The Best Story So Far: Part 3 (Up Til Now)

Photo Credit: David James Visuals

Yep. I'm still alive. And feeling a little guilty it's taken me so long to finish this story. 

Sorry for the cliffhanger! 

In case you need a recap:
Singleness
Best Story So Far: Part 1
Best Story So Far: Part 2

Last I mentioned in this love story, I was flying down to meet my boyfriend's family in Cali. I think I'll pause here and go ahead and tell you. His name is Chris. And at this point, we have both expressed our love for each other. It wasn't cheesy, and it wasn't cliché. It was a beautiful conversation. And that's all I'll say about that: At this point, we love each other.

I was nervous to meet his family. I'm a pretty confident person, in general. But this was different. I was embarking on a weekend packed with tons of new people, in two different towns, from 3 different eras in Chris's life... Gearing up, I had determined to not get overwhelmed... after all, he had already done this part in my stomping grounds!

The whole weekend went so000 well, not to mention how much fun I had and how many amazing people I met. 

The weekend concluded with conversation about "closing the gap" geographically between us. Long distance was difficult. And while we'd only been experiencing this for a few months, both of our intentions were long term. 

The Move. 

I know it may feel like I'm cutting things out, but I know no other way to embark on this next chapter without just diving in. Two months after my trip to California, I was making a second trip. I flew down to spend a little more time with his parents before... 

He Moved Up To Me. 

Yes folks... Christopher packed his bags just over 6 months after we met, and made the drive with his crammed-to-the-top 4runner to a new home, just a 5 minutes drive from me. 

"Pursuing" has reached a whole new level here.

He moved. For me. 

Thinking back as I type those words, it still makes me gasp. 

He packed up his life, he moved his life, to pursue a new life... With Me. 

I cannot grasp it. But I sure am grateful. 

The Wait.

There was no job security, so after a week of settling into the basement he rented, he dove right into the job hunt. I've never in my life seen someone so dedicated to having a well planned out cover letter and intentional resume. 

I was being so impressed by his work ethic... just to find work. So many days of buckling down at coffee shops, surfing the internet for available positions. Resume after resume after resume. No responses. Resume after resume after resume. **Crickets**

He hit about 3 months and finally got a couple interviews. One that even repeatedly called him back for another. But on the final round, they chose someone else. 
**Crowd yells "BOOOO"**

So, resume after resume after resume, he continued faithfully pounding the pavement. 

Then it hit about 5 months of no work. 

We'd been covering this in prayer. Where was a job? Why was nothing panning out?

The Desire.

All the while Chris is job searching, I've been prayerfully waiting. I'm already sure that I love this man, and I know that he loves me. We both entered this relationship on the knowledge that we were dating with the intention to marry, both fully aware God could split us at any time, but that clearly wasn't how it looked after all this answered prayer. I desired to get married, just like I did four years ago when I started praying for my future husband (Wherever he may be).

So, I'd begun to pray for patience. As much as I wanted to be married, I didn't want it to be just in my timing. I wanted God's timing. And I wanted (Lord willing) Chris' timing. 

The Provision.

As people so often say, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." A friend connected Chris with someone Chris had known before he moved. That friend had a friend in a company with a job opening. With a resume, a letter of recommendation, and 3 interviews later, Chris found himself starting a job, 6 months after he'd moved to Oregon. 

What a huge answer to prayer. As we'd thought, "Has the Lord forgotten us?" He responded with providing a job. Thank You God!!!

The Life Change.

Chris started his job the first week in June 2014. If you don't remember. He wrote that first message to me on facebook, June 15 the year before. As the first few weeks of a new job passed, it was quite different. I grew very grateful for the 5 months Chris and I had had together with all his free time. We got to drop things and go on random outings, whenever we wanted. We'd had 5 solid months of spending tons of time together and getting to know each other without silly things like "grown up" schedules. Hahaha. (Yes, I work. But basically right by the coffee shop he parked himself each day and I get off early enough to have quite a bit of the day left.) So this whole both having jobs thing, took some adjusting. 

But it wasn't long until there was a whole new life switch to adjust to. 

Christopher, my boyfriend... Proposed.

Just over a week to the year since we started talking.

And a journey that started a year before became one that would be the change of a lifetime.

I will post soon with the proposal story. But until then... 

I'll just be off wedding planning with just under 2 weeks until wedding day already.

So... Now you can see why it's taken so long to finish the story... I've been plugging away at pulling a wedding together in somewhere around 4 months time. 

Isaiah 40:31

But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; 

they shall mount up with wings like eagles; 

they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint.

Snail Mail Never Fail

Remember the day's way back when you were 10 years old and your friend 

sent you an invitation to her birthday party and the envelope was full of 

confetti and sparkles filling the beautiful card. 

Or your pen pall from the summer camp you went to, 

wrapped a single dollar in their letter and told you to catch the ice cream man 

next time you hear that faint glorious music coming down the street.

Or the week before your birthday when all the out of town grandparents 

and aunts and uncles would start sending well wishes your way.

and so it goes went...

As your mom brought in the mail, you watched her flip through. 

As she pulled out a pink envelope and called your name out, 

you jumped off the couch and snatched it out of her hand. 

Jetting to your room, you flopped on your bed and started kicking your legs 
back and forth in the air as you gently quickly tore open the envelope.

Oh the good ol' days! 

Snail Mail totally never fails to excite me.

(minus the being an adult and getting credit card offers every week.)

Even more than receiving, I love to send snail mail.

So if I'm ever praying for someone or wanting to check in with someone and hopefully

encourage them, who better to trust to deliver your note, than jolly ol' USPS.

Something I've found myself doing this year is praying through our church directory. 

I don't always know what's going on in people's lives, but there's always something to 

pray for people over. So when someone comes up, and I pray, I try to send a note too. 

At the end I almost always sign off with "John 16:33" which became a verse 

I turn to often from the very beginning of my relationship with Jesus. 

I was given a great deal at Tiny Prints recently and couldn't pass it up.

This website is so much fun, too! I found a card I love and got to personalize it.

What else could I do, but put my trusty encouragement verse on there!

I love how they turned out, and am already using them!

Galatians 5:13
For you were called to freedom, brothers. Only do not use your freedom as an opportunity for the flesh, but through love serve one another.

The Best Story So Far: Part 1 (Online Meet & Greet)

(Photo from winter... no, I'm not wearing scarves in this heat)

A love story, told and retold.

It will never grow dull.

It will never get old.

As I begin, I wonder how many times I'm going to walk away, come back/reread, and edit this post. And that's all I will say rather than count them all and then tell you the ridiculous number. It will be many, because I want to get this post just right: An accurate report of the events, a wonderfully dream worthy story, and pointing to the Master-Mind behind it all.

It All Began with a Post:

Little over a year ago I wrote a post called Singleness: Getting Personal Up In Here about the struggles,  pains, joys, lessons, and all other randomness I had, spilling my guts about the topic of being single. It was the most vulnerable blog post I'd ever written and I encourage you to read it before reading this post any further. 

It was packed with things I rarely discussed with anyone. (mostly because I attend a church full of people/friends who are married and starting or well into building families.) I sat quietly filing away information on diapering babes, potty training, dealing with sassiness, and good disciplining technique. I often fielded comments wondering why I wasn't married yet (as if this was my desire) followed by mention of some "great guy" to hook me up with (which was never followed through on by said mentioner). Please don't misunderstand. I love these ladies, these families, these kiddos. I'm just pointing out that the chapter of life I was in, was very different. And I longed to be married to a man of God and share life on this earth with him.

When it Rains, it Pours!

The singleness "novel" was posted on a Friday (June 14, 2013 to be exact). By the time the weekend was over, 3 different friends had connected me with 3 different guys. Two had started with, "I showed my guy friend your post" and ended with, "he's going to write to you on Facebook."

I found myself laughing when I prayed, "Lord, is this some sort of sick joke? Four years I've prayed for a husband, now 3 guys are supposedly going to write to me? What is this? Why are you getting my hopes up?"

So one per day wrote. And I answered them all. I know what you're thinking... 3 guys at once huh? Who do I think I am? Don't worry, I thought the same thing. It freaked me out. And I was in constant prayer. I asked the Lord to "Make things clear. If none of these guys were my future husband, just make them losers for goodness sake." Then I got brave. I asked the Lord, "If one of these guys IS my future husband, give him courage to pursue me even if I resist. Give him stamina to stick with it, and please please please, guide us both... because this is just weird... Facebook? Really God?" (Yes. I prayed that)

No, No, Hmmm, OK.

So this furry of multi-chatting online was short lived.

I met up with one guy quickly who lived in town. I'm sure he's a great guy. But we didn't hit it off. In a recap with the friend that connected us, we both had way different impressions of each other than what she has of either of us. But God knows what He's doing. So that was the end of one chatty-mc-chatterson.

The next nearest guy, just a town away, suddenly had a death in the family which made him unable to invest in trying to get to know someone "online," so he graciously informed me of this, and bowed out. I was bummed. I hadn't gotten to know him well, but he sure was cute. But, again, God knows what He's doing. And less-chatty-mc-chatterson was also bid adieu.

Then there was this randomly connected guy friend of a friend's friend. (yep... reread that if you must). He lived a whole state away in the big CA. I thought to put the least amount of effort into this because what are the chance of things working out. A) he's in cali... B) we met on facebook.

But this guy kept writing to me. So I kept responding. Then he'd write again. And so would I...

Who was this chum? Why is he pursuing me so much, but with so gently and full of kindness? Oh wait... Did I pray to be pursued even if I resisted? I am confident my God answers prayer. But this is just strange... isn't it? Or... is it?

A short while past. He gave me his phone number and convincingly said, "a phone call would be nice." And without thinking I replied with mine... within seconds I said... Don't Call Me.

It freaked me out. What had I done?!?!?!?! I hardly knew this guy a week! Now he has my digits. Oh! No!

His reply: No problem. I'll see how you feel about it in a week.

A week passed in no time and mid conversation online, he says, "So, How do you feel about a phone call?" So impressed by his persistence and complete accuracy with the 1 week check up, I said, "Ok"

He called that weekend and...

We talked for 3 hours.

Whaaaaaaa???

I could say so much more. I could babble and babble. But come back soon for the rest of the story. 

It really is the best I've ever had the honor of sharing and being a part of as well.

1 John 5:14-15

And this is the confidence that we have toward him, that if we ask anything according to his will he hears us. And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests that we have asked of him.

The NEW Song that Never Ends

Fun things: I did a couple DIY refashions this weekend.
1. The flair white jeans I skinnied last summer... now shorts.
2. The long sleeve I haven't worn since 2009... now a tank.

Maybe you've already seen these photos, 
but if not don't forget to follow on instagram @patternedlove

As elementary, middle, and high schools let out in mid June, 

drivers everywhere stopped having pity parties and started having dance parties 

in their cars as they did NOT have to drive 20mph anymore for some ridiculous 

length before and after the school grounds when they're already late to work.

And with these series of events, adults everywhere start seeing youngsters 

in stores, on sidewalks, and in coffee shops in the MIDDLE OF THE DAY. 

To some adults it's annoying, but in my opinion this makes for many 

wonderful people watching experiences (in a totally NON-creeper-ish way).

As I checked the mail a few weeks back, I paused to thumb through 
and find anything that anyone might possible have sent for me. 
Nothing... but what's this? A faint voice in the wind?

Yes, the neighbor boy...

What's that? Is he singing?

Yes! That is without-a-doubt a little 7(ish) year old singing at the top of his lungs.

But wait... what is that lyric I hear?

He has made up a new and original song 

that for the past 5 WEEKS has not left me alone... 

it echos over and over and over in my increasingly annoyed, 

but initially laughing mind.

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

"IT'S SUMMER!

I'M GUNNA DO WHATEVER I WAaaaaaNT!"

There is a strange tune. He made it up... It wont leave me alone.

I cracked up at first. In fact, I literally laughed out loud 

as I went inside chanting with him. 

But at this point, it's officially an anthem in my head that wont stop.

So currently the only appropriate actions is clearly 

to choreograph an entire dance number 

and enter as an act in an upcoming talent show!

Psalm 108:3-4

I will give thanks to you, O Lord, among the peoples;

I will sing praises to you among the nations.

For your steadfast love is great above the heavens;

your faithfulness reaches to the clouds.

Bunny Ears?

The fun things about this outfit:

Leggings - H&M, Boots&Socks - Target, Purse - Basque Country

My sister, mom and I have a thing... It's called LOVE.

Seriously, our bond is special. We don't agree on everything. In fact we've been known to have an argument or two. But I know that through thick and thin, I always have these two! They are such a huge gift from God to me. I am forever grateful to have them in my life.

All that to say, my sister {My Wholesome Home} lives farther away than I'd like. 

Well, farther away than she'd like too. And I miss her. 

So even for an hour of her flying through town... I take advantage of getting together! 

In usual iPhone generation fashion, I asked a stranger to take some pictures of the 3 of us 

jolly musketeers. After taking a couple, I jockingly kicked my mom out for a sister shot. 

We caught her sneaking up behind us with a couple pairs of ...

You guessed it folks... "bunny ears"

Will it ever get old?

No really, I'm asking... Will people ever stop with the bunny ears? 

Life questions people. Life questions!

LOVE THESE TWO!!!

Psalm 121:1-2

I lift up my eyes to the hills.

From where does my help come?

My help comes from the Lord,

who made heaven and earth.

Screaming Like a Nut Case

 The fun things about this outfit:
Shoes & Jeans - Old Navy, Sweater - Thrifted, Scarf - old'n days, Earrings - Thrifed

After a long and ridiculously action packed and blog lacking October, it's time to try (key word) to get back into a habit here. 

Let me set the scene for you. After 11:30pm I'm sitting in a car talking to a friend before leaving to go home. I see my friends eye get caught by something out the window behind me. I turn around to see what was up, and right out my window is a huge dog face. (Not sure you know... I'm a little irrationally scared of large dogs) So I screamed... Quickly. Sharply. Loudly! As my eyes moved up to see a man facing my car and standing very closely I jumped backwards onto my E-break and screamed again... longer. Sharper. Louder! And you know... Just for good measure I screamed one more time... Longer again. Nice and Sharply... and Louder!

The guy was totally caught of guard. He was clearly looking at his phone and not even trying to be a total creeper (you know... my instant thought) and he quickly  moved along. To which I jumped out of my car and yelled, "I'm so sorry. I was soooo startled." At which exact point I got back in my car and began to laugh so hard I cried because never in my life have I screamed like I was running from an axe murdering clown in a horror movie.

And my friends that is the story of a whole 45 seconds of my weekend. 

First John 1:5

This is the message we have heard from him and proclaim to you,

that God is light, and in him is no darkness at all.

Singleness: Getting Personal Up in Here

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Shirt - Hand-Me-Down

2. Skirt- Thrifted

3. Necklace - Thrifted

4. Belt - Thrifted

Brace yourselves, folks. I'm about to get right down to it and dive into 

something real personal...feelings & stuff ya know?

Topic at hand:

"AAAWWW I'm Single"

So I may or may not have mentioned this giant fact before. 

But if you didn't know... Now you do. I'm single. 

The Back Story. Here's the thing. I have a huge desire to be married. I didn't always. In high school I thought it was silly that girls looked through wedding magz and knew what all the cuts of a diamond were called. What on earth were they doing with their lives? They were teenagers for goodness sake. But when my high school boyfriend and I kept dating on & off through college, I started to think it wasn't so far fetched to stay with someone forever. At that time I was not a follower of Jesus (If you read my blog on the regular, you know that now I do follow Jesus). We even started to talk about marriage. Although sometime along the way I realized that I was talking... He was just blank staring at me. Around the time of that realization, I started to pursue truth. I knew something was missing in my life, that up until then, I'd been trying to find in this relationship. In June 2009, for the first time out of 7 total break ups, I broke it off with Mr. Not-right-for-me. (Please know I'm not dissing this guy.) Two days later I headed off to a month of volunteering as a housekeeper at a camp 3 hrs away from all that I knew with no ties to the outside world... GULP... During that month away though, I found the truth I'd been searching for. I met my rock and asked Jesus to take over, because clearly I was failing at doing life.

I headed home, found a job where I didn't have to work Sundays, and plugged myself right into a church to make sure I had help learning what I had made a commitment to. And I never left. My church is packed with some of the most compassionate people I've ever met. And quite honestly, they're real. No one is walking around pretending they've got life figured out. We're just people, looking to Christ to guide us as life quickly comes at us. 

Here's the thing. I never stopped wanting to be married. My lovely church is filled with families. In fact, I think the number of kiddos will soon outnumber the adults. There's a running joke that **It's in the water** 

You know what isn't in the water... anywhere?
Singleness.

Singleness is such a loaded word. It comes packed full of assumptions, feelings, and responsibilities. When I'm reminded that I'm single, I'm reminded that I go home alone at night. I'm reminded that my heart sometimes aches to know the one who God has planned for me or aches to think it may not be in His plans at all. I'm reminded that I sometimes I have way to much time on my hands. I'm reminded that I don't have someone consistently checking in on me...(besides you mom. I know you're always checking in on me) I'm reminded of my nervous energy when I wonder if God somehow forgot about me. I'm reminded, that hardly anyone else is reminded. I'm reminded that people assume I must be dating someone when I'm really not. I'm reminded that since June 2009 I have not been asked on a single date. I'm reminded that most don't think their single jokes are at the expense of my heart. 

I told you it was a loaded word.

Don't get the wrong idea here. In all of those reminders, I'm also reminded that I am loved by the one who created me. And I'm reminded that His plans are perfect. I am treasuring my singleness and trying to make the most of my time because if the desires of my heart do come true, my time will no longer be only at the disposal of my own whims and plans. I understand that it is a gift to pursue things without attachments. I can fully serve Christ in ways that may not be realistic to a married woman or a momma. I can seriously meet you for coffee at a moments notice. I can spend a lot of time with high school girls (who are amazing). I'm not trying to wallow in self grief or pity parties. But there is a reality of hurt that exists without falling into the category of woh-is-me type attitudes. 

So for now I'm Single. I know that God will give me what I can handle. And apparently right now He knows that I can handle singleness. So I'll continue pouring time into young ladies at the high school. I'll continue (to try) to develop my talents and skills. And I will refuse to feel like I'm in limbo until Mr. Man-of-God arrives on his injured donkey and in his rusty armor after the battle he himself has been through before meeting me. I will live for Christ while I wait on Him.

Here are a few things I know: 

God is good. 

He loves me. 

I am a daughter of the King of kings. 

When I am discouraged or lonely (and let's be honest single ladies, it happens), 

I will look to Jesus and have confidence that He knows what He is doing.

I hope my bla bla bla about this was more of a glance into who I am than some sort deterrent.

And...Now you know.

1 Corinthians 7:34a

And the unmarried or betrothed woman is anxious about the things of the Lord, how to be holy in body and spirit.

Foxtrot Vintage

The fun things about this outfit:

1. Dress - Thrifted for $4

2. Belt - Thrifted $0.50

3. Shoes - Target

4. Earrings - Oldies

Clearly, everyone knows that I love to thrift shop. And sometimes there's a fine line between thrifting and antiquing. But in the last year or so, I've started to really like antique shops too. I generally don't purchase as often as I do at a thrift store but I love to look!

Downtown G-town is pretty much amazing. It's where my favorite coffee shop is located.

It's where I get my hair cut. It's where you'll find some of the best sun-dried tomato 

bagels of your entire life. It's where World's Apart Studios has landed! (They officially launched on June 1 and I wore this dress to their open house.) It is where one 

of my favorite thrift stores is. It's home to our farmers market, library, cupcakery, 

and restaurants & salons galore.

Seriously Downtown G-town is the place to be! 

Recently I've notice that antique stores are making their rounds. 

I think we've had about 5 go in on Main St. I think 2 are left standing now 

and my favorite let us take outfit pictures inside.

Foxtrot Vintage has it all! Once I even tried on a pair of Nordstrom boots 

from way back when. Sadly, they were about half a size to small, 

otherwise for $10 I would have swept them up!

I found some super fun things in there while we were exploring! 

A huge vintage Coke Cola cooler! A legit old bowling ball, shoes, and bag! 

They have a crazy large selection of glass ware and random art. 

My favorite purchase I've ever made there was a red clutch for just $7. 

If you're a local! You've gotta check this place out! Even just for some window shopping!

P.S. Don't forget to like Patterned Love on Facebook 

and leave me your facebook link so I can return the favor!

Psalm 46:10

Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations, 

I will be exalted in the earth!