People {and blogs} I love

I love people who are honest, real, and open. They are my favorite kind.

I have a hard time finding these people sometimes, but when I do... they are so worth the wait! Sometimes I hate social media. I hate that sometimes life feels like a big status update, and nobody is ever really sincere or genuine. I guess that's why I've been hiding from my blog; because I'm a big chicken. I became concerned with how my life felt and less with how it looked and I just kinda wanted to hide for awhile.

 And then, there are days like today where I am just carousing Pinterest for ideas for Ryan's upcoming birthday, and I find something that helps. That might even be life-changing. We'll see. 

It is some kind of miracle when you stumble upon a blog-- from a perfect stranger no less, that really hits home with you. I found this couple's blog while on Pinterest, and I immediately felt inspired by their story. They openly admitted to needing help and guidance from family, friends and God and they were rewarded sweetly.

I wanted to share some of the post that I loved in case somebody else out there finds it inspiring the way that I did. I personally like the first 3 the best, and #3 is my all time favorite because I love to write letters and journal but I strongly encourage you to click the link and read the whole post. The hubs and I want to try a few of these out! I am so excited to start new traditions to strengthen our marriage! We'll keep you posted :)

1. Weekly Questions: For the past five years Tim and I have been asking each other the same five questions every Sunday night. These questions have made the biggest difference in how we love and serve one another throughout the week. If you're going to incorporate one of these 10 things into your marriage, we hope it's this one.

2. A Small Metal Box: After reading this story, Tim and I made a pact that each time we made love we would put a dollar in a special metal box and save it for our 50th anniversary trip to Hawaii. This has surprisingly been a great way for us to creatively pursue intimacy with one another over the years. Our only advice would be to not count the money in your box. Focus on quality, not quantity.

3. Traveling Journal: There is a journal we share that's filled with words that would make you blush. We take turns writing in it, always hiding it for the other to find in an unexpected place. It's been foundduct taped to our shower, in suitcases when traveling, even in the refrigerator behind the Cool Whip. (Pretty sure Husband was trying to tell me something). Overall, this has been a great way for us to verbally affirm and encourage one another.

This is why I love the blogging community. Putting your life on public display can be scary, especially when things aren't smooth sailing... but the thought that something that you may have struggled with, and learned from may help someone else (or even yourself) is the point of this all right? With that said, I vow to return to my blog and not hide from sharing my life and my lessons with all the people I love.

WE thank all of our family and friends for all the love and support and encouraging words and phone calls and texts and messages, and babysitting, and...anything else I'm missing...we appreciate it :) We love you all!

XOXO,

Thompson's :)

Blog Guilt + some good ole fashion feelers ;)

Do you ever feel guilty that you haven't updated your blog in awhile, so instead of just hopping on and updating, you avoid it...for even longer.

Well that's what's been going on lately. Life in Covington is full speed ahead. Yes, now we have two cars, and now I have 1.5 mobile babies (Yes, Ryan is the .5... he's inching and rolling and scooting around but not quite mobile)  so naturally I'd be a bit busier but I definitely think it's just me and Covington. This place reminds me so much of Issaquah that I really feel at home here and I'm starting to reach my goal of trying new things/experiencing things that may be uncomfortable at first aka REACHING OUT OF MY COMFORT ZONE. For a long time, I wanted to move back to Issaquah and eventually lay down some roots there but I'm starting to really love everything that Covington has to offer and I think I may have found my home. Not making any promises...but we'll see :) Anyway, the point is that we've been "On the Go"-- which is good!

The last 2 years have been an amazing ride. That's really the only way to describe it. But it was definitely a ride. I had a lot of extremely high highs and a lot of low lows. I started to really resent being in Renton; how could I not? We basically packed up our party kids lifestyle, left Seattle and all the culture and diversity that I loved-- ok fine, and all the hippies that I loved and Eric hated-- and moved to Renton to become boring old parents overnight. My life went from "Where's the party at?" to "Who pooped" instantly. I lost a lot of friends along the way and it was hard. Probably the hardest part of becoming a parent. Harder than getting up 5 times in one night, harder than labor, feeding a child with my body and all that pain that comes with it. Hard, hard, hard. I haven't talked much about it publicly because I tend to feel a little hostile and bitter...and a whole lot of resentment starts to boil but I think I've just accepted it now. My true friends have stuck around and that's all that matters to me now.

The adjustment was hard on me because not only was I adjusting my life as a new mom and the demands of having a baby- oh yes, and then just when things started to get a bit easier with Tristan, the demands of being pregnant, and then the demands of Toddlerhood...and then TWO babies. We were also dealing with one car, and a swing shift. Worst combo ever. If Eric had had a day shift, having one car = not so bad. But when you have a baby/pregnant/two babies...it's just not possible to get up at 3,4,5,6 AM (when you yourself got to bed around midnight) to go pick up your husband, and then come home and try to put those babies back to sleep, fall asleep yourself, and then get up in 2-3 hours...for the day. Can you tell we tried it? Anyway, it was a bit depressing being cooped up in house all day. I started to get cabin fever. Now, it's nice to be able to have my own schedule- one that can coincide with Eric's work schedule but does not revolve around it, and be able to attend classes I would have never been able to attend, ETC. You get the idea. Freedom = Happy Mama.

Anyway, we are busier than ever but I am lovin' it! We had a non-stop month of March and the trend seems to be continuing...with Conference last weekend, and now Easter and Tristan's 2nd birthday, my Mom coming up for a visit, my little brother home from College before he's off on his mission...it's going to be a busy month! I'll try to stay more on top of the blogging. I really truly wish to blog every day but sometimes my heart just isn't in it and I just want to go to bed :)

Here's some highlights:

Until next time!