Bless the Broken Road.

Thank you to Rascal Flatts for inspiring this next blog post.

Jaymeson and I had the opportunity to go to a Rascal Flatts concert this weekend with some of our friends. (They were amazing, but that's besides the point.) We had a good time, we laughed, we sang, Brandon almost got beat up, and I won a huge beach ball from the radio station. :)

But I think the most important thing I (re)learned this weekend, was that everything happens for a reason.

While Rascal Flatts was singing their famous song "Bless the Broken Road", Brandon snapped this picture of us:

(Its obviously been photoshopped cuz I'm cheesy, ok?)

When I saw this picture, and heard the song, all I could think about was God really did bless my road. I've been hurt. Seriously hurt. By many men, family members, friends, lots of people. But everywhere I've been is exactly where I should have been. And everywhere I'm going has everything to do with the road God blessed me with. Looking back on all the pain, I wouldn't change it for the world.

I used to always tell myself and everyone else that Jon was an answer to my prayers. He magically appeared into my life right after I ended a very long and hurtful relationship. He swooped in and swept me off my feet, and because of him, I easily healed and moved on from that relationship when it otherwise could have been a very long and hard process. When I first got divorced, I spent a lot of time angry at that thought. How and why would God put Jonathan into my life to help me heal from my previous, devasting relationship and then turn around and hurt me worse?

Two reasons:

1. I did need Jonathan to help me heal from that relationship. But also, I believe the heartbreak of that previous relationship helped to prepare me for the hurt that would come from my marriage. Jon helped me heal from that relationship, and in turn he helped me to know how to heal from our relationship.

2. Jonathan led me to Jaymeson. Weird, right? Jaymeson and I know each other through a very twisted, complicated string of people. But without my marriage to Jon, I would never have known Jaymeson. And my broken road, has thus far, lead me to him.

I learned a lot down this long and crooked journey (Whoops, popped into Bachelor mode for a second. When does the next season start anyways?) that I've been on. I learned to love unconditionally, I learned to allow myself to cry (well, almost), I learned to be honest with myself, I learned to trust, I learned to be independent, I learned to give myself completely, and so many other qualities I hope to continue in all of my relationships. But most of all, I learned that God is with me the whole way.

I don't know where Jaymeson and I will go, but I do know that because of him I am a better person. And because of me, he is a better person. We fight and argue and bicker just like every other real relationship, but we also laugh and cry and dance and love together. We teach each other, we help each other, we have learned so much about ourselves and each other and relationships that if we do not end up together, we will be one hundred times more prepared for our "soul mate" (if you believe in those) than we would have been otherwise. We each are in the place that we need to be, and for what ever reason, we need each other now. And I'm grateful that my very broken road led me straight to him.

:)

"It's all part of a grander plan that is coming true."

My New Favorite Song

I live for music.

Jaymeson showed me this song this week and we both have been listening to it nonstop. 

I guess I'll share :)

Enjoy. :)

Day 29 - A picture that can always make you smile

Are you ready for this?!

This picture was taken at a friend's birthday party back in December. Hilarious, huh?

I love dancing. Clearly, I'm terrible at it. That's plainly obvious just by one glance at that picture. But nevertheless, I love it.

Music is my life.

Jaymeson always jokes about how I can't do anything without music. It's so true, I shower with music on, I do the dishes with music on, I never turn the radio off in my car, I work with my iPod in my ears, I listen to music every second I can.

My most favorite memories while I was in high school consist of driving around town with the windows down and music blaring with my best friends. And my most favorite memories even now, are driving around town with Jaymeson or my roommates listening to Chris Brown or the Zac Brown Band and singing and dancing like maniacs with the windows down.

There was a moment last Summer where me and a few friends were having a tiny BBQ on the roof of his apartment complex. While we were setting up, I was walking around with the speakers on my shoulder listening to music. At that moment I realized, how amazing it would be to literally have a live soundtrack to your life? I would LOVE that!

Day 30 - A picture of someone you miss

Day 27- A picture of you and a family member.

This blog post is a special dedication to my dad.

(a little premature Father's Day gift)

John Thomas Sampson Jr.

My dad is super cool.

He was a rock star when I was born. Literally.

He quit being a rock star just after I was born so he could have a more normal life for his first daughter. Nevermind that I'm also the favorite... right Dad?

Once I was old enough to start kicking a ball, he started coaching my soccer teams. He coached me from age 4 all the way to age 17.

But before I played soccer, he let me have my fun in dance classes, gymnastics, softball, basketball, and pretty much any sport you can imagine before I finally decided soccer was my favorite.

We sang karaoke together for as long as I can remember. We even danced to our favorite karaoke song "Somewhere Out There" at my wedding.

He took me to every "take your daughter to work" Day activity.

We went on several Daddy/Daughter campouts, as well as Daddy/Daughter dances.

He came to every single one of my choir concerts, and various other extra curricular activities that I was involved in throughout my life.

He taught me to be a hard worker. Because of him, I have the abilities I need to manage a large caseload at a Disability Law Firm at such a young age.

He always knows what to say. He can easily remind me why I'm on the path that I've chosen in my life, and help me remember why I chose it.

My dad and I haven't always had the best relationship. We had our ups and downs just like every relationship out there, but he's always been there when I needed him the most. We grew closer when I flew off to Idaho over 3 years ago to live on my own and start college. But even then, the last year we have grown closer than I ever would have thought. I get at least one text from him daily just to see what I'm up to, or more than like just to make sure I'm still alive. I talk to my dad several times a week, and he's the first person I think to call when I need advice or just to vent about anything and everything.

I know he misses me a lot, and I definitely miss him too. He asks me pretty much weekly when I'm going to move back home, but luckily he understands that this is where I'm supposed to be. For the time being at least. :)

Because of my relationship with Jaymeson, I have the opportunity of watching his relationship with Jayah, and it has reminded me a lot about when I was a little kid. Jaymeson is Jayah's hero. He is her prince. She talks about how he's the only boy she ever wants to kiss and how she's going to marry him someday. It's adorable. And I remember being that way. Jaymeson tells me often how much it means to him when Jayah wants to cuddle up next to him and watch a movie, and how he hopes that when Jayah is older, she'll always want to sit in his lap and snuggle up to him on the couch. My dad was my hero, he was my prince, and he was the only boy I wanted to marry or kiss. But now that I'm older and have learned that it's really... not normal to actually marry my dad, I still hope that he knows that I will always want to cuddle up next to him on the couch and watch a movie.

Speaking on my dad... he's calling right now. :)

Anyways, I love you Dad! Don't ever forget it!

Day 13 - a picture of your favorite band or artist

I la la la LOVE music!

So this one in particular, was a hard one.

But I choose...

Ingrid Michaelson.

She is AMAZING!

I saw her in concert like 5 months ago, and she is even better LIVE, then she is on CD.

She was hilarious, and oh so talented, and simple.

I loved it. :)

Day 14: Someone you could never imagine your life without.