grateful heart

i am grateful for...
Best Friends. Sisters. Husband. Home. Coffee. Jesus.

Photo Cred: Caitlin Killoran Photography

 

Where is Time Going

Honestly where does the time go and how is it May 15th already.

Day 135|365 that is just crazy!!

The number of times I've tried to write a post is pretty high and instead of saving it in drafts I've just completely deleted the whole thing - sometimes this blogging thing is hard!

My life has felt like a whirlwind lately and since I'm all about the lists with my new found love of bullet journaling that is what you are getting as a recap of my life as of late; a list and pictures::

:: My sister and I {with the help of my dad} successfully threw an early 60th Surprise Birthday party for my mom. Her birthday isn't until June 4 but we decided on Mother's Day weekend instead and thank goodness that we did because it was the perfect front to not cause too much suspicion!!

:: I'm in love with Create The Cut and their florals make me happy to sit in photoshop for hours

:: Even if life seems to be zooming by I still made time to sit, read and laugh at my fat cat

:: My sister put an offer in on a house and since I never had that experience I'm ESTATIC for her and her boyfriend!! {crossing my fingers the home inspection goes good}

:: Steven and I planted Hydrangeas {okay he planted and I watched and watered them when he told me} along the fence in our back yard and they are so cute. They are the incrediball variety so I can't wait until they start getting some Huge blooms!

:: We were really hurting for rain and now since it has started it won't stop and we are really wanting sunshine. Sometimes I think farmers are bipolar because one week they want one extreme & after they get it, then they want the other extreme haha

:: I went in to the Dermatologist for a skin check on the 8th. I hadn't been there since 2011 and had some moles I was worried about. I ended up needing 2 removed {one on each breast} and had that procedure done on the 12th. So now I have stitches and I am hoping and praying that the tests on the moles comes back with no abnormalities. It is still a scary thing to go through and I really wish those test results were instant!!

:: Met up with my best friends for supper this week and I really wish we all lived in the same town - it was great to see and talk to them in person instead of via technology

:: This weekend we aren't slowing down either - Tonight: is Ron White - Tomorrow: My youngest SIL graduates from college - Sunday: Soon-to-be-cousin's Bridal Shower :: Whew, I guess I can sleep when I'm dead ;-)

Hope you all {the 3 people that read my blog hehe} have a wonderful weekend and if you are Norwegian don't forget to celebrate Syttende Mai!!

Do you have that group?

Do you have that group of people in your life? 

You know, the people you can tell anything to. 

The ones you laugh with.

The ones you cry with.

The ones you vent to.

The ones you sit in silence with. 

Do you have that group?

I hope so.

Do you continue to make friends throughout your life? 

I hope so. 

But what if you didn't? What if you were content with the friends you had?

…

I went to college without any of my best friends. I was terrified. I knew I had to meet new friends but I really liked the ones I already had. I was afraid I was going to lose touch with my best friends, the group of girls that I had pretty much been inseparable with for 5+ years. 

Guess What?! I survived and our friendship survived - all while we made new friends along the way. 

These are still my Best Friends - Not sure much will ever change that

Friendship is a great thing because, the beauty of it is you can have more than one. 

I've made so many lasting friendships and I'm happy for each one of them and the different things they have taught me. 

As I get older and learn along the way, I have realized I'm happy to continue making friends because honestly how boring would that be or how rude would I look if I didn't want any more. I just think of the people I wouldn't know, the lovely smiles I would have missed out on if I would have turned the other cheek to a new friendship. 

Source

"Close relationships, more than personal satisfaction or one's view of the world as a whole, are the most meaningful factors in happiness. If you feel close to other people, you are four times as likely to feel good about yourself than if you do not feel close to anyone." Magen, Birenbaum, and Pery 1996

So go put yourself out there. Be a part of something bigger - care about someone and be cared for in return.

As this post is part of the #CheersNotJeers linkup I'd like to offer some Cheers to some amazing people in my life and our friendships {new & old}

: My High School Besties {pictured above}

: My College Friends 

: My Lisbon Friends

: My Lake Friends

: & Lastly my Happy Hour Blog Friends >>

:: Lexe : Ashten : Brit : Erin : Margaret : Nikki : Meg : Kate : Amber ::

Click below to check out my lovely sponsor!

L.I.V.I.N.G.

It is amazing to me...My pageviews keep climbing and I haven't written a post for over a week. Thanks to all you lovely readers who keep coming back. I've been a little MIA and for that I'm sorry. 

What have I been doing you ask?! 

L.I.V.I.N.G. 

Sometimes we all have to do it. Take a step back, detach from the computer and go do something! If you follow me on Instagram and Twitter you probably haven't missed much, but for those who don't
>

>

Here is a little highlight reel:

I got my picture taken

I hung out with babies

I brought my husband to work

I picked chestnuts

I got stung by a bee

I rode in the grain cart

I took photos

I drank wine

I almost got in a bar fight

I got my eyelashes done (stay tuned for awesome post)

I was in my best friend's wedding

I ate a ridiculous amount of food

I sat in a hot tub

I got a new job

I carved pumpkins

I laughed

I loved

I lived

When I sum it up like that it may not sound like a lot but I've been busy and stressed and lazy and happy. I'm at a really great time in my life and am excited for the new possibilities coming my way! 

Let me know, have you been living lately? I decided to make this a linkup (in honor of my 100th blog post) so show me your pretty face below and tell me how you have been L.I.V.I.N.G.

What gifts do you give?

What is one of the most favorite gifts you have received? 

My favorites are the personalized ones, the ones that couldn't be given to anyone else. 

A perk of photographing my friends is being able to give them some of the most personalized gifts, it really is a great feeling watching them open something that was made just for them! 

Here is what I gave my Best Friend for her wedding shower along with some of my favorite gifts from our wedding and showers. 

Gifts to my Bestie. Canvas, Card & Thirty-One tote

This is a lovely plaque from my parents with the Norwegian table grace and some great words of encouragement 

Let me know what are some of your favorite gifts to give? To receive? 

...

Oh wait I almost forgot to tell you my friend Kate is turning another year older and to celebrate she isn't asking for presents but instead giving you presents. Enter to Win the giveaway now!

Nikki @ Rural Rookie / Laura @ Mrs. Laura Beth / Sarah @ A Girl Smitten / Reba @ Reba K Writes

Karly Kim@Karly Kim / Kate @Another Clean Slate / Jenn @Bad Luck Jenn / Kalyn @Geez, Louise

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The Monday after my Best Friend's Bachelorette Party...

Today is Monday and not just any Monday it happens to be the Monday after my Best Friend's Bachelorette Party. You know what that means?! Yesterday was no time to write and today, well, ya I'm still exhausted. 

Last night, however, I took my DSLR out and took some photos just for me. Spent some quality time with my husband, driving around, checking crops and cattle. It turned out to be just what I needed and we had a wonderful Sunday night! 

So I will leave you with this Beautiful photo and a reminder to check me out on Rachel's blog!

355 Days of Loving and Being Loved

Two years ago today, at sunset, my boyfriend asked me to be his wife. We have been newlyweds for 355 days and he is still making me laugh and smile everyday - I'd say we are doing pretty good! 

I want to share one of my favorite verses from a framed photo mat we got as a gift for our wedding, and I doubt this is the last time you'll see it on the blog because I enjoy it so much. 

"I Do" By Bonnie Mohr:

This is your love story, come true… Your journey of marriage begins with 'I Do' Cherish this bond, it belongs to only the two of you. Start each day with gratitude and compassion for each other, and unconditional love will follow. Believe in each other; support each others dreams. Remember to dream together too. Always give more than you think the other needs. Say, 'I love you' and 'thank you' every day! Trust, respect, and appreciate each other. Be spontaneous, be fun, be romantic! Stand together, but let there be space in your togetherness. Know when to listen, to talk, to let your heart feel. Apologize. Forgive and forget - doing so will make you feel better! Work together. Play together. Pray together. Allow God to be the foundation of your marriage. You have been chosen for each other … it is His plan. With each passing year, you will grow closer together, drawing strength from one another … and two will become one. You will be blessed with the greatest happiness in life, To Love and to be Loved.

I just think it is beautiful and true in so many ways. 

I'll leave you with that short and sweet post for this Thursday.

Warning:: If you follow my Instagram you might see some pics of a new little stud named Ryan and some of my best friends. Yesterday one of my Best Friends had her baby - I get to meet the little guy today and I'm beyond ecstatic. Crazy to think we are at the stage in our lives where we {and by 'we' I mean 'they'} are becoming moms!

 

6 Things You Should Know

This little question post has been floating around blogland and I was happy to be tagged by the ever so sweet Casey from Aslan's Auspicious Albany Adventure. 

I've been asked to fill out 6 questions to help you get to know me a little bit better so here we go...

1. If you could pick up and move anywhere for 6 months, where would it be? Somewhere on the West Coast. My husband and I always say if farming ever fell through we would move to the Seattle area. 

2. How long have you known your best friend? I've been friends with this lady since 1st Grade and she is getting married in 62 Days and I can't wait for all the fun activities to come!! 

3. How has blogging benefited your life? I have met so many amazing women through this little online community! I've won giveaways, made lasting relationships, and learned how life is pretty similar all across the country. It is fun to find such a giant group of women who are so similar and probably wouldn't have met if it weren't for them publicly sharing their stories. 

4. What accomplishment are you're most proud of? At the moment I'm really proud of myself for taking one of my biggest passions and making it a side business. I've always been someone who loves taking pictures and the fact that people actually like my photography makes me feel pretty awesome! 

5. What is your biggest pet peeve? Hands down people making annoying noises with their mouth. I can't stand people chewing with their mouth open, smacking their lips, cleaning their teeth with their tongue…ahh the list could go on and of course my Husband and His Cousin {our old roomie} would make these noises on purpose just to get me irritated! 

6. Were you part of a "click" in high school? Hmmm I guess an outsider may have called us that. The group of girls I hung out with were probably considered the more popular ones in our huge class of 30. I hope we weren't like Ms. George on Mean Girls but I have no doubt we probably had our days! 

Wow, maybe after finding these pictures we just thought we were cool ... oh well it didn't matter to us, we had {and still have} a great friendship!

...

Now I want to know 6 things about these lovely ladies and I hope you'll check them out too!

Lauren

Cassie

Kate {and Adam}

Brooklyn

Karli

Ladies please choose 6 of these questions to answer on your blog:

1. Is this how you imagined your life to be?

2. Favorite evening out drink?

3. Favorite movie, song or tv show?

4. What is your guilty pleasure?

5. How long have you known your Best Friend?

6. What is a current dream you hope to achieve?

7. Who inspires you?

8. What is your biggest pet peeve?

9. Why do you blog and what do you find most rewarding about it?

The Gamer & The Blogger {Why I Blog}

My husband is a gamer and I'm becoming a blogger. We each have our own little niches to keep us busy. Of course I think my husband is a huge nerd sitting on his headset playing with a bunch of 12 year olds {there are probably more adults than I care to know about though that play video games so lets pretend they are all 12} but at the same time he thinks I'm a nerd and doesn't understand me talking to a bunch of ladies I've never met and calling them my friends. Some nights that is our life - he kills zombies and I blog about it.

I am so fortunate to have many real-life friends but in the recent months I've made some awesome blogland friends who I wish I could meet. I'd like to welcome all my newest readers joining me from the Simply Clarke Giveaway; I'm so excited to be part of my first giveaway and super pumped I get to be part of it with some pretty awesome fellow bloggers! {Enter Here}

What I want to talk about today isn't my husband killing things on Call of Duty {because let's face it that is already annoying enough} but instead: 

Why I Started Blogging.

Let's see I've always enjoyed writing. When I was younger I kept journals, which are Hilarious to read now but it is interesting to see how I've either learned from mistakes or kept the same best friends. I love documenting my life through pictures and social media {to an extent} I want my great-great-great-grandkids to know what I was like and what better way to get to know me by reading about how I lived my life. In a nutshell that is why I started blogging, to remind myself what happened on a daily basis and to have something 20+ years from now to look back on and think 'that was SO dumb' or 'wasn't that the best day ever'.

I started this little blog venture in 2011 after my {now} Husband and I got engaged this was going to be our family blog but of course I knew Steven wasn't going to contribute. My posts were few and far between and I took many 'blogging vacations' ... I've since given my blog a facelift and renamed it in hopes I would blog more. Has it helped? I think so, well at least I am posting more and exploring new blogs and all I can hope is people are exploring and enjoying mine too.

Why do you blog?? Let me know and link up! 

Oh and Don't forget to Enter in my FIRST EVER giveaway!! 

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