five years.

Jeffrey and I have been a couple for five wonderful years. I just don't know what I'd do without him. He brings the sunshine right into my life and I am thankful for his kind soul and generous heart every minute of everyday. I do believe I am a lucky girl to be called his. Happy Anniversary, my love. I love you so, so much!

P.S. A post I wrote recently just for him and our engagement story. :)

on finding love (our four year anniversary).

I once liked a boy who took me for granted. I let it happen, knew it was happening, and still held on. When I came out of it, I felt stupid and naive and taken advantage of all at once. It didn't feel good. I liked a slew of boys in high school. Sometimes the feelings were reciprocated, other times they weren't. But even if they were reciprocated nothing came of it, which almost hurt worse than no feelings at all. I still listened to love songs and believed they were meant for me.

It was crush after crush after crush until one day I just stopped. Stopped it all. If someone wanted to find me, they could do the searching. I think everyone around me (including Jeffrey) knew before I did that Jeffrey would be the one. And it didn't happen instantly. I didn't know at any one particular moment that he was it. I think it was different because we were young and at seventeen years old I wasn't looking for a husband. It was a million little things that added up to one big thing, and that's how I knew.

Whereas in the past I searched for boys to like, Jeffrey came as a complete and total surprise to me. I do believe that is how I fell in love so quickly with that charming boy. Looking back, he was there all along. As a matter of fact, I liked him several times, on and off, before the summer we started dating. I was in a good place that summer. I felt confident in myself and myself alone. That's the only reason it happened, the only reason I was open to it. Before that I was too wrapped up in my own head for magical things like this to happen. It was a series of many, many tiny events that gave way to this big one.

And all those crushes, the reciprocated and un-reciprocated, didn't matter anymore. They never really mattered. Because all along it was written somewhere that Jeffrey and I were meant to be. Because I was open to loving myself before loving someone else. Because I realized that the boys I liked previously just weren't meant for me. Because Jeffrey never gave up on what he knew could be great. Like I said, small events that made up a big one.

Four years ago today, Jeffrey asked me to be his girlfriend on my front porch. And I said yes. It's funny that such a small word changed my life so totally and completely.

If I could say only one thing to young women who get crushes on boys that take them for granted, it would be this: Stop looking. Just stop, and it will come to you in a rush so big and unexpected, it will knock you off your feet and take you somewhere better.

I know and believe this with my entire heart because it happened to me.

Happy Anniversary to the one and only boy who showed me just how wonderful love can be. I love you.

3!

I should have posted this a long time ago.
About one month ago, to be exact.
More than one month ago, actually.

Jeffrey and I celebrated 3 years together on July 15th. We kept it simple, and went to our favorite Thai food restaurant. As a treat, we each got our own Thai Iced Tea. We usually get one water and one tea to cut down on cost, but obviously we went all out this time! We exchanged small gifts. He gave me an old set of baking jars that are extremely lovely, and I gave him some cologne that his Papa used to wear. He said it's the only kind he would ever wear, so I thought it would be special to give him a bottle.

I am so smitten with that boy, it's incredible. I feel so lucky to have spent three years with him. Some days it feels like we've been together much longer than that, and other days I can hardly believe we've already been together for three years! I guess that's what love does to you.

It was a fabulous night filled with laughter and hand holding. Plus, the waitress knows our order by heart, which I've always wanted to happen.

xo, R.

P.S. Maybe you'd like to make a little treat on this beautiful Thursday evening?

anniversary flowers.

My boyfriend bought me flowers for our 2 and 1/2 year anniversary.

I love flowers.
And I love my boyfriend.

This morning when I woke up my flowers were wilting. I finally had to get rid of them.
Their company was much appreciated.

They still looked cute even in their wilty-ness. It's probably impossible for daisies not to look cute.
xo