A Love Story

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Ever since I was a little girl I not only pictured my wedding day but would act it out.
I would put on the same dress my mom married my dad in and pick roses from the yard as my bouquet.
We had this arch in the corner of our backyard and I would sprinkle rose pedals in two parallel lines that created the "aisle" I would walk down.
The only part that would change each time was the person waiting for me at the other end. Sometimes it was a neighbor boy, close friend, or a lot of the time, my brother. {come on, we were just little kids playing pretend}
But as I grew older the acting became imagining and the imagining became less frequent.
I had other plans for my life first.

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I was going to graduate high school,
go to college,
discover who I was,
date several guys,
start a career,
and then, after I had myself all put together, I would consider settling down to have a family.
All I have to say is the Lord works in mysterious ways and his will didn't exactly match my own.
Was I stubborn about it at first? Yes. But, did I find that the different plan for my life made me the happiest I've ever been? Absolutely.

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This year was a dream come true for me and it definitely feels bittersweet that it has come and gone.
It was only 7 short months ago that I married the handsome man with the beautiful blue eyes, and while it feels like just yesterday, it also feels like an eternity away.
I didn't get married in my mom's dress under the arch in our backyard but it was more than I ever hoped it would be.

I have been thinking a lot lately where our story began.
Remembering the funny way we met for the first time,
the first date,
the first kiss,
the first time I realized that I knew what it meant to fall in love, to be in love.
While I look back on all of those fond memories, they are still very much alive.
What I thought was my fairytale ending has really only just begun.
The story of us.

To be continued...

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The Purple Sparkly Shoes

Christmas 2008 began an exciting new experience for me.
It came 4 months after my niece Abby was born, her very first Christmas.
I had never experienced a Christmas with someone that little being a part of it before.
My brother and I were only 17 months apart so our Christmas memories as little kids are pretty close to the same.
Last year it was even more fun watching a now curious little 2-year-old, tear the paper from her gifts with excitement.
The only difference was, she became so overwhelmed by all the paper that once her presents were opened, she had already moved on to tearing more paper from the next present.
It was special seeing that undeniable excitement of a child at Christmas time.
But there was something about this year.
Something about being 3 that was different.
This year she began to understand and to believe in Santa.
Since Santa "wasn't able to come" until after nap time {when mommy got home from work}, I got to ask my little niece what she asked Santa to bring her for Christmas.

M: "Abby, what did you ask Santa to bring you when you wake up from your nap?"
excitedly awaiting her answer she got this humble little smile on her face and replied,
A: "Purple Sparkly Shoes"

... And even for the slightest moment I saw the true heart of a believing child at Christmas for the very first time.
Christmas day left me believing in the magic of it all and I found myself counting down the days until I would be able to experience this sweet blessing all over again.
The magic of the purple sparkly shoes.

10 things

1. You know it is a sick day when you wake up every half an hour throughout the night hoping that the next time you wake up it will just be morning already. I came down with my AT LEAST once a year chest cold. Everything aches and my voice has become 3 octaves lower into the "sexy" baritone range. I think I'll spend today in my jammies and slippers.
2. During my every half an hour wake-ups last night, 2:30 in the morning to be exact, I woke up to a dark shadow lurking over the bed and quickly discovered it was my un-clothed disoriented husband.
M: "What in the world are you doing?"
N: "Showering."
M: "Uh, at 2:30 in the morning?"
N: "Oh." {puts back on his pajamas and crawls back into bed}
How's that for a humorous story to tease him about in the morning??
3. Nic got Insanity for Christmas. Say hello to our New Year's resolution - Kashi cereal and all. I'll admit, it isn't AS bad as the first time I tried it.
4. We also got the 8th season of One Tree Hill and I'm pretty sure if Nic didn't have to work today, we would have stayed up all night watching it. Addicted.
5. Classes are still well underway for the both of us. Just have to keep reminding myself on a daily basis that it will be well-worth it in the end.
6. No snow in Idaho in December?! This is unheard of.
Dear Snow,
I only missed you on Christmas day and may miss you when I get my monthly power bills in the summer but other than that, what a generous Christmas present you gave me this year!
7. I finally finished the Uglies series by Scott Westerfeld. They were excellent in case you are looking for a new read!
8. We have yet to make New Years plans. 20-something-year-olds without New Years plans? Looks like we need to start branching out and making some new friends.
9. My dad went in for an angiogram yesterday and while in my heart I knew he would be okay, I was still pretty nervous. Turns out his heart is still tickin' away and he is going to be just fine. Praise the Lord!
10. I can hardly wait to try out my first sewing machine I got for Christmas! I'll be hemming pants, making clothes, recovering pillows, and creating fabulous things before you can call me Martha Stewart.

Christmas Day in Pictures

It was so nice to be with family who we hadn't seen for six months this Christmas.

We loved EVERY.SINGLE.MINUTE of it. 

Came home Monday night to a heavenly new heater from my father-in-law.

Get this... it heats the WHOLE apartment.

"Its joyful AND triumphant!"
LOVE it! 

We sure were spoiled this Christmas, especially with love.

Christmas Eve

Nic joined me in Meridian just in time to spend Christmas Eve with my momma and brother.

We spent the morning showering and getting ready.

Twice I might add.

I may have microwaved seafood chowder for lunch, grabbed the bowl when it was scalding, dropped the bowl on the floor creating an explosion that managed to cover the floor, the counter, the stove, the microwave, and Nic and I's hair. Greaaaaaaaat.
Then we went to my mom's church which had a nice candlelight service for Christmas.

When we got home we watched Ice Age - A Mammoth Christmas which could have quite possibly left me smiling for the next year.  

We ate crab and artichoke dip, ham, smoked turkey and provolone on rolls, green bean casserole, cheesy potatoes, and gained 10 pounds in the process. Oh, with a few cookies for dessert.

Basically my hips are really loving me right now.

We all opened all of our presents to each other except Nic and I who saved our big gifts to each other for a special Christmas morning just the two of us. 

We watched Just Go With It which I have now seen several times and have yet to get sick of it.

"Love that show more than anything in the world Govnah!" {insert English accent}

 Christmas Eve spent with my mom every year is always special to me so I'm glad Nic was able to be a part of it this year.

a) With the icicle garland hung on the tree,

b) A momma's beautiful smile,

c) The approving reaction from my brother when he saw that I wrapped his gift in newspaper. The sports section to be more specific. {even though his face isn't showing it here},

d) Opening my first sewing machine,

e) Spending my first Christmas with the man of my dreams,

f) and giggling at all of the tags on husband's gifts from his "favorite (and only) mother-in-law".

g) We hope you all had a very Merry Christmas Eve and wishing you an even better New Year! 

Love, The Williamsons 

Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious

In the 7th grade I discovered a passion of mine, dancing.

While I haven't been able to do it the last 2 years or so, that passion still burns inside me.

It became even more special to me a week and a half ago when I got to see my adorable niece Abby dance her little heart out on a big stage right in front of me.

Abby and Mary Poppins dancing to supercalifragilisticexpialidocious!

{Abby is the one on the far right behind the too tall of a girl in front of her, bummer}. 
My favorite part is the end when she is swingin' her arm and marching off stage {straggling along in the back of course :) }

I'm so glad I got to be home for this.

It is moments like these that I cherish most and will never forget.

They grow up WAY to fast.

Find Me

I had GREAT intentions of taking a bunch of pictures and posting away over the last week and a half about all of the fun things we have been up to and then one day went by,

then another,

and before I knew it,

I was back at home with yet another Christmas lived and loved behind me.

It was honestly the best Christmas I have ever had with my family. 

I hope you all had as beautiful of a Christmas as I was blessed with this year. More on that tomorrow.

On another note - You will find me doing my VERY.FIRST.GUEST POST {yeah I know, lil Meagan is moving up in this blogging world!} over at One Artsy Mama today where you can find out about a family favorite Christmas tradition!

Seriously SO grateful for the opportunity!!

For those of you who are new to 2 Little Love Birds, can't wait to meet you.

More on our amazing Christmas in the not-so-snowy Boise tomorrow.