Thanksgiving...

I am lucky enough to have married into a large, loving, amazing family.
Having come from a very small family myself (my parents are from England and what little is left of our family is still over there), I have always been envious of my friends with large families who get to experience the holidays with so many loved ones.

This year, for Thanksgiving, we went to my husband's parents' house yet again. His family is so welcoming, and I love being there with all the branches and generations. We brought his almost-18-year-old cousin home with us for the weekend, and at some point it hit me that this kid is my family now.

I love my husband, and I love this new family that has welcomed me with open arms.

"To be happy, it first takes being comfortable being in your own shoes. The rest can work up from there..."

Today, kids, I am totally comfortable in my own shoes.
Meaning that I have managed so far to make it to lunch wearing my "commuting shoes" and not having to change into my "work shoes." Not that I don't love my work shoes -- today's shoes are a pair of orange peep toes, which also just so happen to be my wedding shoes. However, flats, especially tennies, are always more comfortable than heels. And today's tennies are my new green chucks. They pop against that otherwise black and white of today's outfit (other than the orange necklace I wore to go with said work shoes) and since green is my favorite color, these shoes always make me smile!

I am going to aim for dressing like this all week, since it is supposed to rain every day. Rain makes me tired and blah, so I will make an extra effort to dress warm, cozy, and happy!

I Have, I Will, I Do...

On October 23, 2010, I married my best friend and one true love.
I was blessed to reconnect with this person after 8 years of separation, and after 4 years of togetherness, we finally took the plunge and made it official.

This song was our first dance, and I knew it was meant to be ours the very first time I heard it.

"I Have, I Will"
by Rachel Garlin

You want to know if I knew when we had just begun
You want to know if I'll hold you as my beloved and my only one
You want to know if I smile when I think of all the mornings, I'll get to wake up next to you
I have, I will, I do

You want to know if I've cried over how much I care
You want to know if I'll carry this laughter to the rocking chair
You want to know if I dream in the bitterness of winter,
of dancing by the fire with you
I have, I will, I do

And I don't imagine our days will arrive drenched in pure sunshine
But the darkest days that come along, we'll bathe in candlelight

You want to know if I can bend like a daffodil
You want to know if I will hold you steady, without holding you still
You want to know if I see this love as a promise,
and every day a chance to renew
I have, I will, I do
I have, I will, I do


After all these years, I still luboo bebe.
I Have, I Will, I Do.