give a pair. get a pair. get involved.

100. TOMS. Give a pair of shoes. Get a pair of shoes


So I did it. I completed another intentional thing on my list. This one was not as easy as you may think. 
I asked Santa for some TOMS this Christmas, but got other fabulous things instead. So I expressed to Scottie how I would like love a pair someday soon, so he went to work. 3 weeks ago I picked Scottie up from clinicals and we were headed home when he told me he had a surprise for me. Excited we hurried home and changed and ate some food. The destination of my surprise was unknown 100% to me. We got in the car and were headed on a familiar route, the whole time wondering where on earth would he be taking me. We pulled in to the mall and told me my surprise was inside. No help. That could mean ANYTHING. We walked into Nordstroms and he told me I was getting a pair of TOMS. Thrilled I started trying them all on, and figured out I was a size 6. ((The reason Scottie brought me to get the shoes is because we share one vehicle, so he couldn't get them without me)) Since this was his surprise to me, I asked him which ones he would have picked out hadn't I been there. 

These are them. 

We both would have picked these ones quickly before any other. 

So, here they are....

BUT

I didn't get them on this day. They were out of my size and told me they would be in the next day. Sadly we left, but I was determined to get them. So the next day I called to see if the shipment came and it hadn't. Since it was a Friday I figured I'd call back on Monday and see if they had gotten them over the weekend.....NOPE. Getting antsy I started searching the surrounding area for Nordstroms and called to see if they had them..... NOPE. Thinking this "special surprise" wasn't meant to be right now, I put them out of mind and just figured it would happen when it was time. 


So last week Scottie and I spent our date day down at Newport Beach (pictures at the end of the post) It was 82 and sunny, and the drive was fabulous. No traffic, and the carpool lane was awesome. Since it is "winter" here there were very few people on the beach, so it was quiet and extremely relaxing. After a few hours laying on the beach and talking we decided to go grab a bite to eat. Craving Red Robin Scottie took me to Fashion Island (Newport's mall) where he had been once before with a friend. Not knowing the mall at all I didn't know what to expect....but to my delight there was a Nordstroms. I figured we had to check just in case they actually had them. Heading straight to the ones I knew I wanted, we were quickly assisted by an adorable sales woman. She was hesitant to say whether they had them in the back or not. She quick ran to the back, and came out with 1 box. I wanted to scream! She handed them to me and I wanted to give her the biggest hug. Knowing she was my hero, she told me to try them on right away, and proceeded to tell me they were her first pair of TOMS too. Great taste. They fit like a glove, and well the rest doesn't matter. I skipped out of the store so thrilled to have my shoes, but beaming equally as much because all I could picture was a little girl in a third world country getting her first pair of TOMS. What a life changing experience it really is for each one of them. It is life. 


So after a few days of having TOMS I was compelled to learn more and figure out what else I could do. Of course the website is created for people just like myself. I am now very educated on TOMS and the whole deal. 

I have joyfully decided to participate in One Day Without Shoes on April 5th. I can not wait.

So that is a little glimpse into my recent event. I think this may evolve into crossing off two more on the list. (54. become more educated on an issue/cause in our nation. 55. Advocate for the cause) Although this issue/cause does not affect our nation, I still believe it is worth my time and energy. If anything, why not become educated on another issue/cause! 

We hope you are all doing well back in the arctic circle, and hope you can feel a little bit of warmth through our pictures. If you just can't stand looking at the pictures, get a move on it and book a ticket to come visit! All our love and prayers as the new year is zooming by. Continue to seek the Lord daily, and be ready for what He desires for your life. 

He is jealous for me
Love's like a hurricane, I am a tree
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy
When all of a sudden, I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory
and I realize just how beautiful You are and how great your affections are for me.
Oh, how He loves us so
Oh, how He loves us
How He loves us so.

Yeah, He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves us
Woah, how He loves.

So we are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes
If grace is an ocean we're all sinking
So heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss and my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets when I think about the way