Time to pack up...again

It's funny how quickly life changes sometimes. There are just some things that are out of our control. Ok, scratch that...most things are out of our control. And I like to have control, or at least that is how I've lived most of my life. But I feel as though I have taken a turn for the best. I have slowly started to let hold of my life and the desperately need/desire to keep it "in control" and am slowly learning to ride the waves.

For example, I have to move. Yep, that's right. I'm moving again. Where to you ask? Well, I don't know yet.

You see, I had a really great set up going. I was subleasing a house from a man who was serving overseas in the military. Good news...he came home...5 months early! I am extremely glad for him to be safe and home. But now, that makes me...home-less. The old me may have just about flipped a brick, but not this time. Did I mention that I need to move by the beginning of January? No, ok well I need to move by January 1.

There have been or could be some other slight changes in the picture, too. I'll let you know if any of those things change. But for now, I am in need of finding a place to store my stuff and lay my head for the next 8 months. This is my newest adventure. I am just assuming that God has something interesting in the works and I am just not let in on the secret yet.

But that got me thinking today, about how quickly life changes and just how you never really know how you or someone else's life may change in a simple phone call. So remember this today...

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree

It's time again to pull out the dusty boxes. Hang the garland and lights. And of course, put the ornaments on the tree. This is what we did last night. Although, I didn't have a Christmas tree, so we picked one up this weekend as we did Christmas shopping (which was wildly successful!). So, we found a 4 ft. pre-light artificial little tree to suffice for this year. (I'm a real tree kind of girl).

This year as I pulled Christmas ornaments out of the box and slowly unwrapped them, anticipating what memories laid inside the tissue paper, the feeling was a bit different. Even though, I love Christmas and everything that comes with it, something felt a bit different...not quite as Christmasy as I remember. Then I realized, this year is different. This year I am unwrapping ornaments at my house; not the home I grew up in. This year, I was surrounded by my fiance and puppy; not my mom, dad and brothers. This year, I wasn't listening to Alabama Christmas playing loudly. Although the ornaments were the same, it's just wasn't the same.

This season of life is one of transition. As I am preparing to marry the man of my dreams and create a new life with him (which I am so excited about), it is a time of transition. This is the last year I sign my long last name on Christmas cards, and exchange it for a shorter, more historical one to share with my future hubby. This is a year of starting/thinking of some new traditions for my future family and remembering the traditions that hold such deep joy in my heart.

I am truly excited for the new stage of life, I will be entering. But as someone very wise once told me, "To every Yes, there is a corresponding No." And even though I am not married yet, it is a time of preparation and transition into that stage of life. There is great joy in what is to come and deep sadness of what used to be. It's one of the unspoken challenges of making this life altering decisions.

Yet, it is a blessing to have such great joy and people in my life no matter what season I am in.

Top left - One of my first Christmas ornaments

Top right - The reason we celebrate

Bottom left - Winnie's first Christmas ornament

Bottom right - Another first Christmas ornaments

Middle - The Angle at the top of my tree

The finished product

 And to end...always a picture of this precious pup.

Lately, still thankful

It's been a while. I've been busy with Thanksgiving festivities that I haven't spent much time writing. So this is what's been going on lately.

I had Wednesday off from work, so I got to spend it doing things I don't normally get to do. Like sit and drink tea and read on the couch in my pj's. 

And I got to hang out with this sleepy puppy.

We then headed to Illinois for holiday gatherings. Thanksgiving day was spent at my grandmother's house, which is actually a first. Usually, that family gets together after the day, but this year we all made it to grandma's for turkey. It was so wonderful to have everyone together for the day. We caught up, we laughed, we stuffed our bellies more than once. We played cards, we talked weddings, job changes, moving, school. It was wonderful. Sitting by the fireplace, chatting, and sipping wine with my favorite people is the kind of day that warms the soul.

We also got the chance to see the rough draft of our family cookbook. I'll tell you more about it soon, but I will say that it is going to be awesome. I cannot wait to see the finished product.

The next couple days were spent lounging, enjoying doing a whole lot of nothing with my family. We went to a movie, laughed til coffee came out of our noses at Starbucks, celebrated Dad's birthday, and enjoyed being together.

Saturday, Jake and I jumped in the car and headed northeast to see Jake's family. It was very much the same thing. Fun, laughter, relaxing, food, and great people.

I am so thankful that Jake and I are so blessed with two families that are so dear to our hearts and who we cannot get enough of. It's truly something to be thankful for.

Even though Thanksgiving is over and the Christmas music has been turned on. It is still necessary to remember to be thankful. Thanksgiving isn't reserved for November and December, but throughout the whole year. For it is when we are thankful, that we really realize how blessed we are.

Thankful: Day 2

Today is Tuesday, but really it's like my Friday.

Why am I thankful today?

Do I really need to tell you? Today is Tuesday...and my Friday.

Also, last night I got to have dinner and a sleepover with my best friend. It was so great to have some quality, catch up time. It was much needed and much enjoyed. Tomorrow I am going home to Illinois. Back to the country, to the farm, to the home so dear to my heart. Back to my family and a big Thanksgiving celebration. It's going to be so great.

I truly have some of the best people in my life. These people are what make my life and spending time with them is what makes it all worth it.

Oh and Winnie, we cannot forget the Winster...

Thankful: Day 1

In honor of the upcoming holiday, I am dedicating the next few blog posts to Thanksgiving.

I have often heard that the way to prevent ungratefulness, envy and selfishness is to be thankful. Makes a good point. If you are focused on what you are thankful for, then you don't have time to think about what you don't have or things that you think you want.

So, what am I thankful for today?

I am thankful that it is Monday and that I have a job to go to. I am also thankful that today is my Thursday. And I am thankful for this past weekend.

This is what my weekend consisted of...

1. Coffee out of a mug.
2. Wedding planning.
3. Snuggling with my puppy.
4. Spending quality time with my future Mr.
5. PJs...all day long!
5. Delicious soup and corn muffins.
6. Snuggling up on the couch and watching a comedy/chick flick with the future Mr.
7. Sleep, and lots of it.
8. Church.
9. A big W for the Bears.
10. A great evening with my mom and grandma and wedding dress purchase!

Also, I ended up losing my voice and had a bit of a cough, so this weekend was exactly what my body and soul needed.

Stay tuned for more...

We made it...

Well, we all survived it...it's Friday again! It couldn't come at a better time. This morning I woke up with a cough and froggy voice (think Kermit), so obviously that means it's time for the weekend.
What is even more exciting is that I don't have ANY plans...well minus tonight. But tomorrow I am going to sleep in, snuggle with my puppy and boy, drink coffee from a mug, and enjoy. It has been almost two months since I've had a weekend at home.

I've been thinking a lot about homes this week. The other night I was watching My First Place and House Hunters. I love watching people dissect every details of houses. I usually laugh at most of what they say but I also love to see the different types of houses.

I cannot wait until the day where I can come home to the same house and know that I'm not going to have to move within a year. I'm going to be able to get live in a house that Jake and I own. To decorate and change and make memories in.

I want a porch so we can sit on the swing on summer nights. 

I want a wrap around porch so that I can watch the sun rise on one side

and the watch it set on the other.

I want a nice big kitchen where people spend most of their time. I want to host dinner parties and events. I want lots and lots of good smells coming from here. 

I also want a vacation house on the lake where we can spend our

weekends with friends and family

....someday.

Happy Friday, all!

Can it be Friday, yet?

I am going to be perfectly honest. It's only Tuesday but I really wish that it was Friday. I'm tired and ready for another weekend. This past weekend, I was down in good ole' Nashville celebrating the upcoming wedding of a dear friend.

This is Ashley. I met her during grad school. She was the quiet girl from Nashville who quickly became my survival method for grad school. Although we only spent that year together, we managed to form a friendship that is meaningful to us both.

We had a great time celebrating her last few weeks as a single gal, before she marries her prince, Mr. Charlie. I am so excited for them both. Ashley deserves nothing less than being treated with the utmost love and respect. And I know that Charlie we do all that he can for her.

But this weekend, reminded me of how I have quickly become an what I claim as an "old soul." I consider myself a night owl, but I am just not as quick to rebound after only 3.5 hours of sleep and a 6 hour drive to and from Nashville. Hence, why I am so tired this week.

Anymore, my idea of a great weekend involves conversation, good food, good wine, and good friends. I'm amazed at how my idea of a great weekend has changed. And honestly, I'm grateful for that.

I'm also amazed that Thanksgiving is next week! Where did November go? It just seems to be flying right by. There are already Christmas decorations up and I heard Christmas music the whole time I was at Starbucks today. I love Christmas, more than any holiday, but I am one of those that believes Christmas shouldn't start until the Friday after Thanksgiving. Let's not forget that there is still an important day to be celebrated.

I cannot wait until next week when I am back at the farm, celebrating all that we have with a family that I am so thankful for. And maybe eating some pumpkin pie...