2019: A Look Back

In January we reconnected with good friends in town from California, celebrated the sweetest five year old, went to G's work Christmas party, and went to my work Christmas party. I set goals for the year, we had our first big snowfall, and we celebrated G's birthday.

In February we had record low temps (-32 degrees!), hosted my family for an epic sledding party, had a game night with our neighbors, and I prepped for Galentine's Day. G and I celebrated 11 years of marriage in GR, I purchased my bridesmaid dress, and we finally started seriously looking for a church.

In March I went to my cousin's bridal shower, hung out with family, kicked off deck sitting weather, tried a new restaurant, and had a girls night. We did yard work, I rediscovered my love for TJ Maxx, binged Scandal, and we continued our church hunt.

In April we started reading Vertical Marriage (so good!), found a church home, and enjoyed our first patio dining experience of the year. Grilling season was back in full force, we worked on Kate's speech, and I celebrated Kate's upcoming nuptials with her bridal shower. We celebrated Easter with the family, and then I went to Florida for Kate's bachelorette weekend.

In May I got my hair did, had sushi with sweet friends, and spent a fun day with my mom and Jess. G and I flew out to Boston for my best friend's wedding and after all the fun festivities and incredible memories created we went to Cape Cod for a few days to explore and eat delicious seafood. 

In June we went to a beautiful Memorial Day service, I saw Hamilton (it was EVERYTHING!), and I spent the weekend with one of my best friends at her lake house. We had sweet family time, I had my first ice cream of the summer, and we took Manny to the dog park. Manny turned six, we saw old friends, and we went to a beautiful wedding. I went to a leadership conference and had another game night with neighbors. 

In July we tried Blue Apron meals, binged Season 3 of Stranger Things, spent lots of time deck sitting, and went to the beach. We spent the day at the pool celebrating Bennett's third birthday, I compiled a list of all the books I've read, I spent a pool day with my mom and we brunched it after church. I ended the month with the sixth annual girls weekend.

In August G cleaned the garage, G took me to a fun restaurant on my birthday, and we went to Saugatuck for my birthday weekend. We went to a Lugnuts baseball game and spent a weekend at my friend's lake house. We hosted my family for our town's annual ox roast and my parents spent the night and visited our new church home. We joined a small group, went to a slip and slide party at our neighbors' house and enjoyed one of the last pool days of the year with my parents. I had a fun girls night, we went hiking and visited old friends we haven't seen in a long time.

In September I went to a girls night, church and brunch with our small group. I presented to over 70 of my coworkers, had another game night with our neighbors and gave blood. We hosted small group, went on an impromptu weekend trip, and went to Pumpkin Fest with my family.

In October I got a pedicure, packed up and headed to Vegas. We had the best time exploring the hotels, eating good food and watching a cirq show. I binged Big Little Lies, I battled a stomach bug, and went on a super fun girls weekend trip to Cleveland. G and I looked at a few lake houses, actually got an accepted offer on one and started the craziness of pursuing a dream of ours.

In November we had over 18 showings, game night with our neighbors, the inspection at the new house, handed out Halloween candy, and celebrated South Africa winning the Rugby World Cup. We hosted small group, got over 5 inches of snow, had an open house, and I went out with my besties. My mom and I had our annual day of fun, we celebrated Thanksgiving, and my dad published a book. We lost the lake house, took our house off the market, and took an impromptu trip to Miami to recover from the crazyness.

In December I shared my wish list, we flew home from Miami, opened up our wine and cheese advent calendars, and I spent a day at the Henry Ford Museum. We spent the day with family, I had my work Christmas party, I hosted a girls night, and Manny got a stomach bug. I went to a wine tasting event, we had a game night with our neighbors, and I hosted a sleepover with my best friends. We celebrated Christmas with the family on a 50 degree day and then walked my parents' sub to look at all the lights, and went out to eat with my mom's side of the family.

Whew. 

What. A. Year. 

I feel so grateful and blessed as I look back on this past year. 

I'm proud of myself for choosing faith over fear this year. I spoke at a wedding, presented to coworkers, travelled a lot for work and for pleasure, and G and I pursued a lake house dream of ours. Even though the lake house didn't go through I'm still proud G and I had the courage to try. To get in the arena.

As we begin 2020 I'm hoping for more moments choosing faith over fear. More time with the people I love and less time scrolling social media. More positivity and less negativity. More gratefulness and less comparison.

Happy New Year, friends! 

It means so much to me that you read this little space I started back in 2008.

I hope you have the most amazing 2020. Cheers!

2017: A Look Back

It's hard to believe another year is coming to a close. When I look back at this year I'm so proud of all we accomplished. I started a new job that I love and was promoted within six months, G was promoted at his work, we sold our first house, house hunted, moved into a new home, took weekend trips, purged a lot of stuff, explored our new hometown, decorated a new house, developed new friendships at work, and in our new neighborhood. 

It was a good year. I think the highlight of the year was moving into our new home. It was such a leap of faith and I'm so thankful we had the courage to do it. Moving is something G and I talked about for years, but the timing never felt right. We were never at a point with our jobs to make the commitment. But this year was different. G was in a place at work where he was ready to take the next step. I was finally in a job I adored and was going places and I felt ready to take the next step as well. Timing is everything and God's timing is perfect. 

But it's more than that. I always felt unsettled in the old house because I was always thinking about the next project. The bathrooms needed updating. The banister needed staining. The furniture was in need of updating. This new house doesn't need a single bit of work and it feels so peaceful not having to think about what project is next and when we will squeeze it in. 

I'm not sure what my future will look like in terms of blogging, but please keep up with me on Instagram at LindseylovesGarth. But I'm back because reflecting on the year is always a favorite of mine to write. If you want to see my years in review from the past, click the dates below:

2016

2015

2014

2013

Without further ado, here is a look back at 2017!

In January I set goals for the year. Most of them I still work to accomplish each month. It's nice not to have house projects to tackle each month anymore and I'm thankful I'm not doing Weight Watchers anymore. I'm working on body kindness, intuitive eating and health at every size. 

We rung in 2017 at a Roaring 20s Murder Mystery Party, hiked at the lake, found a church we loved, and enjoyed a few sushi dates.

I got a new hair do, had a blast at G's work party, and had a few fun lunch dates. We celebrated Ella's birthday with good family time and I binged This Is Us. We celebrated G's birthday in Ann Arbor, I had a super fun girls night and I wrote a book review.

In February I reviewed my goals, had a fun Mom and Lindsey Day, and good family time.  Bah I can't get over how tiny Bennett was!

G and I went away to South Haven to celebrate his birthday. We ate good food, had a few fun cocktials and enoyed the beauty of Lake Michigan. I started Fit Fridays again and accepted a new job.

We continued our church and lunch tradition every Sunday, and celebrated Valentine's Day. I discussed boundaries in marriage and wrote another book review,

I reviewed my goals, hosted a girls night, went to a cooking class with my mom, had an amazing three hour dinner with Eric and Jess, had a date night, and had sweet family time.  

I met up with a friend for dinner and drinks, hosted friends for dinner and had our church and sushi Sunday.

We celebrated nine years of marriage with a long weekend in Hocking Hills, Ohio. We stayed in the cutest cabin with a hot tub and did lots of hiking, and exploring.

In March we started house hunting, saw Rent (and it was EVERYTHING), had a few fun date nights and brunch. I wrote another book review and reviewed my goals.

In April we had lots of house showings, walked away from a house I absolutely fell in love with and took a quick getaway to Grand Haven for a breather. We kept house hunting and reviewed goals, 

In May we received offers on our house (and celebrated with sushi), continued house hunting and exploring new towns. We attended a Murder Mystery Dinner Party with friends and brunched. We spent time with family, finished up house projects, and the house passed inspection and appraisal.  

We kicked off patio sitting season, hiked at the lake, had a bonfire and enjoyed evenings on the deck.

We celebrated Brad's birthday with one last hurrah at the old house, finally found our house (you can read the whole story here and here), passed inspection, and reviewed goals for the month.

In June we savored the last few weeks in our first house, and did a lot of packing.

We closed on our first house, rented from the new owners, and finished packing. Our closing was delayed so we wine tasted, and we lived on one chair and lawn furniture since we gave everything else away. Then a tree fell on our house and we had to let the new owners know and handle it, UGH.

We finally closed and moved into our new house, I reminisced about the old house, reviewed my goals, and we explored our new little town.

In July my parents came to see the new house and explore the town with us. We ate out, and then walked downtown for ice cream. We celebrated the Fourth of July at Eric and Jess' with sweet family time and a deer hit us on the highway and totaled our car. By the grace of God no one was harmed (RIP deer).

We car shopped, hiked, enjoyed some deck sitting with some epic sunsets, continued to explore our town, unpack the house, and wrote a book/movie review. 

We enjoyed a fun date night, ordered a dining room table, celebrated Bennett turning one year old, hosted the whole family to see the new house, and I reviewed my goals.

In August we experienced our little town's fair, went to a baseball game, and celebrated my birthday with my favorites. 

I shared our new dining room table and had the fourth annual girls weekend up north. I ordered new kitchen stools as I continued to decorate the new house, dog sat for friends, spent the day at Jess' family lake house, and took a weekend trip to Traverse City to wine taste.

In September we enjoyed more hiking at the new house, did more exploring our new town's restaurants, went crazy over the sunsets, celebrated my mom's birthday, hosted Supper Club, and saw the property where my parents are going to build a new house (that's Ella in the model home).

In October I created my first gallery wall in the dining room, dressed Manny up like a hot dog for Halloween, went to supper club, had a few date nights, enjoyed more hiking by our house and put Manny in a bow tie.

In November I hosted all our neighbors for dinner (and it was a blast!), spent time with family, enjoyed crazy good sunrises on the way to work, went to the cider mill, and had our annual Lindsey and Mom Day of Fun. 

I hosted an early Thanksgiving celebration at our house with the family, and for Thanksgiving weekend G and I went to Traverse City. It was in the 60s and sunny and just perfection for wine tasting, hiking and relaxing.

In December we decorated for Christmas in the new house, spent time with family, and shoveled our way out of multiple snow storms,

We went to our towns Christmas festival with friends and it was like being in a Hallmark Christmas movie. I hosted an amazing girls night sleepover with my besties and it was just so good for the soul. 

We celebrated Christmas at my parents' house for the last time, watched all the Christmas movies, drank mimosas and had Christmas brunch and did more shoveling. 

Whew! What a year. Thanks for looking back with me on our adventures. It was a big year for our little family and I'm just so thankful for all our blessings. Happy New Year, friends!

Second Annual Lake House Weekend

You can read about the first Lake House Weekend here and here. We were graciously invited back by my SIL's family this past weekend and we were thrilled to spend a weekend out on the lake. We grabbed a quick dinner, finished packing and my parents picked us up for the 2.5 hour drive up to the lake house Friday evening. We arrived around 9:30, got settled, and chatted for a few hours before calling it a night.

Saturday morning we woke up just before 8:00 and grabbed a cup of coffee and sat on the deck enjoying this gorgeous view. 

Everyone woke up shortly after and grabbed coffee and we went on a "Coffee Cruise" around the lake in the pontoon with the pups. I should mention that my brother and SIL have two pups (Kodi and Hitch) and my SIL's family has two pups (Lucy and Bandit) and I adore them all. They are all rescue pups and they are all so sweet. Lucy (below) is my favorite. She is just such a lover and cuddler. She is trying to give me kisses in this picture and she just loves to be as close as possible.

I adore these dogs so much. 

Our lovely hosts made a beautiful spread of pancakes, bacon, fruit and orange juice so we ate our yummy breakfasts on the deck after the coffee cruise. Oh my heavens! I haven't had bacon in so long and it really hit the spot.

After breakfast I went for a good walk with Garth and my parents. It was a gorgeous walk and it was starting to get really warm. We were walking down this sunny patch of gravel and I had flip flops on so I was watching where I was going to make sure I didn't hit a big rock and hurt myself. I saw a stick, or what I thought was a stick, until I got closer and it started to MOVE. It was a fat, brown snake and I started screaming and running. Garth followed. My dad, the ultimate nature lover, is running after the snake wishing I would hush so he could get a better look at the snake. Hilarious. But also creepy. I shiver just thinking about that snake.

Anyways, after our walk I was hot so I jumped in the lake for a quick swim. Then I sat near the water with my SIL and we chatted and read magazines. After a bit of that Garth and I grabbed rafts and floated in the water.

My dad and brother sat on the dock and hung out with a cold one.

How cute is my pregger SIL? That is her sweet mamma behind her. 

Floating is seriously the best. I just cannot express how happy being on the water makes me. I love it so much. I especially love looking at all the houses on the lake, admiring their boats and floating devices. Ahhhhh, lake livin'.

Finally my brother and SIL...and Hitch... joined us! He hated being too far from his mom and dad and had to swim out to them.

After a few hours of floating we had lunch. I didn't grab a photo, but we had tuna salad, hot dogs, chips and watermelon. After lunch we just sat around talking, napping, and relaxing. The boys played ladder golf and then around 1:30 my brother, Brad, came in from Chicago. 

We said our hellos, Brad got into his bathing suit and we all came back out to float. My dad kayaked while all the kids hung out.

It was good to catch up with Brad since we haven't seen him in a while. The boys went tubing. We went for a boat ride and then did more floating. Rough life, right?

I got out and read on the pontoon with Garth and my mom while my brother decided to jump off the dock. 

Before dinner we went for another pontoon boat ride. The dogs were so tired from playing in the lake all day. Especially Kodi. IN the picture above he literally fell asleep on Garth's foot. So funny.

We decided to dress up Hitch. We sat at the edge of the dock with Brad for a while talking and the sun was reflecting on the water giving the illusion of little diamonds dancing around. It was so pretty. My next house will most definitely be on a lake.

Around 7 dinner was served. Ron's famous ribs, corn on the cob, broccoli salad, and cheesy potatoes  I don't even like ribs, but these are incredible, fall off the bone goodness.

After dinner Ron got a fire started while we watched the sunset.

The sky was so gorgeous we decided to take pictures since all the kids were together, which doesn't happen too often.

Love them.

We ate smores around the campfire and then called it a night.

I didn't get any pictures from Sunday, but we slept it. Drank coffee on the deck. The boys went kayaking for some good brother bonding time. My SIL, Jess, made this killer egg casserole. After breakfast we packed everything up and then came back and sat around the lake. It was hot, but it was so windy and wavy that you wouldn't want to swim. Around 1 we headed out, grabbed lunch on the way out and got home around 5, unpacked, and went to bed early because we were beat from having so much fun. Love those kinds of memories. Good times. Good people.