30 mintues

Thirty minutes seems like a decent chunk of time, right?  Em...no!  It's not.  I have spent the past three days of taking my kid to the toilet every 30 minutes.  Do you know how much other stuff I have gotten done?  Not a whole lot.  My darn phone alarm is going off all the time it seems.  I just get my elbows all soapy in the sink again and then the buzzer goes off.

We are figuring it out though.  Slowly, but we are making it!  Sorry if I haven't called anyone this week, it's not that I am gone somewhere or doing anything fun.  Nope, just spending some time near the ol' pot.  My husband came home yesterday and took one look at the bathroom and said "Yeah, so it looks like you have  spent a fair amount to time in here today".

Obi is doing great.  Getting there. We've almost got the peeing down to a science, one tiny accident this morning.  Otherwise dry even at naps and while grocery shopping.  We've had two big-businesses get wished a fond farewell down the swirling water. He is so pleased with himself when that happens. It's kinda cute.

I didn't really plan out that this was going to happen this week.  I mean, I had joked about it and had started the "going on the potty" conversations.  But, this is it...we are going to make it.  Probably not without a few accidents, but we are just taking it one day at a time.  Or, every 30 minutes at a time, is more like it!

Tis the season...

Whew...my busy weekend is over.  I took an hour and a half nap this afternoon, but I loved every minute of all the chaos preceding and during this weekend.  I got my house all ready for the parade with the babysitting help of my momma, and an hour from my brother filling "litter bombs" (also known as Luminaries) as he called them...my sweet husband threw together a screensaver of classic Christmas movies to play while our stereo crooned carols. Sorry the lighting was so bad in these pictures, but here ya go!

 See the popcorn and cranberries??  It turned out super cute!!

 Nothing special, just a little bathroom decor.

 Our guest room...with that screensaver.

 Obi's room!!

 Ohh..a sweet Reindeer boy. :-)

 The master...red and white.

 And, my old nutcracker that I bought after going to the nutcracker ballet when I was in 5th grade.

It was fun...busy, but fun!  Merry Christmas

going old school

My house is on a tour of homes for Christmas.  I don't have a ton of Christmas decor, but my mom-in-law sent me home from Thanksgiving with a couple buckets of stuff...for which my wallet is eternally grateful! We've put up most of the decorations and are almost done with the house.  I'll take some pictures when it is all done and show you what it looks like.  But, tonight a sweet friend is coming over and I am going to pop in a Christmas movie and then we are going to do a little classic decorating project.  Oh yeah!  We are going to combine this-

with this...

and hopefully it will look as pretty as this...

But, if not it will have only cost me $1.50 for three bags of cranberries and some popped corn and I will still have had a great time with my friend.  If it looks good when we are done then I am going to wrap it through some garland that is hanging over a doorway.  I love the classic and simple look of Christmas.  I am not huge into the trendy funky colors.  I just like for my home to feel cozy, warm, and relaxing. The big trick with this project will be keeping the dog from eating the popcorn.  Wish me luck...I am gonna need it!  ;-)   I'll let you know how it goes. 

high places

I am pretty sure that teething goes hand in hand with the punishment that Eve brought upon us women. Can I get an Amen? Obadiah has been cutting his four incisors for the past month, and the majority of that time has been painful for him and therefore painful for us.  Coupled with the fact that he isn't napping/sleeping well, has a bit of a cold and cough, and can't adequately communicate...well, this means that today was rough. The past few days, no, the past two weeks have been really rough.  I won't lie.  There were tears today.  And an argument with my sweet husband that came home at lunch time to try and help. And I wasn't entirely cheerful as I was changing a dirty diaper of screaming, kicking little boy.

And as I was doing a pile of dishes the Lord and I had a little conversation that went like this.
Me: "Lord, I need some help here.  I want to be patient, kind, and loving."
God: "Come away my child".
Me: "But, I have this pile of dishes to do before Obi wakes up.  It will be impossibly hard to do once he gets up".
God: "I know, but this is more important".
Me: "Can I just get this sink-full done and then come?"
God: "Yes, I am here waiting for you."

I so wish that I had just left the dishes.  They would have waited.  Why did I let God wait, and not the dishes?  Just as I was rinsing off the last one and I was flipped the switch off on the garbage disposal I heard a little voice crying.  My chance for solitude and quiet for my soul was gone.

Thankfully, God worked a small miracle with my kiddo and had him occupied for a few minutes in his room later on and I crept over to my bible and laptop.  What I came to was this, " yet I will rejoice in he Lord, I will be joyful in God my Savior.  The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to on the heights." Habakuk 3:18-19.  I must find my strength in the Lord and I must choose to rejoice and be joyful. Ah...that is so hard to do.  But He says that He enables me to go on to the heights.  Maybe today my "heights" are only making it through a day without giving in to the temptation to be upset or lose my patience.  But today that would truly have been a "height".  So that is what I asked for, and that is what I meditated on throughout the rest of my afternoon.  That God would enable me to go to the high places.  From there I can see beyond myself and my little corner of the world.  Fortunately, His mercies are new every morning.  I am going to need some mercy and some enabling of my feet tomorrow.  But I would rather live striving towards the high place rather than spiraling downward into myself and my little problems. 

You know what I newly discovered today?  Choosing to be joyful and to rejoice in the Lord makes for a much more pleasant day, for both myself and my family. And really, the life God has blessed me with is fantastic, warts and all.

one week until...

I am in Kansas for Thanksgiving.  I told Jason that I don't want to eat pickled herring this year.  Made a horrid mistake my first thanksgiving with the Kansas side of his family.  I didn't run from Grandpa Daniels when he pulled out some toothpicks and shoved them into the herring.  I should have known that he was going to aim for my mouth with the herring.  My husband's grandparents drive all the way to a special town to pick up that gunk.  It is a highlight for them, one in which they love to share with everyone who is too dumb to quickly stuff something else in their mouth right as Grandpa makes his aim. I am smarter now.  I have several "Kansas Thanksgivings" under my belt and my escape routes are well mapped. 

But, as much as I am NOT a fan of Grandpa's herring...I do love the games of mexican train that follow the big dinner, and the handmade potato chips that precede it.  I partake in the annual tradition of bringing out everyone's Black Friday fliers and making a huge list of where we are all going to shop and what time of the night, er...morning, we are meeting up. I love the laughs and hugs and the parade.  I am so very thankful for this family that so graciously welcomed me into their clan eight years ago.  They have truly made me one of them and it is nice to belong.

A week from now I will most likely be out shopping with the crazy women of Jason's family. Last year I was still breastfeeding so I didn't go at 4am.  This year, I am leaving my two men home and I am going out for some strong coffee to start the day and then some good sales to sweeten it with.

not happenin'

You know that stuffed bunny I was attempting to make??  Well, it has been an epic fail.  Multiple tries, a wreck of a spare room, and many hours later...  I have decided that my calling in life is not to make stuffed toys.  Tomorrow I am going to the store and we are going to buy one.  Not the same as a sweet homemade toy, but I just CANNOT justify sending an already poor kid a little toy animal that looks like it has be maimed.  I want the kid to be happy when he opens his box, not permanently scarred.

It was worth a try though.  But the adage of "if at first you don't succeed...try, try again" does not apply in this scenario.  It really doesn't. I promise!

today

today I .....

went for a super long walk with my mom.  It was great.  We stopped to feed some horses, played with Obi on a playground, and just enjoyed each other's company.  Being adults together is WAY better than me being a teen and living at home.   Yeah, I tortured her.  I am sorry about that now.

went shopping for a new top to wear to have our family pictures taken this afternoon.  Should I have gone shopping earlier than the DAY OF?!  Yes.  I should have.

am enjoying the cloudy, morose, feeling of the weather.  It is cool, but not cold.  It is overcast, but not pouring rain.  There is a faint musty smell of leaves in the wind, and it reminds me of "home".  I don't know why it does because I didn't grow up with a fall season, but never the less....when I smell those fallen leaves I feel all cosy and comforted by home.  Weird, huh?!

made a cup of hot cider and coffee at breakfast.  Both are sitting half full on the counter.  I am a horrible drinker.  This is how I know that I will never become an alcoholic.  If I can't drink a whole cup of hot, creamy, deliciously sweet coffee while it is still hot and my body needs the caffeine...then my shot at downing too much alcohol is not that great.

am going to make a little stuffed bunny to put in our shoebox for Operation Christmas Child.  If it doesn't turn out so well then I will go buy a little stuffed toy, but I wanted make something for the little boy.  Maybe he won't know that I made it, but I will.  I will pray for this little boy while I make it and hope that he will feel loved when he opens that box.

have Food Network on.  I find that channel so comforting.  I just wish that I could smell what they are cooking.

am putting vegetable beef soup in the crock pot for dinner.  The cloudy weather is begging for some warm soup and corn muffins this evening.

am going to spend some time reading with my kiddo.  More than just before bed time.  He and I fit perfectly in the rocking chair together.  One day we won't. So, today I am going to soak up some of that sweet time together.

really want to dye my hair super blonde.  But I am chicken, so I won't.  I had a bad experience once in college.  It involved henna, and a hat to cover it up, and a comment that my hair somewhat resembled an orange highlighter. I've been a little dye-shy since.

There is a brief look into my day. Nothing fancy schmancy, just a little bit of my ordinary.

scones and the like

Umm...so where did the past week go to?  It is the middle of October already.  I am FINALLY starting to feel more settled in the new place.  Today I hung up pictures and put the last of the boxes in the garage.  I have decided that I both love and hate having a one story house.  I don't ever have to worry about Obi falling down stairs now, but he now has free reign of the entire place!  Between Obi and Pooka I am constantly picking up one mess or another.  It is outta control y'all.  Fortunately, Obs thinks it is equally as fun to pick up toys as it is to get them out. The hard thing in this house is the kitchen cupboards.  Our last place mainly had drawers on the lower cabinets, and he wasn't too worried about opening them.  But, my odds of finding a clean pot lid are slim to none here in this house.  He is soooo proud of himself that I have a hard time chiding him for "getting into Mommy's toys". Clean pot lids are overrated anyways.

I don't have any pictures for my post today.  But I do have a question.  Do any of you have a fabulous muffin, scone, snack-ish recipes you'd like to share?  I am in the process of putting together the menu for the coffee shop.  There are so many options out there.  So many fantastic fall yummies. I am pretty sure that all that weight I lost in the past few months is about to go right back onto my thighs.  Crossing my fingers that it won't.  A daily walk won't hurt either.  Anyways, share your fave and if it makes it onto the menu, I'll name it after you.

This week was SO much better than last.  I'll admit, I was almost in tears Monday night.  Those darn hormones.  How's a woman supposed to get any peace in her life if they are causing a ruckus?  But, a few mornings of getting up before my sweet wee one, some time spent with the Lord, several cups of coffee and tea, and many walks in the fresh air have significantly helped my mood and my attitude.

Since I don't have any pictures for you, I will leave you with a recipe that I found from Annie's Eats.  If you haven't ever read her blog then you must DROP what you are doing (unless of course you are holding a baby) and go read it.  Ah-mazing.  I am making these this week.  I'll let you know how it goes.

Oatmeal Raspberry Scones

Ingredients:
1 large egg
½ cup cold buttermilk
1 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
1 1/3 cups old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup sugar
1 tbsp. baking powder
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
Pinch of nutmeg
10 tbsp. cold unsalted butter, grated on a large grater or cut into small pieces
¾ cup fresh or frozen raspberries

Directions: 
Preheat the oven to 400˚ F.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat.

Combine the egg and buttermilk in a liquid measuring cup.  Stir together; set aside.

Whisk together the flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt and nutmeg in a large mixing bowl.  Add the butter to the bowl and toss.  Cut the butter into the flour mixture with a pastry blender or fork until the mixture so that the mixture is crumbly.  Pour the egg and buttermilk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a fork just until incorporated (the mixture will be sticky).  Fold in the berries just until incorporated (be particularly gentle if using fresh berries).  Gently knead the dough 6-10 times, just until it comes together into a sticky dough.  Portion the dough out into 8-12 scones, depending on the size you prefer, and transfer to the prepared baking sheet.  (A large dough scoop is a good tool, but not necessary.)

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.  Transfer to a cooling rack and let cool for at least 10 minutes before serving.

yo-yo

Please tell me that other women besides me have days/weeks in life where they feel like they are on an emtional yo-yo!  The past two weeks I have felt hormonal and just not right.  Mostly I have been feeling frustrated, irritable, and just easily upset. This weekend was spent arguing with my husband, and disciplining my kid.  My husband and I have argued more in the last two weeks than we have in months. I even took a pregnancy test the other day to just make sure that I couldn't blame that type of hormone on my recent attitude issues.  And no, I am not pregnant.   I don't know whether it is just that I need more sleep, or the move affected me more than I thought, or that I am stressed.   Thankfully tomorrow is a new day, a new week and a fresh start.  I plan on starting it early in the morning, on my porch with a cup of coffee and my Bible.  If anything is going to recharge my batteries, it will be time with the Lord. 

I am blessed.  No matter my feelings, I need to focus on the Lord and the ways in which He has blessed me.  Here is one of those blessings. A cute one, don't you think?

online again

We moved. That is my excuse this time for the lack of posting.  We moved and it just took me a while to get the other house in shape and this one somewhat unpacked.  I have a complete lack of motivation to decorate this house, even though it is cute as a button and I should be thinking of all sorts of ways to make it into my new home.   I'll get there. 

We have been sick too.  My first bout with cleaning up my kiddo's throw-up was this weekend.  I won't go into details, but I will say that it did involve me taking my pants off in a public restroom so that I could rinse them out in a sink.  My kid was mostly naked in a restaurant.  It was not our most stellar evening. I am happy to report that my "mom instinct" kicked in and I didn't even gag while cleaning it up.  Secretly I have always been worried that the instinct wouldn't work for me. 

I found me camera battery recharger today.  Whew...I was worried it had gotten really lost.  I'll take some pics of the new place and post them.  I really am thankful for our new home.  I am just grieving the loss of my stove.  I loved that thing.  Maybe a little too much.  Pretty sure that if this home wasn't only electric I would sneak back in the old house and somehow haul that thing to my new kitchen.  Sigh. I am pathetic.  I know.

Anyways, I am happy that we getting settled and things are normalizing a bit.  I like normal life.  At least, I like it sometimes.

I neeeeeeeeed one

Ok, this week has been busy.  No, no, this week has been CRAZY!  And this, dear friend, is exactly what I need.

Not just a "oh, that would be nice to have right about now".  No, this is a chin the air, hands gripping the hair, eyes squeezed shut... "I neeeeeeeed some".

I am on day 4 of being home without my hubs. This means I am a single momma for the week. How's it going you ask?!  Obadiah = hilariously funny, Obadiah also = getting into every possession that his father and I own. Which, on an average, or even not-so-average week I don't mind.  I am all for him delving into his exploratory curiosity.  But on this week o' pure chaos I need him to reign in that curiosity just a little.

We are moving in two days.  We found out about this move 12 days ago, and though we are just moving about a mile from where we currently live, there are a million details to take care of.  And, let's face it....moving before we had kids, and moving now that we have a kid are two totally different scenarios.   The current moving scenario goes a little like this:

Me packing and cleaning.  Obi unpacking and un-cleaning everything I just packed and cleaned.  Obi naps.  I pack and clean.  Obi gets up, and mysteriously I find my skillets on the living room carpet, the oil paints are littered around as if he was leaving breadcrumbs to find his way.  I currently have a huge pile of toilet paper that has been gleefully unwound off the tube.  This means yet another dose of fumbling around looking for the end of the paper when getting up to pee at night.

At this moment the wee man is in his bed for the night and though the sun is no longer shining I am "making hay".  Hence, the absolute NEED for some coffee.  Four nights of going to bed at 1am are catching up with me, but press on I must.  Because, if I can get a few more things in a box and tape it SHUT, then there are that many fewer items for my son to get into.  Heading down to the coffee pot now. I still have a solid 4 hours before I will crash. Nighty-night!

a baby bug

In the past two weeks I have been to see two brand new babies.  They were both so soft, sweet, sleepy, and just PERFECT!  It reminded me of how much I loved holding Obi when he was just hours old.  One of my all time favorite memories of him was that first night.  I had given birth, fed him, made phone calls, got cleaned/stitched up, and then came the quiet of the night.  Jason was passed out on the couch, and the nurse came in quietly to check on us.  She checked Obi's temps and said he was a little cool, but if I would move over a little in the bed she would put him next to me and he would warm up a bit.  I carefully moved myself over and then his little snuggly body was all cuddled next to mine.  I could hear him softly breathe in and out and he had that fresh newborn scent.  It was heaven on earth.   AHH!!  Seeing those two little babes in the last week and a bit has made me thing "Oh, I need another one".  THere is just something so sweet about a fresh baby.  :-)

But, then I walk out of the hospital and my head suddenly gets screwed on a little tighter and I realize, nah...I don't need another one just yet.  One day, but not today!  To all of you mothers that have kids a year or so apart, props to you. I literally have no clue how you do it.   I cannot fathom bringing home a newborn with Obi being at his current stage/age and ability level.  I guess God only gives you what you can handle and He KNOWS that I cannot handle that.  I did treasure seeing my dearest friend hold her sweet one though.  There just isn't anything that can compare to a mother holding her new baby.

Congratulations E.  You did it!   I am so proud of you, and I look up to you so much as a fellow mom.  I know you would say that you are far from being a perfect mom, but you are pretty darn close!  Your kiddos are blessed and very well loved.  Little A is very lucky boy to be born into your family.  Blessings on you all.

new wheels

Not sure I am cool enough to drive this thing, but I am loving it!  I am totally loving the fact that there aren't any bubbles in the window tint, and that the locks work all the time, and that the doors don't screach when they are opened, and that there isn't a crack in the windshield, and that the AC works, and that it is easy to put Obi in and out of, and that the sound system is AH-MAZING, and that there isn't a dent in the front side, and oh...that it runs!!  :-)

I am blessed.  And I am thankful.  God has provided yet again. 

plans change

We left for Kansas on Friday thinking that we'd go up for a visit to my in-laws, wander around the state fair, and come home on Sunday afternoon after a birthday dinner with my husband's grandma.  And though we did wander the fair and have lunch with Nana...we did not come home on Sunday afternoon.  No.  No we did not.  We pulled in our driveway at 3:30 Tuesday morning. In between pulling out of our driveway on Friday and coming back home Tuesday, is a long saga of a tired and worn out 96 Honda.  And, it was so worn out that it basically said to us "nope, I am not doing it!  I am not going to take you back to Arkansas".  And just like that our carefully laid out plans of buying a car next year dissolved. 

But seeing as we kind of needed a way to get home, we wandered our Wichita Monday afternoon, signed papers Monday night, and left my mother-in-law's Late Monday night in a new (to us) car.  I almost needed a brown paper bag to breathe in and out of.  I was hyperventilating over this decision...because it was a large one.  For the most part, this was the conversation going on in my head:
Breathe in "what did we just do??  AGH!!"
Breathe out "ok, well, we DID need a car". 
Breathe in "but it isn't in the plan".
Breath out "well, it was in the long range plan".
Breathe in "What would Dave Ramsey say".
Breathe out "He would say that we made a mostly good choice, especially given the circumstances".

You get the picture.  I love, love, love the car, and am still trying to get used to it.  I did keep telling myself that though this past weekend was a surprise to me and my bank account... it was not a surprise to God.  He knew it was coming, and what we would do. So we just prayed that God would help us make a good and wise decision and that if we got going in the wrong direction that he would put a huge road block in front of us. 

I don't havea  picture of me in my new car, but i'll take one and post it soon.  I gotta catch my breath first.  Pass that brown paper bag, won't you?!

an encouragement

I have a confession.  I am horrible about making my quiet time with the Lord a priority. I want it to be. I need it to be.  But often it is not.  There are excuses and of course, there is some modicum of legitimacy to a few of those excuses, but most have none. However, today was a day where I spent time in the Word.  And, as is always true...God was ever so present in His word today.  I LOVE that the Word is as fresh today as it was when the author was blowing on the pages so that the ink would dry.

Today the verses that so encouraged me was this:

You still the hunger of those you cherish;
their sons have plenty, and they store up wealth for their children.
And I - in righteousness I will see your face; when I awake,
I will be satisfied with seeing your likeness.
Psalm 17:14b - 15

As a beloved of our King, I am cherished!  Not only that, but He allows for us to see His face. Oh how my heart longs to see the likeness of the King in me.  I don't know how to express in words how these verses encouraged my heart today.  Maybe they were meant just for me today, but I hope that they are an encouragement to you too. 

hiatus

When I last posted on this dear little blog, it was with every intention that I would come back to it within a few days.  Somehow the past four months whooshed (is that a word?) past me and here I sit...listening to the rain patter on my skylight, and the smells and beginnings of fall are right in front of me. Umm, how did that happen? No, seriously!! Going into this summer I knew that it would be a busy one, but I didn't quite anticipate the magnitude of it.  And, yes, I definitly had time within the last four months to blog. But somehow it felt like I had nothing to say.  Nothing meaningful or witty.  Not even anything dull and mundane.  And so I took an unintended hiatus from the blogging world. I've missed this place though.  There were a few of you (all 6) that check my blog on a daily basis despite my severe lack of posting. Somehow it felt reassuring to know that someone out there was checking to see if I was still around.   I am...still here that is!  And, did you notice the new look of my blog?  It was about time that I change it up a bit.  I am rather excited about it.  Gone is the boring, brown drab.  I needed something fresh and new, and for now, I like it. 

Towards the end of summer I started doing some baking for a local restaurant.  I am still green at it, but enjoying (mostly) the journey.  There are days when I wonder if I have indeed lost my ever-loving-mind.  But the satisfaction of the accomplishment usually trumps my moments of insanity.  Want to see?

Overall it has been fun.  Time consuming, but fun. I may post a recipe every now and then.  I've got some super yummy ones that I have recently found.

In the last month my baby has turned into a little boy.  He is more grown-up every day and I love watching him develop and change.  His personality is so very sweet and charming.  He is more than I could have hoped for.

And, somewhere in this summer me and the hubs celebrated five years of marriage.  It feels like forever and also the beginning all at the same time. I love that man. He drives me crazy sometimes, but I really wouldn't change that much about him.

Anyways, it is late and the rain is lulling me off to sleep. So before I start typing things that don't make sense I am gonna call it a night. 

This past month has been ridiculous.  Seriously.  I thought that when I would be stay at home mom that life may get boring and mundane.  Ummm..not my life.  It seems like there is always something going on.  And, even though I really couldn't recall to you what all has happened in the past thirty days, it was crazy...really, it was. 

This next week my parents will be arriving in town.  Their stuff arrived Thursday and I was there with the movers to get it all inside the four walls of their new abode. It was SO other-worldly to see my little yellow schwinn bike (from when I was a kid...they've had it in their garage for years) show up in Arkansas. I don't know, I mean, that piece of my life was ages ago and belonged in a memory, or at least in my parents garage in Colorado. Not in Arkansas.  The place where I grew into an adult.  The place where I became a wife...and a mother.  Crazy I tell you.

But this week is the week that my parents are arriving. I am gonna head over there tomorrow and Tuesday and do some cleaning/organizing and just kind of set a few things up.  My folks are exhausted and I don't want them to feel too overwhelmed when they get here.  My dad picked the house out...my mom has yet to see it.  So, I want to help make a great first impression for her. 

We are also going to Kansas this week to celebrate Jason's grandparent's 60th wedding anniversary.  How amazing is that?  The phenomenal thing is that they are still crazy in love.  They aren't together because of a contractual agreement, but because they can't live without each other.  I want to be like that 55 years from now. 

So, busy week.  Good. But busy.  Hopefully I will get back here before another month flies past me. We'll see.

checkin' in

I am surprised that anyone still reads/checks this blog anymore.  See, I knew that I shouldn't have made any new year's resolutions...I just can't keep 'em!  It was a noble goal though....writing more often on this blog and all.  Oh well.  Life keeps trucking along, and even though there is isn't anything amazing going on in my life, and I couldn't tell you what all I have been busy with!  There have been lots of poopy diapers, quite a few loads of laundry, trips to the grocery store, walks in the park, and not as much vacuuming and mopping as I used to do. 

Big news?  Well, my folks are officially moving to my little town!  It's true, which must mean that pigs really CAN fly!  I thought there would never be a day in which my mother would agree to move to our part of the South.  I moved away from home 9 years ago and except for a few summers in college, I haven't lived near family since.  I am totally excited and totally nervous to be this close to family.  Growing up I never got to live anywhere near my grandparents. It is something that I always wished could have happened.  I am thankful for this opportunity for my son.  To be able to run down the street and meet up with Grandma and Grandpa will be amazing.  I am excited to be able to meet up with my dad for coffee dates, just like we used to have when I was a teenager. I am looking forward to spending time with my mom and just living life with them.  It is going to make our holiday scene SO much easier.  I can't even describe how excited I am about not having to split our holidays between four different states.  It is going to be fun to feel connected with them on a regular basis besides just phone calls and a twice yearly visit.

Other big news?  Jason has only 4 weeks left of school! PRAISE THE LORD!  We are both feeling the effects of how busy he is.  He's been traveling a lot lately (another reason it will be nice to have my parents near by) and it gets quiet sometimes at night.  Obi goes to bed, and it isn't like I can just pop out and meet up with a friend for coffee or something.  Jas has been super busy with work and he's on a city board, and he has some new opportunities ahead of him (can't spill the news yet...but it isn't a job change).  So between all of those things and then homework on top of it, well....it is hard to sometimes not feel like Obi and I are on our own.  We aren't, and he does make us a priority, but there are only so many hours in the day.  Needless to say, we are counting down the days until his master's program is over.  I am so very proud of him!  It has been an uphill battle at times, but he has stuck with it and it is a huge accomplishment.  We are heading to Chicago in June to watch him walk across the stage and be given a piece of paper that signifies just what an enormous thing he has finished!

Really small news?  I bought a bag of bird seed a few weeks ago at Lowe's. I don't have a bird feeder, but thought...hey, why not just put it on my front porch railing?  Yeah, the birds may poop on my porch some, but I can wash it off.  I am SO glad that I have food out there.  A pair of cardinals come stand on my railing throughout the day.  I get to watch them eat and, in some small way, I feel like I am being used by God to take care of two of His little creatures.  I love it that they know there is food for them at my house. I love it that they feel safe to come and rest and eat.  There is a robin that is starting to join them, and that robin is also starting to build a little nest over my front door.  There is a pile of twigs that showed up this morning on my porch. Messy?  Yeah.  But, I don't really care.  I'd rather watch the nest develop and the eggs be taken care of, and the babies be born.  After all, it is spring! These little birds don't care about the cost of gas, or the latest idiotic thing that our government has just done, or how the world is falling apart.  They just do what they were created to do....live life, sing, and in doing so, they worship their Creator.  I know that a human's life is a little more complex, but the basic gist is still the same.  We are to live our lives as a sweet smelling offering to the Father, and in doing so...we worship Him.  How humbling that we, a little lowly human, can worship the Creator of the world. How humbling that sometimes a tiny little creature, like a cardinal, can be more consistant at that than I. 

Well, if you made it to the end of this rambling post then you deserve some sort of award.  :-)  Sorry it wasn't terribly interesting, but there are my thoughts on this fine Monday morning.  I'm off to grab a quick shower before my baby boy wakes up from his nap.  I do have to say that I LOVE being that kid's momma.  He is a gift and a blessing, and I am thankful for him from the moment I wake up, to the moment I fall asleep...and even in my dreams.

a new hobby

For the last couple of years I have grown a tomato plant or two and a few herbs.  I have a tiny little "plot" that is under neath my window sill.  Last year I had grand plans of putting in a huge garden, but the reality of being hugely pregnant and being busy with work and grad school meant that I just didn't get around to it.  This year I am not going to let Spring get away from me without  planting.  So, I've started my seeds and for a total of $45 I now am the proud owner of over 124 little seedlings.  I have a ton more seeds, so any friends that want some, pleast let me know and I will gladly share!!  Wanna know what I am growing?  Here is my list:

Herbs:
Rosemary
Thyme
Fennel
Dill
Parsely
Sage
Mint
Oregano
Basil

Veggies:
Carrots
Corn
Peas
Snow Peas
Green Beans
Jalepenos
Jelly Bean Tomatoes
Butternut Squash
Zuchinni
Green Leaf Lettuce
Endive
Mixed Greens
Radish
Broccoli
Bell Peppers
Pickling Cucumbers (hence the reason I planted dill)

Ambitious? Yes!  Over my head?  Probably.  Excited?  YEAH!!  I am gonna have my man make me a few square foot garden boxes and I I think I get planting my seedlings in the next few weeks.  I am not sure that I have a green thumb, but I would like to think that I can cultivate one for myself.  Only time will tell I guess.  Either way, I am totally pumped.  Wanna see my success so far? (some of these I planted a week ago, and others I planted yesterday afternoon). My Growing light does weird things to my pictures...sorry.

In other news, I am going in TOMORROW for braces.  AH!!  I've had the spacers in for a few days, and honestly, they have hurt so bad that I thought I might not be able to do it.  But, I am trying to occupy my time and take a lot of advil.   If I don't look horrid after the braces I will post a picture.  Just want to warn you that I will probably look like a sixteen year old.  Told Jason that I would really rather NOT get pregnant again while I have those things on.  I can just hear the jokes coming from my brothers.

I love this man...

Here is my sweet husband...dead asleep at his laptop tonight. He has been putting in so much effort with work and his grad program. He gets up early to get stuff done at work, and then he comes home as soon as he can from work and spends time with both Obi and I.  He is a good provider, a huge encouragement, a leader in our home, a fantastic dad, and my best friend.  We are counting down the weeks (only 7.8 weeks left!) till he is done with grad school.  What an accomplishment. I am so very proud of him. He is setting goals left and right and is achieving them! Am I a luckly/blessed girl or what?  I don't thank him enough for all that he does for our little family.  He is the shiznit!  (I am pretty sure that is like saying he is "the bomb" only better!)

when it rains....

it POURS!  To say that the past day and a half have been crazy would be a gross understatement.  Besides our normal day to day activities, there has been a plethora of other things.

#1- last week, we found out that that my dad has been offered a job at my alma mater!!!  We are super excited and beyond thrilled. It is an answer to prayer and the Lord has so clearly paved the way.  It has been neat to see the Lord provide and so specifically answer prayer.  My entire family is just praising God for this opened door.   It is going to be so strange to have my folks living in town.  After living almost 9 years away from family it is really going to be nice to spend some time with them on a regular basis.

#2- on Thursday night about 1am, my phone rang.  And, when your phone rings at that hour of the night it is never a good thing.  But last night it was both sad and good.  My mom called to say that my Grandma had passed away.  We shared some tears together and then whispered goodnight. I didn't sleep more than 4 hours last night.  My mind was full.  Full of memories of my Grandma.  Full of wondering what she was up to now that she has crossed into eternity. Full of sadness and gladness at the same time.  My Grandma has been sickly for years, but the last two or three have just been so terrible for her.  She was admitted to the hospital about two weeks ago and my Grandpa knew that he wasn't going to be able to care for her when/if she got out of the hospital.  She was in dreadful pain and was so miserable. The funeral was today and I so wished that I could have been there.  To say a goodbye, and to be supportive for my mom. 

#3- my dog is under "house arrest", well, I guess the pound calls it "home quarintine", but still...until next monday every time he goes outside he has to have a muzzle on and we have to be with him.  It is a long story that involved roller-blades, a screaming kid, a scared dog (our dog), an ambulance, the animal control, a crying baby, the ER, a frustrated husband, a frustrated me...and a BIG headache.  It wasn't Pooka's fault, it wasn't the kid's fault, it was just an accident. A frustrating accident.

#4- all the books say that it is usually quite a few weeks/months between sets of incoming teeth. However, I do believe that my Obi is getting some new little toofers. :-)  Today at noon his nose started running like a tap, he is crabby, he has a slightly elevated temp, his is pulling at his mouth and his appetite is SUPER low.  The exact same symptoms from when his bottom teeth came.  Even though he is in pain and just isn't quite right, he does his best to be cheerful.  He's a sweet one that kid of mine!

Anyways, there is a picture of the stuffs going on in our lives at the moment.  Good and bad, and as the scripture says, should we not praise God for both?! 

mid feb

yeah, so here I sit and it is the middle of February.  Or, since February is so short...it is basically the END of February.  My little boy turns 7 months next week and I am just flabbergasted with how quickly time is zooming past.  In no time he will be heading off to kindergarten, high school, college and let's face it...he is almost "done growed up" (as they say in my neck of the woods).  Jason jokes all the time about the fact that soon my Obi will be in high school and too cool to hang out with his momma and he will be interested in other girls. I tell him to "hush up and let my baby be my baby".  One day I will have to let him grow up, but today is not that day.  Today he can be my snuggly, giggly, wiggly baby!

We've been busy lately.  Way too busy.  Busy enough that I haven't had much time to write on my blog, or even really think about anything fun, deep, or interesting to blog about. That is about to change though.  Starting this coming week I don't have much of anything on my calendar (save a fun trip to OK on Monday to spend the day with a best friend and do a little celebrating over some precious news in her life).  I am looking forward to actually reading my baby-food-making book, be a good mommy, and just be focused on taking care of my kiddo.

Anyways, I can barely keep my eyes open so I am heading to bed tonight.  I'll be back dear blogging world.  But not tomorrow, or Monday, but I'll be back. And, when I get back hopefully I'll have something fun to write about.

to my valentine

Sweetheart,

Six years ago tomorrow you and I started this relationship that has turned into one of best-friendship, love, and marriage. I can't believe it has been that long, but at the same time when I think of all that has happened it feels like forever.  A good kind of forever. Your kisses are still as sweet as the first one. Your hugs are still comforting and tender. Your friendship is still as fun and crazy as it was when things were new and exciting. But, you want know what has changed? The depth of our love for each other. Though your kisses are still as sweet as before, they are now much more cherished.  Your hugs provide that tender comfort, but they are also a source of strength. As a friend you still make me laugh and you will always be predictably unpredictable, but your friendship has been tried and tested and found to be solid and steady.

Babe, we've gone through ups and downs in life together. Sometimes it feels like a roller coaster, other times it feels like a thrilling sail boat. Throughout it all you are a rock of courage for me to lean against. Your patience is unending and your gentleness never ceases to amaze me.  Your faith is both spoken and quietly lived out, this is something I love so dearly about you.  God knew that I needed you in my life. I am thankful to be on the receiving end of the blessing that is YOU!  So, here is to you babe. To another 6 plus 60 years to us! May we constantly run together in this race called life. Running towards our Lord and Savior.  And, as I have joked before, when we get to the end of the race, I hope that Jesus has our mansions next door to each other.

I hope you know that I treasure who you are. I wouldn't change anything about you (except maybe the fact that you turn ALL your socks inside out when you take them off).  Thanks for picking me to be your wife. I am pretty sure that I got the better end of the deal.  As someone famous once said, "You are the butter to my bread, and the breath to my life".

I love you.

Liz

more felt

ah...it has been so long since I last posted. What have I been up to you ask? Well...nothing and a lot all at the same time. I don't have anything super interesting or fun to write about tonight, so instead I will share some more pictures of the felt food that I've been making for my niece. The felt is so fun to work with because it doesn't fray.

Breakfast food: Dollar flapjacks with blueberries and bananas.
A complete and nutritious breakfast.
How about some veggies?
Maybe some bow tie pasta...
Sausages! I know these are bad for you, but I love sausage....so I couldn't resist making the play version.
The whole shopping bag full of "food".
Well...that is it for my sewing for a few weeks. I am heading out to CO to visit my family and spend some time with them. If we do anything amazing, I'll let ya know!

felt

This past Sunday I went over to Fayetteville to the fabric store and loaded up on some felt-y goodness! I have been wanting to try a few new craft projects, and I must admit, I am rather pleased with how they have turned out so far.
Growing up we read a lot of the Richard Scarry books.  My brother and his wife got Obi his first Busytown book for Christmas!  I decided to try my hand at making our own Lowly Worm. Here he is!

And the front of his shirt...

Then, I am working on making some "food" for my niece for her third birthday that is coming up next month.  She loves her kitchen set and I thought this would be a perfect gift!  I am a little slow at making these, but learning as I go. 

And because she LOVES tea parties...

That is as far as I have gotten, but am looking forward to trying out quite a few different things.

hmmmm...

Been wondering lately. There are so many things going on with my family. Things that are too big to think that God has overlooked them. So, I know that God knows what is going on and what is the outcome. When I woke up this morning I didn't know about some now-uncertain things. But, God did. He knew this day was coming a LONG time ago. And He knows the future of how things will unfold, how I/we will react, and what our choices will be. But the thing is, we don't know the outcome yet.  This allows for the freedom to choose my reaction and my actions from here on out. Hmmm...what will I choose?

I know that I've mentioned it more than once on this blog before, but the process of becoming a mother was long and drawn out. It involved more that one box of tissues for my tears and a lot of comforting from my husband. The lessons that I learned through that have come back to me over and over. The faithfulness and goodness of the Lord was presented to me new every morning during that trial. I grew closer to my Jesus as I leaned on him for his strength and as I reached out to hold his hand. The beauty of that time in my life, more than any other, was that my hand was held. Tenderly. Firmly. And the Lord never let go. Hmmm...have I let go? Have I loosed my grip lately because I haven't "needed" Him as intensely as I did during that time of my life?

Not that long ago I thought about how as much as I hate trudging through the valley of the trials it is really only during the trials that I become so very unsure of myself and my surroundings and I am brought back to my knees. The very place that I need to be.  For someone wiser or more godly than I, perhaps you can learn the be close to the Lord without the trials. If there is one thing that I have learned about myself it is this: I am not that wise, or that godly. But, the desire of my heart is to come that.

So, I'm putting my rubber boots on to start slogging through the mud of the trials. I know I am not alone. I have a Good Shepard to lead me beside the still waters and restore my soul.  Knowing the weakness of my spirit I am trying to surround myself by the Word and reminders of the Lord's goodness.  One way in which I am doing that is by listening to Bible studies while I am doing things around the house. Beth Moore has been a huge blessing in my life over the past few months.  I came across this site that has her studies along with so many others. 

God is good. All the time. 

dry patchy skin

Before having a wee babe of my own I thought that babies always have soft, smooth skin. This is not true. Poor Obi has a mild case of excema, but he also has super, no better said EXTREMELY, sensitive skin.  Trying to find a shampoo that works for him as well as a lotion has been no end of trouble.  We started off with Burt's Bees...only to find out that the child is allergic to oranges and both the lotion and wash have orange extract/wax in it.  We moved on to Aveeno, Johnson/Johnson, etc, etc.  I couldn't stand it anymore today.  I feel like a horrid mother becuase I haven't been able to solve his dry patches and they are getting worse.  There is one patch around his mouth (from a little soap residue *I think* left on his paci) that is contantly getting wet and wiped and it is now peeling! YIKES!!!  So, after some serious internet time looking for natural/healthy remedies for said red, dry, scaly patches I decided to give California Baby Calendula cream a try.  I tossed my baby in his carseat and off we headed to Fayetteville for a 2oz bottle of supposed magic.  3 hours later we were home and I put some on the inside of his arm to give it a test. After a couple of hours it seemed like it was a bit better...definitely not worse.  I am hoping this will work.  I did also buy a bottle of their super-sensitive wash and gave him a bath with it.  He has been slathered and kissed and sent off to bed.  In the morning I'll know if it worked (even just a little would be nice), or if I am back at square one and $20 poorer.  Not that any of you reading really want to know about my kid's skin issues, but there you have it just the same.

I finished my first sewing project.  It is a little cloth "thing" that straps your kid into a chair or highchair.  I am pretty excited about it because Obi has been wanting to sit in highchairs at restaurants, but because he hasn't mastered the whole balance thing yet he can't quite do it. I used some scrap fabric, but voila...it worked!

It works in the chair at home, so we'll give it a whirl when we are out and about next time. :-)

No profound thoughts for tonight.  But, I'll leave you with a picture of Obi and I from our time in Cali at the Pollo Loco. YUM! Doesn't his face say "So, umm..mom, where is my Pollo bowl?"