Since You've Been Gone

I haven't blogged in almost a year!! A few highlights to update my readers ~ or ~ 2021 Went Like This

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I still work at The Home Depot. I hit two years there on August 5th, 2021. I started out as a part-time cashier, then when the Pandemic hit, I went to full-time Order Fulfillment Associate, and then in February of 2021, they gave me a special, on-going project to maintain and prioritize our top-selling merchandise on a week-to-week basis. This is my current position, but I just applied and interviewed for an open management position in my store. I should hear whether or not I got the spot in about a week!! 

I still work at a bowling ally. I hit two years there in November of 2021. But I have let my boss there know that I will be leaving in late February. It's been a fun two years, but it's time to prioritize other things in my life by spending time on other things than a second job. As well as Home Depot being the career that I want to prioritize!!

My best friend got married. It was my first time being in a wedding, and I was the Maid of Honor for my best friend! I always wanted to be in a wedding, and what more could I ask for. It was a beautiful, not-too-hot June afternoon, and I saw my best friend be given away to the man of her dreams. A special day stored in my heart. 

I met someone. This is the most significant highlight on this list! It was on February 28th, 2021 at a small group in my church. We became Bible study friends, and went through a lot of drama with that church that we met at, which we no longer attend. But our friendship continued. Throughout various trials of sticking together, the Lord strongly indicated to us that we were meant to be partners, so we continued pursuing that direction together. As time and our friendship progressed, we developed feelings, much to the fear on both our sides considering we had both had traumatizing experiences with having feelings for others in the past. But God urged us to continue on the path we were on, leading us to the inevitable relationship that, initially, neither of us thought we wanted. It took a lot of giving up our own desires and crucifying the flesh on both sides to reach the point of accepting and admitting that we were in love with each other. He was in a place where he wanted it to be "God and me" and he didn't think that there was ever going to be a woman in the picture, and after a few bad experiences with unbelieving and toxic women in his past, he was fine with that. As for me, I had a very tumultuous year in 2020 which ended in a breakup that broke me and drove me back to God's arms, with a resolve to spend the entirety of 2021 in singleness, with a similar "just God and me" mindset. So you can imagine my fear and PTSD when the LORD was leading me towards this man and indicating to me that my vow was being fulfilled in him and it was for the purpose of leading me to this man, which it did. I realized that my commitment to singleness was largely made because of fear of getting hurt again, and it took a significant process for both of us to let go of past fears and relationship trauma, and trust what God was clearly telling us that not only was it 'ok' for us to be together, but that God had a plan for our relationship, far more significant and long-term than either of originally anticipated when He told us to "be friends". Through all of that, here we now are, happily living life and making plans to be married this April. Never, ever, ever in my wildest dreams expected to find myself here now. My heart is amazed at my God. 

Coffee became a surprisingly big deal to me. My fiancé and I fell in love over coffee. Literally. In our early days of friendship together, we did a lot of Bible Study at various coffee shops throughout St. Charles (where we hope to live once we're married). We discussed and came to understand a lot of our relationship as it developed and progressed throughout the months that we were falling in love, and as well we both developed a deeper appreciation and understanding of quality coffee roasting and dialing in espresso. Our favorite place? Course Coffee Roasters in St. Charles, MO. They have contributed a lot to our love for coffee (we actually went there on our first date!! Also funny story we were engaged before we went on any dates, but that's aside!), so much that it's kind of a pipe dream of ours to have our own coffee shop someday. 

I hiked. My favorite place? Castlwood State Park. 

I learned a lot of things about following God... and realized how much I still don't know. One of the things I learned is that it's extremely rare and probably safe to say it's NEVER the case that God will lead you to do something that's not outside your comfort zone. In other words, following God is not easy. One thing I have found: if what you are hearing from God is not leadings you to constantly crucify your flesh, 1. It's probably not from God, and 2. your relationship with the LORD probably needs to be re-evaluated and re-prioritized. You have to always be willing to be wrong. You have to always be willing to be changed, stretched, pulled until it feels like it will kill you. You have to always be willing to hear whatever God might tell you. You have to have an open heart, and be willing to obey no matter what God tells you. And here's the thing about that, you won't enjoy it. BUT. For all the parts that are so uncomfortable, there are tremendous blessings.  Incredible blessing beyond your wildest imagination. Incredibly worth it. 

I would like to start blogging regularly again. I'm thinking of just posting on here little things that God tells me in life, and maybe it will bless or encourage you too. 

I don't know who reads my blog anymore, but it doesn't really matter because it felt good to post this. I hope you are all well. 

Amaris

Lovely Blog Party // A Few Couples Who Are Worth Mentioning

Hello, my lovely peeps!!!

Cordy from Any Merry Little Thought is hosting a great blog party for the month of February to celebrate favorite couples! Go take a look at her blog for more info. :)

For my 'couple-related post', I decided to talk about a few of my favorite couples from movies, books, and television shows. Of course, my favorites change all the time, but here is my current list.

This was originally going to be a 'top TEN couples' post, but I realized about halfway through... I don't have 10 favorite couples. I'm a picky person with high standards when it comes to stories and characters. Much less, I don't think I have top ten favorite anything (maybe Owl City songs... I'll have to give that some thought tho).
So because of that, I present to you my top 5 or 6 'mentionable' couples from film and books. What's more, they're not in any order.

Without further ado, I shall begin.

A Few Worthy Couples // February 2018

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~John Thornton & Margaret Hale~

North & South book by Elizabeth Gaskell

Specifically (as I have underlined above), the book version. I really loved these two in the 2004 series, but I loved them even more so when I read the beautiful book by Gaskell. I love it when romance comes from two people that initially hate/severely dislike each other. These two are no exception. And I like the little scenes of these two together in the book that isn't in the series.

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~Drake Carne & Morwenna Chinowyth~

Poldark BBC
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This couple is a new favorite. I just finished watching season 3 of Poldark (a show not recommended for every audience, I must throw out there) in which these two characters are introduced. And I love them. Both actors do such an amazing job with each other, and the story they are interwoven into is so intriguing. The thing about this couple is that there is so much going on around their story that they have no control over, yet they love each other through it. AND I'M SO MAD THE WAY THINGS TURNED OUT FOR MORWENNA. I MEAN SHE DID IT BECAUSE SHE LOVED DRAKE BUT GOSH.
They're in the middle of making Season 4 right now, and by golly I hope things get better for them then! If I can only wait that long...

By the way, Morwenna looks almost exactly like a friend I know. *shrug* Who knew.

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~Faramir  & Eowyn~

The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King book by J.R.R. Tolkien

 

Again, I must stress the book relationship more than the movie relationship as my favorite.
In the book I simply adore these two. I watched the movies first when I was 14, but when I read the books I remember how pleasantly surprised I was by their whole relationship that wasn't even in the movie. I mean, look at this:
"And as they stood so, their hands met and clasped, though they did not know it..."
"...and he took her in his arms and kissed her under the sunlit sky, and he cared not that they stood high upon the walls in the sight of many. And many indeed saw them and the light that shown about them as they came down from the walls and went hand in hand to the House of Healing."
 Just.
Aggh I love it.
Look at me in the eyes through the computer screen and dare to tell me that's not beautiful.

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~Sherlock Holmes & Molly Hooper~
Sherlock BBC Show

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Again, I must stress this is the show version I speak of.

I realize some might argue that these two aren't even a couple. And sure. They aren't married or anything. They aren't even dating, or purposefully getting to know one another. But are we going to ignore every single time Molly stood by Sherlock when he needed her, even as he was a jerk? Are we going to ignore the fact that Sherlock himself admitted out of this mouth that he needs Molly? Are we going to ignore all that went down between them in Series 4 Episode 3??? NO, my friends!
True, they aren't your conventional couple. But they are one of my favorites, and they deserve a place on my list. *nods decidedly*

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~Philip Carlyle & Anne Wheeler~
The Greatest Showman (2017)

 
This is another new favorite.
I do have some problems with this relationship. Well, not PROBLEMS, exactly, there are just some things about their relationship in the movie I wish were different. For one, their relationship development? It's pretty much non-existent. Other than the fact that Philip holds Anne's hand during that one song but then lets it go when people see him. Then their very next scene together it seems as if too much has progressed that we haven't even seen. It's almost like they cut out a scene where he makes some sort of confession of his love for her. My friend put it: "They met and all of a sudden they were in love".

But hey. *shrug* They're still a great couple. I guess the main reason they are on my list is because of the epic-ness of the scenes they are in together and the songs they share. From 'Re-Write the Stars' to *spoiler* the time when Philip heroically runs into a burning building because he thinks Anne is still inside, to *end of spoiler*  the hospital scene, to the very end. It is blissful to watch.

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~Alan Turing & Joan Clarke~
The Imitation Game (2014)

Here we have a couple from history, as well as from a movie.
*spoiler* True, these two don't end up together because of *ehem* REASONS, but still. *end of spoiler*

I mentioned in my post about this movie that I loved the two actors together. I know the things that happen between them in the movie should be taken with a grain of salt, as it's based on a true story, but the way they are portrayed was what I loved most. I love the way Joan sticks by Alan through almost everything. And she doesn't give a single care about his 'problem'. She's very sensible, and caring. And he loves her two, in spite of his all-consuming work. They love each other, and I love them in this movie.


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Well, there you have it. A few couples for this 'season of love'. Do hop over to Cordy's blog for more fun 'lovely' stuff! :)
Oh, and don't forget to read this post from Natalie. It's everything. :)

I also got tagged awhile ago for that Period Drama tag that's going around... which I hope to post sometime next week. In the meantime, I hope you are all enjoying February!

-Amaris