Thankful Thursdays

For those of you who've been hit by the recent snow storms and cold weather (below zero here at some points!), you know how important a nice, warm home is. In times like these it breaks my heart that there are those that go without heat and home. So, this Thursday, I am so thankful for my home. For my job that allows me to pay for this home. For the education that took me to this job and therefore my home.

It's amazing to me that in our Northern Virginia area, an area that holds two of the wealthiest counties in America, there are still so many that have no place to call home. Growing up it was important for my parents to instill in us a sense of gratitude for what we have so we were constantly volunteering at homeless shelters, soup kitchens, food pantries, and drives or fundraisers. I hope to teach Conrad the same.

During these cold winter months, if you can, please consider donating your time to one of your local shelters or kitchens. If you don't know of any, check out www.volunteermatch.org for places near you. If you can't donate your time, then perhaps try to donate food you know you won't eat or coats you know you don't wear.

Be thankful and stay warm, friends.

Thankful Thursday

It's that time of the week again - can you believe it's already Thursday? Work has been SUPER busy lately so that makes time fly by. Speaking of work: having a full time job as well as being a mom makes those precious moments that I get to have to myself (and not doing laundry, cleaning, or organizing) extra enjoyable. So this Thursday I'm thankful for FREE TIME!

Whenever I do get those precious moments I love 

 

Reading

 

Drinks with Girlfriends

 

Running outdoors

 

Writing

And much to my wallet's dismay...shopping!

These moments of free time are all too fleeting but are so important. It's nice to be able to focus on things that are not so serious every now and then and to relieve some stress. It's great to have a partner in Sean that realizes this too and so he'll watch Conrad for me so I can make time for myself. And vice-versa. Before I'm a mom, wife, daughter, sister, or friend, I'm ME, Elizabeth, and it's good to spend time on myself every once in a while. What do other moms like to do in your (if you have it) free time?

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Thankful Thursdays

So, you may have guessed it, but this Thursday I'm thankful for this guy:

Despite the lack of sleep, showers, and adult interaction on a daily basis, I can't imagine my life without Mr. Conrad Cayce. When he smiles like this it makes my heart swell so big! I am so thankful for a relatively easy pregnancy, and despite its complications, a safe birth. I'm thankful for the doctors and nurses that brought him into the world and our family that supports us every day.

We love you Conrad! And because I couldn't resist, here's a couple more:

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Thankful Thursdays

So the main reason I've been MIA so much is because we've been working on SELLING OUR HOUSE!! We originally planned to stay in our current home for 5 to 7 years and were fine with having one or two kids here (I was raised in a townhouse after all!) and moving to a larger home before our first child went to kindergarten. However, when the DC metro system decided to build a stop in the area we've always wanted to live in, we decided to go for it - after all, home prices were sure to rise when the stop opens next year, right? So, we took the plunge after owning our home for only 4 years.

 After MONTHS of preparation, blood, sweat and tears from my husband and his father, and me having several breakdowns, we put our home on the market on May 9th - and we had multiple offers and a contract by May 16th!! We are very fortunate to be in such a stellar real estate market - plus we had an amazing agent.

Actually, let me re-phrase that  - a stellar "Sellers" market. Because we have yet to find a new house! There's just nothing on the market in the areas we want at the moment. Alas, when we close on the 16th of next month we will be homeless. 

Well, technically not homeless because we are blessed to have some kick-ass friends that offered their home up to us even before ours was on the market! So we will be staying with them and hopefully not wearing out our welcome for more than a month - keep your fingers crossed!

I definitely have had my moments of panic and stress at not having a home, especially with the baby's arrival at four months away. However, as my oh-so-positive husband reminds me, at least we are fortunate enough to have had a home to sell, have sweet friends who will keep us, and enough money to buy a bigger single family home. So today, I'm thankful for our home; for our income that provides us this home; for jobs that fuel this income. I am thankful to have had this experience at such a young age - I was 24 when we bought this house! It has brought Sean, myself, and our families closer together; provided us a space to entertain and host; and it has been a space to test and develop our decorating, repairing, planning, negotiating, and compromising skills. I should always be thankful for a roof over our head, whether it's ours or a friend's, during heat, rain, and cold - that which a majority of this world lacks. May I always remember and keep this in mind when I'm stressed.

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Thankful Thursday

This Thursday I am most thankful for my baby sister, Cayce Martel (lol, she doesn't like her middle name). She is three years younger than me - and I say "baby" sister rather than "little" sister because she is about 5 inches taller than me! We've definitely had a roller coaster relationship over the past 25 years but I couldn't imagine anyone else being my sister and best friend.

When I say roller coaster, I really mean a two-mountain climb. "What does that mean?" you ask? Here it is: when we were young, we were best friends. All throughout elementary school we were together - playing Barbies, building forts, riding bikes, going to the pool, etc. etc. We LOVED each other!

My mom dressed us alike, we shared everything, 
and spent lots of fun times together.

That was all of course before I went to middle school and thought I was too cool for my sister. And then there was high school. We went to different high schools, hung out with different crowds, and went in two different directions. See how one of us is blonde hair/blue eyed and the other brown hair/brown eyed?

Yeah, we are totally opposite in personality too. Where Cayce is outgoing, confident, and extroverted, I am much more shy and introverted. She has an awesome sense of fashion (for which I'm always asking advice) and is GREAT at juggling family, friends, and work - making time for everyone! She is also super hilarious and can ALWAYS make me laugh or feel better if I'm in a bad mood.

For instance, she was Snookie to a "T" at our last Halloween party - it was awesome. Luckily, once I went away to college and we had established ourselves independently, we got closer again. We now talk almost every day and I don't know what I would do without her. I still hear of instances where sisters aren't close or don't speak/hang out and I can't imagine that. I love my sister!

And she made a GREAT Maid of Honor, giving an amazing speech (making everyone cry of course), and doing what she does best: loving all those around her!

 So although we are completely different, our differences bring us together in the end - and I can't imagine my life without her!

What are you thankful for today?

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth

Thankful Thursdays

Last week as I was driving home I was frustrated because of all the traffic. I was bemoaning my commute, pissed off that I was late to get home to do chores and make dinner, and generally in a bad mood.

Then, as I pulled up to a stoplight I saw a man standing at the end of the median holding a cardboard sign with "homeless" written on it. Wearing an old t-shirt, ripped sweatpants, and looking like he could use a haircut, he was very thankful and gracious to everyone who gave him cash.

I immediately began to feel guilty. As tears filled my eyes (pregnancy talking?) and my heart dropped I was ashamed of my negative attitude. Her I was driving home from my amazing job to my beautiful home and husband in my nice, reliable car, listening to my Ipod, drinking a Starbucks, talking on my smart phone. And this man, in one of the richest counties in America, was without a home, a loving family, or even a decent jacket. It put things in perspective.

I am truly blessed and need to remind myself to see my glass half full. I could have no job, no family, nothing. But instead I have everything I need and probably more than I deserve.

So I'm instituting Thankful Thursdays. 

This Thursday I am thankful for my husband. As we are approaching our 2 year wedding anniversary next month, I keep thinking seriously how thankful I am to have him. He makes me laugh, listens when I have problems, is a great cook, shares the same interests, a man of the same faith, is a very hard worker, a good friend and son. I KNOW he will make a great father to our baby and be a great supporter of our future family. One thing I love most about him also is his goofy, outgoing side. We are so totally opposite on that. While I'm more quiet and serious, he definitely is not. Here, let me show you:

This man always makes me laugh, will go to costume parties with me, literally smothers me in kisses, and never takes himself too seriously. I'm SO THANKFUL for my husband, Sean.

PS: Trust me, we actually do have some "nice" pictures :)

Attempting to keep it together 24/7,

Elizabeth