a european happymoon / munich, part two

before we visited munich in the snow, we snuck in a day at the very beginning of our trip - a cold, wintery, and magical day. the charm of the old city buildings is incomparable. there is so much history within the walls of the stores and the stones on the street. the architecture, the detail, the design - you just can't find things like that in the U.S. 

then there was that one time, my feet led us straight to starbucks. Travis and i are avid starbucks lovers, and we have a collection of starbucks mugs from all of the countries we've visited - so we had to find a Munich starbucks. we were walking down the side streets, when i spotted that glorious green sign from a kilometer away. that latte was to die for in the 30 degree weather. 

all of these photos remind me of such wonderful memories - i think that's the beauty of photographs, you know? they aren't only images, they are mementos of days past. i am still so grateful for the opportunity Travis and i had to soak in those two weeks together. we are truly blessed. 

oma and opa's home sweet home

today i'm sharing a few snapshots of my grandparent's home in germany. unlike many people who can just drive down the road to visit grandma and grandpa, my oma and opa are a 12 hour plane flight away, so we only get to visit them every few years. in some ways though i think that makes our time together even more precious. rather than only seeing each other for a few hours here and an evening there, we spend at least 2 weeks sharing life together. we eat every meal together, say good morning and good night, and make a million memories to tide us over til the next visit. 

in january, Travis and i spent two magical weeks with my grandparents. the last time i had visited them was almost three years ago - in other words, way too long. still, i remembered every nook and cranny of their home, and i loved showing Travis all the special places that i remembered as a child. secretly, my grandparents loved watching me bounce around the halls, remembering where the chocolates were hidden and where my siblings and i would play together in the basement.

one morning, i snuck around and captured a few pictures - keepsakes to always remember this home away from home by.

have a wonderful weekend, friends!

one hundred twenty two

i would text this to you, but i feel like blogging it instead. and i almost put it on Facebook, but then we'd be ridiculed for being too cute and gross, and wait, are we really that happy? ;] 

you just made my morning, like literally right now. it's 7:51am, and i should be starting my philosophy of teaching paper, but instead, you're coming over early for a morning together. any morning that starts with, what could yours truly bring you for breakfast today? is definitely a good, good morning. how do you know what i always need, before i even know myself? an hour of quiet with you to start what would otherwise maybe be an overwhelming day sounds like a little slice of heaven. 

that's probably one of the things in marriage that i'm most excited about - to start almost every morning with you next to me, to drink coffee together and prepare for the day ahead, to pray together before one of us walks out the door, and to start every day on the same page. these little morning dates we get now are just a tease! 

engaged // shawn + christian

happy tuesday, friends! 

a little while back, i offered shawn + christian a little couples session to document their engagements season, and we had a blast! these two really are just two best friends, and they are all so full of fun. 

to the future harm's family, i wish you all the best in your life together! 

one hundred twenty four

last night, we learned that some people see us and shake their heads and think, 'are they really that happy all the time?' when our friend told us that, we laughed and said, 'yes, we really are!' and you know what, babe? i really am that happy with you.

the last seven hundred and something days of togetherness have only made me more and more sure that you are the man God had been preparing for me all along.

yes, we butt heads sometimes. in the last 3 weeks, we really butted heads. we were disconnected, we weren't on the same page, our communication had somehow drowned under life's madness and the overwhelming busy-ness. but we fought fairly, in love and in truth, and it made us better, stronger. i am so thankful that you aren't afraid to call me out when i need to hear it, and i am grateful for your humility - your willingness to be better together, to stick it out no matter what. there is no one i would rather tackle life's thicks with. no one brings me greater joy.

one hundred and twenty four days til we are husband and wife. but i think it's the day after, 125 days from now, that i'm even more excited for. the morning i wake up, and you're there, and we're living in the reality of the most sacred and lasting bond we'll ever know. i love you, sweet husband-to-be.

refreshed & restored

we spent the last few days up north, relishing the stolen moments we had with my family. every weekend we spend in northern california is just never long enough...we can't wait for the day we call northern california home and just visit long beach. 

the last 3 weeks or so had been incredibly nuts for us. i was (and still am) busy writing my thesis, staying on top of school work, scheduling photoshoots, preparing for our Good Friday service, submitting my 2 weeks notice at work, and juggling all the other 'life' things that never fail to come up. the busy-ness and the stress left me feeling disconnected and drained from my other half. i am all about quality time, and though sweet words, thoughtful gifts, and cuddles definitely speak to me, there is always something missing if T and i haven't gone out and done what we love to do together - usually that means spending time outdoors, just the two of us, finding some new adventure...

so, by the time spring break arrived and we were counting down the days til our trip to northern california, i just couldn't wait anymore. the weekend was refreshing and restoring, and just the medicine the love doctor ordered for my tired heart. 

long walks in the rolling foothills (with a bajillion stops for photos, sorry), an evening around the fire with my brother and sister-in-law at their new house (which is just down the road from my mom's house - so awesome), some quiet time in our favorite coffee shop, wedding planning, a dinner date at our favorite norcal spot, window shopping, and plenty of time to talk and catch up...those are the little moments that mean the world to me. 

thank you, babe, for being so sensitive to what i need, for being willing to spend endless days with me doing the things we love to do. thank you for your friendship, for doing life together...have i told you that i seriously can't wait to marry you? every day, i get more and more excited! 

kindred spirits and coffee

a few weekends ago, i spent a happy friday evening with one of the sweetest friends i know. i am so blessed to have her in my life. it has been a pure joy adventuring through the last 4 years together and watching her and i move into new and exciting season of life. she is a kindred spirit, one of my most bosom friends (to quote anne shirley). 

it's practically inevitable that every coffee date together will also turn into a little photoshoot - thanks em, for always being such a willing and patient model. you know i just can't resist coffee, cameras, and gorgeous girlfriends like you! and if you guys haven't been to the greenhouse yet, you totally should. but be warned, it's about as hipster as coffeeshops get in long beach. 

and then the tables turned...thanks for capturing these, emily!

just a fair warning y'all, if you're going to go on a coffee date with me, you can't drink anything until i take a picture of it first - sorry, but i'm not sorry.

have a happy thursday, friends - and for real, let's go get coffee soon =)