This is my list of my top 10 favorite moments in my life. A lot of thought went into this, and here they are listed by date not importance.
Malibu
2004-2005
Malibu is so special to me, if you know me, you know this. I have been twice and wish i could go every year. The first year was wonderful because God gave me the opportunity to lead someone to him, this was a huge growing experience for me, to be nervous and let God totally work through me, use my mouth and work. I never could remember what was said, even 5 minutes after. I KNOW those were not my words, and that is why that was amazing. The second summer, i went for work crew, so for over a month i again was out of my comfort zone and it seems that is when God works most in me. I felt overwhelmed by his love, the place is amazingly gorgeous and again God revealed himself to me over and over. Every time i would get scared he would pull me back and reassure me that HE was the one guiding me. What a tremendous experience. I accepted my testimony for the first time while at camp and that to me is a HUGE step i took in becoming who i am today.
*plus i met one of my best friends there... added bonus! :)
Winning State senior year
2005
(p.s. this is not a real stunt, we were playing around at homecoming)
This was amazing and SO exciting because after we saw the competition, our faith slowly depleted. In fact i was a BRAT and stopped holding my teammates hands while they announced the 2nd and 3rd place because i didn't think we stood a chance to get 1st. THEN WE DID. I did the cry that i totally make fun of. The jump up and down ugly cry! It was so amazing to go undefeated through my cheerleading career.
YES (competitive) CHEERLEADING IS A SPORT! :)
Leaving for College
2005
This wasn't significant for the reasons you might think. This wasn't about me growing up, and being on my own for once. This was about me understanding the depth of my parents love for me.
(i cry now just thinking about it)
The night before i left for college, i asked my dad to recreate a picture that we took when i was 2. We had gotten into my moms makeup and we have a picture of us putting lipstick all over each others faces. I L-O-V-E that picture so much, and my dad was willing to re-do that with me. I know that no grown man wants to have make-up all over his face, especially when it isn't to make a little girl smile, but i am HIS little girl, and he did it. Then, my dad who does not cry, cried not just the first time he said good bye to me at my dorm, but every time after that. (or most). He hated me leaving, every weekend! (yes, i missed home a lot) This obviously wasn't just about daddy, but actually seeing the way my dad felt about me, only enhanced my knowledge of how my family felt.
(and he wears matching dinosaur shirts out in public with me)
Drive to Montana
2006
Why was a LONG drive to see a boy i wasn't dating so important to me? Well, this was the first time that i truly felt safe with a friend. For a long time i didn't trust girls much, our friendships were mainly topical. With this friend, it sounds stupid but it was like "liking" someone, i was worried she didn't like me as much as i liked her. This trip put me at ease so to speak. I realized that i do have things to offer, that i can be fun and have in depth conversations with someone and have them love me unconditionally. This trip was one of the most fun things i have ever done, from having a pocket full of change worth $20, to sitting on the side of the road in the rain, to giggle after giggle. I love you co-pilot. I am glad we share a tattoo.
Our First official date
2006
(No pictures of skydiving, so here is when we went bungee jumping, did i mention i HATE heights)
see a difference in our form?
You may know, Nick took some work to date. He wasn't the easiest for me to catch. We started hanging out in August and he asked me to be his girlfriend in November. Every waking moment was worth it.
Nick took me SKYDIVING for our first date and then out to eat at a beautiful restaurant. I LOVE HIM. I don't know if he was trying to test my mortality or see if i would pee my pants, but he took me to the field on his motorcycle... scare me, and then jumping out of a plane? scare me more. It ended up being a tremendous experience, him giving me a smooch right before he ran and jumped out of the plane, was wonderful, truly a moment i will never forget. Then at dinner, (a VERY nice restaurant) he placed a spoon on his nose and flung a shrimp across the room... he makes me laugh and keeps me on my toes is there anything better? NOPE.
Engagement
2007
This is where Nick gets sneaky.
He told me he was going to be deployed, but he had to go to this AMMO conference to see if he was actually chosen for the deployment, and i should come with him to CA for this conference. We had already decided that we wanted to get married in August and this deployment was supposed to be March-July. He said if they did choose him, we would go pick out a ring and then he would leave and i would drive back, to plan the wedding, alone.
I cried and cried and cried about this.
(and quit my job to be able to go.)
little did i know...
Nick is a trickster.
We went to Disneyland the day before his alleged conference to kill time. His best friend Seth with us for the fun and support. Then at the end of the day we sit down for the parade. Seth all of a sudden NEEDS one more Dole ice cream, so he gets up to grab one. They are closed, but will open in 5 more minutes and there is a great seat on the other side of the main street circle. The boys convince me to get up to grab the ice cream and relocate. When we are in front of the castle Nick stops me for a picture. I yell at him telling him how rude it is to stand in front of the people who have been saving those seats in front of the castle for hours to see the fireworks and storm off. Nick then gets mad and passes me making a loop around the circle, poor Seth caught in between mad Nick and mad Brittany looking back and then forward not really knowing what to do. We get in front of the castle again and Nick grabs my hand tells me that he asked the people if we could stop to take a picture. I put my bratty face/smile on at which point Nick rips my mickey ears off my head tosses them to the floor and says he loves me. I ignore him... i told you... brat.
He grabs my face, turns it and says "Brittany i really love you" and gets down on one knee...
SHUT UP!
Then he tells me that he isn't being deployed, he just needed to get me down to CA. THEN he asked me to please look at the ring, which i could care less about. I was going to marry my best friend!
Mom standing next to me on my wedding day
2007
My mom has been my best friend for a LONG time. She always said she is not my friend, she is my mom which made her a terrific mom, but as much as she wanted to deny it she was my best friend. My mom would do anything for you. She is always willing to lend a hand with a project, lend an ear for listening or an evil eye to someone being mean to you :) (the mama bear)
It meant the world to me to have her next to me as my matron of honor on my wedding day, to support me in front of everyone as my best friend. I can't even describe the joy i felt knowing she was willing to be my friend and not just my mommy. I can't put this into words... sorry this doesn't even do our relationship justice, it was just a point in the road where i knew she reciprocated the friendship.
Brothers song
2009
TEARS!
My brother wrote Nick and i a beautiful song about his friends moving away to Germany called "Role Models" truthfully all i can remember over my UGLY CRY was "Role Models ... Germany stole mine."
I can just tell you that it ripped my heart out, (and Nicks) left me crying and was completely heart felt.
Brother has a way of expressing deep feelings in a perfect way.
I personally am a horrible communicator, but my brother has a gift.
He will cut past the crap and get straight to the heart of things.
I love this about him.
Telling Nick we are pregnant
2010
Nick and i were "hoping" to get pregnant at the beginning of last year. Then on March 16, 2010 i woke up, took a test and found out we were pregnant. I literally jumped up and down in circles (sorry baby), i then decided i needed a shower before i went to tell Nick, during the next hour at home that i spent getting ready, i checked the test probably 10 times with a period of time in there where i just stared at the test smiling!
Next i left for base, i was hoping to get the book "What to Expect When You Are Expecting" and some balloons that say congratulations and take this little bundle into his class and surprise him while he was teaching. The BX was sold out of the book, the arts and crafts store was closed, and the florist was out of helium! So i grabbed a pregnancy magazine, some regular blow-up-yourself balloons and left for his office. At this time i decided that my limp balloons and magazine just weren't exciting enough so i decided to wait in his office. Next Denise came in, she saw the magazine on the desk, looked at me and i couldn't hold it in. I figured she could take a picture of me telling Nick so it was legit that i told her first right? Well, my camera decided not to work! hahaha
Despite all of this planning and failing,
My husband walked in,
I looked at him and told him that i was pregnant,
and he ran over to me, tears filling his eyes and we shared a beautiful hug.
Nothing is better than that.
except...
Birth of Jack
2010
JACKOLANTERN
My beautiful baby boy.
I won't go into his birthday story...
if you want to read it, it is on his blog
but i cannot express how much that little tike means to me.
It is crazy that something that little can play my heart like a fiddle.
I can get cranky that it takes me 2 hours to eat a tiny lean cuisine for lunch now or that i haven't slept in what seems like years,
and then he looks up at me.
He will coo.
He will wrap his arms around my neck.
He will just look at me.
He will smile in his sleep or when passing gas...
and i am a melting stick of butter.
'nough said.
Of course along the way there were other "epic" moments in my life that shaped who i am or brought me to my knees in tears, but these moments stand out the most to me, these are my most cherished memories. I wouldn't give them up for the world. Thank you Jesus, for these memories and the special people in my life that created these moments.
