happiness

a great woman we all know by the name of marilyn monroe once said,

"i believe that everything happens for a reason. people change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together."

[my life has done exactly this]

over the past couple of years, my life has been a series of ups-and-downs, but somehow, i've managed to maintain a smile on my face through it all. they say that love happens when you least expect it. love happens the moment you stop looking for it. happiness happens the moment you realize you deserve it. and the greatest part of your life happens the moment you choose to start living it. i can testify of all of these things thanks to a very special someone who came into my life 3-4 months ago.

after a random run-in with daren at al's on new years eve, we managed to stay in touch here and there until one boring tuesday night in february; daren tricked me into going on a date with him late that night around 9 o'clock to the olive garden. (let me explain what i mean when i say 'tricked'... daren had said that he and "the guys" weren't doin' anything and so "maybe we should all do something". not having hung out with this group of boys for over 3 years, i agreed, and waited for the group to come pick me up. when "the guys" came to get me, i soon discovered that "the guys" had become "the guy", and that guy was daren michael yates... turns out the "guys" were never part of the plan at all... sly lil' guy.) at the olive garden, we enjoyed our meal together (daren's parmesan crusted bistecca - "without the stuff on the asparagus", and my my white chocolate raspberry cheesecake) and talked non-stop. after we finished, we decided to go back to daren's to watch tv, a movie, or something else insignificant. we plopped down on the couch and flipped on the tv. daren had recorded the try-outs of american idol and asked if i wanted to watch them, and of course, i agreed.

[and this, my friends, is how it all got started with us]

whether they're big things or little things, over the past 3-4 months, daren has gone above and beyond to make me happy. i'm carefree, i'm giddy, i'm silly, i'm curious, i'm dreamy, i'm daring, i'm hopeful, i'm lively, i'm peaceful, i'm relaxed, i'm inspired, and i'm amazed. i don't know what or how he's done to do what he's done to me, but i'm not complaining one little bit. i'm finally happy, and i love it. i wouldn't trade the feeling that i'm feeling for anything in the world. he has adorned and spoiled me from the beginning - from the meaningful little comments he says, to the adventures and gifts he surprises me with - and he says that i "haven't seen anything yet!" if i think that's as far as the adorning is going to go. he treats me like a princess. he makes me feel like a million bucks. he makes me his number one priority. he makes me feel special - like i never have felt before.

below are just a few snapshots of the (little&big) things that daren does for me on a regular basis... ♥

treating me to the justin bieber movie. taking me to idaho for my first time experience with lotto tickets. last-minute disney on ice date surprise. spoiling me with all of my treat cravings (most often ice cream).

dinner dates, shopping, showing him where i grew up, and jazz games in salt lake. acting like a child with me in my celebration of every holiday.

with one another, and friends and family, we took advantage of our last few weeks together before daren left for the summer.

lucky i'm [in love] with my best friend... ♥