The Real Deal

One day last week this is the outfit that I posted.  

I had every intention of wearing this outfit longer than an hour.  

But after I got home from running one errand I changed right into a tank top and boxer shorts and spent a majority of the day laying in bed, feeling quite miserable.

It was the farthest thing from cute or fashionable.

Honestly, the rest of the day was a pretty bad day, which you would have never known. 

This is how I looked most of the day.

It made me think.  I could be a little tricky on this blog of mine.  I can share my outfit and share my instagram pic of my caramel frappacino and how happy it made me

 (which is true, but only momentarily). 

But I can leave out how really rough my day and week last week were. 

Chris and I are in the middle of our fertility treatment.  

I was at the doctor 7 days out of 10 last week.  

I had my blood drawn each of those days, was giving myself shots every night, dealing with some rough side effects, and am in what feels like an incredibly long waiting game.

Overall that day I felt quite miserable, physically and emotionally. 

I don't think there is anything wrong with sharing just the happy or the good of my life or anyone else's.  That is enjoyable to read.  

I love blogs that are all happy, and blogs that are all real, and ones that are a mix of the both. 

You share what you want to share. 

The lesson more for me is that you have no idea what some people are going through. 

People whose blogs you read, people you see at the store or maybe even some of your friends. 

Which makes me want to have a little more compassion and little more love for others. 

Because I probably have no idea what hard things they are dealing with. 

Plus it makes me feel a little better when I read certain blogs or look at certain instagram feeds.

 I know no one's life is perfect, everyone has their stuff going on and life will always be a mix of good things and hard things, whether people decide to share it or not.

Cup 1/2 Full    On Your Heart Tuesday

Happy Anniversary

On May 14, 2005 my dad walked my 20 year old self down the aisle to marry you.  

My first boyfriend and my best friend.    

Sometimes I think the last seven years have flown by and others I can't even remember life without being married to you.  

The other day I was looking through our wedding scrapbook and found our wedding vows written out.  While we've both made mistakes and have had to ask for forgiveness many times, I'm so thankful that we have held true to our promises to each other.   God has blessed our marriage, year after year, for the last seven years.  

I know without a doubt we've made each other better people.  

We balance each other out in so many ways, 

and have grown and changed so much in the last seven years.   

Our first year of marriage seems like so long ago.  Living in our 700 square foot duplex and both being full time college students.  While marriage took some adjusting to, our life together was pretty easy and wonderful.

This last year has been by far the most challenging year we have faced.  God has broken us and drawn us closer to Him and closer to each other.  Even though this year has been incredibly tough, I wouldn't trade it.  We've become a different, stronger and closer couple.  

I couldn't ask for a better man to go through life with and daily thank the Lord for giving you to me.  

Whatever is ahead for us I know we will spend it loving each other and growing together.  

I love you Christopher Jason Vale. 

Happy 7 year anniversary! 

Love, 

Mingle Monday

Things I love about our marriage

In honor of Valentine's day I figured I should talk a little bit about love, right? There is no question about how much I love our marriage and think that I've been incredibly blessed with an amazing husband and a solid relationship.    

Here are some things I LOVE about our marriage:

1.  We've known each other for 14 years.  Chris was my first boyfriend, the only boy I ever kissed, held hands with or loved.  We know each other so well.

Here's a picture of one of our first real dates.

2. We balance each other out.  Chris and I could not be more different.  He is relaxed, and I'm a worrier.  He likes to stay up late and sleep in, I like to go to bed early and wake up early.  He likes spending money, and I'd rather save it.  He loves change and I'd like things to stay the same.
The list could go on.  

Our big differences have caused some conflict in our marriage and have made us work hard to understand each others' point of views.  We have balanced each other out a lot and I know we're both better people because of it.

3.  Our communication.  I've learned in the last few years that a lot of couples we know, don't know how to communicate in their marriage.  I feel so lucky that this is something that, although it does take work, has been a natural part of our marriage.  We talk about everything, from small to big things.

4. We enjoy each other's company and have fun together. The first few years of marriage I remember saying things to other people about being sad when Chris was out of town or even gone for a few evenings in a row.  And many people would tell me to just wait until we weren't newlyweds and then we'll enjoy the time alone.  While we haven't married for as long as a lot of them, we're coming up on 7 years married and I still would always rather have Chris home and be in his company.

5. We love each other despite our flaws.  There is no doubt that there are things that bother me about Chris.  (I am one of the most easily annoyed people in the world and Chris does quite a lot of annoying little things like make gross noises when he eats.  If you ask him what annoys him about me he'd say that I have too many things that annoy me.)  And there are obviously more serious issues that we both fall short it too.  But despite those things I love him more than anything in the world and I know he loves me the same way.

I couldn't be happier with the man I married and can't wait for many, many more years together.
Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet husband.
I'm a lucky wife.

linking up with:

Blonde Episodes