Friday, December 16, 2011

like a child

Lately I've been considering Matthew 18:3 - "And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven." And also Matthew 19:14- "Jesus said, 'Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.'" Generally I've been thinking about children, what blessings they are, and how they view the world, and how that relates to God and these verses...and my own freedom in Christ. 

I love this blogger, Casey Leigh. Here is a video about the art space that she and her husband have begun. I was listening to the commentary about the way children approach art, and I began to wonder if that is how God would have us approach life with Him. :) Let me know what you think. 














Wednesday, November 30, 2011

peace



I was holding my 3 year old son the other day after he had a bit of a freak out and I just hugged him and said, "Oh, Vander, if you only knew how much I loved you then you would never worry about anything ever again." And I felt God move like a subtle push in my heart that those words were His for me too.



Thursday, November 17, 2011

The cupcake truck

My sister-in-law is visiting from NC through the weekend and we have had some fun adventures already. Today we went on an adventure with the kids to track down the Twisted Sister Cupcake Truck. Do you have a service like this where you are? It's amazing. You go on the website, and take a look at the menu- it changes constantly as they come up with new and incredible flavors almost weekly. Today was as follows:

Cinnamon Twist
Drunkin Cranberry Orange
Chocolate Law
Southern Belle Red Velvet
What the Fudge Peanut Butter
The Great Pumpkin

Then you figure out where the truck will be according to the schedule and you hop into your car and go! Today just as we were going to park on a busy city street and walk over to the truck it began to pull away! We chased that cupcake truck all the way to a gas station and ladies inside were so cute. They opened their window and sold us some love, and then asked if we had any idea how to get to thier next destination. Lucky for us my sis had her trusty GPS app. The kids happily feasted on cupcakes in the car...and...oh my goodness...these are gourmet heaven. You must try them. Julia would be proud. 














Now that's a great time. 

Saturday, November 12, 2011

The things that come with us into marriage

credit
I owe you a little something after a week of silence! I loved this engagement photo that I found on A Beautiful Mess this morning. It makes me think of all the things you bring along into the commitment with you.  If this had been my brother and his wife he would've been holding a pile of books, and his wife would've had her favorite old floppy pillow that's she's been carrying around with her since forever! I think if it were me and Chad he would have had a wierd hat (yes, his nickname was "Weird Hat Boy" in college), and I probably would've also had a sewing machine. What would you and your spouse hold?

 Happy Weekend. I'll be back in fuller swing next week.

Friday, November 4, 2011

the happy couple


Apparently two of my daughter's toys have decided to take the plunge and she is excited. I didn't attend the wedding, but apparently this is the first time any of her toys have ever married. And all this time  I assumed that there had been weddings galore up in the toyroom while her imagination runs wild by the hour. It is nice to know that the toys she plays around have the good sense to enjoy a long engagement and not rush into something that will last a lifetime anyway. I'm glad she hangs around such level headed dolls. :)

Have a happy and joyous weekend!

Jean Luc!

Yes, I think it happened. I may be addicted to coffee. My gateway drug must have been General Foods International Coffee's...those little pretty tins, with really sugary coffee flavored mixes in them...it all seemed so innocent...and divine. Remember this?






Tee Hee. Enjoy.

priorities and where i've been...

Here is why I've been gone...I wrote this post months ago and I felt I couldn't keep blogging til I got around to it....and I just finished it:






I was ridiculously stressed last week. Two days in a row. So stressed that I felt like I was being stepped on- crushed to the ground, and still going, going, going. I was cranky, angry, and apologized to my kids alot for snapping....but in reality the age old excuse is true- there really is only so much one can take. You know what I did? I called my mother. I cried. I sobbed. I love that even though she was out on a day-date shopping and enjoying coffee with a girlfriend she hardly sees that she was eager to step outside for 45 minutes and do the mom thing...she did it well. And she reminded me of something that she taught me- not just long ago, but every day of my life either with her words, but usually her actions...God comes first, your family next, then your ministries, and other stuff.

 It seemed so obvious and simple...and of course my family is huge on my list, but when I hung up the phone and really spoke with God he confirmed it, and the realities hit me. I had just told someone a few weeks earlier that if she wanted to have a happy home and healthy love for her kids than she needed to do more than just answer to their needs...but actually invest in them relationally. I am a homeschooling mom and invest many hours into my kids. I cook them good meals, mend their clothes, bring them to playdates, and put them to bed with stories and kisses. But the truth was that while I was doing those things, many days I was just waiting for them to be over so I could do the things that I really wanted to do. I realized that even though my kids were a huge priority on my schedule that they weren't a big enough priority in my heart.

Part of me didn't believe that it was right. Like it was selfish to focus on my own family.

 So I read the Bible and found:  Titus 2:3-4 "3Likewise, teach the older women to be reverent in the way they live, not to be slanderers or addicted to much wine, but to teach what is good. 4Then they can train the younger women to love their husbands and children, 5to be self-controlled and pure, to be busy at home, to be kind, and to be subject to their husbands, so that no one will malign the word of God." And then there's the Proverbs 31 women. In 21 verses about her work that is poetry all about her household and her family only one points out that she helps others. One...the rest are about how strong her family is because she invests in them. 


I felt free. I felt like I was given these kids and was given permission to pour into them, even if that meant that other things, even other people who had needs (husband excluded) got less attention. I felt like a big part of my schedule, and what I was expected to do got cleared...and with it a burden of stress. It seemed so simple...and maybe for some it is...but for me I had to learn it. 


It wasn't until later that it occurred to me that a mom that isn't there for her kids relationally gives Satan plenty of space to infiltrate. I sort of wondered if that was his plan all along...now thwarted by God's freedom and purpose for my life taking over. 


There's more that I've learned, but for those who know my blog this is already long enough. I'll sneak it in later. But that's where I've been: with my kids. Til next time. 







Friday, October 28, 2011

Hair How To's

My hair is getting a bit too long for me these days, and I have decided I had better start playing with it before I get fed up and chop it off. So to make my life a little easier I have compiled my favorite hair tutorials from the blog A Cup of Jo...yes, that's right, I did this mostly for me, but I know you'll love them too. Just click the link below each picture to get to the tutorial. Have fun.



A Braided Crown
Messy Side Ponytail

Messy French Bun
Braided Top Bun



fallin in love

Being greeted with a smile.
 Autumn is back again and that means it's time to hunker down and get busy about being cozy. Though the fall season has only just begun, I have been diving in head first, and enjoying as many autumn delights as possible. There are so many things I love about falltime, that I thought I might compile a list of some  favorites...ahem:
Bringing home new delicious discoveries

Induging in said delicious dicoveries

Pumpkin pie made from a real pumpkin.

Coffeehouses with good books



...and good board games,
...and, of course, really good coffee.







Hay rides and wild windy skies.




Flaunting a sexy halloween costume. Naughty!

Petting zoos.


Pumpkin patches

Fall farmers markets






And best of all, Saturday mornings when everyone's home drinking hot, creamy coffee, eating chocolate chip pancakes, and keeping warm together.

What fall pleasures have you been able to enjoy already, and which ones are you anticipating?


P.S. Thanks to all the blogs that made this Fall Follower Fest possible! Great idea!

Monday, October 24, 2011

feelin groovy

Good morning girls and boys,

I had an amazing week of fitness and health. Finally back on track...and I must say that I'm impressed with this Cassey at Blogilates.com because she seriously knows her stuff! In just one week of doing 30 minutes a day of her workouts and eating well I made more progress than when I was doing a cardio and pilates combined 1 hour a day regime. Clothing that was tight on Monday were actually loose on Friday! Loose folks! That's only five days...and no, there was no fasting involved.  Here are the two workouts I've been doing:


The 20/20

and here's  a link to the easy printout version of the 20/20 workout: 20/20 printout.



The Muffin Top Meltdown


...and if you're interested in seeing a sample of my healthy eating then go to this link. Let me know if you decide to try this....it's been amazing for me. Oh, and my back pain that I've had since forever is not only gone, but muscles have started to take it's place. How cool is that?

Friday, October 21, 2011

a great little space


I love this comfy little space. Don't you?


Thursday, October 20, 2011

baby e- course

The lovely ladies at A Beautiful Mess have done it again. They have created an e-course that should entice all of my expectant mother readers (heck, I'm enticed just because it's an affordable way to learn something new...and everything in it is soooo adorable). It is the "Baby on the Way" e-course. This course teaches how to make a plethora of ridiculously cute baby items and it is only $32.00 for the course. It is a great way to use that 9 months of waiting and waiting, whether you are the mother, grandmother, or just a doting friend dying to hold the bundle of joy. Check out these great creations you could begin making right now!



Oh so great...oh, and these ladies offer other e-courses as well. Some to make you a better blogger, others to teach you how to make your own fashionable clothing and accessories. If your interested in seeing the full list of other courses that they have to offer, well, then just follow this link to your hot new-found hobby.

Coffee Hop

While my mom was here I think we went to every single amazing coffee shop in the area. This is a little photo essay of our trip to Bean There.

I love that Mom isn't camera shy. 


 (LOVE their Mocha's...try one with Amaretto if you get a chance)

Ya know, cafe's are so kid friendly now...they all have board games now and that keeps the kids so happy.


A lovely mess



Tuesday, October 18, 2011

thrift brag

So I went to the thrift store the other day and here is what I scored (my thought process as I was shopping is represented in the photo captions).



"Oh, this is a neat, functional, little container. How cute. I wonder what's inside."





"OH SCORE OH SCORE OH SCORE OH SCORE! I'LL NEVER HAVE TO BUY ANOTHER KNITTING NEEDLE AGAIN!"


"NO WAY, ALL THIS IS ONLY, LIKE 2 BUCKS! Sooooweeeet!"

The end. (Wooo hooooo! Love Thrifting!)


Monday, October 17, 2011

free to enjoy

I've been thinking about this blog and what I use it for. I don't use this blog to evangelize. I use it to savor all the blessings that come with a life bonded to Jesus. I believe that he loves to see me be passionate about so many things, and be inspired, and savor life.....kind of like Julia Childs' husband in that movie "Julie and Julia". He is so in love with her that he loves just seeing her enjoyment doing the things she loves to do. He invests in her joys. He frees her to enjoy them...he frees her with his love. At this moment I cannot believe that I ever thought my passions, and heartfelt enjoyments were getting in the way of He and I. I'm sure they have the potential to, but they aren't right now. Right now that is what I am thinking about. How he loves me so well.



photo credit:

Vander's Birthday

 We recently finished off the yearly birthday decathalon with my 3 year old's birthday party. Vander is still my baby in so many ways...we have quite a different kind of bond: He was my first and only home birth and was my biggest at birth- 10 lbs...so you can imagine what an event having him was! Nothing really went wrong at his birth, but it was challenging, so I have always said that our bond is one much like war buddies. I remember when he finally came out into the world. I was looking at him, and he was looking at me and I felt he was thinking the same thing I was: "You and me, baby...teamwork. We did it together; we made it through...war buddies." In honor of his 3rd year of life, and after the wild month it has been in the house we made this party a simple, quiet family party for my little comrade...my man of few words, but big actions. I love you, Vander!
I couldn't get past how cute the Paul Frank monkey stuff at Target was so it became the theme.



monkey, monkey, monkeys everywhere

I call this one "Richie Tenenbaum Monkey". He's my favorite. 


A suprise visit from Auntie on Skype all the way from Egypt! We miss you!

Do you need a monkey in Egypt?




Everyone yelling "Blow them out!" Inside Vander's head: "Are you kidding? This is the closest you've ever let me get to fire!"






Nom Nom


The next morning: only minimal party fatigue. :)