescribably happy.

together.

I may have to remind myself every day - every hour -

whatever it takes

but truth has a way of changing someone for the better...

over time of course

And this hope, this faith in the future, is so amazingly true.

I do

This Saturday, Morgan and I were able to attend one of my coworkers wedding.


It took place in a beautiful chapel, made entirely of just glass and wood {ok and stone and nails and steel too}, located in the middle of Garvan Woodland Gardens in Hot Springs, AR. {yes, Arkansas can be pretty - I can't believe it either} and it was incredibly breathtaking.


The happiness and love they had was bursting, and I loved every single second of it.

{I even cried a little, big surprise}

Morg and I snapped a few pictures in the gardens before we left to go to the reception since we had some extra time. The weather was gorgeous.

The reception was held at Union Station in Little Rock - and it was also incredibly gorgeous.

Though Morgan thought the vases looked a lot like drinking glasses.....

Sometimes we clean up nice ;-) It was a great way to spend our Saturday, watching two lovely people join together - and hanging out with all my coworkers outside of work is fun too. :)

Date Night

Morg and I make a point to have date night every weekend - Friday or Saturday night - or sometimes Thursday if either one of us is going to be traveling during the weekend.

This week I was in Arkadelphia, AR for work {never heard of it? I hadn't either before I had to} and so I was especially looking forward to this date night :) 

We usually have a running {mental} list of places we want to try, or things we want to do - so this week we decided to try this little italian grill {Ciao Bella} next to our favorite frozen yogurt place: YoLo. Let me tell you - the italian grub was delish - but that YoLo gets me everytime.

And according to my Grandma Ellis...

"No matter how full you are you always have room for pudding and icecream."

Even though this isn't icecream, or pudding. I think it still applies.

Of course I didn't get pictures of us before during or after dinner - but this is what matters anyways right?

Enjoying ourselves and enjoying our dessert! = perfect date night!