Thursday, August 11, 2011

Goal

“A wife of noble character is her husband's crown.” (Proverbs 12:4)
 

Monday, July 18, 2011

Family Fest

This is a really quick post so I can jot a couple of really memorable moments down from our Family Fest Reunion this weekend

1. Spades tournaments and never ending games
2. Eric taxiing everyone
3. Mike playing the banjo/ukelele
4. Heidi getting to play monopoly
5. Swimming with all of my cousins / twists off the boat onto the trampoline
6. Oma's little toast
7. Jacob's party hat
8. Uncle Mark's living legend tshirt

Friday, July 01, 2011

This is a good life

This is a good life.  Lately everywhere I turn I'm reminded of God's provision and blessings.  From the color of the sunset to the windows down in the car with the wind blowing or the giant zucchini growing in our backyard!

I heard a story the other day about a father who was extremely positive, so positive in fact that people would try to say something negative to him just to try and see if they could get him - as a joke - to say "gotcha!" But to no avail, he would always take what they would say and spin it into something positive!

That's my goal. To take those negative things that people spew and spin them on their head into something positive.  I'll keep you posted on how they react!

Tuesday, June 07, 2011

Something New

The summer has started.  We've already had a few tablespoons of adventure, and I anticipate more of that tasty medicine to come (including the first bite of our homegrown veggies)!

Over Memorial Day we endured the plane ride out to California for a rendevue with family, check out SoCal, and meet up with some old friends.  The weather was absolutely amazing, boasting a 70 degree temperature with a breeze.  I did manage to get a tan, one that includes lines on my feet from sandals.

We saw Palm Desert, Santa Monica, and the Hollywood area.  We played with my littlest cousin, I rode a camel, and sat in as extras on the Entourage set.  We rode a ferris wheel, read by the poolside, and I tried on a goofy hat.  It was a perfectly fun time.

I love sharing new experiences with my husband.  While a new experience by yourself can be thrilling, to share it with someone is even more delightful.  Now when I remember what the Santa Monica skyline looked like at night from the top of the ferris wheel, I can turn to him and he'll smile too!

Wednesday, May 25, 2011

Twirling.

Pick me up and twirl me around. Great start to summer.

Friday, May 06, 2011

What You Must Do

Happy Friday! My husband is taking me on a surprise date! How sweet is he....

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Life as We Know It

Recently!

 A lazy dog
New retaining wall in the backyard! Yay!

Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Starting from Seeds

Our life:

Growing seedlings that include: cucumber, 2 varieties of tomatoes, peppers (only 1 is sprouting), basil, thyme, and oregano.


Hopefully it will be good eating this summer!

This weekend we put in our raised bed garden in the backyard.  Love the little river pebbles.  My Mr. is a genius!

Friday, April 08, 2011

Thursday, March 24, 2011

A Little Birdy...In my Wreath!

My wreath was hanging on the garage door when I came into the house the other night.  What was it doing there, I thought?

That's when my husband told me he had to move it because a little birdy had been building a nest in my wreath.  Claiming it as her very own home. 

When my husband (who is much taller then me) took the wreath down from the hanger, low and behold it was true...there was a small, neatly kept looking nest right there in the center of my wreath.  Apparently it was a smart little birdy, who knew that our porch would provide it with just the right amount of protection from the spring showers and weather elements.

Here it is!


Friday, March 18, 2011

One of the most beautiful times

One of my favorite times of the year in this area of the world is Spring! The buds on the trees are popping, the mornings are perfectly cool, and the evenings are filled with the sounds of chirping crickets. The Lord has given us such beauty!

Thursday, March 10, 2011

What we become in life.

I really like this part

"Your worldview does determine everything else in your life. It determines your decisions, it determines your relationships, it determines your level of confidence.

What we believe determines our behavior, and our behavior determines what we become in life."

Wednesday, March 09, 2011

Dear Life

Dear Life,
I love the way you are always challenging me to be a better person.  I love that you like to throw me curve balls once in awhile to make sure I'm really practicing what I'm preaching. You're good like that.  You say "make your heart bigger!"

I also love that March always brings rain.  And by rain I mean giant puddles for me to jump over when I run from place to place.

Thanks again!
Me

Friday, March 04, 2011

Pinterest

This is one interesting site!  It's a virtual pinboard!! If I didn't have quite so much going on right now I'm sure I could easily spend hours browsing and liking and pinning items!

Love Marta Writes (blog) and her pinterest just as cute! http://pinterest.com/martawrites/

Love the inspiration flowing off pinterest. Too fun for words.

Now for a visual of the weekend to come....


Wednesday, March 02, 2011

Holy Bikes!

How awesome is this!  A bike shop in Germany hung 120 bicycles outside their shop to advertise.

Love it!

Monday, February 21, 2011

Beliefs

Lately I've been thinking hard about what it means to be a Christian, especially in today's world.  It's tough. If you think for a minute it's easy, you are kidding yourself. 

The world throws messages at us all day.  About what to think. What to eat, what to wear, and what to watch.  About what to do.  And even about what to believe and take as truth.

I have to wonder if I went around asking people, "Are you Christian?" how many would say yes.  And then if asked "Why are you Christian?" would answer because I believe in Jesus.

So does that make you a Christian? And who is this Jesus that you believe in?


In the same way that I may believe in the devil, it doesn't make me a devil worshiper.

So who is it that we believe in?  Who is this Jesus?  What is He like? And what does He demand of us? Yes, I use the word demand because He does demand certain things of His people. This is the question that really speaks to me.  This is the question we should all want to answer.

This is where being a Christian calls us to put in the hard work and to study, and wrestle, and learn the word of God (the bible).  For how can we truly know who God is without studying and learning his word. We cannot simply go by what the world tells us about Him, we need to learn it for ourselves. For how can we be expected to share about Him if we don't know it ourselves.


How can we know how to love? How to worship?  How to treat our friends? Our family? Or our co-workers.  How to handle money? And enemies?

When I open my bible, all the answers are before me.  It is my job to learn them.

Matthew 4:4

4 Jesus answered, “It is written: ‘Man does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes from the mouth of God.’a

Sunday, February 20, 2011

Weekend Recap

What a great weekend! Blessings everywhere.  The weather was beautiful Saturday, and we were able to get outside and get a hike in.  We found a new area to explore not far from our house.  We ended up hiking for an hour and a half, and were able to take Gibson along!

Here he is after the hike on the car ride home.  Passed out! Cute little guy.



In other exciting news, we finished our entry way organizer system!  A big shout out to my Mr. who really put a lot of time into this.  I helped, mostly with the staining work.  But we built this from scratch using plans from Ana White's blog!  We just hung it up this afternoon.  Next up, having fun decorating it!



I hope your weekend has treated you just as GrEat!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Our House in the Morning

The dog always gets breakfast first.

Monday, February 14, 2011

Weekend

I took a bunch of pictures this weekend of what we were up to...I just have to post them!

My dearest and I don't really get all into the Valentine's Day stuff.  We think it's really something just fun for kids to celebrate, and that Hallmark truly invented it.

My thoughts are that I don't need one day to remind my man of what he does everyday! I am one lucky girl that my husband declares his love to me each day.

While we might seem all grinch-like, I'll have you know we will go out to a fun dinner tonight (just so we don't have to cook:))!

ps I also made cupcakes for my husband to bring to work!

Friday, February 04, 2011

Lessons Learned - Great song

I've learned a lot
from you
Over the past
few years
I couldn't
have asked
for
a
better lesson
than
you.



Thursday, February 03, 2011

Favorites of the Moment: Cardigans, Early Grey and ...

Fav piece of clothing: the cardigan. My go to piece. Can work with work outfits or cute casual piece

Fav hot beverage: Earl Grey Latte (from Sbucks).  Just the right amount of sweetness, low on calories, and half the amount of caffeine found in coffee.  Cool fact: Bergamot (flavour found in earl grey) is a lime tree that is grown in Italy and the South of France and its fruit gives Earl Grey a light spicy flavour. ***another reason I must go to Italy

Fav Song:  April Smith - Colors and Amos Lee - Windows are Rolled Down (can't wait till it's warm enough to do that again!)

Fav Morning Reading: The Writer's Almanac with Garrison Keillor Writer's Almanac

Fav Pass Time: The Mr. and I play Little Big Planet 2 in the evenings, and laughing hard as we fly around and change our costumes up

Fav Exercise: Still spinnnnn class.  You'd think it might get old, but oh no. It's not. It's still hot in my book.

Fav Book: The Dirty Life - all about a journalist who abandons her NYC heels for farm life

What are some of your favorite things as of late???

Friday, January 28, 2011

Sunshine State of Mind

Good Morning World!

Today I am headed towards the sunshine!  It's my girls weekend and what could be better then meeting up in a sunny place!  On the agenda is: chat, chat, chat, catch up, hot tubbing, shopping, exploring, late night chats, and just in general being together!

Can't wait!

I'm blessed to be able to spend time with my friends:)

Have a wonderful weekend!

Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Mind Plays Tricks

My mind played a trick on me last night. It tried to convince me that I was in a funk, and not contributing enough.  It tried to tangle me in a web of doubt.

Do you ever have moments like this?  I know this chapter in life is about building foundations.  But sometimes when I'm not looking the little thorns of the world try to stab me and prick me with feelings of impatience.  I have to remain steady at the helm.

My Grateful List:
1. For my amazing husband
2. For being able to have delicious food on the table every night
3. For the opportunity to teach our young girls class at church
4. For getting to visit with good friends this weekend
5. For a warm office, friendly colleagues, and challenging work
6. For a God who takes me as I am

Friday, January 21, 2011

Hi, pretty little things

Hi! You pretty little things, it's Friday! Yay!  I still get quite the thrill over this simple day of the week.  What have you been up to lately?

This week was made up of visits, goals for the future, and lots of lotion to sooth dry hands. It's the little things again, see.

I'm ready for the full on sunshine of the south to come back.  But until it does, I'm heading down to FL to meet up with my two best college girls next weekend! Woot!

Friday, January 07, 2011

Hello Dear Blog

December 13th 2010
Hello Dear Blog,
It's 2011.  Twenty-eleven!  Yes, it's true.  We had quite the journey over Christmas break.  We started with a road trip up to Chicago, enjoyed the snowy climate, a trip to the emergency vet, and a road trip down to Middle TN.  After that I loved being home for the remainder of 2010 leading up the the new year.

Last year was a wonderful  one.  I have so much to be grateful for.  Health, family, friends, a church to call home, rewarding work, and the list goes on. I am so thankful for my own little family, all three of us (the Mr., Gibson, and myself).  I can't imagine my life without those two.  There was something so great about celebrating our 2nd Christmas together as husband and wife.  To enjoy our own traditions for a 2nd year in a row.  To know where the Christmas tree would go, and all the little memories we had as we took things out of storage.

I'm looking forward to 2011 to cultivate more. More in my relationships, more in creativity, more in God, and more in life. This year is about cultivating the foundation.

It's good to be here.

I hope you and yours had a sparkling holiday season, and are full of hope for 2011.

Always an Em