Eleventy Years Married

Today we reached the milestone of eleven years married.

Funny thing, on the way to our dinner plans we heard on the radio 'this day in history' that Johnny Cash and June Cartee were married March 1st!  We just happen to have an affinity for the couple, we LOVE the song inspired by them 'Johnny & June' and used lyrics from it in our vow renewal last year. Another interesting tidbit we learned after Wiking them over our starter soup was they were married the year my parents were married and they bothw passed away the year we were married.

I am certain we will have a legacy of love just as strong and devoted. ♡

Recipe for Bliss

4 beloved friends

2 glitter tattoos

1 bowl of chocolate & banana ice cream swirl with peanuts

Conversations of truth and love

1 aimless wander

1 daring dash over a train bridge

Arbitrary admiration among strangers crossing paths

Joyous, bubbling over, laughter

Sweltering hot sun

Cool sprinkles of rain

Full double rainbow 

Best Things in Life - Anniversary Edition

10 best things (in no particular order) about our 10th anniversary vow renewal celebration!

1. Save a few long distance loved ones, all of the most important people in our life all in one room celebrating with us. It was so nice for all of our circles to meet, and to see the ways they overlap, and the bonds developing amongst our loved ones.

2. Also, our guests were beyond generous with words of encouragement, affirmation, inspiration, love and even gifts (so not necessary, but such a blessing!). Thank you!

3. Favorite gifts: bacon (yes, real bacon!) and this is our reaction to opening it.

 and these lovely drawings from my nieces and nephew (really, every gift was so appreciated!)
(not this nephew, the older one :)

4. Amazing dessert spread by the most talented ladies, and dear friends, who went above and beyond to bless us and make our celebration special. They even surprised us with bacon brownies! If you ever need something catered, I have the ladies for you!


5. Our pastor, and friend, and Sean's mentor, Duane's inspiring and insightful ceremony, who spoke about the very themes Sean and I individually selected for our vows.What a great reminder of what love should be and can accomplish.

6. Our vows. Written completely independent of one another and yet we took the same theme from the exact same song! The rest of our vows were also heavily song inspired, but we still made each other cry. And laugh. I had to include something about bacon, little did I know it would become a mini-theme for our day!

7. Keeping it simple but lovely.

8. Surprise song Sean arranged with our friend Steve. He had Steve, and his wife, my good friend Kristi, re-work the song God Gave Me You and then Steve performed it right after Sean's vows, sneaking behind me on to stage so I didn't know until Sean was turning me around and he started to play.

9. How much our love impacts those around us. They cried with us, they laughed with us, they were filled with hope, they were inspired, they were blessed, they were encouraged, they were overjoyed. The ripple effect of our love....so humbling.

10. Committing my life to my amazing husband all over again, remembering why I love him and why he's my best friend, and looking forward to a life time of love.

Best Things in Life

~ The really tight hug I received from hubby when he met me at the airport upon returning from California a week ago.

Best Things In Life

 Getting away!

Getting away some place beautiful!

Getting away for a weekend with some of my best lady friends!

Getting away with a bunch of new and old, lovely lady friends!

Getting away to where you are spoiled!

Getting away to where the spirit can move, where the truth can be internalized.

Riverwood Retreat at Cedarwood - April 27-29th, 2012

Best Things In Life

Most women have had a life-long best friend, or one they have had at least a large portion their life.

Not me.

Even after we stopped moving at age 10, you have no idea how many years I spent trying to 'deserve' the friendships of my peers, to the point of becoming co-dependent.

Female friendships especially eluded me, until highschool it was rare I had even one true girlfriend, one that wasn't around because I was a doormat.

Highschool brought a handful of girlfriends into my life, yet I was easily annoyed by the drama, gossip, cattiness, and fickleness of teenage girls and did eventually back away from some of those relationships. I often preferred guy friends (and not just because I was guy-obessed).

Into adulthood I was no longer an outcast and actually found it very easy to connect with more women, and I realized there were a higher percentage of women out there like me, after you take away highschool drama! I still often found it easier to connect with guy friends though.

The few female friendships I had from 16 on, I grew to really value and trust them, but there just wasn't that 'bestie' connection. Often by that point in life these women had their own well established best friends and I kinda felt my desire for a deeper connection was one sided.  Or life would get in the way, or a guy would get in the way, things that shouldn't get in the way if it was a real kinship.

I somewhat resigned myself to the fact I may never have that best girlfriend, so I stopped trying so hard, stop trying to earn 'bestie' status.  I just took every friendship I had and just enjoyed what they brought to my life.  And I just focused on being the best friend I could be.

Maybe it was because I know longer reaked of desperation, or maybe it was all about timing, but God is the greatest 'networker' and he brought into my life new friends over the last few years that have just naturally developed a deeper connection in short order. Inexplicably strong connections you can't try to manufacture. Friendships that feel like they may as well have been life-long! I have been soooo blessed to have these women in my life! The kind of women I can truly call kindred spirits (for all you AGG fans like me :). Support, encouragement, laughter, prayer, celebration, honesty, inspiration and the list goes on!

Best friends are definitely one of the Best Things in Life!

Best Things in Life aren't Things

A hand-me-down skirt from a co-worker who has fabulous taste!

The Best Things In Life Aren't Things (Wordless-ish Wednesday)

The best thing in life is making them smile :)

Happiness is ..... a dress that twirls!

Wordless Wednesday - Best Things & Laughter

The Best Things In Life Aren't Things

Validation....something we shouldn't seek from anyone but God, but it sure feels so good when we get it from our peers anyway!

Here is just a sample of some of the validation that always makes my day!  Thank you to all who share in my life here, I value your encouragement and the insight you share with me SO MUCH!

"I just wanted to say thanks for just being you and being willing to share your struggles and the things God is doing. It's encouraging to know that I’m not the only one with some of the same struggles, and that we are really in His hands."

"I love how you've worded that. It's EXACTLY what I find myself doing these last couple of weeks, too. It's like we're TWINS!!"

"hey, I read your blog! I find your weight loss experience so inspirational, I love it! Go Lori Go! Woo!"

"Your attitude and honesty is refreshing."

"Lori my dear, Ah, I love how you write, and I love how you organize your thoughts and your life and I find you very inspirational! Thank you for being so transparent!"

"Awesome, awesome, AWESOME! That second paragraph says it PERFECTLY."

"Awesome analogy, Lori! Beautiful post!! "

"Thanks Lori. That was some pretty good insight and a nice kick to my bum. Appreciate the insight and your honesty."

"You never cease to amaze me. I am honoured to have someone like you in my life."

"Hi Lori -- I just want you to know I updated myself with your life via your blog yesterday -- and now I finally have time to tell you that! I am so PROUD of you on so many levels, Lori ! :)"

"You are a leader...and have always been one...don't doubt yourself!!"

"You are more amazing than you know. Don't ever forget that!"

"Yes, yes, YES!!!! GREAT post, Lori!! A brilliant parallel and sobering thoughts."

"Nice. Great thoughts. I am going to link this on my blog."

"Thank you so much for this post. It's inspirational to women who are untouched and redemptive to women who are marred. Thank you for sharing."


"Oh Lori. I just don't know what to say. If I could, I'd offer to hug you and let you lay it on me for a while. To just sit with you and listen. But a virtual {{{{{hug}}}}} will have to do. And some prayers."

"Good rant!! Very well said."

"Loved this post."

"I think this blog post touches my heart in so many ways that it's hard to explain..."

"Yes!"  "Amen sister"

"I love the way you write. You’re so honest. I mean honestly honest....You open up your insides and allow us to see what's there. The beauty of who you are and what makes you you and what breaks your heart. I love the way you have embraced your pain. I love the way you share your pain.
You make me cry and laugh. Thank you for that. Thank you for being you. Thanks for being my friend."

"I am love love LOVING your daily blog posts! Love!"

The Best Things In Life Aren't Things

Smile below....'nuff said.

The Best Things In Life Aren't Things

 This is a piece of art on my massage therapists wall that I just love. I've been wanting to make it the prompt for blog posts for quite awhile now so this week when I was there I took a photo with my iPhone as a reminder :)

The first thing that came to mind when I think of a little thing was another piece of art on her wall.

So instinctual yet so complicated.

A fuel for calm and a fuel for strength.


So vital yet so undervalued.

Until it eludes you.

So life giving.