the one with the girly music

Carol Anne and I got to meet Taylor back in 2008...we asked for a "best friends" photo and she happily obliged. 

Oh, Taylor. Falling in love, heartbreak, heartache, happiness, friendship - that girl just gets girls. She explains our over-analytical, pull-your-hair-out, kinda crazy (okay, definitely crazy) emotions as vividly as we wish we could. She articulates the giddy butterflies, perfectly perfect moments, and the "holy-crap-I'm-in-love" memories with every detail I can never quite remember. In fact, I'm fairly sure that I could catalog the last 5 years exclusively in Taylor's songs. Embarrassing, but true. And I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one.

Tim McGraw - This was my very first favorite song of Taylor's. Reminded me of high-school love. Sweet and ridiculous all at once. Added bonus? It made me want a really great black dress. 

I'd Lie - This one never made it on an album...I think I found it on LimeWire (I know, it's awful - my illegally downloading days ended soon after). This song has to be one of my all time favorites. It has the added bonus of explaining my sister's love story with her husband perfectly:) Precious. 

Love Story - Who didn't love this song? When it came out, I think my roommates and I nearly imploded from excitement. I seriously don't think there's a song that's elicited quite so many ridiculous dance parties among our demographic as this gem nationwide. 

Breathe - Hello Break-Up Song! I can hardly listen to this one without being transported back to some painful memories from a couple years ago. Taylor explained what I couldn't - with all the drama and exaggeration I demanded at the time.

Enchanted - Falling in love with Jesse. This song came out right after we met and it was wonderful. After our first date, he told someone that it was "magical" which is basically the same as "enchanting," right? I think so too:)

Everything Has Changed - I love so many on the new album but as I listened this week, I couldn't find any that really spoke to this new stage of my life. But then this song came on and it took me right back to our first week of marriage. Just this great feeling of "Wow, this is forever and we're actually married. Everything really has changed!" The best part? J loves it too. 

I could go on, but for the sake of your increasing boredom and my increasing exhaustion - I'll start to bring it to a close. One of my favorite Taylor memories has a lot less to do with Taylor and a lot more to do with 3 of my favorite people.  Speak Now came out during my last semester of college and on the night it came out, Carly and I went to pick up our former roommates for a listening party late that night. For a couple of hours we just drove around back country roads blasting the then-unfamiliar songs, thinking about what was to come and sipping on some Sonic limeades (or maybe that was just me). As we drove, we remembered the last few years - bemoaning the ridiculously awkward times and celebrating the happy outcomes. This go-round we tried to have another listening party (via webcam) to no avail. But even so, I can still feel that oh-so-perfect moment, bottled in my heart forever, waiting to be relived. 

Look who's all Taylor Swift-y and expressive now? Oh wait, that's me:)

the one with the 100 things

Welcome to the Tuesday edition of Monday Musings...things that happened on Monday but that I couldn't post until today:) 

Allow me to update you on last week in the Ghoman household: So even after all the warm-fuzzies I posted last week, I still found myself in quite the emotional tizzy by Saturday morning. A series of unfortunate events had bombarded my already-fragile emotional state (see last week's post) and I couldn't seem to rebound. By the time the weekend showed it's friendly face - I was burnt out and exhausted.

But on Sunday, several things changed for the better - I got to go to church and worship God (always good), J and I went to a young marrieds devotional that talked about communication (always hilarious), AND I heard a lesson on gratitude (always convicting). 

The lesson stuck with me into my Monday reflection time and I found myself wanting to take the challenge that my dear friend Jenna left her audience with - to write down 100 things I'm grateful for.

It may have taken awhile, but after praying through the loooong list, I felt like a new woman. Today, I still have the same errands to run, same laundry to do, and the same issues to resolve. But now, I can embrace these "challenges" with a renewed perspective.

So allow me to pass along the 100 Things Challenge. What do you have to be thankful for? 

"Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!" 

Philippians 4:4 

the one with the autumnal-ness

We all know that girls loveeee fall. In fact our obsession with all things pumpkin, apple, and boots can sometimes be a bit of an embarrassment  But not enough of an embarrassment that it prevents me from partaking in all of those things with a ridiculous amount of enthusiasm. 

But another reason to love fall? It's when Jesse and I first met, first fell in love, and now...our first season married! In honor of all that - I've decided to post some of our favorite fall moments from the past two years (yep, we've only known each other for two years....we took the short cut to life-long bliss). 

1. The October 2010 visit...football and corn-mazes.

2. Dates in 2011....enjoying the foliage and watching the Red Sox

3. Married in 2012....Topsfield Fair and Parker's Maple Barn

Why are we rocking the same pose in both photos? I guess it's our new/cool married thing. 

Here's to even more wonderfully fall memories:)

the one with the transition

As campus ministers, J and I typically work weekends so we loveee our slower (sort-of) Mondays. With a whole day to do whatever we need to do - I try to take some extra time to think, pray and read on these days. I can't say that all of my Monday musings are particularly deep...but I try!

Today was a special Monday. This weekend, I flew down to Georgia for Candice's wedding (more on that later!) so today I spent some time on the plane reflecting, praying and reading as I came home to Boston and to my wonderful husband. 

Today I spent some time reflecting on God's love. One of my best friends, Erin, sent me a text message the other day encouraging me to reread Isaiah 43:1-7. What an amazing passage full of hope and promise. As I reflected on this passage as well as Ephesians 1-2, I felt so moved just remembering the God that I serve. 

Since getting married two months ago, I've felt more grateful than ever before but I've also felt a bit disconnected from God. It's been a happy transition and a tough transition all at once. Everything is new - and my spiritual walk is no different. I finally feel the divide that the apostle Paul talks about to the church in Corinth. But this morning - something finally clicked for me. As I read through these passages a song came on my iPhone that helped me to realize some things I've been missing. The song? I Am by Nichole Nordeman. The lyrics go through a woman's life and talk about how your perception of God changes with every stage of life. The song paints a picture of a woman who learns to cling to God with every twist and turn of life. 

Names used to describe God: helper, healer, superhero, heartache healer, secret-keeper, best friend, Savior, shepherd, pasture-maker, comforter, redeemer, Lord and King, Beginning and the End, I AM. 

Listening to this reminded me that God never changes - but that our relationship will change as I grow older. And that's to be expected. I'm sure this is only the beginning of life complications, but God can handle every twist and turn - he is worthy of my heart, my soul, my everything. And that's truly wonderful news:) 

the one with the textured tights

This week J and I went up to the Berkshires to check out the location for our upcoming fall campus retreat (I'm sure I'll post more pictures later). We were so excited to get away for a night and enjoy the New England foliage (ridiculous) while listening to some good ol' Mumford and Sons. The trip gave me an excuse to dress up a little bit and break out some of my favorite fall gear. Yesss.

dress: madewell
sweater: LOFT
circle scarf: Gap
tights: H&M
boots: Steve Madden

the one behind the blog name

When I was 9 I planned my wedding inside out and up and down. But I could never quite picture the groom - What would he be like? What would he look like? What would be his favorite movie? His favorite band? What would his last name be? But now, having met the Mr. who made me a Mrs. I can honestly say that my groom is much more than I could have ever asked for. Alexandra truly loves Jesse - and I thought it only fitting that the inaugural post of A Loves J to say just that. So here's to the man who makes my life an adventure and who gives me the sweetest "good mornings" and the happiest "goodnights". I love you, J :)