First Engagement-iversary

This time last year, I was in Louisiana - we'd yet to embark upon the visa process entirely (though we had already started to prepare and had a "visa" notebook filled with checklists of things we needed to do, information and things we needed to print).

There was a dream in our hearts that had been there for four years - and we weren't going to stop until that dream became a reality.

The spot where Jesse proposed

In the Kisatchie National forest at sunset on May 26th, 2012, I became Jesse's fiance - officially. 6 months after we'd first started looking for rings and a year after we first started talking seriously about getting married. 

It was the start of the next chapter in our lives and it gave us the momentum we needed to finally make our dreams a reality.

Today, those dreams are our reality - and our lives look a whole lot different. Right now as I type this post, Jesse is in our bed fast asleep. We come home to each other and make daily plans together. The only goodbyes we say is when we leave for work or head out somewhere separately - and it's only hours until we say hello again - not months or years.

And it feels incredible.

Today I know that it's possible for your heart to smile, for you to be so incredibly overwhelmed with happiness that words can't escape your mouth and a tear will roll down your cheek. Today I feel incredibly, unbelievably blessed and I am so glad that the prayer I prayed for so long was finally answered.

Today I am so proud of myself and so proud of us that regardless of how tough or how challenging things got, regardless of who said it was too difficult and regardless of the physical, mental or financial costs - we never let go of that dream.

Today is only the beginning.

We have even more dreams - for ourselves, eachother, our families, our future, our work, this blog - and together we're going to achieve them. Now we know that anything is possible if you work hard enough and never ever lose hope.

Five years ago we met on Myspace, weeks later talked on the phone for the first time about how we would be together, some day - even if we had to live in a carboard box. We were fifteen and seventeen, but we knew this wasn't just any relationship - and what we were feeling was something way way more than that.

Today we're planning our wedding which is less than five months away. Today we're working to grow our relationship and build this little blog which has become so much more than that. Today we're planning for the future because it's finally something real. Today I am praising God for everything that he does - for all of the blessings I've received and all the prayers that have been answered - and for all of those prayers and blessings that are yet to come. 

I want you to know that anything is possible. That little dream in your heart? The one you might squash down because it's too difficult or too unachievable - or maybe the dream that you're fighting for, but don't feel like it's going to come true.... don't give up. Let your fears and your worries and your doubts build your desire for it to come true. Work your butt off - because one day, you won't even remember how hard it was.

So whatever your dream may be - achieve it. I have and I will.

Never stop dreaming - and that dream you're thinking just isn't realistic? It's never going to be realistic if you think that way.

Jesse; I love you - thank you for working with me to make our dreams come true - thank you for always being the one to encourage me to achieve my dreams and never questioning my actions. 

Together we can do anything - and we will. 

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