the beginning.

As Marabelle's 1st birthday came and went, so did the 1 year anniversary of me starting this little blog of mine. In the beginning, when I started Marie Tea, I didn't really know what to expect other than I knew I wanted to write and share my writing, something I had always hoped to do, and yet, I always seemed to find an excuse for why I wasn't doing the very thing I desired.

Throughout the year, there have been seasons when I've been able to write frequently and other seasons when my posts have been few and far between. But this week, while reading some of my favorite blogs, blogs of pretty awesome people who blog for a living and post multiple times a week, opposed to my once every so often blog post, written whenever I'm able to scrounge up the time, the thought, or the energy to type away, something came out of the computer screen and hit me in the face...instead of wishing for more time to write, I should instead be grateful for the times I have been able to write, the times I am blessed with a thought, the times I am inspired with a notion, and the times I am driven by conviction. I should be grateful. I should be grateful. I should be grateful. And I am. For we each have a talent, a gift, a passion, something we can proudly share with others but we may not always have the time to share these gifts as often as we'd like. While meeting life's many demands, we forget to delight in the simple fact that we have been given a gift and any time we are able to delight in these passions of ours is also a gift...not to be overlooked, or downplayed, or comparatively diminished. Simply stated, it is a gift to have times when we are able to smile and individually enjoy or collectively share a talent or a passion.

Many of my readers are family and friends and some new friends I've met and picked up along the way and I truly enjoy sharing bits of our story here with you. Thank you for your encouragement, your comments, your prayers, and your love. I wish I had the perfect words to tell you just how much hearing from you means to me, but even this passionate lover of words recognizes that sometimes words just aren't enough. So please know, from the bottom of this imperfect heart, I appreciate your company on this sweet journey.

As many of you know, I've used Facebook to share new posts...but unfortunately, it's given me an excuse to spend more time on that addicting website than I'd like to admit. So, with Marie Tea's second year underway, I have decided I'm no longer going to link new posts to Facebook, but if you sign up to follow us here on bloglovin' you'll be automatically updated whenever I write a new post. And for those of you who enjoy commenting on Facebook, I'd love if you could continue to share your comments right here on the blog - because like I said before...hearing from you via comments means more than you know.

So, Happy Anniversary, Marie Tea, and all of our incredible friends we've grown with. I hope our first year is only the beginning of reflections, laughs, and shared stories...because sharing ourselves with others is what life is all about.

appreciative of you.

***and Marie Tea is in the middle of getting a makeover, so please be patient with us while we make some changes.

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rest assured.

We're back from our family road trip and unfortunately, we didn't run into any baby bucket swing relatives but all of us, including baby girl, somehow managed to get sick.

And whenever we're sick, we love playing any of the whiny - "I don't feel well," "hold me, please," and "I just want to sleep" cards. So, what happens when everyone in the family feels entitled to play any or all of these needy cards at the same exact time? We throw a welcoming pity party and delegate sleep shifts, soup shifts, cuddle shifts, tea shifts, and even more sleep shifts. Welcome to our sick world...what can I say?

Since baby girl's sleep shifts have required mama's company, (please, don't leave mom - I sleep better when you're near), I've had lots of extra thinking time about life, writing, and this little blog of mine. Like I've mentioned a few times - I've really come to love this blog and to all of you who have reached out in your own special ways to make it a point to let me know how much you love reading - your enthusiasm for my writing makes me want to write more, more, and even more. So, as always, thank you for keeping me company along this writing journey of mine. Rest assured, your company is the kind that I feel safe enough to throw on my favorite sweat pants, put on my glasses, tie my hair back, snuggle up on the couch and just write it out...which, in this commonly superficial world frequently lacking authenticity...me feeling encouraged to write and just be me, is a huge gift you all have given me and I will always, always, always thank you for that.

With that said, I will continue to write here because of how much Marie Tea has meant, not only to you but to me, but there may be less frequent posts {in the next few weeks}, as I aggressively work on finishing up my first book. Rest assured, it's not because I'm not writing, but it's actually because that's exactly what I'm doing...writing. As much as blogging has been incredibly enjoyable, I also have to be faithful to my lifelong book writing dreams...because like I've mentioned here a few times, if we're not faithful to our dreams, who will be?

So, rest assured, I will continue to write blog posts and share parts of my heart here with you, just like I've done from the very beginning. I only ask you to be patient with the frequency of my next few posts. I have a baby girl and a dream and neither one of them are getting any younger...so that means I've gotta chase them both now, while I still can.

Have a great weekend - I'm sure ours will look something like this.

 ::

appreciation sticky's.

This past weekend we spent some time with new friends who challenged us to leave surprise sticky notes showcasing our appreciation for each other. Hours fly by and days are fleeting - and when much of our time together is spent filling the other in on all that's going on, appreciative affirmations are not as common as they should be.

And to make the challenge a little more interesting - we each have a pack of post-it sticky's that we have to use up in 30 days. So, basically it's a competition of who can out-do the other in showing appreciation. Not a bad idea? We thought it was genius! You should totally try it - whether it's for a sibling, a parent, a roommate, a significant other, a co-worker, a husband or wife, or even a small child...whomever you feel you need to express your appreciation for, buy some post-it's, challenge yourself, and get sticky note crazy!

There are infinite reasons why I appreciate the Mr. in my life, but they don't always make it from my thoughts --> to my lips --> to his ears --> to his heart. Think about how different the world would be if we all knew how appreciated we were by the ones we love. Even if you don't dig the whole sticky note thing, try and be more mindful and vocal with expressing your appreciation - because when we lovingly give to others, we too, prosperously receive.

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enough.

It's the husband's birthday week and I'm pretty excited to gush over how great he is and how thankful I am for him, because honestly - I don't do that enough.

How often do we get stuck in the rut of every day demands - stumbling along trying to get everything done, all the while forgetting to be appreciative of the ones we have the privilege of fumbling through with?

He does so much for our little family and it's easy to forget that he's not being all amazing & wonderful because that's his job, but rather because he freely chooses to serve, provide, and sacrifice in both obvious and modest ways.

There's something very consistent about his love. Regardless of the outside world around him or the score of the football game, his love is unchanging. Unlike my everywhere/chaotic, can't get a grip self, who can be quickly altered and perturbed...he's strong, grounded, and his gentleness is consistent because he loves well, rain or shine. Even if the world were crashing down all around us, the Love he experiences through us is enough for him.

So, because I go-go-go too often and whenever he helps slow me down, my pride prohibits me from telling him how great a leader he is or simply thanking him for his unwavering patience in those fleeting seconds - I'll say it today.

It's the week of your birthday and we hope you know that even if we don't always say it,
me - because of my stupid ego and baby girl because well - her words aren't exactly found in the dictionary just yet, we're very honored to celebrate you this week and all that you lovingly do for us. Love via you is more than enough for us, too.

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walk with us.

So, Marie Tea has been around for about 6 months and I hope you've enjoyed walking with us as much as we have enjoyed your company.

Whether you're new to the blog or you've been with us since the beginning and want to continue learning & growing with us, I humbly invite you to join our Tea Room or follow us here. Also, we love comments - so if you like what you see, please feel free to let us know!

I pray your week is off to a great start. Ours began with baby girl trying her first solid, an avocado. Reflections & pics coming soon.
::

holding on tight.

I hate when multiple days fly by, filled with all the hectic busy-ness of daily life, and then it hits me - I haven't written a blog in a week. Regardless of the frequency of my posts, I am dedicated to this blog. So much of my commitment is thanks to all you great, wonderful, supportive, and loving friends who encourage me along the way. You are all more awesome than awesome. :)

Rest assured, if a week goes by and I haven't written, I will write soon. And hopefully when we get a little more settled I can write more frequently. Until then...thank you for sharing our joy, thank you for your smiles and your laughs, thank you for embracing my ridiculous-ness, thank you for growing with me, and thank you for holding on tight. It really means more than you know.

:: victoria marie