it’s a wonderful life

good day, my friends. i don’t know about you, but getting back into the swing of things after a lovely 5 day christmas and family filled weekend is the worst. i hope you had a wonderful holiday week; i had truly the best Christmas ever. though the excitement level slightly decreases as i get older, the amount that i enjoy it only seems to grow. perhaps it’s because i’ve learned that, “maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store; maybe, Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.”  and it’s more about spending time with the people you love and care about. and making memories. and continuing traditions. and just being so grateful for everything you already have.

that’s what my Christmas was full of. we spent Christmas Eve at my parents and celebrated that night at grandma dahl’s with almost all of the dahl cousins. it’s neat to see how much joy it brings my grandma to sit and just watch the madness that is our family. to have her kids, her grandkids, and her great-grandkids… knowing that she made it all possible. what an incredible feeling. something i hope to experience one day with [b] + #starksthepup – because he is going to be the pup that lives forever.

Christmas day is a day that has remained virtually unchanged for as long as i can remember. we have the same breakfast, the same routine, the same dinner, everything. we dahl’s like our consistency and tradition. as we were taking our annual stocking picture my mom said, alright one with just my kids since it’s emma’s last Christmas as a Dahl. woah, shit just got real. i will always be a Dahl, but when i wake up next year on Christmas morning i will be a Bica. and that’s kind of cray.

[b] + #starksthepup and i headed back that evening to celebrate our first Christmas in the new house and watching my favorite Christmas movie; Santa Claus is Coming to Town. we sipped wine and cuddled with the pup and i couldn’t have imagined a better ending to a more perfect day.

i hope that you all had merry and bright holidays; and i pray that your monday’s be short and your coffee be strong. xo

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the story before the story // happy 30th anniversary mom and dad

30 years ago today, my story became a possibility. two people, having only known each other for 6 months but trusting in love got married. and this is their story.

they met on a blind date. she lived in minneapolis; he lived in albert lea. they dated for 3 months. one day, on the front steps of his house; he asked her a question. “so, do you think we’re going to be together for awhile?” she answered, “well yes, i hope so.” disappearing for a moment he returned with a ring. 3 months later they said ‘i do’ and started on to write the rest of their story.

the years that followed brought change, joy, heartache, happiness, struggle, growth, blessings and so much love. in those 30 years they had 3 children and 1 angel left up above watching over them. there were 6 graduations. there were dozens of family vacations. most of which were enjoyable. (except for the one when dad wanted to leave spencer at the black hills… or when i slammed my head into the side of the car… or when carter was crying because we were picking on him). more than anything, the 30 years that followed that day, november 24, 1984, brought family.

as i’m in the midst of planning my wedding, i can’t help but imagine what life might be like 30 years from now. no one can know for certain but one thing i wish for is a family like the one that my mom and dad created. a family where you support each other no matter what, a family where you are there to celebrate in life’s most important events, a family that is ridicucously good looking and sarcastic. and a home that is always welcoming filled with people who you might not like all the time, but that you love always. a family that knows that we might not have it all together, but together we have it all.

momma and daddy; thank you. thank you for building a home and a family that makes it so fun to get together and so hard to say goodbye to. thank you for raising me to be the woman i am; strong, faithful, determined and sassy. thank you for supporting me in everything and anything i do. every move i make (literally), every success i have, and every heartache i feel. you two are the best support system i could ever imagine. love you to the moon and back forever. xoxo

pomp & circumstance

i truly cannot believe that a week ago today my baby brother graduated from high school. it felt like we were always talking about “where do you think you’ll be when Carter graduates?” or “I wonder what Carter will be like when he gets older” and now here we are. the final Dahl kid is done with high school. 3 short months away from starting the next chapter of his life at Bethany Lutheran in Mankato. a college student. it all just doesn’t seem real. i’m rather proud of myself, because i didn’t cry throughout the festivities. i’m sure i’ll be a bundle of emotions when we take him to college though. but it just all feels surreal. watching him wear his cap & gown and walk across that stage… i just felt proud.

i have gotten to be there and help him through most of life’s biggest moments so far. i remember learning how to rock him and give him a bottle; and sitting him on my lap and reading to him for hours; taking him shopping for school clothes; talking to him about relationships; helping him pick out his outfits; driving with him with he had his permit; being there to hear him vent and (i hope) help him through the not so great times; and all of the fun things these past few months with his senior year. i’ve not only gotten to watch him grow up, but i was part of helping him grow up. i couldn’t be more proud of the guy he is today. and i am so excited to see what the future holds for him.

i am so proud of you, young pup. you are a smart, annoying, smart ass, confident, funny, kind hearted, sweet and wonderful guy. i’m so blessed to call you my brother. (most days) i love you so very much!