Thankful 2013

This year has been one of the most thankful years to date. So many blessings have happened this year that I can only be overly thankful for all of them.

This Thanksgiving I had the day off and was able to spend it with Cory's parents and the family. I spent the day before at my mother-in-laws house and helped prep for the Turkey dinner. While doing so, I also learned some of her recipes and some family traditions for the holidays. Traditions are something I love and learning about my husband's family and theirs is always a lot of fun. With it being just us two, we have a few traditions we've already started. I'm looking forward to making more of our own, but continuing the ones that our families have done for years (and generations).

Here is what our Thanksgiving looked like this year:

The night before Thanksgiving Cory made a huge fire and we spent the next few hours making Pierogi. They have always been a tradition in our little Polish family for generations.

Our Family Photo {& a little out-take that I love}

 The day after Thanksgiving I worked. I was beyond thankful for the sunrise that I got to witness.

I am thankful for....

We had little cards that my sister-in-law made that had that phrase at the top with lines below for us to fill in. It was nice going around the table and sharing what we were most thankful for this past year. Of course the paper wasn't long enough to share everything that we are thankful for, so I thought to write down a few more.

1. My Husband & Our Marriage

My husband is my greatest blessing. This year we have grown so much and have fallen more in love with each other than I thought was possible. I am so thankful for the man he is, the kindess he shows to me, the patience he has with me, and the way he makes me laugh so often. I am thankful that he is sensitive to my needs and goes out of his way to provide for me. I am thankful that he is handy and loves to create in our house, making it more of a home. I could go on and on about that man of mine. He is my blessing.

2. Our Families

Cory and I are so blessed to have families that live so close. All of his immediate family live within the Portland area and most of mine do the same. We are fortunate to have such loving, supportive, giving families. Developing the relationships I have with his side of the family has been fun, challenging, exciting, and rewarding. I know I need to make it more of a priority in this upcoming year. I do not want to take for granted the people that mean the most in our lives.

3. Our Home

Buying a house was in my 5 year plan for our marriage. Definitely not my 1st year. Over the first few months of our marriage we had family and friends talk to us about how "great the market is" and how "now is the time to buy". We didn't know if we were quite ready to enter in to the home-buying world, but we decided to trust the Lord and rely Him to make the ultimate decision. We believed that if it was in the Lord's will for us to have a home this year that things would fall into place. His timing was and is in charge and we followed that. After lots of pray and searching, we found a home that we fell in love with (and that seemed perfectly reasonable for our newlywed-budget).  Everything did fall into place and on our first anniversary of marriage our first mortgage was due.

This house that we have purchased has been a true blessing. It has allowed us to explore our hobbies, further our relationships with friends (having more friends over), expanded our relationships, and allowed us to grow our family. Creating a home for us and growing together through the challenges that come with home-buying and homeownership has been something I am very thankful for. I am so at peace with our house and excited to see how our family grows in it.

4. Our 2 Little Pups

Gretta & Lucy have been such a blessing this year. I have always had dogs in our family and we knew that we wanted one when we got a house. This year seemed like a perfect time to add to our little family. After getting Gretta we realized that we couldn't have her be just a single pup in the house. Lucy was a quick decision for the both of us and one that we don't regret. Having two dogs is a must. They both are such great companions, entertain each other easily, and not to mention are pretty darn cute. They are two big parts of my life that I am very thankful for.

5. Our Health

Working as a Nurse I see a lot of illness; lives that have been put on hold to tend to someone's health. Not a day goes by that I don't thank the Lord for the health that He has given Cory and I. 

6. Vacations

Who wouldn't be grateful for vacations. They are the things that we look forward to so much during our busy work weeks. This year has not been scarce of amazing vacations.

Cabo

Camping at Trillium

Beach: Manzanita

Central Oregon 1 , 2 

Not to mention all my trips to Seattle, Seattle

We have a few trips planned for this upcoming year and I am so thankful that we have jobs that let us have the time off, family to help us with these vacations and go on with, and a partner in life who enjoys exploring the world as much as I do.


This year has made my heart full of joy and gratitude. 

xo leah

On Spontaneity

Cory and I recently started to get more serious with spontaneity. We are young, have the time, and the desire to travel. Anywhere. We know that as time goes on life will get a bit busier (i.e with kids) and thus making it a little harder to travel. At least the way we travel. We know that when you get older that doesn't necessarily mean you can't travel or enjoy exploring new places, it will just bedifferent.

 

So with a noticed 4 day weekend next month (I rarely get those, but they happen!) we decided to buy some tickets and visit some of my relatives out in Chicago.

I was born there and my family moved out to Oregon when I was 5. We used to go back almost every summer to visit. But only the summer. My sister and I went in May for a quick visit, but I've never been to Chicago in the winter time (during my memory making years that is).

 

We are so excited to see some snow (fingers crossed), look at all the Christmas decor, and just enjoy winter-time in a cold, wintry city. I'm just too excited!

 

 ~ On another note, Gretta still lets me take photos of her, but Lucy will never sit still. She's a cuddler for sure, but when she wants to move she moves. They've been busy-fun, but I'm so glad we got a second pup. They keep each other company and entertained for when Cory and I are a little too busy. ~

 

Happy Monday

 

xo leah

Lately 11.11.13

Lately we've been doing a few more projects around the house. Making it a little more us. We are planning on doing a big kitchen renovation in a few years, but for now we've been making little changes that have made a big difference in the now.

We are officially done with the now-reno of the kitchen. It feels really good. Before owning a home of my own, and even before that with having my own apartment, I didn't know how OCD I was about a few things. I like a tidy house. And sometimes get a little stressed about it not being kept so. After getting the pups though it's been a good reminder that I need to let go and not be so affected if my house isn't in tip top shape.

 

It's a good thing to start letting go of the little things now. I know in the future the house will be messier more often because of little hands and little messes. Learning to enjoy the scattered puppy toys that are across the living room floor; putting away the spices that are left out of the cupboard from my husbands cooking, and appreciating the fact that he cooks for me. These little things that could get me to say ugh I'm learning to appreciate.

 

xo leah

Lessons In Marriage: #7 Communicate In The Now

 

Communication is key.

 

We hear it all the time. One of the most common pieces of advice given out to couples is to always communicate. Talk it out. I get it. Or so I thought. 

 

I like to think that my husband and I are good communicators. We talk about our feelings and are open about what we want and don't want.

This last weekend though, I learned something about my own communication skills.

 

I need to communicate more in the now. When an argument is about to happen or I feel like I'm getting upset or hurt. I'm really bad at that.

I tend to assume something about my husband (i.e why he's doing something, what he really meant by his words) and then get mad at him for doing or saying something way before I even know the truth behind his words or actions.  Hold up Leah. That's so wrong!

 

In the moment, before I get angry or hurt, I need to talk to my husband;,ask him what he is really feeling or meaning by what he says. Communicate with him in the moment and not way after the fact. It's a difficult thing to do at times; pause and take a moment to talk through emotions I might be having. Not jumping to conclusions then jumping on my husband for those conclusions.

 

This is something that I am working on and most likely will be working on this my entire life. But, I'm so glad I realized this about myself now, earlier in our marriage.

 

What I'm also learning is to not be afraid to express my feelings. Every feeling. If I don't, things will go unsaid and feelings could get hurt. We need to talk to our spouses and be honest with them. They love us and care for us and desire to know what is on our hearts.

 

Talk it out now.

 

xo leah

 

Family Photo Shoot

We're doing a little family photo-shoot in a couple weeks. I'm really excited about it. Rarely do we get the chance to have someone capture us in photos, rather than the selflies we always take. I'm excited to have these photos and to be able look back on the times it was just us. 

Planning for it, I want to wear something that is fall appropriate but not too put together. Here are some ideas I have in mind.

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Photo Credits

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I think I need to go shopping…

xo leah

Happy November!

Here are some highlights of the last month: 

1. Visiting my Sister in Seattle

2. Having a fun little movie date and stopping in at the photo booth

3. Picking up little Lucy to add to our little family

4. Taking Gretta to the beach for the first time

5. Taking in all the beautiful fall colors

6. Celebrating our first Halloween in our new home

And yay, happy November! Let the holiday party planning begin. I love this time of year. 
Mainly for the fact that there are lots of holidays to celebrate, family get-togethers to be apart of, and yummy food to eat..all..season..long.

Is it too early to get my Christmas tree?

I kind of don't think so and may convince my husband to go and get one next weekend. We'll see.

Happy Weekending!

xo leah

My Closet: For The In Between Days

Flannel. 

It's my solution for the in-between days when it's not too cold to wear a jacket but not warm enough to go without something cozy. 

 

This week I've been wearing a lot of it. Along with cranking the heat in my house to stay extra cozy.

I think, unfortunately, I've come down with a little cold. Nothing that a few days off of work, home-made Chicken Soup, and some hubby-made fires that will get me feeling better.

 

Hoping this thing passes quickly. I'm looking forward to a nice relaxing (actual) weekend off.

Flannel: Similar Beanie: Portland Outdoor Store Scarf: World Market

Stay warm (and healthy),

 

xo leah