Breakthroughs

"Breakdowns can create breakthroughs. Things fall apart so things can fall together."

Just thought I'd share a few of my views this week! I feel like a part of my soul that's been dormant for far too long is starting to come alive again! And man, does it feel good!

Happy Spring!

Reclining: the new walking.

Wow, friends, so much to tell!

I'm not going to appologize for neglecting you, because I'm not sorry.

I've been so busy living life that blogging about it hasn't been a number one priority.

I am, however, sorry for the fact that I miss the connection that blogging has brought me to all of you pretties.

Let's start here.

Today I am at work...which means I am currently employed!!

Employed by a wonderful company, the one I mentioned here, about the job that I had all of you crossing your fingers and toes for me for! {Thanks for that, by the way!}

I feel so blessed.

Matt and I both do.

He loves his job, the variety and challenges that accompany it every day.

He has bid farewell to monotony and embraced the changes that each day brings.

And if there was any question before on whether or not I was overcome with obsession over my niece, all of those questions can cease to exist as I can officially tell you, I'M OBSESSED!!!!

Seriously, I am so in love with that little sassy pants that it could probably border on mental illness.

She's at the age where she recognizes people and is equally obsessed with pulling my hair and glasses.

I call them "love tugs".

Would you even believe me if I told you she took her very first steps last week?!

Because she did. She did it and she's not even 10 months old yet.

Gypsy baby is growing up so fast, I can't even handle it!

What I can handle is this:

Just chillin'. Like a villain. In the grocery store.

Homegirl is obviously is wayyyy too cool for all us folks who choose to push the carts instead of recline in them.

Get with it people.

Is it Thanksgiving?!

If only you knew how many remarkable blog posts would be on here, if only my brain had a recording device that could type everything that I think of while I'm either showering or running.

It's pretty insightful stuff, folks!

But alas, you will never know those thoughts.

Instead, you will be stuck hearing stories about my dogs or my current sickness or moving. And while your eyes graze across the page, I bet you never imagined the one writing this has two tissues sticking out of her nose whilst her fingers ramble away. Just revert back to the comment on "current sickness".

It's a beautiful sight over on my side of the screen.

And though he would never say it, I'm sure husband would beg to differ.

Sweet as he is, he would never whisper a word of how much he dislikes the fact that I have to lift those tissues in order to give him a kiss. And kiss me, he does.
True love.

Marriage is funny that way.

It brings about both beauty and hardship.

I feel like I've grown so much the last two years, that sometimes when I look back at the girl who stood at the altar to say "I do," I don't even recognize her.

Marriage is a beautiful thing in which two individuals, working together, achieve one of the most incredible acts ever known to man; they become one.  Not through some miraculous happening, but through a lot of bending, giving, breaking, sanding, fighting, mending, forgiving, loving and accepting.

No easy task.

It's opening yourself up to another person and giving them every part of you, knowing full well that they could crush you in the deepest way, but trusting that they won't . And vice versa.

Marriage is knowing and being known to the fullest and sometimes most embarrassing ways and yet still loving that person no matter what pet-peeves {or tissues} may try to interfere.
And it is for that reason that I am grateful.
Grateful for having the opportunity to marry my best friend.
Grateful for the fact that he puts up with my oddities.
Grateful that he allows me to dream and evolve, never once asking me to change.
Grateful that nearly four years ago, he had the guts to email a girl in Utah who he'd never met.
Grateful for his heart
Grateful for his love.
And grateful that he's mine.

Salt Lake or Bust

So a few things have changed since we last talked.

1.)  I'm in a new state. The state where Utahns reside, to be specific.

2.)  In true Marcie fashion, I have a new hair color to go along with my new life change. 

Burgundy / brunette would be a great description of it. 

3.)  It's a new year!! 2013!!!! Can you even believe it?! If you're reading this, I'm assuming you, like me, survived the dreaded "End of the World" fiasco that was supposed to go down in December. 

Silly Mayans. When will you ever learn?!

{source}

After a long drive {approximately 25 hours} and five states later, Matt, the girls and I all made it safely to our new home in Salt Lake City.

The girls made the trip doped up on dramamine and kisses.

 They were the sweetest road trip buddies! Such little angels for having to be in the car for so long. And would you even believe that they still LOVE car rides?! I can hardly believe it myself. They must get their adventurous spirit from me! ;)

All in all, we're getting settled into our semi-temporary home! The cold has been a much bigger adjustment than either of us expected, especially considering I grew up here! I don't know how I managed to forget how frigid the winter air in Utah! Husband started his job this week and I've had two interviews with a company that I'm hoping will love me as much as I do them! 

{Please, oh please cross your fingers for me!}

And one last thing....Matt and I feel so UNBELIEVABLY grateful for the love and support that we've received from our families during this transition! Moving is no easy task, and we couldn't have done it without their help. From helping us get packed up, flying down to help with the drive and then to helping us unpack when Matt was sick with the flu, we both feel overwhelmed with all of the love and support our families have given us. We would be lost without all of their generosity! Thank you, thank you, THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts! We love you all so much!

The Flip Side

I'm nearly to the end of my goodbyes and about to start hellos!

Have I mentioned I'm no good at goodbye?

I like to think that I soak in every moment. The happy ones and the sad ones. 

When there's happiness, I'll be there basking in every ounce of sparkle and joy that arrives with that moment.  The same is true with the flip side. I feel every tickle of every tear, every brick that arrives with the weight of sadness and despair. 

Sensitive.

My double-edged sword.

Husband doesn't quite know what to do with this yet, but he's learning. 

The great thing is that with every sad goodbye, I know there's a more exciting hello waiting for me!
Specifically, this little hello.....

Really, could the flip side be any cuter?

The Announcement {& lovey, dovey pictures}

Honestly people, did you really think I would make you wait a month for the announcement?!

Let's review.

1.) I'm a girl. Keeping secrets is not my strong suit. So unless you don't mind my husband, best friend and sister knowing, it's best if you don't ask.

2.) My attention span is that of a toddler. I would forget the announcement if I had to wait a month.

3.) Most of you reading are already aware of the announcement.

Cuatro.) Although I was flattered by all of you assuming that I'm mature enough to grow, nurture and raise a human being {cough, cough...pregnancy}, I'm hoping that it's not because all of these pumpkin bars I've been eating are starting to show.

5.) When I posted the "In one month..." part of the announcement, I meant it in the fact that the surprise is actually happening in one month. Obviously it's not a baby.

But aren't our family pictures so cuteeeeee?!!!!!!

If only you know what it took to get the dogs to hold still for the long length of a camera click. Their attention span is almost as bad as mine! You'll notice that Lola has obviously spotted a squirrel.

A few of you sweet souls thought that we were possibly starting the adoption process......well that's not what the announcement is this time, but I would like to think it's the first big step toward making that happen.

I'm sure you're done with my rambling and ready to hear our news. Here it is:

We're moving to Utah!!!!!!!!

Yes, folks! I'll be reunited with my beautiful mountains, precious niece and lovely family!

The moving decision actually came to be reality in October when Matt was offered a job to be a project engineer at an excavating company. We both have been praying so much about this decision and have had so many little "signs" that there's no question on whether or not God is going before us in this next step! There's a lot of emotions going on as we get ready to take this big jump, but excitement is definitely predominant, especially as it gets closer! 

Our days of living on Tulsa time have nearly come to a close, and we are cherishing every single one of them! Tulsa has been a place of tremendous personal growth and we have made many friendships that will carry on long after we have moved. We're so grateful for the times that we've had here!

Now, it's on to the next adventure!

Hangover

Hello long-lost lovelies!!

Has it really been {longer than} a week already?!

My, my.....how time flies!

To be quite honest, I've been on a vacay hangover the last couple days. 

{And FYI, that has nothing to do with alchy.} 

Pretty much all it means is that I've been hit hard in the face with reality. 

OUCH!! That never feels good.

But you know what does feel good? This. Blogging.

So I will be spending the next few days catching you up on my adventures and also catching up on yours!  

Here's a summed up explanation on my absence:

I took this

to go here

to see these

and meet her!

I also had quite a few coffees along the way.

What did I miss?!

The Best Mom's Day Gift....Ever!!

Today has been the greatest Mother's Day yet!

Simply because she arrived today:

The little niece that I've been talking about has finally made her appearance! And my sister did it all natural! She's one strong lady. Just like my mom. 

I am SOOOO in love with this little face!!! 

And in only a few days I will be holding that sweet little bundle that is,

Cambria Rose.

Simply said, I can't wait!!!!!!!!!

The fam has been warned that I will not be sharing.

Hope you and all had as happy of a mother's day as we did! :)

Happy Mother's Day!

Friday's Letters

Dear Friday, I am so happy to see you! You are literally the prettiest day of the week and I always look forward to your 5 o'clock {p.m. that is} alarm letting me know I'll have a couple days to wear whatever I want {or don't want} and act like a crazy gypsy! Thank you!! Dear Oklahoma, your allergies are kicking my butt and it's not appreciated. But thank you for all the rain and greenery...so lush and pretty! Dear husband, let's go watch The Avengers again!! And can you pleeeeeeease let me hire someone to do family pictures?! The girls won't stop bugging me about wanting to see themselves in their new rhinestone necklaces {collars}! And I need an excuse to go shopping. Dear Cambria {my future niece}, you are 4 days past your due date and driving me crazy! Every time my phone rings or vibrates, I'm convinced you're on your way! But you do have the cutest little heartbeat....I've been listening to it over and over again. I can't wait to meet you!!! You are already so very loved! Dear Technology, thank you for allowing me to hear my niece's heart beat on my cell phone. I'm thinking of making it my ring tone?? Or writing a beat-boxing song. So fly.

Dear Utah, in only a few short days, we will be reunited!!! This will be my first time that you will see Matt and I visiting as husband and wife! Please be nice to him, I'd really like to move back. Oh, and please tell my niece to arrive in time for my arrival. Not all of us have the luxury of living in a uterus for 9 months!

This next week holds so many new adventures! Have I mentioned that my niece is due to arrive?! I'm so in love with that little peanut! I feel like my sister is a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment! Ok, maybe not explode, but I'm not sure what else you would call pushing an 8 lb human out of your fancy lady. Explode is the closest thing I could think of. I can't wait to be her aunt!!! I'm still trying to think of a cool "aunt" nickname, though. I need something that says, "Cool, funny and will give you all the candy you want {before I send you back to your mother}".....suggestions??

Oh and p.s. my best friend took this picture! Pretty awesome, right?! She fly.

A Poochie Named Lexus

Meet Whitney and Lexi! You may recognize her as the darling girl who was standing next to me in my wedding! {Hint, hint...she was my Maid of Honor!} When I went back to Utah, I was able to meet her sweetest new dog-daughter, Lexi {short for Lexus}! Needless to say, we took quite a few pictures! Lexi is so photogenic and the sweetest not-so-little poochie! She loves to give kisses, stick her head out of the car sunroof, and eat loofas. You can just call her Little Miss Personality! Lola & Piper can't wait to meet their newest best friend! :)

Mommy-to-be!

This past week I traveled back home for the delightful event of celebrating my best friend {who also happens to be my sister}'s baby shower! We had so much fun crafting, decorating and drinking lots & lots of coffee!! :) We even managed to fit in a few photo opportunities along the way! Unfortunately, the weather wasn't too cooperative, but we found about twenty minutes of decency to get a few shots that were keepsake worthy! I must say, Rebecca {my dearest and sweetest sister} is the cuuuuuuuutest pregnant lady I've ever seen! She is all belly and completely adorable! We all can't wait for little Cambria Rose to make her appearance!

Now you know I wasn't kidding when I said adorable!! We had so much fun being back together for a week! Her baby shower pictures {along with a few DIYs} will be coming in the very near future! :)

Fall Trips

Matt was given the awesome opportunity at the beginning of October to go to California and attend Kip Barber's Driving School where he got to learn how to drive Formula 1 race cars! He was only one of two people that were chosen by his work to go on the trip.  It was all-inclusive and he had so much fun!!  I, on the other hand, was so excited for him, but was going to miss him for the four days that he was gone! However, my parents had something up their sleeve and surprised me with a buddy pass to travel back home while Matt was in California! Needless to say, I was MORE than excited!!!!! Especially considering I would make it home in time for my favorite season and be able to see all the trees change! 

It was the most refreshing trip, like a breath of fresh air for my soul! Not only was I able to soak up some much needed mom and sister time, but was able to ride my sweet horse, Cuddles {who I miss so much}, go trail-running with my best-friend and drink up wayyyyy too much Beans and Brew coffee! Ahhh....I can almost taste it right now! I must tell you though, my favorite part of the trip was a day when we went driving up to the mountains to see all the colors and exercise a few of my photography muscles! There is nothing more refreshing than taking a deep breath of mountain air in the autumn! I wish I could bottle it up and use it as an

The Reception

Well it's taken me a year to post these, but I figured that now is as good a time as ever!! Here's a few pictures {and a few stories} from our reception....August 20, 2010!

I am sooooo in love with cameos!! I just knew I had to include one, somehow, into the day! And what better way than putting one on my bouquet! Have I also mentioned that I love our rings?! I LOVE OUR RINGS!! Matt's ring has wood inset into the sides of it, which fits him perfectly because he loves building things! My ring, well, is perfectly me! Read the story about it here!

Our cake was so delicious! We had two different flavors...coconut kiwi lime and orange sherbet.....fresh and delicious! It was even delicious a year later! {Yes, Matt and I bent the rule a little bit and ate our wedding cake a couple weeks sooner than our anniversary. But in our defense, we had no choice! My

{so long}, exotica...

It happened. Finally. After all I've done to avoid the situation, I had to go through the dreaded undertaking of getting a new phone number. {Bleh!} This was a sad occasion for many reasons, a few of which I will discuss in detail as I mourn my old phone number.

Reason #1: My new phone number begins with an area code other than 801. {tear}. Pathetic as this may be, I loved having a phone number with an area code different than the place I was living. Not only was it a