30 Days of Gratefulness

{Day 3}

• Stopping to think one million times throughout my day about the two tinies growing in my belly... It is the most miraculous thing I have ever experienced!

• 14 months... Oh I love this age so very much.  Today Gage was in a kissing phase.  He would come in close to plant the sweetest kiss on my lips, start to walk away and then turn around and do it again. Over and over... oh heart be still!

•  Lunch at Olive garden with Brandon's wonderful family

• A sweet husband that totally picks up my slack when I'm not feeling well, and never complains

•  All the wonderful women in my life~ Mothers, Sisters, Aunties and Friends. Oh I am lucky.

• Hand me downs.  Total. Life. Savers.  Keep em' coming Courtney (:

• Scripture.  My anxiety is amped up lately for some reason, and I hope I never forget how comforting the scriptures are.

• Trader Joes!

• Flowers from Trader Joes!

• A darling baby boy that brings me so much joy.

 I have so much to be thankful for! 

30 Days of Gratefulness

30 Days of Gratefulness {Day 2}

Today I am thankful for....

• Being able to sleep in late, when I REALLY need it.

• The gift of a toddler who sleeps in past 9!

• Breakfast for Dinner

• The realization that I have to consume 600 extra calories per day!

• My hard working husband who does so much for us

• Hearing my sweet husband tell someone that I am a Stay at Home Mom(!)

• Mrs. Meyers Basil cleaner... It lifts my spirits and I don't feel guilty about using harsh chemicals

• Rushing home to change into a new flannel pajama set

• EARLY morning devotions because of pregnancy insomnia

• Hearing Gage say new words every day!

• Telling perfect strangers that I am expecting twins in addition to the baby in my grocery cart

• The sweet random lady at Costco that bought me pizza today!

• Hope in tomorrow and strength for today in my savior 

30 Days of Gratefulness

{30 Days of Gratefulness}

November is here, and I am going to join a bunch of sweet ladies in taking the time
to keep track of everything we have to be grateful for.

It's Day One, and friend, I am bursting...

Yesterday I was heading in for an ultrasound prepared to hear the worst.
I was so worried that the baby hadn't developed.  That there wasn't going to be a heart beat.there
And then...
there were two.

I am thankful for my sweet husband who even though he has always told me twins would be his worst nightmare, is suddenly all a glow.

I am thankful for a good God that gives good gifts and provisions to his children.  And although I am feeling quite anxious about having three children under two at once, having to buy two of everything, and let's face it... A LOT of diapers... I trust that my Lord won't give me more than I can handle.  And I know somehow, I can do this.

I am blessed by my husband's prayer all whispers as we crawled into bed last night. "Lord, thank you for my beautiful wife and those two tiny heartbeats inside of her.  Thanks you for all your blessings, you are so good to us!"

I think "thankful" is an understatement today.

We are having so much fun dreaming about this new little one
that we will be welcoming in just 7 months.
I can't help but feel a little melancholy about the fact that my
firstborn baby is growing up right before my eyes.

Even though I am so excited to meet our new baby,
I am well aware that these sweet moments with Gage our
quickly passing, and I am determined to soak them up every way
I can.  I may feel differently later, but for now, there is no rush with
this pregnancy.
I am enjoying our life so much right now.

Our days are kept full because of this cherub-faced little boy.
Who has the happiest disposition, and is a busy boy, but not a
rambunctious boy. I love his calm but active personality.
He is so much like his Dad.

His nickname is Little Man, because, well, he is just that:

The best reaction ever over his new tool set!

Thank goodness I have two handy men around!

The look that I so frequently find on his face when he is into something naughty...

Trying desperately to sneak a bite of his new favorite food: pumpkin bread.

I tell Brandon nearly every day that today I am the happiest I've ever been.
I feel like life is just getting sweeter by the moment.  I hope I can hold onto
these days and forever forge them in my heart and mind.

The lazy days spent together, sharing food and conversation,
making messes and being together. I just love all this time we
get to spend as a family now.  I feel like I'm getting to know
my husband all over again.

Last night (and he'll kill me for telling you this,) he bought a
coat that he's had his eye on from Cabella's, and tried it on over
and over, showing me all of it's features like an excited little boy.
We stretched across the bed and he talked about all of his wants
and needs, and dreams for hours.
Sometimes I forget that still waters run very deep.
If  you have a quiet husband like I do, you'll understand what a
gift it is when he does all the talking.

 

Enjoying our cozy little house that isn't our dream house, but can

be in its own way pretty dreamy.

Life is good. And we are so grateful!

I've Got a Secret...

 Did I mention that Gage turned one, three times over? We ended up having three parties for our little man.

 Most recently we celebrated at my sister's new house in Snohomish. We had such fun.We party planned, baked, decorated her beautiful house together, and had some much needed sister time. 

While pushing our "twin" babies in shopping carts, we had a fun moment remembering how we used to push our twin baby dolls in carriages as kids, never dreaming that it would be a reality 20 years later!

It's a total dream come true to see our babies developing such a sweet bond. And oh my, is Ashlyn Paige ever sweet. Gage absolutely adores her.

Playing with cousin Yani.

They are at that adorable age where they kiss + cuddle.  It's seriously heart melting.
We had so much fun putting together a Hansel and Gretel themed bash for the babies.

 

 

They had very different reactions to the birthday cake!

Gage with his beloved Grammie-Mum

Maybe it was the sugar high, but they were both total party animals!

That is, until naptime hit!

  

I don't imagine that Gage will have three birthday parties again next year.  Still, you can't celebrate this guy enough!

I'm about to blog.
Shocking, I know!

I'm about to blog because I had an encouraging conversation with some friends last night, and it made me think twice about giving this up.

It made me miss those early connections I made through blogging, before it all became too much.  It made me think about a few things. 

Like how blogging used to be a way to strengthen friendships, to be there for others when I can't physically be there, or to work through the tough stuff. How it was a way to look back in an instant and to remember all that God has done for us.

And even though I'm busy, I don't want to lose all that.

So I have decided to make a few changes. 
1. I scaled my blogger list down to real-life-friend blogs and no more than 10 other blogs.  The rule is they have to be uplifting, inspiring blogs, not blogs that make me go crazy comparing myself to something I can never be.

{Now mind you, I still have a bloglovin' account full of all of the blogs I love that I will still check, but I wanted my blogger dashboard to be free and clear so I can be more intentional about my time.}

2. I am limiting my time on Facebook.  It is a total time sucker.

3. I'm not going to fuss over my photography. Some day, I will be a better photographer/editor.  Some day I will have an amazing camera.  Today, I will work with what I have.

4. I will try to spend 15-30 daily blogging.  Even if I am just commenting. 
5. I will start try to blog consistently through Novemeber.  I'm excited about that one!

6. I will focus in Psalms 126:3 "The Lord has done great things for us, and we are filled with joy."

He has done so many great things for us, and I want to record those great things always.


So there you go, that's my plan.  Oh it's good to be back!

My baby is one. year. old.
Someone please tell me where the time went?

We started our new business which has added a whole new dimension to our lives.
We are super giddy and really blessed, but so busy that time is slipping through our fingers.

We've been working 10 hour days since we started. We have had weekend guests every weekend for almost the entire summer.  I don't even remember how a nap feels.  

I have always planned, anticipated for, waited for the next big thing.  Next big milestone, or event to plan for and arrive at.

I am so aware of how things have changed, how suddenly these are the sweet times.  How I stop looking at the calendar because future time doesn't matter, all that matters is holding on to the present.

I remember when I first took Gage home from the hospital, not so long ago... and I cried realizing how fast that first day, week, month went.  I remember rocking my fresh smelling baby to sleep and telling myself to please hold on to the memory, of this scent, of the tiny weight in my arms, of my own first child.

I still feel that way every single day.  When I'm awoken in the middle of the night by a fussy toddler, who doesn't fit in the crook of my arm anymore, who is more little boy than baby, and who softly whispers "ma-ma" and pats my back. Please remember.

When I find my love's lips in the dark like they are magnets to mine, Please remember.

When I'm covered in dust from head to toe from cleaning out a storage room at our facility, and it's hard work, but its the most rewarding kind of work. Or when I see the look of trust and dependence in the eyes of our residents, please, remember.

When I feel safe and confident, in my identity in Christ, when I realize that my insecurities are not as big as they used to be.  And even though I my clothes are old and out of style, and I can't afford a haircut, I think I'm still somewhat adorable. Please remember.

Life lately is so full and so memorable.  I feel so blessed.  Every day is a new challenge and reward.  Oh yes, these are the sweet times.

This is Discipling

I've been to church only a hand full of times since our Gagey was born,
And this last Sunday it would have been soooo nice to sleep in, but I felt a total
tug at my heart strings to go, somewhere, anywhere.

I have been looking for a home
church for a long time, gravitating back and forth between three
different churches. I was having such a hard time sticking with one!
We have some amazing churches in Spokane, and I would be lucky to be planted in
any one of them, but I have been waiting for that warm fuzzy feeling to tell me "This is it!"
"This is the one!" Last weekend, I felt the warm fuzzies. 

But not because it was the perfect
sermon, or service or perfect group of people, Mainly because I came to the realization that
there is no perfect church, only a perfect God.  And that feeling a sense of belonging to any
one church will directly come from my attitude and willingness to dive in and get wet.

I am looking for a way to live my life so that "church" doesn't begin and end on Sunday.
Instead of trying to fit church, or religion, or Jesus into my schedule, I feel really
strongly that this is the year, for myself, for my spouse and for our family
to look outside of ourselves, to learn, and I say learn because it does not come naturally to me--
to serve others.  To serve and to roll up our sleeves and to be a part of something. 
To be a part of a community.  I like this little video because it communicates exactly what I'm trying to say...
And because it has cute little stick people...(:

I've been so busy around the house lately. I painted our dining room table and chairs a shiny black color, and just finished sewing some cheerful little cafe curtains for the dining room and kitchen.  Brandon wasn't sure if he liked them at first, but I think they may be growing on him. The windows are so tall and I feel like they need a little something on the top. I normally don't like valances at all, but I'm thinking maybe a coordinating scalloped valance on top might be nice. Our house is immersed in the shade provided by tall evergreen trees (I'm certainly not complaining as they keep the house very cool!), it makes for poor pictures unfortunately.  Here's how the dining room looks so far:

I'm totally done using green in our house, as I've now decorated the living room, kitchen, dining room and nursery in delicious shades of leafy, celery and apple green. Good thing its Brandon's favorite color, because I got a little carried away!

It doesn't happen often, but sometimes I am just at a loss for words.
God has blessed me beyond belief with wonderful sisters, and friends that are as close as sisters.
Sometimes in the midst of sharing in the joys and the sunshine of daily life you hit a rainstorm.
And sometimes that rainstorm isn't yours to begin with, but it becomes yours.
When a dear friend is facing a trial and is experiencing fear, uncertainty, and heartbreak, your heart strings are so closely wound to hers that you experience all of the above right along with her.
And that's where I am today.  My heart is full of ache.  All I can do is trust that Jesus is and does all that he promises to be and to do.  And that he will hold her in the palm of his hand as she faces today, and tomorrow, and whatever lies beyond that.  In the meantime, I'll be praying for both a lighter rainstorm and a stronger umbrella for my wonderful friend. 

Hello Friends!
Today is a lazy sort of day.  A drink coffee on the porch swing at lunchtime kind of day.
Last night I laid in bed and planned tomorrow in my head:

I would wear my hair like this:

 Have this for Breakfast:

      And of course this:

                                                                  

Clean the whole house 

Tackle those sewing projects...

And still have enough time to do this:

Well it's almost lunchtime, and I am still shleppin' around in my slippers. Things don't always go as planned around here.  Hope you are having a more productive day than I am!

8 Months old and so very busy!
Thank goodness for your high chair or I wouldn't get anything done!
But oh, baby boy, how you keep our hearts full of love.
You are a BOY in every sense of the word
You are adventurous, a risk taker like your Daddy.
You are hard to catch, but lucky for me if I manage to get a hold of those overall straps, you will give me the snuggliest of hugs... and then you are off again.
You teach me patience.
In fact, while I was writing this, I took my eye off of you for one second, to find you drenching yourself in the dogs water dish.
You helped me prioritize my life. Nothing is more important than keeping you happy, healthy and safe.
You have melted your Da-da and I into piles of lovey-dovey goo.
You are smart, silly and engaging.  Your name suits you!
We love you dearly, baby boy.  Every moment with you makes us wonder, was there life before you were ours?

Green Enchilada's
12 White corn Tortillas
2 c shredded Mexican style mixed cheese
3/4 c chopped onion
1/4 c butter
1/4 c flour
2 c Chicken Broth
1 4 oz can jalapeno peppers
(seeded and chopped)
1 c sour cream

Heat tortillas for about a minute in the microwave until they are soft (you can also fry them in a skillet of oil for 15 seconds on each side)
Mix together the cheese and the onions in a bowl
Roll up the tortillas with 2-3 tablespoons of the cheese mixture and line them seam down in a
12 x 7 1/2 x 2 inch bakind dish.

In a medium saucepan, melt butter and blend in flower. Add chicken broth all at once; cook, stirring constantly, until it thickens and bubbles.  Stir in sour cream and chopped peppers. Bake at 425 for 20 minutes.

For as long as I can remember, I have had a dream.
A dream to have a large family.  Too large for most.
A dream to carry babies safely in my womb,
then in my arms,
to raise them up in a home abundant with love,
to hold little hands,
to wipe little tears,
to hold hands growing larger still,
to raise confident, capable, purposeful children.
To always have an open home, filled with laughter
A comforting life, but not too comfortable--
to somehow give them the understanding that this life is but a blink of an eye
to raise up sweet little boys, to somehow be courageous men
to raise up sweet little girls to somehow be virtuous women
To hold the weathered hand of my love,
to swing on a creaky old porch swing with him and to know what he is thinking
to know what the crinkle of his crows feet and the slow smile pulling from the corners of his mouth means..
By the grace of our God, we did good.
Because in my short life, I have caught a glimpse of what it means to age, to wither and die.
I have discovered that at the end of one's life on this temporary earth, possessions become worthless
Bank accounts empty.
I have learned that what brings a smile to an aged face is nothing other than hope in Jesus and a dear loved one.
So it is my dream to have hope growing stronger always.
and to have many loved ones.

Wrestling for Joy

Comes Easy:

New Life

Tiny clothes folded

A clean kitchen floor newly muddied by paw prints
Kisses in the dark
Chubby cheek to cheek grins that come with every new morning
Coffee Brewing
The buzzing of straight stitches
Seeing through baby's eyes and imagining all things new
Chalked verses on a kitchen blackboard
Stretching on my tiptoes for a hug


Hard Eucharisteo:
















Death, because the sinner's prayer in an old man's heart is still enough
Pain while stooping for a hug
Discovering my own pride
Tears
Heavy sighs
Release
Renewal

Hello, dear friend,
Although my blog is a small little corner, and I can't boast about a long list of readers,
I do love to imagine to myself about you, whomever you may be as you read my little musings.

Do you sit with a cup of creamy coffee, using the early sunshine as your light as you take comfort
in your morning blog roll?

Or do you squeeze in time after the kids are in bed, and give yourself an
 excuse to let the dishes sit in their bubble bath while you catch up in blogland?

Whomever and wherever you may be, know that I consider you a friend.
I was thinking just this morning about how many sweet friendships I have to be thankful for,
 due to this silly little blog.

And even though blogging doesn't always fit into my busy schedule, I will always try to keep my posts coming.  For you, and for myself, and so that someday I can read these all again and remember this happy time in our sweet mint-green-cottage, with our happy little boy with the twinkliest ever-- blue eyes.

 That same little boy happens to be flirting with me from his swing as we speak. Giggling to catch my attention, as if he has just heard the funniest of baby jokes, and trying hard to make me wonder what could be so humorous.

I noticed this morning that he now has three tiny teeth instead of two, and did I mention just how thankful I am that he is a happy teether?? I've just noticed that the Mr. is walking up the sidewalk home from work, so I must abandon this post as it is, in order to give him that much anticipated "welcome home" kiss.

Wishing you all a very sweet evening, even in the midst of this fickle weather. (It's snowing here, and it's almost May!)

XOXO Sweet friends!
 

Can you believe it?

I'd better become more acquainted with my vacuum...
Yikes!

I like the way you are

 This phrase popped out of my mouth last night when the baby was soundly sleeping in bed
and the mister and I were wrapping up another day cuddled on the couch.
I really got to thinking about what I meant by that

I like the way he talks to our son and takes such good care of him
I like the way he throws his head back in a silent laugh at my jokes
I like the way he works really hard, fixing things all day, and then comes home to fix me
I like the way he still wears his T-shirts from High school (and looks even better in them now, just saying)
I really like the way he looks in scrubs
I like his spirit
His drive
How when I ask him in bed if he wants to pray for our family with me, he says, "I just did"
The list of likes and loves is growing longer every day.

I really, really like love the way he is.