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My forever Valentine ♥️ We wed in the summer

My forever Valentine ♥️

We wed in the summer of 2004. I was 23; he was 27. We were babies when we exchanged vows, but ready for our journey together. While we brought along an excess of love for the ride, we also made sure to pack a lot of pride & selfishness, too. We’d each unpack both at different times throughout the first 9-12 years of our adventure together & it just became an old act we’d play with each passing disagreement or argument... both of us performing the role of a spouse we were never meant to be cast. Our baggage was an anchor keeping us tethered to the ocean floor both gasping for air when the waves would crash around us.

I don’t care what social media says or how the highlight reels of life make it appear...marriage is H A R D.

Like breathing in air without thinking twice, loving my husband has always been effortless. He is my best friend & the absolute love of my life & there’s no one who makes me smile bigger or laugh harder than his crazy self. However, it turns out that love isn’t all you need in a marriage. Over the last 16 years, we’ve grown both personally & as a couple & we slowly cut the cord of what kept us bobbing just above the surface for so many years. Pride & selfishness have NO place in any kind of relationship, marriage or otherwise.

Humility & grace are languages we’ve both acquired & will continue to fine tune and become fluent as we grow old & gray together. We’ve intentionally shifted our priorities (God, us, kids, etc) & realized we don’t have to RSVP “yes” to every argument we’re invited. Marriage isn’t always easy, but for us it’s always been worth it. Every tear. Every disappointment. Every battle we were never meant to fight. Giving up would’ve been too easy & we meant what we vowed when we said “for better or for worse”. So here’s to my friends whose marriage is in a bobbing season right now. I see you.
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#marriagestory #marriage #forbetterorworse #houstonbloggers #houstonblogger #reallifestory #travel #banffnationalpark #lakemoraine #travelphotograpy

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what my bo

It’s been a while since I’ve shared what my boys are reading, but recently I was asked about my 7th grader’s book collection so I thought it would be fun to share.

My oldest has always been a voracious reader. In the last couple of years, he’s figured out which genres he prefers (dystopia, literary fiction, suspense/thriller) and once he finds an author with a writing style he enjoys reading he sets himself on a mission to read everything they’ve ever authored.

This is his current stack. He’s worked his way from the bottom up to The Hate You Give (which he’s reading now and loves) and then he’ll move onto The Cousins and Five Total Strangers next.

If you asked him which out of the bunch is his favorite, he’d tell you why he can’t pick just one and then proceed to tell you about them (without any spoilers) because he loves talking about books. I feel that on such a deep level 🤣

What’s your middle schooler reading these days? We’ve been using Amazon and Goodreads to help him make his choices, but we’re always looking for new books!!!👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
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#amazonbooks #middleschool #bookstagram #bookrecommendations #bookish #bookstack #goodreads

It’s the picture ledges for me 🙌🏼 @amazon

It’s the picture ledges for me 🙌🏼
@amazon came in clutch with this set of three narrow wood shelves. Perfect for small spaces! I shopped my house for the decor and bought a few cascading plants from @ikeausa to finish it all off (I have a black thumb, so faux greenery is a must for me).
More details in stories☝🏼
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#redecorating #homedecor #walldisplay #pictureledge #amazonfinds #amazonprime #cozyhomedecor #cozyhouse #marshallsfinds #tjmaxxfinds #hgtvhome

Gave the kitchen a little mini makeover by changin

Gave the kitchen a little mini makeover by changing out the decor above the cabinets. I used a mixture of placemats and baskets to create this display and LOVE the way it turned out....especially the texture & dimension 🙌🏼

If you’re trying to create something similar in your own home, scour the placemats at @marshalls, @homegoods, and @tjmaxx . You can find a set of 6 for right around $12. And whatever you don’t use as part of your display can be repurposed as decor around your house (great for layering!)

Check out the details in stories☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼☝🏼
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#basketdecor #basketdisplay #kitchendecor #bohovibes #hgtvhome

My love language is words of affirmation. And not

My love language is words of affirmation. And not because I have a need to feel validated. I really just love feeling seen. I’m sure in some ways you can relate to that, too.

I often muddle through the day-to-day repetition feeling invisible. From household chores, to grocery shopping, to carpool, and everything in between…I sometimes wonder if anyone notices all the mundane tasks I perform to keep things moving forward. HELLO?! Does ANYBODY see me?!

I imagine Hagar felt the same way when she ran away from Sarah & Abraham. Mistreated and betrayed, she wandered into the desert alone and afraid…and pregnant! Did anyone care that she was gone? Did anyone love her enough to wonder if she or her unborn child would be okay? I can only imagine that her heart was filled with despair.

But God.

The angel of the Lord met her where she was. In her sorrow and desperation, God pursued Hagar and Hagar was awestruck and encouraged. “You are the God who sees me” (Genesis 16:13).

He sees you, too my dear friend.

The same God who pursued Hagar in the desert is the same God chasing after you now. He meets you right where you are. He sees you. ALL of you.

He sees the meals you cook and the ones you skip. He sees the laundry you fold and the dishes you wash. He sees your sleepless nights and your early mornings. Every laugh. Every tear. Every word spoken out of anger and praise. He has a front row seat to every success and failure. He doesn’t just show up to the scene…He’s already (always) there. You don’t have to strive for His attention because you’ve already got it.

What a comfort it is to be so fully seen by the One who knows us inside and out (and loves us anyway). Dear friend, you matter. I pray that you always feel seen and that you never doubt for one second how deeply you’re loved by the God who never lets his gaze stray from your view.
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#wellwateredfaith #wordbeforeworld #womenoffaith #propelwomen #shedelights #sheisbold #lesshustlemoregrace #faithinspired #faithfilled #coffeecupgospel #shereadstruth #shespeakstruth #biblegram #biblejournalingcommunity #coffeecupwisdom

💫Unpopular Opinions – we’ve all got ‘em.

💫Unpopular Opinions – we’ve all got ‘em. How do mine stack up against yours?

1️⃣ Mountains ⛰ > beach 🏖 . Always. There’s just so much sand at the beach. And it’s hot. SO hot. And there’s nothing to do but get sandy and stay hot.

2️⃣ Oysters 🦪 are the candy of the sea. This is not up for debate.

3️⃣ There is only one way to eat a Kit Kat. Layer by layer. It just makes the best sense.

4️⃣ Wine is 🤢🤮I really want to be the girl who’s all “Cabern-YAY!!!”, but I’m definitely more the girl who’s “Merl-NO”.🍷

5️⃣ The only way to enjoy French fries 🍟 is with ranch dressing. I won’t entertain any arguments that suggest otherwise.

6️⃣ The best way to read a magazine is from the back to the front. All the best stuff is always at the end anyway.

7️⃣ Coffee is best when it’s cold…and black. Like hot coffee that’s been sitting there for a while waiting on you kind of cold…not iced.☕️

8️⃣ Traffic is relaxing. Kind of like sitting in your car in a parking lot.🚘

9️⃣ I love wearing socks to bed 🧦

🔟Thin crust pizza is superior to thick 🍕

Do we share any unpopular opinions?! Or do you have one you want to share?! 👇🏼

Just a quick update until I have enough energy to

Just a quick update until I have enough energy to string together more coherent thoughts, but for those of you who’ve reached out to check on me, I’m doing okay!

This bed has been my home for the last 13 days and most days this is how it looks. Unkempt, disheveled, and strewn with bibles & journaling supplies on my side. Lonely, cold, and neat on my husband’s. It’s provided respite for my weary body and blanketed me with comfort from the nagging aches and pains this virus has wreaked on my muscles and joints. It’s where I curl up every morning and read my bibles and sit to journal. It’s where I lay my head mid-day to close my eyes when the malaise sets in or fall asleep early evening as another headache knocks me out….again. And as much as I appreciate the relief she’s afforded me, I will not miss her in the slightest when I’m away from her for the majority of the day (which is hopefully VERY soon!)

I spoke too prematurely when I said I was better the other day, but (fingers crossed) I think I’ve actually turned the corner toward recovery this time for real. This virus can best be described as a rollercoaster from which you can’t get off. Complete with ALL the discomfort & feelings that go along with riding one. And while I might be leaving this excursion slightly dizzy and exhausted, I’m prayerful I’ll be feeling like myself again asap (and hopeful my sense of smell will return along with my energy).

Thank you….THANK YOU… for reaching out and checking in on me and my family. For the messages. The texts. The food deliveries. The scriptures. The notes of encouragement. Thank you for everything. Your kindness has made a world of difference.

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