My Prince Charming.

So it's been forever since I've been writing. And a ton has happened.

Most importantly being the fact that I got engaged in December.
This happened.

I can't explain how happy I am. We're getting married May 17th and I can't stop myself from counting down the weeks, even days, until I can finally spend every minute with this guy.

We've been through so much together. Highs and lows, and through it all we have gotten so incredibly close. My heart knew as soon as our eyes met that he was the one God intended to be mine forever.
God certainly works in mysterious ways. When we first met, I never dreamed we would be counting down the days until we got married. And sitting here now watching him sleeping on the couch beside me, I find myself looking back on those first days and weeks that Grant and I started building that foundation of our friendship/relationship.

From day 1 Grant has made me happier than I literally ever thought possible. When I met him, I was in the middle of the biggest, most painful storm I've ever experienced. But whenever I was with him, regardless of what was going on around me, my heart was happy again. Truly, genuinely happy.  He made me forget about the hurt I was experiencing and he made me feel safe again, something I had been longing to feel for some time.
I got to that point that when I walked into a room, my eyes immediately started searching for him. and when our eyes finally met, it was like everything in the room disappeared except for him. He was (and continues to be) my sanctuary, my safe spot. He's my rock and I draw so much strength from him.

I know this all sounds so cliché but I can honestly say that I've been blessed with that fairy tale love story with him.

We both had a past, and with previous relationships I had been in, it seemed that that past mattered. But with Grant, it was all about our future. Never "hey lets talk about how you messed up", no judgement. Just grace and patience as I worked through my emotional baggage and began to heal. Step by step he was there holding my hand, not pulling and tugging me forward, but giving me the strength to take it as slowly as I needed to.
Everyone is familiar with 1 Corinthians 13, and we all know "love is patient, kind..." etc. But never in my life (besides Jesus of course) has anyone SHOWN me love like Grant does. With him, I never have to doubt whether or not he will be there for me. He may be late :) But he is always there for me. He looks out for me, he protects me, and he truly treasures me. He puts my interests before his, and he does his best to keep us right with God and to ensure that our individual relationships with God are growing as strongly and stronger than our relationship with each other.

I love sitting with Grant and talking about having kids (we already have names picked out), and talking about future houses and jobs. It's no longer 2 separate lives that we are a part of, its one life, together, for the rest of our lives.
He loves my family. He jokes with my dad, he laughs with my mom, he and my brother are close. He's the best fit for me and my family.
I thank God every day for Grant and for his strong presence in my life. It's seriously the greatest gift he could have given me. I have a strong, godly, trustworthy man in my life forever that cares for me like no one ever has. He's perfect for me. And I love him so much.

Plan "B"

I'm been learning, the past few months, that I don't know everything. I have had all these plans in mind, the way I want and think things should be. I plan things down to the second because it makes me feel safer and more confident to know when things are going to happen. But sometimes, most times for me, God doesn't work that way. I spend all this time telling God I planned this and this and this. And he comes back with Okay kiddo, but lets call that plan B alright? I've got something better in mind for you.

Life really is a huge step of faith. Every time I picture what that looks like for me I think of the Indiana Jones movie, "The Last Crusade". In one particular scene, Indiana Jones comes to a big gap in the path he is supposed to be taking. To him, it looks like a big gaping hole he could never just jump on over. But he knows there has to be an "easier" way across. He consults his little book (in this instance is where we as Christians crack open our Bibles to see what God would have us to do next), and he finds the quote "Only in the leap from the lion's head will he prove his worth". He thinks There's no way anyone can jump that far. And he says outloud It's a leap of faith. (Are you following me yet?)

So what does he do? He takes a deep breath and steps out. And as it turns out, there's a path in front of him. A path that had been there all along but he couldn't see it. It blended into the background of the gap in front of him, and because he was so concerned with the unknown he was facing, he couldn't see that there was a safe, easy way across.

{Top picture is what he saw. But at another angle (bottom picture) there's the path :) If you can't picture all this happening in your head, and you haven't seen the movie, look up the clip on YouTube. There's a lesson there.}

Proverbs 3:5-6 is a verse that a lot of people know but don't put into practice. It says
"Trust in the Lord with all your heart
    and lean not on your own understanding;
  in all your ways submit to him,
    and he will make your paths straight"

That doesn't necessarily mean it will be easy. Nowhere in that verse does it say that he'll tell you what's next or let you decide when things will happen. It just says that if we TRUST God with ALL of your heart and not try to understand everything, he'll make your path straight. It's so so important that we let go (submit) of that Lord/Leader spot in our lives and actually allow God to take the reins and just follow where he leads.
A lesson to live by :) And something I need to work on.

Get Your Own Word

Recently we had a guest speaker come to our church to prophesy over people. He's incredibly gifted and God really uses him in our church sometimes.
My whole family was desperate for a word from God through him. Confirmation. Direction. Anything.

I didn't feel so much desperate for a word but I did want some confirmation of some things. However, the speaker never spoke to me or Grant.
That night I got to thinking and praying about it and I felt God saying If you want a word from me that badly, ask. You can't expect me to speak through someone else when you aren't doing anything to hear me yourself. It's not fair to expect someone to just tell you what God has in store for you if you aren't seeking the answers yourself. You have to make an effort to hear God and spend some extra quality time with him if you want some direction. God can speak to you just as clearly as he can anyone else. You just have to make the effort to hear him. And then listen. He wants to talk to you just as much as you want to hear from him.



I have also recently (along with Grant) have been bombarded by blessings right now. And it's pretty sweet. He's so faithful to come through for us, no matter what we have done.

This next year a lot is going to change. And it is all change that I'm anxiously waiting for.

Wish I had more to write about, but it's work, sleep, church, work. And then there's that glorious couple of hours that I get to spend with the most wonderful man to ever walk to earth.

He's even more amazing than he was the first time I wrote about him. I'm so proud to call him mine. We're gonna be awesome together. Plus there's this super cute picture of him with his little niece. He's going to be a perfect dad. :)






I love him so much :)



♫ I need you, OH I need You.
Every hour I need you.
My one defense, My righteousness
Oh God, how I need you ♫

The Sequel

I'm gonna be really honest for a minute. It's hard to write about anything but how great my relationship with Grant is. But I'll try and refrain from writing another ode to my man.

It's been a whirlwind for the last few months. It's all such a blur. But one thing I want to highlight is one super fun night.
My [second] cousin got married at this place that looked like a castle in Indianapolis. My whole family went and we had a blast. We talked and took pictures and ate. THEN we danced. Like a bunch of morons. But it was so much fun.

My older brother and Grant love each other :)

My daddy and my man ^^ :) Presh

My all time favorite picture, although it's poor quality because of the phone and the lighting, but I think it's perfect. I've never actually danced with anyone. And it was perfect. :) I had so much fun.

Great right? Movie-esque.

I'm very disappointed in myself for not writing or taking pictures at all. But apparently I just don't do that anymore? I don't know. I hope I find time to start again soon.

Next week is my family's big get together. We got some condos on the lake. And GRANT GETS TO COME WITH ME. I can't wait. 4 whole days away from the animals and work and life in general. I'm determined to have the best time ever. I may even take some pictures :)

I love my life. I'm constantly blessed by my family and my love. God's still so so good. And I wish I had more to write about.

Have a blessed day!!

My Love for GQ

So who wants to hear about my super awesome boyfriend?

I could go on forever about how blessed I am that God brought Grant into my life after struggling through, and eventually ending, my first attempt at marriage.

But I don't think you understand just how perfect he is for me. Hang with me, this is a long list.

He makes me dinner.
He takes me to the park.
He puts up with all my animals, and he actually takes care of them.
He cleans my house.
He paints with me.
He watches my TV shows and girly movies.
He kisses my forehead when I don't feel good.
He tickles me and wrestles with me until I laugh so hard my stomach hurts.
He takes me on dates.
He lets me sleep on his lap.
He tells me I'm beautiful every single moment of every single day.
He lets me drive his truck. He tolerates my ridiculous mood swings.
He prays with me.
He prays FOR me.
He wants me to be with him all the time.
He includes me in his family stuff.
He helps me with laundry.
He kills bugs in my house for me.
He plants sunflower seeds for me.
He remembers what I like.
He never takes me for granted.
He gives me the space I need when I need it.
He shares everything with me.
He writes me notes.
He sings with me, and better yet to me.
He dances with me in the kitchen.
He takes pictures with me.
He holds my hand constantly.
He protects me.
He looks out for me.
He values my opinion.
He loves my family.
He surprises me.
He listens to me.
He hears my heart.
He makes me feel loved.
He jokes with me.
He makes fun of me.
He brings me closer to God.
He makes me want to be a better person.
He has opened my eyes to what real love in a relationship is.
He has fixed my broken heart.
He filled my life with so much joy.
He saved me.
He's my best friend.

I could go on forever about how well matched we are for each other. It's a once-in-a-lifetime love. We have a connection that most people never get to experience. It's better than anything I've ever seen on TV or read about in a romance novel. I used to look at other people's relationships and marriages and think "Wow, I wonder what it feels like to be that happy with someone". But now, I feel like we are that couple. We are a couple that is so incredibly in love, that you can't help but smile when you see us. It's that good.

I believe God brings specific people together. He has a person in mind that was made especially for you. To complete you. To be a partner that is so well suited for you, that you can [almost] flawlessly meld your lives together forever. Someone that was destined to love you like "Christ loved the church". To be so passionate for you, and to show you the love of God through their love for you. We aren't meant to go through life alone.

I found my forever. God placed Grant in my life at the perfect time. I messed up God's original plan for my life, but he so graciously gave me a second chance, and slowly drew me back onto the path I was originally supposed to be walking down. He gave me Grant to lead me in the right direction. He used Grant to bring me through the worst storm of my life. And he gifted Grant to me to be a blessing for the rest of my life.

God's gracious. He wants to make you happy. He wants you to choose life. And all of the things that God does in your life is for a reason. Believe it. Trust God. Because it'll be worth it in the end.

PROVERBS 16:3- "COMMIT EVERYTHING YOU DO TO THE LORD, AND YOUR PLANS WILL SUCCEED."




We painted these for my bedroom. And I love them. It was craft day. We had a blast.



Lastly. I love my kitten Riggins. He is precious.





Sorry for the sappy, mushy, way-too-much-information about my boy. But I can't get enough of Grant Quimby.

I'm so blessed. Life couldn't be better.

Relationships 101

I have learned so much in the past few months about what a good solid relationship consists of. I'm no expert, by any means, but I have learned a lot more of what makes a relationship works.

Relationships are about give and take. It's not about one person doing everything. It's understanding that there are seasons that one person will be doing a majority of the work. It's understanding that relationships are about sacrifice. You seriously have to put the other person before yourself. It's not about you and how you feel. You do things for each other. It's an even partnership...or it should be.

I've learned that when you do it right, a relationship isn't work. It's fun. It's right, and it is something that feels very natural all the time. It's never something you force. It's normal to do what you do and to love the other person and take care of them. It's easy (in some ways) because the bottom line is you love that person. Period. Your love for them motivates you to work to better your relationship.

God brought me someone that has showed me what God's best was for me. And together we are learning what it means to form a Godly foundation for a relationship that can lead to a blessed marriage.

A right relationship is beautiful. It not only makes you happy, but it can bring joy to people around you. It's contagious. That's the way it's supposed to be. I believe that when people see you together, they should see the chemistry. The connection.

I'm so incredibly happy right now. I am blessed by my family and my relationship. I'm hopeful for what the future holds. And frankly, I can't wait to wake up in the mornings and spend yet another day with my handsome boyfriend. :)

Family photo=
Hanging out around the fire pit. I am in love with this picture. Nando was being stubborn and didn't want to look at the camera.




So some updates: Grant and I planted some sunflowers that are supposed to grow to be between 11 and 16 feet tall, so I'm pretty excited for those to grow up :)
We got a new kitten that keeps us entertained for hours. He is precious.
In 1 month we are going to the Luke Bryan, Thompson Square, Florida Georgia Line concert in Peoria and then to the zoo after that. I am basically dying of anticipation. That's gonna be a great weekend.

Grant and I are still holding out for a whole week of good weather so we can go camping. It doesn't seem to stay nice long enough to go. But it will get there. :)

Hope everyone has a great week!!!

♫ When you say you love me
The world goes still, so still inside
When you say you love me
For a moment, there's no one else alive ♫ -When you say you love me -Josh Groban.

Grant sings this song to me all the time and it never ceases to bring a smile to my face. I love him :)

It's Been A Long Time Coming

Almost 2 months since I've written so much as a list. I don't know what happened but apparently I don't write anymore. Life is busy :)

From last year on April 22, to this year on April 22, my life has drastically changed. Last year I was unhappy. I felt as if I wasn't quite where God wanted me to be. But I thought if I could just ignore that feeling of settling, that things would smooth out. Turns out they did. But it took over a year. And I got absolutely crushed in the mean time.

I'm a whole new person now. I have a new life, a new love, and a new happiness that never seems to go away. God has brought me out of the worst storm I could imagine going through, and the weather on this side is perfect =] He saved me from a situation I had no business being in, and He continues to bless me every day. I'm part of a family that loves and supports me. He brought a boy into my life that has changed my definition of love. And I don't know how to express how thankful I am.

My job is incredible but I already can't help but feel like I want a change. Because I'm stubborn and unhappy that I am STILL not working with horses.

I turn 21 in a couple of days, which is whatever. The number anyways. Everyone that knows me knows I LOVE my birthday and that everyone else better love my birthday too :)

Basically, the new me in a nutshell: HAPPY. I'm happy. I smile. I wake up every day loving my life. I'm tired, sure. I'm exhausted sometimes. But I'm always happy now. God has brought so much sunshine into my life recently and I just can't explain how it makes me feel.

It's sunny today, and I got about 10 hours of sleep. So today is gonna be a good day.

Some pictures: Just because no post is complete without a few pictures.



This is me and my handsome boyfriend. I don't know why I didn't wait for God's best for me. But God came through, even in my disobedience, and brought his best to me just in time. I can't wait to see what God has in store for us, but I am confident that I have forever to figure it out :) Grant brings me joy like no one ever has. He makes me feel like myself again. He truly is the half that makes me whole. His family has accepted me with open arms, which is more than I can say about previous relationships. His mom loves me like her own and takes good care of me. His dad is amazing and I just love spending time with them. It means so much to me to have the opportunity to be a part of another beautiful family.

I have had a lot of people comment about pictures of me with Grant, and they always mention that it's nice to see that light, that life, back in my eyes again. And I can truly say that's because of Grant. It's incredible to feel that you're finally on the path God intended to have you on. His blessings will knock your socks off, I can say that much is true.

And every day I find more great things to be thankful for. So God? Thanks. For all of this. I don't deserve it but you continually bless me every single day. So thanks :)

I love life. I love love. And I am finally HAPPY :) *Happy Dancing*

Sunshine. Blue Skies.

♫ The sweetest thing that you'll ever see is a happy girl ♫