Christmas Season 2014 So Far...

Sorry, I have fallen so far behind in blogging, y'all. I hope everyone is enjoying their Christmas season so far. I know ours has already kept us busy, but that is just part of its charm, right?

As promised, here are some more Christmas pictures from our home, and a little of what we have been up to around here!

This our living room...

Yes, the stockings have already been filled. As my mother noted, we truly work off of an honor system in this house.

In the kitchen, I went for a 50s theme. A little white tinsel garland and some red and blue balls matched my new Hobby Lobby décor with my already red kitchen.

Last Sunday, we decided on a whim to make our annual Natchitoches Christmas Lights trip! I grew up with this road trip (more than once a year when I was younger, actually). To share this with Justin is amazing.

Yesterday, after a short visit with my family and some fun with Christmas pictures, we made our annual trip to Marshall, Texas for Christmas lights. It was a little too crowded to get ALL of the pictures we wanted, but we did get a few and Justin got to see the skating rink.(Note: The latter is NOT a common site down here in the south.)

Oh, and before I forget, we managed to finish our Christmas pictures a few weeks ago! I love sending Christmas cards. I grew up watching my mother, filled with pride, plan and make our Christmas cards every year. She never forgot anyone, never gave up even as time went on and we received fewer and fewer. Now I not only watch her, but I get to enjoy making and sending our own.

Sweet husband was very patient this year, dressing in his uncomfortable dress shoes and running back and forth from the camera across the room. Still, this was his reaction when I finally said we were through. Have to love him!

Anyway, this is just a short update of our Christmas season thus far. What have you and your loved ones been up to? Baked any Christmas goodies yet?

Candy Cane Christmas Decorations 2014

We have been crazy elves in our home for at least the last month. My only excuse for the early decorations is that Christmas is happy whether the decorations are hung before or after Thanksgiving. The lights, the garlands, the elves (my favorite obviously) have just been too cute to keep hidden for another month.
I don't know about you, but in spite of my efforts to look something like this with my Christmas duties...

I always end up feeling like this....

Always reaching for the ummmm...cider? Until I can pull it together and look more like...

I'm cool. I'm calm. I'm collected. Haha! So not all the time, but I do only drink apple cider in this house. I mean, we all know the strongest stuff is hot chocolate anyway (homemade with Hershey's Cocoa Mix, yum!).
Joking aside, I don't like rushing to hang my decorations, and make Christmas cards, and wrap presents, and make Christmas crafts. I want all of that to be fun. With everything already out, I can take my time with our cards and work on projects when I want, and bake cookies around all of my decorations and music. Christmas time just seems more exciting and relaxing when the decorations are already in place. As for Thanksgiving, I like seeing the trees out for two holidays especially now that I don't get to enjoy my parents decorations every day like I did when I was home. This year is especially exciting, too. It will be our first Christmas in our house- our new home!

We have multiple trees, so I thought I might spread the Christmas cheer out a bit. With our very large dining room, I could not wait to set out all of my dishes this year. I noticed most of them are candy cane themed, so I talked Justin into buying a third tree for the house and decorating the room in candy canes!

Totally not posed! just fell out of the box like this. :)

We sort of bought the table with the house. The last owners left it behind, so we brought it in from the shop outside and put our other table in the back room for the holidays. I had already preplanned the decorating a bit, and because I didn't want to buy new chairs just for two months, I found these cheap red party chair covers on Amazon. I covered our regular chairs and voilà- Christmas dining room table and chairs!

Sorry for the blurriness! This is the best picture I have from the 1st night.

My elf collection on top of Justin's desk! This is some of my antique picture collection at the bottom!

My desk area- Christmas Style!

We have outlets in the dining room that for one reason or another were placed half way up the wall. It is great for ironing, but terrible for Christmas decorating. I had already planned on putting this tree in the corner of this room, so the best solution was to place Justin's mystery gift (nice & tall to keep him guessing) in front of the outlet while the tree is kept in place! Of course, it only bothers him more not to know what is in the package since he has to unplug the lights every night. Bwahahahaha!

At night time!

At night, we turn on all of the Christmas lights in the house and open the dining room curtains. Since we don't go in there at night anyway, we don't lose any privacy. I plug in the tree to let just a little bit of our inside decorations add to the outside lights!

How about you? Have you started decorating your home yet?

The Great Santa Claus Debate

Sweet friends, our weather is finally feeling amazing! I am struggling to find my sweaters and long sleeves each morning and I LOVE IT!!!! In the past month, we have celebrated our 1st Anniversary, spent a full day shopping with my brother and sister, and, yes, decorated our home (both inside and out) for Christmas. Sorry, I just could not wait any longer. I love Christmas. Don't know where I get it from *clearing throat* (Mommy, maybe?).

I don't know about you, but I feel like Justin and I are still making our own place in Christmas traditions. There are so many that I brought from my family last year. They work well for Justin and I and I love being able to share some of my favorite Christmas traditions with my husband now. That said, there are some traditions that can not take place just yet that we have been considering a lot lately- one example is Santa Clause.

Now I don't know about you, but I grew up with Santa Claus at Christmas time. Even after finding out about his "true identity", it was a fun tradition in the house. (Oh, the pleasures of having little brothers and sisters!) Ever since then though, I have heard a hundred arguments revolving around him.

No, we don't have children yet, but Justin and I both seem to find our time now the perfect time to decide. Personally, we like the idea of Santa Claus for our future family. I would be lying to say it isn't partly fueled by some sentimentality for a favorite childhood memory ourselves.

For Justin- "Yay! Because it was a lot of fun when I was a kid, and I want it to be a lot of fun for our 

                     kids too."

Okay, so I didn't try to kill Santa...just screamed bloody-murder until my parents "saved" me.

For me- I agree completely. While I probably gave more than one mall Santa reason to down an advil bottle for a few years in a row, I loved setting out cookies and the Santa glass of coke and making reindeer food to throw in the yard on Christmas Eve night. I even liked keeping the secret a secret for my parents with my brother and sister. He was one more happy part to Christmas time.

We weren't stingy with the cokes when Santa came on Christmas Eve!

Maybe that is it for me- Santa was a part of Christmas time. As for Justin and I, we want him to be a part of Christmas time for our family too one day.

I know one of the greatest complaints I hear revolves around the horror stories of parents who told their children the truth and suddenly distrust clouded their senses and they didn't know what or if to trust even their parents ever again. Maybe that does happen with some children, and while I have theories, I have to be honest- this never happened with me. When my parents told me, I was disappointed, but only in the fun disappearing a bit. Truth be told, I was still excited for Christmas and I was still excited to watch my sister be excited. I never doubted that I could trust my parents and I learned to take pleasure in the excitement of others.

Overall, I look back and think it was an incredibly sweet gesture on my parents part to give us that excitement for all of those years. The budget was tight back then and yet they still gave us those memories. They let a cheerful (though fictitious) character take the credit for a mountain of gifts and a stocking full of little favorites when they themselves were the "elves" slaving through night after an already late evening of family dinners and gift openings at home. Our Santa worked long hours at a power plant to come home and work in his freezing, cramped work shop in the backyard more than one year in a row. Our Mrs. Claus managed dinners, holiday flus, extended family drama, baths, and household affairs on a daily basis only to spend Christmas Eve in a mixture of Barbie boxes and paint acrylics on hope chest and doll houses. Nevertheless, we woke at 3 on Christmas mornings to quietly scan over Santa's delivery in the darkness, sneak back to our beds, and "wake" again at 6 with parents who were full of smiles and hugs and taking pictures like nobody's business. We were dressed quickly in matching outfits, loaded into the car, and visiting relatives for much of the day and they never showed frustration. My very realistic parents could have taken Santa and the elves as a moment to explain the unrealistic possibilities of time, travel, and supply and demand, but they didn't. They kept their lips sealed tight and adorned themselves in what can only be described as the perfect mixture of Christmas spirit and love. Isn't that what it is all about though.

Christmas isn't and, in my opinion, has never been a time built on the realities of the time. It isn't the time of the year when you all sit around and discuss the failings of Hollywood, the continuous downward spiral of literacy in our education systems, and the ups and downs of economics. It is supposed to be a time to remember and celebrate hope. Hope didn't come at the beginning of the world, when all was perfect and Eve had yet to listen to a certain serpent. It came when all seemed lost. It came when so many felt lost and hopeless. God gave us His Son at a time when all hope must have seemed lost; when no one expected it, and yet their hearts must have cried for it. Sound familiar? To me it does. No matter where we look these days, someone always seems willing to fill us with fear and to cover whatever happiness we have with doubt and sadness. I am not saying we should ever avoid reality, but at Christmas, if at no other time, it seems to me that everything changes. You don't just accept reality with all of its painful truths, but instead work harder to find and encourage the hope and the love that still remains in this life.

I don't know about you, but here the weight of the summer air vanishes and I can breath again. The lights may not shine on every home, but whenever you find them, can you not help but smile in the randomness of their appearances. No tree is the same, no home decorated alike, no Christmas meal exact. Bells ring at storefronts with children tugging at their parents sleeve to let them put something inside much like they do with fountains throughout the rest of the year. Secret Santas are not in short supply, because secret gifts are given and kindness extended among strangers.

But I digress...

Santa does not bother me because for me he is a mere part of Christmas. He was a real person, one who was known to have extended secret gifts to those in need. Since when do we not recognize people, both past and present, for the admirable examples that they leave behind. The mystery of Santa Claus may only last a few short years in childhood, but the excitement remains long after. For most of history children have grown up with the myth, then the truth, only to follow suit and gift their children with the same memories. No matter the world's affairs or the countries, not even the economy's ups and downs, has ever seemed to cease the excitement of Santa. If nothing else, Santa Claus is a prime example of someone who gives without expecting anything in return.

This is just my opinion. Time seems to have forced me to seriously consider just why it is he doesn't bother me at Christmas, and why exactly we want him to be a part of Christmas in our family one day. If I've been to wordy, I might suggest you read the famous editorial "Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus" from The Sun which has been read for more than a century now. If you would rather, search for "Yes, Virginia". It is the cutest 30 minute movie on the article. Netflix is even carrying it at the moment. Either way, the editor's response is priceless even in today's age.

How about you? What do you think about the Santa tradition? Do you have any memories of him from your childhood?

Our Engagement Story

So I have a list...somewhere...nearly full of blogging ideas. The problem is that it is no where to be found at the moment. I don't know about y'all, but when I have writer's block, I do anything, everything, but write. The first thing I generally do is read. That said, sorry, Lindsay, but your blog got me to thinking.

Of all the memories that I have managed to log in the last 8 months, I am sorry to say that I still have a lot of catching up to do. When we were dating, engaged, first married, I thought of nearly every day and every moment as one to blog about. I don't know about you though, but our dating/engaged days were long ones. They always seemed to start in the afternoon and end around 9 or 10 at night at least. By the time he left & I showered for the night, I was worn out and ready for bed. I failed to write anything on my old blog, but all the while promised myself "Once we are married, I'll write all of this down." Then came October 19th, and a week later we were in our 1st home and Mr. & Mrs., and had horrible internet service in our apartment building because in our budget we didn't feel the need to make room for the higher quality internet service w/ the higher price tag. It worked for a while. I've nearly forgotten how bad it really was to be honest. Then (oh, and this was exciting), the company my husband works for decided to start paying our internet bill since Justin has to work from home a lot. Can I get a "Hooray!!!". It was a natural progression from there.

Internet Service = Blog = Logging Memories

ALL of that said, there are still a lot of memories not shared here yet and one of those is our engagement story. I know I have explained how Justin and I met on Match.com, wrote back and forth for about 3 weeks, and then met and, well, haven't stopped talking since really. Stepping back, I think it surprises us both how quickly we fell for one another. I know to anyone who doesn't know us, you would think we must make random, quick, spur of the moment decisions like some people breath air, but hopefully you will believe me when I say that it is not either of us. Sorry y'all, but I was the kid that would sooner sit out a game than play and risk getting hurt. (Okay, I really need to stop with the sports metaphors now. Especially since I am so not athletic.) Back to the story...

Justin and I never shied away from telling one another what we expected from our future husband and wife, even early on in our dating. At first I was admittedly cautious about talking about it, but Justin encouraged me that he wanted to know, and in fact had his own ideas. Somewhere in time the random "When I get married..." comments became "When we get married". It seemed an obvious turn of events in the future, not only to us, but to our family as well.

I can remember having a terrible cold in April 2013. It lasted longer than usual, too long for either of us. At the end of it, Justin came to a craft party at work one night with me. We sat in the breakroom waiting for everyone else to finish up for the day. He mentioned buying my birthday present and how he had a few ideas. I proceeded to tease him into giving me hints. When the hints became "something shiny", "something you will wear every day", "something you wear on your left arm", my laughter changed into nerves. All things taken into account, this had to be a ring he was talking about. After the party, we walked to Sonic for dessert. Again, he mentioned my birthday gift. He kept saying he wasn't sure I would like it. I promised him that it was exactly what I wanted. Then he said it. Right there, in front of everyone. "Okay, so you will be okay with getting a watch for your birthday?" I'll admit it was the best save of my life as I quickly attempted to hide my surprise and embarrassment with assurance. I drove home that night ashamed and embarrassed by my mistake. I worried I had become like the wedding-hungry crazy women you hear about in the bridezilla articles in the paper. At the same time, when the embarrassment subsided later that night, I realized I was actually disappointed. I really wanted to marry Justin... and then I worried he just may not ever ask.

Fast forward 1 week- we were walking around the mall. We had no where in particular to be, just wanting the exercise, when Justin asked where I wanted to go next. I told him I wanted to go look at the jewelry (aka Claires, Icings, etc.). We were about halfway through the mall, when Justin began pulling me towards Kays. I was surprised, and not wanting to give into anymore crazy engagement ring ideas, I pulled back and laughed. I told myself he was only teasing and even when he tried once more, I just laughed and kept us on course for Icings. I can remember him saying he thought we should look in there for something, but I was determined not to be bit again by the dream bug and ignored any signs I noticed that he may be serious. Looking back, he seemed a little surprised, but being the sweetheart he is, he let it drop.

A few nights later we were all visiting Daddy at work. My sister and brother and I were sipping on Sonic shakes while my parents talked up front. All of a sudden my parents turned around and asked "So, when are you and lover boy getting married?". I didn't know whether to laugh with excitement because "Yay, my parents think we are getting married!" or sad because "Dang it! I don't know.". So instead, I stumbled over words, spitting out only a couple of nearly inaudible excuses of why we weren't engaged and why I didn't know when or if we would be. My parents (having heard the mall story earlier in the week) pointed out that men may play about a lot of things, but looking for engagement rings with their girlfriends is NOT one of them. I felt crushed. Nothing like your loved ones confirming the IDIOT stamp you find on your forehead sometimes. I sulked for days, praying that I hadn't dashed all opportunities of marrying Justin.

One week later- I had been working with one of my favorite supervisors throughout the day. She knows our business like the back of her hand, but she also treats me like a niece. We had finished business and were catching up. She asked me if Justin and I had been making plans yet. I immediately fell into a rush of inaudible explanations of what I knew, didn't know, couldn't explain, when I stopped myself and looked up. I can remember saying clear as day and without worry for the first time in days "We are getting married one day, I just have no idea when that will be exactly." When Justin and I went to dinner that night, he was asking me about our visit. I told him how she had asked about us and when he asked what my response had been, I said it again with the same confidence I had found earlier in the day. I can remember this really sweet, tender smile coming across his face just then, but I, in my infinite stupidity, began to panic and worry I had said something I shouldn't have and that he may have been upset. When I got home that night, I paced my room, thought out loud for a little while, and then sat down at my desk. I had every intention of apologizing for what I had said and explaining, but then I saw it. Justin had written me just minutes before. Inside his email he told me how happy it had made him to hear what I had said, along with a few other very sweet words. I was relieved and happy...and very confused as I again realized I had NO idea when or if he would actually ask me.

Justin and I met for dinner two nights later. I could tell he wasn't himself the second I got in his truck. As the night drug on, he got worse. He was snippy and fussy. Nothing was right. Everything bothered him. His sentences were made up of about 4 words at best. By the time we got back to my car (that I had bought the day before), I had given up on cheering him up. To be honest, I was pissed. I had gone from surprised, to hopeful, to apologetic, to sympathetic, to annoyed, to GO AWAY YOU ANNOYING STRANGER. When he suggested I show him my new car, the last thing I wanted was to sit with him any longer. Still, I said sure because I had no good excuse (I just didn't say it nicely.) When he got in the car he proceeded to tell me how nice it was and asked about a few buttons and lights. I was short with him. I mean really short. Next thing I know, he is staring at the floor mat, the radio, the door handle, the radio again. Every time his eyes rested on me, they would dart off again and he would open his mouth to say something and then stop. I had had just about enough and was about to tell him that when he started talking. Y'all, my husband's voice had never been so low up until that point. For once, it wasn't filled with the excitement and laughter I had heard for the past 4 months straight. Instead, it was serious, very serious, and a little nervous. All I can remember him saying is that he had been thinking about our future for a while and he knew he wanted to marry me. He then said he wanted to marry me soon. Then he said very soon. Then he said he wanted to marry me before New Years. Then he said he wanted to marry me before Christmas. Then his words began to rush a bit as he pointed out I had said Christmas was my favorite time and he wanted us to share it together as a husband and wife. All I could think to do was nod and say yes quietly after every sentence. It all sounded good- so completely wonderful and good. 

I went home surprised and happy and completely at peace. At the same time, I wondered if being engaged felt like being engaged because I felt nothing of the sort. It felt like we had just titled something that maybe had already been. I wondered how I was supposed to tell my parents & what to tell them. Somehow the running straight into the room and exclaiming it out loud like I had always imagined didn't seem to fit. I think it all came out after mentioning we had had some talk and we were getting married and we were looking for a place to live after we got married. (Yeah, super clear announcement after your family already knows you are going to marry the man you say you love, right? *So I needed to buy a vowel or two.*) When the announcement was made a little more clear to my parents they welcomed it with open arms. They had a quiet dinner, not so much to plan a wedding as it was to welcome Justin officially into our family. It wasn't until the end of the meal that Daddy became serious and mentioned the engagement. He went on to tell Justin that I wasn't of little consequence to my mother and him and then, for the first time in my life (that I know of anyway), threatened to kill anyone who hurt me. *Just touches your heart when your daddy puts a glimmer of fear into your future husband, doesn't it.* My parents are quiet people. They are sweet and beyond patient and loving unlike anyone else I know. They made a quiet life for us, in a close group of 5 people that couldn't function properly without one in the group. We laugh hard, feel with each other, and speak sarcasm fluently like nobody's business. What can I say? I have an awesome family. That night, my family welcomed Justin into that group with open arms. It was pretty great, and the next day I officially felt engaged.

We ordered my ring and had it resized soon after that fateful proposal in the car. It took too long for me, but then again somehow it just didn't matter when it came to my thoughts on our engagement. I wanted my ring so everyone could know what we did, but I still felt engaged without it. It wasn't one of the fancy proposals I dreamed up. It was real and it was perfect...even with all of the mess ups and nerves and mood swings surrounding it. I later confessed my engagement ring blooper to Justin. He later admitted he had planned to propose on my birthday in Jefferson, Texas, but wasn't sure he could wait. He also admitted he had been serious about looking for the ring at the mall that day, and had been upset when I didn't want to. He had also debated on whether or not to ask me after I'd practically said forget it at the mall. That said, my confession at dinner had apparently been all the assurance he had needed in order to propose and he had known I would be worried about having told him, so he had intentionally rushed to write me that night before I could apologize. As for the sour mood on engagement night, he hadn't noticed. He blames nerves, seeing as he had no idea how he was going to tell me what he wanted to tell me that night.

How about you? Any engagement memories to share?

Funny Discussions (Year 1)

October 19, 2014

So before settling onto the blogging futon tonight, Justin and I braved the grocery store. Okay, so it was not that bad. Among our many achievements we tagged in our first year of marriage, our battle plan for grocery shopping is perhaps one of our proudest. First, I not only make the grocery list, but I list the items exactly as they are found in the store. (Ex. Produce, Fruit, Chips, Meat, Dairy, Frozen, etc.) Second, we always go after dinner. (Less foot traffic this way) Third, tell the bagger we will bring the buggy back in so he will not follow us out in awkward conversation. Yep, we are a happy, preplanning couple in this household. :)

With such routines, there does bring a level of comfort I've noticed. Perhaps too much comfort. Tonight as we reached the final item on the list, a disagreement broke out between us. Oh, it wasn't a fight per say, merely the same argument we have shared since the first weeks of our marriage. What is it that could possibly be so important you might ask. Well, please let me tell you. Crest or Colgate. Yes, indeed, while the rest of our country sets out to vote in less than a week on our states speakers and additional amendments, you can bet that we will be in silent agreement on our votes for candidates, but still in strong disagreement of the toothpaste that will ultimately reign in our home. As we stood taking turns throwing facts back and forth to one another, each of us staring longingly at the preference of his and her choice, a bagger who was no more than 16 years old quickly walked passed us. It wasn't until that moment that I realized just what a stranger may have thought of our conversation- a conversation that we have had who knows how many times in the last year. As we unloaded the buggy a couple of minutes later, I couldn't help but consider what had just passed. This is life for us. We had finished our debate and laughed our way to the counter with a temporary choice in the buggy, and no final decision actually made. I also stopped to consider how many other unimportant, and yet vital, disagreements have come into our conversations this last year. Here are the top 10 that we can think of now...  (Pictures provided by husband from our 1st Anniversary!)

1. Nike or Anything Other than Nike- Justin swears by Nike. Anything else is less than worthy of being worn in our family. I believe it was his grandmother who said it perfectly a couple of months ago when she told me "Justin would think he were the mistreated stepchild if he were given anything but Nikes to wear." No joke, ladies. He knows those shoes like I know my favorite Bath and Body Works scents.

Someone was getting silly with the camera...

2. Curly Fries or Tator Tots- Oh, yeah, the first time we decide to treat ourselves to frozen potatoes and it takes 10 seconds for mayhem to occur. Apparently, men can care nothing for potatoes when you serve them hot from the pan, but if you dare to serve them next to a burger in a few weeks the situation becomes critical. (In the end, the sales prices won out and we both got what we wanted.)

3. How to Make Up the Bed- I can be a bit...what's the word...anal when it comes to some things. It is amazing the habits you can have and not realize until you are married. For instance, after I have the covers in place and the pillows stacked neatly on the bed, apparently I make one final venture to each side to straighten the lengths of the comforter on each side. Poor thing thought I didn't know he knew how to make up a bed. Needless to say, I don't do that anymore...I don't think anyway. Justin?

I'm catching on to someone being silly with the camera...

4. How to Swallow a Pill- According to my husband, you have to tilt your head back with a large gulp of water and no one can watch you. Oh, and no conversation with him (or he will choke). For me, you put the pill in your mouth, take a sip of water, and swallow. You can watch, but wouldn't that be boring? :)

5. To Be or Not To Be Animated- Whether or not to watch a favorite childhood cartoon movie or a "real people" movie during dinner has come up only about 500 times or so.

6. Fan in the Bedroom, Anyone?- Why the last homeowners removed the fan from the master bedroom in the south (correction, the most humid state in the south perhaps) is beyond my comprehension. To my husband, this is great since fans are loud and accident-prone. To me, somebody better be installing one soon or I'm waking him up to suffocate with me during the night in the heat. (We settled and bought a fan stand until we feel more confident making electrical installations.)

7. Long Sleeves in Winter- This was actually our first disagreement ever. Crazy? We think so. Nevertheless, last November I went to work upset over it one day. The problem was corrected by lunch though and now I am happy to say we both remind each other to grab our jackets when it gets chilly outside.

8. No Lizards in the House- About a month ago, I walked into the living room to find a baby lizard wriggling by the front door. The conversation went something like this:

Me: Justin!

Justin: Yeah, Love?

Me: COME HERE QUICK. Like RUN.

Justin: Why?

Me: LIZARD. It needs to go. It needs to go NOW.

Justin: I'm putting up the dishes. Would you rather I put these up or get rid of the lizard?

I can't quite describe the look I gave my husband after that. All I know is that a smile broke across his face awfully fast and the lizard was caught and removed quickly. I am also never going to live that moment of panic down.

9. Clean Your Plate- So I grew up with the knowledge that you finished everything Mommy put on your plate. It wasn't hard (unless it was wild rice- Yuck!), but nevertheless I do the same today. About a week ago, Justin informed me that when we go to dinner at his grandparents house such is not the case. That may have been nice to know before I finished the 3 enchiladas, refried beans, and Mexican cornbread Ma had placed on my plate. It was delicious, but 2 hour hours late I was certain that a Sonic sundae was not what I wanted to finish the night. I haven't quite figured out how to handle this situation because I can't let good food go to waste, but at the same time I'm told more may be added to my plate in the future if I keep this up. *Prayers are welcomed.*

10. Holmes Inspection or Rehab Addict- Netflix started this one. While both of us enjoy these shows, Justin has become a Holmes Inspector apprentice of sorts. (I mean, he truly intended to caulk around our kitchen cabinets and seal our bathtub at 9:30 the other night.) I, on the other hand, had to see how Nicole would be refinishing the kitchen in her 1916 home remodel. Solution to this one has been semi-settled though- Holmes on weekends and Rehab on weeknights!

Awww...finally a happy, sweet picture to put in the album. Still glad to catch some fun on camera, though! :)

I am sure some people may read this and say "Seriously?", but come on surely you and your loved ones have some awfully amusing discussions. I mean life can be pretty funny without trying. I may be sneaking Crest into our buggy from now until my dying days, but I wouldn't have it any other way. As long as he still pushes the buggy, and threatens to caulk at midnight, and tries to compromise his way into leaving lizards in the house, and considers frozen potato selections life or death, I will love this man for as long as I live. Truth is, we agree when it counts most. Somehow or another, without laughing or bribing or trickery, when push comes to shove and we have serious decisions to make that can set the path for our future together we always find a way to agree and stand by one another. So, tell me, what funny battles do you catch yourself dueling over these days? :)

P.S. Long live Crest!

One Year!

I know that this post will be just a couple of days early, but with Justin playing his game at the moment I find it is probably best to fit in some blogging time for me! Okay, y'all, this is exciting. Are you ready? Are you sure? Don't spill your cider over this or anything. Okay...if you are sure...the news is......

This Sunday will be our first wedding anniversary!!!!!

See that bouquet? Justin handmade each rose from book paper 7 months before. He gave them to me the first time he told me he loved me. Needless to say, my bouquet was a no-brainer.

Sorry, probably wasn't the excitement I was building you up for, huh? Even so, it is really exciting- just mainly for Justin and I though, I know. :)

My way of saying it/without saying it too early! I surprised him at work with a Caramel Apple Spice. I kept the sleeve on it, knowing he would see my writing peaking out from beneath. He found it 5 minutes after I drove away, lol. Not as crafty as the bouquet he gave me the next day, but he did take this picture to save for later I found out.

Y'all I just don't even know where to start. This past year...this past year has been incredible. It has been so full. I don't feel as though I let life pass me by for once. I feel instead as though for the first time (in a really long time) I lived every day. And, no, it wasn't because I got my fairytale wedding. I mean it was a beautiful wedding in my mind, but to me it was real. It was personal and there wasn't a single item there that wasn't touched by Justin and my family, or a single memory made that I regret because of its imperfection. I digress. Back to my point...

Down here, you can't count on fall arriving in time. The air was crisp and cool, but real fall leaves were in short supply. We used these fake leaves in place of birdseed.

I have loved every day- even the snottiest, miserablist, stormiest ones. (Which one of those does not exist in the human dictionary? :)) I have loved them because they were all filled with purpose. They didn't (even the relaxing, lazy ones) fill wasted. They felt- for lack of a better adjective- right.

Probably one of the few couples in existence that took 10 pictures total on their honeymoon. We were too busy relaxing in pajamas and cooking up meals for the first time in our cabin. It was SO beautiful there! 

I have learned so much with Justin. I have learned to laugh without regret and to talk even whenever it is really, stinking hard. I have come to know the pleasure of random hugs, and what it feels like to have someone love you so much that he is crazy enough to think you are beautiful even when your makeup is gone and your hair is a rats nest and you still have morning breath. (Yep, the last one is "EW!", but sweet in its on married kind of way.)

What can I say...except that I am an amazing Car Passenger Artist! Seriously, Love, you should just retire and let me make a career out of my skills. :) Honestly, I was trying to stay awake and it is a long, LONG ride back from Georgia. Will and Nicholas are my family's dogs that Justin hates by the way. They feel the same, so all is good.  

I have come to know that my way is not always the only way to do something, let alone always the right way. (To Rielle and Baby- I am already anticipating your I told you so's, so why bother to send them sweet, loving brother and sister that you both are. :)) I have come to appreciate that at least one of us enjoys the grocery store. (Justin truly has made this one so much more entertaining). I have found comfort in the little things- like the squeeze of a hand to alert each other to a shocking sight or crazy conversation. (You know the times when "Oh my gosh! No she didn't!" just doesn't fit appropriately into the situation.)

Our first trip to Natchitoches together! Christmas lights!!

Our first trip to Marshall, Texas together! More Christmas lights!!!!

I have found comfort in kicking off the comforter in the middle of the night (which I truly hate to do) for the sake of keeping safely wrapped in my husband's arms. I have even found that Transformers G1 cartoon episodes are NOT the safest thing to have playing while working on a blog. I thought I would be so disinterested that I could type or paint or whatever I wanted to do, but let me tell you, one too many episodes of accidentally glancing up to find Optimus Prime locked in magnetized chains or on the brink of death has made me nearly as bad as my husband with that show. (He couldn't make it easy on me and have been a Tiny Toons addict like me, could he? *sigh*) Basically, Megatron is a Mega-distraction.

Our first Christmas Eve! New Christmas pajamas!!!

Justin has proven to be a truly loving husband and I do not doubt that I have married a good man. He may not be the most talkative person in the world around strangers, and we all know my family is still committed to helping him with his speech in fluent sarcasm, but he talks to me. He is sincere and kind and honest nearly to a fault. He is a wonderful nurse. I mean who else's husband runs willingly to the store for frozen treats when they feel bad? (He brought back my favorite ice cream last time, and it was not on the list.) He does everything he can to make me feel better, including going all fitness-know-it-all on me when I have a leg cramp. I've always had problems with them, but within the last year I've enjoyed at least 3 or 4 that had me curled up in a ball crying. That is how I came to learn that my husband can remain perfectly calm and take control of nasty situations, especially the ones where I am laying thinking of how embarrassing it would be to die of a leg cramp and praying it isn't possible. 

1st time at the Duck Pond together!

He is there for me and looks after me without me coaxing or begging for him to care. When he makes a promise he keeps it, and he is pretty good at coming up with random, little fun things to do together- like Taco Bell at midnight or walks in the park before a ride with banana snocones and good music.

One of many, many banana snocones with cream consumed this year. There was more to this one, but...

Oh, and have I mentioned he works hard for us, and he does it without complaint. He is good at what he does- very good. I am proud of him. Not only for the work, or the ice cream, or the removal of random lizards that break into our home (another story), but because of his heart. My husband has a good heart. When he loves someone, or something, he loves them unconditionally. He may not always like them, but even if he doesn't, he takes it personally. He is more apt to feel responsible for any disappointment he may feel than to give them their fair share of the responsibility. (An admirable trait that I lack to be honest.) When he knows something is important to someone else, he does all he can to respect that and even help if he can. When he makes a promise, he keeps it because he knows someone is counting on him. Justin is a good husband.

In the past year, we have made our mistakes. We have made some pretty exciting milestones. We have laughed and cried and fallen asleep more than once on the couch. Everything, whether good or bad, though has been together.

Playing with my new phone!

I love you, Justin. Thank you for an amazing first year. I am looking forward to many, many, MANY more! Happy 1 Year, Love! 

A Season of Challenge

I am officially a terrible blogger. I have a million excuses but none of them are really worth hearing. So, please, just know that I would accept whatever punishment we bloggers have for one of our own who neglects their favorite writing home for some time. All I can sat is that this past month has been somewhat of a challenge for Justin and I. In many ways, it has been a painful experience that neither of us was quite prepared for, and it has at times felt as though there was no way through it. Yet, even through much of the craziness (which is the simplest way to define it) it has been not only a great eye-opener, but perhaps one of our greatest challenges. Justin and I have had to come to terms with the fact that is has impacted so much of our life in the last year- each other, our relationship with our family, our marriage, our future. Nothing seems untouched by it; even if it has had no more affect than to make us more appreciative of all that is good in our life.

When I was single, I thought my silence & my coolness towards my struggles was simply my independence and therefore my strength. After each challenge, I would chalk it up to a great defeat; retelling it years later to friends over a bowl of soup and a sandwich at Newks. It all seemed like such a badge of honor then. Oh, how much I knew. How ready I was to take on the world and all those in it. How I would protect those I loved. *How very blind my pride made me.*

Marriage offers no such luxuries as coolness and silence. Everything about you is in the open. Every secret inevitably comes out. Moments I most disliked in my past (my very mistakes) that I deemed of no use to anyone else in the future, I find myself opening up about now. I struggle to explain the childishness in it, or the phase that it passed with, or just the simple poor judgment on my part. Nevertheless, with a heavy heart I have told my husband more about myself than I ever thought I would.

My struggles in the past seem hardly worth speaking of anymore. Instead, I am more disappointed by how much I actually did let them affect me than I let on. This never-relenting battle Justin and I have been fighting, strangely, is not so completely new to me- how I am having to face it is though.

I think so much of my family. I thought I knew all that they had taught me, but I was thoroughly mistaken. The frustration and the hurt that fills me at times is the facts of right and wrong. Whatever craziness breached our happy little family at times, somehow my parents' voices always spoke over them. When we told each other that we loved each other, we meant it. There were no strings attached. There was no debt to be paid. A hug was loving- whether it be as a goodbye, a goodnight, a hello, or a reminder after disappointment. When we were angry with one another, it never meant for long. Time passed and we always forgave one another. When one of us was incredibly stupid, you always had someone there to remind you of your true capabilities. Hot dinners at night, quotable lines from movies, laughter, and amiable silence are all just the tip of the iceberg when explaining the love my family holds.

The struggle is not quite over yet, but this weekend was the first time we seemed able to catch our breath in a while. First, my parents came to visit. (We are rabbit-sitting at the moment.) Seeing them, and, yes, even spilling the story of our craziness quickly helped because in the end I was still welcomed with hugs and friendly smiles and the promise that they will never change. Everything they said in the past, they mean now. It's a constant which I believe I have always been very dependent. Then, we visited my husband's daddy at his house. It was our first visit and it was more exciting, and perhaps more needed, than either of us had at first thought. The visit was filled with nothing but friendly conversation and a feeling of family that I think we have both very much needed reminding of. Sunday, while Justin moved offices and went to a last minute meeting, I went to visit my adoptive grandparents (I inherited them with marriage). I shared in a cup of coffee and nonstop conversation. It was again the same feeling.  

This challenge of ours, struggle as we might, has done the opposite of what its creator intended. It has brought us closer together. What has been and is still intended to break us apart, has placed us more firmly in love. Our future will, as all lives are, be affected by pain at times, but hopefully when all is said and done and we are old and gray it will have been marked by the love that filled it more than anything else.

To any other newlyweds who might be finding that "honeymoons phases" are the stuff of fairytales and that not all wish you as well as they ought, cling tightly to the love you hold for one another. No matter how angry you may be with each other or how distant your difficulties may make you feel at times, do not give up or feel as though it has finalized your future. Challenges come and go, but love must always remain. The last year has not been a complete cake walk for Justin and I, and especially within the last week we have felt it the most. Even so, I love him, and because I love him I listen to him, I trust him, and I would sooner fight alongside him in this life against whatever troubles are to come than with anyone else. I love him, and therefore I know he is the one God intended me to live this life, with all of its moments, with.

One of my favorite quotes-

"But life is a battle; may we all be enabled to fight it well."- Charlotte Bronte

Now I am off to catch up with some of you my blogging friends. I can not wait to see how you and yours have been welcoming in the fall season!

Labor Day Weekend 2014

I have to admit that my birthday does have a way of falling perfectly close to Labor Day. Having taken off last Monday for our weekend celebration, it was nice going back to work with the knowledge that another 3 day weekend lay just ahead. While I had originally thought this weekend would be one of full relaxation (no running around, no lifting a finger), I was struck with a strange burst of energy somewhere during the week. It all began Tuesday night...

While attempting to write a blog post, I considered Justin's stocking. I had yet to buy the first thing &, yes, this bothered me. While looking on Amazon I found this.

Image from Amazon

Now it is rather large and without much of a home, but knowing how excited Justin would be to have it I could not stop looking at it. The price was too good to pass up as well. I looked around our office and realized at that moment that I had just found the perfect home. Transformers may be a bit cutesy (in the little boy sense of the word), but I figured it was well worth the try to make it a bit "nicer" for a home office.

Justin's Desk Area

My Usual Spot / Guest Bed

Justin practically lives in this office. His work rarely ends at 5 and it isn't unusual for his weekends to be interrupted with work as well. When he isn't working, he plays mentally challenges himself with his video game every few days. Taking into account a spare room that will see use before this office is ever turned over for family purposes, it seemed safe to say it would be a reasonable investment for the next few years. And thus our weekend was born.

Saturday Justin hurried me out of bed to spy on the raccoons intruding on our property. It seems they make the messes in the shop after a rainfall. Good thing we haven't put anything out there yet, I guess, but this will definitely be our project during the three day weekend next month. 

After a quick breakfast, I moved out all of the knick-knacks, books, craft supplies, and scrapbooks from the office. Justin came in to help me move all of the larger furniture to the middle of the room. I set to work painting the walls. Has anyone else noticed it seems to take more paint to cover light colors with dark? My mother once warned me of this, but I didn't know what a problem child this was until recently.

Sunday Justin was forced to play his game on the laptop on the living room couch while I enjoyed a few extra hours of sleep (as is our weekend life at home). I woke up to paint frames for our hallway. (Yes, family pictures are finally up in our home!) Afterwards, we set to work with the most daunting task of all- organizing. With it being Justin's office, I wanted it to be more of his space than our mess room. At the same time, my craft supplies are non-negotiable and I hate bare shelves.

Our bookshelves/supply shelves before

Our newly organized shelves. (His Christmas gifts will fill in the empty spots later!)

Several trips back and forth through our tiny hallway, we were through. I managed to hide my supplies, scrapbooks, "too-large-for-shelves" books in bins under the futon. Justin helped me rehang old pictures and diplomas.

Justin's NEW work area! (The blue is much darker than this in person.)

No, the Transformer will not arrive for another week or two, and the curtains are MIA at the moment as well. So, for now this is the new office. Still, we got a lot done and Justin seems to love it already which makes me really, really, REALLY happy.

My NEW spot! :) See my new fan in the corner!!!! The Transformer will fit on the wall above!! 

This morning again I enjoyed relaxing a bit longer in bed. We hung our pumpkin wreath on the front door (trying to encourage fall too speed up its arrival). We will have to get special hooks for the garland we have though, which is okay since we still need pumpkins. Needless to say, front door décor to be continued.

This did not stop fall from entering our home tonight though. I attempted a pumpkin soup recipe from Pinterest, sided with baked veggies, a glass of sweet tea, and a hot cup of cider to end the night.

Pumpkin Soup with Baked Red Potatoes, Yellow Squash, Zuccinni, and Roma Tomatoes

It has certainly been an exciting weekend at home for the two of us. Only 4 more days until we can do it again. Oh, and thanks to a visit to Paige's blog, I am getting my first pumpkin spice latte tomorrow night! Thank you, Paige!

Hot Apple Cider...not homemade tonight, but still delicious!

Hope everyone has enjoyed their weekends!