Valentine's Day—off to a good start

Good thing I wasn't scheduled to work today or else I wouldn't have been home when our Morgan-Freeman-look-alike mailman knocked on our door, asked me my name, and then told me the Lord had blessed him with the gift of song. 

"I don't mean to offend, young lady, and I don't know if you have a boyfriend in your life, but if you do, he wanted me to tell you this..." His words, not mine.

[By this point all I want to know is where the hidden camera is.]

Then he stood a foot away from my face and serenaded me with this song for a solid minute.  
Longest freaking minute of my life.

 

 

True story.

Hope this warms your heart (read: creeps you out) as much as it did me!

Happy Valentine's Day, everybody!

inspired by wedding season & Liz Lemon

I just returned from the wedding of two college friends in Arizona. 'Twas a glorious weekend...We went to a saloon for the bachelorette, danced to Persian music at the reception (the groom is Iranian) and I experienced my very first open bar wedding. Which is odd, because, as a friend kindly pointed out, "You go to a lot of weddings, Maddie." 

This is true. So true, that I'm considering starting up a business called, "I Do Weddings." No, it's not going to be about event planning or cake-making for weddings...I will just go to them. Because weddings are fun! Please see exhibit A, B, and C below:

Exhibit A
Photo by Montana

Exhibit B
Photo by Montana

Exhibit C
Photo by Montana

Haven't figured out the getting paid part, but give it time. Actually, you know there are probably plenty of socially awkward 30-something-year-old guys out there whose younger sisters are getting married and the family is putting on some major pressure for him to show up with at least a date. I could get really good at being that date. Maybe even better than Dermot.

Photo by Montana

Anywho, it was a blessing to see a marriage between two people who are just perfect for each other. In a world where I've never really believed there is just one 'soulmate' for everyone, I love love love seeing two crazy-unique people fit into each others' lives like puzzle pieces. See below.

awesome Arizona newly wedded couple
photo by Montana

And it got me thinking. About my puzzle piece. Humor me, I rarely get lovey-dovey on the blog.

Also, I was recently reminded of this great Liz Lemon quote.

So I made my own. I tried to mix serious with funny, so I hope that works for you. Take it with a grain of salt. Maybe two. 
And let it be known, I think lists like this should always be open to change. Don't lock yourself in.

You may listen to this song, because it's fitting and great, while reading:

I want someone who has kickass taste in music, but knows enough Katy and Ke$ha to blend in at dance parties.

I want someone who can handle me with grace in my darkest darks and lowest lows, and who will push me when I say, "I'm fine," because "fine" is not a feeling.

Someone who, in the midst of truly sucky situations, can confidently say, "We've got this"—and mean it.

Someone who loves it when I sing in the shower...and every other room.

I want someone who loves my family completely and will hang out with my sisters.

Someone who does not have addictive tendencies. Dealbreaker alert.

I want someone who will lead me, but let me give directions once in a while.

Someone who will fight fear for me.

I want someone who feels like a man in the kitchen and would never accept a can of chili as a well-balanced meal.
I want a man who is entrenched in his own life. (READ that link.)

Who will talk back when I talk too much and be okay with the fact that this might happen often.

Someone who has stellar taste in shoes.

Who thinks Kristen Wiig is funny—and not just "for a female."

Someone who has good text back tempo, who can keep up with my sarcasm and witty banter, and thinks I look hot in pajamas.

I want someone who regularly seeks the fellowship of other believers without me pushing him to do so.

He would also need to know that I would never want to be proposed to in front of a large crowd of strangers (i.e. at a baseball game, concert, etc.). Never.

I'd like someone who loves telling stories and listening to mine, and who is never above a handwritten note.

I want someone who knows and understands that not every second we're together needs to be action-packed and thrilling. "Doing life" together is what it's about.

Someone who adores his siblings and follows through even when it scares the hell out of him.
Who knows that carnations are a no. 
And talking about cars is stupid.

I want someone who currently does, or eventually will, mourn the fact that Friday Night Lights is over.

And also, someone who can dance like Usher.

And that—that is what I want.

***Disclaimer: All of the photos with moi in them are actually from a wedding that was last year—my wonderful friend-since-Kindergarten, Janelle. The crazy bride and groom in the bottom-most photo are Anna & Kian from this last weekend's wedding. :)

{ linnea & chris }

Interweb, meet Linnea and Chris. They allowed me to shoot some snaps/snap some shots of their in-love-ness last month. Yes, they're engaged—in real life. They aren't just an attractive couple I paid to model for me. I haven't reached that level of professionalism yet. Besides, I prefer real love. It's far less awkward for everyone involved. And before my rambling gets any more awkward for everyone reading this, here are just a few of my favorites from their engagement shoot...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And a HUGE shout out to my second shooter/assistant for the day, Heidi. 

She's a doll, and one heck of a good friend.

 

She also looks like a lioness when she prowls through fields of wheat with a camera.

a recap AND a new autumn header

1. I'm home (Seattle)! And missing old home (Santa Barbara).
2. It's Autumn. And so I have a new header. Check it.
3. I'm waiting for these Lucky boots to arrive in the mail (thanks, Mom)!
4. Whenever I tip a cab driver, it's usually more of a "thanks for not abducting me" tip, than a "good driving" tip.
5. When I stepped onto my old high school campus last week for the first time in years, insecurity immediately washed over me. What is with that?
6. Sisters are great (see above photo).
7. I just spent a week on two college campuses repping LCC International University.
8. I do not miss college.
9. I actually kind of miss college. I just don't miss the

• food
• poor Internet connections
• late nights
• heartbreaks
• 'trying to be in a million places at once' feeling
• homework

Last night I had a great catch-up Skype visit with my self-appointed younger brother (I'd say little brother, except he's probably a foot taller than me). He's studying in Mexico this semester. We ended up talking about how important it is to simply be loving toward those we care deeply about. Showing love differs from culture to culture and relationship to relationship...but it's, in a sense, all we have to go by. 

Cut out the fear, insecurity, and inhibitions, and go show love to those in your life who mean the most, yet perhaps often go overlooked.

wild hearts can't be broken

Young love.

Found these gems when I went home to Santa Barbara last week... 

I'd be lying if I said my self esteem wasn't boosted just a little.

The second one was signed:
"Love for eternity, Brendan"

♥

Pretty sure we were "going out" for all of two weeks.

 And I'll never understand why it was called "going out." We had nowhere to go.

No one has cars (or driver's licenses for that matter) in 7th grade. 

And what mom would let their 12-year-old daughter go to a movie theater alone with a boy?

Not mine.

But we did hug once.

And we passed notes like wild fire in study hall. As you can see.

I actually found quite a few more treasures in an old trunk from junior high and high school, but I've got to spread out the wealth over at least two blog posts.

the triple wedding

Welcome to my 200th post...it's been a while since I've written something overtly personal. I've always been hesitant to blog about anything pertaining to my dating life because it's a fairly capricious subject, and lately there's been nothing lengthy enough (or at least that's worth sharing). At 25, I've hit the place where at least half my best friends are married and buying houses (or a dog), and instead of settling down, I quit my job and moved to a different state. My emotions on the subject of singleness bounce back and forth between a bad Kelly Clarkson song and an equally bad Queen song.


All joking aside, I have felt a tad discontented lately. There are far too many wedding blogs in my Google reader feed (my own fault, I know), so I'm constantly bombarded by happy shots of couples blissfully in love on arguably the best day of their lives. This always leaves me wondering the following: If they can make love look so easy, why is it so hard for me to find? 


Last week I was setting up a new password online for something, and I had to choose two security questions. All but one of them pertained to married life:
What is your spouse's middle name?
Where did you spend your honeymoon?
What is the name of your best man/maid of honor at your wedding?
Where did you meet your spouse? 
Seriously. You tell me. I'd love to know.


It's funny how being 25 and single makes some people think they have the right to ask you super fun questions like:
Why aren't you dating someone?
Do you ever think you're being too picky?
Don't you feel weird now that all your friends are getting married and you're not even dating anyone?

I've actually been asked that last one several times, and to answer it, friendships do change once marriage enters the picture, but I LOVE MY MARRIED FRIENDS! They all have solid relationships worth modeling after. And through getting to know their husbands, I've been blessed by gaining fantastic examples of what being a husband and partner should look like. So shout-out to all my blogging married girlfriends...and the husbands who adore them (here, here, here, here, and here). You guys have all taught me quite a lot.


So where am I going with this? 
The day before Valentine’s Day I had this dream: 
It was my wedding day…but this wedding was actually a triple wedding with my friend Janelle (who’s already married in real life) and some high school girl I didn’t know. We tripled up because we all wanted to save money on the same venue. The entirety of the dream was spent rushing around the day-of with our wedding planner—in sheer panic. I had bumped up my wedding date, so I was essentially getting married after being engaged for one month, and I hadn’t even seen the invitations that the planner had sent out. The dream ended with me realizing that Angela, one of my best friends, didn’t even know that I was getting married. I was frantically trying to dial her phone number to tell her to come last minute, but I couldn’t even type in the numbers correctly. To top it off, I didn’t even know who the groom was. 


For the record, I’ve only had one other dream about my wedding, but it also consisted of similar panic and chaos (bridesmaids not showing up, DJ botching the music, groom being my high school prom date, etc...). I don't always pick apart my dreams, but I do enjoy a good metaphor. I think it's apparent here that I'm trying to rush things, and I obviously have a hard time with patience. But in the case of love, over-eagerness only leads to disaster. Triple wedding? Reel it in, Maddie.


I really wish I could tell you that I did something dazzling on Valentine’s Day to make up for the unsettling dream the night before, but I’ve tried to dedicate this blog to honesty, so…
In reality I babysat for two hours, then watched the worst movie ever with my roommate, whilst drinking wine and painting my nails black (the emo color was a complete coincidence). 
At 25, I've made it through a lot of first dates, a few second ones, a couple healthy and fun dating relationships (to whom I owe a big thank you), and one longer-term one that I'm not so thankful for and fills me with regret. I never want my attitude about relationships to become tired and jaded, so I was extremely thankful for a sermon I heard at church a few weeks ago. 

Pastor Dahlstrom spoke about Hannah's Prayer in 1 Samuel. The sermon started off focusing on infertility, so I inadvertently began to tune out. But he ended up guiding the story in a way that applied to all people. He talked about fruitfulness and asked pointblank what areas of fruitfulness we thought we were missing out on. Do we have wants and desires that seem illusive right now? Everyone does.

We have all been given good things, and the Lord has provided fruit in each and every one of his children's lives. But it's always up to us whether or not we want to fully step into that fruitfulness and own it. If we're constantly living in expectation of something, we are missing out on the gifts we are currently being handed. And in my case, those gifts are not taking the form of a good-looking guy with his shit together right now.

This is the part where I wanted to stand up and exclaim, "Guilty!" Seasons in life are constantly changing, and I'm usually good about rolling with the punches, but lately it's as if I've been stuck in autumn, demanding that it be spring already. I'm surrounded by opportunity, fantastic friendships, free time, education, the potential of a great church body, a brand new city...and yet I'm wasting time pining after something that's not ripe or ready yet. Meanwhile all the other good suffers due to my distracted heart and ungrateful spirit.

“When hope is not pinned wriggling onto a shiny image or expectation, it sometimes floats forth and opens.”—Anne Lamott

Praise God from whom all blessings flow.