Merry Christmas!

Jumpsuit: Adrianna Papell and similar

The other morning I told Benjamin I felt like Christmas went by too fast this year I didn’t really get to enjoy it. He panicked and thought I meant the other night when we did our own Christmas gift exchange and I had to explain it wasn’t that – I felt like I didn’t do enough Christmas stuff yet (this comment also came before my pajama party I had with my girlfriends). He said, “Well do you want to see the lights at the Princess? Or what about let’s go for some hot cocoa somewhere.” He’s so cute! My response was, No, it’s too cold outside. I’m just saying it went by so fast. You?

Our Christmas card photos always end up being almost anniversary documentary photos for us – since we married December 3. I can’t believe six years have already flown by – which means we’ve completed six (and a half) years of being together – since we got married 6 months after our first date haha.

They say marriage takes hard work, I agree but at the same time, I have to say it should be one of the easiest – kinda like how you gel with your best friends, it’s easy, it’s effortless. The hard work is really compromising your own comfort, stubbornness and ways, and being more flexible to the other person. If you can’t do that, or you don’t like what the other person is doing, well then yes, it will make it much harder. But if you can see those characteristics before you get married before you make that decision I think that’s what can determine if marriage is hard or easy. Then again, we’re still rookies in comparison to those who have been married for a lifetime – who will have some more wisdom with that but that’s what we’ve experienced so far – oh and we don’t have additional characters to our marriage which is kids, haha. So maybe that’s another reason it’s pretty smooth sailing around here. :)

I like being more chatty on here, the five OOO days I took really let me think, how I want to put myself back out there, be vulnerable and well, you’ll hopefully start to see it. Thanks for being here and giving me some of your day.

During these holidays while there’s so much joy, or the pressure to experience it in the ways commercials and society portrays, I can’t help but feel the pain and sorrow many feel on holidays. I think it occurred to me after Paris died two days before I got home and I still miss my pup every day! And I think about my Yun Yun (grandma) and the childhood memories of having her and well then I just start getting sad and for those who have loved ones they are missing too – in whatever capacity the loss is – broken relationship or passing away. Anyway, I don’t want to put a sad feeling in your heart but let’s just love people so much this holiday and say little prayers for all of those out there who are lonely or feeling sad. I also believe expectations can create disappointment and discontent. My hope is that we all remember the blessing of this holiday and meaning, and know that God never abandons us and he loves us, where we are, as we are. May He draw you closer to Him this holiday and New Year. xx

Photos by Jennifer Bowen