Simple and Sweet Valentine's Treat

Valentine's day is less than a week away.

Thankfully, Michael and I decided this morning in the bathroom that we would be each other's Valentines :-)... phew! Glad we got that decision out of the way.  ;-) And usually we spend it pretty low key with a homemade card. We may go out to eat or I may just make a dinner for us at home.  We don't fuss too much over this holiday.

But this week I found this adorable woven heart at a consignment shop in town and couldn't resist the $2.50 price tag!   I replaced the old ribbon it came with with some bakers twine that I had recently gotten on sale at Meijer. 

So I just cut myself a length of string and hung it on the door that we use everyday.

I placed some paper and a marker nearby and everyday this week whenever we leave, we have to write a little note to each other... with the Valentine spirit in mind.

Then by the time Valentine's Day gets here we get to open and read lots of little notes from our Valentine! Simple and Sweet.  That's my kind of Valentine's day!

What about you?  Are you more of a big-extravagant-date-with-2-dozen-red-roses kind of Valentine? Or a sweet-card-and-simple-meal kind of person?

Alsoooo......  I can't resist sharing, and if you follow me on instagram you already know...

we started on the nursery this weekend! The initial project?...planking the wall behind the crib! We actually finished it all on Saturday but I want to get it primed at least before I share it with you all.  Just a little sneak peak for today! EEEK! So excited!

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Who would have thought...

Who would have thought that 9 years ago, a nerdy 18 year old boy would ask a talkative and excitable 17 year old girl to be his girlfriend.

Who would have thought they would have hit it off like they did.  That they couldn't help but talk way past their curfews - talking way into the future.  Always laughing and struggling to keep track of all their inside jokes.

Who would have thought that when they decided to go to different colleges, neither would regret it... even when a semester later they were together again.

Who would have thought the girl would end up at Purdue University (and love it!!)  And that her and the boy would meet some of the best friends in the world.

Who would have thought that a place like Purdue could be a place of amazing spiritual growth - for them and others.  That God could be revealed and honored in so many different and beautiful ways. 

Who would have thought that the boy and girl would get engaged and married, all before they were done with school.  And that they could work and go to school and learn how to live life as a new family.

Who would have thought they could fit their new lives into a 500 square foot apartment and love it.  And that they could find a balance in budgeting and picking out groceries.  And that, maybe, chocolate malts for dessert every night is not such a good idea.

Who would have thought that the boy would find a job back in their hometown and that their mothers would think they had won the lottery.  That the boy and girl would feel so right about moving home to be near family.


Who would have thought that their new jobs would teach them so much.  That the girl would meet some of the dearest people in her life.  That the boy would be challenged and mentored in a way he never expected.

Who would have thought they could find a church community that so closely matched their hearts. That the people there could share and walk through life alongside them.



Who would have thought that the boy would stop eating Pop-Tarts every morning for breakfast.  And that the girl would maybe miss it a little bit. 

Who would have thought that the boy and girl would buy "the little ugly one on the river."  That they would take a mess and make a home.  That they would be blessed with so many to help them along the way.

Who would have thought that 9 years later, the boy and the girl would soon be dad and mom.  That thankfulness would be pouring out of every fiber of their being.  Thankfulness for the new baby, but also thankfulness for all the time they shared leading up to this new phase.  So much thanks to God that He gave them so many memories and lessons to remember.  And thankful for the ones yet to come.

Who would have thought....

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Also....Come back Wednesday because I'm going to take you all on a Christmas Home tour!  My girl Emily at Table and Hearth has organized a Christmas Decor Blog Hop.  It starts tomorrow and runs through the end of the week.  Make sure you check out all the talented bloggers who have put lots of time, creativity, and love into decorating their homes.

Monday December 15th

Table and Hearth

Avery Street Design

Average But Inspired

Paper and Fox

Petite Modern Life

The Rustic Willow

The Domestic Heart

Wednesday December 17th

New House New Home New Life

Mrs. Fancee

A Nurse and a Nerd

Dandelion Patina

Elizabeth Joan Designs

Friday December 19th

Churchill DIY Mill

DIY Passion

Fresh Crush

Little House of Four

Home Remedies Rx

Dwell Beautiful

The Big Reveal

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4th Anniversary: A look back

Four years ago I put on ma weddin' dress and walked down the aisle in a little church in West Lafayette. 

 I took Michael's arm, we sang songs of praise to the Lord, Michael wiped a tear from my cheek, and we kissed for the first time as husband and wife.  It was a beautiful day full of friends, family, pictures, and peonies.  Some of my favorite things in the whole world!

So much has happened since then.  We've changed jobs, we've changed towns, we've lived in 4 different apartments/homes.  But one thing remains the same, I love this guy more every day.  He's "my top best friend," as I told him the other day.  He leads me spiritually, he makes me laugh, he teaches me things I didn't even know I was interested in learning.  He forgives me when I'm forgetful (which is often) and he does more than his fair share of the yard work... because I hate it. He is the better half and I thank the Lord for him in my life.
 

I love that writing this blog post allows me the chance to brag about my husband.  It is such an important part of a healthy marriage, I think.  To make sure everybody that knows me, knows how much I think of my husband! And I think a lot of him!

I also love that it is a time for the both of us to reflect on this past year and reminisce about where we have been and what we have been up to...Who we have hung with and how we have celebrated.  So here goes!.. Here are the highlights of our 4th year as husband and wife!

 

Demolished the interior of our home down to the studs 

(corresponding post: here, here, and here)

 

Visited Emily and Brittney in North Carolina 

(corresponding post: here)

 

Said goodbye to Michael's first car, Joyce, (I cried) and hello to his new truck, Orville

 

 

Working with so many people that mean the world to us to complete our house and make it a home 

(corresponding post: here, here, and here)

Mourned the loss of my beautiful Grandma Dorrie 

(corresponding post: here)

 

Visited Chicago more in one year than the rest of our lives combined

 

 Moved into our Home before Christmas! 

(corresponding post: here, and full house tour here)

Started enjoying hosting wonderful people at our home 

(corresponding post: here)

Made an epic trip to IKEA 

(corresponding post: here)

Survived the craziest and coldest winter we can remember 

(a high of -15, -39 with the wind chill! And So. Much. Snow.)

Laura's birthday celebrated with friends, pottery, sushi, and a sleep over 

(corresponding post: here)

Visited Jenelle and Junior in Las Vegas 

(corresponding post: here)

 

Became an aunt and uncle again! Welcome Baby Caroline!

Other things that have no corresponding picture:

-Living in my parent's basement for six weeks before we could moved into our home
-Michael's surprise birthday party when we ate pizza in our dust filled, incompletely renovated home
-Losing my family's dog Belle
-Started planning our trip to Alaska with the Benders

Other Snapshots to Remember:

It is exciting to think that we are embarking on our 5th year.  I'm an optimistic dreamer, so I get excited about thinking about what's ahead.  What will this year of marriage bring?  If it's anything like the last 4 years, it will bring days full of laughter, love, forgiveness, and memories with my (top) best friend by my side.  What more could a girl want? 

If you are interested, here are the highlights from last year's anniversary post. 

So how do you celebrate an anniversary?  What makes your spouse the better half? Do you have a favorite memory looking back over the year?   
 

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Come to the River.

 Peach Bud 2014 Update: I keep forgetting to pass on the bad news about the peaches.  Sorry guys, those little peach buds are toast.  Thanks a lot mother nature. 

If you don't know what that means, read this post.

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Happy Easter Everyone!

Today, I thought I would share the special art project Michael and I have been working on for the dining room.

I will post the tutorial later (lots of funny things) but I wanted to talk about the meaning behind this today, on Easter.

The words are from a song by the Rhett Walker Band, here is the music video.

If you can't see the video, here is the link. 

It's a song I heard for the first time our church awhile back and just loved it.  What a perfect message and fitting theme for our home...since, after all, we are on the river.

But, as you can probably guess, the meaning is a bit deeper than that...

The word Fulfillment became a keyword for me in college. One of the biggest questions I had during this time was "Where in my life do I find fulfillment?" Reflecting on this question, I didn't find the answer in my school work, or my job, or the things I had, or my friendships, or even in Michael.  There was really only one answer I could find that left every want and desire of my heart filled. 

Jesus replied, “Anyone who drinks this water will soon become thirsty again.  But those who drink the water I give will never be thirsty again. It becomes a fresh, bubbling spring within them, giving them eternal life.”

John 4:13-14

So this little plaque on the wall? It is there as a reminder, that when I drink from the cup of Christ, I will thirst no more for the things that cannot truly fulfill me. Because only He is enough to quench the truest desires of my heart.

Praise be to the One that died for us and Hallelujah because He is risen!

Happy Easter.

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#tbt: The Return of Grandma and Grandpa Blough

Michael and I spent Sunday afternoon going through some boxes that we have been avoiding. While doing so, we came across a little gem.  A DVD from our senior year in college. 

We were involved in a Christian ministry at Purdue called The Navigators.  The Navigators always celebrate the end of the school year with a banquet where they honor their seniors.  In 2010, it was our turn.  This is Michael’s and my section of the “senior” video.  Enjoy. 

I’m blaming it on the video quality that I sound like Fran Drescher and Michael sounds like he has a terrible lisp.  However, the words, actions, and appearances?... we own entirely!

The Purdue Grandma and Grandpa in the video were actually throwbacks from a previous Halloween costume (2008, I think).

There they are, folks, the originals!

Its funny, this picture is kind of a look at the past and a look into the future! Yikes! That's scary!...scary and awesome!

Isn't it great when you can be crazy and ridiculous with the one you love?  If not them, then who?

What old pictures and videos are you rediscovering during spring cleaning?  Do you have a favorite Halloween costume from the past?  Which would you choose - the pig or the tricycle?  

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Gettin' in the Mood

Bow Chicca Bow Wow! Happy Valentine's Day (weekend)!

Don't worry, the title and first line are as racy as this post is gonna get.  If that pleases you, read on.  If not, leave this blog and never return 'cause you ain't gonna get anything you're lookin for here. Weirdo!

:-) Anywho, I hope this Valentine's Day has found you spending time with someone you love whether that is your significant other, your family, or some truly wonderful friends.

Michael and I are not the biggest Valentine's Day celebrators but this year we seem to be doing a much better job.

Earlier this week I got a little bee in my bonnet and got to decorating for Valentine's Day.  I love decorating for the seasons but I usually don't do too much for minor holidays like this one, since the "season" seems so short.  But I just decided to hunt around the house and put out some love-y and sentimental things to "get in the mood". 

Normally, In the public spaces, I like to keep the pictures of Michael and I to a minimum, but our little wall in the dining room just exploded with some of Michael's and my favorite moments from our 8 years together (8=crazy!). 

I had some little hearts that I had already cut out for a future work party and I decided to put those out to reinforce the theme. I even added a couple of love notes that I had put in some frames.  

 But I didn't just limit the love to between Michael and I.  We have been trying to find a way to display things we get from other people and finally I got my card hanger out of a box from the basement and hung it up.

I also found some pink and white ribbon and I just went to town on the fireplace.

Mr. Michael surprised me with some pretty flowers and wouldn't ya know it they just fit right in too.  :-)

Michael and I spent a really casual evening at home.  I made Michael his favorite meal (beef and noodles, mashed potatoes, rolls, apple sauce, and pie) and we watched a couple of episodes of one of our new favorite show on Netflix.  Have you seen it? An Idiot Abroad.

We have never laughed so hard watching any other show! It has some language that you have to overlook, but other than that, it is great!

Update: After watching the "Brazil" episode of An Idiot Abroad, we would not recommend that episode.  Quite inappropriate and not even close to family friendly.

I also wanted to take this time to send a little love to you all! I am so glad I can connect with you through this blog!  I have found such a great support system in all of you!  I have a blast writing it and I'm glad to know it can entertain you as well.  Love you guys!

 How did you spend your Valentine's day?  Do you decorate for the season? Any Netflix shows/movies that you are lovin these days?

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Everything But the Kitchen Sink

Last Christmas, we received a gift. The gift was from Grandma.  Grandma Dorrie was a spry, independent, beautiful mother of 5, grandmother of 9, and great grandmother of 11.  But she also had breast cancer and had been fighting and winning for years now.  But the cancer had begun to become much more stubborn, just like my grandma.  So last Christmas my grandma gave us all a gift, individually enveloped and signed with a "This is between you and me, love gram"  - So we wouldn't post about it on "that facebook".

Michael and I discussed what we were to do with such a gift: we could have put it into retirement, we could have put it toward a trip, but I knew I had to do something with it that was physical.  Something I could look at and touch and use and remember my grandma.  And I knew she would like that too.  So when I knew Michael and I were buying our home and that we were going to renovate it, it seemed like the perfect opportunity to find a place for the gift to always remind us of grandma.  But it couldn't be something replaceable like a light fixture or sofa.  It couldn't be something easily overlooked like a piece of impersonal art.  Or even something hyper-practical wouldn't do.  It had to be something central, used daily, beautiful, and something I have always dreamed of having.  There was really just one thing that fit the bill.  The Kitchen Sink. 

 

So, in my post-Christmas thank you letter to her, I sent her back this picture and told her proudly that we would be using her gift to purchase this sink for our new home.  She was so happy to know that we purchased something that we would have a use for in our daily lives.   

And the last time my grandma ever came for a visit, she got to see the sink - I made sure of it.  Covered with a dropcloth, and plastic still covering it protectively, she saw it.  

Then, only a month and a half later, the cancer took her.  My grandma passed away. 

I know she is in heaven now, praying for us even more diligently than she ever had before.  We always said "she has a direct line to Heaven" and now we know she is up there with The Father, celebrating a life lived in obedience to Him. 

So now, I have a kitchen sink that reminds me of her.  The cast iron material reminds me of her strength, fighting strongly against cancer.  The white color reminds me of her beautiful silver and white hair, it always looked prestine.  The large basin reminds me of her deep love for her family and God.

Simply put, I see everything but the kitchen sink.

We morned the loss of my grandma today- as we will in the days ahead- but we celebrate her life also, and the new life she has with The Father above - absent of pain and cancer.

I love you grandma!  And thanks again for the gift.