It's the Little Things

 

Those of you who spend time here often shouldn’t be surprised to know I find great delight in the small things. I find great delight in big things, too, but the small things are not lost to me.

            The little things used to escape me. My big-dreamin’ mind was always so focused on what grand adventure might be down the road, and I missed the little things entirely.

            Now I treasure them.

            This week has been full of beautiful little moments to treasure.

Going to the library to get a novel I’ve had on my list for a while.

Spending time each day reading in said novel.

An ice cream date to celebrate 130 months of marriage.

Stunning sunrises. (And, might I add, sunrises that come at times of day when I’m awake.)

A fun night with our church friends.

Remembering the joy of our engagement day.

Sweet farm animals that really are cute as a button.

Trees beginning to change colors around the lake.

Soup on a rainy day.

Ryan’s encouragement on frustrating days.

Coffee. (Enough said.)

Funny videos. (I save them on my Instagram and we sit and watch them at night for good laughs.)

The chance to write. It has been a balm for me lately.

Lexi’s sweet puppy face. She has the best expressions.

 

It’s the little things. I appreciate them so much and hope I don’t miss a single one. Grand moments are a gift, but the little moments are meaningful in beautiful ways too.

Date Night!

 

Our church had a family night at Steele Farms, and it just so happened to fall on our engagementversary. What a gift to have a free date night on our special day!

            We had a meal together with some of our friends while we were there, and then we headed for the corn maze. One of our Sunday School friends was kind enough to take some fun photo prop pictures of us.

 (Check out these versions taken eleven years ago when we had a date night at Steele Farms shortly after we got engaged.)

            It was a perfect weather night, and we had fun meandering through the maze. (Probably got lost a few times, but we managed to find the actual exit, so I was proud of that!)

            We walked through the animal barn, spent some more time laughing with friends, and then headed home to watch Dateline. (What…is that not how you celebrate engagementversaries??)

            It was such a fun night. We have enjoyed a number of corn mazes over the years, and this was another piece of that tradition! Thanks, church and Steele Farms, for helping our day be extra special!

Eleven Years of Promise

 

Eleven years ago today, I woke up and put on a brown shirt (that I no longer own) and a denim skirt (that I also no longer own) and brown boots (that I can’t remember if I still own…did they survive the last move??) and made my way from Marion to Fort Wayne to WBCL for a normal day at work.

            I put on my makeup at my desk, since I ran out of time to put it on at home. I polished my nails at my desk, which was not unusual for those of us on the Mid-Morning crew. And in the 10:00 hour, while live on the air, I received the surprise of a lifetime. Following cues I did not know existed, Ryan heard Lynne’s signal sentence and entered the studio to propose to me.

            If you’ve been reading here for a while, you’ve heard this story recapped every which-way for the last eleven years, and we won’t skip talking about it today, either. It’s a day I love with my entire being, and I always pause to celebrate it.

            When he got down on one knee, he delivered a beautiful proposal that he had written out and memorized, and I still treasure every word of it. (Big thanks to my friend and coworker, Sheryl, who transcribed it for me and I still love the presentation of it she created!)

            During his proposal, he said these words: I want to wake up with you every single morning and I want to snuggle up with you every single night. I want to enjoy life with you – whatever that looks like and wherever it is, I don’t care – I just want to be with you. I want us to go on this journey together and have more fun than I ever thought possible.

            Whatever it looks like and wherever it is…there has been an abundance of both those things.

            Our life has looked like commuting…and radio…and therapy…and moving…and remodeling…and serving…and caretaking…and grieving…and hosting…and traveling…and bravery…and heartbreak…and working…and versions of parenting…and celebrating…and disappointment…and confusion…and fun…and learning…and so much more.

            There has been a lot of wherever, too. Lots of homes and changes.

            But indeed, we have done this journey together, and we’ve had more fun than we ever thought possible.

            I am profoundly grateful (every day, but especially on this day) that Ryan asked me to share life with him. He has been a blessing to my life and to my family and friends, too. He has added so much joy to all our days. He has shown the love of Jesus to us through his prayers, his words, and his acts of service. He has given selflessly and sacrificially to us. He has listened and cared and carried.

            Ryan, thank you for asking me to be yours. Thank you for this beautiful ring that symbolizes our love and your promise to walk through life with me. I still love it and am amazed that you already had dreamed up – and ordered – the very design I told you I thought would be so pretty.

            I still say a resounding YES (or two) to being your wife. Sorry I interrupted your asking and said yes before you were done! (But in all truth, I would probably do it again.)

            I love you, Ryan Shaffer. Happy engagementversary!

PS - You can still watch the proposal here! I love it!

Months and Years

 

Yesterday marked 130 months of marriage for us, and tomorrow marks 11 years engaged. The October celebration week is always my favorite, since we get to enjoy two milestones within a couple of days.

            I’ve been thinking a lot about what I love about Ryan, and we don’t have enough space in one post to cover all the things I could say. But one thing I love about him so much is his consistency.

            He is, in many ways, exactly the same as the man I said yes to eleven years ago. He is, in many other ways, an even better, deeper, more well-rounded version of that man I said yes to eleven years ago. It’s a beautiful mix, I think. On one hand, we are always supposed to grow and change, so I am glad he’s not EXACTLY the same as he was when we became engaged or were married. On the other hand, there is something so comforting about consistency, so I deeply appreciate being able to count on the man I know him to be.

            Last Saturday, when we were at the wedding, he eagerly and willingly took over documenting the day, so I could talk to my friends. He served us (quite literally) by borrowing the charger out from under the centerpiece and filling it with waters, teas, and lemonades to keep all of us at the table well hydrated while we enjoyed our snacks. This is who he is. He is the one who makes sure cups are filled and trash is carried away.

            He listened on the drive down as I read him drafts of talks I was considering for later this month. He gave feedback and brainstormed ideas with me. And whenever I speak, he’s always there, making sure the technical things are tended to so I can focus on the words that need to be shared. He’s done that from the beginning.

            He talked to me all the way home, dreaming with me about our future, immediate and distant. We shared memories and dreams and all the conversations were safe because that’s how he has always been. (I even talked about that in my wedding vows to him!)

            When I have an idea of something to try, he’s eager to listen, and many of those dreams have come to fruition because of his ability to put his own creative spin on them.

            He’s a prayer warrior, good listener, wise in counsel, and drenched in the best kind of humor. These things are just as they’ve always been – and yet they’re also better, somehow.

            Oh, how I hope he feels he would say the same about me. Maybe not in the same details, but I hope he sees in me a person who is consistent to the woman he proposed to eleven years ago. I also hope he sees in me a woman who has grown and deepened with time and experiences.

            These 130 months/11 years have been a joy. Even the hard times have been more palatable because I shared them with him.

            May we never stop being a consistent safe space for one another, and may we never stop growing and deepening in every way.

            Thank you, Ryan, for being the husband and man you are! I love you with my whole heart, and life here is richer because of you.

Autumn Walks

 

Happy monthiversary, Ryan! I have enjoyed this last month together with you and am thankful for the great conversations we’ve had. I’m excited to walk forward into the next chapter of our future, and I look forward to seeing what God does with and for us as we seek to honor Him!

            We had an absolutely stunning weekend here in Indiana. When Ryan came home from work on Friday, we decided to take a walk with Lexi out on the trail, and it was so pretty. The leaves have started to turn, and though they still have a long way to go, the gentle shift of colors was pretty to see.

            Lexi forgot, at first, the feel and sound of crunching leaves underfoot, but she figured it out pretty quickly and had the best time prancing through them.

            Autumn walks are just lovely, and I am looking forward to redoing this walk after the colors change a bit more. For now, though, this was a perfect night! Thought you might enjoy some photos of our fun!

Sunday Sentiments

 

            Ryan and I took a road trip yesterday to attend our dear friend Jamie’s wedding. It was a wonderful day that I’ll share more with you later, but today I want to tell you how the Lord encouraged and challenged our hearts while we were there.

            Jamie and her new husband, Nate, have waited and prayed for many years for a spouse, and this day felt like a particularly beautiful answer to prayer. The whole ceremony and reception provided a beautiful representation of their love for each other, but it was also all about God’s goodness and faithfulness.

            The minister who officiated the wedding did a magnificent job of personalizing the message for Nate and Jamie but also drawing all of us into what he shared and challenging us to evaluate our passion for the Lord and our own relationships.

            We had a long drive home and spent a good chunk of it talking about our lives and all we have lived through in the past five or so years. It was the first time either of us realized that this month, October, brings us to the five year mark since Ryan’s mom was diagnosed with the glioblastoma. So much has happened in five years. It hasn’t all been bad, for sure, but there have been monumental challenges inside these last five years.

            We came away from the wedding feeling as though the Lord ushered us into a new season while we were there. As we stand on this first day of a new month – looking into a new season in the year – we find ourselves drawn to new commitments, new determinations, and new opportunities.

            What will it look like? I’m not sure yet. But I am excited to see what God does!