Everything is so exciting right now with the wedding plans coming together and it really is becoming so REAL! If I made a list of the things I am thankful for we would all be here for days... I feel like there are moments and people in my every day life that make me step back and think "is this really my life?!?" and I don't think I will ever get used to it. 

I was recently talking to someone I only met once and when she heard that my wedding day was on September 28th she was shocked. She told me that I was way to calm for that to be true. I couldn't help but laugh because I seem to hear that a lot lately. If I had to pick one thing that I am thankful for in the month of August it would have to be His peace.

His way of calming me is amazing & His way of providing is unreal. Best of all, the person He put in my life to love me and make me the happiest lady around is something I always want to be thankful for. By the time I do my Thanks-Living post for September I will be married to my best friend which of course makes me super excited and of course, very very thankful! 

Thanks-Living // July

Lately, I have been busy. I know that seems to be the constant around here but I don’t see that changing until mid October and honestly, it may never stop. And since we are being honest, I don’t think I mind all the plans. The eventful weekends are a blessing and I’m starting to realize that. I’ve also realized how loved Peter and I are through all this busyness. All the sweet words of encouragement and selfless help we have received have completely blown me away.

During the past few months I’ve become a big fan of To-Do Lists which only increases my love of paper products so that’s okay by me. Peter has said several times that our To-Do List seems so long and then before we know it we have completed some tasks without any stress or major problems. It’s true. We have experienced very little stress or worry about any decisions and I completely give that thanks to the Lord. The only way I understand the peace that I feel when it comes to big decisions over the past few months is how His Spirit can calm me.  By His love alone, I feel stillness.

Stillness, even with a “house to-do list” + a “wedding to-do list” that tallies up to eleven things right now. You would think I would be running around like chicken with my head cut off (not that there haven’t been moments… for example, the time I sealed almost twenty invites only to realize the RSVP’s were missing the return stamp. There may have been tears shed over that one) but most of the time I feel at ease. It’s amazing how the Lord can do that to us.

So my plan is to keep trucking along while dwindling down the lists and thanking my Savior every step of the way. Thanking Him for this life, my family and friends, and the fact that I get to marry the best man I know in just 59 Days!!!

Thanks-Living // June

June has been so full of life & I can't believe it is over already! As you probably expect, the whole month has been about the preparations for the wedding and our new home. Things are really coming together and I can't believe how fast it is approaching. Already less than three months. Unbelievable. BUT the month of June was a wonderful one and here are a few of the things I am thankful for.... 

1. Summertime cookouts! The tasty grilled sausage with grilled lemons (thanks Apple family for the amazing idea) just makes the summer evenings so dang summery and perfect. I love a good cookout with some fun people.

2. Finally getting to put some paint on the walls makes my heart so happy!!!!! Yes, five exclamation marks worth of happiness.

3. My new found love of Estate/Yard Sales is making my house full and keeping the bank account full too! I never thought I would look forward to waking up bright and early on Saturday mornings but for the past two weekends I've had so much fun. The chair above is an old, solid wood desk chair that I'm going to put in the study with my mom's desk she grew up using. The chair is the perfect match and I picked this baby up for only $20!

Yup, it has been such a great month and I'm ready for July.

It is going to be so exciting and packed full of all kinds of happiness!!

Thanks-living // May

For the month of May I feel like I’ve become a little bit repetitive but I honestly can’t help it. My life right now is all about planning for the wedding & house. Even with all these plans I still feel thankful. At times it can be a little overwhelming and I may want to hide under the covers and not get out of bed in the morning but I also know that the Lord doesn’t give me anything I can’t handle. It will all work out and everything will be happy in the end.

1. I’m thankful for this guy and his thirtieth year on this earth. It was a wonderful month with lots of celebrations from weddings to birthday and I’m so thankful to have him around to celebrate with because I kind of love him a lot. And he just makes things better.

2. All these pretty, bright colors that will fill our future house makes me smile so big. I can’t wait to have dinner with family and friends in our bright blue dining room one day… it will be wonderful!

3. This lady is also making me so thankful this month. It was an interesting thing to find out that I had a second cousin that I have so much in common with. It’s kind of crazy. She was super sweet to help me paint the study over the weekend and using that time to get to know her more was so much fun. Becoming friends with Meghan has been one of the best parts of 2013 so far and I’m so looking forward to all the many memories in our future!!

4. This woman. I really can’t even start to explain how thankful I am for my Mom. She has been so wonderful during all these wedding/house plans and she even found me my favorite piece of furniture so far. More on him later… yes, I named him because he really is that awesome.

May came and went way too quickly. Everyone said that that September would be here before I knew it and I knew they were right but it really is shocking. I feel torn most days… parts of me want to slow the time down and enjoy all the planning and details but the other parts of me want to hit fast forward even faster and then hit pause on September 28^th so I can just sit and enjoy it all. If only I had those options but I don’t. It is June now and before I know it July will be here then August followed by September and then October will arrive and I will be the happiest girl on the planet. I have a feeling October is going to be pretty awesome!

Thanks-living // April

I thought I'd share a few things random things first....

As you can see above I now have brown hair again. It’s going to take a while for me to feel one hundred percent comfortable with it but I’m trying to make my hair healthier and the first step is to stop coloring it. I will miss the red hairs but I love the brown too.

I also love polka dots so much and this is probably one of my most favorite shirts. It makes me smile.

I went to hot yoga last night for the first time in over a week and it was fantastic. I woke up this morning feeling sore in all the right places. Gosh, I miss that feeling!

I have lots and lots of packing to do tonight for a weekend away in NJ. So much wedding fun this weekend for my future sister-in-law Jane, and her future hubby, Reinaldo! She is going to be such a beautiful bride and I’m so thankful to be a part of their wedding day.

Today is the last day of April and I really do have so much to be thankful for. Only five more months till my wedding day and I honestly can’t believe it. We still have a lot to do and I know the little things will start adding up so I’m trying to stay calm and collected during this process. I know I’ve said it before but I am so thankful for a fiancé that makes all of this wedding stuff fun. At the end of the day on September 28th the only thing that will matter is the fact that we are married. I will be his wife and he will be my husband. So all the other stuff is just for fun and trust me, I am excited about all that fun stuff, but I am so incredibly excited to call that man my husband.

Thanks-Living // March

All of March was spent making big decisions which I’ve already shared with you but the best part about those big decisions is who I get to make them with and I am tremendously thankful for that. I truly feel like I won the lottery when it comes to my fiancé. He thinks with his head which is a nice balance for all of my “heart thinking” and the way he relies on his faith and prays with me about these big life decisions makes me feel so safe.

All of this is great but my most favorite part about being with Peter is how much fun we have. He can make me laugh and relax when I am feeling anxious or worried and that is truly priceless. I can’t wait to spend many, many days laughing with this man!

 

.....and kissing him. kisses are also pretty nice!

Thanks-Living // February

This past weekend in Colorado was everything I hoped it would be. Even with the terrible cold I had {and now known ear infection} I still enjoyed all the fun with my future extended family! You know when you have vacations planned and you build up the time ahead so much that when your trip is finished you almost feel let down? That is something I never have to worry about when I have days planned with the Eliya family. The time always goes by too quickly and I'm left wanting more. Of course I am happy to come home since vacations always help me realize how thankful I am for home but I also feel an overwhelming thankfulness for the people I have in my life. The love that is within this family makes my heart warm and I'm so happy I am going to be apart of all the fun times ahead. I spent the weekend with new friends and a few old friends too so I really couldn't ask for more! it really was perfect except for the rude way the Colorado altitude kicked my butt. That really was uncalled for, Breckinridge!!

Seriously though... Spending time in such a beautiful place gave me moments to stand back and just look. Look at the way The Lord made the mountains and sky meet in the most perfect way and then covered everything with the most peaceful snow. It really was something. My soul was happy and content even though my throat and nose would beg to differ. On the last night we were all together we all crowded together in one of the cabins playing games and watching The Oscars. I wasn't feeling well at all {honestly it was the most horrible I had felt all weekend} but everything seemed perfect. The snow had stopped falling which lead to a perfect night of walking in the beautiful downtown Breckinridge city and then we were all bundled up in the toasty living room by the fire and I felt like I belonged. This family is such a blessing and I'm so thankful to become a part of it. I'm so thankful that Peter chose me. And I'm thankful that I don't take any of this for granted. It's really wonderful what a long weekend in a perfect little snow globe can do for your outlook on life.

Until next time, Colorado!

And I am gladly linking up with Leslie at Top of the Page

Thanks-living // January

Obviously January has been a little busy. Too busy to sit and blog as much as I want unfortunately {hello first post this week} but I’m okay with that, a busy life is a full life and I can am thankful for it. I’m also thankful for this wonderful little monthly wrap up I’ve grown to love so much!

1 // Squeezing in as much time as possible with this wonderful book. Yea… there are nights where I crawl in bed and make excuses and fall asleep without even picking up my bible, I’m human. But then there are nights when I crawl in bed with a hot cup of tea and spend quality time with those very important words. Time where I can sit and read and write and talk to the Lord which always helps me understand myself a little bit more.

2 // I know I’ve already shared so many pictures from my first shower but I still feel so thankful for that Saturday morning! Everything was so beautiful and sweet. I’m thankful for the ladies that worked so hard to make it happen and for the ladies that took some time to come and love on me a little bit. I honestly feel like I can’t say thank you enough!

3 // My friend Katie looks pretty cute standing next to her fireplace, right? I’m so happy I could be there to help with the painting, moving and eating an awesome meatball sub at her and her hubby’s new home! I love those two people so much and I’m so happy I have true friends who I can really DO LIFE WITH. Not just be a part of life but really come beside friends and be there to help, encourage and pray for them daily. The Lord has truly blessed me with wonderful friends and I’m so thankful for that!

4 // This month has been a little crazy with all the wedding plans taking place but then I realized something. During all the busyness and little bit of confusion I didn’t get stressed. Not even once. And for a girl that usually gets stressed a little too easily all I could do was smile. I am thankful to have a Mom that isn’t pushy and realizes that this is my wedding day… so far we haven’t had any Bridezilla or Momzilla moments and that is simply wonderful!
I also love having a fiancé that really does enjoy being apart of every step even if it means pressing pause on his video game to look at an idea I found on Pinterest. I mean, let’s be honest… a man that can press pause is a keeper in my book!

2012 in a Bubble!

2012 has been a whirlwind of awesome. I didn't realize how crazy this year was until I took a little journey through the months on my blog. Here are some of my favorite memories from the past year that have made me even more thankful than I could have imagined! 

1 // celebrated the beginning of 2012 with Jocie and Katie -We had no idea how special this night was at the time but now I am even more thankful since we were separated this year

2 // shared 11 Things about me and continued to grow closer to God

3 // i shared "A letter from God" and didn't realize how crucial these words were for my heart at that time

4 // a certain someone made his way back in my heart and I went to a wonderful bible study at church

5 // a trip to NY, a lake day with dear friends & simple dates with Peter made the month of May perfect 

6 // enjoyed the beautiful weather with lunch and a hike in the mountains then dinner downtown which is one of my most favorite days in the past year

7 // the fab 6 had a girls night and said goodbye to Anne

8 // exciting trip to St. Maartin with my favorite guy and some of his family

then a trip to NJ/NY for Peter's sisters wedding

9 // bachelorette weekend in Asheville for Jocie

10 // my friend girl got married....

and I got engaged... October was a GOOD month for love

11 // I got to meet the sweetest baby boy 

12 // celebrated Christmas with my ladies and my man 

I kind of think that 2012 was the best year yet but with all the plans ahead {mainly wedding plans ;)} I have a feeling 2013 will offer some stiff competition for the "best year yet" title but I'm okay with that! Bring it on.... I'm ready!!!

Thanks-Living // November

After the recent Thanksgiving holiday it seems right to finish the month with a link up at Top of the Page with Leslie and the “Thanks-Living” posts. I’ve really enjoyed this little wrap up the past couple of months and I know I will enjoy looking back on all these wonderful blessings one day. This month has been pretty nice and I’ve really enjoyed the end of 2012 so far. I honestly can’t believe it will be 2013 so soon.

I’m just going to be honest, when I look back on last years Thanksgiving, it kinda sucked. I wasn't very happy.I remember walking around my grandmother’s house and everyone asking me if I was okay…

“you seem upset?” …. “are you sure nothing is wrong?” …. “you feeling okay?"

After so many questions from everyone I finally confided in my mom and told her that I missed Peter. A lot. Last thanksgiving we had been separated with no communication for 4 months and I was okay for most of it. I had leaned on my relationship with the Lord and my amazing friends to find the strength to move on but with the Holidays approaching I was struggling but now look at where we are. I’m still amazed that things have worked out this way. The whole week of Thanksgiving I wanted to pinch myself. In a lot of ways last year can feel like yesterday which only makes me appreciate where I am right now even more!

While I’m sitting here writing my thoughts the only thing that I can think of is how loving the Lord is. The past year has been in His control, not mine. Not Peter. HIS control. Letting go of that relationship was the hardest thing I’ve ever done but I’m so glad I did because I realized that my relationship with Peter wasn't the most important thing. My relationship with my Maker is what should lead every decision I make and I know that now.

So right now at the end of November and the beginning of December I am thankful for His timing. I’m looking forward to December and the many celebrations ahead but most of all I am excited to celebrate the true reason for the season… a sweet baby boy sent to this world to die for our sins and that is definitely something to be thankful for!!!
I love this time of year! Hello December, I’ve missed you!