A "Big" Moment!

Yesterday morning, I got a call from one of my best friends.

She had big news; she’s ENGAGED!

Ashley is a dear friend, and the closest friend that I have ever had to be in this position. I cannot express how thrilled I am for her and for her fiancé (!!!), Matt. Her phone call brought tears to my eyes, both out of excitement for her, and because of the memories that her experience brought back of my own engagement. This is such a special time of celebration for her. I clearly remember the indescribable joy and anticipation that I felt at this time one year ago. I could not be happier that she gets to experience that.

I have not been this excited in a long time. Certainly not since my own wedding! And, to be truthful, I think it’s been a far longer time that I’ve felt such sincere and overwhelming excitement for someone else.

Bobby and I have had our “big” moments for a while. We got engaged. We got married. We moved to a new city. We got new jobs. We are settling into our “new” life together. It’s easy to imagine what our next “big” moments might be. We’ll buy a house. We’ll have a baby…okay, make that plural…babies.

But, it’s not time for those things yet. Which has made me, a “keep going”, “move on to the next thing” type-girl, a little uncertain about this in-between phase of our lives.

Ashley’s engagement news brought such joy to my day, and while I was dancing around the apartment yesterday morning in excitement (really, I did), I realized that this is an example of the next “big” moment…and it’s not mine. And, that’s more than okay!

It became clear somewhere in the middle of listening to “My Girl” and “Just the Way You Look Tonight”, that this in-between time for Bobby and I will be time spent celebrating some “big” moments for our best friends. It’s their turn! And, you can bet that we will be happily celebrating with each of them as they enjoy all of the fun and joy that comes with their engagements, their weddings, their jobs, and their marriages…just as they have in celebrating ours.

Congratulations, to the future Mr. and Mrs. Tramm!

May the months ahead be full of much joy and much celebration of these big moments of yours!

Ashley and I at my wedding. What a beautiful bride SHE will be!

"No-Shave November"

Bobby is (as many men these days seem to be) participating in “No-Shave November”, an unofficial month-long “celebration”, undoubtedly created by a significant other-less male.

This is not the first time Bobby has recognized this seemingly national event. I’ve come to expect it, although for some reason, I must have imagined that marriage would change his desire to participate.

I thought wrong, and I really should have known better.

Bobby is fourteen days into growing what has the potential to be another awe-inspiring beard/mustache combo. I’ve seen what that facial hair can do when left unattended. One can’t help but be impressed! I don’t blame him for wanting to show it off…or, for finding an excuse to avoid the bothersome task of shaving.

As Bobby pointed out the other day (in an effort to convince me that his hair growth was desirable), “a lot of great men have had beards at this point in their lives! My dad…your dad…me!” He’s got me there. (And, I’ll admit. It was kind of a handsome, rugged look…a couple weeks ago. Now, it’s just itchy.)

Recognizing “No-Shave November” in the Phillips household may be here to stay. I’ve only one option that may help to lessen its appeal. My strategy?

Participation.

One of Bobby's most impressive hair growth efforts, from earlier this year.

(That man...gotta love him!)

Icing

Two Fridays ago, I got my first “big girl” check. My first 40 hours a week (x 2), “I could actually do something significant with this amount of money” (“I could do something significant with the amount of money going to taxes….”), working-woman check. It felt good.

As I was driving home from work that night, I got teary-eyed, thinking about what a check like that could mean for so many families. Bobby and I already have a roof over our heads, food on the table, and a cozy bed to crawl into every night. We have transportation to work, and if we get sick, there is money in the bank to make sure that we’re taken care of. We both have jobs now, and we aren’t dependent on my paycheck. The reality is, that it’s just icing on the cake! Things could be a lot different; they are for a lot of people. We are blessed.

Of course, the money will come in handy for us, too. It already has! Last weekend we bought nightstands, lamps, and curtains for the bedroom, and it all looks great. Our apartment is slowly feeling more and more like home. Someday, we’ll be able to buy a house, and create another home of our own, because of saving checks like this one.

Still, I hope that I can always recognize all of the “icing” that we enjoy, appreciating the material extras in my life for the blessings that they truly are.