Saturday Mornings

There’s something sacred about Saturday mornings. They are typically a day without work and come with a slower pace. Growing up, I loved Saturday morning cartoons and being able to stay up late on Friday night. I’m finding myself today wondering about what future Saturday mornings will look like for my little family. Last week, we walked to the farmers market for breakfast and it did my heart well. Today I’m curled up in bed holding a sweet, snuggly, sleeping boy waiting for the husband to get home. This is just about as perfect as it gets in this season (only thing better would be if the husband was home!).

When I think ahead, I hope my kids will jump on the bed on Saturday mornings and make time to snuggle even when they’re a little older. We will make it a family affair of slow mornings with big breakfasts and lots of play.

Oh sure I realize when I’m in the thick of it that it won’t look as perfect or idyllic as I see it now and that’s okay. There will probably be arguing over who sits where or who gets to eat the first pancake.

And how does all of this tie into my “becoming the beloved” series? Well. Saturday mornings remind me that I love days doing things I love with the people I love even when it’s not perfect. In the same way, being the beloved means I can come to God and show up in this life with all my messes and still find myself having a good Saturday morning curled up in bed eating pancakes. Even on the days where I’ve spilled the syrup or dropped a plate or forgotten to get the juice. I can still come and be accepted and loved. And we can still find joy in it all.

Pour Out Your Hearts

Trust in Him at all times, o people; pour out your heart before Him; God is a refuge for us. – Psalm 62:8

I love that throughout scripture I see examples of God hearing and answering His people.  He longs for them to cry out to Him and to come to Him.  He asks them to cast their cares on Him.  He binds up their broken hearts.  He knows their sitting and their rising.  He does not act like an indifferent bystander.  He’s working for us and for our good.  So, today, in light of writing that, I’m going to share some of the things that are tucked into my heart and just plain make me happy (besides, Fridays are for happy things!).

1. That husband of mine who does life with me.  He is such a gift.  Such a rock and such an encouragement. The road has been rocky and full of adversity, but I’m grateful that I chose him and am still choosing him…and grateful that he chooses me still.
2. Baby oh baby.  Mr. Asher is pretty much the happiest baby and my goodness I am so blessed and privileged to be able to be his mom.
3. My Lindo. He’s the one I miss and the one who taught me to love little boys so much.  I’m so glad I got to know him and for all the ways he cracked open my heart.  He taught me much and he is part of one of my absolute favorite God stories.
4. My Africa. My heart still beats for this place and for this country.  This is such a both and of happy and the heart wrenching grief of not being there.  This is where I pour out my heart waiting for God to weave this piece back into my life in a bigger way.
5. That crazy Boaz.  He pushed me out of my comfort zone and led me on a path toward more joy, laughter, and lots more snuggling than I could have guessed when I brought him home.
6. Church.  I couldn’t have guessed all the ways being on staff at my church would challenge, encourage, change, and ground me.  There’s so much goodness in being planted in a local church.
7. Community/Friends/People.  The world is so full of so many good, good people and I am so glad I’ve gotten to know and do life with a lot of them!

I think (maybe?) sometimes part of knowing you are the beloved of God is remembering, taking note, and being grateful for the things He has put in your life.  He is good to us.

What has He put in your life that makes you happy?

Maybe Baby Month

Hello June!  You’re here and you’re officially the maybe baby month.  July stakes claim for the for sure baby month.  And let me tell you that I’m a little like wait…where’d the time go!? Definitely getting excited to meet this little baby and see whether the baby is a boy or a girl.  This is especially since this little baby is loving kicking my ribs and still moving like crazy.  There’s no denying that I look pregnant.  Though, I can pull off a “not necessarily” pregnant look if I’m wearing black and you’re looking from the front or even if you just see me from behind.  If you see me from the side….no question 🙂 Also, in other news, the weather has gotten warmer and my wedding rings are fitting a bit tighter.  I’m not such a fan of that, but oh well.  They’ll be back on in no time.

Otherwise….a few other things that I’ve learned in May have included:

1. Finding baby clothes that are not distinctly boy or girl is pretty hard!  I’ve yet to find the “perfect” going home outfit.  Though, we do love this one we found that was only in bigger sizes.  The color is cuter in person, but still 🙂  We’ve also found a few fun infant clothes with references to drums (yay for a husband who drums).

2. I dig the Nuna brand.  Not only do they make sweet products, but they also sent me a surprise journal as a bonus gift!  Plus, they just came out with some waterproof sheets, which will be fabulous!  So surreal that soon a little baby will be sleeping in there!

3. Days outside with these two are ever entertaining!   4. I’m in need of some good summer books and have been scouring the library in search of them.  Any recommendations?

5. Decisions are way harder without being able to “know” how things are going to be like once this baby is here.  I’m definitely thankful that I can push some off and I’m thankful for wise advice and LOTS of prayer!

All in all, May’s been a great month and I’m excited for June.  The calendar already looks full with baby doctor appointments (weekly! so fun to get to that point!), graduation parties, VBS, weddings, get togethers with friends, baby showers, and hopefully lots of time outside…and maybe a baby! 🙂

Friday Faves

Here are a few of the things I’m loving lately… 🙂

1. I totally loved starting the week off with going to a gender reveal party for my sweet friend who is home from Germany!  Her little girl is adorable as well and she’s getting a little brother!  I’m looking forward to having her home for the next few weeks!  Oh and now I’m even more excited now to find out what we are having!  Oh and notice that almost 34 week bump I’m sporting there…yep. hello baby!



2. These puppies are hilarious.  They definitely are fighting for dominance and love to fight over the spot underneath my chair.  Though, they were able to play tug of war with each other.  Boaz takes on the bully of an older brother role and likes to flaunt any and all toys that he picks up.  He also uses his speed to get away whenever needed.  Oh puppies!

3. I saw this sign outside of Kohl’s and loved it!  This little reminder is such a good one for me.  I love keeping in mind that when I am saying no to some things…oftentimes, I am saying no so that I can say YES to something else that I believe is important or valuable.  Plus, getting to say yes to things you love is pretty much the best.  

4. Boaz is in for such a surprise when this little baby comes!  I’ve been having fun getting more baby things and getting ready.  Well, let’s be honest.  We’ve mainly just gotten the “important” things…a Bob jogging stroller, car seat, and this sweet Nuna Sena. Everything else has been given to us.  Let’s just say that my mom is beyond excited for her first grand baby.  I’m still searching for that perfect going home outfit.  I figure I can’t control much, but I can control having one of those!  Any favorite places to buy baby clothes!?

5. I’ve also been loving working on this puzzle and even finishing it!  There was a ton of blue sky and water, which made some of the pieces difficult, but not too bad.  Plus, there were pieces that glowed in the dark.  Super cool.  That’s what I’ve been loving lately.  Oh and warmer weather finally!

What about you? What would be on your list?

 

Saturday Love

Here’s a nice little weekly round-up/picture catch-all/fun post for you to enjoy on your Saturday.  I’m mostly napping and catching up on some Downton Abbey today…I might sneak to a coffee shop for a treat later. 🙂

Sunroofs and sunglasses always make a day better even if the weather doesn’t cooperate. Hello Minnesota winters.

At least somebody has fun running in the snow 🙂

Meanwhile, I try to convince Boaz that we can just go on the treadmill and that I get to read…he’s kind of a fan, but I’m sure he would rather go faster. 

this sign in my office is always a good reminder…this week: be open to what I need and be willing to ask for it.

my pretty new planner! While I would have loved one of Kelly Rae Roberts, this little one will do the trick since hers sold out so fast! I’m working my way through this now that I don’t have graduate school.  I’m learning about vowels right now!

back to my lazy saturday…. 🙂

 

Productive Days

Let’s be honest…December was a whirlwind and definitely not my most productive month of the year.  Between all the family get togethers, present buying, not feeling the best….not much got done.  Thankfully, we got to eat out and to eat at other people’s houses, which was such a blessing!  Now, January, on the other hand, always seems to be my “go to” month.  I typically start off the year with ambitious plans and resolutions (I kept mine extra simple this year and didn’t even include too many lists! And I just love my word. Open.).  I love new beginnings and starts.  Plus, the weather is just plain cold so it translates to perfect weather to get things done inside!

Here are a few of the things that have been keeping me busy…

I LOVE handwritten cards.  I am so thankful that my parents (even when we totally hated it) made us write thank-you cards for gifts.  There is much to be said about being thankful and taking the extra time to express it.

I’m not always prompt on my response time for cards, but I’m adamant about doing them!  These were a mixture of birthday thank-you’s, Christmas thank-you’s, and a few happy notes.  Besides, who can resist cute, bright, colorful cards!?

Hello Lasagna Soup! This was another Pinterest find.  I totally did not follow the recipe…I only had 2 cups of Vegetable broth instead of the 6 cups (they said chicken stock, but same difference).  A little water helped make up the difference.   I had pasta sauce instead of tomato paste and fire roasted tomatoes.  I didn’t take the time to cut an onion (I needed my one onion for another recipe this week!) and I more or less threw in whatever felt right for all the spices.  I am NOT going to be nominated for the person who can follow a recipe or be known to measure correctly.  However, this was delicious!! I even told my husband that I was excited to eat the leftovers tomorrow.  I am a total sucker for ricotta cheese so that was a highlight! Here’s the link for the original recipe…I would guess that it is just as good if you follow the actual recipe! Plus, if you like meat…there’s sausage! (I opted out of that one!)

Boaz and I have been rocking out on the treadmill!  He prefers outside, but I’m a wimp and I like to read and walk. 🙂 I started A Confident Heart by Renee Swope!  I’m also pumped to dive into Angie Smith’s books–What Women Fear and Chasing God!  This is going to be a good year for books.Lastly, my domestic diva qualities (well…really a facebook post that said this was super easy and running out of my own almond milk and happening to have extra almonds) led me to believe I should try making my own Almond milk!  I was impressed with how easy and fast everything went!  I need to work on perfecting the taste, but other than that I am a BIG fan!  Separating the milk and almond meal was my only not so favorite thing, but other than that, I approve!  I’m eyeing a few recipes to try out with the leftover almond meal too…so I’ll keep you posted!

That’s what is keeping me busy around here! Other than work and spending time with the husband, of course. 🙂

What have you been up to!? Any suggestions for recipes or crafts or projects or books for me to try!?

Things I’m Loving Friday

1. My one word for the year! I’m so excited for this word even if it’s already been hard!

2. Gummy vitamins! They taste yummy and I actually take them.

3. Sleepy, cute, cuddly puppies.

Boaz has been so good to me in the mornings and sleeps most of the time, which is so nice!  Poor puppy though has not been able to get outside much because of the extreme cold.  Thankfully, he’s been a champ and gone on the treadmill with me a few times even if I go much slower than he would like!

4. Days off with these guys.

A day off in the middle of the week was perfect!  We slept in, got some things done, watched a movie, and generally just hung out together.  Pretty sure I could get used to having him around all the time.  I suppose work is important too 😉 And I would get antsy if we didn’t do anything and would eventually make us leave! Even though, I love a good day at home; I also love getting out!

5. Mornings to read! Almost done with the Divergent series too!

I was so happy to see that while this series reminds me of the Hunger Games, they are different enough.  So far, they have been fast, easy, and interesting reads.  I am curious about the movie that is coming out soon too!  I also downloaded a whole bunch of those free Beth Moore books! My reading list for 2014 is growing!  I got Angie Smith’s What Women Fear and Chasing God too for Christmas.  So many good things to read!

–Thanks to Julie for the fun post idea!

What’s Up Wednesday

hearing Boaz crunch on an apple that I deemed too old for me to eat

seeing the book of Luke and my DSM book

thinking that I’m ready for spring and to be able to go outside!

doing bible reading, breaking free, and a final exam

looking forward to seeing sigur ros, going to virginia, and planning another vacay

feeling content and happy to have Boaz home

touching the wooden chairs my grandmother made

missing africa and friends

thankful for being able to sleep in, cereal, pretty wedding pictures, marriage, friends, sunlight, mountains

excited about going to the mountains again

coming up easter, spring, and ally & levi coming home!

something old the shorts i’m wearing that i love

something new a super soft liberty sweatshirt that i got for free

something blue Boaz’s chew toy

3 months and counting

3 super happy months of being married! woot! in celebration, I went through our wedding pictures and honeymoon pictures to finally post them on facebook.  if we’re friends, you can look at them here. made me totally want to do the whole day over again and to run off to the mountains and the beach like now. but instead, i’ll make a list of all the fun things i love about life right where i’m at! in no particular order here are 12 things for the 12th.

1. being married

2. my awesome husband

3. my adorable dog Boaz who loves me

4. my church family.

5. a wonderful place to live that is warm even though it’s still cold outside

6. traveling to look forward to in the future

7. friends’ super cute babies

8. being able to e-mail and text best friends

9. being able to cook all sorts of deliciousness

10.  pinterest boards of lovely things

11. books to read and time to read them

12. mornings spent with god reading the bible and doing the breaking free bible study

What are you loving about your life right now?

Catch-Up

Since I missed writing on Friday, I’m playing catch-up on Monday and am going to throw together two posts into one for fun =)

First off…five minute fridays! Writing for 5 minutes flat without any editing! This week’s prompt is…

Again

I wake up once again and roll over in my bed with my eyes still sleepy.  I write and delete again. This little writing exercise isn’t supposed to be about deleting…but today, I’m there.  Trying to write about how God is faithful over and over.  Debating about writing about how many times God surprises me again.  So I write it out and then am like hey I still have a few minutes…I don’t like it so I’ll start again.  But that’s the beauty of this.  I can delete it. I’m given a fresh slate.  A brand new white shiny page to write my heart out on.  God does the same thing.  His mercies are new every morning.  We get to start fresh again. Let the morning bring news of your lovingkindness and when I hear Your voice…I’m coming running again to hide in Your arms.

Time’s up!

Now for the little things from last week in no particular order!

-snuggling with the puppy.

-a full dishwasher from a fun night with friends

-delicious gluten free oreo cheesecake bites!

-the husband getting home earlyish on friday night after a full week of work

-being able to start counting my hours for grad school

-laminators

-going through our five questions