dating your spouse

A wise person once told me "never stop pursuing the person you love". I remember thinking that was strange to hear at first. Isn't it that you pursue the person you want to be with, 

and then once you're with them, the pursuit is over?

 Since Jamey and I started dating, I discovered that my perspective on the word pursue 

and what it meant to me, changed. 

Pursuing the one you love can be so effortless and come so naturally. But, there are going to be seasons where if you don't plan a date night or actually remind yourself to tell your love how much you appreciate them, you might forget to. In the four months I've been married (trust me, I'm no expert), I've learned that you must be intentional with your pursuit. 

When I married Jamey, I told him that I never want to stop dating each other. 

Getting married doesn't mean that your season of dating is over, 

in fact, it's becomes even more crucial.

We do our best to have a date day/night once a week. We don't set aside any specific day necessarily, we just look at our calendar and see what works best. Sometimes dates look like going out to a movie, or dinner. Other times it means pulling our mattress into our living room and 

cuddling up while we watch The Office for 5 hours straight. 

The best part about dating your spouse is that you get to choose 

what defines a date for you as a couple. 

Jamey and I had been planning a "fall date day" for a couple weeks. We wanted to do a repeat of what we did last year, in hopes of creating a tradition. We went to a really amazing pumpkin patch in Irvine called Tanaka Farms. It was so fun to be on an actual farm where we could pick out a pumpkin! They also had a corn maze, and places where you could pick your own veggies! 

This place had it all. We spent time walking around enjoying the atmosphere, 

and of course searching for the perfect pumpkins! 

I'm crazy about him.

After the pumpkin patch, we headed home to carve them and watch a classic horror film. 

We ended up watching Halloween (the 6th one). Even though it's older, 

it still gave me the creeps and I had to close my eyes a lot! Eeek!

It was by far the best day of the fall for me. I love my husband, and I love dating him. Like I said earlier, pursuing someone means you have to be intentional. We are not perfect, so we have to make efforts in our relationships. I never want to look back at my marriage with Jamey and wish we went on more dates, or wish that I had told him how much I loved him. 

I'd love to hear how you pursue the one you love! Do you still date your significant other?

XO

Brenda

embracing the season

The other day I tweeted about how I want to live in a place where I could experience actual seasons. Being a California native, I generally have only experienced about one season: summer. Year round, temperatures don't drop much lower than 70 and can reach up to degrees of 90, even 100. 
I've always loved this about living in the Golden State. 
I hate being cold, and have always claimed summer as my favorite season. 

Until now.

This has been such an incredibly hot summer. While most of the country is bringing out their scarves and hot cocoa, we're still wearing tank tops and drinking iced coffee. I don't know if it's because I am getting older, but I am definitely over this heat, and ready for the season to change. I'd never be excited about the weather being in the low 70's, but today I got so excited! 
I dusted off my tights and brought out my lace up shoes. I'm feeling good today :)

This will be our first fall as a married couple. I know Jamey loves this season, and that makes me want to enjoy it even more. This time last year, I wrote a blog post about creating traditions. I am excited to experience those traditions again this year, as a wife. 

Here is my fall bucket list (so far) :

• Go to a pumpkin patch
• Carve pumpkins while watching a classic horror film
• Make our home decorative for the season
• Dress up for Halloween
• Pass out candy on Halloween night
• Learn a few pumpkin recipes
• Stay the night in a cabin (if not for the fall, the winter)
• Start working on my first home project: the patio

I am sure this list will grow the more and more 

I am inspired by the wonders that fall brings, but for now this will do. 

Last year at our first pumpkin patch!

That's my husband, looking so good! :)

I think another reason I want to live somewhere I experience actual seasons, is because I see so much beauty within transition. Season to season, there is warmth, or coolness; the springing of flowers, or the build up of snow. There's a constant reminder that grace is around the corner, and mercies are new each morning. I suppose for now, as we live in California, I can just imagine the seasons drastically changing. So to you, 79 degree weather, I will ignore you and drink hot chai and keep my tights dust-free.

XO,

Brenda