Finally Some Real Fall

So normally I love decorating my house for the different seasons. And with our new house of course I felt even more excited to get to decorate even more spaces for the changing seasons. Since we moved into our house right before Christmas I never got a chance to really decorate for it. Now I know, its not Christmas time yet.. but still.. my point is, I love the changing of seasons, and the ever changning decorating I get to do in our house!

But Fall took a LONG time to get here. For weeks I kept seeing everyone post about their fall decorations, even though it wasn't "officially" fall yet. But I just couldn't do it. Fall to me is boots, sweaters, flats (cause sandals are no longer acceptable) and hats. And it just wasn't cool enough for all that yet. So it didn't feel like fall. So I couldn't decorate for it.. or so I felt... but when it Officially said on the calendar "First day of Fall" that's when I decorated.. And so with out further ado.. my fall season decorations.. Minus the front porch cause I need a cute door mat.

A Few Fall Favorites

After reading one of my favorite bloggers Blog (http://natalienoack.blogspot.com/) I got inspired to create a Fall Date list. So during a slow day at work I was doing some research on some fun fall activities in the area and texting Daniel asking him about some things he wants to do this fall. He gave me plenty of things we will most likely save until another warmer season.. like "making ice cream." We created a nice starter list and we will continue to add on to it. Or we will just complete what we have and add more next year.
In truth, Daniel and I are really bad at making time for each other, and scheduling time to do something greater than the daily norm. So I'm really excited about this list and this new fall season.

We have been crazy busy lately. And it seems like it is only going to get crazier. We have no free weekend until the middle of December. Although being busy "keeps us young" I really enjoy the days when we get to just lay in bed until we feel like getting out of bed. And that's exactly what we did on Friday morning. Daniel and I are equally blessed in that we don't have work on Fridays, and typically our Friday's are filled with some kind of task we have to get done. But this past Friday we planned to lay in bed until Daniel had plans to go play golf with a friend who was out of town. So Thursday night we made a trip to Food lion and bought "laying in bed all morning" friendly foods. By that I mean, foods I didn't have to wake up and cook! So pumpkin spice donuts, iced coffee, chocolate milk and cinnamon rolls. Maybe not the most heart healthy breakfast. But it sure was a delicious one! We got a lot of good talking out of the way. Which we needed. There's just something about talking with my husband about somethings that just does my heart good, even when some things aren't always easy to talk about.

Want to create your own Fall List? Here's my cute stationary I used for mine!

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/240238961349690590/

falling into a fall wardrobe

I'm blessed with a job gives me plenty of time to Pin. And with the weather getting cooler, I've been inspired to pin some fall outfits. So here are just a few inspirations I found recently that I love:

I love these looks. I love that they are both classy and comfortable. There are plenty of things I love about fall. And the fact that you get to dress comfortable is a huge reason. Comfy skirts, Big sweaters, tights and boots.

Follow me on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/ralyons/

My Infertility Story...

I'd like to for-warn you that this is not for pity, if this post is anything its for your prayers. But this post could be emotional, or at least it is for me to write out. I have been through a very emotional rollercoaster these past few months and this is really just me getting it all out on "paper." I do want you all to know, that I have placed all my cares upon the Lord (1 Peter 5:7). Because he really is the only one who knows my feelings and understands all of my emotions. I do have a great support system. My mother, my husband, my sister, and my mother-in-law and father-in-law, and I'm so thankful I have them all to share face to face my current struggles.

About 10 months ago, after discussing with my husband, I finally decided to quit taking my birth control pills. At first my husband was in complete disagreement with me, but I didn't feel like a pill was going to stop God from having his way if he wanted us to have a child. And I also knew that there was a huge chance that having children would be a struggle for my body. Since day one of my cycle, I was not regular. I never really thought anything of it, until my sister found out she had Endometriosis. I then had to have my first OBGYN appointment. My mom had Cervical Cancer when I was born, so it was pretty much inevitable that I would have something. Not saying that I don't have a God that is bigger than all this, but in my human knowledge, I just had a hunch. 

All my life I just wanted to be a wife and a mother. It's been a dream of mine. When I came of the age where I had to decide "what I wanted to be when I grow up" I didn't have any dreams of a career. I just wanted to marry the perfect guy and have children. Now the dream is coming true.. but there is one problem, I "can't" have children.
Since about 17/18 I've been on Birth Control to cause a cycle. Without it I have no cycle. It all sounds great to some women, but honestly a cycle lets you know that everything is normal. And I was far from normal. So after my yearly OBGYN appointment in November I spoke with my Dr and decided to come off of the pill. In January, I went in to talk to her about my abnormalities and begin talking about the possibility of having children. And so the process began. We tried a few months without assistance. Nothing. Then I got placed on Provera to cause a cycle, so we went a few months with just that. Nothing. I then had to have an ultrasound to check out my ovaries, where we then learned that I have PCOS or Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome. I learned that PCOS was one major reason I had gained a lot of weight in my first year of marriage, as well as being really upset emotionally about finding out about my infertility and lets face it.. it was "happy marriage" weight. PCOS affects 5-10% of women at child-bearing age. PCOS is responsible for 70% of infertility issues in women who have difficulty ovulating. And I am one of the 70%. After finding out about the PCOS, I was still taking Provera, and had to have a Progesterone test to see if I ovulate at all naturally without taking anything to cause ovulation. Well the Progesterone test let me know that I do not Ovulate at all, and that I will need assistance.

And that's where I am now. My Dr plans to put me on Clomiphene (works by stimulating the hormones in your brain that trigger an egg (or several) to develop and be released from your ovaries.) But before that happens she wants to make sure that my tubes are even open enough to release an egg. So tomorrow at 11AM I have to have an HSG Test and from what I hear its rather painful. My prayers are that it's not painful and that everything I'm reading is just hearsay. But after this appointment and if everything is clear, then Daniel has to go in to take a test as well. And if that is clear we will begin taking the Clomiphene. 

But until then I'm trying to stay confident that tomorrow will go well, and that it won't be as painful as everyone says. My mom and husband plan to be there with me. I'm a little nervous, and it all kind of makes me feel nauseous. But I know the Lord is on my side, and that he knows all and sees all. Even the things we don't see. He has to be my balance. Because it is so easy to think negatively, when God is a positive God.  There is nothing that happens that he doesn't see. And even in the most negative of times in our lives, he has a positive outcome, we just have to wait and be patient, and draw closer to him through the process. And I believe my miracle is on its way!

Birthday wishes and Kitten Kisses

World meet Pippi Elle or Pippi for short!

A friend of mine works at an apartment complex and sent me a sweet little picture of her and telling me how she was found in a gutter and that they were planning to call the animal control. Daniel and I had been talking a lot about getting a kitten, a little girl. Since Binx is not as cuddly and sweet as I hoped he would be. So when she texted me I instantly said I wanted her! The first few nights were really tough, Binx hated her and then after he got past hating her he wanted to play with her ALL the time, especially after we had went to bed. Now a week after getting her, she is exactly(so far) what I wanted! Daniel says she is one of my birthday presents.. but I honestly think that is just because he doesn't know what to get me for my birthday. 

Speaking of my birthday.. I turned 23 yesterday.. Not a big deal.. Another day another year older. I worked on my birthday.. I guess you can say I'm officially an adult since I worked on my birthday. But in truth, we can't afford for me to take off, money is pretty tight right now. So I came to work and my boss really did it big for me, which was so sweet and greatly appreciated. She bought me a balloon bouquet, and bouquet of flowers, everyone in the office signed a card for me. And then she bought me lunch. Which kind of defeated my diet... but it's my birthday! Monday night my parents bought Daniel and I dinner, with a gift card they had mailed me.. so it's not like I was eating on my diet Monday night either. 

I'm waiting to see what Daniel is getting me. He hasn't really done much, and not to put him on blast, but I haven't yet got to spend much time with him. But he did let me get a pedicure last night which was past due. My feet looked pretty rough, both literally and figuratively speaking. Then I went home and "pigged" out on Doritos and an ice cream.. which again is not on my diet, but in my defense.. One.. it was my birthday and two.. I really wanted a donut from Happy Day Donuts, so I drove there.. and they were closed down.. so there's that! haha Again, not a good excuse.. but I was SO disappointed that they weren't there anymore and that I drove all the way over there, and that their website doesn't even say anything about them being closed at that location. 

In overall, my birthday could have been better.. but lets be real, I'm an adult now and getting fun birthdays aren't really realistic. But I'm grateful for everything I have, for all the "Happy Birthdays" I received and the relaxing evening I got to spend by myself. 

Date Night?

So typically on a normal Wednesday night I would be hosting small group at my house. But last night was a night unlike the normal. My small group leader was sick, and so in return I was asked to teach. But also this week is church camp, so no one came to group. It was a nice unexpected night off from an otherwise, very busy life.
So Daniel and I decided to take advantage and spend some much needed quality time together. We baked cookies, for the first time together.. According to Daniel they were really good, but I haven't tried them yet. But I believe they taste really good.

Then we got to spend a little time playing Skip-Bo which I normally win, but I let Daniel win this time.. haha! It was such a wonderful and relaxing evening!

I'm so thankful God gave me and Daniel this opportunity! Maybe it sounds silly to you to give thanks to God for a night off from "church" but according to my Bible it says to "Give thanks in all things" and I believe he knows exactly what we need, even nights off. 

& something close to a year later...

It's been a seriously long time since I've posted anything on this blog, and a whole lot of things have happened since my last post. Since I'm positive that my last post was when we were in our townhouse apartment. And now we own a house, I have successfully planned and orchestrated my sister-in-law's wedding, celebrated my first anniversary with my husband, went on our first family vacation, started a new job and have graduated from college. We have also talked about and have plans to expand our little family.

And in every step God has showed me something greater about myself. Daniel and I have leaned upon him in seriously everything these past 9 months since I last posted. I think I can honestly say I have grown tremendously in my faith and in my relationship with God.

So lets start with landmark one! We bought a house! It is Daniel and mine's biggest blessing from our first year of marriage. And what's funny is we literally had no plans to buy right away, we got into our townhouse and loved it, outside of the parking situation we had, and having to clean two floors. We had plenty of space and our neighbors and neighborhood was great and conveniently located. But one day I decided to just see what was out there, I started showing Daniel some houses and one day we just found ourselves walking into a realtors office and the ball began to roll! We got pre-approved for the budget we had planned for and began looking at houses. Majority of the houses in our budget, in the area we were looking at we either very sketchy or needed a whole lot of love Daniel and I just didn't have. And then we found the little ranch house on Butrico Rd, and I was in love! The neighborhood is great, it was in a great location.. meaning close to Daniel's job, parents and close to church and my school. And within our budget! It didn't have too much work that needed to be done, although there is work to be done, but I'm not afraid of some work! The yard is fenced in for Fenny and not too big that we'd have to spend hours to mow it, even when we have to push mow. So we put in our offer, got approved and the headache began! The process felt forever, and it was right before Christmas, which is already a crazy time of the year anyway. But we got it! Everything went well, and I am still completely in love with my house!

(just a small heads up I'm snagging most of my pictures from Instagram.. so they may all be weird or cut off like this one!)

Also, my living room has since changed, remember I am 9 months behind on this blog and an interior designer and am allowed to change my house several times!

Following buying our house, was Rebekah's wedding! Which was whirlwind as time got closer and closer! I had bouquets, boutonnieres and belts to make, the ceremony decoration to still come up with and the actual setting up. But all that rush, and lack of sleep was so worth it, to be apart of her day, and just how beautiful she, and the decorations all looked! And the platform decoration was sold! Someone liked the idea so much they bought it from us! Which was a blessing since we had to tear down and pack everything up! 

Following Rebekah's wedding we celebrated our 1 year anniversary. The weekend was crazy, and a lot was going on the weekend of our anniversary. I had school that Saturday and it was the same weekend as women's conference and of course our actual anniversary day was a Sunday, so we didn't really do to much celebrating, but we did have a vacation planned which was going to double as our family vacation and anniversary trip. But of course Daniel bought me roses and we enjoyed a nice relaxing and romantic evening.

A month later we finally got to go on our vacation! Our MUCH NEEDED vacation! This trip was long waited, since we booked our trip in September. Although, we had no idea what to expect since we were going in April to Maine, and the weather further north is never as warm as the south, and we were enjoying 80 degree weather, we just didn't know what we would get. But the weather was nice, some days were chillier than others. But we still spent just about everyday outside. But never on the Beach, I just wasn't brave enough to go out on a New England beach in April.

We did a lot of sight seeing, which included the lighthouses. We went into Boston Twice, once included watching a Red Sox game, second including a trip to the aquarium, which was probably the best I've been too. On our way up to Maine, we did stop in Uxbridge, Mass to venture around where my Pepe used to live and even went to the Southwick Zoo, which was phenomenal! Literally the best Zoo ever! It was a great and very very relaxing vacation. The towns were quiet and quaint and perfect for us to get away from our busy schedules here in Virginia.

And then the last thing I'll talk about in this post! I graduated from College! FINALLY! It literally has been the longest 3 years of my life, but I wouldn't change them for anything! Looking back at where I was when I first moved here, I thought I was so grown.. but I can now say I knew nothing, and still know nothing about being grown. But I have learned that I cannot make it in the world without God on my side. I cannot please this world and have complete joy and happiness. And obviously so much has happened since moving away from Pennsylvania and beginning my life here in Virginia, somethings I wish never happened, but most I'm so thankful they did. I've learned a lot and have become more confident and more independent. I'm proud of my journey.. now I just need to figure out what is next. I'm working just not yet in my field of study. But like I mentioned, were talking about starting a family.. which I will leave to another post. So until then I'm just waiting on the Lord to continually direct every one of my foot steps.