What We Do to Reconnect | Monday Musings

What We Do to Reconnect | Monday Musings

As it turns out, any relationship can grow old, stale, or contentious if you let it. I'm only six years into marriage and I still have so much to learn, but one thing Nathan and I found out quickly is that investing in our relationship always pays off in dividends. I know this looks different depending on what season of life you're in (dating, engagement, marriage, children, empty nesters, etc.) but I think it's a universal truth that the most important thing you can invest is time.

Believe it or not, Nathan and I fight from time to time ;) On most occasions we (thankfully) fight about little things that are simply a reflection of our frustration with another area in our lives, a result of being tired after a long day, or just the fact that we are human beings and things will always come up no matter what. Nathan has always been good at checking in on our marriage - how we're doing, how we feel towards each other, how life is outside of our home - and making sure we are on a good track.

Most of the time we are, but there have been times when we've sat down to look and realized our fighting and frustration is much higher than normal...

Indian-Spiced Guacamole | Foodie Friday

Indian-Spiced Guacamole | Foodie Friday

Hello and welcome to another edition of Foodie Friday! Last weekend was the Super Bowl and I used it as an excuse to make something creative and photograph it - then taste test it, of course, before anyone came over. Every year we make a big deal out of the Big Game, and our families usually come together to half-watch and half-chat the whole way through.

Because we have such a variety of people, I try not to stray too far away from the staples - chips and guac, salsa, chili, salads, and something sweet. My challenge this year was to keep it as Paleo as possible without anyone noticing, and I'm proud to say I achieved my goal. My brother told me at the end of the party that he had never eaten so much snack food and felt so good about it afterwards. Mission accomplished!

Happy 6th Anniversary | Personal

Happy 6th Anniversary | Personal

Dear Nathan,
Sometimes I feel like you are the one without a voice in our relationship. You long ago ditched your social media, and even such a little thing makes me feel like I talk all the time in places you never visit. When we are with strangers I am the extrovert, making conversation and meeting new people while you smile and nod and speak when you can, mostly choosing to listen. Getting together with my family is a non-stop train of words swirling around you as you contentedly sit in the midst of the whirlwind.

Yet in your quietness you speak louder than I ever could. The thing I most appreciate about you from this past year is how good of a listener you are. You truly stop everything and listen - whether it's to me or a homeless man near Walmart or a wedding vendor, you tune out the surroundings and hear every word they say. You are concerned with one thing - the person behind the words - and it is truly obvious in every interaction.

In your quietness, you have taught me so much. From you I have learned...