#GratefulLove is Complete + Our Bedtime Ritual!

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i hope everyone had a fantastic thanksgiving if you celebrated in the united states! for those in canada, i know you already had this on lockdown a month ago so you win. i love this holiday because it allows us as a nation to pause and reflect on all of the things we have to be thankful for in our lives.

the #GratefulLove photo challenge also wrapped up yesterday and i absolutely loved seeing photos and hearing insight into people’s marriage and relationships!

this was my first photo challenge so thank you to those who participated: amanda, kendra, mandi, leslie, elizabeth, holly, velma, jenna, jenny, bethany, linze, donna, angel, amber, kristen, tia, MY MOM (before she left the country and couldn’t access ‘the instagram’) and of course my husband.

grateful love photo challenge

grateful love photo challenge

through this ‘photo challenge’ of sharing parts of why we are grateful for our love, it helped me appreciate the relationship my husband and i work hard to create each day. it made me feel closer to him and proud that we have chosen to be life partners. it also made my heart happy to see other people in love and share their favorite things about themselves and their partners!

so how do you keep this feeling going or create this for your relationship?

for some of my longtime readers, i shared this a while back. it’s something my husband and i do each night before we go to bed (stop being dirty you scoundrel!) and this is a way for you to continue your grateful love. we answer these 4 things before we fall asleep each night. click the link for more details but the shorthand version is this:

  • today, my favorite thing about you was…
  • today, my favorite thing about myself was…
  • today, i gave back by…
  • today, i am thankful for…

this is something that has truly changed our relationship deeply and makes me more present during the day. it also helps you to focus on the positive things your spouse does so you best be paying attention to have an answer later! try it out for at least 2 weeks and let me know what you think!

my new favorite photo of the two of us happened to occur on thanksgiving! the leaves outside of our apartment are still crazy gorgeous. three minutes before we had to leave for the mid-afternoon-stuff-yourself-feast, i said sweetly (and not in a loud or stressed tone at all) to my husband that he should set up the tripod for a quick thanksgiving shot since our dog still doesn’t have opposable thumbs. he said we had one shot because we were on the cusp of being late and BAM here it is.

ryan and chelsea avery thanksgiving 2014i literally just ordered our christmas cards on wednesday before this magic happened otherwise this would have been the winner. thank goodness i have this blog to share it on otherwise what would we do with it? you should also know i’m not wearing pants in the photo. ha! just kidding! or am i? i bet you looked again.

happy december and let’s roll out 2014 with a bang!

questions:
1) what was your favorite thing you ate in the past week? (mine was mashed potatoes and a cup of brownie batter)
2) did you participate in the photo challenge? what did you think? would you do it again with me!?
3) one thing you are super grateful for today? (i am grateful to feel safe in my home)

6 Comments

  1. Kendra

    December 1, 2014 at 9:56 am

    I ate ALL THE THINGS this week, but my fav has always been bread and pumpkin pie! I got a little behind on the challenge, but I’d love to do another one with you! You’ve helped me realize just how grateful I am for my husband, and I’m hoping to spend the rest of this year and all the ones to come making sure he know just how much!

    • chelsea

      December 2, 2014 at 8:21 am

      mmmm pumpkin pie. i didn’t get my fill on that so i think i’m going to make one this weekend! thanks so much for participating in the challenge, kendra! i absolutely looooved the photos and thoughtfulness you put into each of them! loved seeing your sweet kids too!
      chelsea recently posted…How to Decorate for Christmas in an Apartment

  2. Paula Howley

    December 1, 2014 at 8:32 pm

    1) what was your favorite thing you ate in the past week? (mine was mashed potatoes and a cup of brownie batter)

    I would have to say this really interesting oriental chicken soup that my friend Ann made for me. it was uniquely delish. I may actually ask for the recipe.
    2) did you participate in the photo challenge? what did you think? would you do it again with me!?
    I will try in the future but it seems awfully time consuming. lol
    3) one thing you are super grateful for today? (i am grateful to feel safe in my home)
    My husband put the sliding door back on in our bedroom closet-it has been off the wheels for almost a YEAR.
    Paula Howley recently posted…Head Start Public Speaking For Kids Week 7- Body Language and the Power Pose

    • chelsea

      December 2, 2014 at 8:28 am

      ohhh that does sound like an interesting soup…get that recipe paula! the photo challenge really isn’t too time consuming if you’re addicted and love instagram! it’s super easy to upload right from there and then you can share it on social media 🙂 would love to have you join next time because you’re hilarious.

      yay lloyd for reattaching the closet door! hope you’re feeling all healthy now paula!
      chelsea recently posted…How to Decorate for Christmas in an Apartment

  3. Amanda Wood

    December 2, 2014 at 8:28 am

    I made a kick ass turkey and I’m still enjoying the leftovers 🙂
    And I LOVED the Grateful Love challenge and would totally do it again! As you already know 🙂
    Today I am grateful for our space heater. It’s freezing out today!
    Amanda Wood recently posted…An Awesome List #16

    • chelsea

      December 2, 2014 at 9:48 am

      nicely done on a kick ass turkey, amanda!!! you will have to do a tutorial someday because i have no idea how to make one 🙂 loooved seeing your photos on GratefulLove and so glad you want to do another one-yay!

      stay warm out there lady!