what I’m learning being married

James & I will hit the 6 month mark of marriage this coming Easter weekend. 6 WHOLE BIG WHOPPING MONTHS. I know what you’re thinking…that’s NUTHIN’! But it seems that time is flying in a “6 months ALREADY? / ONLY 6 months!? Feels like we’ve known each other much longer.” kind of way. If that makes any sense at all.

I was prepped my whole life to know that “marriage is not easy & not always all romantic like the movies make it out to be.” (granted, I feel that these days movies are portraying more and more dysfunctional family situations than they used to. or is it just me?) Anyway, I’m grateful for going into marriage with realistic expectations. It has made me cherish every bit of it & have fun in the journey. I think marriage is GREAT and SO FUN and SO WORTH IT! Personally, I’m having a blast. That doesn’t mean it’s always all cherry pie and picnics though.

And for some reason, I just feel like sharing some things I’m learning along the way…

1. Don’t dwell on the little things/pick your battles. I’ve accepted that even though I have the mentality of branching out and trying new things…James will ALWAYS order the one thing on the menu that has”BBQ” in the title. Mundane? I think so. The man likes to stick with what he knows. He’s simple. I’m not so much. And I’m not just referring to our food preferences. I could easily let things bother me. Though I’m seeing that our combo is quite the perfect match. We balance each other out nicely.

2. James is male. I am female. well, DUH! But…I’d say we’re both learning to be accepting of the fact that I will always have to repeat myself a few times if I want to get a response out of him while he is watching TV, fiddling with his phone, playing a video game or basically doing anything with technology. Likewise, he has come to terms with the fact that I’m overly sensitive and could, at any given moment, start crying about who knows what that might not even have to do with him. So, patience is key because I highly doubt either of those things is ever going to change entirely…or at all.

3. Communication! We can’t read each other’s minds, so no use harboring ill feelings about something. I think this is mostly for me – the overly emotional one. Poor James won’t always know if I’d like him to help more with something. or WHY I’m acting cranky or stressed. or if there is something bothering me. I’m learning to speak up about it more. He does the same. I know it has brought us even closer together.

4. I’m super blessed! If I ever do bring something up to James or have a melt down, he is very sweet, tender, and caring to make things right & try to understand. He’s very quick to apologize. And I’m learning to be.

5. I am not perfect. Neither is James. I tend to overspend on groceries. James tends to buy too many gadgets on Amazon. I hate that he goes to bed so late most nights. He hates that I get tired so early practically every night. He hates eating dinner early. I hate that he gets hungry at 11:30pm. He loves being right and proving people wrong. I, also, enjoy being right and do not enjoy being proven wrong. He doesn’t like every article of clothing I pick out for him. He also doesn’t love every pair of shoes or colored tights I like to wear. BUT I’m (we are) learning that we can’t control each other, to accept differences, to accept faults because we both have them, but to also work towards improvement.

6. I am not always in the mood to watch the movie James wants to. I don’t prefer all of his music choices. He’s a constant cuddler. I like a little more space when I sleep. He can sit inside all day. I get antsy and cranky and want to go out. He doesn’t really like going out on walks with me. BUT…we are learning compromise. Loving someone & wanting to see them happy means we do things we might not always like or want to do.

7. Set goals and dream big together! James and I both like to dream big. He’s better than I am at making things happen, but that’s good. He helps me. We set goals together. We both are “in the know” with finances & other important matters. That unity is vital to making our “dreams” come true. It’s nice to be on the same page and work and grow together – To support each other in our endeavors. Especially when there are a lot of bumps on the road there.

 

I guess today I’m especially grateful for marriage. For my sweet husband. For the last 6 months. For how much we both have learned and grown. And mostly for the future we have ahead of us….I look forward to next weekend when we go to Seattle. I look forward to next month when we move home to Georgia. I look forward to a year from now and wherever that puts us. I look forward to when we decide to expand our little family. And I look forward to us being a gray-haired couple still crazy in love!

 

here’s to marriage!

love, whit

sunny spring weather

This has been the first week here in Provo, Utah where I could walk up to campus in short sleeves! The heaps of piled up snow are gone and the sun is shining. This spring weather couldn’t make me happier!

It was so nice today, James and I went on a walk to get lunch. We decided to try the much-raved-about local joint, Communal. It was just as I’ve heard – Amazing! We wish we’d tried it sooner. Cool, clean, fresh, delish! We both really liked their Gala Apple Salad…

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Time is flying and this Spring is bringing so much our way…

NOTABLE: Today marks ONE YEAR exactly from when James came home from his mission in Argentina.

Paige and I were there to greet him after he was released because she was really good friends with him. I only knew who he was, but happened to snag the first hug because Paige had run to the bathroom. James and I started carpooling to work a few days later…and a year later we find ourselves happily married for amost 6 months! CRAZY!

Best year ever, though.

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So back to what Spring is bringing…

1. IMAGINE DRANGONS concert on March 22nd in SLC!

2. Weekend Trip to SEATTLE Easter weekend …we have a couple free Marriott stays we need to use AND want to take advantage of being on this end of the country before moving back to GA. I’ve always heard so much about Seattle! Can’t WAIT!!!

3. Moving back to GEORGIA end of April and making pits stops along the way: Littleton, CO – Tulsa, OK – Houston, TX …taking advantage of the cross country trip to visit fam and friends!

4. Beginning of May – Most likely I will be driving with my parents as they move to ARIZONA so that my mom won’t have to drive alone. She’ll be trailing my dad in the U-Haul. So I’ll get to see family in AZ again and meet my new NEPHEW!!! …Just need to book a one-way back to Atlanta and it will be final!

5. My photography business is becoming more and more official! Website in the works!

6. Later in May for my birthday – A trip to CHARLESTON, SC! We’ve never been! Hoorah!

7. AAAAND Even later in the year – TAYLOR SWIFT CONCERT in Nashville, TN for our one year anniversary! (Sept 28) Her last concert of the Red Tour. fun fun fun

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I know what you may be thinking. Yes, we work. But in the words of Cher Lloyd – “WORK HARD – PARTY HARDER!” …hahaha…

Also, seeing as we are currently child free, we’d like to really make the most of that married freedom. Makes sense, right? We think so.

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Lastly: Just look at kitty…she loves being a Gossling and is getting a tad more plump : )

it may be because she enjoyed my Valentine’s See’s just as much as me…

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May the sunny days continue!…

love, whit

 

weekend whatevers

1. My sister, Tamaron, had her first baby! A little boy. Ok, not too little…8.8 lbs! Named Conrad. The 8th grandkid for my parents. He is just too too cute…

and it kills me that they are in Arizona, so I probably won’t see him until maybe this summer…

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2. Lesson learned: Sometimes expensive is often cheaper. AKA: Buy once and buy GOOD!   …quality that won’t break the pocketbook too much or need to be replaced soon or ever.

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3. Other lesson learned: If you give your children everything they want, they will grow up always wanting.

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4. My LESS-STRESS thinking lately:

i hate school, but i’ve decided to learn to learn, not to pass a test. it’s helping me enjoy classes more and not worry so much about the perfect A.

let things go. forgive. i know of no one who is perfect, especially myself, so why point fingers or criticize? no matter our age, we are all still making mistakes just like the next. talk about a stress reliever//burden lifter …let your grudges GO!

again…NO ONE is perfect or has it all together. stop comparing. stop judging.

my stress and frustration only mean i need to quit thinking about it. i need a breather from myself! so… think of someone else, do something thoughtful or nice for them. pay a visit. make a phone call. listen. be a friend.

don’t be blind. open my eyes to the world around me. family. friends. other people have feelings and needs too. not just me.

money doesn’t grow on trees, i know…BUT, as one of my “Guatemalteca” mission companions once told me, “if you’re always worried about money, you’ll never have enough!”  …think about it.

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5.

…and make your dreams happen!

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6.

i’m hating utah snow right now. can i please have a mini greenhouse?!

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7. i love my husband. everyday i realize just how lucky i am for someone SO patient with me and SO forgiving of my quirks and crankiness and SO affectionate.

……look! …it’s us and kitty. …atop our future house in the country?

love, whit

Gossling News! – January 2013

1.  We are a happy little family!!! No babies, no…not even one “brewing”…WE ADOPTED A KITTY! Little Pepper is so sweet. We’ve had her a little over a month now. We got her for $20, a little sick, 3-4 months old. Now she has warmed up to us quite a bit – a little too much of a people person sometimes. She loves her belly to be rubbed and curling up on my chest/neck in the middle of the night. I am also convinced that she has kitty conversations with me and likes me more than James.

…taking her into the shower is always fun! (our shower has a door…she wanders around my feet and meows. sure beats getting scratched if we try to clean her any other way. and yes, i know cats hate water. we don’t “shower” her often at all)

2.  James is the funniest, sweetest, and full of surprises! I came home from school one day to….a celebration of my “25 2/3 birthday”?! Homemade dinner, decor, presents, and my favorite desserts that he brought home for PF Chang’s. Seriously….they have THE BEST assortment of mini desserts!

Just look at how good he is to me!….

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such a shocker…James has made me the proud owner of a brand dew MacBook Air!…& PS Elements 11…

i love it so. it makes school and photo editing much more fun! Happy 25.63 to me!

3.  I have a full load this semester. Between James and I, the amount of textbooks coming in the mail from Amazon are ridic…

However, I am thoroughly enjoying my Sewing class and Interior Design! I’ve always wanted to learn, more technically, “the art or sewing”. Growing up, my mom showed me and helped me with projects here and there, but I never learned or paid attention very well. Now I can!

4.  Although school seems a burden every day, this is James’ and my LAST SEMESTER IN PROVO!!! …….wait for it……. We are moving home to Georgia in the end of April! We are both so excited. Georgia is home to us. James….will never live anywhere other than Georgia. We came to the conclusion that since we will end up there anyway, why wait? It’s either move now, or be stuck here in Provo 3-4 more years for James to graduate. So, James is in the process of transferring to UGA, and I will be able to finish up my BYU schooling online.

We will be living in my parents’ house until we figure out where we want to be more permanently. Only, my parents will not be there, they are moving to Arizona (more new on that later). So, living just the two of us….in a house….with a big yard/garden to keep track of….will be a fun and new experience as newly weds! And although it is sad that my parents are leaving, we are happy to be heading back east and be with all of James’ family….and close to my sister’s family in VA.

We do have a handful of really amazing friends here in Provo though that we are SO SO SO sad to leave. We are already trying to convince them that vacations to Georgia should be planned into their near future : )

5.  Two weeks ago, Jan 19th, my Grandpa Bluth passed away (on my Mom’s side). It was terribly emotional news for me. Though, I counted my blessings that him and my Grandma felt inspired to make the drive all the way from Mexico for James’ and my wedding in GA in September. I will be forever grateful for that last memory of my “abuelo”.

James and I made the road trip last weekend down to Mesa, Arizona for a family service….and then a second drive down into Colonia Dublan, Mexico for a second funeral service and burial. It was SO WONDERFUL that we went and saw all of my family, that they got to meet James, and that we made it to Mexico. I hadn’t gone in 5-6 years. Showing James where I used to spend my summers growing up was really neat, if even for a brief trip.

with my grandma

james thought the truck looked dustier than ever after driving through Mexico…

then we went through a blizzard on our way back to Utah…

I will post more on Mexico, the funeral, and my amazing Grandpa later.

love, whit

2012 in REVIEW

dear twenty-twelve,

you were good to me.   …let’s see why!

i started the year off in ITALIA with my mom. an unforgettable trip of a lifetime that i wouldn’t want to spend with anyone else.

here she is in Florence:

here i am in Rome:

We made it to Venice as well:

….and Siena and Sorrento. and ate and ate and ate. took a cooking class in Florence. fell in love with the land. and had, case in point, the greatest time! perfect start for 2012 if you ask me!

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NEXT…march 2012.    …and i stole the first hug from this certain Gossling boy who came home from his mission in Argentina…

…i went to the beach!…

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that Gossling boy and i became pretty close and enjoyed spring together in GA…

i moved to UTAH in April and became roommates with this crazy fun blonde bombshell…

…and reunited with this blonde bombshell….

…i turned 25! and a certain Gossling boy flew out to surprise me!…

…Summer 2012, i flew home to GA and that Gossling boy and i road-tripped back out to UT together…

…long story short…that Gossling boy proposed,  and we started planning a party…and our forever together…

…the DMOPC family grew…our family at work….

…the big party happened in September…(Elissa turned 26 on our big weekend!)…

…even my Grandparents came from Mexico!…

…married life began. it treated us right. then the husband and i road tripped to California for Thanksgiving to visit family…

…we had fun on the way home stopping in VEGAS with our friends, Lora & Dan Grady (who made the road trip with us! so fun!)…we pinballed and dinner dated!…

…2012 brought new friends…we are so blessed to have…

…in 2012…Gossling Farms was established (best idea ever, Michael & June!)…which allowed for a kick-A wedding reception and for this to happen….woohoo!…

 

…December brought family, friends, and fun as well with Christmas and New Year’s in Georgia….but that will get its own separate post. As well as a well-overdue post with more wedding pictures if I ever get around to it. 2013 in preview also to come…

so yes, 2012, you were good to me. thank you!

 

love, whit

p.s. – as it’s a new year…i decided to align my text to the left for Dave.

the married life

marrying james is the best decision i’ve ever made.

…right up there with serving an lds church mission and getting a Costco membership.

i love him! marriage is so much fun. honestly, we go together perfectly. i love that every morning and night, he is there. it is a beautiful thing having someone to share everything with.

there has been some adjustment. the hardest part about being married, is probably our time management. before, it was easy to get things done when james wasn’t around because he didn’t live with me. NOW we both work from home and live under the same roof. naturally, we love spending that time together – but we realized quickly that it was easily wasted because james would cuddle the whole day away while watching Netflix if I agreed to it.

but, we’ve gotten a better grip on how to be in the same small apartment and do our own separate things. we’re over having to always be in the same room as each other…which makes homework, chores, and work happen more often.

even though sometimes james catches me studying like this sometimes…

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james is so sweet to me in so many ways. i love making our “house” a “home”, and he surprised me one morning with these lovely fall mums!:

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we both like to entertain…so having friends over is always an option!

we’ve had a couple “Debate Parties” which were both a full-house success. (on such occasions, i love that i own a crockpot! i’m a little obsessed). or just nights of movies and games is always fun.

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we also did our first BYU tailgating. kabob style. it was great! …though agreed that next time we’ll scale-up a bit….

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we also had our first Cornbelly’s experience! we went with B and Kelli and had a fun fall night of pumpkins, deep fried junk food, and haunted mazes of sorts.

B and James fit in with the other little boyz…

that night was both mine and james’ first haunted anything experience. SUPER fun with B and Kel! i found out i’m a screamer, kelli ain’t eva scurred, and both B and James are runners…James especially when there is a chainsaw involved.

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since fall and the leaf change came around, james and i like to drive up in the mountains.

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we enjoyed the pretty views up there with these two!…lora & dan……

james was even so diligent as to carve our love into an aspen…

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3.5 weeks of marriage down, and i’d say we own it!

more to come!…

love, whit

OH em GEE – 17 days til the wedding!!!!!

…not that i’m counting or anything.

: )

but, with only 17 days left… it’s kind of “crunch time”

we are SOOO blessed by all the help we’ve been getting. i know back in Georgia, Lana is going above and beyond making sure the reception will be beautiful and everything we envisioned. Mom tells me how beautiful it’s going to be from what she’s seen so far and that Lana has figured out how to incorporate all of my ideas. Lana is the best!

Mom’s been busy making sure the food/catering is taken care of…doing shopping trips with Lana for decor…and getting everything for the pinatas in order. And i’m sure stressing plenty about the herd of people coming in town in just a couple weeks.

We really are getting immense amounts of help! My sister, Dacy, is going to make a fabulous wedding cake. James’ sister, Carrie, is going to make a GREAT groom’s cake (which i can’t wait to see!). Future mommy-in-law, Sheree, is pulling together a wonderful post-wedding luncheon. I’ve asked favors of my other sisters. And who knows how many people Michael has helping get the property prepped for the reception. Just the fact that we’re having it at SUCH a beautiful place makes us grateful enough. I know the Gossling men will figure out the parking, which is appreciated! We even have my future Aunt Lisa who is talented in flower arranging and will be making my bouquets and boutonnieres. Family is such a beautiful thing!

Let’s not forget DAVE and how awesome he is to take charge of our “out of town guest entertainment and lodging”…haha! He’s been great to make sure we all have a fun night in downtown Atlanta before the big event!

It amazes me how willing everyone is to offer a hand when needed. Not with just the “wedding”, but with our becoming a newly-wed couple soon…there are just a lot of things to deal with…and we have amazing friends and family on our side supporting.

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i have few close girlfriends out here in Utah, so i said that no “party” or anything would be necessary.

but look what “the new mrs. chelsea hoer” and elissa have done…

…they make me feel special! (ps – need invites designed? go to chelsea)

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i have also come to LOVE Lora Grady… my favorite photographer/new-found friend! She will be shooting us this weekend again for our Bridals! We cannot thank her enough!!!

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which means i need to get my veil made STAT!

…it’s just these little things that stress me out. especially the budgeting. ayayay! OH, and did i mention how all of the invites we sent came back to us??!?! UGH! i’m pretty sure that is what gave me a cold right now. (my current biology professor pointed out that high stress makes one susceptible to getting sick…explains my current congestion and cough)

we left getting James’ suit tailored to the last minute. though last night we met a funny tailor named Cookie who offered many fashion opinions and was kind enough to waive the “rush” fee as our wedding gift : )  oh, the little things!

i stopped by the Utah Valley Bridal Fair last weekend and ended up meeting the coolest couple/videographers…who, yes, are now going to be a part of our big event! here’s to bethany and matt and BC Film !

we have our Bishop Interviews tonight. the last of the ties in the mail. our wedding “music playlist” to be settled on to give the DJ (one of the few things james and i don’t ENTIRELY agree on..haha)…. and i’m sure there are other things…

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between the wedding plans, school, finances, and moving in/trying to make this new apartment “home”….i’m just super ready for the end of this month to roll around!

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speaking of the new apartment… here’s a tour…provo living at it’s finest..hahahha!..

(side note – please overlook the random hodge podge of furniture the place came with – nothing really goes together and i see no point in fully figuring it out until james moves in…)

we’ll start with the kitchen (front door seen on the left…and washer/dryer hidden in closet on the right)

…looking from the kitchen. don’t you love our fine kitchen table and matching chairs??

and the living room…

… (my poor lonely basil plant in the window trying to get sun. he needs a bigger pot)

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and the two bedrooms… one is like “james’ office space” of sorts for now…

and the other is the actual bedroom (a complete mess right now because i see no need to organize too much when it will all be switched as soon as james is here in a couple weeks, and i’m still not entirely unpacked yet)…

let’s hope a larger bed will be in the budget soon!

and each room has a bathroom like this…

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so that’s it!…my/our home sweet home for at least the next year. let’s hope that it can be made cute soon enough. james has no doubts that i will be busy “nesting” for a while.

anyway…

that’s the shmupdate for now…

love, whit

one month til i’m wed!

today = August 29th 2012

my wedding date = September 29th 2012

me = !!!!!!!!!!!!

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i spent the last week and a half at home in Georgia. basically the only time i had to really get wedding plans coordinated.

(speaking of GA – look how cute! …the things you find on etsy)

i won’t lie…it was more stressful than i had anticipated. though, i don’t believe there has been ANY wedding pulled together where everyone saw eye-to-eye on everything.

though, we are more than blessed with all of the help and support we have in making this happen. i’m trying not to become a “bridezilla” in the process (which i don’t think i have been – i guess you should really ask james or my mother that)…so as to not seem ungrateful or that i’m taking all of the help for granted.

my best friend, London, and her mom threw me a wonderful bridal shower. it was SO nice! the food was delicious and a good crowd showed up. i couldn’t have asked for a better evening catching up with everyone. it made me feel a little uncomfortable being the “center” of the night and receiving all the gifts. but – it is so appreciated! i felt so loved.

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my dress is all ready. mom sewed a sash together for it and figured out the bustle. she’s also letting me borrow some of her jewelry and we picked out my earrings together at the mall. all i lack is figuring out a veil of sorts – or what i decide to do with my hair.

catering has been selected! – both for the mexican and the southern bbq. so very delish!

and we are even more thrilled now that there has been a more recent addition of SOFT SERVE ICE CREAM to the menu! (thank you, michael / DMOPC!)

the reception location is BEAUTIFUL! so much space it almost overwhelmed me. though it is absolutely perfect. not to mention james and i had fun four-wheeling around it for a bit : )

we also finally had our DJ booked. i’m pulling together a playlist now…requests?!?!

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School started this week.

UGH!

i forgot how much i detest BYU campus during fall and winter. people. e v e r y w h e r e.

i got spoiled over spring and summer, and NOW. yikes. it took me almost 25 minutes to find a parking spot after having dropped james off for his 9:30am class yesterday. Then, we waited a good 30 minutes in line just to get lunch on campus. at taco bell. it’s ridiculous. luckily we both only have classes on Tuesdays and Thursdays. …and I’m definitely packing lunches for tomorrow.

i’ve decided to switch my major YET AGAIN!

..i know, i know. but, Spanish Education just isn’t for me anymore. ha! tomorrow i have orientation and will officially be part of the School of Family Life – emphasis on Human Development. I like it much better…already. Keeping a minor in Spanish though, of course. I’d like credit for that.

poor james is taking a semester-load of classes that make me cringe. though he’s much better at handling it than me. between my being on birth control now and his possible upcoming school stress – we might just become the crankiest newly-weds yet!

speaking of birth control…i’m no fan. it hasn’t quite been a week yet and i’ve already been overly emotional. …every. day. i don’t need my tears to come this easy 24/7. ew ew ew! i know james is not a fan either. i’m kind of a mess.

(again… photo cred to Lora Grady)

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OK, so..

one month to go, and i still need to finish getting invites out. goodness.

and i’m currently living out of a suitcase at Elissa’s place in Cottonwood. she’s the best for housing me so much.

so sick of the suitcase though.

but come Saturday, I’ll get to move into our new apartment in Provo. finally!

we’ll see how i handle living by myself for a month until James gets to move in after the wedding. i think i’ll handle it fine. so fine that he might mess up my feng shui when he does move in! haha. jokes.

(a bedroom like this would really do great things for my chi…)

…wishful dreaming. (restoration hardware)

“setting up house” gets me excited though : ) i’m such a girl.

but now…time for homework…blechk!

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love, whit

a june journal entry of sorts…

JUNE! Summer of 2012 is already here – meaning the year is HALF GONE. I can’t help but look back on last June and where I was at in my life. It makes me rather reflective thinking about how much has happened in this short years’ time. More so, how much I have felt and how much I have learned.

Interestingly enough, I came to the realization today that I have only had my heart broken twice in my life. I wish I could say never, but it’s something we all ought to experience at least once – for perspective’s sake. For me, both happened since last June. Impressive? Hardly. Both very painful and hopefully very soon, forgettable. I’m not an angry person and can really only think of a handful of instances in my life that I was TRULY angry – The kind of anger that you hold onto for days/weeks and it festers inside of you becoming even more rotten with time. Both of my heart-breaking happenings did this to me. Talk about an emotional year! I remember as the days went on having more and more things I wanted to say to these certain individuals. Bitterness, anger, hurt, sadness, and abandonment all brewing together as one. I eventually learned to let it go – to move past it (the second time around a whole lot quicker than the first) Though needless to say, there were some very difficult and dark months to get through.

Crazy enough, since last June, I have also fallen in love twice. Truth. And we’re not talking just mondo crushes, but love. (Only one being linked to the aforementioned heartbreaks – The second still seems to grow stronger with each passing day)…which definitely contributed to the roller-coaster of this last year.

I’ve definitely developed a greater appreciation and understanding for certain things and people over this last year. I’m grateful for inspired church leaders who held my hand along the way. For family – my parents and their endless love and patience when I was probably miserable to be around – Sisters who cared and listened. I shut myself out more than I should have, so friends were few and far between, but I developed a very personal relationship with my Heavenly Father because of it. Prayer became my go-to even more. There were many times when I’d have to escape to the bathroom at work and end up on my knees because it was the only thing I had to get me through the day or hour. I’ve re-learned that peace only comes from one divine source, and to latch onto it.

Change & Time. Nothing will always stay the same, nor should it. People change with time. Plans change with time. Feelings can change with time. Relationships change with time. Though all things makes sense with time. The Lord uses time in His way for our own good. I’ve learned more to trust in that.

So many changes in plans have been made since last June. The final decision was to move across the country and find myself in a new environment back at school – somewhere that is definitely not my favorite. I can’t believe spring term is practically over now and I have finals next week. It feels great! I’m very confident that I’m where I’m supposed to be and with the right people in my life. It’s more than incredible the path, timing, and bumps along the road it took to get me to this point.

After finals on Wednesday, I’m flying home to Georgia! Only about four days left. Yes, maybe I am counting down – I have my reasons. I’m looking forward to being home and spending some time with family (even if only briefly), I’ve missed them…and then James and I are making the long road trip across the country back to Utah. I’ve missed him more than I can convey with words, and have been anxiously awaiting having him out here in Utah with me. No more spending hours on the phone each day; I’ll get to spend hours with him! Let’s see how long it takes for us to get sick of each other (the 30+ hour car ride may do it..ha!) …I may be blinded, but to me, James is practically perfect in every way – I don’t ever see myself getting sick of him. He treats me better than I deserve and never fails to bring a smile to my face. There have been numerous instances where I’ve felt just the slightest bit down and then suddenly my phone starts to ring and it’s him…and instantly all feels ok again. Saying he’s the “happy ending” to my June-June year is hardly doing him justice.

I really don’t know what this post was all about… though here’s to the end of Spring term!… and the beginning of a fabulous Summer! …and all the ups and downs that got us to this point…

love, whit

turning a quarter-of-a-century

for some, 25 may not seem old at all. in fact, i know many people dream of being that young again.

for me, it seems like just last month i was dreaming of turning 21 and how old i thought that was. then suddenly, i’m blowing out candles on a homemade pink lemonade cupcake and thinking… “twenty-five. where did the last four years go??”

my actual birthday weekend (the BiG day being may 20th) was far better than i could have imagined. i won’t lie – i was not thrilled for the date to roll around and had little intentions of making any plans. in my head, it’s just a reminder of how old i am and where i find myself in life. i never pictured it like this, for had you asked me at age 20, “where do you see yourself in five years?”, i had a different vision in mind.

though, for being a few weeks new in town, new faces and a few familiar ones made it a special day. especially chelsea – my blog bestie and now roommate. (check out her adorable cupcakes and set-up. homemade frosting too!)

however, what made my birthday not so dreary, was a surprise that came about a few days before….

i’m cooking some dinner for me and chels on thursday night, when the doorbell rings. standing there is my boyfriend’s best friend and fiance with beautiful flowers in a vase. a huge smile comes over my face as i’m thinking, “these must be from james!” (also given that they had their iphone out recording my reaction). as i’m gawking over my lovely arrangement, stephen remembers he forgot the stuffed animal in the car and left to retrieve it.

still gawking over my flowers, i hear them call me, “Whitney, come look!”…

completely and utterly shocked, i peek around the corner to see stephen carrying my stuffed animal…

…james flew all the way from Atlanta to surprise me for my birthday!

i had no idea. at all.

best. birthday surprise. OF   ALL   T I M E!

having him here to spend my weekend with was more than i could have ever wished for.

i have to say, i feel like the luckiest girl because james is practically perfect in every way.

happy birthday, to ME!

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though, my birthday is over, and now i’m back to dwelling on my “quarter-of-a-century”. thinking about where i’ve been in my past and where i want to go in my future.

yesterday, i had an overwhelming epiphany regarding my divine potential and the person i could BE. my mind went crazy with goals and resolves of the kind of life i wanted and the things i wanted to spend my days doing. so much to do. so much to learn. so much to improve.

today, i feel an overwhelming wave of disappointment and self loathing because of the person i AM and my lack, or more – failure to ever reach my full potential. walking to church by myself this morning bundled up in freezing wind and hail when it’s only days until june (so messed up) really set the mood for a day that can’t seem to keep the tears from flowing.

it’s days like these when i’m glad to be in a place where nobody knows or notices me, but at the same time wishing i had familiar faces around.

i know come tomorrow, i’ll probably be feeling as good as new…but today, i hate twenty-five.

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last night i put together this super fab arrangement of freshly cut roses from my friend’s bushes…

…and this morning i woke up to find the big ones completely dead/wilted and about half the others pathetically drooping. how appropriate.

i hope the sun comes out tomorrow.

love, whit