FINAL-ly

Let me tell you, This semester of school has been the MOST difficult one thus far in my college career. I graduate next semester, it's spring so when the sun is out, this girl has a hard time studying, my class load is crazy, add in working part time, and O yeah…everything that comes with wedding plans! Let's just say I am so thankful this smelter is coming to a close. Chad and I needed a little break from studying, so naturally we went fishing. 

Our favorite drinks, some therapeutic fish catching for Chad and some sunshine for this girl and we were golden. 

Let's be honest anything with this guy is an adventure…..especially when we have to cross a river to go find the "better fish" 

At the end of the day it was worth it. Chad caught fish, I took pictures and attempted to study, and we both got a little break from the reality of school and the stress of finals. Let's be honest, watching the pure joy on this guys face when he catches a million fish is always worth it.

And when i'm not watching Chad fish, I am staring at this beauty. It's crazy to think the next time we are here we will be married.  

Idaho has been good to us this semester, we'll see you again soon...

 Until then, California here we come! 

The blissful life we live

I'm Courtney. He is Chad. 

Just a boy and a girl that dreamed this day would come but never thought it would be reality. 

Yet here we are.

I love him, and he loves me. 

And together we will be 

The Hilburns 

No more looking back. 

Hand and Hand we will face the future. 

Life is pure bliss when you have someone you love to share it with.

A special thanks to Nicole with ColeMaxfield Photography for these beautiful photos and Camilla Hancock with  Inspire me Video  for our engagement video  that we may be obsessed with! 

Nature Calls

Living in Idaho definitely has its perks and lately we have been taking full advantage of them . We go fishing, make bonfires, cook foil dinners, anything outside really. And bonus, we get the company of Chad's cousin Andrew and his wife Amanda on a majority of our adventures. 

One of my favorite parts of nature is the ability we have to disconnect. It amazes me how society has become dependent on technology. But when nature calls... you get the time to think about the things that are truly important.

We all have things we NEED to do. In this crazy world we live in it doesn't hurt to take a step back and slow down a little.

At the end of the day it is the memories that we create with those we love that helps cultivate a successful life. 

From me to we

It's kind of crazy to think i'm marrying my best friend. I know that sounds so cliché now days, but  I think 10 years of friendship can justify that statement. We can trace the "how did you meet" question all the way back to age eight. But for the sake of not writing an autobiography we can just fast forward to high school. Chad and I had a Sports Culture class together and bonded over athlete stress and coping worksheets. Over the high school years Chad and I stayed strictly in the friend zone (I can take responsibility for that one) but we sure had a great time doing it! 

 As time went on, my thoughts went from friend zone to…."O crap I think I like him, now pretend like you don't because you don't want him to know" And this continued for quite some time. All the while Chad patiently waited for my girl brain to stop over thinking things so much. 

The night Chad opened his mission call was when my brain went into hyper speed. Lyon, France was about to receive the most selfless, hard working, compassionate missionary, but I was no longer going to have my best friend physically with me. 

Let me tell you, that was a LONG two years. But it was the best thing that could have ever happened to us. Every monday I was like a kid on Christmas getting up to read his emails.I take pride in knowing that we never missed a single week.Even though we were on opposite sides of the world we still managed to grow together in ways that I don't think either of us anticipated. 

I knew I loved Chad before he left, but I really did fall in love with him through letters and I think he could say the same. 

Two years had come and gone with adventures in-between for the both of us. But on April 12, 2014 Chad was HOME, it was all such a blur. All I knew was my best friend was home and we couldn't wait to start our lives together again. It was like he never left. 

We knew we wanted to get married even before he got home from his mission. I definitely had my typical over thinking moments, where again Chad was patient with me. But I knew that ultimately it would work out. I just needed to let go of that fear and move forward trusting the man I knew Chad was and who we could become together. 

On May 23, 2014 he made it official. He took me out to our special little field and we watched the sunset. I thought nothing of it because we go on adventures to take pictures and admire the Idaho beauty all the time. He talked about how it's going to be so cool to bring our kids here and show them where we went to school and our favorite places to go. He said how this place could be even more special if he did one thing. 

At this point I caught on, and I started mentally freaking out. Next thing I knew he was on one knee and I was a crying mess and all I could say is "this isn't real" a million times. He assured me it was and put a ring on my finger! Then come to find out, the little sneak had his cousin incognito taking pictures of the whole thing. I think we were in utter shock the first hour. In one moment ten years of friendship turned into an eternity of happiness.

A long time coming would be an understatement. But we wouldn't have done it any other way. I will be forever grateful for Chad and his patience with me and for giving me the privilege of being his future wife. Let the countdown begin!

The future Hilburn Family 

August 22, 2014 

Mzungu Bye

Here's the thing about time…. when you want it to go fast, it seems never ending. When you want it to go slow it's gone in a blink. That accurately describes my last month in Mbale, Uganda.

I don't think I can really put into words how incredible this last month has been.

I attempted to climb matokee trees

I spent time in the beautiful mountains with my sweet cousin 

Bananas became my new obsession at $.8 each 

I got to look into the eyes of the siblings who care for each other more then we could ever understand 

I marveled at the ambition that filled the youth who longed for an education to create a better future for themselves

 I learned to appreciate the simple things in life from the best teachers around 

I was able to marvel at the outward strength of the children, as they hiked up mountains with loads upon their heads 

I  got to visit the slums where my heart broke knowing I had to leave these little ones

I gained an appreciation for the abundance we have in America as I saw the lives of the common people 

I gained a deeper respect for the role of a woman and the physical sacrifice they give to raise and teach children

 Simply put it was LIFE CHANGING 

We can't change culture and we can't change other people, but that's ok. That is not our responsibility.

As human beings we have so much potential to change, to discover, to learn, and to influence those around us. Africa has taught me that we need to see people as they are to become not as they are now. It may take changing our own mindset, our perspective, and having a little extra patience with ourselves and those around us. 

But, I promise it is worth it. 

I went to Africa hoping to make a difference. 

But I think I gained more then I gave, and I can now say 

Thank you Africa for being…

Positively Contagious

It's about time

There is a very different concept of time here in Mbale, Africa. Typically you can expect to add one to two hours on any given time and even then there is no set time.

 It can become rather frustrating at times when we are trying to set up meetings and are teaching at multiple locations on a daily basis. But we are the visitors here, therefore we can not change culture.

 Usually I am the one who sticks to a plan and likes to have a set schedule, but I have learned that it's much easier to go with the flow.

Sometimes that means sleeping on top of a mountain and hiking down at the wee hours in the morning. Other times it means that we don't eat until late hours at night. And most of the time it means our schedule is usually not a schedule.

But it is all part of the adventure. I have learned so much from the people here in Africa and I am so happy and thankful to be here. 

And I hope during my time I can be

Positively Contagious 

Simplicity

Here I am in Africa, and I think it's safe to say I never want to come home.

I love the food, the boda rides (rather crazy motorcycle rides), the people, the weather, the dirt, the trickle of a shower, the animals, my team, jammed packed taxi rides (minus the barfing people next to me), late night talks,and the power outages.

You name it I think it has been experienced in the few short days I have been here, but I wouldn't change a second of my experience so far.

Don't get me wrong America is great but the culture, the people, the way of life...I can't get enough! I think my favorite part has been the change in pace.

 It seems as though American culture is becoming more concerned with instant gratification. In some ways it is helpful knowing that you can see the so called "fruits of your labors" a majority of the time. But in some ways I think we may feel entitled to having more, receiving more, and expecting more.

 

It's refreshing being here in Africa and living the  life of the people here. There is no hustle and bustle, comparison, or desire for more. It may not be very clean, it may not have the conveniences that i'm used to, I may stand out quite a bit...well a lot.

 But,  It's the way life should be. Simple. 

 So for now, I think I'll just stay here and enjoy it while I can

 and try to be...

Positively Contagious