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The Office

Pictilio Office SpacePictilio Office SpacePictilio Office SpacePictilio Office SpacePictilio Office Space

Towards the end of 2012, Vitaliy and I decided it was time to take the jump. I was going to quit my full-time, insurance providing, corporate job of 7 years.

We had a bit saved up, but our main focus was lowering our monthly expenses. Rent in the bay area is very expensive so we knew the answer was to downsize. But we had no idea just how small we’d end up going. Our life trajectory has appeared to be the opposite of the American dream. While everyone is searching for bigger space, our homes have gone from a 4 bedroom townhouse, to a 2 bedroom condo, to a two room in-law unit. We now live and work in a 350 sq foot space.

Everyone we knew was concerned for us. They were especially concerned for our marriage. Where will you go if you need some space during a fight? To the kitchen, I guess, is how I answered. We had no idea how we were going to make such a small space work, but we were determined. We just celebrated our two year anniversary in this space and we are looking for ways to stay here as long as we can. We love it!

Not only has it enabled us to do what we love, but making this sacrifice has also taught us an invaluable lesson. We really don’t need that much to be happy. In fact, it’s incredibly freeing to live with less. Every time we give away or sell more of our stuff I feel another weight lifted off my shoulders. Are there days when I dream of a bigger home? Of course! (The incredible window light we get and the sweet family we rent from definitely help make this space all the more special.) But for now, I’m going to enjoy this home, continue doing what I love, and learn in the process.

Here’s a little peak at our homemade office space. Vitaliy built that desk himself! You can sometimes find us working here or at a coffee shop. But most often, I’m curling up on the loveseat (not pictured) working and dreaming away.

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Praying for Ukraine

Some days, some weeks, just don’t go as planned. And I’m starting to learn that’s ok. Yesterday was one such day. And I’m beginning to think I’m in such a week.

We woke up Tuesday morning to terrible news from Ukraine. It’s hard to be genuinely concerned about your to-do-list when people are fighting and dying for simple freedoms in Vitaliy’s home country. Not to mention, his two sisters and brother-in-law are living in the very city where the majority of the fighting is taking place. I need to write a blog post. We need to edit these photos. It’s amazing how emotions can effect your energy and productivity levels. I’m not going to lie, I worked from bed yesterday. I answered emails while checking the latest live footage of Ukraine, reading the most up to date news articles, and trying to focus long enough to say prayers. Because what we really need is for God to move.

It’s hard to believe that only 8 months ago we walked the streets of Ukraine. In fact, we walked in the exact areas where the fighting is taking place. We were just there! But now we are here. And our family is there. And that’s hard. Prayer is real and it is comforting. It helps you focus on the only One who is able. But it doesn’t always permanently remove the fear of the unknown. It doesn’t take away the concern for your family. There still remains this heaviness in your heart. And then you are reminded to pray again. I can only imagine what Vitaliy feels as this is his people and his country.

I made myself write today. I honestly did not want to. My thoughts are all over the place and I didn’t want to formulate them. But I want to remember this time. This is history. This is part of our story. If I want to be a writer, I can’t just write when I feel like it. Sometimes you have to do art when everything in you is telling you not to. And sometimes you have to pray when everything in you is asking, what’s the point.

If you’d like to know more, watch or read. And please pray or spread the word. Thank you!

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Delivering Kisses

Deliver some kisses to your loved oneDeliver some kisses to your loved oneDeliver some kisses to your loved oneDeliver some kisses to your loved oneDeliver some kisses to your loved one

Yesterday I had the opportunity of sharing my life story with someone.

This is always a wonderful opportunity, but certain parts of the story can be difficult to articulate because they’re painful. But when I told it yesterday, I was surprised to find myself even more emotional when sharing stories about Vitaliy. Not painful ones, no. Stories of his faithfulness, his patience and his grace. The kind of stories that make me admire him and ask God how he came to be mine. Sometimes someone’s love can be so moving it can bring you to tears. That’s the way Vitaliy has loved me for the past 9 years we’ve been together. And how easy I forget.

It takes a conscious effort to stop and think, to choose to see, all that your spouse does for you. Whether it be big or small. Done in the open or humbly behind the scenes. Either way, let’s stop and acknowledge what they’ve done and what they’re doing. Express it verbally. Or perhaps write it down, make it permanent. Surprise them! Because they may not realize you’ve even noticed.

Here’s a little idea for Valentine’s Day, but to be honest, it’s meant to be done at any time of the year. Expressing our affection for those we love should be done spontaneously and consistently. But it’s fun to get creative and go all out sometimes too! So, here we go…

Deliver some kisses! Love notes to be included. Here are five possible ways to deliver, but feel free to plan your own.

  1. Send a bag of kisses to your husband while he’s away on a business trip. Or better yet, hide the bag in his suitcase!
  2. Leave a trail of kisses all around the house for him to find when he wakes up.
  3. Include a collection of kisses inside a Valentine’s Day card.
  4. Put a kiss here and there for him to find throughout the day. In his pocket, in the car, inside his laptop, etc.
  5. Mail an envelope of kisses to his office address to surprise him on a workday.

Gentleman, assuming you don’t want to put lipstick on and leave a kiss imprint, I’ve still got an idea for you. Replace the paper kisses above with Hershey’s kisses and attach or include a little love note with each. Every girl loves chocolate and a love note! And feel free to use any of the delivery ideas above.

Thanks to Kate from StyleSmaller for helping me bring this idea to life.

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