1. Have a marriage centered on Jesus. 

2. Laugh. A lot.

3. Realize what is important and let everything else go. 

4. If your marriage is in trouble seek help.

5. Go on dates - at least once a week. (Don't have money for a date? My parents don't either and are constantly being creative with what to do. Look for free events in your area (i.e.- events at a local college, high school, church, etc.), pack a picnic lunch or dinner, go for a walk in a new park that you have not explored, etc.)

6. Be creative.

7. Be intentional.

8. Don't ever go to bed angry.

9. Fight fairly (stick to the subject at hand).

10. Listen. Listen. Listen.

11. Put the other person first. 

12. Always remember that life is found in the little moments. 

13. Never give your spouse the chance to wonder if you are cheating. 

14. Do not ever let pornography become a substance in your house. 

15. Never let children divide you and never speak ill of your spouse to your children.

16. Never let the "D" word (divorce) be uttered. The minute that you allow that you start down a road that you do not want to go on. 

17. Pray together.

18. Go to church together. 

19. Have Godly friends who you can encourage you along the way. 

20. Recognize that life (and marriage is hard). 

21. Respect him ladies. 

22. Love her completely gentleman.

23. Celebrate the big moments. 

24. Rejoice with each others successes. 

25. Support each other. 

26. Understand his job. 

27. Love her hearts passions. 

28. Understand security is very important for a woman. 

29. Take time to talk everyday. (Maybe this means shutting off the TV or turning off the internet - do whatever needs to be done to talk everyday!)

30. If you watch TV, watch TV you both enjoy. 

31. Dance in the house

32. Turn off the phone, internet, blackberry, ipad, computer, etc.. 

33. Enjoy each others presence.

34. Kiss often. 

35. Never hang up the phone or leave without saying "I love you".

36. Live life knowing how short it is. 

37. Realize that after you have kids you will still be a couple so don't wait eighteen years to keep falling more in love. 

38. Never stop flirting. 

39. Hold hands whenever possible. 

40. Cook for her, clean up for her, do the wash, etc.- Find something she hates to do and do it for her often without being asked. 

41. Ladies, don't nag. 

42. Find out something he loves to do and encourage it to the fullest. 

43. Cry together, not with your friends, or brushing it off. Face life together. 

44. Remember that life is fleeting and in the end the only thing that matters is love. 

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad! I love you guys so much!

One of my favorite parts of visiting the Disney parks was witnessing the new Happily Ever After Fireworks Show at the Magic Kingdom castle. I have seen numerous shows over the years at Disney (anyone remember the old Light Parade that used to happen? *smiles*) and have loved them all but Happily Ever After was beautiful. 
Happily Ever After Fireworks show includes and captures the heart and heroism and courage of many of Disney's favorite movies including: Aladdin, Brave, Frozen, The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, and many more.
The show lasts 18 minutes and features beautiful fireworks, lights, and lasers and projections more than any other fireworks show in the history of the Magic Kingdom park. 

Like many people with wanderlust, my heart is often drawn to the roads that are less traveled, to the spaces that speak of being wild and free, and to an almost untamed frontier that allows for its community to create a rich and diverse history. For more than a decade, since a grad school friends parents moved to Alaska, I have dreamt of visiting the land that seems rich in a myriad of adventurous opportunities, steep in historical culture, and would provide unforgettable scenery. And several years later, when my grad school roommate and dear friend spent a couple of years living in Alaska I found myself drawn to this place in America that spans the centuries as wild and free as any place that the United States has to offer. 

The reasons to dream about planning a visit are as numerous as the sky appears wide in Alaska. From the highways that could provide a dream road trip vacation to the unique adventures no matter what time of year you visit, to the countless fjords, waterfalls, and glaciers, Alaska is a place that you should dream to visit. It seems that everyone has written some article or post about the top reasons to go and honestly... I believe for very good reasons.

Since the US government purchased the land of Alaska for 7.2 million dollars (which roughly works out to be less than 2 cents an acre) in 1867, the immense natural beauty that spans the rivers and mountains alike has called people to "the last frontier". 

It is a land that has attracted those from a wide variety of backgrounds and history. From those who have familial connections to those wanting to escape the typical "rat race" life seen in other sections of the world. It comprises a long list of wanderers and dreamers who have flocked to the immense land that "cheechako's" (an "affectionate" name for those who have lived in Alaska for a little time ) and Alaskan natives alike are proud to call home. 

Last summer I started to plan and dream big about a trip to Alaska. At first it was just a dream... built on things I had read, hearing stories from those who had gone, and potential collaborations on the blog. In that time I decided to commit to a cruise to Alaska and take my parents with me. It has been so fun to dream of the cruising ports we will see and visit but I was left to wonder if there was more to this amazing space of land than the ports. 

This past fall I was re-introduced to this wild land when I met J. The first time that we interacted there was this air that surrounded him that was hard to put into words. It was removed from the "lower 48" (as the Alaskans term it) and there was this wildness that was there that seemed to only be able to have come from some where outside where I lived. There was a steadiness and a confidence that could easily be seen and it was one that I was slowly to learn that is deeply ingrained within the Alaskan culture. Several weeks ago I was honored to sit and listen for a couple of hours to hear about Alaska. It left me wanting more.

There is a pace of life that is slower than other parts of the US which matches the way of life. Even the path of statehood took longer than any other state with almost 90 years passing from the purchase of land to the admittance into statehood. But the word "slowness" should not be confused with anything but depth.

It is a people who have forged territory that could only be described as wild and have conquered the art of helping their neighbor as far back as its development of community. One of the most famous examples of this happened in 1925 when a serious diphtheria epidemic struck the small town of Nome, Alaska. Due to severe weather conditions planes were unable to fly in the life-saving and necessary medicine that the city needed. In true Alaska heart fashion the people of Alaska banned together and dog sled teams raced the 674 miles in a record 5 days despite the record breaking freezing temperatures. Beyond the heroism of the dogs Togo and Balto who became famous showed the story of a heart of courage in this land. 

This determined attitude that never gives up is seen in the hearts of Alaskans, through this modern age where many only look to themselves. Since the early 1900s the stories haven't stopped, just increased. From stories of Alaskan Airlines participating in Operation Magic Carpet to the renowned clean up that lasted more than three years when an oil tanker ran into the reef at Prince William Sound to present day Kikkan Randall, the Olympian who gives back to the community and encourages others to experience the benefits of sports through numerous charities these few stories make up just a few of the amazing stories that come from this wild and free place. 

Beyond the Northern Lights that I long to see, I dream of visiting the beauty that surrounds the history, the culture, and most of all the people that make up this wild and unique place. Perhaps most of all the research has taught me that Alaska is a place that is big for dreamers... even those like myself, dreaming of their first visit. 

A huge thank you to the Alaska Tourism Board for sponsoring this series of posts about Alaska and providing the photographs and encouraging my dream of exploring Alaska. 

Looking back on spending a day at the Disney parks a couple of weeks ago with two dear people in my life fills me with incredible gratitude. It was a magical day filled with tons of laughter, constant talking about life, hilarious moments, and the precious gift of spending time with those whom I am honored to have in my life.