Beautiful, aren’t they? I love tulips. There’s something about them that makes my spirit brighter. They are soft and feminine, elegant and simple. After having been attacked by Atlanta’s crazy winter weather over the last few weeks, they are a welcome promise of the coming spring. Somehow they remind me to be thankful and take pleasure in the simple things in life. My days have been full of simple pleasures lately, and I wanted to take a moment to share a few of them with you.

Meet my Sunday school class. These are just a few of the wonderful young ladies that I get to spend my Sunday mornings with. They live with passion, giving all of themselves to everything they do. They may never know how much courage they inspire in me, and I am so thankful. I love you ladies!

This is Jessica. She is one of my closest friends, and she’s having a baby. I am not much of a kid person, but for some reason I find myself in love with Jessica’s baby girl. I am mystified by the idea that there is a little person coming to life in my best friend’s belly, and I am so excited to meet her. Jessica was at my shower Saturday, and I got to feel little Elisha in her belly for the first time. I almost cried. I’m turning into such a sap

These two lovely ladies are Elise and Ashley. I met Ashley in fifth grade, and we have been close friends ever since. We became fast friends with Elise in middle school, and from then on we were the three musketeers. Together we could do anything. We managed to get our drivers licenses, navigate through the dangers of teenage dating and learn what it means to be children of God. On Saturday, the three of us got together for the first time in over two years. So much has changed since then, and yet we still manage to pretend as though no time has passed. It’s amazing!

And last but most certainly not least, say hello again to my wonderful bestie and maid of honor Emma. This girl is a true treasure. She called me at 11:58pm tonight so that she could be the last person I talk to as a 22 year old and the first person I talk to as a 23 year old. She has celebrated more birthdays with me than anyone other than my family, and I believe I am a better person for it. Thank you my lovely friend for being the best friend and the best maid of honor I could ever ask for. You make my life brighter!

May your days be full of love, friendship and an abundance of tulips

I dream of simple things.

Holding my love’s hand as we confidently promise to love and to cherish.

Pulling him close as we share our first dance.

Laughing as I step all over his feet (I’m not a good dancing partner.)

Feeling the wind brush through my hair from the deck of a cruise ship.

Peering through the glassy water of the ocean and wondering how it got so clear and blue.

Unpacking way too many boxes as we settle in to our first apartment.

Filling our home with the lovely scent of garden roses, tulips and peonies.

Pretending to be Martha Stewart as I busy myself in the kitchen.

Laughing with Robert as we dial the number for Domino’s pizza (Apparently, wearing a cute apron does not make me Martha Stewart)

Snuggling on the couch as we decide whether to watch Pawn Stars or LOST.

Opening my heart to my Sunday School class as we excitedly dig through God’s word.

Relying on the Holy Spirit to change my heart and direct my path.

I know life isn’t all sweet moments and cute stories, but I also know that my days look brighter when I choose to celebrate the small and beautiful moments in life. It keeps me smiling.

Christmas day had come and gone, and I found myself where I often ended up at bed time: snuggled with a blanket on my best friend’s futon. Patti and I were like sisters, and I spent about half of my life at her house when I was in high school and early college. I had celebrated Christmas with my real family that morning, and Robert had joined me in celebrating with Patti’s family that night. He had left a little while earlier, and Patti and I were getting ready for bed when I received a phone call. It was Robert asking me to come outside. But it’s dark, and it’s cold, I thought to myself. Why would I want to go outside. “Just come out here,” he said, so I jumped off the futon and raced downstairs to meet him at the door.

After we spent a few minutes chatting about nothing in particular, he told me that he was so thankful that I was a part of his life, and that he had really enjoyed the four months that we had spent together. I tried to focus on the rest of his words, but my mind was going all over the place. I’ve never really been comfortable with receiving compliments or being romantic, so my I’m-more-sour-than-sweet gene kicked in and I blurted out, “Am I going to get a Christmas kiss or what?” He smiled at me in a way that only a man who loves a crazy woman can smile and said, “Yeah, you are.” I stood up on my tip toes, and Robert and I shared our first kiss.

We often look back on the moment and laugh, because it is such an “us” moment. Robert was trying to be sweet while I was busy trying to kill the butterflies that were fluttering in my stomach, because romance just made me feel awkward and uncomfortable. It took me a long time to get used to the idea that romance could be a beautiful part of our love relationship. Years later, I still have times when I ruin sweet moments and say the wrong things, but that’s just part of who I am. Luckily, I am loved by a man who doesn’t mind that I’m a little awkward and a little crazy. In fact, he loves these things about me, because they make me who I am. We are best friends. Buddies. Two peas in a pod. I am his beautiful sweetheart, and he is my love. I shared my last first kiss with him, and I look forward to sharing many more as we grow together for a lifetime.

Robert, Merry Christmas. Thank you for making me the happiest bride-to-be EVER

Featured photos by Anne Almasy, my fabulous wedding photographer!