What a great time of year, isn't it? One of my favorites if I'm being honest. I love that the snow is staying around, the sky has been bluer than blue, and thinking about Christmas is an every day happening around here. And although the temps have been bitterly cold, I read a quote the other day that said, "there's nothing like -20 to make you appreciate 20 above!" True story. We've been staying cozied indoors this past week. Doing Christmasy things...
{like, putting up our Christmas decorations and watching movies on the living room floor}
{munching on cinnamon sugared almonds, pomegranates and drinking lots of hot chocolate}
{making Christmas pillows, and spending some "quality" time with Sami over Thanksgiving weekend}
{some outdoor decorating at mom + dads. Pine trees are so wintery.}
{frosty, sunny mornings. turning the heat up and putting on wool socks.}
{blurry Christmas trees, and...}
{the finished product.}
We are quickly approaching the capstone of what this whole month signifies. As Jared and I attempt to slow down and take time for the two of us, to appreciate the blessing God has given us in a home, in each other, and in His Son this Christmastime, I also hope that you are able to find the same peace, joy and rest! Happy Decembering!
Peace I leave with you, my Peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid. | John 14:27
It is truly starting to look like fall over here at our place. Aside from the fact that I am very aware of how I geek out in the fall over that cozy, homey feel - and decorating to match it - the leaves are blowing, sprinkling down that light layer of crunchy yellows to dust the grass, the windows are open, and when those gray days roll in it's pretty much time throw on some boots and go outside. And be happy because fall. is. here.
As I was perusing one of Jared & my friends, and favorite blogs the other day... (Hi, Summer!) {that's a link guys, go check her out!} ...she quoted C.S. Lewis perfectly and it explained not only why I glean so much joy from blogging, but also felt right on track about this whole "fall-y obsession" that I have an innate need to talk about and share:
"I think we delight to praise what we enjoy because the praise not merely expresses but completes the enjoyment; it is its appointed consummation. It is not out of compliment that lovers keep on telling one another how beautiful they are; the delight is incomplete till it is expressed."
And I was all, "yes!" this is exactly why I love talking about what I enjoy, fall included! If I didn't speak about what I'm thankful for & celebrating, somehow, I wouldn't enjoy it as much!
So thanks, you guys, for listening and just hearing what I'm praising and enjoying right now. Even if it doesn't mean as much to you as it does to me. :)
So. Right now at our place, we have fall goin' on. I've been to a barn sale in the country, I've made pumpkin bread & crock pot pulled pork this week, we're drinking chai, we've pulled out our down comforter & sleep with windows open, and we are practicing the discipline of giving thanks. How are you starting to enjoy Fall?
Right now we are counting our blessings. Here's a taste of what's going on at our place at the beginning of this glorious season.
And hey, one more reason to go visit Summer over on her blog... she made and sells goodies like these 50 promises cards that Jared and I loving memorizing!
So during my favorite season of all time, this is what we are clinging to and believing. That the Lord blesses us with these small joys in order that we may give HIM the thanks! Happy Fall, everyone.
20 days have gone by in April, 20 of which I have been trying to find the motivation to get my daily stuff done - let alone keep up with all the extras. :) "so, hello, little blog." We have been suffering from excessive vitamin D deficiency here... today being the first day I can remember that the sun has come out and its above the 30*s. however....
you can't tell me that's not pretty.
so if you can't beat 'em, join 'em.
april 18 in minnesota, friends. welcome.
I wasn't the *happiest* initially about yet another wave of bad roads, ice, winter coats, boots... {insert reminder about current lack of vitamin d, and add a naturally very emotional woman}... so I tried to stay off social media for the day as to not bust a cork over all the "woe is me it's blizzarding" posts I was seeing. didn't help anyone. so when I {finally} got home, I grabbed the camera. even in my cranky state, I had to admit it was breathtaking.
i love our birches.
so if any of you family or friends find some extra sunshine laying around your house, please send it our way. all of us deranged & deficient minnesotans would appreciate it. oh, and merry christmas.
today is beautiful. it's been snowing for 20 hours straight - hasn't stopped yet - i don't mind.
i ventured out into our {now}lush backyard around inch 4 - right when we got home from church - and i wish i had gotten a few more as the day went on. 8-10 inches later and it's even more beautiful!
so from our backyard to yours... happy december! it finally feels right now. we have been busting out everything christmasy today. egg nog. cards. music {vikes game} music. soft fuzzy white blankets. balsam candles. oh, and this....
pay no attention to the man without a hat........ HAPPY WINTER!
Come on over! After our little boycott of the moving in process, we bucked up and finished some things. We're ready for spring and summer!
We finally have our deck put together, and can't wait for some grilling parties, friends, and warm breezes to enjoy it with! If it would just stop raining so far this month, maybe we could actually use it! :)
I've "potted" the entryway (thank you Costco for saving me time and probably much frustration - I will conquer this landscaping thing, though. More on that later.)
And remember these things?
Well, Jared and I have been having a fantabulous time throwing them off our deck. We have quite the abundance of them, and I see why they were so intruiging as kids. Whirlybirds are awesome! Hope you are enjoying all the lovely springtime weather... our next task is a firepit. But like I said, more on the yard later. It's a story in and of itself. Happy Wednesday!
Oh, it spills in here...
It is a fabulously bright and comfortable day outside... we are enjoying every ounce of it! Aside from working on our budget and a few loads of laundry this morning, Jared and I just got to "be" for a bit. We have made significant progress on the house - granted, we had some motivation to get going, as I will be back early this week to share - but it feels so good to be settled (mostly).
I'm off to enjoy the sun! Hope you have some as well.... happy saturday!
What a month it has been! All good and wonderful things, but this process of moving and starting a new job has really worn on me. So I'm trying to sleep as much as I can and always take my vitamins! So here's the lowdown....
I started my new job 2 weeks ago at the Institute for Orthopedics and Chiropractic. I do massage therapy referrals 3 days a week, and chiropractic assisting 5 days a week. It has been quite like drinking out of a fire hydrant, with how intense it is. I'm treating high level athletes, Mayo clinic and Tria cases, as well as trying to keep my physical stamina up with doing massages. They have trained me in as a Chiropractic assistant, so I help with soft tissue and manual adjustments with the chiropractor, give ultrasounds (not like baby ones - its a form of deep heat applied to muscle tissue - but the concept/tools are pretty much the same,) and prep patients for adjustments. It's a full time job (so thankful!) so I'm pretty beat when I get home from work. My body is adapting to the routine, but it is taking a bit. I really like what I am doing, and the clinic is one of the most reputable in the state, because it is a combination of Physical Therapy and chiropractic modalities... they do things so much differently than I've ever seen them before! In the two weeks I've been there though, I have seen it work!
And the house!! Can't even believe that Jared and I are homeowners. Actually now that I think about it - this is the first blog I've posted about the house. Hmm. A bit behind I guess! Well, then, for those of you that didn't know... we bought a house. :) A quite lovely one, I might add. It's in Blaine, about a 12 minute drive for Jared to work, and about a 35 minute one for me (with no traffic), but I'm daytime hours, and he has evenings, so it's right this way.
With Jared and I not getting home until around 7pm each night, the house projects have taken a bit longer than we'd hoped, but I have to be realistic here. We both work full time now, and our evening time is limited. It will take longer, and I am becoming more and more comfortable with that. This is what it looks like right now....
It will get there. :) There were too many pictures of the house to put all on the blog, so I have created a link to the facebook album by clicking HERE.
The link will work, and you can click through the pictures even if you don't have a facebook, or are not friends with me. I'll keep updating as we make more progress! I am SO enjoying nesting and making it feel like Jared and I. It's been a whole new experience for us - with repairs, hanging blinds/window treatments, problem solving those "welcome to home-ownership" messes, (we didn't have hot water until yesterday!) but we are doing so well.
We have so much to be thankful for, both working at full time jobs IN our respective fields, buying a house, getting settled, being back in Minnesota.... the list goes on. We give HIM all the praise! Have a great Saturday everyone!
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