A new tattoo...

And another tattoo to add to the collection....
In the exact words of my mother (and future mother in law... and boss): "another? Before the wedding?!" Yes. Before the wedding! This one just couldn't wait.

If you follow me on Instagram/Twitter, you probably know the story, but I got this tattoo in honor of my best friend, Breigh, who has a rare kidney disease and two brain tumors (actually, now only one tumor, since she just had brain surgery!).
A while back, Breigh asked her closest friends and family what their thoughts were on getting bird themed tattoos with her. I absolutely loved the idea. She chose a specific Bible verse to go with the bird, but as soon as I found out about what everyone was doing, I thought it important to not only get a verse that represents Breigh, but one that represents me as well. So I chose Galatians 6:17...
"I don't want to be bothered by these things anymore, I have far more important things to do - the serious living of this faith. I bear on my body the scars from my service to Jesus." (MSG)

I have loved this verse for a very, very long time (it was the one that really showed me a purpose in all that I go through)... and so I thought this one was the most appropriate. I really love how some translations of this verse say, "I bear on my body the scars that show I belong to Christ Jesus." My favorite!
Anyway, I got this as a reminder to myself that no matter what I go through, it is all for the purpose of furthering God's Kingdom. Jesus has yet to leave my side, and He never will. So in light of all of Breigh's illnesses and my struggle with depression and anxiety over the past 7 years, I'll always have this reminder that whatever we go through - it is all for the glory of God. He is the creator, the healer and the ultimate best friend.

Thanks for letting me share!

Christmas at my mama's house

Oh, Christmas.
I'm so happy to be at my parents for Christmas this year! This is my second Christmas living away from my hometown, so each year, I get more and more sentimental about spending the holidays with my family. I don't take this time for granted anymore, that's for sure!

This morning I woke up to the amazing smells of my papa making homemade biscuits and gravy for breakfast (complete with bacon wrapped sausage! Holy yum!) and mom got to unwrap her gift from Santa (a Keurig!) so that we could all have coffee to drink with our breakfast. My grandma + aunt and uncle came over for breakfast as well - it was a good start to the Christmas festivities!
Tonight is for dinner with the family (and my mama's wassail! I'm so excited I can hardly stand it), a candlelight service at church, and hanging out with the family. We have the tradition where we each get to open up one gift on Christmas Eve, and it is almost always new pajamas. A few years back, mom made the mistake of not getting me pajamas... and I'm pretty sure I cried! I felt so silly for getting upset, but she now makes sure that I have new pajamas each year! Love you so much, Mom!

I hope you all are having a good holiday and are getting to spend time with your families! I'll just be here hanging out at the house watching Christmas movies and working on an embroidery piece! I never officially learned how to embroider, so I'm just making it up as I go.. but it's fun!
Enjoy the holiday and have a very merry Christmas!

I think we are going to have a white Christmas here in the Ozarks!
<3

Catching up.

One month away from this blog. Not that this is much of a blog, really. But this space of mine, I've been away for far too long.
I won't lie and say that I didn't enjoy the time away. I wish I could commit to being completely unplugged, but for the most part, I was unplugged from the blogging world. I didn't blog here for a month, I stayed away from a lot of blogs with the exception of a few of my friend's. I have enjoyed this time immensely.

So what have I been up to?

I celebrated two wonderful years with Blake. We had dinner + cupcakes then saw Perks of Being a Wallflower (one of my favorite books from high school, I bought it for Blake a few months back and I'm hoping the movie gave him the push to read it.)
My best friend had brain surgery last Thursday. The surgery was to remove a tumor, and considering what all she just went through, her recovery is going well and she seems to be doing remarkably well for just having surgery done on her head! She can't sit/stand for too long before throwing up, but she's getting better every day!
Blake took me to see Wicked in St. Louis over the weekend. It was my third time seeing it (and Blake's second), and I'm pretty sure it was my favorite performance, and by far my favorite cast that I've seen. It was just... wonderful. I don't like to use the word 'magic,' BUT this was seriously magic. But what else would you expect from an adaptation of The Wizard of Oz? ;)
I had a fever + migraine while working a 55 hour work week. Not complaining though, because I love my job, and am so willing to do anything for those kiddos. Thankfully, the worst day of it all was on my day off.

I sort of have a niece! I am so, so happy to have Miss Tess Eliza in the family now. It's pretty exciting to be called "Aunt Haley," even though I won't be a real aunt until next September. I am incredibly happy. She's beautiful. Absolutely gorgeous. 

I miss my best friends. I miss Breigh, and I have trouble focusing on anything since she's been in the hospital. I miss Colby (even though I just saw him last night). We both are so busy, it's hard to find time for each other. And Claire. Oh, how I miss that sweet girl! I need to write her a good old fashioned letter soon. WAY overdue.
I scheduled a tattoo appointment! I will get it the day after Christmas. I think, out of all of them, this is one I'm really nervous about. Breigh asked her closest friends and family to get tattoos with her, so each of us are getting a bird to represent her (she chose a Bible verse with hers, I can't quite remember it though at the moment). I am not so sure what makes me so nervous, but I am! I think it's because it's going to be bigger than I had originally anticipated, but I know it'll be beautiful and it will be so worth it! I am excited about it. Mother on the other hand... I don't think she's as excited. I think she understands the meaning of it to me, though. So I'm thankful for that.

I hope to be back 'for real' very, very soon.
I say that a lot, but I truly do mean it. I want to keep this a space to look back on. I wanted to document my wedding planning process... and it seems I've not done such a great job on this. I am going to try harder. 2013 resolution, maybe? :)