It's so nice to meet you!

Since we are new friends, allow me to introduce myself — I am Caitlin Gossen, a mother, a wife, and a dreamer... also a lover of all things beautiful and organized. I'm sure my mother is doing some heavy eye-rolling on the "organized" but it's an aspiration, ok?

I have three beautiful babies who are literally growing into young adults before my very eyes. Mary Grace, we call her "MG", will be 16 in December. Katherine, aka “Kat”, will be 14 in October. Frederick, our caboose, just turned 11 in August. And our sweet Theodore, an Austrailian Labradoodle, will be 6 in December.

Raising teenagers is fun, y’all. (Insert eyeroll) Not to worry, I’ve made plenty of mistakes for all of us to learn from and I will totally share what not to do at a later time. ;)

Before God blessed my life with these kiddos, Fred and I met in 2002 through a mutual friend at her home in little old Berwick, LA.

Before we met in person, I guess you could say it was love at first phone conversation… The funny thing is I'm sure neither of us would or could ever do it again… but we stayed on the phone for SEVEN hours. I mean, who even does that?! I can't stand to be on the phone for over 5 minutes. HA! It was simpler times, my friends! I'm sure my teenagers would say, "How cring-y!" (I’m telling you, so much fun!)
Anywho — During this phone conversation, Fred asked me to go with him to Europe… sight unseen… (though he would later remind me that he didn't buy the ticket until after we met). I had half a mind to get some really scary teeth when we met and maybe botch my makeup… but I didn't. Lame.

While in Honfleur, France, an old port town on the English Channel, up overlooking the city was a quaint little chapel named Notre Dame de Grace "Our Lady of Grace." There we had a "moment" or that feeling when YOU KNOW this could be the real thing.

It was then that he said, "if we get married and have kids, we should name our first girl Mary Grace after this chapel…" OH, ARE WE GETTING MARRIED?! Wow. This escalated quickly. He's a catch, y'all.

Oh, did I mention we are 14 years apart? Indeed. Fred graduated with the class of 1985 and I too graduated with the class of 1985 — Kindergarten that is. We do not have a whole lot in common but as my dear friend, Paula Abdul would say... "Opposites Attract."

We have been married since 2004 and living in Rayne, LA, in this house we call HOME.

Here you will find me searching for projects, working out, cooking, decorating anything that stands still, and doing my best to create a home filled with love and joy.

I am so excited to introduce you to CG Living and I can’t wait to do life with you!

Please comment below and tell me where you are reading from.

xoxo, Caitlin