I'm Back

I know...it"s been awhile.  I'll start with how I decided to allow my own website die away.  I still own my name and may start it back up later, but this is where I first started so I'll keep it for now.

So how have y'all been doing? I've tried to keep everyone in the loop with my FB and IG page. I lost all desire to blog almost a year ago.  I still can't believe that!  So here's what's been going on in my life.....

My sweetie lost his job for almost a year but then got it back.  I know that had God written all over it with justification.  God will always stand for you when you're right!  I had a bunch of lymph nodes removed with surgery.  Thank goodness it all came back benign! Our youngest daughter graduated from Homeschool, our oldest graduated college and then got a super great job offer she couldn't refuse, so she moved about 3 hours away.  I think that knocked the wind out of me for the first month! I cried so much!   But before she moved, my husband and I became teenagers again.  We started to go dancing every weekend which was and still is so much fun!  We even went as Vikings for this  Halloween! 

I had started working again but then quit a year later.  I'm so thankful my sweetie has provided for his family to allow me to have that luxury. We've made totally new friends along the way too!   We actually have been taking better care of ourselves health wise and I started drinking Moscato wine for health purposes.  I have seen a huge improvement all of the way around.  I used to frown upon the idea of any type of alcohol, but God opened my eyes with that too.  Did you know that His word actually tells us to drink a little wine for the stomachs sake?!  It sure has helped my stomach, I literally had a knot on my stomach lining and now it's gone!   My liver enzymes and my cholesterol are normal too!! Of course, it's all within reason when it comes to drinking any type of alcohol.   I talked with my DR and he confirmed what I felt with trying to become healthier in my old age decent, lol!   We've been traveling...something we used to hate!   I've lost over 30 pounds and got all of my hair cut off!  And I'm thinking about going shorter!  I've had long hair for way too long and am coming up on 49 next month.  I feel more beautiful and sexy than when I was in my 20's!    Thank goodness my husband loves me with short hair because he made sure I knew he loved long hair for so many years. 

I think us having what I would call a marriage rejuvenation, has changed the way we look at things.  It's like God stepped in one day and waved a magic wand!  I know He's not magic, but really, that's what it felt like!  

I know many couples our age get divorced because they fall out of love or cheat on each other.  It's really sad because all of the history you share with someone, just all of a sudden disappears.  But something we have definitely done right is keeping God in our lives throughout the our marriage.  Sure, we've not been perfect, but we both have loved Him and have not wanted to lose Him.  We've struggled along at times with our marriage, fought, cried, almost got divorced...but we've always loved each other too deeply to allow the world to come in and steal that away from us.  So here we are, till together, stronger, happier, and more in love than ever!!!  I'm just now getting a sparkle back for decorating and creating.  Wow,  we've had an exciting past 2 years!!! So there ya go....a little fast glimpse into my life without writing a novel, lol.

I recently decorated for Christmas over a week ago, so I'm still trying to take photos.  Can you believe my trusty Nikon camera has had a layer of dust on it all of this time?  Poor thing must have thought I forgot all about it.   I haven't edited photos or used our computer either, I've just used my phone all of this time.  I'm tellin' ya, my world has been turned upside down but it's been just absolutely amazing!  My attitude has completely changed too...I don't get mad or irritated like I used to either.  I know my sweetie and girls have loved that fact, lol!  I don't care if the house is messy or if the laundry isn't done either.  I'm all for just smiling and having fun it seems!  We now have 3 cats and two dogs too!!!  That will be a post of it's own soon....I'm absolutely in love with each of them!!!

Ok, I'll shut up for now and show you all some of our home for Christmas.

I had to move some furniture to other rooms for the main tree.  This chest has been in our living room for years and years!  It looks so nice paired with all of the pink!

I adore this little grouping...sweet memories and friendships!

The flocked tree came from Walmart 3 years ago...and I still love it!

This little tin stocking was a yard sale buy over 13 years ago.  I love it paired with green pine and this pink poinsettia.

Grouping the angels together on top of the armoire just works beautifully!

Now onto a few photos of our master retreat...

It's been a long time since I've shopped for any type of home decor so when I spotted this arched mirror at Home Goods for $50,  I knew it was mine!  I had wanted one for many years after spotting one similar at Hobby Lobby that was over $180 which was way too expensive for my blood.  It replaced this mirror...

Paring two mirrors on each side did the trick with filling up this long wall.  Adding the stockings and poinsettia swag made Christmas appear!

And y'all have to know I haven't lost my love for snow!  The little blue sign holds a dear place in my heart....I want snow for Christmas!

Usually I buy new things every year, but this year, I haven't other than this Christmas tree.  While I was visiting and shopping with my oldest daughter, I spotted this tree at Walmart for $22!!  It came without lights which thrilled me to death!  I had a little bucket that I painted white and put the tree in it instead of the stand it came with.

However, my daughter had a major shopping spree for her first Christmas decorations at Hobby Lobby!

This was our first ever shopping trip together to Hobby Lobby....Mom and I loved watching her go wild in there!  We had such a fun day, just us girls!  Sadly, our youngest daughter had to work, 

Did you notice my daughters and I all have black hair?  That's another newby for me!  

Now here's a little of the main living room....

This window wall is my absolute favorite creation that my husband and I created!  

You can see a little of the tree...but I'm saving the living room reveal for later.  Everything looks so pretty!  This mantle grouping is to die for in my book!  My great idea was to hang the deer head on this mirror paired with some pine and mistletoe.  My uncle fell in love with it!

Our bed in our master retreat from last year has been a hit on social media!  I'm seeing it pop up everywhere!

Things look a little different this year.  I'll share it later as well.

Mirrors are still a passion of mine!  This turned out gorgeous!!!  

And just a peak at the kitchen mantle....its so dreamy!

I hope I haven't bored y'all to death with gabbing on and on about my life.  I hope all of you have been as blessed as I have and I hope to hear about your lives too!