Hanging Pictures

Last year with putting our house on the market so soon after we got married we didn't hang any pictures up thinking it might help sell the house. But in the last month I have been feeling the need to put things up, make it look like we live here, and make it feel more homey. I have been hanging up curtains in the two rooms that we hadn't yet put them up and started putting up a few pictures. This weekend we put up our wedding pictures and hung some paintings in our living room. It is amazing to me how different the rooms feel! The rooms are more welcoming and make things feel warmer.

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

Bedroom Before:

 Bedroom After:

It is hard to give a good perspective in pictures how well the living room looks. Walking in is more inviting and we love how well everything pulls together...which is hard to show through pictures.

Our first date

Heading out for dinner

On Thursday Dan and I celebrated our first date two years ago. I can't believe how fast time has gone and it is strange to think we have only known each other two years. One of the ways I knew Dan was special was that it always felt like we had known each other forever, my brain had a hard time comprehending that I haven't known this amazing man for most of my life when we started dating.

To celebrate we went back to the restaurant we met at, recounted how late I was due to getting stuck in a snow storm on my drive down ( I was coming from Michigan), and the things we remembered about that first meeting.

Flowers from Dan

Surprise Party

On Saturday Dan and I were excited to have a relaxing day at home. We had plans to have lunch with his parents to celebrate his birthday but that was all Dan knew we had planned :) I had been scheming for weeks to surprise him with a birthday party. Around 7 pm a few of our friends showed up dressed like super hero's and we spent the evening celebrating.

The group of Super Hero's

Dan's cake (Sandra always does an amazing job!)

Dan and Sandra

Dan and me

We ate cake, chatted, and watched clips on YouTube and then headed to the dollar theater to see Twilight Part 2, which was really fun with the group :) Dan had no idea or even an inkling what I was planning...of course then I got to share some of the lies I had to tell to pull it off. I was glad we had a chance to celebrate his birthday in a very fun fashion!

Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine's Day :)

Dan and I enjoyed eating at our favorite Thai place and watching our new favorite show Elementary. It was a perfect evening together :) Amazing to think that 2 years ago we had not met yet...and how life changing it was when we did. 

Turning 30

Yesterday was Dan's 30th birthday...so I had a few tricks up my sleeve. I have been planning for months to get tickets to see Wicked for him, found a trivia book on Star Trek, and stumbled across Girl Scouts selling his favorite cookies. And to top off my schemes I was able to have his favorite desert ready for him when he got home from work. We started the evening out with him opening his gifts and then heading for dinner at one of his favorite places to eat. We got home and dove into the Scotcharoo's I made and watched one of his favorite movies. It was a simple night but good and Dan got what he really wanted...a picture of his niece with a sign telling him Happy Birthday :)

Dan with his gifts

I also gave him The Avengers and he got a cookie from work

Now to make you hungry...if only you could smell them :)

Ohio

This past Saturday Dan and I went with his family to visit his Grandmother in Ohio. The only other time I had met her was at her husband's funeral in December. I was excited to also see the place were Dan had grown up, we were close enough that he wanted to go back. So after lunch and some time at his Grandmother's we headed out so we could still see the town in day light :) The first place we went was Milford Center were Dan went to school and church and then drove to Plain City to see his old house and drive around the town.

His old church (sadly we couldn't go inside)

Place were there used to be an old covered bridge

Sunset

 It was a long day but I was glad we could visit family and walk down memory lane. Dan has always talked quite a bit about his old church and the house he grew up in so I loved seeing all the places he talks about.

Just Because

I got home on Thursday night to find these sitting on my counter...just because he loves me :) My husband is amazing!

Loss

The last few weeks have been rough. The month of January started with my Grandmother (Mom's mom) dying and ended with my Dad's sister also passing away. And after getting home from my Aunt's funeral we found out one of my cousins on my Dad's side had a stroke and was in the hospital. (He is doing better and they are very hopeful because he is young.) In the last year Dan and I have gone to 5 funerals, 4 of which have all been in the last 2 months. I can't say this is the way I envisioned the beginning of the year starting off.  Loss is hard...I am realizing as I get older that the funeral really is a chance to go and support the family and express condolence for their loss.

I was struck my somethings friends of my parents said at my Aunt's funeral..."We are now going to more funerals than weddings." Wow...I never thought of it like that, but that is the change that happens in life. People get married, others are getting married, then people have kids. You celebrate graduations, weddings, and promotions and then time starts to catch up to you and the funerals out number your other events in life. I know death is inevitable and I can't say I am afraid of dying. But it has made me think about my life, what do I want said about me? How is my life going to be summed up in 30 mins during my funeral? I know in that moment I won't care :) but I want it to matter now. I want to live knowing I am taking opportunities and not allowing fear and worry to dictate how I act or what I do.

I want to use my time wisely and not leave for tomorrow what I could do today.