Happy Anniversay | Nine Years

Nine years ago on this very day, I married Ryan Hollen. We have been together for a decade now and it makes my head spin a bit when I think about how fast the past few years have gone. Swiftly. I blink and a decade has come and gone. A decade!

 He was the person I wasn’t looking for when we met. Meeting another guy, a potential love interest, was very low on my list of priorities at the time. I was broken and broken hearted but there he was being introduced to me in a local coffee shop, the very coffee shop we would have our wedding reception a little more than a year later. I had only been back in Colorado a grand total of about four days. I had a camera in my hand and a bruised and broken spirit from the season I had just moved away from. We were surrounded by friends, music, and coffee. My happy place. A mutual friend introduced us and my life has never been the same. Somehow, in the depths of my soul, I knew that one day I would marry this bearded man, and I did. I’m so glad I did. 

Happy Anniversay, Babe! I look forward to many more years of winding down on the couch and having dinner after long days at work, once the kiddos have had tubby time and are tucked away in bed for the evening. I look forward to many more years of building a home with you, one project at a time. I look forward to many more years of going to see movies and getting to actually go have date nights. I look forward to many more years of little getaway trips, going to concerts, and just going out for breakfast every once in a while. I look forward to the day to day, the laundry folding and the emptying of the dishwasher. I look forward to playing more music, in whatever capacity that we can in the different seasons of our lives. 

I’m so glad I was at that coffee shop that day, all those years ago. I’m so glad I said “I do” in front of our friends and family nine years ago. Ryan, you are my person forever and always. I love you! Thank you for taking care of me and our kids so well. 

My Person

Last night's anniversary dinner. 

I woke up this morning and today is like most days. The kiddo is starting to stir in her bubble gum pink room and the husband is snoring next to me. My first thoughts, especially now that I am pregnant, is that I need to go to the restroom. My next thoughts are about coffee and the anticipation of some quiet time before the rest of my world fully wakes up and our day starts once more. 

Today is different though than most of our days. Today is special. Today we are celebrating eight years of marriage. 8 years of wedded bliss. 8 years. I do wish we were waking up on a tropical beach somewhere and I was wearing a bikini and there was a margarita in my hand. But, instead, we wake to a home full of toddler toys and bedhead, waffles with peanut butter, a strong cup of coffee. We wake to a world with a dinosaur nursery that is just waiting for its new occupant to arrive. We wake to a world where I can't see my ankles anymore and my bladder has rebelled against me. We wake to a world where we will both go about our day working hard for our jobs, take a trip to the grocery store, prepare meals for the kiddo, and pray that nap time is long. 

I like waking up here. 

I was thinking about the past 8 years of our lives and how much has happened and how much has changed. We aren't the bright eye and bushy-tailed young-ins anymore. We've now lived in our home for 7 years. We've changed many things about our home....painted some walls, new floors, new appliances, new roof, new furnace and ac. We've lived with roommates when we needed the money. We've brought home a new baby from the hospital and will soon do that again. We've had so many band practices over the years and now I am left trying to hold onto those memories. 

I just can't help but realize that I have found my person. My only person. Ryan loves me for me and all of my weird ways. He puts up with my obsessive vacuuming and how I am constantly working on some home project. He mows the lawn even when I know it's the last thing he wants to do. He helps empty the dishwasher because I might hate that even more than folding and putting away laundry. We have played lots of gigs together and sang many songs together. He gets it. He gets me. 

Even when life is predictable and each day seems to blend into the next, my person is always there. We are in this together and I wouldn't have it any other way. When we met 9 years ago, I was not looking for him. He was not looking for me. But God brought us together just the same. Our worlds suddenly collided and we haven't looked back since. In brokenness and heartache, we found each other. We found our people. 

I truly wouldn't change anything from the past 8 years of our lives. I am looking forward to many more. When you find your person, hold on to them tight. You will make it through the hard times. There will be plenty of good times as well. It will all be worth it. 

Happy Anniversary, to my very favorite person. 

Weekly Lovelies: Currently Clicking #12

Each and every week, I gather links of all of the places I have been perusing in the great, grand internet. There are plenty of people out there doing big things and small things. Some of these are practical, some are inspiring. This week, I'm diving deeper into the things that matter: marriage, raising children, not having regrets at the end of your life. There are also practical things like the idea of a family closet and how to really clean your refrigerator....

1. 3 Things I Wish I Knew Before I Got Married. We are coming up on 5 years in a few weeks. These are all good reminders. 
2. And on the other side of life, Nurse Reveals the Top 5 Regrets People Make On Their Deathbed.  Can we choose to be happy? How important are the relationships in our lives? Do we work too much? 
3. Letters of Note is an attempt to gather and sort fascinating letters, postcards, telegrams, faxes, and memos. How long has it been since you sat down and wrote a letter? This is an interesting glimpse into many different lives. 
4. From the Art of Simple, 7 Tips to Help You Read More (and Love It.)
5. Also from the Art of Simple, A Bucket List for Our Children. I love this so much. 
6. I find this greatly intriguing. 4 Benefits of Creating a Family Closet. Our closets need some lovin'. 
7. And finally, something practical for all of you people that love to clean. From the Kitchn: How to Clean Your Refrigerator.

Staying Sane: Date Night

Date night is important, very important. Ever since we became parents, I've realized how even more important finding time as a couple and as individuals really is. Being parents is amazing, but unless we are staying sane in the process, life can get difficult. We don't want life to become difficult. We want to live out extraordinary lives, even in the day to day. That's always been the goal. 

This was right before we left for the date. I didn't know quite what to do with myself! 

Monday night, Grandma and Grandpa Hollen came to our house to watch the lil' one while we went out for the first time since Marin was born. I've been away from her only for little snippets of time: to run errands, to escape to Target for a little mommy break, to actually take a shower and shave my legs. 

This was the longest stretch so far. We were away for about 4 hours and I can't even begin to count how many times I thought about my kid. It was crazy! But, we had a wonderful time away for even just a bit. It is so important to do this: for our marriage and for our sanity. We can get so caught up in caring for an infant, which is important obviously, but we can lose ourselves in the process. I think Ryan and I are doing really well at not losing ourselves as we become parents. It's a process, surely, but we are making strides towards really settling in to this whole parenting gig while still keeping our marriage and relationship strong and healthy. 

For date night we went and saw the Lego Movie. I was skeptical at first but ended up really enjoying it! It was really good! 

After the movie, we went to Old Town to one of our favorite restaurants: Stuft, A Burger Bar. Any place that has sweet potato fries and lets you build your own burger to your liking is a place I want to be at. I want to go to there. 

Monday night also marked the first day I've had a beer in oh, let's see, about 10 freaking months! I've been waiting to have alcohol and read up on how to still be breastfeeding and consuming alcoholic beverages. Sunshine Wheat. Wonderful Sunshine Wheat. It had been so long! 

Hallelujah. 

The last time I believe I had a beer we are were at Stuft Burger (creatures of habit, clearly.) I remember feeling sick to my stomach and couldn't even finish my beer. Little did I know, I was actually pregnant at the time! No wonder I didn't want it. Now though, I gladly welcome the occasional beverage back into my life. It can stick around for a while. 

What do you do for Date Night? 

Here are few other ideas....

1. Here's a great list at Lovely Venture.
2. 21 Free Date Night Ideas at Adventures of A Couponista.
3. 52 Almost Free Ideas at Oh Simple Thoughts.
4. Stay at Home Date Night Ideas at Imperfect Homemaker.   

Anniversary Week

Last week, we celebrated our 3rd wedding anniversary. I cannot believe how quickly time has flown by already. 3 years. 3 years! And many more to come. Each year is even more exciting than the last. 

The hubby took the whole week off and I joined him on Wednesday. It was very needed. We've been running at full speed for so long. We didn't have any gigs to play, any photos to take, anything that would take over our schedule like it usually does. We had a few days of freedom.

We started the time off by going to Denver to see one of my dear friends and his band, 1776, open for the Dandy Warhols. It was so good. It had been a few years since I had seen him and it was very good to be able to catch up like old times. Chilling back stage wasn't too shabby either. 

Later on in the week, Ryan's parents took us all out to dinner. I finally got the mojito I had been thinking about for a week or so. 

Friday night we stayed at the Armstrong Hotel in Fort Collins. It was really nice to just be able to stay in town but get out of the house for a night. The bathtub was lovely. There was air conditioning (hallelujah!) and we just got to finally relax. We went out for margaritas and mexican food, walked around Old Town, went to the drum shop, bought some new vinyl, and ended up at Perkins late that night for some pie. The next morning we went out to breakfast for one last hurrah for this year's celebration. 

Ryan Adams, forever. 

Fort Collins, CO 

Wildberry Pie

Breakfast at Dempsey's. 

Happy Anniversary, Love. 

Now it's back to reality for this week. Lots of band practices, 2 gigs, a maternity photo shoot, and working the entire time. The vacation was so wonderful while it lasted. 

Four Years Ago, Today.

Today is a monumental day. Even in the confines of such a normal Wednesday, I find myself extremely thankful and extremely blessed. It's even raining outside right now which just adds to my love for this very moment. 

Four years ago, today, and probably close to this very time, I met my best friend. I met my mountain man. It was the week I had just moved back from the beloved northwest, setting my feet once again upon the soil in which I grew up. My life still in boxes, my heart still in Longview. It was a time filled with longing for returning to where I had been forced to grow up, to the city in which my dreams had soared and had died, only to be slowly revived again before I left. But, home called me back, even though I had no real idea as to why. 

I know now. In a week filled with tornados touching down closer than one would ever imagine in our little city, lives changed forever, mine was also changed. The day after the storm, I found myself with camera in hand, boots on my feet, and a ring in my nose: The picture of the place I had left. I can still remember the very thing I wore that day. It was before I cut all of my hair off once I became a barista and it drove me too crazy. I was wearing my deep maroon cowboy boots, skinny jeans, a t-shirt, and a brown vest. 

In an effort to keep myself occupied and keep a grasp on what little art I had the desire to create, I offered to take photos of a friend's band at Everyday Joe's. Little did I know, I would have my wedding reception within those brick walls. 

He walked in, hairy as ever. A mountain man with a full beard and ponytail. He wore a snap-button, plaid shirt and his jeans were rolled up, showing his ankles. I remember thinking how much I liked that. He wore flip flops on his feet. A mutual friend introduced us and our lives were forever changed. I also found out he was a musician and photographer.  Before that moment, I was already planning wholeheartedly on moving back to the northwest. I was miserable, I questioned everything, I wanted to be anywhere but in Fort Collins. Until that night. Hook, line, and sinker. 

I knew I would marry Ryan the day I met him. Now, we find ourselves here, May 23rd, 2012. We are almost three years into our marriage and everyday I fall even harder for him than the day before. 

We were brought together by loss, the storms that sometimes fall upon our lives, and the desire to create art and just escape reality for even just a breath of time. 

It was in the time I least expected it, I found my mountain man. 

Looking Back at 2009

Before I get immensely excited about telling all of my goals for 2010 to the blog world, I decided that it was very necessary to look back on all of the amazing things that occurred in 2009, what a life changing year it was!

Last January, Ryan and I took a trip to my beloved Portland. One year ago today, we were on the road heading to the northwest. I dearly wish I could say that is what we are doing today, but sadly, it is not. I miss you, dearest northwest.

In February, I quit working at the most amazing coffeehouse on the planet, but began a new challenging job in a field I didn't think I would ever pursue. I began as a financial administrator for a a dental office. (Note: It is probably the most rock n roll dental office you will ever witness in your life.) I had moments of wanting to pull out my hair and wondered why in the world me, a creative, artsy-fartsy individual deemed it a good idea to go into a job with so many numbers. But, I'm glad I did.

I also have joined a number of bands this year. I love being able to just go help someone else out with their project and just be a musician for a change. It is so challenging, but I love it. I joined this band in the Spring of 2009. They are an amazing group of gentleman that are mega-talented!

The Nurses

The month of May consisted of us running around like headless chickens while preparing for a wedding, bridal showers, and the anticipation of beginning a new life together. I am blessed.

On June 13, 2009, I married my best friend. The most amazing day of my entire life. We then went to San Francisco for our honeymoon. He is the most amazing man I have ever known.

July was a month of beginning married life and moving into a place we could call our own. The process was a bit longer than expected, but well worth all of it.

The next month consisted of playing a Battle of the Bands competition against a 15 bands from FOCO and winning! It was so enjoyable!

Those couple of days opened up a realm of possibilities for us as a band. We won some free recording time, got my record on college radio, even had a radio interview! 2009 was a good music year.

We started recording at Pigpen Studios. This experience has opened up so many opportunities for me musically.

In October, I changed my job title. I know that the change was the best thing for me. I got my own office, now work as a corporate administrative assistant and do a lot of HR stuff. The position is FAR more suited for me and I still get to work for an amazing company.

The past few months have been spent continuing to work on our record, playing solo shows, doing quite a few more photo-shoots, having our first Christmas together, joining another band called the Piggies, playing with the Riflemen, and dreaming about 2010.

2009 was an amazing year. Looking back, I can't even imagine how my life got to all of these amazing places, especially since I went through a couple of very challenging years prior to 2009. Redemption rings true. I am truly blessed.

2010 goals up next.

Stay tuned.