Oh, hey

I am indeed still alive. Just soaking up every minute with Soldier Boy that I can before he leaves me for a few months. Just wanted to pop in and say HI! I've missed y'all. I hope I haven't missed too much in y'alls lovely little lives. If so, tell me! There's no way I'll be able to catch up!! My new job doesn't allow me on the Internet and by the time I get home I am pooped and my nights have been stolen by Soldier Boy, which of course, I don't mind one bit. I'll catch y'all up with what's going on later!

xoxoxoxo

From the Heart

KEEP YOUR HEAD UP, KEEP YOUR HEART STRONG

When you let go and give the reins of your life back to God, he will amaze you. I've been doing a lot of reflecting this week of just how amazed I am. I never thought my life would take this turn, that my love story would be written this way. It is FAR better then I ever dreamed it would be. He is so good.


{ps- i'll be a little MIA for the rest of this month. xoxo}

Friday's Letters

{palms in hawaii}

Dear Readers, May the Fourth be With You. #starwarsday 

Dear Cinco de Mayo, I can't wait to celebrate my Mexican heritage with lots of mexican food, starting with lunch today, and lot's of Corona. #vivalamexico 

Dear Hawaii, I miss you. I hope I get to see you again soon. 

Dear Body, get your sh*t together. 

Dear Jax, you'll always be momma's favorite boy. 

Dear Vodka-Soda-w/Lime, we get along great, I like you.

Dear Yogurt, I tried to incorporate you back into my diet. It did not go so well.... ya.

Dear Soldier Boy, how is it that every day we have been a part, despite missing each other ridiculously, we have grown so much closer and learned so much about each other?? I can't wait for you to get here and for the trip to NC. Me love you long time. 

ps- can you sneak a 6 pack of Maui Bikini Blonde beer, please?
pps- you're hot.

Have a wonderful Friday & weekend, friends!!!

xoxo.

what my twenties are teaching me

I've been loving Sarah's series on What My Twenties Are Teaching Me. I was super excited that she announced she was going to do a link-up today so that we can all write our own posts about it. 

If you were to ask me, this time last year, if I 'liked' my 20's, I would say hells-to-the-no. Why? Well I've been through a lot in my 20's. I'm talking very low points, multiple heartbreaks, struggles with my relationship with Christ, with my family, school, career and I also experienced the loss of many, too many, people very dear to me. 

 Sadly, I spent most of my early 20's envious of all the wonderful relationships, engagements, marriages, babies, blah blah blah. I always whined "When the hell would it be my turn?" Ugh. Thankfully I overcame that jealousy. I mean, who am I to be envious of someone else's life?! I chose to hold on to the promise that God is good and he has big things in store for my life far better than I could ever imagine. But that doesn't mean I wasn't upset with him and that I didn't long for it. My early 20's were also spent getting trashed and partying all the time. I found comfort in it. It hid my insecurities, my problems, etc.

So what have my twenties taught me so far?

I've learned that "I am worth it, I am beautiful, that I deserve nothing but the best, to never settle for anything less than that. In a society that makes every single woman feel insecure, with their abnormally skinny or photo shopped models, it was something I experienced for many years. It was hard to overcome, especially with the way boys treated me, but I eventually did gain confidence and an appreciation for the body that God blessed me with.

Source: healthyfitandtoned.tumblr.com via Michelle on Pinterest

I've learned that life is far too short to worry about the petty things. We should live in love, spread it everywhere we go. Love, as much as possible, the ones we are blessed to have with us here on earth, for they can be gone in an instant. Don't take life for granted. Enjoy every moment.

I learned a whole heck of a lot about myself and relationships. This was a huge turning point for me. I realized I knew nothing about myself and about how to have a true relationship. I mean why should I? I had nothing but messed up relationships in the past. I learned to love and be happy with just myself. Not feeling the need to be with someone to make me feel complete. Your relationship with yourself is so important for the relationships you have with others.

I've learned to dream and that failures are okay. It was the courage to pursue the dream that makes it worth it. So many people dream and dream but never go after them. I did and I will continue to pursue those dreams.





"You have to take the good with the bad, the smile with the sad, love what you got, and remember what you had. Always forgive, but never forget, learn from your mistakes, but never regret."



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It wasn't until recently (this year) that I had a total turn around with my life. I watched a video that talked about how God sometimes takes his children the long way around. Yep, God took me the long  route. I am so very thankful for that. I still have so much more to learn and experience, but I know I will be able to embrace it much better. 

Hawaii- Part 3

Part 1 - Part 2

My last two days in Hawaii were quite eventful. 

We decided to hike Koko Head bright and early. It was also a great workout but so much fun to have him by my side. I love love love how physically active and adventurous he is. Koko Head was no joke though. 642 ft high. Steep steps. Legs burning. Next time I def want to do Diamond Head. 

Afterwards we set out to treat ourselves with a beer at Kono Brewing Company. Where I fell in love with yet another Hawaiian brewed beer. 

As soon as we made it back from our hike it was time to get ready for the ball. Eeek! I could not wait to get my dress on and see my handsome Soldier Boy in his blues. Boy did not disappoint. We pre-gamed and I got to meet his buddies. One in particular who I had become friends with while he they were on deployment and who gave me the name of Cupcake Princess. It was fun to see Soldier Boy interact with his guys.

{go big or go home}

Note to self: never hike or do something extremely active before planning to booze it up that night. We both got drunk very quickly. I ended up spilling wine on my dress (white wine, thank goodness) and a certain someone, cough cough, passed out early. It was a bummer to only be in my dress and with him for an hour or so, but he redeemed himself and hopefully this won't be the last ball we attend together. I felt beautiful though. Soldier Boy did a great job at picking out my dress and I got so many compliments on it. 

The next morning was a bit on the rough side. But, it was a beautiful day out and my last day so it was one to not be wasted. We eventually made it out to Pearl Harbor. It's pretty crazy to think about all that happened there. I mean I just can't imagine. 

So yeah, I cried. I really tried not to because I hate crying. But, I didn't want to leave. How do you leave your heart behind? Your other half? The trip went far better than I could have ever imagined. I fell harder in love with this man. The moment he kissed me good bye at the airport I was already missing him. The long travel home, 15 hours, was really really hard. The further I got from Hawaii the more my heart ached.

I did get a lovely welcome home from my baby boy, Jax. 

Puppy kisses will just have to do for now.

Which, I just realized, Jax is now 2 years old! Time flies.


Soldier Boy, if you're reading this.... I really miss your farts....
Oh yes... I just went there.

The good news? We get to see each other again in 10 days, for about a month. He'll be in our ol' stomping grounds this time. It will be the best month ever, I just know it. Can't wait!!

Home is where the heart is.

And this, my dear friends, is the beginning of our beautiful love story.......... 

Hawaii- Part 2

 Part 1

So... after about 10 hours of flying, I land in Hawaii. I have to walk a million miles away to baggage claim, which ended up being good for me to get my wits together. I walk down some steps and that's when I see people gathered around. Cue a minor freak out.


The moment I had waited months upon months for was finally here!!


I spot Soldier Boy. He spots me. I'm pretty sure I had a huge grin at that moment. He leis me. Then grabs me and gives me big kiss. (I had multiple dreams/daydreams of how that moment would be. So much better in real life.) I'm pretty sure I told him, while we were waiting for my bags which I so desperately hoped had made it there, 'omg, your real'. Haha. The cutest moment was when we were in his truck leaving the airport and out of nowhere he says... "Oh ya!" I'm thinking, he forgot to tell me something about what we are doing or he had exciting news. Then he says "I LOVE YOU". Our first time being able to say it in person to each other.

Cue melted heart.

I honestly felt nothing but comfort, sure a little bit of nerves were there, but we just felt so natural together.

I could not get enough of kissing him, holding his hand, touching him. (Which I thought I had never been a touchy-feely type but that has most definitely changed. I think touch is my new love language)

Don't take those little moments, that y'all get to experience daily, taken for granted. For us long distance lovers, those are treasured moments. Every single one. I'd give anything to be able to kiss him again.

I surprisingly stayed awake til a decent Hawaiian time, thanks to lots of caffeine and a love-high. I was enjoying the moment, soaking it up. Taking in the beauty of Hawaii (Oahu) and this handsome man in front of me. I will never forget that first day. Ever.

{our first picture together}

{first beer together}


We spent the entire week talking, laughing, and goofing around. We became Facebook Official, yeahhhh. Learned/ing how we work (in person). Each others lil quirks, which I grew to absolutely love. We even got into a lil rough patch, but it was good for us to experience that and how we deal with the conflict between each other. And of course lots of ice cold beer together and great food. We even ended up having our own lil 'things'.... like our virtual high fives, are now air high fives. Totally silly but it's special to us. Makes me giggle to even think about.

We did some site seeing off and on throughout the week. The scenic drive up to North Shore was beautiful, despite the nasty weather. Played around at the Ala Moana mall. Unfortunately, he had to be on base a few days so I had some mornings and one really long day by myself. So, I did a lil bit of my own site seeing in Waikiki, soaking up the Hawaiian sun and the beauty of the water.

{Waikiki Beach/Diamond Head}

{He is so handsome}

{fire dancer}

{Prince Charming}

{Bellows- Look at that water!}

{Bellows}

 {Lava Rocks}

{Yummy drinks at Ola in North Shore}

{Very cool Christian store- James 3:30}

{Fort Derussy Park}

{Waikiki}

{200 beers on tap. I loved this place}

{Me and my yard}

 {Boyfriend and Beer...heaven}


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I'll be posting Part 3 tomorrow!
More scenic pictures and of us at the Ball!

xoxo.