Catch-All

 

Forgive me for the picture overload…but here’s my catch-all post of all the fun things that have been going on lately.  This week has felt like a nice breath of fresh hair and we have our 20 week ultrasound tomorrow!!  So hello getting to see baby again.  We definitely have been a little spoiled in getting to see this baby at 12 weeks and a full detailed ultrasound at 14 weeks too.  I am definitely in denial that we’re halfway there!

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Confession.  I don’t think I’ve ever actually made full on homemade lasagna before, but now I can say that I have!  Above is a nice little mixture of ricotta cheese, mozzarella, spinach, and some eggs.  Not sure why they added eggs…maybe to keep it together? I’d definitely try it without for fun if I ever make this again!  Below was the even more fun part of actually putting the lasagna together!  I totally made WAY too many noodles, but oh well.
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Hello baby bump.  Whether I want it or not, this little baby is making an appearance on the outside now too.  People who know me are noticing. Ek!  I’m a little in denial about this too. I can’t say I’ve ever been one of those people who have looked forward to having a baby bump.  Maybe it’ll grow on me.  This is at least one of my fave pictures so far.  Plus, I do love feeling the little baby moving and pushing in there!  This little baby seems to love music (well assuming the baby can hear the music! “They” say he/she can on all those crazy baby apps…) or the other alternative is that he/she just doesn’t like when I have my seat warmer on when I’m in the car and is trying to get away from the heat! Ha.
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Olympics!!! Boaz is just as into these Olympic games as we are.  Well he’s either watching with full attention or he’s sleeping on us. This is how we’re spending most evenings lately…

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These two are my favorite.  And don’t let Boaz fool you…he’s getting ready to try to lick Ryan.  He’s just so kind like that. IMG_7481

Hello baked chimichangas.  So delicious.  Guacamole is my favorite too.  I’m SO glad I can eat tomatoes again and that the little baby isn’t revolting every time I do.  That was definitely a not so fun part of the first trimester.  I love some good Mexican food. IMG_7485

Here’s another bump picture.  Don’t mind all the nail polish–adds character 🙂IMG_7488

I’ve spent the last week or two devouring my grandmother’s journal and I’ve loved it!  This little note from her mother/aunt (she lived with her aunt and uncle and called them mother and father) was such a perfect reminder to make moments glorious.  IMG_7497

Oh and another Boaz one where he’s camped out at the end of the couch sleeping with his head on the table.  He’s been extra cuddly and sleepy this week.  I’m loving it.  We sit and read the Bible, read books, journal, write, and generally enjoy our slow mornings.  We’ll see what this looks in like 4 and a half months!  For now, I’m soaking it up!IMG_7500

Yep. He’s cute. IMG_7501

This little baby is so loved.  Already getting Valentine’s day cards.IMG_7502So there you have my crazy catch-all post with all sorts of randomness.  I recently found my “Love your life” journal that I hadn’t finished from 2012 (the year of celebrate!) and I started writing in there again so in a way this post was just an overflow from there.  I love looking back see all that the Lord has done.  So much faithfulness even in the midst of pain, heartache, hurt, and frustration.  The Lord is good.

beloved

 

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five minutes tucked away on a friday to spend writing:

Beloved

you’ve wrapped me up in sweet words and you surprise me with the grace you’ve poured over my heart.  there you stay by my side forgiving and letting grace and love flow from your lips.  beloved, we had such fun yesterday being us and my oh my i’m so thankful that this year i can call you mine.  you are my beloved. i made a cake just in time for you to pound it out and help me cut it and put it together. we ate frosting out of the bowl and snuck strawberries.  we ate dessert before dinner. we laughed when our surprise plans collided and goodness we eat well. dessert and then enough delicious pasta to last a whole night of secret smiles.  you show me just how hard it can be to truly show just how much i love you which turns right around at me and humbles me by forcing me to look at the ways that i show love to you and to God.  i pray, beloved, that we would learn to love each other in a way that only stirs up more love for god than each other.

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It’s the little things

from my year of celebrate and going back to my year of joy, i learned that more often than not it’s the little things that make you smile and love life. i’ve been meaning to jump on board ever since i saw carrie start, but i just haven’t until today! so here goes…


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1.a treadmill for Boaz and me

2. e-mailing and texting with friends far away

IMG_51273. a yummy black bean burger with spinach and cheese

4. sitting on the couch together

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5. His plans

 

Hello Hue Little Things

iMiss

I’ve loved being in Greece.  I’ve loved the people God placed in my path and the journey we’ve been on together.  But, like most overseas adventures, there are a few things I miss in no particular order:

  • An actual shower head that I don’t have to hold!
  • My adorable little puppy
  • A comfy bed
  • The rest of my clothes…I’m tired of these…
  • Eating my own food and cooking for myself
  • Church family
  • That boy of my mine
  • Being able to run alone
  • Thick milkshakes
  • Driving a car
  • A full length mirror
  • Playing my music loud whenever
  • A phone that works
  • Free water
  • My electric tooth brush

Though, as always there are many things I’ll miss about being here too:

  • Community and my people
  • Sandy beaches
  • Gorgeous mountains
  • Blue water
  • Feta cheese pastries
  • Pistachio everything…ice cream, desserts, gelato, etc.
  • Nutella croissants
  • Time to relax
  • My amazing professors
  • Helen and her wonderful tour guide-ness
  • Hearing stories
  • Tons of laughing and smiling and enjoying life
  • Walking all over and hiking up hills and mountains
  • Heart challenges
  • Processing time
  • Learning to trust the process

So much to be said on both ends and there’s much more I could add.  Mostly, I’m thankful for a God who knew what I needed and gave it to me when I needed it and is with me wherever I am.  You better believe He’s going to be holding my hand as I jump on a few planes tomorrow to head home.

Have you traveled overseas? What are some things you missed about home and what are some things you miss?

Mismatched Meals

-pita with hummus

-orange

-better than sex cake

-2 slices of peaches

-granola

-part of an apple

or

-1/2 cup oatmeal

-1/2 cup cereal with banana

-one pancake

I miss being able to eat whatever I want whenever.  Instead, I only get to do this for lunches on the weekend and for breakfasts.  I love breakfast and the weekends because we get to eat our own food instead of prepared food by the kitchen staff.  On the plus side, I am glad that we are able to provide jobs and get to know the people who prepare and serve the food for us.

Hello Food!

I never knew how much I could miss certain types of food.  I can already tell you that one of the hardest things about going home will be deciding what food to eat first because I want all of it!  I want Panera’s cinnamon crunch bagel with honey walnut cream cheese.  I want pad thai.  I want Kashi cereal and Special K with Red Berries.  I want Olive Garden’s Chicken Scampi minus the chicken.  I want White Chocolate Molten Cake from Chili’s.  I want a blueberry bagel with lite strawberry cream cheese.  I want cheesecake from the Cheesecake Factory.  I want the strawberry poppyseed salad from Panera.  I want granola bars.  I want better than sex cake.  I want access to all sorts of fruit and being able to go to the grocery store whenever.  And to add to it all, I want to make my own food whenever I want and to eat whenever I want.  Yet, in the meantime, I appreciate the little luxuries that come along every once in a while.  For example, you have no idea how excited Sam and I got in the grocery store when we saw BABY SPINACH!  Amazing!  Normal, baby spinach to make a yummy salad.  I am pumped.  To add to the excitement, they even had Tahini, which makes fabulous hummus and falafel, which I’ll tell you more about in another post.

So, what’s something you’ve eaten this week that was absolutely fabulous?  And what should I eat first when I get back?

A little late…

I meant to post this on Saturday or Sunday, but due to circumstances including the internet sporadically going out and well life, I didn’t post.  All of that to say, that I had a crazy busy, fast weekend.  Friday started out with an attempt to play Mafia (you really need more people) and some delicious brownies.  Saturday started out with sleeping in and a nice long run (yay for 4.5 miles without walking–ever since Swazi running was not going well, but now I think it’s on the upswing).  The afternoon consisted of a soccer game!  Fun stuff minus the rain at the end.  At least we brought a blanket and yummy chips.  When we got home, we were a little bored….so we made funnel cakes, deep fried oreos and pretzels!!  They were delicious.  I ate way way too much.  Thus, we ended up sitting on the floor of the kitchen chatting about life and fun things to do after the internship.

funnel cakeYum!! Even better with powdered sugar 🙂

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Ransomed

So there was one night where a friend and I went out to eat at Don Pablo’s.  She had already taken a super cute picture in her Ragamuffin Soul T-Shirt, but we had not taken one together yet.  We had good intentions, but just never got around to taking a picture.  After I got home from work, I decided to put on my sweet Ransomed Ragamuffin Soul T-Shirt.  I pondered calling her to tell her to wear hers too, but since I tend to be on the late side (understatement) I figured she had already left.  Little did I know that the same thought (minus the her being late–she’s rather prompt) went through her mind.  Once in the restaurant, we unzipped our coats and there we were. Yep, pretty sweet except that we then forgot to take a picture at the restaurant and didn’t take one until right before she left.

So Not Ready“Here let me put my hair up. Wait. You took a picture!”

Not Quite

When I saw this picture, the first thing that came to mind was “Odd. I look like I’m trying to be a bird or something flying with how I’m leaning forward. At least Carrie is normal.  But we are off-center too….”

Ragamuffin Soul T-ShirtsA few tries later=happy picture.

p.s. I’m going to miss that girl!

Ragamuffintop Week 7


Sunday, June 6, 2008

Bike: 15 miles at 57 minutes

Walk: 20-30 minutes

Monday, June 7, 2008

Bike: 10.2 miles at 40 minutes

Run: 25 minutes

–yay, these were right after one another!

Tuesday, June 8th, 2008

Walked: 1 hour 15 minutes

Wednesday, June 9th, 2008

I need more hours of daylight.  Went to dinner right after work and chatted with some lovely ladies and then went straight to Core Team and then to bed.

Thursday, June 10th, 2008

Lazy day. I took a nap and finished my book and went on a short bike ride to get chocolate chips to make white/chocolate molten cake–we made both!

Friday, June 11th, 2008

Dinner and game night 🙂

Saturday, June 12th 2008

Drove home for the big bike race tomorrow!

 

p.s. Sorry for no video.  No time 🙂  Enjoy the picture though!