The Last Few Weeks

Well it has been a little while since I have updated the blog! I feel like the last few weeks have been super busy but full of fun! 

Luke and I celebrated our one year anniversary on July 24. We took off Monday so we had a great three day weekend. On Saturday we drove to Corvallis and Luke and I made great BBQ food at my parents house for our two families. It was so fun to see them all together again celebrating over a meal; the last time that happened was the night of the wedding. We took a walk around the neighborhood after dinner and sat on my parents deck and played some Pajaggle (a puzzle like game). Overall, a really blessed night. Unfortunately,  I didn't get any pictures. Bummer.

Sunday, our actual anniversary, we just hung out around Portland and enjoyed the day. We went to one of our favorite Taverns in the city, Henry's. They have an all day happy hour on Sundays that is awesome. After our lunch we walked around the Pearl District and ended up buying a new duvet cover! We have been looking for months for a new one we both like and finally found one! For dinner on Sunday we "recreated" our wedding dinner. I finally got to use our china, our wedding champagne glasses and we drank Airlie 7 wine which we had at our wedding AND we made almost all the same food. To top off the likeness of our anniversary dinner to our wedding reception dinner, Luke played all the music that was playing during our wedding reception. It was a great night! I think we made a few traditions that we want to continue!

Luke and I at Henry's.

On Monday after two days full of fun and lots of activities we just wanted to do things around the house. We were so excited about our new duvet cover that we decided to really spruce up our room. We woke up, got some coffee and then went to the paint store. We spent most of the afternoon painting our bedroom. When we had finished and were letting the paint dry, we went to go see the last Harry Potter movie. It was AWESOME! If you don't know already but I am a HUGE Harry Potter fan. On a side note, I feel like my childhood ended when the movie ended. Harry Potter was such a huge part of my childhood and really was what started my love for reading. Okay, back to the anniversary weekend. It felt so good to get our house clean and really just reorganize and get rid of loads of crap we don't need.

The following weekend was the wedding of our close friends Charlie and Sarah. Luke was an usher and I helped out at the gift table for the wedding. One of our best friends, Curtis, came down from Seattle for the wedding and stayed with us all weekend. It was really fun having him down. The wedding was so beautiful and I could feel the love in the room. I really believe Sarah and Charlie were made for each other, a marriage blessed by God. Here are a few pictures:

Now, we are finally to present time! This weekend Luke and I both had off from work which was nice because the fall is coming up fast and it will only get busier. Friday night, we went out to celebrate my friend's Jessica and Jennifer's 25th birthday. The night was fun and full of laughs.

Jennifer and Jessica, the beautiful twins.

Kristen and Garrett...those twos were dancing queens.

The love birds, getting married in October!

Then yesterday, we did things around the house and finished up some things in our room! Here is what our room looks like now:

And that is our new duvet cover!! We love it! Just enough color and pattern but not too overwhelming. Also, Luke and I have started another fun thing for keeping track of travels. The giant world map on the wall we had steamed and mounted on foam board. We bought some pins and have four categories (colors) we use to determine our travels. White - where Meghan has been; Black - where Luke has been; Pink - where we have been together and Teal - where we want to go together. It has been super fun to remember where we have been together and pick spots we really want to go. If I had it my way, there would be a teal color pin in every single city on the map. Luke definitely needs to control me and my instinct to put new pins everywhere!

Summer/Fall

Okay, if you live in Oregon you know this summer has sucked. There has maybe been one 4 day stretch of sunshine before it rained on our short summer parade. This weather feels more like fall than summer which, surprisingly, I don't mind. The reason I don't mind is because I love fall, maybe a little more than summer. There is a certain internal warmth of fall. All of the warm colors, new flavors, and sense of purpose. Fall was always the start of a new school year which I loved and the start of a new holiday season. Before I get too excited about fall coming, which I forgot to mention also brings my birthday, I have captured a few fun summer pictures so far.

Sammie being still while I snap a picture.

Wonderful breakfast with the lovely Amber.

Ah, the food. It's the description of my breakfast.

Fresh baked Banana bread.

Laying out by the pool reading Bossypants.

Camping!

Over the July 4th weekend we went camping! It was the first camping trip of the summer. We went with our friends Amber and Jared with their two dogs Winchester and Penny. The trip was a bit last minute so the boys decided to go out earlier on Friday hoping to find a spot since all reserved campgrounds were booked by the time we decided to go camping. Luke and Jared were driving about 5 hours....with 3 dogs!! Poor guys! That is basically torture.

Penny, Winchester, Sammie

They landed a spot around 7:30pm on Friday night with Amber and I already on our way praying they would find something before we got there!

Our campground wasn't anything special but it served its' purpose. Our spot was huge so the dogs were able to run, play and sniff around as they pleased without annoying other campers.

Winchester Sperry, very patient dog.

Most of the weekend we actually spent at Suttle Lake. The dogs are HUGE water lovers so I believe they had the best weekend of their lives! A lot of barking, splashing, stick getting and Winchester has the skills to hunt for large rocks. It is quite hilarious. You toss a large rock into the shallow water and he will paw around, feel it, poke his whole head into the water and come up with the rock in his mouth. He is a unique one.

Winchester and Sammie fetching sticks.

Swimming and hunting for sticks.

Penny hopping like a bunny in the water.

Us humans, we laid out, tanned, drank some cold beers and swam. It was super nice to have warm weather. I think I almost forgot what it felt like....especially since I burned. 

Jared and Luke enjoying nature and their beer.

Great idea by Luke Buchanan.

Amber and Jared being cute with their dogs.

By the end when we were ready to head out on Monday, I think I had over 20 mosquito bites. I attract bugs like crazy!! I was just itching to get a nice long shower (pun intended)! Overall the weekend was super fun and relaxing. I definitely feel like summer has begun.

Winchester being a stud.

Money

It is a love hate relationship. Money can be your best friend or your worst enemy. It is crazy how a piece of paper can better your life or ruin your life. Just think about everything paper can be...post its, notes, pamphlets, tickets, cards...most things you just throw away or hopefully recycle. Yet, there is one kind of paper that makes the world spin. Money. No matter the currency, the world listens and reacts so urgently when money is involved.

Of all things that have challenged me in life, especially in this past year, money has been my most annoying opponent. I believe the hardest thing about money is finding a balance between understanding its' important but not letting it rule your life. There is such an emotional connection to money. A loud stigma to those who have it and those who don't.

I really want to understand money and why and how it affects people in the way it does. Why is it that whenever I spend money, regardless of whether what I am buying is a need or a want, I feel guilty? Shouldn't one feel validated in buying something that a family needs or in being able to spend money on something someone really wants? I definitely have come to realize that money is a blessing and a curse.

As I keep trying to get my head around the idea that a piece of paper influences my life so strongly, I question this: Does everyone struggle with money regardless of how much or how little they have? Is there really anyway to beat the money fight?

All I know is that the more and more I view money as a way to better my life and the life of my family, I choose to stay positive. And by saying that money can make my life better, that doesn't mean so I can buy all the material things in the world (of course that would be nice) but because I get that money is so vital to survive. If I can handle money wisely, I would love to be so generous with it. I would love to be able to give to charity freely and allow others the opportunity to do things that they may not be able to do without certain funds and finances.

From day one, I have been blessed in life. I have never had to worry about not having food on the table, or clothes to wear to school. I have been able to see some of world and travel and buy things because I wanted them not just because I needed them. I don't think it was until I got married and became financially independent that I truly understood how blessed I have been. I am so grateful for all the hard work that my parents did so I could have amazing opportunities in life. All I wish and hope for is someday I can provide those same opportunities to my family and friends.

I am finding patience in money. It really has taught me to live day by day and not be only focused on the future and what I want. There is a sharp truth in today, in reality. The more I can look reality in the face and accept it, I can learn to appreciate it and love it. In the end, I can't take money and possessions with me when I die, so I pray that I can use them wisely while I am alive to bless myself, family, friends, and others.

First Week of Work

I just finished my first week of work! It was only a 3 day week for me which was very nice. My first day consisted of a lot of orientations. Two other girls started their first day when I did so we went through all of our meetings together. One of the cool things my work does is makes each new administrative employee have a "buddy". The buddy is just someone specifically meant to check in on you and make sure things are going okay. It is someone to go to if you have any questions or concerns. It is honestly very nice to know that I have someone who will help me with no hesitation (even though no one would have a problem pitching in). For lunch on my first day, me and the other 2 girls were taken out by our buddies to this great place downtown, Dragonfish. It was so nice to be "taken care of" at work. I felt very appreciated already in my first day!

On Thursday (second day) I was able to get a bit more settled into my "cube". I actually am in a big 4 person cube instead of just a singular cube. At first I didn't know how I felt about it but now I feel blessed to be with 3 other people. I think I would feel secluded if I was in my own. I am able to ask questions, talk and make new friends and relationships WAY easier in the 4 person cubical. The main activity I did on Thursday was file, file, file, file, file, send mail, file, file, file, file. Oh man! So much filing!!!!! It is a great way to become familiar with the firm and the companies we work with. I really feel like a professional now, I have my own computer! My own e-mail! My own business phone! I know it seems silly but I LOVE IT!

Friday, the sun came out and I was pumped!! My building is right downtown in Pioneer Square and we have some of the best views in the city. I tried to get a few pictures of Mt. Hood and Mt. St. Helens and was somewhat successful but only had my iPhone. I just tried to upload them but they were tiny! Next week, I'll bring my camera and get some good ones! Anyway, for lunch Luke met me downtown before he went to work (very convenient) and we ate at Typhoon! It was so nice to walk around downtown and eat some super yummy food. As for what I did Friday...file, file, file, send mail, file, file. Very much the same!! I did have a meeting to learn how to work on financial statements. So hopefully this next week, I will be able to take on more responsibilities.

All and all, I am really enjoying my new job, hopefully my new career. The company I am working for is a great company and I feel super blessed to have this opportunity.

xoxo
Meghan

PS. I just got my new book for the book club and it is really good so far! Very excited!!