A good God + Anniversary announcement

{ Image: afavorite }

So it's been over a month now since I have been able to blog, did you miss me?  I can't believe how out of the loop I have been lately--No Twitter, hardly any Facebook, and no blogging...it really makes a girl feel disconnected!  Fortunately my absence has not been without good reason!  We shall get to that in a moment, but I must first address other amazingness in my world: today marks my five year anniversary to Andy Reale!


I can't believe it has already been five whole years, but even more amazing is that the Lord has only allowed our love to grow and our relationship to gain new depths during this time.  As cliche as it is, I can honestly say I love him more today than I did all those years ago.  Andy, you are an amazing and wonderful husband!  I have so much fun with you and I'm so proud of who you are.  I am completely in love and adore who we are together as a married unit...that's why I'm even more excited about transforming this "married unit" into a family-we have so much love to share, and I cannot wait to welcome our little one into our lives.  


In case you haven't caught on completely by now, yes, what I'm getting at is that I'm pregnant!  I'm officially 14 weeks at the moment, and the baby is healthy and things look good this time around, something I am completely thankful for.  I have been warmly welcomed into this pregnancy with loads of nausea and an aversion to brushing my teeth (not because I like to be funky, simply because I am sure to puke because of that darn tooth brush). I won't lie-getting sick is the worst-but I can say that I found myself thanking God each and every time I was clinging to that porcelain throne, knowing that I was sick for the very best reason of all. Its been a while since I have shared or talked about our miscarriage in October, and I thought that I would be a nervous wreck all through my next attempt at pregnancy (I did have a few days of anxiousness at the beginning), but early on we got some good prayer from close friends and family, and I could literally feel the Lord's peace settle in over me.  Since then I have been confident in the Lord's plan with this tiny life inside me and trusting him over it all.  I feel so blessed to have this experience and look forward to the days and months to come as we prepare for this baby.  I have so much more to share, but I'll save that for another day.


Fortunately the nausea seems to finally be tapering off, so hopefully that means I will be able to get back to regular posts and all things social media sometime soon (and hopefully some day I'll tackle making a replacement banner for this blog, maybe June??)  Anyway, I have very much missed my little blog-world and all you dear friends. 


Have a safe and happy Memorial Day weekend!

Amazing

I wanted to share with you guys my husband's recent project with Come&Live!  It's a short documentary (about 30 min) of their January trip to New Zealand.  

God did some really amazing stuff!!

NEW ZEALAND {Our Story} | A Come&Live! Documentary from Come&Live! on Vimeo.

April Fools Slacker

{ At least I had time to update my header--I'm sure you're so sad the leprechaun is gone ;) }

My, oh my!  I feel like I've neglected my little blog here for the past few days (maybe even week!?)


I've been very busy at my new job (which I LOVE) and have been plum tuckered out in the evenings with no motivation to do anything but go to bed early.  Our house is a complete disaster, we still don't have our taxes ready to go for the accountant appointment on Monday (Andy's job = TONS of receipts that need added up for write-offs...I'm blessed to have that job every tax season), and our poor Hoffy is definitely in need of a good walk!  I haven't even done laundry in over two weeks (fortunately Andy stepped in and picked up my slack in that department!) and needless to say we ate out 4 of the past 5 nights because I was too tired to grocery shop or cook.


This weekend we're headed down to Nashville for a video premiere of a documentary Andy did of his recent trip to New Zealand with Come&Live!  I am super excited about this-he has been working really hard on it, and I am super proud him.  It will be so fun to see friends and share how God used the C&L! team while they were traveling.  You can see a teaser of the video below!


Also I have more to look forward to this week as Ralf finally gets his warm weather hair cut (do you remember last year??)  Well this year I am going to be having a bit more fun with the groomer and his haircut promises to be hilarious.  Don't worry, I'll be sure to take some photos so you can all have a good laugh.


Have a great weekend friends!

C&L! New Zealand (The Story) Teaser from Come&Live! on Vimeo.

Love Everywhere

I blogged for Love Everywhere today, 

and it has something to do with these encouragement cards!

Click here to check it out!!  

To Drool For: The Nomadic Life

Happy St. Patty's Day!!!  

Hope you're all wearing green & not getting pinched today :)

I've said on several occassions how I'd love to just sell our house, put all our belongings into storage and travel the nation.  I came across this the other day, and I'm pretty sure I could love the nomadic life even more if I had one of these...

 { The Prototipo by Spanish company Caravanolic }

Here's to a new adventure



I have to share something astonishing that happened to me over the past week or so.  I was offered a new job in design at a fun accessories company called Thirty-One Gifts!  I start this new adventure today and couldn't be more thrilled.  First of all, because of the way it came about; and secondly, because of the fact that the company name is based off the woman described in Proverbs 31. 

The summary version is this: a little over a month or so ago I posted about some challenges at my current job, but after much prayer and seeking I felt the Lord asking me to stick it out and not quit just because it got a little uncomfortable.  I wanted to run away from the problem, but instead I listened to the Lord and stayed, and things actually got a lot better for me.  I was finally in a really great place and happy with the way things were going, and totally was not looking to move on to anything new.  About two weeks ago I got a phone call from a staffing agency to see if I was interested in a possible design opportunity.  I nearly didn't even have my resume submitted to the company, but Andy convinced me that it wouldn't hurt anything and it was at least worth exploring. I interviewed and got the job offer on the same day!  I am so excited to begin working for a company that was created out of a prayerful heart, and by people who seem to genuinely care for others. I believe that it is true that the Lord honors obedience to Him, and that if I had ran away from the problems I faced at my old job, I would have never been presented with this new one.

This verse popped into my head as I contemplated God's goodness toward me in bringing this new opportunity:

"If you keep my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commands and remain in his love."      -John 15:10

Lord, let us always remain in your love and serve you with obedience in all things, big or small.

Geesers

I can't help myself.  Every time I see a goose or a couple of geese I have to admire them.  Not because I think they are beautiful (they're definitely not the most exotic looking bird), not because they are majestic (let's just go ahead and awknowledge that they honk like my old banana bike's horn), and not because they are kind (most geese are pretty darn mean if you get too close).  BUT...if you see one, you usually see another; they are one of those creatures that mates for life, and I think that is just beautiful.

I may be getting too sappy over a big feathered bird, but one night a few years back in a movie parking lot, Andy and I drove past a poor goose standing next to his mate.  She was laying on the grass just next to the road.  She was hit by a car and terribly injured.  The male goose just stood there beside her, honking and looking at her, helpless.  It was one of the saddest things I have ever seen, and I have to admit that just typing this memory out even now makes me want to cry.  I know it's silly, because they are just geese, but it always reminds me of the love I have for my own husband, and how thankful I am to have him as my mate for life.

This morning Andy dropped me off at work.  We drove by a field with some geese in it, and one was standing near the road by itself.  As we passed I said out loud, "Oh, little geeser, where is your mate?! Go back to your friends-and don't cross the road!!"  Andy just laughed at me and said I was a goof. I can't help it, I'm a sucker for love-even if it's between two webbed feet honkers.

To Drool For: Doily Pendant Lamp

I've been looking at lamps so much lately.  My goal is to replace a cheapo Target lamp that Andy has been saying is hideous since we brought it home and plugged it in.  I totally wish I could snag one of these AMAZING handmade lamps from REMADE USA by Shannon South.  I mean, it's only a measly $850...that's doable, right?

{ Swoon }

Countdown to the Royal Wedding

Can you beleive it?! 

The whole world is counting down to my 28th birthday!! 

How thoughtful of them ;)

{ As if you needed another reason to get excited for April 29th... }

 And thanks to the daily news coverage, I am reminded every morning as I get ready exactly how many days there are until this historic birthday.  I read somewhere that over 500,000 people will line the streets of London to celebrate the union of Kate Middleton (she's so lovely) to Prince William (you know you all had a crush on him in the 8th grade).  So crazy-I can't even fathom having a wedding that is this big of a deal! 

{ Birthday countdown widget }

If you'd like to grab the widget to countdown to my birthday the royal wedding, go here

Be there or be square!

I blogged over at Love Everywhere today!

 

Mosey on over and check it out :)

Happy Friday lovelies!!