Written by Candace on August 10, 2012 | 5 Comments

Anniversary
In A Box

I honestly believe that a relationship cannot survive on it’s own.

Vitaliy and I didn’t make it to 6 years of marriage without the support, prayers and encouragement of friends and family. And not to mention, some counseling in the mix too! Besides gaining wisdom from others, having loved ones celebrate with you makes life sweeter. And there isn’t a better cheerleader than my mom.

Her love language is definitely gift giving. So it didn’t surprise me at all when a package arrived on our doorstep the week of our anniversary. Inside was our very own “Happy Anniversary” sign. And the beautiful thing is that we can use it to celebrate this year and the years to come. She even designed a special box to help preserve it. I can’t wait to take a picture with it every anniversary and see how we change over the years.

Each piece was cut and glued with love. Thank you, Mom! I don’t know how it’s possible, but you seem outdo yourself each year.

I wanted to share this idea with you, my readers, for two reasons. First, in case you wanted to steal the idea and make it your own. And two, to remind you to reach out and celebrate a couple you know. We got to do this recently and it made us even more excited about celebrating our own marriage.

So go! I know a couple already popped in your mind. Go send them a card. Babysit their kids. Or make them a sign so big and special they’ll have no excuse not to hang it with honor. Because let’s face it, every year a couple remains committed and in love is a victory. A victory worth celebrating!

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Written by Candace on July 31, 2012 | 8 Comments

Einstein Bagels

This Sunday Vitaliy and I will be celebrating 6 years of marriage. I’m still in denial that it has already been 6 years.

As we plan how we want to celebrate, we can’t help but reminisce our epic trip to Chicago last year to celebrate our 5 year anniversary. We wanted to go back down memory lane, to visit all of the places where our love both started and blossomed. It was honestly one of the best trips we’ve ever taken together.

When we were at college in Chicago, one of the things that became a Saturday morning tradition was to walk to Einstein Bagels for breakfast. It was about a mile walk, which during a Chicago winter can feel more like a 5 mile trek. Though the wind was painfully piercing at times, all that mattered was that he was by my side.

Vitaliy and I have been through a lot over the last 6 years. It’s hard to put into words how special this trip was for us as a couple. I can remember sitting at Einstein’s as a college student trying to decipher my feelings for Vitaliy and what future we would have together. He was a graduating senior; I still had two years left. He was from Ukraine and could possibly move back. I didn’t imagine my life outside of the Midwest. It was all so unclear.

But there we sat at the same table, now as husband and wife, having lived through things that we could never have imagined as two college kids in love. God is faithful. We had much to celebrate last year and even more to celebrate this year.

Have you taken a trip down memory lane with your loved one recently? I cannot recommend it enough! Revisit one of your early traditions. Redo your first date. It will conjure up fond memories and feelings towards one another. While remembering how it all started, you will walk away encouraged to keep pressing forward. Together.

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Written by Candace on July 19, 2012 | 11 Comments

Sticky Fingers

Because it’s cloudy again today. And because I often take life, and myself, too seriously. I’ve decided to post a humiliating picture that warrants a good laugh.

Here’s to laughing at ourselves, making light of our quirks, and accepting ourselves just as we are.

10 things you may or may not need to know about me.

1. I panic at the idea of a gift card expiring.
2. I cannot handle sticky fingers.
3. I’m obsessed with having the perfect “last bite.”
4. I’m still slightly afraid of the dark.
5. I blush easily.
6. I prefer dresses over jeans. But sweats above all.
7. If I have an evening alone, it involves chocolate.
8. I’m afraid of authority.
9. I take naps on a regular basis.
10. I love moustaches! One in particular.

This was a recent photo taken at Kristi and Shane’s wedding. We typically arrive an hour before the day starts to scope out locations and search for the best light. This was one such picture. I don’t have a clue what I was doing here so…best caption wins a bag of Hershey Kisses!

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