Happy Birthday Mom & Dad

Tomorrow is my parents birthday. Yup, both of them. [insert ooohing and ahhhing] it always calls for a little reflection. here goes nothing...

as i get older, i am constantly,especially recently reminded that my parents are getting older too, and therefore, so are their parents. life is precious and short.. troubling times are always upon us whether its regarding financial challenges, sick loved ones or simple frustrations of marital bliss. but, through all if it, my parents have always been a reminder to have perspective, appreciation for others and an intense love and support for family and friends. over my lifetime, i have watched my parents grow as a couple in more ways than one and maybe more importantly as it relates to this post, they have grown as individuals too.

as i have gone off to college, moved around the country and had my own ups and downs, i have had the relationship with my mom and dad change almost every year in some way shape or form.
my mom laughs a lot more, at least when I'm around. she's more curious and open to new challenges. she is a little more patient as she gets older, and she gives forgiveness almost always. she also always loves with her whole heart (that part hasn't changed). my dad still may crave academia, throw himself into astronomy and stargaze for hours however, he's softer, he appreciates and acknowledges prayer as something that provides comfort, not just for others. he is still stubborn, and i am cut from the same mold, which maybe sometimes is why we passionately have our disagreements. i love him more than fireworks.

during this engagement of mine with my soon to be husband (saying that, well typing that is a little surreal) i have thought about my parents relationship with one another a lot. they are best friends. they stay up late and laugh, or not talk at all - just simply be together. they disagree, but they always figure it out. my dad cooks and my mom helps - they are a team, not just in the kitchen but throughout the week taking care of house and home. dad travels, mom keeps it together - that's never changed either. sometimes when i stop think of how i would handle the simple pressures of life, and during my minor yelling fit or flip out, i am immediately reminded of  the thought, what would my mom or dad have done - and i usually, to the best of my ability, try to react accordingly.

my parents always made birthdays special for me. always. unfortunately, i may not be able to spend the day shopping with my mom, or give my dad a 1 minute hug and then look at stupid youtube videos while laughing our butts off, but what i can do is simply give them the appreciation they deserve, something that maybe they don't hear as often as they should.

i've said it before and i'll say it again... my parents have and continue to teach me more about life, love, marriage as well as how to make this crazy world make sense regardless of being hundreds of miles away...even if sometimes, they are just figuring it out like the rest of us.

I love you Mom & Dad, Happy Birthday.
Celebrate with something special.
xxoo.

Ps. Please visit, like now.

valentines day

Valentine's Day is one of those silly holidays that at the end of the day don't mean much. the flowers are great the and the memories of how my mom and dad made the holiday special is really the best part for me. dad would buy me one of those 24 flavor jelly belly gift packs and mom would fill a box up with care and send it to whatever state i was in at that time. really, though... those fun memories aside, i think that the holiday is filled with pressure. pressure for the guy to be extravagant or sentimental and the chick to make perfectly shaped heart pancakes for that adorable insta picture. i can't even make regular pancakes let alone shapes... of any kind.

this valentines day though is a little bit different. we are engaged. we are staring forever in the face and today is just another reminder of that. but, let's be real... it's not all roses.

life can be hard. joe and i have wanted to move to south carolina ever since the day we each left it for bigger things. we envisioned sunshine, cobblestone streets and lots of free time. after a month or so of being here, we haven't really had any of those things. and as with anything, no one can truly prepare you for such substantial change. a new job, a new city, a new home, new people, new everything... all things that we embraced with tentative nature 2 months ago however, in life there are bound to be situations where the other gets frustrated or upset trying to make all the pieces fall into place. Valentines day or not.

i realize now, in a quiet apartment with joe at work again, no one needs to be the tough guy. we have to be honest and know that it is hard, but that we have each other. we have to let the other vent, we have to plug positivity when it fits and we have to take advantage of free time together and embrace all the things that are new with open arms. this place is not going to be 'home' just because the license says so. it's not going to be home because the sign on the door looks cute and has to be true. what makes a home is the people you share it with and i needed a reminder this valentines day to not take that for granted. no one can prepare you for things that are hard and times that are busier than you may have anticipated or wanted to accept. no one can fix that but we can control how we make ourselves (and others) feel.

soon enough, it will be warmer, the work events will become a little less frequent, friends and family will be visiting and we'll be suddenly saying I do and celebrating all that is yet to come. that should be what this valentine's day is about. not the chocolate, the flowers, or the gifts, but the fact that no matter if it is February 14th, July 3rd or November 4th...all the days in between are what make a true little love story special. my future brother in law said it best, "laugh when you can, stress when you need to and wake up knowing each day you're closer to happiness" - which is ultimately something, along with a little good timing, we control for ourselves.

so sure, there are a lot of pressures in life, valentines day pancakes included but i can confidently say like i have said many times before, having someone to come home to and be on your team makes the effort we put forth every single day all worth it.