Hot meals here...

Ever since March, I haven't really been in the cooking mood.  But since things are getting easier, I'm finally banging around in the kitchen again.
I usually try to make up a menu for the week so I only have to go shopping once.  This doesn't always happen, but it's nice to try for.
Yesterday I made tikka masala and we had it with some hot naan bread.  It was a bit spicy, but so delicious and easy to make. (Yes, I made it from a jar.)
Landon is a happy camper knowing there will be leftovers for him to take to work and hot meals to eat when he gets home. :)

I started my first editing job this week!  It's been so much fun already...learning how to maneuver through the programs, and working on such beautiful images.  I always get so nervous starting a new job...I'm working on being more confident, but new jobs always seem daunting at first.  Fortunately I have an amazing boss who is so approachable and easy to talk with.  This is a learning process, and I'll only get more comfortable as the days go on.  But I absolutely LOVE this kind of work and I feel so blessed to be able to work from home listening to Sufjan Stevens and munching on almonds.

Christmastime is Here...

well it's Christmas time at our apartment!  we got our little tree last night....it was so tiny we just put it in our trunk to bring home.  we put on some good tunes and decorated, sang, danced, and drank peppermint hot chocolate.  even thought we won't be here for Christmas morning, we still wanted to decorate things up.  i think we might have a little Christmas dinner by ourselves sometime before we go home for the holidays.

we have so much to be thankful for this year.  Landon is working at a job he likes and it's close to our home so we can spend evenings together.  i have a good job as a nanny, and i just accepted a job with Imagination Photography doing editing work that will start in the spring. i am SO excited.
i am also, with Landon's help, getting prepped to launch my Etsy shop soon.
we have our little home, we are in love,  and God is good.  i can't wait to celebrate Christmas!

Update

Ah, September is finally here, and with it the realization that Fall is very close!  Today is a gorgeous day...no humidity and absolutely spectacular.  We are definitely looking forward to a nice relaxing Labor Day weekend and home.  I have no idea what we're going to do, but I like it that way.  Wide open...

Landon's work is going well.  He went on a golf outing with his office a few weeks back.  I think he had a lot of fun and he's getting to know the guys a lot better.  I think God put him with some really neat people...talkative, not talkative, weird, kind of different, but cool.  Sometime's I'll take Landon a coffee if I have time before work and it's fun to see him in his work environment.  He has the most neat and precisely kept desk I have ever seen.  Plus, he gets to work on some really cool towers.  One that he worked on a while ago was right on Mt. Hood in Oregon...haha, I looked at the aerial map and realized we had hiked right where the tower was when I lived in Oregon for a few months.  So funny.

My work is going a lot better.  These past few weeks I've been let off early, so I get to come home and spend the evening with Landon...so nice.  We've been trying to go on a long walk every night and it's been so great.  We talk the whole time and get to think about our future and big decisions coming up and just be together.

We have also joined a brand new small group for married couples through our church.  I am so excited about this group.  Everyone is awesome and we all really connect well.  Hopefully work won't interfere with me going because I really want some mature and encouraging relationships in my life here in Indy.

So we have been married for 11 months today!  I am so excited for our 1st anniversary.  God has been so good and faithful to us this past year.  I have been with my best friend and lover almost every day and we've been through some good times and some rough, but it's been amazing.  I can't wait to see what happens next year...some great things I think.

Today I feel so refreshed and blessed.  I realize that there is really nothing I can or should complain about.  God is totally in control and if I am having a rough time, He wants me to draw close to Him...He loves that time where I need Him so desperately.  I want to learn how to bear all things with grace.  I don't want to just live my life and take for granted God's love for me.  I have life, I have an amazing husband, I have family and friends, I have music, art, and beauty all around me, I have talents God wants me to use, I have a home, I have the ability to love...I have so much!

I hope you all have a wonderful day and a great start to this holiday weekend. Take a moment and just relax....don't rush or fret, just be still and drink in this day.

Love,
Leah

Up to Date

I officially started my job full-time yesterday. Whenever I start a new job, I just wish I could fast-forward three weeks where I am finally comfortable and know my way around what I am doing. It's a great job though, and I'm really looking forward to getting to know the family better. They got a new puppy yesterday, and he is so adorable! I want one badly.

With working full-time now, I've been trying to think of how I can manage my time more practically since I don't get home until 8pm. I still want to take care of my husband and cook and clean, so I've just had to juggle some tasks around. I'll just prepare the supper for the evening as much as I can before I leave after lunch, then Landon can just warm it up when he gets home. I'll definitely need to plan ahead of time and schedule my days so that nothing goes to waste and I can be productive. Hmmm, this new schedule is vaguely reminiscent of my college days. But I'm the type of person that thrives on the challenges of scheduling and busy days, so this shouldn't be too bad.

Landon's work is going very well. They said it was alright if he wanted to adjust his hours to fit a little better with mine, so he's working from 9 until 6 or so and getting home not too early before me. He's glad for a couple hours to himself after work so he can get some projects done as well. I love him so much...he had a sweet note waiting for me with some chocolates when I got home last night, and he had taped Jeopardy! for me so I didn't miss my show! He's the best.

We are excited for this new job and extra income. God has really been amazing to us and provided so much. We are thankful.

And now for a treat! I discovered a wonderful yogurt yesterday that I think everyone would love. It's Greek Gods Honey flavored yogurt. Very creamy and thick and such a wonderful flavor. Dairy products are slightly iffy with me sometimes, but this yogurt is delicious! I got it at our Kroger's right down the street. Try it sometime.



And since it's springtime, here are some new looks from Ruche that tickled my fancy today.







Aren't they lovely?

Cheers,

Leah