birthday girl
My baby girl turned 3 a few days ago. I remember her actual “birth day” with details, as if it were yesterday, but at the same time, it all seems so long ago. There were so many ongoing changes for us in the last 4 years, that life just seems to have flown by.
If we were still living in Spokane I probably would have thrown her a party, but since we’ve moved and she doesn’t have many friends here yet, we’ve decided to do something different for the occasion. And I am so glad we did. She had an amazing day and enjoyed every bit of it!
We started out the day with her favorite cake and candles. If you know my baby girl, you know she’s not much of a cake or pastry eater, she loves her veggies and fruit, but the wafer cake is the one she’ll eat.
After nap we went to Target and picked out her present. I know, it wasn’t a surprise but she had so much fun just being in the toy section and picking through all the toys that I don’t regret the decision one bit.
Then we met up with daddy for an early dinner at Red Robin. We don’t eat out much, so the kids really enjoy going out to eat. This was a special treat for her birthday and she loved the balloons and ice cream she received.
We continued the birthday celebration by going to a local Jump and Play. She was a bit scared of the big slides at first, but then I went with her and she enjoyed it tremendously. I wish we would have taken a picture of a video while we were there, but the kids had so much fun (even the baby) and kept pulling us in all directions that really there was no time for that. The adults enjoyed it too, it was wonderful to see the joy and delight on our kids’ faces.
The kids enjoyed the birthday celebration so much that they all requested the same activities on their birthday. I am so glad our circumstance have pushed us to look for other ways to celebrate. It probably would have been much more hectic for me to throw a party and I’m sure I wouldn’t have spent so much time enjoying and being with my daughter.
The day ended in me writing my birthday girl a letter. With life being so busy, I haven’t been consistent on keeping a journal about my kids. So when I heard of writing letters, I felt as if I was redeemed. I will write a letter to each of my children on their birthday and when they will one day leave my house I will give them a copy of those letters. A little treasure of their own to show glimpses of their life. And a way to tell them they were loved.
one year anniversary
It’s been a busy couple of weeks with Noah teething and a Jake’s Colonial Presentation Project.
And in this busy time we remembered that it was our one year anniversary.
It was just a year ago, we said goodbye to our friends, stuffed our U-Haul, locked the house that we put so much work in, and started our drive to Portland.
A few days ago I was driving home and reminiscing about the time when my girlfriends and I used to get together for a book study. And tears came to my eyes, I know, not safe to do when driving. I miss you all! I wish I could just move all you wonderful people here. But God has His plans and I am so grateful to Him for giving me even a short time to get to know you. I am so thankful that He knitted our hearts together on those book study nights.
I’m not sure what plans God has for us here. We haven’t been able to do much with our four little children. But here is how God has blessed our lives in this past year.
- He gave us a new, healthy, chubby, baby boy Noah.
- He provided a buyer for our home in Spokane in a very slow Real Estate market.
- He has given us a new church that we love.
- He has given my husband a job that he enjoys.
- He has provided a great school for Jake to attend.
- He has given us the ability to buy a new home.
“Bless the Lord, o my soul, and all that is within me, bless His holy name.” Psalm 103:1
designer crush
Do you remember how we used to love playing house? We loved to pretend we were mommies; we took care of our plastic babies, prepared imaginary food, and…. rearranged our furniture. Well, maybe the rearranging the furniture came a bit later, but I still remember my mom scolding me for moving the furniture because it was too heavy to be moved by my young body.
In the last four years I’ve looked though stacks of magazines and hundreds if not thousands of inspirational online photos for the house we built and then for the house we remodeled. In my research I came across the work of Westbrook Interiors. It was love at first sight that has only grown over time. I love their work, not simply because it’s beautiful, but because I can imagine living in these rooms with my four children and not worry about scratches on furniture, dents on the hardwood floors, and extreme dusting to be done each day. Because that’s not what life is all about, right? Here are a few of my favorite spaces from Westbrook Interiors.
Enjoy!
And for all of you who love modern…
I love how the traditional, modern, and rustic elements are used in each room to create casual elegance.
How about you, did you rearrange furniture growing up?
Going Home to Live
Last Saturday night we were driving home and heard this song on the radio.
“Going Home to Live” by Kingsmen
One who was leaving her children stood grieving; her body was taken with pain. But she saw just over, that river of Jordan, her health she was soon to regain. Her eyes saw no longer scenes of this life; she saw a land better still. She said I’m not dying, you won’t see me cry, I’m going home now to live.
I’m not dying; I’m going home to live, I’m not leaving, I’m arriving on heavens hill. Don’t feel sorry for me, ‘cause I’ve caught a vision of heavenly things, things that last forever. I’m not dying, simply going home to live.
We shouldn’t feel sad now, for we know that somehow, she’s made a heavenly trade. Now she is resting in heaven possessing the promises our Lord has made. Her mind holds no memories to bring her heart pain; Jesus just took her last hill. She’s no longer lonely in Heaven’s bright home; she’s finally gone home to live.
I’m not dying; I’m going home to live, I’m not leaving, I’m arriving on heavens hill. Don’t feel sorry for me, ‘cause I’ve caught a vision of heavenly things, things that last forever. I’m not dying, simply going home to live.
Don’t feel sorry for me, ‘cause I’ve caught a vision of heavenly things, things that last forever. I’m not dying, simply going home to live.
I’ve never heard this song before, but it caught my attention, not so much the music but rather the words.
My dear, sweet grandma passed away this past December. And to me, these words just seemed to be written for her. She was so ready to meet her Savior.
It’s kind of strange how a person can be a blessing to you even after they died, but grandma really was and continues to be a great blessing to me.
Everyone always says that being a mother is the most important job you’ll ever have. I knew that, but just with my head, not with my heart. But sitting there, listening to her family and friends sharing on how she’s touched their lives opened my heart to that truth. I saw the life of a woman who loved and trusted the Lord in everything, affect generations. Her love for God was witnessed by her kids and grand kids and it lead them to Him. And this love, by the grace of God, will take root in the hearts of her great grandchildren and their children.
And as my heart was opened to this truth, I saw the gravity of my job. What I do and how I live my life, my simple, private, everyday at home life, will affect not just my children but generations to come. My greatest witness for Christ starts with my kids and grows exponentially with my future family tree. I know, this is nothing new, it’s something we all know to be true and I knew this, but I never saw it. I am so glad God opened my heart to see this truth in the life of my grandma.
I know there will be a lot of days when I will fail to show Jesus to my kids. But I pray that God will remind me over and over again and lead me to walk this life in humility, glorifying and praising Him in my simple, private, everyday life.
“Let your light shine” Mathew 5:16
This picture was taken 18 months ago.
Spokane Visit
As the trees started to appear on the flat, dry landscape, we knew we were almost there. It felt a little strange. We were little anxious and excited. Wondering how we would feel when we would finally see the city.
This was the city where we had started our life together.
The city where three babies were born and all four were conceived.
The city, where we formed some of the best friendships we ever had.
We bought our first house here.
Here we built a home that was to be ours for a long time.
A place where the roots of our little family began.
Finally, we were driving the streets of Spokane. It was all familiar but it no longer felt like home. We realized that neither Portland nor Seattle feels like home to us either. In a way, that is good. It keeps us looking forward to finally being home…. our eternal home.
We arrived at our destination full of anticipation to see our long time friends. This too is a little glimpse of heaven, seeing the faces of the people dear to your heart. Oh joy!
For some strange reason, it felt as though we had never left. I anticipated it being a bit awkward, almost a year had past and each of our lives had changed. But it wasn’t. Perhaps a year is just not long enough for us to grow apart. I wonder how it will be 5 years from now.
Life is inevitable. Moves happen. Friends are separated. But friendships need not die. I’ve decided to blog about bits and pieces of my life so that when we do see each other, a year or five years from today, we won’t feel like we’re worlds apart. Thank you for taking the time to read. Please leave a comment, I’d love to hear from you.
beautifully planned
I am a planner. I love to have schedules, plan ahead and make lists.
But reflecting on my life, I realize that not much is going according to plan.
I never planned to be a stay at home mom.
I never planned to home school.
I never planned on have my kids spaced so close together.
I never planned to build a home only to sell it two years later.
However, looking at my life right now, I am so happy it didn’t happen as I planned. And I am so ever thankful that it’s going according to God’s plan.
Sometimes it’s hard to accept His plan. Moving with little children, homeschooling with a baby on your lap, not being able to do pursue your interests, never ending diapers and the ever changing hormones are just a few of the hard things we’ve dealt with.
But oh, how wonderful it is to be able to see my babies’ smiles, watch their first steps and kiss away their boo-boos. How amazing to see my son read and know that I’ve taught him how. How sweet it is to watch my girls (who are 15 months apart) be the best of friends. How exciting it is to buy and remodel our new home.
Aren’t you glad that He makes all things beautiful? God has a beautiful plan.
For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope. Jer 29:11
Portland
Ok, so we’ve lived here for five months now. I have to say, we haven’t really experienced much of it since we arrived at my third trimester. And things are not so easy to do when you’re REALLY pregnant and have three little kids, or have an infant and three little kids. But I thought I’d tell you what we’ve done so far and how we liked it.
We went to the Children’s Museum while there were still five of us, and they happened to have a Curious George exhibit, which the kids loved! It was fun. The museum is quite a bit larger than Spokane’s Children’s Museum but because it was more spread out, you had to watch your kids like a hawk. In fact Sasha, decided to leave daddy and go find mommy in the middle of playing and boy, what a scare she gave her daddy.
Then on Memorial Day, since the weather wasn’t that great, we decided to go to the famous Powell’s Book Store. We loved it. Of course it was packed with visitors since it was a three day weekend and the weather wasn’t great. But all in all, the kids enjoyed reading books and a lunch at Little Big Burger, which was great by the way.
On Fourth of July we decided to drive to Seaside, which by the way is only an 80 minute drive from our home. (Yay!) However, we didn’t realize that they had a fireworks show and so the city was packed. We walked to the beach, had lunch and went home. This beautiful drive we will make again, but not on a holiday.
Besides that we’re enjoy the great summer weather at home. We love to take the kids to the neighborhood park, which they enjoy tremendously, pick strawberries in our back yard and make weekly trips to the library.
Hope you’re all enjoying your summer!
my girlie girl
From the day she knew Noah was to join our family, she was ecstatic. She so was looking forward to helping mommy change diapers, feed and rock her baby brother.
From the moment she saw him, she was instantly in love, adoring his little feet, hands and wanting to hold him.
Every morning she comes in my room and as soon as she sees her baby brother her face lights up and again comes the adoration of the little human.
This morning when she came in my room she had a little different story.
She said the left side of her ribcage was hurting. Since I was too sleepy to talk and busy feeding Noah I told her to lay down beside me so that the pain would go away. As soon as her head hit the pillow she announced that the pain was still there. I was quiet (still sleepy). She continued. ”When a girls’ side hurts it means she will soon have milk. Soon I will get married. I will have a fiance and he will bring me flowers and will give me a ring. I will ask him to give me a pink, sparkly ring. (Pink is her favorite color) Then I will have a baby. No I won’t have a baby; I will have a boy and a girl.”
I just love her sweet, girlie- pink, mothering heart!
