Hard Questions

I did some driving this week and do you know what happens when I drive? Well my mind and my heart meet in the middle and the rolling hills of Missouri and the beautiful skies just provoke so many things in my mind. I become consumed with blog topics and subjects that I want to write about and share with you. Then I arrive home, unwind, and settle in and completely lose the passion and emotion to the feelings and ideas that had consumed me for the two hour car ride. 

Brandon and I have a unique relationship, in a good way. He is a professional athlete. I am a college grade with a degree in business marketing. I have chosen to shelf that degree while I nanny two children instead. When we marry in November we will move in together and from that point on we will always live together. Where that is we won't know until maybe a few days before. What about me? What will I do? Will I stay at our home in Alabama while he goes to spring training? Will I move with him during the season? Where will we live? Where will I work? What about my career and my dreams?  


Those are the questions that friends and family bring to my attention. Now it gets difficult hearing those questions as if I haven't already pondered and maybe stressed over all of them multiple times. I finally think I can answer the question with one hundred percent confidence.


I know that I was made for Brandon. I was made to be there for him to help, listen, pray for, please, prepare, respect, honor, and to love him unconditionally. I'm ready for that. I accepted the ring and agreed to marry him and agreed to all those things. In addition, we agreed to put God at the center of our relationship. He is the foundation of what we are going to be committing to in a few short weeks.


So when I get asked those questions about me and what I will do, I have an answer. You may not like it. You may not agree, but I have an answer. I have chosen to submit to my future husband. Because of this decision, God will reveal and bless me with my own needs and give me dreams that I can follow while still doing what he created me to do. I truly believe leaving my job here, and possibly passing on job opportunities that arise so that Brandon and I can be together he will bless me with so much more down the road that is bigger and better. I'll take my eyes off myself and put them on God and the rest will take care of itself. It makes me excited and eager, but I will be patient because those blessings come in His time not mine but I know they will.


As humans we are naturally selfish. We can't change that. However we can ask God to change our hearts and He will. This is obviously a way easier thing to say, talk, and write about than act on but with enough prayers it can be done and I hope I am the one doing it. 

The Beginning

Well I just couldn't wait to post about our two wonderful years together, so I did on Tuesday. Instead today I'm sharing our very first photo together. Cell phone quality + editing makes this one not so bad. I love that I still have it. 

I did a little researching to figure out the specifics of how this whole shindig went down. BD (we will call him that cause sometimes his name is too long to type) was on a seven day road trip before he returned home on August 3rd.That night or early morning he asked me to go steady with him. Yep folks, he used those words. "Will you go steady with me?" He denies it, but in his attempt to be cute and win me over, which he has and continues to do, I know he absolutely said it. 


The next seven days we spent every moment we could together sneaking around some silly work policy but in the end all is well and no one (me) lost their internship. This picture was taken before he left on his next road trip which was eight days and he insisted on having a photo of us before he left and I am a bit glad he did. 


Oh yeah one more tiny little thing. As an anniversary gift for him, I have made some BIG wedding decisions, finally. I am also getting him a pair of new sneakers. Strangely enough, I think he likes the first gift best. Of course you will see what I picked out after I get back from visiting in a week. You picking up what I'm laying down? We pick our own gifts. Is that weird? Well I don't care if it is. He likes me to be happy and I decided I'll help him out a tad the first few years. 


So there is the nitty gritty on how this guy became my guy and I wouldn't have it any other way. Happy Anniversary!

365 x 2

Thursday Brandon and I will be celebrating two years together. We have been reflecting a lot on the beginning lately just reminding each other of funny things that happened. The last time I saw him was when I kissed him goodbye at the hotel in STL on July 7th. This is perfect timing because even though we can't be with one another we have lots of memories to talk about that makes me feel close to him. So here we go some snippets of the last two years. Be prepared if you don't like mushy stuff.

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Most Memorable: Our first kiss we both will remember forever. He asked permission to kiss me. Awwww. He then waited for what seemed like eternity to do it. It was probably close to an hour and half. Not joking. Then, after the kiss he claims he did this on purpose. Now that I know him a little better, I know for a fact that he did. The kiss was awesome by the way. 

Most Annoyed: We were playing 20 questions on a road trip and he picked a pen. The pen I was holding in my hand. We ended the game after that. I never guessed it. Okay that probably wasn't the most annoyed but it was funny for him and not for me.

He is most happy when:  He is at home and doing anything outdoors especially if I tag along.

He gets agitated with me: When I am late or cause us to be late. Oops.

I get agitated with him: When he makes me try new food. He is a persistent little bugger. And of course, I always give in.


Nicknames: Cotton, BD, My Brandon ( because my little brother's name is also Brandon and he is 'our Brandon.' My nicknames are Sunshine every morning, Darlin, and Babe. I never thought I would be in a relationship where I called my man, or was called Babe and I love it. 


First Date: In secret to Texas Roadhouse & Mini Golf (I lost)


Most FAQ: How did you two meet? I was working in Springfield and he was playing Double A ball.


Kindest Gesture: My southern boy always gets the door for me. I love it.


Favorite Feature: My babe's BLUE eyes. I could stare forever.


Something Sweet: I like to hold hands when we pray.


Fun Fact:  I said " I love you" first. 

This photo: Doesn't show you how much he loves my kisses.  Especially a soft one on each cheek. He makes me do it. Its his thing. And if I try to get kisses from him on each cheek he doesn't give in. Ever.

I appreciate this most: His love for God above everything else. Knowing this brings me comfort for our future together that there is nothing we can't get through.


Happiest Moment: When Brandon asked me to marry him. Next in line is the day he got called up. I have a feeling November 5th will trump both of these days.


I got lucky:  He likes to cuddle.


He got lucky: I give an excellent back massage.


We got lucky: God brought us together.

Perks of the LDR

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Long distance relationships are lots of work. They come with lots of sacrifice and a whole different suitcase full of challenges than an average relationship carries.  Even in all this I have found a few little perks that I have enjoyed while enduring this particular time in my life.  


As of right now I have no one to answer to but myself.  I can eat my meals at whatever time I like without worrying about someone elses stomach grumbles. I will say in the times that I have starved Brandon passed his feeding time he has been very patient.  I also cook what I am in the mood for and if I want to dine in my room then I most certainly will. My evenings are on a 'me' time schedule not an 'us' time schedule. I do enjoy this. 


This works because I often use my evenings to do any feminie primping such as a manicure,pedicure, or some eyebrow grooming. You know the stuff boys could not care less about. I just piddle and play and do what I please. I like to paint my nails before bed and this doesn't work so well when we are together. It doesn't work because typically I have to sit up waiting on the couch for my nails to dry when someone else is already getting snuggly in bed without me. At times in our relationship when we are together I try to make sure this is done in advance or when he is busy, so that I  don't waste our precious time together. 


Also in that category of  -things I put off until we aren't spending time together- is my love for internet surfing. I catch up on my favorite blogs and maybe some wedding research here and there, twitter, facebook, etc. I admit I spend way to much time online, but I know once November hits and I am a newlywed, the me schedule will be out the window!


One more thing I enjoy is that Brandon has plenty of time to go see his manly movies. There are some that I prefer NOT to see and the eight months apart give him the perfect opportunity for those mandates. He can also give me a heads up on movies that are worth going to see. In turn, my availability for girls nights is almost aways open. Its a win/win for now.


When the time comes and the LDR ends, I will be so thankful. It will be nice to have other suggestions for meals and some regularity, someone to keep my internet usage down, as well as having a positive influence to an earlier bed time. At least when we do have to be apart in the future I can look back on this list to remind myself of the few positives of being apart. Ahem, I also just want to take a second to pat myself on the back for thinking with my glass half full! BooYA! Yep, I said, "BooYa!"