In All Ways and Always Natalie

Happy 20th Anniversary, my love! 🥰🥰🥰 From climbing mountain tops to crossing oceans, our life has been touched by the hand of The Most High and nothing short of amazing! I LOVE you. I LOVE us. I can't wait to see what infinity holds. 😘

This ONE for the win. Every. Single. Time. 🥰

Day 2 of 2: Love. ❤️ That is all.

"Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things." 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 NKJV

When you find the above, and it is consistent and it is dependable, hold on to it. Oxford describes "consistent" as "acting or done in the same way over time, especially so as to be fair or accurate." The part I think is important is 'over time'. So often we want things every day, all day, 24/7 to be as we want, but relationships to me are about the averages...the over time part.

I'm grateful I have a partner who embraces that idea as well. Lord knows I (we) miss the mark (I mean as much as I think I'm perfect, alas, I am not) 🤣, but by the averages, we stay in the A/B category year over year. A perfect 100 is unrealistic to me, but we (in all our imperfections) always make the Honor Roll, and I am eternally grateful for that.

Happy 19th!!! ❤️ Here's to many, many more! 🥰

Day 1 of 2...19 years and filled with gratitude and love. We don't have all the answers, but together with The Most High, we'll always figure out. ❤️ You are the closest thing to the human manifestion of unconditional love 😘

... it may look easy and magical, but don't be fooled; it's hard work, a healthy portion of self-restraint, and a dollup of unrelenting determination. 🙏🏽





 

When friends become family 🥰
My two sisters...
30+ years and still rocking with each of these phenomenal ladies...not because we're the same (though we're aligned in the same general'ish direction), but because we honor our differences, we never have to shrink ourselves, we practice radical acceptance (that applies to times of growth and times of stagnation), we celebrate the big and the small wins, and wish and pray for whole life blessings 🙏🏽

Happy

If you don't have this in your life, I pray that you are able to obtain it. It isn't about having 10's or 100's of friends or about them even being friends with each other; it's about the 1:1 connection you create, maintain, and cultivate. ❤️

There are no words to correctly capture the abundant gratitude I feel... another trip around the sun with the Son and surrounded by family and friends. So, instead of trying to find the right words or a poignant quote, I am just going to be and relish in all the love that engulfed me on my birthday (July 31), and fortunately, everyday. 🥹❤️🙏🏽

Thank you to everyone for the thoughtful messages across all the various platforms. 🙏🏽❤️🙏🏽❤️



Styled by:
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MUA: The Most High

About last night...

"And they shall take of the blood, and strike it on the two side posts and on the upper door post of the houses, wherein they shall eat it." - Exodus 12:7 KJV

Not quite lamb's blood, but that cost has already been paid. He knows His child and how I will memorialize our freedom, and I celebrate all of the freedom The Most High has given to me and my lineage. I'm am the walking embodiment of the covenant and our heritage.

Thought of the week 💡

Growth doesn't have to mean deep constitutional change.

You can:
➡️ stay rooted in what you believe and continue to learn and grow.
➡️ believe in yourself and stand firm in your values.
➡️ continue to grow while staying true to who you are.

As the wise, 100-year-old oaks have taught us, you don't have to uproot your core values or try drastic shifts if it doesn't align with your beliefs. So, don't be afraid to stay true to yourself, stay rooted, and just stand.

If "always bet on black" were a person.
💯

Don't let ANYONE dim your light, make you feel small, or think you need to show up any other way than who the Almighty made you to be. 💋

18 years and you still crack me up! Thank you for all the love and joy. You are my rock and shelter in the storms of life and your compassion and calm are the embodiment of the Most High. My heart is full and I am grateful to know you, love you, and walk through life with you. Happy 18th anniversary, my love.