Anticipation

I can't even handle the anticipation of marrying this handsome man.
I always knew Chad and and I would end up together but the concept of the big day being right around the corner blows my mind. These pictures in Newoprt all dressed up in our wedding gear made it that much more real. Not only do I get to marry my best friend, but I get to spend forever with him. Our fairy tale never has to end…EVER.

Sandy Cheeks

This is the life right here, going to the beach every day is truly heaven. It's a tradition every summer;  Chad's family and their good friends the Johnsons rent a beach house for two weeks in Newport. They started when their kids were just babies so if you add up all the years, that is a lot of weeks at the beach. I have been able to come a few times back in high school, but this year I was officially "part of the family" and I was thrilled to fill that place. 

I don't know what it is about the sun, sand, and the sound of waves crashing against the beach but it just brings out the happiest version of myself. Maybe it's my true California pride that escapes after being in Idaho at school. Or maybe it's just vitamin D, who knows, but either way. 

Not only was I at my favorite place in the entire world, but the people I was with made the trip that much better. It really is so nice to be marrying into a family who you have known for years.

 Let's be honest, I will probably start counting the days until next years trip before this one even ends. And in the mean time I will dream about daily bike rides, triple decker PB&J's, breath taking sunsets, rolling out of bed into a swimsuit, playing paddle ball for hours on end, and quality time with people I love at the place I love most. 

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