You Make It Real

 

"You Make It Real" - James Morrison

Decisions...

We make them each and every day.  

Some take countless hours.  Some are made easier with support from others. 

And some...

are instant.

You just know.

Today, I think back to exactly 3 years ago...

There was an ice storm that decided to hit in the early morning hours.

And Steve and I had somewhere to be.

Somewhere important.

I remember that slow-as-a-snail drive - going 15 miles per hour almost the whole way to the airport.

What would normally take an hour...taking just under three.

Nothing could stop us.

At around 5am, we arrived.  On just a couple hours of sleep, but all smiles and laughs on the bus ride to the plane.

We were so happy.

We made it.

We boarded the plane and the pilot informed us it'd be quite a few hours before we'd be able to take off.

We I got some rest.

Sometime after 11am, we arrived at our destination.

Las Vegas

We were so happy.

We made it.

Our hotel room wasn't quite ready yet.  We could have cared less.  We hopped into the first taxi available.

And after some paperwork, a couple of signatures and another quick taxi ride...

We were standing, facing one another in a tiny wedding chapel.

 No one but us 

and a sweet old man with simple but meaningful words, standing before us...

I can remember perfectly...

The magic of the adrenaline running through my veins. 

Steve inches across from me - in sneakers and "dad jeans" (you know the kind).

The single red rose that sweet old man handed me to hold.

Nervously laughing.  Shaking with pure joy.

And then, we were asked to hold hands.

The vows began.  Steve went first.  Somehow, I wasn't crying...

yet.

Steve went to speak, but flowing tears came first.  Mine followed instantly.

Words Vows were exchanged.

We were so happy.

We made it.

This was me.  On the afternoon of January 28, 2009...

Arriving back to our hotel.

Truly feeling like a new woman.  In my $4.48 Target velour sweatshirt that I said, "I do" in.

I was on a cloud. 

You would think, with my obsession and deep love for photographs and capturing memories...

we would have purchased the photos that were taken in that tiny chapel.

We didn't.

We didn't want them.  We didn't need them.

You would think, that with my obsession and deep love for "getting fancy"...

that I would have adorned myself with a glitzy ensemble and sparkly accessories.

I didn't want that.  I didn't need that.

My Mom and I recently talked about the difference between good and bad pride...

That it's healthy to be proud of yourself.

But not boast of yourself.

I'm proud of this day and all that it taught me.

It taught me that true beauty is the way you feel inside.

That you can feel more beautiful than you've ever felt in a $5 sweatshirt, holding a tacky rose, across from your love (in dad jeans).

It taught me that love doesn't have to be so complicated.

It taught me the definition of pure bliss...

That a city as fast and happenin' as Las Vegas, can make the world slow down for a couple of kids in love.

It taught me the strength of memories like that, don't need pictures.

And above all,

It taught us to focus on what's truly important at the end of the day.

I have a confession...

I didn't keep up my end of the deal mentioned in my last post - you know...the getting more sleep part?

I didn't get much last night.

But I'm so very grateful for little sleep at this moment.

Because I have one more confession...

I'm proud.

I'm proud of today- January 28, 2012.

Staying up and writing this post...Reflecting on this day 3 years ago...

I think it just did something amazing for me.

No, you know what? I'm going to go out on a limb here and say,

 It did do something amazing for me.

For Steve and I.

The tears began a few paragraphs back.  They quickly became so intense that I knew...

These words I'm typing...they've been locked deep inside all this time... patiently waiting their turn to make it out.

Out, where I can see them clearly and not just hear myself say them.  Maybe they needed to be spelled out in front of me.

How many times do I proudly say at the end of the day,

Love is all that matters.  Nothing more.  Nothing less.

I say it every single day.

I think thought I did my best.

But ya know, I think it was meant to be...for these thoughts to just pour out the way they did...

Really hit me where it counts. 

And shine a spotlight on words I need to trust in.

The very words I told myself when I made one of the easiest decisions of my life...

Focus.  Truly focus.

  Don't be scared of change. 

Don't be scared of doing things "differently."

Don't be scared to be yourself.

Be true, always.

Focus little on those little details...

Big on that one big detail that matters.

And watch where it takes you...

Like it did 3 years ago...

It will always remain dear to me - That day and all that it stands for. 

For, it is three years later.  Three years of memories that have led us to this very day.

And, I'm so happy.

We made it. 

***

I made a decision.  This one - I am sticking to.  This, I promise myself.  I promise my husband...

Next weekend, we truly begin taking in the next few pages of  THIS chapter.

We will give ourselves time while still making progress.

And when the fears set in, the questions become too many, and we start to focus too much on those little details...

I will remind myself of this day -

3 years ago and today.

And that, at the end of the day...

It only truly is that big detail...

LOVE

pure, not as complicated as you think

LOVE

<3

"You Make It Real" - James Morrison

There's so much craziness surrounding me,
There's so much going on it gets hard to breathe
When all my faith has gone, you bring it back to me,
You make it real for me

When I'm not sure of my priorities,
When I've lost sight of where I'm meant to be
And like holy water washing over me,
You make it real for me

And I am running to you baby,
You are the only one who saves me
That's why I've been missing you lately,
'Cause you make it real for me

When my head is strong, but my heart is weak,
I'm full of arrogance and uncertainty
When I can't find the words, you teach my heart to speak,
You make it real for me

And I am running to you baby,
You are the only one who saves me
That's why I've been missing you lately,
'Cause you make it real for me

Everybody's talking in words I don't understand,
You've got to be the only one who knows just who I am
And you're shining in the distance,
I hope I can make it through
'Cause the only place that I want to be is right back home with you

I guess there's so much more I have to learn,
But if you're here with me, I know which way to turn
You always give me somewhere, somewhere I can run,
You make it real for me

And I am running to you baby,
'Cause you are the only one who saves me
That's why I've been missing you lately,
'Cause you make it real for me
You make it real for me

Time to celebrate!

Happy weekend to ya!!!

Anniversary Lovin',