in no particular order.

• whispers
• the nighttime in winter when everything seems bright because of the snow
• snow day sleep ins
• sparkle shoes
• THRIFTING
• mommy daughter laughs
• sweaters with sleeves that cover my first knuckle
• foggy pink mornings
• freshly painted fingernails
• the smell of cold 
• hand holding
• a pony tail when no hair falls out
• white christmas lights
• a clean purse
• freshly shampooed carpets
• fireplace mantles
• bricks painted white
• pointed toe flats
• mossy walls
• the color grey
• campfires
• hayrides
• deer antlers
• pinecones
• things that are both miniature and oversized.
• the feeling of waiting for people before the party starts.
• being under lots of blankets.
• hardwood floors
• freshly cut hair.
• cleveland
• coming home for christmas
• thrifting for old things i don’t need.
• LENS FLARES
• teased hair
• muted colors
• sparkles
• pear shaped gems
• tufted leather couches
• berries
• ampersands
• color blind tests
• watercolors
• wooden crates
• tiny baby giggles

AH! It really happened! I have a ring on my finger! 

I’ve had [quite] a few people ask me the story, so I figured I could post it here. 8)

Ready? 

So Stephen was going to come over on Sunday afternoon, but he was late. I called him a few times to see where he was, and he didn’t answer. a few minutes later, i hear a knock on my door, and i open it to find Stephen’s roommate, and my very good friend, Allen. he hands me a note-like-scroll. complete with twine, burned edges, and fountain pen ink stains. (I would soon find that this little note had friends.)

I open the note. He tells me that we’re not going to be spending the day at my apartment like we had planned. he instructs me to put on warm clothes and meet me in the place where he asked me to be his girlfriend. 

excited, i get all bundled up and immediately made my way there. as i come closer to the picnic table, i see that he is not there as i was expecting. there’s another note. 

as i read it, i cry like a 4 year old. he told me to look around, take it all in, and remember when he asked me to be his girlfriend over three years ago. i did. so clearly.

He told me that this is where the first chapter of our lives together began.

now to understand this next part, i must take you back to our second anniversary-the best date ever. We spent september 15, 2010 at longwood gardens. smelling flowers, walking hand in hand, and having the best day i can ever remember spending together. everything about it was just perfect.

so at the bottom of this second note, i see him tell me to meet him at longwood gardens. now anyone who knows me knows that i’m not the hugest fan of driving. and with all this added excitement, i would have been a wreck (pun intended) on the road. longwood is a good 45 minute drive. stephen knew. he asked my roommate and best friend if she would take me. She did.

We had some quality girl time on the way there, talked about getting our nails done and giggled too much.

when we arrived, she had the last and final note in her glove compartment. it instructed me to go to the front desk. my ticket would be waiting. then i was to go to the place that he had circled on the map for me (my favorite little water garden) but i was to take my time. he told me to enjoy every little step of the way. 

so i did. and i found him waiting. in his cutest little green shirt. i walked down the stairs to get to him, and saw the biggest smile on his face. my friend becky was there to capture the whole thing. 

when i got down there, he told me how much he loved me. He then presented me with a hand painted box.

He asked me if i was ready to start the second chapter of our lives together, opened the book, and inside was the most beautiful ring i’d ever seen tied around the most beautiful little family of pinecones. 

and of course, i said yes. 

i really love him. 

For as long as I can remember, I’ve had a problem with worrying. Now i don’t worry about anything or everything (Thank God) but it’s always the same thoughts; i get scared that something is going to happen to the people I love most. 

I remember my first sleepover at my neighbor’s house, and begging to go home in the middle of the night because i wanted to make sure my parents were okay. so i did. i walked 30 feet to the right of me, and there they were; safe and sound.

I remember having to receive special privileges at summer camp so i could call my parents when i needed to. 

I remember countless nights with the same nightmare about my dad, and calling him the second i woke up. 

but there’s one thing that remained the same through all these worries.

They were always okay.

Strangely enough, since I’ve left for college hundreds of miles away, things have gotten better. i do have the occasional dream or thought, but generally not as often and or intense. 

i feel as if the more i love something one, the more scared i become of losing it them.

i guess my worry only proves how strong my love is. 

woohoo. 

pictures soon to follow. 8)