Embrace the Gray

It's been quite some time since my last blog post. A year I think. 

Kinda crazy, as I feel I always have a story to tell someone or something I find funny to share. I guess you don't really realize how busy life is until you look back and realize how much you didn't get done!

In 12 months SO much has unfolded into my husband & mine's life; 

We've celebrated an anniversary

We've moved

We became godparents to another beautiful girl

We became an Aunt and Uncle

I've gotten a promotion at work

He's gotten a new job and started his Doctorate degree in school

Sadly, we have also lost a greatly loved friend of ours

And I have had to say goodbye to one of my two pets.

As the days go by and the time goes faster, I've come to learn that the more you learn to appreciate and love life the more gray hairs you start to get on your head. At least I think that's what it must mean because I love life more than I ever have, but life is also harder than its ever been and I have more gray hair than I ever thought I would at 23.

It's starting to really show...

What in the world? I got my first gray hair at 19. I'll never forget standing in my parent's bathroom at home and seeing it. I've always had a thing for gray. I think its beautiful, nothing to be ashamed of. I even have resolved that I'd never dye mine, never cover that beauty up. I just didn't think I'd have it yet. But there it was. Bright white. Making me stare wide-eyed.

That first gray was the fruit of working at my Jimmy John's. We opened in November of 2011 and I had gray coming in before February '12.

I probably had 6 or 7 from then 'til now. Nothing huge. In May of this year I got promoted to general manager.

It has been a blessing. For me, for my household, for my family's future.

For my hair though....my grays have quadrupled. It actually stunned me this week as I stood in my newly moved-in bathroom and rushed to put my hair in a messy bun to get to the gym- SO many grays! 25+ easy.

I'm coming to terms. Trying to remember all those deep and sentimental things you see online that say "gray hair means you cared" etc. Proverbs 31:25 resonates with me like that. I don't fear the future and I carry happiness of my past. So I'm going to start celebrating the proof that I've lived the life I've lived!

One gray for my fantastic husband who I kiss goodbye every morning before work

One gray for the job that takes so much of my time every day but blesses me so

One gray for the coworkers and lifelong friends I get to work beside

One gray for each of my gorgeous goddaughters, Bree & Emery

One gray for the beautiful woman that was and is Jayne Yuravak

One gray for the pets that I've been entrusted with

One gray for the bigger house I've been lucky enough to have and make a home

One gray for my beautiful new nephew, Brody

And many grays for the nights I worry about my husband until he walks in the door.

I guess when it comes down to it I'm thankful, because God has given me so much to care for. So many things and so many people to love and to worry for. I'll embrace the gray if that's the physical proof of a heart well-used.

Just don't forget to give a graying girl some grace! (I'm getting old, after all)

Britney

I'm Back!

It's been a while.

I'm in the process of re-vamping the blog, and it takes a long time! I'm not very tech-savvy. I am sad that I didn't get to walk everyone through the crazy summer of weddings and melt-downs, but I promise to fill it all in.

I'm a wife now! To a spectacular guy. There are so many stories to be shared! So many goof-ups.

Bear with me as I try to revive the life of this site over the weeks and get back to posting weekly.

Thanks for the grace!

-Britney

Just GO

Does anyone else have a passion to travel?

Not just the "oh, that place looks cool to see someday," but the "I-NEED-to-go!" kind?

I am part of the latter.

I wouldn't consider it a positive or a negative. 

It's both. 

Positive, because what a beautiful dream to have! To want to see the world and all that God made. I mean really, what is the point of beauty except to be seen? I'll take that job any day.

It is only negative because it is not in my life line of to-dos right now. I have a full-time job, I have bills and an apartment, I have a fiancé and a wedding coming up this summer, and pets to care for. Who can just pick up and go?

Some people do. Some people have the finances and freedom to really squeeze all the beauty of life into their eyes.

I'd love to go see the most crystal clear Flathead Lake in Montana. Go see Calf Creek Falls in Utah. Go on the River Walk in San Antonio, Texas. Go star gazing in Michigan. Walk in the valleys in Ireland. Site-see in London. Stare at the ocean from a cliff-side cottage in Greece.

Any maybe someday I will!

I believe God puts our passions in our hearts. The real passions. I've always been a home-body, wanting security and stability. All of the sudden in the last 5-ish years, I want to go everywhere!

Where the heck does that come from? I used to love the idea of my 9-5 job going steady until I became a housewife and mom. Now, I want to be a housewife and mother who goes beautiful places.

I know its not rational, and that God has blessed Bill and I with his education and a good long-term plan. And I am happy with the hand I've been dealt giving me Bill and our future together. I know he will excel at his job, and we will not lack. It will be a beautiful adventure.

My fiancé knows my love to travel. (At least I think.) He just this week booked our honeymoon to a resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. I'm thrilled! The sights we will see! I even need a passport for this.

In honor of my passion, I am going to be making a collage canvas of a poem/quote I found online. It speaks to me so deeply, I need to have it on my wall. Maybe even over my bed. Every word and sentence is the essence of my heart. I hope others can enjoy it as well, and that in our lives we all come to realize -at some point- that the only restrictions we have are the ones we give ourselves. I believe that God intends for all of us to see the beauty He created in this life, in our own ways and our own time;

From something as extravagant as traveling this world, to something as whimsical as walking through the woods on a foggy summer morning.

"I want to live simply.

 I want to sit by the window when it rains

 and read a book I'll never be tested on.

                                     I want to paint because I want to,

not because I've got something to prove.

I want to listen to my body,

fall asleep when the moon is high

and wake up slowly,

with no place to rush off to.

I want not to be governed by money

or clocks or any of the artificial

restraints that humanity

imposes on itself. I just want to be,

boundless and infinite."