perspective.

much of life is a matter of perspective.

26!

if you know me, you know i love birthdays -- especially my own. yesterday i turned 26, and i was reminded again what a gift it is that i have such incredible friends and family. you people are rare, and a blast to live life with. thank you, thank you for the snail mail (it really is the best), voicemails, texts, cupcakes, and tiara (yes, that happened. cheers to princess month.).

the party started last weekend with a little getaway shopping trip in dallas with mom (so fun!! you're the best, mom!) and a last minute trip to lufkin to see our friends, katelyn and walker. it was so great to finally see their world, meet their daughter, and slumber party together. we could not be more thankful for these friends.

yesterday was a full day of good people and good food (waffles and cookie cake on the same day, y'all!). chris threw a little shindig for me last night and invited all our friends here in norman -- i honestly loved providing a party for people. i mean, everyone loves a good party, right?

michael jordan turned 50 yesterday. my husband is too clever. 

also, to be perfectly transparent, there were many lonely days when we first moved to norman, so when i looked around last night, i was just so thankful to have good friends. that's certainly not something i take for granted anymore. you people are a gift! thanks for making feel loved!

thankful thursday: valentine's day edition.

happy heart day, y'all! i'm feeling extra thankful today, so here we go -- things i've been thankful for this week (eh... 2 weeks):

1. the okc thunder.

i was all aboard the thunder train last year as they made their run all the way to the nba finals, and now that football season is over, my love for the thunder is back with full force. one of the best things about living in oklahoma is getting to cheer for the thunder. i just love 'em. last week we got to see them play the mavs -- chris was torn over who to cheer for, but not me. #THUNDERUP 

2. snow!

weather in oklahoma is quite insane. one day it'll be 60 degrees, the next it'll be snowing. literally. it snowed this week! what in the world?! i kinda turn into a giddy school girl when it snows. don't judge me.

3. sunsets.

today's joy dare was to list 3 ways i feel the love of god. sunsets easily made the list -- really all of creation, but specifically sunsets. we saw two incredible sunsets on both our drive to texas and our drive back from texas this last weekend. i had a hard time driving because i couldn't take my eyes off of it. i just felt like god was showing off -- and reminding me of the love and grace he constantly lavishes on me. 

4. glitter nail polish.

fat tuesday, galentine's day, valentine's day, AND my birthday all in one week?! clearly this called for party nails. i LOVE them.

5. lillies.

lovely little flowers from my valentine. i wish you could smell them through the computer screen. unreal. he's my favorite -- today and every day.

happy valentine's day! i hope you feel extra loved and appreciated today! what are you thankful for this week?

galentine's day.

tonight i threw my first annual galentine's day party. what's galentine's day, you ask?

well, in the words of leslie knope herself...

"What's Galentine's Day?? Oh it's only the best day of the year. Every February 13th my lady friends and I leave our husbands and our boyfriends at home and we just come and kick it...

Ladies celebrating ladies."

confession: i've fallen head over heels in love with parks & rec. if you don't watch it, i suggest you drop everything, find your nearest netflix-playing device, and get started. you'll thank me later.

back to galentine's. it was great. we gabbed (yes, gabbed) about boys, we laughed, we cried (not really), we ate way way way too many sweets...

and wrote each other valentines... because cute, crafty, encouraging love notes are never a bad idea.

i wish we would've taken a group pic, but i was probably too busy eating cookies and pretending to be crafty. true story, people.

so cheers to all my lady friends on galentine's day! i'm thankful for you!

"February 14th, Valentine's Day, is about romance, but February 13th, Galentine's Day, is about celebrating lady friends. It's wonderful and it should be a national holiday." -- Leslie Knope 

tulip trees.

the husband and i spent the weekend in east texas, and although it was raining most of the time, i was sure to notice the tulip trees in full bloom.

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you know what that means? spring training. pitchers and catchers report this week.

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thanks for teaching me to love baseball, dad. it sure makes me miss you.

spring 2006.