instalife: january thoughts

there always comes a point where things just can't get much worse. that's how the end of 2013 felt. like the bottom, the end of the rope. we didn't know how much more we could handle, and we had no idea when things would start to turn around. and when life feels lowest, there's nothing left to do but surrender. as hard as you might try to keep control, no matter how many lists you write, how well you organize your time, or how hard you try to keep that smile on your face, eventually it's clearly time to let go. and miraculously, without fail, God steps in, and He starts moving. 

january has looked like a lot of praying, praising, brainstorming, and occasionally butting heads. we've spent several evenings around our giant chalkboard writing down everything in our hearts, all of our worries, all of our dreams. and after we'd identified those dreams, it was time to start taking baby steps toward those goals. 

i'm excited about my business, excited about Travis' future as he pursues his career, excited to finish my credential, excited about the changes we know are coming. there are still deep desires that ache within us - the desire for community, for rich and deep friendships, the desire to eventually move and live in a place we love. we're taking baby steps toward those, too. right now, we're in the here & now. everyone  who knows me knows that i'm a planner; i'm always counting down to the next big thing. but i'm learning how to live today, because i'm not exactly sure what next week, next month, next year will look like. and i'm learning to be ok with that, to find joy in it. 

it's been the little things this month, too. renewing my library card and checking out stacks of books. a red-eye drive up the i-5 to snuggle with our new niece and spend time at home. homemade and husband-made sweet treats. a date night or two. the longer evenings. a love note here and there. dinner with new friends. an evening of cooking & baking family recipes. a quiet morning with a new book. i'm learning to savor life. drink in the fresh air, feel the breeze as it drifts through our home, pause and admire the sunset. every day is showered with gifts. drink it all in today, friends. 

let's connect on instagram!

@debbie_gilley

countdown // forty-seven

hey you, 

we're getting married in 47 days, and as of today, i have 24 days of togetherness left with you before we become husband and wife - have i told you lately that i'm beyond excited? i'm pretty sure i said that at least 3 times yesterday, and maybe 7 times the day before. i just can't help it. 

thank you for a wonderful weekend at home. besides the throwing up/fever part, the chaos in the house, and the complete lack of quiet, it was still so good. thank you for always listening to what's on my heart, for never giving up on us when things are tough, and for always vowing to make it right again. thank you for understanding my need for quality time, for making it your priority as well. i want to treasure every moment of the next 12 days and hold on to those memories for the 23 days after that. they will be days of remembering you, praying for you, missing you, and eagerly anticipating your return home. 

our coffee date on sunday morning was the best moment during the weekend. i love talking about our life together, and i am so grateful that your heart seeks to follow Jesus first, no matter the cost. we're not destined for mediocre or average - we have both felt that pull in our heart for years. up to this point, we've spent our life as individuals, and in the last 2 years we've been individuals preparing for a life as one. it is my deepest hope and prayer that our together and forever life is one that brings magnificent glory to our King, that it is a testament of His power and purpose in our life. we are called to this, called to marriage. what a gift, that God delights in our love and created it for His glory. what a win-win. 

whether we adopt, serve in local organizations, lead others, go out onto the mission field, feed the hungry, shelter the homeless, work in our careers, or raise a family, all of it will be for our good and for His. 

are you ready for this adventure? because i am so ready to begin it with you. 

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! 

bridal shower-ing

as i was recapping our week in norcal, i skipped wednesday because well, wednesday was a day of all days. from dress fittings in the morning, to baking cake pops and setting up for the bridal shower, and then hosting all evening, the day was jam-packed from the moment i woke up.

half of me was so excited to plan, organize, and host the shower. my selfish half, however, was a little bummed that this big day fell right in the middle of our very relaxing trip. it was the one day that i was running around all day and would have absolutely no time to spend with T. then again, wednesday made me realize that i am dating the most patient, supportive, and easy-going man on the planet. he made the day a breeze for me, and i could not love him more for that.

i'll let the pictures do most of the talking, but despite a lot of the stress and drama surrounding the shower, it was an honor for me to celebrate my best friend. she will make one beautiful, beautiful bride, and one fantastic wife. today marks the 'one month' date, and i'm starting to get the wedding jitters! everything is becoming extremely real. i'm having wedding nightmares, more like M.O.H. nightmares and writing lists of things i still have to do (hello, speech!). i'm starting to picture her in her dress, walking down the aisle, saying 'i do' and leaving a married woman. i remember dreaming about this day with her years and years ago, when we'd have play dates and watch The Parent Trap together, or when we thought we were total hot stuff as we caked our faces in make-up and sang along to shania twain in our oh so epic music videos. and now here we are, in our twenties, on the verge of the biggest moments in our lives. and, here we are, still best friends after having gone through thick and thin. i'm so grateful that i'll be there, standing next to her, sharing every moment of that special day. and now i'm starting to get weepy...

here are the pictures from the bridal shower! not all of them were taken by me, but i did all of the editing and compiling...what a fun morning it was bringing these photos to life...

the shower was wonderful, but my favorite part of the night? going over to my best friend's house, with some of our best girlfriends and our guys, eating burgers, and laughing the night away...so much has changed, and yet God is taking us onto wonderful new paths...

norcal vacation-ing: day 4

what happened to day 3? i'll get back to it...on wednesday, i threw a bridal shower for my best friend, and that deserves a post of it's own (plus i still have to edit the hundreds of photos!).

on thursday, we had another coffeeshop morning, this time to visit one of my very very good friends Jordan. she works at 'the nugget,' a super fancy grocery store with a coffee bar and this fantastic lounge upstairs. i love that place.

blowing kisses

they were SO excited to meet each other...it made my heart smile!

 

 

 

his beard is like velcro!

thursday was our last full day up north, and T was desperately craving an off-roading adventure. so we packed the family into the car and headed up to sly park, and found some fabulous backroads. it was a riot!

love my fam bam.

the boys

the girls

best dysfunctional family photo

God lit up the sky with this beautiful sunset on our drive home...see what i mean about open skies? what a masterpiece.