faulty water bottle+exhausted pregnant lady...and Day 2

Today's math lesson:

Faulty water bottle on bedside table with a lid that doesn't actually screw on tight

+

sprawling around in the night because pregnant lady has to turn over every 13 minutes or her giant hip gets a cramp

=

knocking over 16 ounces of ice water at 2:00 in the morning all over my pillow, slippers, bed, and alllll the way underneath the bed where I can't possibly reach it.

(combined this with the most exhausted person in the world, and the result is a lot of tears in the middle of the night).

I'm glad I have a patient husband who doesn't make fun of me when I cry over spilled ice water.

I have to say I am starting to reach that point in pregnancy I keep reading and hearing about, where you start to revert back to the beginning stages of feeling so tired all you want to do is sleep all day. I still feel great physically, no sickness or pain, but I'm starting to get SO TIRED again. I was sick last weekend, so I stayed home from work on Monday, went in late on Tuesday, and guess what...I'm home again today. I am up long enough to eat some breakfast (at noon?), and let it settle, then I'm going back to bed. Lets just hope its a rough week, since I still have about 2 more months left at work and I hate calling in to say I can't come. Side note...everyone I work with is amazing. They are so supportive and never make me feel guilty for not being there...I just hate having a responsibility and feeling like I can't do it. I need to get over it. Ben is so encouraging too. He always encourages me to take care of myself and listen to my body when I need to rest. I'm a blessed lady.

Anyway, all that to say, my update on week 28 of pregnancy is that I am bloated from drinking a large bottle of glucola at the doctor on Monday, and I am a tired girl. I am sitting on the couch staring at the computer like a zombie (i think I look like a zombie too), thinking about crawling back in bed. Its gonna happen any minute, folks.

But before I fall asleep...

Day 2:

What makes you uniquely you?

I don't really know how to answer this, I feel like there are a million things put together that make me unique. Here are some to give you an idea.

I have never had a nose bleed

When I was a kid, I wanted to be a pioneer really bad until I found out that in order to grow a garden you had to pull weeds every day.

My dad was a pastor all growing up.

My family is from the South (Tennessee).

I don't like Easter decorations.

My favorite food is mushrooms.

My other favorite food is chocolate.

I don't like chocolate and mushrooms together, but that's not unique because nobody would like that unless they are a nut.

I change my mind 147 times a day.

When I go to a restaurant, I really need to look at the menu BEFORE I sit down so that I don't get overwhelmed with the decision making process of ordering under pressure.

I hate math but I like numbers.

I love art but not when someone tells me I need to do it a certain way.

I hate cats

I would rather change a poopy diaper than wash a stranger's dirty dishes.

I really like shopping by myself instead of with other people.

One time I met Hilary Duff in the airport, and she said "what's up, yo?"

When I walk in the house, I leave a piece of whatever I'm carrying in every room I walk in, and none of them are the correct place for that item.

I wore the same toe ring for 6 years without taking it off. I took it off 6 months ago and my toe still has an indent.

I got engaged in New York City.

There are a few things about me. All random, nothing too deep. I am a little bit sleepy for that! If you're still reading, I commend you! Hope you all have a delightful Thursday.

hot chocolate, tacos, magazines, and cribs

We have been havin' ourselves a lot of fun lately! This last weekend we went all over Portland looking for a dresser for Evy's little room, with no luck. We won't give up though! We saw a couple things we really like, so that's a start. We also found some cute fabric for a crib skirt and maybe a couple pillows, so we'll go back in few weeks with a pattern so we know how much to get. When I say "we", I really mean "I", because I don't think Ben really loved the fabric store. That's kind of a girl thing :-)

♥

My cute husband treated me like a million bucks this weekend. I ended up being really sick on Sunday, so I got a sweet surprise...breakfast in bed! ♥ I forgot to take a picture because I was so hungry, but I will say he even put a little flower on my tray! Then he touched up the paint in the baby room, and even vacuumed it and totally cleaned it out.

See, cute guy.

We made our way out to Ikea since we were disappointed by not finding anything on Saturday, so we bought Evy's crib! Look at this handy man.

Ta Da!!! Our little blueberry will sleep in here. I can't believe it.

There is no purpose of this picture. I just think its funny.

♥

We have been trying to find fun things to do to get out of the house without spending a ton of money or going out to eat, since we're trying to save as much as we can. One of the things we have found that is so fun is going to Borders, grabbing stacks of books and magazines, and reading while sipping on something yummy. My sipping is usually a little yummier than his (this is obviously mine). Look closely and you'll see he is reading some crazy books about stocks and mutual funds, and I am reading a pregnancy book, Making Magazine, and Whole Living.

Another fun thing...taco night. Always a favorite. Just look how happy it makes this guy...


The spread.
We usually don't go with crunchy, but we loved it this time. Pretty classic. Adding a little bit of super food to them...black beans, plain Greek yogurt, and of course avocado.



muy bueno.
Enjoy Evy girl!


Being married is the best. I can honestly say I have so much fun with Ben, I would rather be with him than anyone else in the world!

Day 1

Project 31.

Day 1.

What does beauty mean to you?

Hmmm, starting out with the deep stuff. Here goes!

I think beauty can come in a million different forms. When I think something is beautiful, it means that I am finding a deep appreciation for it either to my senses, or my soul...or both. Beauty is when I can see the creativeness of God's hand in something else. I am a lover of beautiful things. Who isn't?

But here's the thing about beauty...the bible says beauty is vain. What does that mean? Sometimes when I read that, I have a hard time understanding why a God who made so many beautiful things, including women, says that beauty is vain. I really don't think it means that I should not be beautiful. I also don't think it means don't make myself lovely for my husband. I think it means that beauty according to the world's standards, is vain...as in someday, it will be gone. The verse goes on to say, "..but a woman who fears the Lord, she shall be praised." (proverbs 30). This is what lasting beauty is.

I work at a retirement home. The average age of our residents
is 90. Everyday I look at people who are at the end of their life, and all their
worldly beauty has faded. Not even one of them has been able to fight off the
effects of age on their body and mind. Every single one of them, no matter how
healthy and stunning they may have been in their younger days, has a million
wrinkles, crooked fingers, drooping eyelids, grey hair (or no hair), a hunched
back, and yellow teeth (or no teeth). There is one couple, John and Irma who are
in their 90's. She can't make him dinner anymore, he can't build her a house or
buy her nice things. They can't go dancing anymore, they can't make
love.

This last year, the celebrated their 70th wedding anniversary.
Everyday they go to breakfast together, walk back to their room, come down to
lunch, walk back to their room, walk down the hall to dinner, check their mail,
buy milk, and go back to their room. They are companions. They have children and
grandchildren and great grandchildren. They are still together and loving each
other after 70 years of watching all their physical beauty fade away right
before their eyes. And they are still side by side. Beauty does not stand the
test of time, and there is no point in spending thousands of thousands of
dollars on products and surgeries to make your skin tighter and your boobs
perkier. A man and woman who have had an entire lifetime honoring God with their
lives, through every season, even when all the beauty is gone

.

That is very beautiful.

♥

Our Story

Check out my new page with mine and Ben's little story. In my words of course...because its my blog. so there.

Project 31

I decided that since I have been in somewhat of a blogging slump lately...

...

and since I really do love using this thing here to encourage other people and to encourage myself and share my thoughts and ramblings, I will embark on something way unheard of for me. An ongoing series that is actually ongoing.

Gasp.

But wait....

There is a purpose to my little goal. I am going to try my hand at a little something I found via She Breathes Deeply, a sweet baby blog of someone I don't know, but was totally inspired by when I found her blog.

Project 31. This is taken from her blog, and I'm still waiting to hear back on how to link up to hers if I can. We'll see how this goes, I love the idea of it. This is going to be a big challenge for me in some ways. I can't promise I'll do it every day, but I will try and make it as consistent as I can! But cut me some slack, I'm withchild. The list is full of things I'm not exactly the most comfortable doing, posting pictures of outfits occassionally. But hey, here goes nothin!

What is "Project 31"? It is a collection of thoughts, ideas,
and women who potray beauty in a inspired way. "Project 31" is you celebrating
your God given beauty, and celebrating the beautiful women around you.

The meaning behind the project is taken from this:

Proverbs 31

10 Who can find a virtuous wife? For her worth is far above rubies.

11 The heart of her husband safely trusts her; So he will have no lack of gain.

12 She does him good and not evil all the days of her life.

13 She seeks wool and flax, And willingly works with
her hands.

14 She is like the merchant ships, She brings her food from afar.

15 She also rises while it is yet night, And provides food for her household, And a portion
for her maidservants.

16 She considers a field and buys it; From her profits she plants a vineyard.

17 She girds herself with strength, And strengthens her arms.

18 She perceives that her merchandise is good, And her lamp does not go out by night.

19 She stretches out her hands to the distaff, And her hand holds the spindle.

20 She extends her hand to the poor, Yes, she reaches out her hands to the needy.

21 She is not afraid of snow for her household, For all her household is clothed with scarlet.

22 She makes tapestry for herself; Her clothing is fine linen and purple.

23 Her husband is known in the gates, When he sits among the elders of the land.

24 She makes linen garments and sells them, And supplies sashes for the merchants.

25 Strength and honor are her clothing; She shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She opens her mouth with wisdom, And on her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She watches over the ways of her household, And does not eat the bread of
idleness.

28 Her children rise up and call her blessed; Her husband also, and he praises her:

29 “ Many daughters have done well, But you excel them all.”

30 Charm is deceitful and beauty is passing, But a woman who fears the LORD, she shall be praised.

31 Give her of the fruit of her hands, And let her own works praise her in the gates.

THE LIST:

Day 1. What does beauty mean to you?
Day 2. What makes you uniquely you?

Day 3. Who is someone you know who inspires beauty?

Day 4. Style 31. Post a pic of you in your favorite outfit.

Day 5. Write a blog thanking someone who has made your heart come
alive.

Day 6. Jaded beauty. Has the world's definition of beauty ever jaded
you?

Day 7. Write a blog to encourage another beautiful woman.

Day 8. Have a beauty secret (e.g. hair tip, make up tip)? Share,
please!

Day 9. What virtues do you value in yourself?

Day 10. What is Jesus teaching you as a wife, mom, or friend? (Or just woman in general?)

Day 11. Post a recipe. Or if you don't cook, try a new recipe and write about how it turned out (pictures please!).

Day 12. Write about what wears you out as a woman.

Day 13. Write about something you would like to change about yourself for the better.

Day 14. Style 31. Post an outfit pic!

Day 15. Write to encourage a friend. Inspire her beauty.

Day 16. Write a letter to your daughter, or a young girl in your life. Tell her what beauty means.

Day 17. Write about 3 things that make you happy.

Day 18. Describe your personality.

Day 19. Write about your favorite comfort food (we are women- we ALL have comfort food!)

Day 20. Write about your job and why you love it or hate it.

Day 21. Write a letter to your husband to encourage him (or if you are single- your
future husband.)

Day 22. What are some needs that need to be met in your community? Blog about how to extend your hand to those who need you.

Day 23. What are your strengths? What are your weaknesses?

Day 24. What is Jesus teaching you presently?

Day 25. Style 31. Post a pic of your favorite comfy clothes.

Day 26. What do you hope your grandchildren will say about you someday when you are gone?

Day 27. Write a blog to encourage someone and build their confidence!

Day 28. Write about your insecurities as a woman.

Day 29. Write about "a day in the life of me." (Pictues are great!)

Day 30. Who is your role model as a woman?

Day 31. Write about your dreams and goals as a beautiful woman!

Learning contentment

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am. I know how to get along with humble means, and I also know how to live in prosperity; and in every circumstance I have learned the secret of being filled and going hungry, both of having abundance and suffering need. I can do all things through Him who strengthens me. -Phil. 4:11-13

♥ ♥ ♥ ♥

**Disclaimer: I have no idea what it is like to live by the same "humble means" talked about here. I am aware that I am rich beyond measure and fall heavily on the "prosperity" end of this verse.

I have never really been the type of gal who needs to have the most expensive jeans, make the most extravagant meals, have the cleanest house, or go on the best vacations. I grew up with parents who pretty much taught me that if we're too busy to clean the house top to bottom, we're still having people over, because they are our friends...and if they don't like a pile of papers on the dinng room table, or dust bunnies in the corner, they can have their own opinion, and they probably aren't good friends anyway. My parents were very gracious hosts, but my dad was a pastor, and my mom worked her buns off doing this and that to help out, so we didn't have the cleanest house and the most put-together-looking-life. At Christmas, if I wanted the boots all my friends had, I was probably going to get the ones that looked just like them from Target. Honestly, I think that made me a better person today.

When I started my own life, got married, had my own house to take care of, my own dinners to make, my own clothes to buy and laundry to fold, I started out pretty easy going! We had a tiny little one bedroom and it usually had a big pile of clothes on the dryer and some dirty dishes in the sink, hand-me-down EVERYTHING pretty much...and everyone was ok with that. Well, somewhere along the way, I seemed to get a little less ok with it. Don't get me wrong, the dishes were still in the sink, 80% of what we owned is still from garage sales or thrift stores or was given to us, the clothes were still on the dryer, and the couch, and the dresser, and in the washer (where I forgot about them for 2 days and we couldn't figure out what the mystery sour milk smell stinking up the house was until we found them). Everything was pretty much in the same order as always, but I began to get less and less ok with it being that way. Being at work full time made me resent the housework that I probably wouldn't feel like doing anyway, but the sheer fact that even if I did want to, I wouldn't have the time or energy to. Needing to go out to Chiptole twice a week because I forgetting half the things at the grocery store I went to get in the first place thwarted my dinner plans made me a little more upset than before. The fact that everyone seemed to have brand new sectional sofas and flat screens, and our tv still had (has) a big giant box on the back of it made me disgruntled. Regardless of why, I found myself really upset that my life was not in perfect order all the time. As if I had EVER been like that, or had ever even seen a model of needing to be like that in my own life. God (through my sweet and patient husband) is teaching me to simmer down. Take a break. Enjoy the blessings in my life. Don't spend my energy on things that don't matter. Besides, nobody cares what your house looks like anyway. Think about it, when you go to someone's house for dinner, is the first thing you think:

"gosh its so clean, this person is awesome, nowwww I know I can have a good time"?

...or

"ew they didn't dust the top of the chairs, sick, I'm never coming back, I can't wait to leave"?

No, of course not. I always think

"wow, what a gracious host, wow, what a warm house, wow, what a fun and relaxing time I'm having because Susy Homemaker isn't running around like a chicken with her head cut off trying to was the dishes before she sits down to talk to her guests".

(not word for word, of course.)

Please don't get me wrong, I LOVE having a clean house. I LOVE making dinner for my hubby. I LOVE making our house a nice place to come home to. There is absolutely nothing wrong with being a Susy Homemaker, in fact, its all I want to do! I can't wait to stay home all day and make our home lovely and smell good and take care of our babies. All I am saying is that God is teaching me to be content in what we have, the condition that its in, and give myself a little grace on the the things that really don't matter. I'm so proud of our life that God has given us. We're SO blessed. We have everything we could possibly need. I love our home and everything that fills it. Including our marriage. I am ashamed for ever wanting anything more. God has so richly blessed our lives.

So come on over! Don't bother taking off your shoes at the door and I promise you can put your dirty dishes on the counter and I won't even think about touching them until you leave! :-)

A Couple Weekend Happenings

Just a couple pictures from my favorite happenings last weekend.

It was filled with the cutest niece alive, sunshine all day Saturday, antiquing, tiny baby slippers, biscuits and gravy, and lots and lots of washing and folding towels. There aren't very many pictures because once again, I forgot to document the fun because because I was too busy enjoying it!

Avery hiding under the table.

Yes, I am huuuuuuge! ♥

We found these adorable little booties at an antique store and snatched them up.

I can't wait to put them on Evelyn's little feet!

Can every day please be the weekend?