Settled down.

I used to have a thousand blog topics running through my head. That was, until I got married. I know, you hear it from everyone, "Once you get married your life will change. You'll never have the same life again." And you know what, that's exactly right!

Those six years I had of being single and free were amazing! I got to travel across the country, answer to no one, make my own schedule, and life was so fast-paced. I remember performing every other weekend and going home on the other weekends if I didn't have any food left.

Now I have certain amount of vacation days, and a hungry husband at dinnertime. You're probably thinking the negative way. And I'm sure some people take it in a negative way for their own lives! But me--not a chance. Getting married was the best thing I've ever done. 

I love having someone to take care of me--and only me. (While that lasts!)

I love not going to bed alone. 

I love going on crazy adventures because we aren't in the dating stage anymore. 

I love having someone that counts on me for their everyday life. 

I love decorating our own place.

I love staying up late and laughing about weird things.

I love having someone to talk to when things don't go as planned.

I love dreaming about what our future will be like.

Now, even though I loved my life before I met my husband, I couldn't imagine life without him. He's been gone on a business trip these last couple of days, and man--his personality brings so much joy into my life! I'm that wife that counts down the hours to when I can see him again. Only 24 more to go. So many people tell their friends their husband is their "best friend," but when I say he's my best friend--for real, HE IS MY BEST FRIEND.

I've finally settled down with my best friend.

Love notes.

Without looking at Pinterest, (because let's be honest all he looks at on that site is truck stuff), Kasey totally made my whole day. Look how cute he is:

My love language is obviously "words of affirmation." And girls, whoever might tell you it's a sign of weakness, it's just our womanly nature. Don't feel stupid if you love those three little words. Because it's cool. Anyway, I really love my hubby. Sometimes I have this weird mind game where I think it's too good to be true, and sometimes, I even wake up and think it was all a dream. 

I hope I do the same thing for him. I hope I'm a good enough wife and future mommy that Kasey thinks he's in a dream for the rest of forever. I guess this is what our Heavenly Father meant when He tells us that our dreams can become a reality! 

Ok, long rant for just this, but I'm just so happy I scored on the whole "marriage" thing.

The biggest lesson.

I have learned one very big, important lesson since being married.

That getting married isn't your solve-all end for every problem in your life.

Okay, so that may be dramatic. I'll be the first to admit my life really isn't that hard. I know that's not normal. You don't have to be the millionth to tell me. But I will tell you, that I do go through hard things. 

I do have problems that just make me want the Second Coming to happen right now. And I'm sure that's not normal either...joke! Seriously, everyone is apt to tons of nasty stuff. So of course, just like I thought when I was thirteen, I thought for sure that all of my problems would go away when I got married. Obviously because someone loved me enough to live with me, and start a family with me, that nothing else mattered. Well, there is some truth to that. However...

I had a really hard time the month after I got married. (Which was like, last month.) I thought for sure it was the birth control that was making me extra emotional, and feeling like I was failing as a wife already! I called my doctor, and told her I needed to get on a lower dose of estrogen because I was being weird. Well, she told me I was on the lowest dose they had. DANG IT. 

So, I had to figure out something else. I prayed and prayed some more. A question soon came to my mind, "When was the last time I wrote in my journal?" From that little thing--let me tell you, that thought changed everything. It lead me to think about the stuff I had completely left behind in my single life to move to my married life. And you know what all that stuff was?

Everything. I had completely let go of all of my hobbies, and anything that made me happy. (Of course, Kasey makes me happy! But you all know what I mean.) I hadn't even touched a piano or sang a note in two months. I hadn't even written a thing in my journal since our wedding day, and still had my missionary scriptures packed in a box somewhere. iPhone scriptures are just not the same.

Once I realized this was the issue, I got myself an hour on a friend's piano, sat down before work to write in my journal, and put my missionary scriptures on my nightstand to study from. Who woulda thought that would have made all the difference? Just those little changes have made me feel like myself again. I'm able to be a better wife because I take a few minutes to myself everyday. This blog, included. I love writing and taking time to be grateful for the things that the Lord has so graciously given me and my family. 

Before any of you think that marriage will solve all of your problems, it won't.

Becoming your best self will.

I LOVE pictures, okay?

There is just no way I could post enough. My friend Ashley did such a great job taking all of these pictures! The only problem I have now, is trying to decide which ones to hang in our house. If any of you would like to vote on which ones those would be, now would be the time to speak up.

For your (my) viewing pleasure:

Married life.

It's time to update this thing. Kasey has been a great husband and has motivated me to start back up again.

Wait, husband? I know. I can't believe I have a h.u.s.b.a.n.d. It's just as weird for me as anyone else, I'm sure. Well, I thought I should update my friends and family on what we're up to, because I've been the worst and haven't talked to anyone yet. I'm really sorry. Don't take it personally!

Let's go back to June 19, 2015.

While it truly was one of the greatest days of my life, the best day of my life keeps happening time and time again with this guy. Butttttt, it was an undescribable day, that's for sure! It was everything I was expecting and even more. It's like your birthday, and ten Christmases rolled into one day. The presents that you are promised in the temple are INSANE! Marriage really is ordained of God, and it's obvious that Heavenly Father has plenty of rewards to help you think so. 

Well, that day was great. I could post more pictures of that day, but that wouldn't leave room for other pictures to be posted, plus I put about a thousand of them on Facebook. Now, onto our first adventure as a married couple...

ROAD TRIP!

Rapid City, South Dakota was our first destination. Yes, we drove that whole day the next day. But it was so great--we were able to talk about our day, share our feelings, (Okay, let's be honest...I talked to Kasey most of the day while he listened. But he LOVES listening!) So, once we rolled up into town, all of the hotels were booked because there were two simultaneous softball and gymnastics tournaments. Of course. There was no room in the inn for the newlyweds. We called all around, and the only place we found was the handicap room at the Holiday Inn. All of the doors were extra wide and the bathroom was almost bigger than our own room, with lots of little gadgets. It was actually quite fun!

The next morning we woke up and rented our own Harley and took it out for the day!

Man, that thing is fun. We zipped around to a few different cities, and finally ended up at Mount Rushmore. South Dakota is the Wild, Wild West! It was perfect weather and just holding onto my husband while driving a motorcycle...every girl's dream.

Next to...

Nashville! This was my part of the trip, because we got to do everything "music." Seriously, if you're a country music fan, you have to go there. At night walking down lower broadway where all of the HonkyTonk happens, they have some of the BEST amateur vocalists I've ever seen. I mean these people could easily get recording deals...and some of them do! It was a blast.

Well, we rounded up the trip and finally got to our home sweet home in San Antonio. Both of our parents were there to help us unload our car and get as many things ready as possible. It was so nice of them. We went the next day out on the boat and gave my parents a view of Clearwater Beach in St. Pete. My husband was loving that trip.

Starting normal life was really fun, but also really hard. Getting back into the groove of things is very difficult, when you're used to spending all of your time getting ready for the wedding. 

So....we weren't ready to get back into the groove yet...so we went to the Florida Keys! (I had to get SCUBA certified, okay?)

What a great trip. It is picture perfect down there. And only an afternoon's trip from our house! 

I have quickly learned that marriage is not a one-time event, it is a daily occurrence. I mean, we've only been married 6 weeks. Of course this "marriage" thing would come easily to us. But right now, we are building the blocks that will help us get through the hard times. 

But from what I hear from everyone. It's totally worth it.