The Tao of Tiffany's

We're officially back!

I thought I needed a vacation from blogging for a little while.  I was worried I was putting too much effort and energy into it, when I needed to be focusing on something more important.  But recently, I realized how much I love it! In fact, I think I need it. Super personal: in my medical issues, we had a scare that I might not be able to ever have kids. Right now, it's not looking so bleak anymore! But that's not the point.  I could have used my blog as a positive thing to distract and calm myself, but instead I pushed it away. I drove myself crazy googling things and freaking out. I gave up something I loved because I thought it would help me. I was wrong.

Sometimes, we just need to take a break from something to realize how much we love it.

I would like to share a story with you.

For our two month anniversary, Blake bought me a necklace from my most favorite store, Tiffany & Co. (I know, a little bit fancy for only being together two months.. Like I've said, we both knew from the start.)

May I present, the necklace.

Not long after we got it, the necklace started problems.  We started having problems.  The blue part of the heart popped out of the shell, we just glued it back in place.  We would fight, but find a temporary fix.  Eventually, the chain on the necklace broke, and couldn't be fixed.  Then we broke too.

As much as it was a very painful time, looking back at it, our time apart was a good thing for us.  We had gotten to the point where we were taking each other for granted, taking our stresses and tiredness out on each other, and just not being very nice.

But, just like I returned to my blog, we returned to each other. (Not without much work, though!)

And here's where even more symbolism comes in. When we first met, we started really talking to each other when he sent me a picture that he drew of himself tracking me down after I stole his sunglasses in class one day (for that story, read my first blog post, "First Impressions!"

To think, this started it all!

Then, on Thanksgiving Day, I realized that I was supposed to be with him.  He had been trying to talk to me and convince me to at least give him another chance (I was trying to move on, even though I was always thinking about him too..) Finally, on Thanksgiving, he sent me a simple little "Happy Thanksgiving" text, and that's when everything changed.

It's crazy how much one text can change.. Twice. 

Fast forward to New Years' Eve, Downtown Nashville.  It was me, Blake, and his friend (and future groomsmen) Mitchell.  Right before midnight, I realized Mitchell was missing.  I was looking for him, and when I turned back around to face front, Blake was on one knee.  Strangers were taking pictures of us, we were kissing, it was beautiful.  Well, except for the fact that I had dumbly decided to wear high heels and my feet were DYING. 

The night all of Downtown Nashville knew we were going to get married! 

A lot of reactions about hearing he proposed on New Years' sounded a little something like this: "New Years' is so cliche I want my boyfriend to be creative I would be so upset, blah blah blah."

But, New Years had a big meaning for us.  It's the time we could start new.  We both had new feelings toward each other, new priorities, and new goals.  We were starting fresh.  We never wanted to lose sight of what we had.  We were new.

Fast forward to when my mysterious (It was supposed to be a surprise, but surprises are never surprises for us.. Something always happens and we end up finding out about them!) package arrives. My new necklace! HOORAY!

Please excuse my green shirt, I was in my lazy clothes when I opened it!

If you notice, it's basically the same thing.  But different.  Better. Like us.  It's strong.  It even had more work put into it than the first go around- he had my initials engraved on the back of the heart! He's perfect.  I'm more careful with this one than I was with the last- I don't let it get all tangled up in the mess of my jewelry, I don't leave it hanging in the bathroom while I shower to get all steamed. Blake takes care of it.

Like our relationship. We take better care of our relationship now.  We watch what we say.  We express gratitude.  We both have the marriage as our top priority. We've learned what we could lose if we don't take proper care and make sure to nourish the relationship.  We're the same people, just a little different now than we were even just a few months ago.

Sometimes, we just need to take a step back.  Maybe that step back lasts for a month, maybe for a couple of weeks.  It's like that overly used phrase "You don't know what you got till it's gone".. Except sometimes, it comes back, even stronger, better, and happier. <3