Twitter Inspired...

Yesterday several tweets were posted that prompted this post. The first came from Jam Cal-Pin

DJDriftwood @BiggTime3 @dpinck1 when are you guys no longer considered newly weds?

And the second from a great friend, Maine

MaineDramaPro I luv @dpinck1! She knows so much abt me and still luvs me w/o judgment. that's showing God's luv. #greatfriend #randomtweet

I didn't get a chance to really answer Jam's question because twitter doesn't allow enough characters to fully express my thoughts on the topic. Although I did reply to his post indicating that this blog was on it's way. My immediate thought was that we will be a newlyweds forever! Everyday I get excited to come home to him, every time I see his wedding band I giggle like a school girl, every time I think of how our lives will change daily as a married couple as we learn one another more, as we are shaped daily into God's image for us as individuals as well as a couple I get excited. The idea of being his wife makes my cheeks hurt because of the smile that just stays on my face at the idea. I've shared about the crush I had on J, but I don't think I've shared the number of sisters who shared with me how much they liked him too. So, even now, I catch myself thinking, "I'm married to Justin Davis!" Which looking back on the late night conversations that I had with brothers and sisters as an undergrad discussing the notion of dating another member, J was always adamant about never dating a dove. When I remember his argument, it just makes me smile even more, because after years of friendship, he didn't see me as a "dove" anymore, I was a friend that he pursued to marriage.

To me, the daily challenge of learning one another, learning to be married, and using the mirror of marriage to make ourselves better is what will continue our status as newlyweds forever.

Now that second post, simply made me smile. But, after a few minutes I began to reflect (as I sat in traffic) on the quality friendships that I have with some great women. As I thought about the friendships that I have, I realized that they are truly random! I'm not sure where most of my friendships began and what pushed them further along to be as deep as they are? I have a running joke with a friend, Mel B, about not knowing where she came from, but with our friendship now, I wouldn't give her up for the world. The same with Maine, Nay, Joche, K-Mack, SRLaBoo, Thurston, Lindsey, Toyin and Deri... I can't necessarily pinpoint when our friendships moved from associates to friends, but I'm glad that they did. And even though, some of those friendships are deeper than others, and some have a different focus, they each make me better. They have each cause me to focus on myself to be a better person, to put aside some prideful thoughts/behaviors/etc. but if not for these relationships I can't say that I would be a wife right now, or a leader in ANQ, or the steps closer to Christ that I am. I appreciate and love them for being them and loving me enough to be me.

Moved in... well, sorta.

Over the weekend, Justin and I moved into our own apartment. For those of you who know how borderline OCD I am, I was concerned about the move. The notion of not having everything packed, in the living room and ready to go made me nervous. Especially with the idea of starting the move after the MART Quarterly conference... which was great, in my opinion by the way...

So, after staying up for many late nights during the week into the weekend. J and I are finally into our space. We're still sorting through some things, trying to figure out where things are going to go, etc. But, it's nice because we both know where things are. We created a system that works for us and we can begin to learn each other a bit better as a married couple. Today we get cable and internet, which is a big deal since I haven't had cable since July of 2009. And tomorrow we host dinner for our mothers who are coming into town. It's only been a few days but, I'm sure great memories will be created in our little slice of Laurel on Holly Creek Dr.

Be on the look out for a game night... as soon as we move the games from the place in College Park.

Much Needed Vacation...

I need a vacation! After waking up frantically this morning because my "beloved" <-- can you hear/read/see the sarcasm --> blackberry was in this weird state of not working, so my AM alarm didn't go off! As I drove into work, I realized that I would just like a few days to sleep in.. more importantly, I would like to sleep in without getting up and feeling guilty for sleeping in because of the amount of work that I need to get done.

Since July 25, 2010, I feel like I've been going and going and going, and I'm convinced that look is ONLY cute on that energizer bunny. I feel fatigued, worn out and I'm sure the redness of my eyes isn't sexy. I'm sure all of this will calm down once I get into a routine. But, I feel like I need the week off to organize my life, move into our new place, plan for a month of the school year, so I can just have my evenings to get to know my husband rather than falling asleep before he even gets home from class :'(

I just need to make it to winter break!

Today was a good day!

The past few weeks have been a bit helter-skelter to say the least. The trips to and from NJ, trying to get my classroom together for the start of the school year, and finally meeting my students this week. Despite all that has been going on, I had a wonderful day today with my husband. I was able to sleep in, finish reading a book, took my first eco-friendly shower, had chipotle and watched a redbox film... and periodically, I graded papers with Justin's help.

Today was a good day. Helped the environment, enjoyed some time with my husband, got some work done and had some good eats! Happy almost Friday....

Simply put...

I love my husband. I love my in-laws. But, more importantly I love my God... He's taught me so much about myself, being a wife, and truly being a woman of prayer in my 24 days of marriage.

Today, I lost my father-in-law, but I praise God for the moments we shared, for his strength to walk my mother-in-law down the aisle without his oxygen tank in order to make his son's wedding everything he'd dreamed, for greeting me our first time home after the honeymoon as the newest Mrs. Davis, for making an effort to try my lasagna that I cooked while in NJ despite not having an appetite.

I was proud before to be the latest Mrs. Davis because of the woman in the family who already hold the title, but, as I stand next to my husband during this time my heart swells with his strength, his loyalty, and his love.

I'm getting married. But you know what... I'm tired of waiting for the "big" day, I'm tired of talking about it, and I'm tired of folks asking me if I'm ready.

The days aren't dragging by just because I have so much to do with finishing up this last class for my summer session and mentally prepping what I can move out of my closet so Justin will have space for his clothes. My Matron of Honor would tell me to simply enjoy the moment, she's been telling me that since my Thursday Night dates with J (check the story at www.mywedding.com/diayleandjustin), but I can't seem to enjoy it because I'm so busy. I was talking to a sister the other day who is in the midst of planning her wedding about how ready I am just for the nitty-gritty of the marriage. I would have loved a destination wedding, white sand, Caribbean breeze and coco bread on the dinner menu. I understand that marriage will be hard work, I understand that blending two families will be difficult, but I'm ready for the practical application. I'm ready to learn new elements of Justin: the rhythm of his breathing as he sleeps, if he leaves his clothes on the bathroom floor, will he dust because he knows that I don't like to. And I'm sure we're both in for a learning curve, but I'm ready for that part. I'm ready to learn about myself, will I adjust quickly to having a for real roommate (yeah, yeah, yeah, Jamiel lived with me, but at times I only new he was there because food would go missing) or will I become frustrated because someone is taking up half my bed? Will I try and hide things that I do for fear that Justin will look at me funny... or will he just suck it up because he's my husband and I'm his wife?

I'm ready for the wedding day to be over, and ready for my marriage to begin!

I love my...

natural hair. While combing out my wrap this morning I flashbacked to a conversation I had a week before my senior prom. For those who don't know, I didn't go natural until November of 2001. During the conversation with a former close friend, I was trying to talk her into perming her hair again for prom instead of risking a ruined 'do due to rain that was in the forecast. The thought of that conversation made me giggle. I was so adamant that she just perm it, why would she want to deal with the mess of being natural.

After 8 years of being natural, I went back to the life of the perm. But, after the 2nd month of a perm I was done with the whole concept. I missed my 'fro, I missed the volume that comes with being natural, I missed being able to just wash and go. So, after only about 7 months I cut all my hair off again. Well, after 7 months my hair is growing back nicely ...which would have been a DISASTER with the wedding in 23 days, huh... and I love it. I recently got it pressed to do a test run for the wedding and I love the versatility that my hair provides.

I love my natural, my crazy wavy-curly pattern, I even love the crazy straight piece that remained after my last press. The natural style fits me well and it only helps me to embrace all that God took the time to knit together to make me!