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?

problem

I am noticing a potential problem in our household.

Dog toys...

look a little bit too much like...

baby toys.

Today I got brought out a little stuffed frog that my mom got for Evelyn. I wanted to hold it because its cute, and Tangle....freaked out. He thought it was for him and would not leave me alone. He whined for a good 20 minutes straight begging for me to give it to him. I was actually so annoyed. We have been wondering how he will do with another little perosn in the house, since he's pretty needy. Things like that make me a little nervous. He is such a good dog, but i definitely won't be allowing a dog in the house that chews up baby blankets and eats stuffed animals, and steals food off the high chair. No thank you.

{dog}

{dog}




{dog}

{baby}

{baby}

{baby}

See what I mean!?

teeny weeny

In case you didn't already know, we found out we're having a little baby girl!

We couldn't be more happy to have a healthy little lady on the way. We went to our 20 week ultrasound last Monday and got to see all her little fingers and toes and her cute face and round head. We even got to see her empty her bladder. I'm sure that will get old after a while :-)

Here she is

♥ Evelyn Rosemary Newell ♥

I can't stop looking at her little picture. We are getting all geared up to get the nursery cleaned out and ready for decorating (yipee!!!), since Ben was totally blessed with an office right down the road, we got to move all his things over there and make some room! Now he won't have to share a room with baby! As we've been excitedly browsing ideas for the room, registering, and enjoying this fun time of feeling her gentle little nudges inside, I've been getting into a tiny bit of trouble with the....clothes. oops. I have been a good girl and haven't bought anything (i mean much) yet, but have been tagging little things I see here and there...I have a running list. This is the best. I am so happy we're having a girl (though I would have been happy either way....honest to goodness).

adorable coral sailor stripes

a girly little bunny

obviously this is happening.

girls are made to wear eyelet anything.

I love the waistband

Frills for days.



of course, not clothes, but classically girly

this is not girly.

it is also $58, which means it will never happen.

but its still cute

Oh this is going to be fun!

♥ ♥ ♥

Painting the Town (Living Room) Red. (and white).

Its my favorite time of the year.

That's right.

Christmas decorating time.

I'm a little late on posting my pictures this year, but I'll have you know I was NOT late on getting the decor up. We didn't hesitate. We tackled it like champs. Pregnant, tired, champs. Day after thanksgiving, we all (the whole fam) headed out to Helvatia Tree Farm to pick out the perfect tree. And it was. (perfect).

see, told you.

I was so exhausted from tromping around the tree farm all day (don't get me wrong, it was fun), but I couldn't just let the poor tree sit naked and lonely, in an un-christmasy house. I had to suck it up and get to decorating. I documented a few things along the way, so enjoy!

Our homemade star made out of clothes pins from our wedding.

I never seem to find a star i really love, so on our first Christmas I made this guy.

It has held up pretty well.

Jars full of salt and candles. Courtesy of Gifted Magazine.

Cheap, only 5 cartons of table salt at $.75 each,

and candles from the dollar store. 4 for $1.

Some festive recycled wrapping paper in cheapo frames.

A little homemade garland from a few years back.

Candy canes.

Because it is Christmas.

That's all.

More jars.

I have a billion jars, so I use them every year.

lots of ways to change it up.

Birdies on the tree.

These guys are from Starbucks a few years ago,

they went on sale after Christmas so we cleaned out the whole store.

Classic red and white.

I'm not sure if I'll ever get tired of this or think its cheesey.

Its Christmas.

Awww. I love it. Keep posting your decorations, if you haven't already. Which I'm sure you have because its December 9th.

Happy Christmas.

I'm happier than a pig in poop.

yes, I just said that.