Today I sat down to check my emails, and to creep Facebook, and I didn't expect anything really out of the ordinary to happen. But then it did...
I watched this video.
And in 22 short minutes, something extraordinary happened.
This video tells the story of a 17 year old boy who was diagnosed with terminal cancer. But instead of falling apart and letting the reality of life kill him, he let that same reality cause him to live, and to live every single day to the fullest. He inspired everyone around him to live life for every moment. To cherish the time you have while you have it. To be who it is that you were meant to be now, not somewhere down the line.
I want that to be my story. I want people to see the beauty in life just by spending time with our family. I want to enjoy every moment that I am given.
Life has been particularly stressful the last few months. Figuring out finances and life and what is happening next, and when life feels like its moving so fast that you dont have time to stop and think let alone look around, its so easy to miss moments. Moments that are creating you. Moments that are so beautiful that it would be a shame to miss them. And so much of life lately has been made up of beautiful moments. Moments that are defining who it is that we are becoming. Decisions that are forming that future of the Morris family. And I dont want to miss those. I want to cherish each beautiful moment that I live, because those moments can be stolen, before we even realize they are gone.
Last week I came home from work and Nic had prepared an evening in honor of me. He made me my favorite snacks, he gave me a massage. We watched a movie that I picked. We laughed and talked and laughed some more. That was a moment. A truly beautiful moment. This past saturday at Recital Rehearsal for work, one of my three year olds came running up to me at the end of their hour and hugged my leg and said "Bye Miss Destiny. I love you!" Another little girl was sitting next me a little later in the evening and she slowly leaned over and rested her head on my arm and just stayed there. Those. Those were beautiful moments. Moments that I cherish. And I never want to miss moments like that.
So today I experience something extraordinary. I learned what it means to live. What it means to enjoy your life. What is means to love. I learned that life is what you make it. And if you dont make it something, it ends up being nothing. Life is a beautiful and I never want to miss the life that I have the opportunity to live. Because life is a truly beautiful thing.
"Life is really just beautiful moments, one right after the other." ~Zach Sobiech
Until next time...
Tuesday, May 21, 2013
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
So today I was thinking...
So today I was thinking about how awesome my wedding was. My mom and I really did plan quite a bash. I was watching the video today, because Im missing my pap something terrible and seeing him alive and healthy walking down the aisle somehow makes me feel like he is still here, and every time I see that video I remember how good my life is and how blessed I really am. Nic means more to me than I thought possible, I have an amazing family and I married into a family just as amazing, and I live a beautiful life.
So since this blog is my way of remembering things as they happen and not wanting to miss anything, here's our wedding montage. So that a 20 years from now when my kids are reading my blog and thinking about how over emotional and awkward I was, they can watch this video and see where they started from. They can see the love that their dad and I share for each other and always rest in the fact that home will be a safe place for them.
Nic and Destiny's Wedding
Until next time...
So since this blog is my way of remembering things as they happen and not wanting to miss anything, here's our wedding montage. So that a 20 years from now when my kids are reading my blog and thinking about how over emotional and awkward I was, they can watch this video and see where they started from. They can see the love that their dad and I share for each other and always rest in the fact that home will be a safe place for them.
Nic and Destiny's Wedding
Until next time...
Wednesday, April 3, 2013
Life as we know it...
So again, it has been far too long since I have updated the world on the latest happenings in the Morris house. The last 3 months have been quite insane for us. With my grandfather passing away in January, being in a wedding the following week, and the passing of Nic's grandmother this past month, things have been beyond crazy for us. So much travel, so many miles on our car, and so many lengthy conversations that I wouldn't trade for anything.
Nic and I had a lot of really good conversations in the 40+ hours we have spent in the car the last few months. We talked about life, where we have been, but most importantly where we are going. We talked about his dreams to pursue school and what that looks like. We talked about where we are heading once he is done with the military. We talked about what our family will begin to look like in the next few years and what proximity we want to be to both sides. We talked about life and love and Jesus. We talked about what he wants for us in ministry in the years to come. We talked about my work and his work and what we are wanting out of both. We talked about everything that life has to offer us right now. Being trapped in a moving box for that long is tiring and I tend to get a little stir crazy, but I wouldn't have wanted to be trapped in a box with anyone else.
All of the events that have occurred over the last few months have significantly changed life as we know it. Nothing about us is the same. Both of our families are different, our family is different. Parts of our identity have been laid to rest and thats hard for anyone to swallow. It changes you. It changes who you thought you were into who you now have to be. But the sweet part of this is the memories. This was my first Easter without my pap and as we all sat together in our apartment this weekend we talked about how different things felt. But there is also an excitement in that. Being able to form new traditions. Having the opportunity to build what life looks like now from the ground up. Melding families together, throwing around the idea of being in the same place at the same time and bringing to life something so new and foreign to us. But its a really cool balance. Something that we know is now a part of us. Something that we both cherish.
So for those of you who have been wondering what is going on in the Morris house, thats it. Learning what family looks like now. Rebuilding who we are from the ground up and making two families one. We are going to Cirque du soliel next weekend with the Arends which will be one of the highlights of my life. And we are heading to PA for a wedding the following weekend, then begins the joy of Saturday rehearsals for my June recital for work. And who knows after that. Currently searching for a full time job to bring in some extra money. So that search is on. But God has it all under control. The hard part is resting in that. Easier said than done, but God holds the bigger picture. Im looking forward to seeing all that he has for us. The Morris Family has big things in store. I just know it.
oh... and we got a fish. His name is Herman. Herman Melville Morris to be exact...
Until next time....
Nic and I had a lot of really good conversations in the 40+ hours we have spent in the car the last few months. We talked about life, where we have been, but most importantly where we are going. We talked about his dreams to pursue school and what that looks like. We talked about where we are heading once he is done with the military. We talked about what our family will begin to look like in the next few years and what proximity we want to be to both sides. We talked about life and love and Jesus. We talked about what he wants for us in ministry in the years to come. We talked about my work and his work and what we are wanting out of both. We talked about everything that life has to offer us right now. Being trapped in a moving box for that long is tiring and I tend to get a little stir crazy, but I wouldn't have wanted to be trapped in a box with anyone else.
All of the events that have occurred over the last few months have significantly changed life as we know it. Nothing about us is the same. Both of our families are different, our family is different. Parts of our identity have been laid to rest and thats hard for anyone to swallow. It changes you. It changes who you thought you were into who you now have to be. But the sweet part of this is the memories. This was my first Easter without my pap and as we all sat together in our apartment this weekend we talked about how different things felt. But there is also an excitement in that. Being able to form new traditions. Having the opportunity to build what life looks like now from the ground up. Melding families together, throwing around the idea of being in the same place at the same time and bringing to life something so new and foreign to us. But its a really cool balance. Something that we know is now a part of us. Something that we both cherish.
So for those of you who have been wondering what is going on in the Morris house, thats it. Learning what family looks like now. Rebuilding who we are from the ground up and making two families one. We are going to Cirque du soliel next weekend with the Arends which will be one of the highlights of my life. And we are heading to PA for a wedding the following weekend, then begins the joy of Saturday rehearsals for my June recital for work. And who knows after that. Currently searching for a full time job to bring in some extra money. So that search is on. But God has it all under control. The hard part is resting in that. Easier said than done, but God holds the bigger picture. Im looking forward to seeing all that he has for us. The Morris Family has big things in store. I just know it.
oh... and we got a fish. His name is Herman. Herman Melville Morris to be exact...
Until next time....
Tuesday, March 5, 2013
The laws of physics.
So for those of you who have never had the opportunity to get to know my husband, you may not know that he is one of the most intelligent people you will ever meet. The way that his brain works truly is a mystery to me. His ability to pick things apart and figure out how they work, his constant need to know why something is the way that it is, the way his mind never stops moving. No matter the topic. Science, history, even just life in general. He has to know why. Now at times, its frustrating, because Im not as smart as him. I don't see life in the same bizarre way that he does. And I don't always have the ability to figure out why something is the way that it is. Or why something is fair when it makes no logical sense that it should be. Like why my pap had to die. Or why life just doesnt seem to go my way. Or why my job is frustrating. Or why people leave without giving a reason. Or how things are just so perfect sometimes that you are sad that that moment will end, because you know it will never be that perfect again.
But even though I may not have the mind to see life the way he does, I have learned something so valuable from my husband's way of thinking. Everything has a science to it. And today as I was sitting on the couch, recovering from whatever sickness it is that my tutu wearing rugrats gave me this time, I was thinking about life. I have always been quite the nerd. I love learning and reading and gaining knowledge. But when I was in high school, I never realized that what I was learning applied so much to my life. We live in this ever changing world. It never slows down or takes a break or stops long enough to let us catch our breath. But within that world that spins so quickly and so violently, there are constants that never change. We never know what the day to day will hold. We never know what to expect, because life isn't predictable. But those constants, they hold us together. Family holds us together. Our friends hold us together. The ones that aren't afraid to remind us that there really is no such thing as normal. The ones that have stuck by you through all of life's ups and downs. The ones that have proven that they want to be there. Our constants. And just like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the speed of light is constant. No matter what is happening around it. No matter how violent the force, it remains constant. And the bright spots in our lives, they are our constants. They get us from one day to the next. They are the ones that keep us together. And in life, it seems that we have traveled light years. We have gone through so much change and evolution in who we are as people, as families, as mere minutes in this huge vast universe, but at the end of the day, when I look back on where I have been and where I am going next, I am truly thankful for the constants in my life. I don't know who I would be without them.
And more than that, today I am thankful for a husband who thinks differently than most. One who's willing to challenge me, and to be my strongest constant in the midst of the chaos. Here's to the love of my life.
Until next time...
But even though I may not have the mind to see life the way he does, I have learned something so valuable from my husband's way of thinking. Everything has a science to it. And today as I was sitting on the couch, recovering from whatever sickness it is that my tutu wearing rugrats gave me this time, I was thinking about life. I have always been quite the nerd. I love learning and reading and gaining knowledge. But when I was in high school, I never realized that what I was learning applied so much to my life. We live in this ever changing world. It never slows down or takes a break or stops long enough to let us catch our breath. But within that world that spins so quickly and so violently, there are constants that never change. We never know what the day to day will hold. We never know what to expect, because life isn't predictable. But those constants, they hold us together. Family holds us together. Our friends hold us together. The ones that aren't afraid to remind us that there really is no such thing as normal. The ones that have stuck by you through all of life's ups and downs. The ones that have proven that they want to be there. Our constants. And just like Einstein's Theory of Relativity, the speed of light is constant. No matter what is happening around it. No matter how violent the force, it remains constant. And the bright spots in our lives, they are our constants. They get us from one day to the next. They are the ones that keep us together. And in life, it seems that we have traveled light years. We have gone through so much change and evolution in who we are as people, as families, as mere minutes in this huge vast universe, but at the end of the day, when I look back on where I have been and where I am going next, I am truly thankful for the constants in my life. I don't know who I would be without them.
And more than that, today I am thankful for a husband who thinks differently than most. One who's willing to challenge me, and to be my strongest constant in the midst of the chaos. Here's to the love of my life.
Until next time...
Monday, February 25, 2013
Tuesday, February 12, 2013
Back from the silence...
So its been a quiet month on the blog front. Im sorry to my faithful readers, and to myself for not documenting more. But regardless, I'm here now. And I am writing.
This month I lost one of my heros. On Saturday, January 19th, my grandpa passed away. To say that this was the hardest experience of my life is an understatement. This was a week in my life that still feels like a dream. To see my family that broken, still feels like a really bad dream. But as hard as that week was, honestly moving forward is scarier. Everything about my family is about to change. The way we do holidays. Going home for visits. Everything is changing. Faster than I ever thought it possible. It all changed in an instant. Its funny that I never realized that Pap was kind of the glue that held us all together. He made all of us stronger just be being him. Just by his existence in our lives. His support and love helped to make me who I am today and for that I will always be grateful. But I miss him. I miss him so much it hurts. I guess thats how life is sometimes... it dishes you crap you dont always want to deal with. But you have to take it. You have to keep moving forward. No matter how much it hurts.
Aside from that, I am trying to just move forward with my life. To learn as much as possible. To be the best wife I can be. As strange as it sounds, Nic and I are better friends than we ever were. We are working at being the best we can as we move forward in our marriage. We want everything that we do to be in center of God's will. So we are praying. And trusting that God is ordering our steps as to where we are heading next.
Next Im working on a piece for Regent's Fight Night, which I am really excited about. Its nice to be able to stretch myself and work new elements of my artistic ability.
So thats the latest. And its a long road ahead... but it'll get easier. I know it will. Ive got a beautiful husband. An amazing family. And a loving home. I truly do live a beautiful life.
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Until next time...
This month I lost one of my heros. On Saturday, January 19th, my grandpa passed away. To say that this was the hardest experience of my life is an understatement. This was a week in my life that still feels like a dream. To see my family that broken, still feels like a really bad dream. But as hard as that week was, honestly moving forward is scarier. Everything about my family is about to change. The way we do holidays. Going home for visits. Everything is changing. Faster than I ever thought it possible. It all changed in an instant. Its funny that I never realized that Pap was kind of the glue that held us all together. He made all of us stronger just be being him. Just by his existence in our lives. His support and love helped to make me who I am today and for that I will always be grateful. But I miss him. I miss him so much it hurts. I guess thats how life is sometimes... it dishes you crap you dont always want to deal with. But you have to take it. You have to keep moving forward. No matter how much it hurts.
Aside from that, I am trying to just move forward with my life. To learn as much as possible. To be the best wife I can be. As strange as it sounds, Nic and I are better friends than we ever were. We are working at being the best we can as we move forward in our marriage. We want everything that we do to be in center of God's will. So we are praying. And trusting that God is ordering our steps as to where we are heading next.
Next Im working on a piece for Regent's Fight Night, which I am really excited about. Its nice to be able to stretch myself and work new elements of my artistic ability.
So thats the latest. And its a long road ahead... but it'll get easier. I know it will. Ive got a beautiful husband. An amazing family. And a loving home. I truly do live a beautiful life.
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Until next time...
Saturday, January 5, 2013
2012, A Year of Memories.
So as we are officially into year 2013, I figured I would give you all a recap of 2012. My top 12 favorite moments and memories from this year. So here it goes!
1. Beth's Bridal Shower
Beth and I have had this unexplainable ability to do everything in our lives at the exact same time. Getting married was no exception. In late February/Early March, I made the trip to PA to celebrate with her at her bridal shower. I had the opportunity to meet Candace (now) Fish and Alli Potter, and I must say they are some very special people that I was honored to share this time in Beth's life with. And I got to spend some time with one of my dearest and very best friends, Lydia.
12. New Year's with the Morris'
And that was the gist of our 2012. There are so many more memories that I could talk for days about, but these are the ones that stick out the biggest in my mind. This was the best year I have ever had and I honestly cannot think of one that will top it, but I know that 2013 holds big things for our family. We do not know exactly what that will look like or how this year will pan out, but I know that the first week of January in 2014 will tell the same story. It will be a year of new beginnings looking back on our biggest and best year yet.
1. Beth's Bridal Shower
Beth and I have had this unexplainable ability to do everything in our lives at the exact same time. Getting married was no exception. In late February/Early March, I made the trip to PA to celebrate with her at her bridal shower. I had the opportunity to meet Candace (now) Fish and Alli Potter, and I must say they are some very special people that I was honored to share this time in Beth's life with. And I got to spend some time with one of my dearest and very best friends, Lydia.
2. Graduating from Regent
After 4 crazy, painful, amazing, memory filled years of college, I finally did it. I graduated from college with a BA in Theatre into a great big grown up world. I will always miss those people and the times that we shared. All the growing up that we did together. We were more than friends, we were a family, and family never really leaves your heart or your mind. They are a part of you forever.
3. Bethany became a Franz
Beth getting married was one of the most special, emotional amazing moments of life thus far. We have been through so much together, and seeing her that happy was a truly incredible moment. I dont think any of us kept from crying as she walked down the aisle that day. She was a beautiful bride to say the least. Being the shortest bridesmaid, what else is new haha, I had the honor of walking with Cody, the shortest of the groomsmen. We had a blast joking around and laughing through the day. It was truly a highlight of my year.
4. My Bridal Shower
A day full of more love than I know what to do with. The people who came and were a part of this were so generous and blessed us so deeply. My family is truly an incredible group of people with more heart and more genuine love for me than I ever thought possible. It was a day to celebrate us. To celebrate me. And all the good that the future would hold.
5. I became a Morris
Well this is a top 12 for obvious reasons. The day that I married my best friend. And I got to share it with some of my favorite people in the entire world. That day was full of love, joy and becoming a family that only God himself could have designed. I never fully comprehended how many emotions could be crammed into one day. But it was one intense ride. Filled with joy, tears, smiles and laughter. It was the perfect wedding, give or take the fainting bridesmaid and peeing jr. groomsman.
6. Our Honeymoon
Disney was an amazing trip. It was the perfect honeymoon blend. We got to take a breath and realize that we actually got married and began a family while also getting to be big kids for a week. It made the experience that much sweeter knowing that we completely in love, living a fairy tale, in the most magical place on earth. It was an amazing week.
7. My dance with my mom
Our actual wedding day came and went so fast, and I feel like there is so much that I missed out on that day. It was perfect, dont get me wrong, but there are a few things I would love the opportunity to go back and do again. Getting the opportunity to dance with my mom at the reception is one of them. And my mom knew that. So at our casual reception in PA, my mom made it happen. We got the opportunity to dance together, with roses in our lapels (all you Gilmore Girls fans out there will get that reference) and it is a moment I will treasure for the rest of my life.
8. Driving to Memphis to surprise the Morris'
Being so far away from both sides of the family is particularly hard, but for this occasion, we made the distance work. Nic's Grandma Vernita was turning 87 this year and they were throwing her a huge surprise party at Uncle Mike and Aunt Vickie's house in Germantown, TN. Nic had one vacation day left for this year, and we knew thats where it needed to be spent. So we packed up the car and drove the 15 hours through the night to spend the special birthday with some very special people. The looks on everyone's faces as we surprised them all was priceless. It is a memory held so near and dear to our hearts.
9. The Marine Corps Birthday Ball
Last year the ball was nothing more than an overpriced, bad date. So I didnt go into it with too high of expectations this year. But to our pleasant surprise, it was a pretty amazing night. The presentation was beautiful, and it was extra special because this year I had the honor of standing with the military spouses when they were recognized for their service as well. That was a pretty sweet moment for me. Aside from that, the food was better, the cake was good, and seeing 4 pretty drunk Marines doing the Gangam style dance made for an amazing evening.
10. Going home for Thanksgiving
This year going home was especially sweet because it was the first time we had seen my family since our causal reception in August and was the longest I had gone without seeing my family, well, ever. So it was more than just excitement about going home for the holidays, it was seeing the people I love more than anyone else in the world. We ate more than we should have, loved on one another, decorated my parents house for Christmas, and just had an all around amazing holiday.
11. Our first married Christmas
Our first married Christmas was pretty special. From the decorating (our first married tree was pretty epic, if I do say so myself), to the shopping, to the actual holiday, it was just all so very special to us. We spent the holiday with my parents this year, and it was so special to me to get to include Nic in all of our holiday traditions. Christmas Eve at Pap's house, reading the Christmas story next to the tree before we go to bed, jumping on my parents to wake them up, opening gifts, watching the parade. It was just as perfect as it could have been getting to share this with him this year.
12. New Year's with the Morris'
This year we spent the new year with the Morris' in Bluffton, SC. It was a lovely trip filled with lots of laughter, sight seeing and new memories. We toured Old Town Bluffton, Palmeto Bluff where the rich and famous live, and we toured Savannah, GA on New Year's Eve. We rang in the new year with Sparkling Cider, kisses with our significant others, Facetime with my family (which made my first year separated from them so much easier, so thank you God for technology) and board games into the wee hours of the morning. It was a great trip. It was so good to not be there for any particular reason other than to see them. It really meant a lot to all of us to have those cherished memories together.
And that was the gist of our 2012. There are so many more memories that I could talk for days about, but these are the ones that stick out the biggest in my mind. This was the best year I have ever had and I honestly cannot think of one that will top it, but I know that 2013 holds big things for our family. We do not know exactly what that will look like or how this year will pan out, but I know that the first week of January in 2014 will tell the same story. It will be a year of new beginnings looking back on our biggest and best year yet.
So thank you to all of you who are a part of our story, and have helped to shape this year into what it was for us. We cherish each and every one of you and we are looking forward to what the new year holds. We love you all.
Here's to the best one yet.
Until next time...
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