grace undone

To My Parents

2012-01-23T23:06:00.001-05:00

Espy and Gianna are leaving that mostly everything we do is adorable stage and becoming little people - with their own distinct personalities. I often find myself drowning in that world of diapers and potty training and cooking and cleaning - basically just making sure everyone's fed and groomed. No worries - that's still going on, but Espy and Gianna are throwing something new into the mix.

Now that we have an almost eight-year old and a five-year old, Bill and I are suddenly in a whole new world. The shift in the attitude, the need for the last word, the sass in the conversation -
they have all arrived, and I'm scared to death.

I feel like I have an ocean of patience at my fingertips, yet I easily lose it while Espy's practicing her piano, slam my hands onto the keys, and walk away. My grace is sufficient, of course - but I give Gianna a look that could harm a small kitty cat without batting an eye. One ill exchange and I can morph from best mom ever to why did anyone allow this woman to have children?

I'm thankful Bill prays for me daily because I need it.

I pray myself that God would keep molding me into the mom He wants me to be -

even with the ridiculous piece of clay He starts with on a daily basis.

Dear Dad and Mom,

I know I wasn't a horrible child.

I do know that I wasn't the easiest teenager or young adult to be around.

I'm sure you made me apologize,

but I want you to know that I really am sorry - truly.

I'm sorry for:

the broken curfews

the disrespectful words

the unnecessary fights

the bad decisions

Thank you for:

teaching

supporting

forgiving

and loving me in spite of me

(just like He does!)

You are great parents and fantastic grandparents - I love you!

Now pray that your grandchildren can survive your daughter as a mother.

The Juicy Details

2012-01-20T12:31:00.001-05:00

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Our juicer is an ikon Multi-Speed Juice Fountain from Breville.
Love it.

There are lots of parts to clean, but it's manageable if you clean it right away. Because I'm slightly obsessive, I wash it right after Bill juices.

Our breakfast varies depending on what produce we have on hand.

This morning, Bill used:

2 kiwis

10 strawberries

3 carrots

a handful of blackberries

2 handfuls of blueberries

an orange

2 granny smith apples

We always have this for lunch:

Phil Staples Juice Recipe
1 bulk of kale
4 celery stalks
a cucumber
2 granny smith apples
1/2 of a lemon
a lump of ginger

Ginger root is not my best friend.
Ever since I was little, I've not been a huge fan of ginger - at. all. I remember my mom making arroz caldo (a fantastic Filipino dish) and accidentally biting into a piece of ginger. I would immediately spit it out of my mouth and into a napkin - yuck! If it were up to me, I'd leave that jank out - but I don't make the juice so I take what I'm given - plus it's good for us. I also try not to grimace and make the famous I don't like it face that Espy gives me sometimes because
I'm very grown up and very mature.

Honestly, the first batch had a ridiculous amount of ginger in it - Bill has since adjusted the size of a lump of ginger, and it tastes MUCH better now.

In the late afternoons/early evenings, Bill might juice us a little snack which helps with my late-night cravings for sweets which pretty much happens on a daily basis because I love to eat, of course.

Juice Juice Everywhere

2012-01-18T07:16:00.001-05:00

Joe Cross

There's never a lack of entertainment in our house because:

1. We have four children under the age of seven.

2. We have two dogs.

3. Bill lives here.

4. Our friends are funny.

AND

5. We have Netflix.

Should you ever come to our home and find Bill relaxing,
you'd probably see him either at our computer or in his recliner:
-chips and salsa in hand,
-sweet iced tea beside him
-and a documentary playing on Netflix
(or something on PBS, the History channel, or the Discovery channel).

A couple of weeks ago, Bill watched
Fat Sick and Nearly Dead.
(I still need to see it in its entirety.)
Have you seen it yet? What did you think? Did it make you want to go out and buy a juicer?

Well if you didn't, no worries - Bill did.
He went to BBandB the next day and brought home a Breville.

Since then we've been juicing for breakfast and lunch, and we try to have a well-balanced dinner.
Key word = try.

Our goal, of course, is to lose weight -
but ultimately we want to treat our bodies nicely,
be better about what we're stuffing in our faces,
and set good eating examples for our daughters.

So far:
we both have more energy
we're not nearly as starving as we thought we'd be
our nails are growing like crazy
we've probably eaten way more fruits and vegetables in the last couple of weeks than we have in the last few months - not a joke
We're excited to see how we'll be feeling in the months ahead.

Thank you, Joe!
I like that you're healthy -
and I'm a fan of your accent.

Make This Tonight

2012-01-16T07:37:00.001-05:00

Photo by: Joyful Momma

I found this recipe on Pinterest and couldn't wait to make it.

Our oldest is a picky eater - always has been.

As soon as I put the dish on the table, Espy scrunched up her nose and was about to utter her infamous I don't like it before I gave her the don't even think about it face.

We loved it, and it's extremely rare that all six of us enjoy the same meal so a keeper it is.

Here is the recipe courtesy of Joyful Momma if you want to try it out:

Chicken Enchiladas with Green Chili Sour Cream Sauce
10 soft taco shells
2 cups cooked, shredded chicken
2 cups shredded Monterey Jack cheese
3 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons flour
2 cups chicken broth
1 cup sour cream
1 (4 oz) can diced green chilli

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and grease a 9x13 pan.
Mix chicken and 1 cup cheese.
Roll up in tortillas and place in pan.
In a sauce pan - melt butter, stir in flour and cook 1 minute.
Add broth and whisk until smooth.
Heat over medium heat until thick and bubbly.
Stir in sour cream and chilies.
Do not bring to boil, you don't want curdled sour cream.
Pour over enchiladas and top with remaining cheese.
Bake 22 min and then under high broil for 3 minutes to brown the cheese.

Tips and Suggestions
* add a can of drained Rotel Tomatoes to the chicken mixture
* add a cup of salsa to the chicken mixture
* add cumin and a 4 oz can of diced jalapenos to the chicken mixture
* add pinto beans or black beans to the chicken mixture

The Light

2012-01-13T10:58:00.000-05:00

Photo by: Jelle Drok

I've been surrounded by great friends, and it's been awesome.

They're fantastic because they've:

brought coffees when sleep and sanity were dissipating

made sure my mind hasn't been lost in the sea of little sicknesses

given the girls rides home when getting out of the house was nearly impossible

checked to make sure all of the girls have survived a mom who's still learning patience

The list goes on and on,

and I'm humbled.

I've been equally impressed with the honest conversations we've been having lately,

real thoughts on:

unexpected jealousies

difficulties in motherhood

real, true relationships vs the illusion of friendship

huge life changes

when the truth in love hurts

God moments

life in marriage

taking emotional risks, and how that plays out uniquely in each of our lives

I'm just now seeing the light at the end of this tunnel of funkiness that I've

created for myself. Little sleep along with my own depravity provide a great opportunity for self-reflection. We're all a messed up bunch trying to love each other the way that He loves us, and I'm happy to be a part of it. My hope is to reciprocate the friendship these girls have shown me the last couple of weeks. My desire is that this love will also extend beyond my own comfort zone to those who need it the most.

Miss Attitude

2012-01-09T09:30:00.001-05:00

Photo by: Junichiro Aoyama

Oh hey there, Sassy!

How are you doing?

Oh, you know - just lacking in sleep and patience as of late.

It's amazing how quickly my personality changes when things don't go my way,
especially when:

one child is sick for several, long days

another child gets sick after that

I haven't been out of the house for what seems like an eternity

I haven't been to the gym in even longer

things have been busy, and I haven't had any time with my favorite

my attitude and heart are ridiculous, and it makes me even more grumpy

said grumpiness makes me extra mean to said favorite

Again, my selfishness amazes me.

Despite how awful I've been lately, I still have:
a husband who continually walks by my side

children who want to play with me and freely share their love and hugs

friends who check up on me and want to spend time together

a God who loves me unconditionally and perfectly

Get it together!

Stop obsessing with self.
Turn this focus outward.

Love other people.

ASAP.

Maileen's Journey - January 5

2012-01-05T15:09:00.002-05:00

Thanksgiving 2011

Sweet friends! Thank you for faithfully praying for my cousin Maileen.

I know it's been awhile since our last update, but He still hears those prayers!

On Christmas morning I looked into the mirror, and I had seedling eyebrow hair growing in. New Year's Day, I was trying to remove my eyeliner and discovered

what I was trying to remove were new eyelashes.

Today, Jan 5th, I looked at my blood results. Not only was all normal, but my tumor markers (which need to be between 0-31.00) were at 14.72 - much lower then a month ago (Dec 1st at 19.24). Without the main chemo drug in my system (Maileen is not on chemo at the moment)

and keeping my body's terrain healthy by what I eat and do, my tumor markers have

continued to stay low in a very good way.

On Dec 28th Marissa also got her one month extension even after being delayed two times since we applied for the extension...and that day God let it snow...so we went sledding that day...it's been an encouraging start to the year.

Praying all of you have had encouraging moments to ending 2011 and starting 2012.

...

God is very good. He hears the prayers of those who love and claim Him to be Lord. This journey constantly reminds me of how God has created us to pray for one another, to support and encourage one another and to help us draw closer to Him and build our faith...We are all so very grateful for each of you...I am praying my liver clears up by my next CTs at the end of the month.

Back to Maileen's Journey

These Are Not New Year's Resolutions

2012-01-03T13:42:00.001-05:00

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I don't make New Year's Resolutions.
I'm not a huge fan of setting goals, commitments, objectives,

or anything like that when January 1st rolls around

(which is weird because I'm sometimes OCD).

Call me a realist (or maybe even a pessimist?),

but when it come to NYRs - I refuse.
Thanks, but no thanks.

I think part of it might be my Type A personality
(a temperament marked by excessive competitiveness and ambition, an obsession with accomplishing tasks quickly, little time for self-reflection, and a strong need to control situations).

By the way, you wouldn't think I was such a Type A if you saw our house right now -

but that's a subject for another time.

I know myself too well. At the hint of failure, I'm done.

If I miss one step of the process, I'm out.

If I even sniff doubt in the air, I'm through.

If things don't happen just so in this specified amount of time,

it's obvious that it's not going to get done so why even bother?

It really is a terrible way to view things, isn't it?
I continually pray that He can use my personality for Him,
and that I don't use it as a device to torture my friends and family.

Despite my desire not to voice big plans for 2012,
I still have thoughts on what this year could hold:

discovering new recipes

bettering my mind

blogging consistently

getting in shape

strengthening my relationship with God

becoming the person (neighbor, wife, mother, friend) that He wants me to be

We'll see how these intentions pan out. Until then - thank goodness for a God who still loves me when I fail miserably at my non-resolutions, and for the grace and strength He gives me to reach some of those pseudo-goals.

Here's to anticipating what this New Year holds for all of us!

Being Intentional

2011-12-31T10:53:00.000-05:00

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new year

new beginning

Thankful for His mercies that are
new EVERY morning.

Extremely THANKFUL to be His.

Because of this, I'm praying for a year focused on loving Him and loving others.

LIVING INTENTIONALLY
The Husband

The Babies

Neighbors

Friends

‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’

Matthew 22:37-39

Merry Christmas!

2011-12-25T06:47:00.001-05:00

Wishing Jesus a very Happy Birthday today!
Thanks so much for loving me in spite of me.

I hope you're enjoying good times with your friends and family -
in all its fun and sometimes awkward glory.
Please excuse me while I try to earn a bigger jeans size
and play with all of my children's awesome toys and crafts for a few days.

Love,
Bill and Grace

Esperanza Gianna Isabella and Evangeline

Christmas Eve Shenanigans

2011-12-24T07:23:00.005-05:00

We spent a Merry Christmas Eve with my parents and my sister and her husband:
small breakfast for the girls
gift opening with Bill and the girls
brunch (tocino, eggs, rice, and samporado) at my parent's with Evan and Sarah
home to tidy up the house and cook a few things
my parents, Evan and Sarah come over for dinner and gifts
Mom and Sarah bring ham, turkey, mashed potatoes, palabok, and rolls
I have beverages (try this Wassail recipe!), sweet potato casserole and corn casserole
sweet friends drop by
girls' annual Christmas "performance"

family gift exchange

We can't wait to meet Samantha!

1 day 'til Christmas!

BakeFest and Christmas Town

2011-12-24T07:23:00.002-05:00

I spent the morning baking, baking, and baking with the girls' "help."

After all that, we headed to Christmas Town at Busch Gardens with our friends (we love them!).

This is the first year we've been able to go, and it was lots of fun. The weather was perfect, and the crowds weren't bad at all. We were kind of nervous waiting in line for the Festhaus, especially when

we thought we were cut off until the next showing an hour later - we just want food! Thankfully they let some more of us in - otherwise we probably would've had several meltdowns on the spot. Bill found us a great spot in the corner with room for the kids to play (and Espy to lose her tooth), but we were still able to see the show.

DON'T FORGET:
Bill's ridiculous Santa hat
Julie came with us!
our awesome ability at taking pictures
walking by the line of Gloria
Espy riding the Mach Tower with Bill and Aaron
Isabella's nap on the train
"Just keep your legs open."
the line for the Skyride
"I thought she was selling those."
funnel cake
hot chocolate
HJ's love for Festhaus beverages
Isabella's unconditional love for having her picture taken

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Escape from Pompeii was probably my most favorite of the night.
Espy loved the penguin exhibit:
Momma, this place makes me want to cry - I'm just so happy!
If ever there was a child more like her mother...

2 days 'til Christmas!

Party All Day Long (and an Apology)

2011-12-24T07:08:00.000-05:00

Bill took Isabella and Evangeline for the morning so I got to bring
the girls' teacher gifts to school for them.

Gianna had her Christmas party this morning - it was fun to see her in her kindergarten world. Most
kids (at least mine) save their sass for home so it was reassuring to see

that she really is a sweet girl at school.

After school, my parents took the girls out for the afternoon. The girls love this place,

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so they were excited that they each got a fun craft from Lolo and Lola.

Michael's was followed by lunch and a movie.

Thank you, Lolo and Lola!

While the babies were with Bill, and the big girls were with my parents - I went to Sam's Club for some groceries. When I got home, I was a big jerk with Bill because

NUMBER ONE

He wasn't doing what I thought he was supposed to be doing.

NUMBER TWO

I wasn't very good at asking for help.

NUMBER THREE

I'm always the meanest to the ones I love the most.

(Please note how many I's there are in the statements above - selfish much?)

Dear Bill,

I'm sorry I jumped all over you.

You're an awesome husband and dad.

Please excuse me for being the worst of me sometimes.

I love you forever,

Grace

3 days 'til Christmas!

Yankee Candle Time

2011-12-21T17:49:00.004-05:00

My parents and I took the girls here today:

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I love love LOVE a Yankee Candle - add in ChristmasTime and our sweet friends, and we had a fantastic combination for a holiday outing.

4 days 'til Christmas!

Cookie Baking and Olive Garden-ing

2011-12-21T17:49:00.001-05:00

The girls got to bake and decorate cookies with their Tito and Tita.
They LOVE going over to Evan and Sarah's!
I'm thankful they enjoy having the girls over, too.

In response to my asking if they were good, my sister said:
They were just loud and didn't listen a lot - I think because they were so excited.

Evidence:

Thanks, Tito & Tita!

While the girls were baking, and Evangeline was hanging out with Lola - Bill and I had dinner with some of our favorites at Olive Garden. Besides eating way. too. much, it was a great time to catch up with the beautiful people who help Bill out tremendously throughout the year. They invest their time and their hearts, and I love it. I'm praying that my girls will have awesome "big kids" like these to look up to when they're older!

5 days 'til Christmas!

Gifts, Christmas Specials, and The Best Children's Bible Ever

2011-12-19T20:36:00.002-05:00

We finished making the last of the gifts for our teachers and staff
at the big girls' two schools. Super cute, yes?

Bill found some Christmas shows for the girls to watch after dinner and baths:

and
A Chipmunk Christmas

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We've been reading through this each night:

We LOVE this Bible!

"Written for children ages four and up, The Jesus Storybook Bible tells the one story underneath all the stories of the Bible and points to the birth of a child, the Rescuer, Jesus. Complete with 44 Bible stories, The Jesus Storybook Bible paints a beautiful portrait of Jesus and invites children to see that he is not only at the center of God’s great story of redemption—he is
at the center of their story too."

On the first of December, we started at a place that would bring us to the birth of Jesus on December 25th. It's been fun to read it with the girls each night, and it's been a great reminder for me to focus on Him in these busy weeks. We've missed a story here or there, but we just read two the following night so we can still finish with Jesus' birth on the 25th.

6 days 'til Christmas!

Singing, Lunch, and a Piano Recital

2011-12-19T10:50:00.001-05:00

The girls sang at church this morning -
always adorable albeit offkey.

After church, we had lunch with my honey's family.
Many thanks to Mom and Dad for keeping our feverish Evy while we ate food!

Espy had her winter recital tonight.

Her cousins - Brianna and Abbey - performed, too.

Thank you, Kristen and fam - and Aaron's parents, too - for letting Isabella hang out while we watched Espy play the piano. Have I mentioned that we have great friends? I'm super thankful.

Lots of thanks to my dad, too - best Lolo ever - and the paparazzi of the family.

7 days til Christmas!

The Show Will Begin in a Few Minutes...

2011-12-19T10:48:00.000-05:00

...that phrase is my FAVORITE when all the kids get together.

All the girls (and the cousins) were super excited because NeNe and PaPa came to visit for the weekend. Tonight we went over to Uncle Brian and Aunt Jen's house for dinner with everyone
(our family, Bill's sister's family, NeNe and PaPa, Lolo and Lola, and Keith).

If only you could be a fly on a wall during our after-dinner entertainment:

8 days 'til Christmas!

Date Night

2011-12-17T14:31:00.002-05:00

We love date night!

Thanks to the girls' PaPa and NeNe

and our awesome Abbey Lamb

(Gianna calls her Abbey Lamb - not Abbey, not Abigail - Abbey Lamb),

Bill and I got to spend some alone time talking and getting fat at this spectacular place:

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After we got home and put the girls in bed, we discovered that this was on

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and had to go wake them up to watch it with us. I wish I had a picture of all of us watching on the floor together. Isabella randomly left our snugglefest to play, but she'd grace us with her presence every few minutes or so. We caught the end of Extreme Makeover:

Home Edition before calling it a night.

9 days 'til Christmas!

Santa's Wonderland

2011-12-15T15:32:00.000-05:00

Tonight we took the girls to Santa's Wonderland at Bass Pro.

This was the closest we got the four to take a picture with the big guy in red,

but we did get this one of Espy, Gianna, Evangeline and Santa:

The girls had a great time doing crafts, shooting guns, riding 4-wheelers, and checking out the fish.

10 days 'til Christmas!

Surgery Highly Doubtful...

2011-12-14T13:19:00.003-05:00

...my favorite words of the day!

I'm so excited that this girl

had a fantastic eye doctor's appointment this morning. Thanks to those of you who were praying for us. Her chances of having the same surgery that Espy had when she was five years old are getting

slimmer, and I'm super thankful for that!

Our favorite boy worked tonight so the girls and I watched this together:

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After the girls went to bed, CindyLou brought this over (thank you!).

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She was right. I "gift wrapped and cried" (actually made gifts, but you know what I mean)
while watching it - especially at the end. A lot.
SUCH a great book - such a good movie!

11 days 'til Christmas!

A Night with Addie Louise

2011-12-14T13:19:00.001-05:00

Addie came over tonight, and it was great fun.

After dinner and lots of playing, reading, coloring, etc. -
all the girls finished up a movie we started the night before:

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They LOVE Addie (even though they kept calling her Regan),

and it was hard for them to go to bed knowing that she was still here!

After bedtime, Addie and I (and sometimes Bill) watched The Biggest Loser,
while I crafted things with cans that I'll show you very soon.

Bob and Bev came by to get their baby, and The Husband and I jumped on the gift-wrapping train. We still have a few more to go only because we're the slowest wrappers on the planet. Well, I'm probably the slow one - the Mr. is actually pretty good at wrapping!

12 days 'til Christmas!

Advent and a Movie

2011-12-14T13:18:00.001-05:00

I finally finished one of our many advent calendars tonight -

better late than never!

I completely stole this fantastic idea from the girls at eighteen25:

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Have I mentioned that I love this blog?

While I was finishing up this project, Bill and I watched a movie and laughed and laughed and laughed. Girls, we will watch this movie after you're all grown up and married and stuff -

and we will laugh together, too.

13 days 'til Christmas!

Party Party

2011-12-11T08:44:00.001-05:00

Went to a Christmas party tonight -
Lovely girls.
Great food.
Always a good time.

Highlight of my weekend:

This girl making such a smooth basket - her first ever of her first season.

I might have been slightly loud when she made this shot.
Bill and I may have also been a little bit excited and a little bit proud of our Gianna.
Just a tad.
(Thanks to Kristen for getting this picture for us!)

14 days 'til Christmas!

Cookie Swapping

2011-12-10T23:47:00.001-05:00

I went to a cookie swap with Abbey tonight,
and it was amazing!

I got to bring home a sampling of this deliciousness:
cowboy cookies
chocolate chip
eggnog snickerdoodles
peanut butter kisses
cranberry-orange pinwheels

lemon stampers

chocolate snowflakes

Thanks so much to Natalia for hosting!

I would like the recipe for your amazing apple cider, please.
I'm in love with your nursery, and I'm sorry if I got slightly choked up

looking at baby clothes from years past!

I stopped by the birthday girl's house (Happy Birthday, Jessica!) and enjoyed the company of some of my favorites for a few - love them. Congrats again on passing your licensing exam - yay!

While I was out swapping the cookies and visiting with friends,
Bill and the girls bought home The Papa and watched this classic:

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15 days 'til Christmas!

Sickness, Baking, and a Movie

2011-12-10T23:18:00.001-05:00

We were supposed to go to Christmas Town tonight,

but I decided to be all weird and flu-like earlier this afternoon and had to reschedule.

Our sweet friends decided to wait for us to go another time (love you guys!)

so we're excited about our eventual trip to Busch Gardens.

Instead, I tried to rest while mom came over for a few hours.

I started feeling somewhat normal and got to bake these beauties:

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to. die. for.

Bill and the girls enjoyed this movie while I was in and out of the kitchen:

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16 days 'til Christmas!

Let's Go See Some Lights

2011-12-08T22:33:00.001-05:00

Tonight we took the girls to a house that was decorated like nobody's business.
It was crazy, and they loved it!

My favorite part was watching their eyes light up as they found one thing after another

and another and another and. another. - that was "my most favorite thing ever."

After we left the house that never dims, we headed to heaven on a conveyer belt

AKA

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts,

of course.

Please notice the awe of my little Rudolph in the picture below:

Nothing like a sugar high right before bedtime!

17 days 'til Christmas!

Checking It Twice

2011-12-07T11:11:00.001-05:00

We've narrowed down what we'd like to get
for our girls, our friends, and the rest of our family.
It's not much, and I'm in love with that.
We're scaling the gift madness down before we get ahead of ourselves
and become too focused on the the what instead of the Why of this season.

Our most favorite thing to help out in this:

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Oh,
amazon.com!
We love you - we really, really do.

No lines.

No crowds.
No grumpy shoppers.
No temptations to buy way. too. much.

You want it? Amazon's got it,
AND
free shipping (with Amazon Prime).

What's not to love?

18 days 'til Christmas!

All I Want for Christmas is a Nice Family Picture

2011-12-07T11:10:00.001-05:00

We took family pictures tonight for our Christmas card.
Check out these beauties:

I won't tell you how many pictures we actually
had to take to get one presentable enough to send to friends and family.

19 days 'til Christmas!

Holiday To-Do List

2011-12-05T11:27:00.001-05:00

Just found this in my Google Reader!
(If you don't have one and love blogs, you must get a Google Reader. Must.)

I love lists!
I love Christmas!

Imagine my delight when I saw this:

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eighteen25 is a fantastic blog,

and we made a similar list for the summer with the help of this post.

The girls and I loved checking things off, and I'm sure they'll be as excited as I am to have one of these for the Christmas season. I'm hoping a certain someone will pick up the prints on his way home from work - pretty pretty please, babe?

20 days 'til Christmas!

Elf

2011-12-04T22:03:00.001-05:00

Watched this awesome movie tonight with some friends:

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It never gets old. Ever.

21 days 'til Christmas!

Birthday Par-Tay

2011-12-03T23:43:00.001-05:00

Today we celebrated Evangeline's first birthday -
don't get me started on how sad I am that she's one year old already.
Excuse me as I indulge in her cuteness:

Lots of good friends and good food to celebrate
our little Evangeline McRae -
happy birthday, baby.
22 days 'til Christmas!

Hollydazzle

2011-12-02T23:52:00.001-05:00

We took the girls (minus Evangeline - thanks for watching the baby, Lola!)
to Hollydazzle in City Center tonight.

The girls had a great time getting Hollydazzle tattoos, making crafts, watching shows, eating
funnel cake and cotton candy, drinking hot chocolate, and watching some awesome fireworks.

23 days 'til Christmas!

'Tis the Season

2011-12-01T20:54:00.001-05:00

Our family is super excited about Christmas!

I wouldn't consider myself a winter girl, but there's something about the fireplace going and

a mug of hot chocolate that makes life warm and cozy. Bill and the girls seem especially cuddly during this time of year.

We're praying that we'll be able to focus on the awesomeness of Jesus' birth

and the gift He is to us while enjoying our family traditions - both new and old.

The girls are enjoying this little advent calendar I found on one of the bazillion blogs I follow:

Make and Takes

I printed them out last night, and my honey helped cut them out. We hung one by each of the girls'
beds and decorated them with gift bows - so easy even a non-crafter like me can do it!

Before the girls went to bed, we read Luke 2:1-20 together. Well, Gianna was still recovering from a disobedient episode so it was just me, Espy and Isabella - but no worries, she'll be able to catch it the next time.

24 days 'til Christmas!

Thankful (30)

2011-11-30T23:15:00.001-05:00

Extremely thankful to be His.

Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Humbled by His gift.

In awe of His plan.

Amazed by His unconditional love.

Thankful (29) AKA Happy Birthday Evangeline!

2011-11-29T13:48:00.001-05:00

Superthankful for this little bundle of wonderfulness:

We love looking at her fantastic smile,

listening to her contagious laugh,

and discovering her emerging personality.

Couldn't imagine our family without her!

EVANGELINE'S ARRIVAL

Evangeline made her own way right from the start. I was nauseous for several weeks - nothing like I've experienced before. I was sure Evangeline was going to be a little boy when the whole family (minus Isabella) went to her 20 week ultrasound. Instead, we found out we were going to have a sweet baby girl. We also thought that Evangeline would arrive about two weeks early, just like her sisters. We were wrong! Evangeline's due date was December 2nd. We went to the hospital November 26th and got sent home because I was only dilated 3cm and wasn't in active labor.

Early Monday morning, November 29th - I started having STRONG contractions around 4:15am. Papa likes to remind me that he heard me crying that morning and thought, "It's time." They were definitely stronger than any of the initial contractions I had during the false laboring, and certainly stronger than any of the contractions I had when I went into active labor with our first three. They got stronger and came closer together more quickly than with Espy, Gianna, and Isabella.

I showered, woke Bill up, and then he showered. We got our things together, and headed to the hospital around 6:30am. I was 5cm in triage, and they transferred me to a room. At that point, things continued to progress quickly. I was ready to push around 11:30am. My water broke, and they called the doctor. One strong contraction and one strong push later,
Evangeline was here at 12:04pm.

This pregnancy was by far the most difficult for me physically, emotionally, and mentally - but when it came to labor and delivery, it was the quickest and easiest of all four. We were so thankful for such an awesome delivery. All the waiting and false labor was worth it once we saw Evangeline!

In Greek, Evangeline means "like an angel."
McRae is a name that Bill discovered and liked. We knew it was the one when we found out it means "son of grace" from the Scottish name MacRae.

Thankful (28)

2011-11-29T13:36:00.001-05:00

Thankful for the world of baking

Photo Source

and the deliciousness that ensues upon entering it.

Thankful (27)

2011-11-29T13:31:00.001-05:00

Thankful for children's books

Photo by: Cory Connor

and our girls' love for them.

Thankful (26)

2011-11-26T10:19:00.001-05:00

Thankful for this child who reminds me so much of my boyfriend.

Most of her looks come from my side, but I can see glimpses of Bill in her.

Personality wise - forget about it:

the child is his.

Thankful for her hilarious personality, her sense of style, and her caring heart.

Thankful (25)

2011-11-26T09:36:00.001-05:00

Thanksgiving.

Thankful to a God who blesses us and walks with us.

So undeserving.

My heart remains full.

Thankful (24)

2011-11-26T09:19:00.001-05:00

Thankful for our most outgoing child of the bunch.

You will hear her before you see her, and that's if she slows down enough to let you.

Thankful for her strong will, her social personality, and her infectious smile.

Thankful (23)

2011-11-24T00:23:00.001-05:00

Thankful for family time -

my heart is full.

Thankful (22)

2011-11-23T10:11:00.001-05:00

Thankful for birthdays.

Photo Source

Thankful (21)

2011-11-23T10:07:00.001-05:00

Thankful for date nights.

Photo Source

Thankful (20)

2011-11-23T09:33:00.001-05:00

Thankful for my favorite pair of jeans.

Photo Source

Thankful (19)

2011-11-23T09:29:00.001-05:00

Thankful for the beach!

Photo by: Richard Broderick

Beautiful and relaxing.

Lots of memories made every time we go.

Thankful (18)

2011-11-19T18:17:00.001-05:00

Thankful for campfires,

Photo Source

s'mores, and this time of year.

Thankful (17)

2011-11-17T13:27:00.001-05:00

Thankful for fantastic books.

Photo Source

Non-fiction.

Fiction.

I'm a nerd like that.

Thankful (16)

2011-11-16T07:10:00.001-05:00

Thankful for this little contraption,

Photo Source

especially on sleepy mornings!

Thankful (15)

2011-11-16T06:57:00.001-05:00

Thankful for sweet little baby friends to play with

and their mommas, too!

Thankful (14)

2011-11-14T13:31:00.001-05:00

Photo Source

Thankful for surprise peppermint mochas from my boyfriend.

Thankful (13)

2011-11-14T09:01:00.001-05:00

Photo Source

Thankful for early morning workouts.

Thankful (12)

2011-11-12T06:13:00.001-05:00

Thankful for quiet mornings

Photo Source

before the world wakes up.

Thankful (11)

2011-11-11T09:29:00.001-05:00

Thankful for these

Photo Source

on this cold November morning.

Thankful (10)

2011-11-11T09:07:00.001-05:00

Thankful for Momma's Pancake Breakfast,

Photo Source

and the laughs and conversation that go with it -

every time.

Thankful (9)

2011-11-09T19:43:00.000-05:00

Thankful for the eight o'clock hour -

Photo Source

especially tonight!

Thankful (8)

2011-11-08T08:29:00.000-05:00

Thankful for our dinner table,

Photo Source

and the love and chaos that surrounds it.

Thankful (7)

2011-11-08T07:07:00.001-05:00

Thankful for my mini-me -

given to us nearly eight years ago.

She inherited my stubbornness and my emotionality (I'm sorry, Espy!).

Thankful for her love of art, her strong will, and her sweet spirit.

Thankful (6)

2011-11-06T20:55:00.002-05:00

Photo by: D. Sharon Pruitt

Thankful for our warm, cozy bed after a wonderful, busy and exhausting weekend.

Thankful (5)

2011-11-05T08:15:00.000-04:00

I have sweet, God-loving parents -

best Lolo and Lola my girls could have.

Simon and Gloria

My BFF turned out as awesome as he did because of this man

Bill Sr. and Bill Jr.

So handsome!

and this woman.

Bill's mom - Judy

Our girls are in love with their PaPa and NeNe.

Tommy & Judy

Extremely thankful for the influence of our parents/grandparents

in our lives and the lives of our girls!

Thankful (4)

2011-11-04T09:04:00.000-04:00

Thankful for the gift of music and the ability to enjoy it.

Thankful (3)

2011-11-03T07:53:00.000-04:00

Photo Source

They are

supporting

encouraging

truth-telling

loving

at just the right moments.

We can
pray

eat

cry

bake
watch movies

drink

work out

laugh

dance

(Just Dance)

talk and talk and talk

together,

and I love it.

We gather

in living rooms

around fire pits

at beach houses

in backyards
it doesn't matter -
the conversation's always great.

They watch our girls at the drop of a hat.

They're beautiful inside AND out.

They encourage the relationships I have with

God

my husband

and our girls.

They twist schedules to meet up for even just an hour.

They bring coffee.

They make post girls' bedtime visits on the regular.

They craft because I can't.

They bring treats.

They make me laugh -

all. the. time.

All different.

All wonderful.

All at different stages of this journey we call life.

I'm thankful for my sweet, sweet friends.

I'm thankful for the best of the best.

Thankful (2)

2011-11-02T06:59:00.001-04:00

Photo by: Francesco Pappalardo

when I wake up

throughout the day

over conversation with friends
with dessert

with my boyfriend

just because

I. Love. Coffee.

Thankful (1)

2011-11-01T21:48:00.000-04:00

I'm thankful for this guy,

but all of you already know this.

Can't get enough Bill in my life -
even when we're driving each other nuts.

The same person who makes me the most mad is the same person who loves me the most.

Husband.

Best friend.

Boyfriend.

Even after nearly ten years:

Love. Love.

LOVE.

You Snooze, You Lose

2011-10-25T10:49:00.001-04:00

I think she's as tired as I am today!

It's been a busy few days and nights for us here, and I snoozed and snoozed and snoozed this morning as soon as my alarm started going off at 4:45.

Oopsies.

That's why I stopped by to pick up this lovely on my way to preschool this morning.

Bill and the girls:

Sorry mommy was rushing around like a madwoman this morning.

I will get up on time tomorrow - promise!

Nicole:

Thanks so much for being so understanding about rescheduling -

can't wait to get together with you!

DD:

I love your coffee.

Love,

Grace

(new phone: horrible pictures - oh, well)

Drooling Headband Baby

2011-10-24T08:06:00.000-04:00

I don't care what you're doing,

or what you're wearing.

Cutest. Evangeline. Ever.

Sorry for the poor quality cell phone pics!

Prison Break

2011-10-21T09:57:00.001-04:00

This is what happens when you send your two oldest to play in their room because they're running around like wild monkeys nearly stomping on their baby sister.

You find a note on the floor stating:

Mom

Can we come with evry one else.

I did let them come out - eventually.

Maileen's Journey - October 17

2011-10-18T08:21:00.000-04:00

August 2011

2pm

Going in for my 3rd CT scan...after 3 months the cancer in my liver had diminished to half...praying these last 3 months did more than that...God knows best...thanks for sticking through this journey with me/us.

1pm

We walked with over 7000 others, did more than 3 miles when you add just going back and forth to where the car had to be parked. Moving to see so many supporters and encouraging to talk to several survivors. Tomorrow I have my 3rd CT scan...praying for a clear liver, God knows best...;D

Back to Maileen's Journey

Beach Getaway

2011-10-17T20:58:00.000-04:00

We just spent the weekend in Corolla with some friends.

Kristen and I have come to the conclusion that we'd like to go back right now.
Right.
Now.

Reality is not as fun as relaxing at the beach!

This could possibly be my most favorite picture from this weekend,

but I still need to steal Kristen's 694 pictures so it might get demoted.

It was a great couple of days with the typical little person meltdowns
and random pain-filled episodes,

but I think we all agree that it was a good time.

It's now back to our normal schedules and routines -

but I'm thankful for:

reactions to stickers

never-ending chili

seashells

grown-up drinks

random sweet moments between our kids

cornbread

Just Dance 2 competitions

brownies

Settlers of Catan

apple dip

Spades

buffalo chicken dip

sand castles
kids' jacuzzi-sized bubble baths

Nutella

Wife to Husband
"Hey, I'm going to change the baby's diaper (take out the trash, wash the car, etc.)."
followed with
"Aren't you going to change the baby's diaper (take out the trash, wash the car, etc.)?"

Aaron, Kristen, Tyler, Hayden and Hayley Jo:
Thanks for spending the weekend with us -
we love you guys!

Maileen's Journey - October 12

2011-10-13T14:06:00.002-04:00

August 2011

Peter, Marissa Nicolle and me are getting ready to walk 3 miles on the 15th of Oct...Become aware of how to get your body's immune system strong and be an active fighter against Cancer as we encourage finding ways to cure cancer...(Treatment 2 of my 6th cycle tomorrow afternoon).
Back to Maileen's Journey

Check Yes or No

2011-10-11T14:10:00.002-04:00

You would think two sisters, a hermit crab, some fish and two dogs would be enough for these two.
Not so much.

I was given two notes one morning before school - literally.
We were getting ready to walk out the door.
Gianna exclaimed, "Read them!"
Espy told me she would get a pencil so that I could give them my answer.

Dear Mom,

If you give MY OWN

kitty I will be resposbl

for it, and wene the powels come over I will keep the kitten in my room.

love

your

resposbl

Esperanza

check yes or no if I get one

yes no

_____ _____

Dear Mom

I want a bunny and I will be respoabl for it.

Love

Gianna

yes no

_____ _____

Check yes or no if I can get one.

Good effort, girls.
Good effort.

Maileen's Journey - October 7

2011-10-10T09:31:00.004-04:00

cousins and babies

Finally got into Augusta at 3am this morning, slept some and started my 1st round of my 6th cycle of three doses of chemo today...Towards the end of the month I get a CT and a heart exam to see how my body has responded to the treatments. Praying that my liver is clear of disease...God has His plan and leaning on Him...hope you are wearing pink this month...

walking on the 15th to encourage cancer awareness.
Back to Maileen's Journey

Friday Faves

2011-10-07T17:32:00.004-04:00

8,000 lanterns floating over Poznan, Poland to celebrate the summer solstice or Midsummer Night.
Love it.

Alone in the Busy

Sarah Markley

Does a Balanced Life Exist?

Grace Driscoll

Tuesdays::Success Stories

Heather Hendrick

Pumpkin Crunch
Landee see, Landee do

An Innovator

2011-10-06T13:28:00.000-04:00

Photo Source

Steve Paul Jobs

1955-2011

"Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being.

Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend

and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built,

and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple."

-apple.com-

Praying for his friends and family.

Friends, Recipes and Mad Gab

2011-10-04T08:57:00.002-04:00

Photo Source

Some friends came over the other night to keep me company
while Bill was out of town this weekend.

Sweet friends.

I love when we get together because we laugh

and laugh
and laugh some more.

Not only do we laugh, but we eat - and it's fantastic.

I experienced these delicious dips on two different occasions.

I fell in love with them immediately.
Nicole was gracious enough to share her recipes:

Buffalo Chicken Dip
12.5oz can of chicken (drained)
8oz cream cheese
1 cup ranch or blue cheese
3/4 cup Frank's Buffalo Sauce
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
In a saute pan - combine chicken, cream cheese, ranch, buffalo sauce,
and 1/2 cup shredded cheddar cheese.
Cook on medium until bubbly.

Pour in baking dish.
Sprinkle with remaining 1/2 cup cheese on top.
Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes.
Serve with veggies, chips, crackers, etc.

Apple Dip
8oz cream cheese
1/2 cup brown sugar
1T vanilla extract

Blend well and serve with apples.
(I'm sure this can be served with all sorts of fruit - yum.)

Natalie made hummus.
I also love hummus.
I plan on trying this recipe very soon:

Hummus
1-16oz can of chickpeas (or garbanzo beans)
1/4 cup liquid from can of chickpeas (I used a little less)
3 T lemon juice (more or less to taste)
1/2 tsp salt (I just used a pinch)
2 T olive oil
1 tsp cumin
(if you don't have cumin, or don't want to use it - the recipe called for 2 cloves of crushed garlic and/or 1-1/2 T tahini- which I could not find- they say to omit this anyway if you don't like the taste. For spicier: add a dash of red pepper or cayenne pepper.)
Drain chickpeas and set aside liquid from can.
Combine remaining ingredients in blender or food processor.
Add 1/4 cup of liquid from chickpeas.
Blend for 3-5 minutes on low until thoroughly mixed and smooth.
Serve immediately, or cover and refrigerate
(can be refrigerated up to 3 days or frozen for up to 1 month).
Add some olive oil if it looks dry.

Another friend hosts game night at her house (so gracious) every month.
She made these rolls that are to die for.

So. stinking. good.

Heavenly Rolls of Goodness
(I made that name up.)
crescent rolls
marshmallows
melted butter
cinnamon sugar
Dip marshmallow in melted butter.
Roll around in cinnamon sugar.
Wrap marshmallow in a crescent roll.
Dip crescent in butter.
Roll around in cinnamon sugar.
Place in lightly greased muffin pans.
Bake until crescents are cooked.
Die and go to heaven.

Thanks for sharing, Cheryl.
My hips do not thank you.

While you're eating all this amazingness, go ahead and play a couple of rounds of Mad Gab.
You won't spill drinks, almost pee in your pants, drop things, kind of trip, or get extremely full.
Not at all.

We Heart Sleepovers

2011-10-02T20:42:00.000-04:00

The girls love spending the night at Tito Evan and Tita Sarah's house!
LOVE IT.
They would do it every weekend if they could,
but they can't -
so we'll settle for sometimes.
When I picked the girls up, they couldn't wait to tell me about:

carving pumpkins
taking a bath with big bubbles
making s'mores
watching a movie
sleeping in a tent
(in Tito and Tita's room)
Gianna waking up in the middle of the night and forgetting where she was (oops)
and crying (sorry!)
Gianna sleeping in Tito and Tita's bed for the rest of the night
having French Toast for breakfast
riding with Tito on his bike and trying to beat speed records

Thanks for a great time, Tito and Tita - we love you!

Maileen's Journey - September 29

2011-09-29T13:24:00.000-04:00

August 2011

Trying Infrared-Sauna-Yoga these next few days. My body got through it, but my legs were exhausted with some of the postures. We are all enjoying our time here in Seattle.

~~~

I start another cycle of three rounds of chemo after our trip here in Seattle. Then at the end of the month of October I have another CT scan. Praying the cancer in my liver has continued to shrink significantly or has gone. God knows best as we trust and wait on Him and trying to learn how to grow in new areas as we are trying to understand our displacement. Our time in Seattle has so far been very delightful. Thanks for praying with us through this.
Back to Maileen's Journey

My Name Doesn't Fit Me, and That's OK

2011-09-29T08:35:00.000-04:00

via Pinterest

Lots of sassy going on around here lately.
So much so that my throat hurts.
Also enough that my husband jumped out of bed the other day because

1.) he didn't want me to throw the fury at him, and
2.) he wanted to make sure everyone was safe and sound.

I'll leave out all the other gory details.

Here's what's driving my impatience these days:

I haven't had much sleep the past few nights

(completely my fault - um, and sometimes my husband's).
The girls get exhausted mid-week.

Bill seems to be more busy than usual.

Add in my slight OCD and fascination with lists -
it's all a recipe for craziness on my part.

What to do after I feel like I'm going to lose it for the millionth time in one day?

Phone conversations are a rarity for me.

It's ok - just a part of the journey I'm on right now.
In order to have a serious conversation, we have to be face to face.

I need to be out of the house,

or all the children should be in bed - preferably asleep!

Because of this, I'll often send out a text or two or three in order to get in touch with someone.

This is what happened when I begged for prayers last night via text:

You got it!!!!! Bill working tonight or will u have help? Love u

I'll be praying...I can relate.

I will :) r u taking big girls to kk?
...bedtime isn't too far away!!

Awww...i will. Hang in there friend :)

I always have a hard time with the middle of the week too...I will pray for you. Btw, I am still the same. Hang in there!

Who is super thankful for awesome, encouraging, Jesus-loving friends?
This girl.

God and I were having words even before the texts started flying.

For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.

Ephesians 2:10

The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases;
his mercies never come to an end;
they are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23

... but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;
they shall mount up with wings like eagles;
they shall run and not be weary;
they shall walk and not faint.
Isaiah 40:31

But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

II Corinthians 12:9-10

Even more thankful for these truths!

Panera Baby

2011-09-28T13:22:00.000-04:00

Dear Evangeline,

Please stop growing up, ok?

Ok.

Thanks!

Love,

your mom

A Lot of Funny

2011-09-26T09:20:00.001-04:00

Picture Source

We love having people over.

Love it.

I usually get stressed beforehand

(everything must be spotless, and in its place! - because THAT always happens),

and the girls are guaranteed to be super excited and loud and all over the place
(thank goodness for the eight o'clock hour) -

but we love it nonetheless.

There's always something about getting together with friends that makes my heart smile.

I'm more social than the husband and would probably have people over all the time, but we both come away encouraged when we make the time to spend with people who are over the age of seven.

And in the morning, it's always fun to reflect on how a conversation can go from the top of this list to the bottom (in no particular order) in the span of about two hours:

football

pizza

marshmallow-y goodness

thrusting

b rolls

marriage

beach week

events at beach week

Pho 79

rodeos

birth control

that's a lot of funny

how long's this apple been here

dating and not dating

iPads

etc.

Now go invite someone over for dinner - you'll love it.

Maileen's Journey - September 25

2011-09-25T13:34:00.000-04:00

August 2011

Done with all three rounds of cycle-5 of my treatments and finally able to take a trip to Washington...Marissa Nicolle gets to meet her Grandpa and Grandma Simpson and her Munson cousins for the first time...;D

Thanks for continuing to pray for Maileen, Peter, and Marissa!

Back to Maileen's Journey

Memory Full - Please Delete

2011-09-23T08:19:00.000-04:00

Gianna
May 2009

Isabella and a swollen lip
May 2009

Espy Bill Isabella Gianna
NeNe's House - June 2009


Gianna The Park - June 2009

Espy
The Park - June 2009

I Miss You When You're Gone

2011-09-22T10:25:00.000-04:00

So I started this post during the summer - I guess I should post it since we're jumping into fall?
I should be better at blogging.
One day.

Dear Espy and Gianna,

You went out of town this weekend with your Uncle Brian, Aunt Jen, and your cousins. You went to
visit NeNe and PaPa, and you went to celebrate Ma's birthday. We missed getting to go with you, but I'm happy you two got to go.

I was a little bit excited that you were going on a trip because we were all getting slightly impatient with each other (in other words, I was getting short and snippy with you two while you both were getting supersassy on the spot).

I don't know why I'm surprised when it happens - because it happens every single time -
BUT I STARTED MISSING YOU AS SOON AS YOU LEFT.

Yes, your mom is a big crybaby when it comes to you girls.
You can remind me of that when I'm ready to throw you out of any or every window.

I will always love you.
I will always be here for you.
I will always miss you when you're gone.

Love,
your mom

Catch Phrase

2011-09-20T08:21:00.003-04:00

We played Catch Phrase last night.

SO fun and funny.

I wish I could remember everything that was hilarious.
It always does my heart good to laugh with friends.

Here are some snippets:

Fashion show! Fashion show! Fashion show at lunch!

It's brown. It floats.

It's brown. It's outside.

It's brown. It has a bone in it.

rutabaga

Rash!

No, that's my neck.

wenis

Bangladesh

Beirut

Baghdad

Girls - feel free to remind me of your favorites.
I know I forgot a lot of them!

Dear Cheryl,

I'm sorry if we wake your kids up from their slumber every time we're over.

Thanks for continuing to open up your home to the craziness each month!

Love ~ Grace

Story Time

2011-09-19T10:05:00.001-04:00

BILL HAS BEEN ENCOURAGING ISABELLA TO TELL US STORIES:

Once upon a time,

there was a frog.

There was a princess named Evangeline.

They had a party.
They had a cake.

It was fun.

There were animals.

The End.

Once upon a time,

there was a princess.

Eric.

The End.

ISABELLA ALSO LIKES TO CONTRIBUTE DURING DEVOTIONS:

BILL

Gianna, what did Moses see?

GIANNA

A burning bush.

BILL

Good. Espy, what did God tell Moses to do?

ESPY

Go back to Egypt to get the people.

BILL

That's right.

ISABELLA

My turn!

BILL

Ok, Bella - why was Moses afraid?

ISABELLA

Spank your bottom.

WE TRIED OUR HAND AT SOCCER, AND BILL TAUGHT HER THIS GEM:

BILL

This is my house, boys - give me that ball!

ISABELLA'S VERSION

This is my mommy's house - get out!

SOMEONE TOLD ME JUST THE OTHER DAY,

That Isabella - she's something else.

That she is.

That. she. is.

Things

2011-09-16T10:35:00.000-04:00

a year ago

THINKING ABOUT
~~~

Isabella running through the house singing loudly while Evangeline is napping

the five pumpkins I just bought
(and how I want to buy more)
our girls in school - hoping they're comfortable and confident in their own skin

good friends and encouraging conversations
that last year at this time I had a baby in my belly, and now she's almost one!

EXCITED FOR
~~~
my lunch date with Bill

fall weather

pumpkins

baking
friends and babies

the holidays are coming, the holidays are coming!

Evangeline's 1st birthday

coffee (always)
studying Acts

READ AND ENJOYED
~~~

Fill Your Mouth With Life, Not Death

Jon Bloom

How to be a better parent in 4 seconds

Jon Acuff

50 Rules for Dads of Daughters

Michael Mitchell

One of These Things is Not Like the Other
Sarah Markley

Enjoy

2011-09-12T12:24:00.000-04:00

Justin Timberlake and Matt Morris

Hallelujah

Hope for Haiti - 01/22/2010

Living Intentionally: Friends

2011-09-08T21:58:00.002-04:00

Photo by: Heather Katsoulis

We live in a ridiculously fast-paced society.

Ri.dic.u.lous.

I've mentioned it before,

but I'd love to live in a place where we can be still.

Just be.
Still.

That's probably not going to happen anytime soon.

So I have a choice:

live like a crazy person hopping from one thing to the next

checking off all the things on the schedule

marking off everything on the lists and

maintaining a bazillion relationships via FB, Twitter, texts, and emails

slow down

not plan every single waking moment of every single day with some sort of something

put the list(s) away - even for just a little bit

and really evaluate all those relationships

Who are the people who are encouraging me to love God and to love other people with my life?

Who will be honest - even when it's hard?

This goes both ways.

Who am I encouraging to love God and to love other people with their lives?

Who will I be honest with - even when it's hard?

These are the friendships we want to strengthen.

These are the friendships we want to maintain.

These are the friendships we want to last.

These are the friendships that will encourage us (me!) to press on in this race.

Isn't that what I claim my desire to be?

We often let ourselves get lost in the busy and as a result we miss out on

amazing

encouraging

REAL

relationships.

Open your heart and your home.

Sit down for that coffee.

Go out for that lunch.

Our hearts were created

to beat with others,

to live in community,

to walk this journey together.

Living Intentionally: The Babies
Living Intentionally: The Husband

The First Day

2011-09-06T13:17:00.000-04:00

Dear Espy,

You started second grade today! You're blowing my mind with how fast you're growing up. Don't get me wrong - we butt heads often and that's probably because we're a lot alike, but I'm still proud of the person you're becoming. Thanks for taking care of Gianna today - you're a fantastic big sister!

Dear Gianna,

You're in Kindergarten, and I can't believe it! You're going to be in school all. day. long. I'm going to miss you! I'm very proud of how you jumped out of bed this morning - ready to do everything you were supposed to do before we headed to the bus stop. You're my most favorite five year old.

Dear Isabella,

You went to preschool and did a great job (even Mrs. Burke said so!). I've been praying since we enrolled you that you would obey and learn - we'll see how the rest of the year goes. My favorite parts of this morning were when you:
-had your nearly-empty backpack on

-found your name by your hook and saw that it matched your nametag necklace, "Matching!"
-you asked Mrs. Burke for more ice cream during snack time - sorry kid, one per student
-you couldn't be still long enough for one typical back-to-school shot

Dear Evangeline,

You are staying home with me, Little Miss!

My Girls,

I'm praying for you like crazy -
that you would become the people God wants you to be,
and that I would be the mom I'm supposed to be
to help get you there.

Much love little ones,

Grace
(AKA Mom)

Living Intentionally: The Husband

2011-09-02T21:59:00.000-04:00

Ever go through those times where you're just sitting in the middle of your life.
Obviously, it's going on - but at the same time, you feel like you're not participating in it?

Brush your teeth? Check.

Gym? Check.

Breakfast? Check.

Shower? Check.

Bus stop.

Car pool.

Vaccuum.

Laundry.

Dinner prep.

Soccer practice.

Gymnastics.

Piano lessons.

Homework.

Read?

Maybe.

Free time?

Probably not.

Oh hey there! Who are you?

You're quite handsome.

You're my husband?

Why - I thought we were roomies for a second.

We are roomies? With benefits?

Awesome!

I thought for sure we were just in charge of these adorable little girls surrounding us at all times.

All. Times.

It's been this way for a couple of days now.

I miss Bill!

I'm not upset with him

or angry with him

or annoyed with him

at all - I just miss him.

Thank goodness for date night tomorrow.

We.

Can't.

Wait.

At the beginning of this year, a friend and I were talking about those pesky things known as New Year's Resolutions. Pesky because really, who keeps those

every. single. day. of. the. year.

(Definitely not me - but if you do, I admire you fully!)

We shared what was going on in our lives and in our hearts. I told her that Bill and I wanted to be more intentional with our relationship with each other. Clearly, it's much easier to put your best self forward when dealing with coworkers, friends, acquaintances - even strangers.

I have to remind myself not to save my worst self for my husband.

My patience, my kindness, my thoughtfulness

often fall short when it comes to Bill.

He promised to stay with me for better or for worse - it's true -

but I certainly don't want him to have to suffer the latter part of the deal simply because I had a bad day or two or three!

The man in the picture above means the world to me.

My hope for us is to always remember who we were before

the laundry, the schedules, the projects

before

the mortgage, the car payment, the budget

before

Espy, Gianna, Isabella, Evangeline

before

we knew what it meant to really love someone.

Because really, in our picture - we hardly had a glimpse of all that love would entail.

We were two kids promising amazing things to each other that we knew nothing about.

Even now, we're two imperfect people trying to love each other the way He wants us to love.

Our own selves constantly get in the way of that.

It's a battle, but some days are easier than others.

What can I say - at the end of the day, it's much easier to focus on me.

But how much richer is our life together when we both sincerely put the other first?

Pretty awesome when we can get it right.
And isn't that how marriage is supposed to be?

Living Intentionally: The Babies

Encouraging Texts

2011-08-31T12:41:00.004-04:00

Photo by: Nèg Foto

Very thankful for thoughtful friends walking this marriage journey alongside me:

KATHERINE

A very belated PS but I meant to tell you last week how much I love seeing/hearing how in love you are with your husband!! I am the same way, and it's just really refreshing to hear that in the midst
of so many people always complaining about their husbands. So thank you :)

GRACE

You are too sweet!! I love him so much...but I definitely need to show him more often. Smother, much?...;) Marriage is hard of course, but it's so awesome and amazing at the same time! I'm happy you understand how God intends it to be...we are blessed for sure!!

KATHERINE

Yeah. It breaks my heart when people just give up once they realize it actually takes a lot of effort to make it work. There are definitely rough times, but it is all so worth it. He truly is my best friend, and I love our relationship. I am so very blessed!

19,725

2011-08-29T19:14:00.000-04:00

Why I Love The Husband
Reason #19,725

teaching our girls to have serving hearts and attitudes

off to help our neighbors after Hurricane Irene

I Love Blogs Because of Posts Like This

2011-08-28T11:37:00.004-04:00

Photo Source

Excellent post.

The whole thing is amazing,

but here are a few of my favorite parts:

...“Loving the poor” doesn’t always have to be scary like “befriending the homeless” or “moving my family to Haiti”, it can be (and often starts as) something small; like teaching a child to read, to use silverware, or just to be present with someone who is suffering. I do believe however, that finding
the poor inside us and around us will always stretch us and grow us. And it will do something else. It will begin to erase the borders between “us/them” and help us see that we are all human beings...

At the end of the day, I don’t believe it is an “either/or” dichotomy. I believe that if we claim to know Jesus, that no matter where we find ourselves on any given day, we would seek out the people that matter most to him: the poor, the vulnerable, the hungry, the suffering; and LOVE them. What does that mean? That means first and foremost, knowing their names. That means getting our hands, and our knees, and our hearts, and even our theology dirty. If American Christians did this, it would be radical, and it couldn’t help but change the world.

Henri Nouwen has some pretty great thoughts about what it looks like to be this radical.
So I’ll leave most of the last words to him:

“Radical servanthood does not make sense unless we introduce a new level of understanding and see it as the way to encounter God himself. To be humble and persecuted cannot be desired unless we can find God in humility and persecution. When we begin to see God himself, the source of all our comfort and consolation, in the center of servanthood, compassion becomes much more than doing good for unfortunate people. Radical servanthood, as the encounter with the compassionate God, takes us beyond the distinctions between wealth and poverty, success and failure, fortune and bad luck. Radical servanthood is not an enterprise in which we try to surround ourselves with as much misery as possible, but a joyful way of life in which our eyes are opened to the vision of the true God who chose the way of servanthood to make himself known. The poor are called blessed not because poverty is good, but because theirs is the kingdom of heaven; the mourners are called blessed not because mourning is good, but because they shall be comforted. Here we are touching the profound spiritual truth that service is an expression of the search for God and not just of the desire to bring about individual or social change. This is open to all sorts of misunderstanding, but its truth is confirmed in the lives of those for whom service is a constant and uninterrupted concern. As long as the help we offer to others is motivated primarily by the changes we may accomplish, our service cannot last long. When results do not appear, when success is absent, when we are no longer liked or praised for what we do, we lose the strength and motivation to continue. We see nothing but sad, poor, sick, or miserable people who, even after our many attempts to offer help, remain sad, poor, sick, and miserable, then the only reasonable response is to move away in order to prevent ourselves from becoming cynical or depressed. Radical servanthood challenges us, while attempting persistently to overcome poverty, hunger, illness, and any other form of human misery, to reveal the gentle presence of our compassionate God in the midst of our broken world.”

-Henri Nouwen, Compassion

And if what 1st Corinthians 12 asserts is true…that we are ALL part of one body…it means that you and I cannot live without those we typically deem “poor” or “needy”. In fact, the astonishing truth is, we need them. If we think that those who are suffering or poor need us, and that we bestow honor on them by pausing from our busy schedules to give them a little time or money….not only is such thinking insulting, it is wrong. The poor in my own community as well as in Haiti have taught me wonderful, life-changing truths about God and his Kingdom. Things I may have never been able to learn any other way. My relationships with “the poor” have made me long for the kingdom to come “on earth as it is in heaven” with a level of passion I did not know I possessed.

And the truth is, until the Kingdom comes, we all have work to do. Until that promised day arrives, we can all do better. So lets start today…

Get to know your neighbors.
Learn their names.
Look inside yourself.
Order When Helping Hurts.
Watch Waiting for Superman.
Visit your local soup kitchen.
Volunteer.
Sign up as a foster parent.
Visit your local elementary school.

But most of all keep searching for God.

You will find him in the most delightful and unexpected places!

(excerpt from guest post by Sarah Dornbos on Heather Hendrick's blog)

Hurricane Irene

2011-08-26T15:51:00.000-04:00

Oh you know,

just getting ready for this:

Photo Source

Isabella Turns Three

2011-08-24T15:49:00.006-04:00

Isabella Simone - 3 years old!

SO big.

SO tired.
SO ready to have a baby.

This is how I usually feel towards the end of my pregnancies -
big and tired.
Don't get me wrong - I've been very fortunate with my girls.
No complications and nothing more to complain about than tiredness,
but towards the end -
it just gets exhausting carrying around another person in your body.
Know what I mean?

It was a Saturday night, and I was feeling like my typical
end-of-pregnancy self.
Bill and I were asleep, and then it happened.
Contraction.
That one kind of hurt, I thought.
It's probably a Braxton Hicks.
I went back to sleep and was woken up by another contraction.
That one hurt, too.
I still wasn't convinced that it was the real deal.
I didn't want to pull another Gianna (that post is coming).
So because I'm such an expert at birthing (totally teasing),
I went back to sleep.
Contraction.
Ok, I wasn't asleep very long before that last one.
Maybe I should start timing them?
So I started timing them,
and
they started getting closer and closer together.
Well, it might really be time.

I sat up in bed and waited for another contraction.
Ouch.
There it was.
I can't remember what time it was, but it was definitely "middle of the night"-ish. Bill was still sleeping, and it was dark outside - that's my definition of "middle of the night."

I need to take a shower before we go to the hospital.
It's just one of those things.
I like to shower (don't we all??),
and I just need to have one more non-rushed, middle of the night shower before we brought a newborn home - just one.
I don't take middle of the night showers very often.
I guess my point is I wanted to shower before going to the hospital.

I'll let Bill sleep.
I know! I'm such a nice wife, right?
Don't let me fool you.
My husband is super awesome - I'm really blessed!

Before I showered, I called my parents to see if they could come over to watch the girls. That was Step One in my Birth Plan that I had all typed up when I first found out I was pregnant.
Ok, I had no such thing.

I AM one of those freakish people who likes lists, makes the bed in the morning, and can't go to sleep (easily) unless the house is "clean." I'm not as hardcore as I was earlier in our marriage, but I can definitely tell when things are unraveling
- then I go on a cleaning craze.
I digress.

I did talk to my mom and dad about watching the girls whenever I went into labor. My parents,
being the awesome people they are, agreed.

Parents called.
Check.
Shower.
Check.

Now I can wake Bill up.

GRACE
Bill, it's time.
BILL
Are you sure?
GRACE
Yes, Bill - wake up. My parents are coming over.

Silence.

GRACE
Bill? Bill!
BILL
Ok, I'm getting up.

My husband is not a morning person.
At all.
Or a
wake up in the middle of the night to drive the pregnant wife
to the hospital to deliver the third daughter
type of person - he's not one of those either.

By the time, Bill gets out of the shower (he's like me!)
- the contractions are starting to get uncomfortable. That's a nice way of saying they're starting to hurt really bad,
and we need to get going.

My parents get here, and as I'm talking
- I have to stop during contractions. Yeah. I know.
We get into the van and start driving to the hospital. Bill calls his parents to let them know that we're on our way. This is the point where I start disliking Bill because he has no idea what these contractions feel like. He says he does, but he doesn't. He DOESN'T.
I love him love him love him, but I don't like him when we're on our way to the hospital.
I just don't.

We made it to the hospital and got checked into the pre-delivery room, you know, the little room they put you in to "make sure" it's time. Well, they checked and agreed - it was time.
They quickly got me into our delivery room and did all those things you're supposed to do before you have a baby. All I know is I had an epidural and lots of ice chips, and I was a happy girl.

It was almost eight in the morning and a few pushes later,
there she was -
our sweet, sweet Isabella Simone.
In Hebrew, Isabella means God is my vow.
Simone comes from my dad's name, Simon.
We like to call her Isa (ee-sa), BellaBoo, and a variety of other things
- but mostly we just call her Isabella.She is our wild child.
Our climber.
Our fearless explorer.It's hard to believe she's three years old already.
We couldn't imagine our lives without her.

Originally Posted
August 24, 2010

Little Talk

2011-08-23T22:35:00.007-04:00

my parents and our girls

I almost forgot about some of these!

ESPY
Last Wednesday, I was nervous so I told God about it.

I felt better.

ESPY
Evangeline is licking my cup.

GRACE
I know.

ESPY
She's the cutest baby in the world.

GIANNA

-Does having a cat make you a grown up?

-Who will mommy marry when you die?

-That looks like poo.
(regarding brownies)

-It smells like daddy after he runs in here.

GIANNA to EVANGELINE
You're the prettiest princess in the whole town.

(an oldie, but a goodie)

GRACE
Is there poopoo in your diaper?

ISABELLA
No.
GRACE

Isabella?
ISABELLA

Daddy's here!
GRACE

No, he's not - it's 1:30 in the afternoon. Come here.

(runs away)

Whenever Isabella needs her glasses, socks, pants, etc:

It's missing!

In response to anything Isabella doesn't want to do:

I never!

ISABELLA
Mmmm. Delicious.

(chewing)

GRACE

What are you eating?

ISABELLA

Eating.

GRACE

What are you eating?

ISABELLA

Boogers.

Awesome, Isa. Awesome.

Daddy Daughter Days

2011-08-22T08:46:00.002-04:00

Photos via The Husband's Phone

Living lntentionally: The Babies

2011-08-19T15:19:00.006-04:00

Christmas 2010

Bill and I have four girls.

Four.

Girls.

That means much of our lives is a dance between

breakfast, lunch, snacks, and dinner.

Soon, we're going to throw school into the mix.

Two in one - one in another.

Then - we're going to add other fun things like

piano, soccer, and gymnastics.

I don't want our relationships with each other to lack in depth while we
live life.

I don't want to look at my girls ten years down the road and think,
I don't know you.
I mean, I know you - but I don't really KNOW you.
I don't want them to think the same.

I don't want to be best friends with our girls.
I don't want to relive the days of my youth vicariously through them.
I certainly don't want to wish these years away for a time when it's easier.
Parenting will be difficult - no matter how old they are.

I DO know that I want to be the best mom I can be for them -
with God's grace.
I want to make sure I don't lose sight of that in the busyness of it all.

I'm thankful for His patience,
and I'm thankful for their forgiveness when I fail -
because I have
because I do
because I will.

Sometimes I wish we lived in a place that was
less fast-paced

less hectic
less scheduled.

I want us to
slow down
enjoy each other
listen
and
be still.

I hope to
hug
kiss
play
create
talk to God
read His word
have a real conversation
with each of our girls.

Daily.
Intentionally.

My heart longs for it,
and so do theirs.

Maileen's Journey - August 17

2011-08-17T06:45:00.002-04:00

Thanks for continuing to pray for Maileen, Peter, and Marissa -

please don't stop!
Back to Maileen's Journey

Fall Isn't So Bad

2011-08-12T09:37:00.001-04:00

Photo Source

My list got longer as I thought more about it last night

(bullet style this time - I party like that):

YouVersion
Technically I've already started this (thanks, Bill!).
It's a great resource with lots of reading plans available.

working out more consistently
Hopefully that will come with our more "routine" schedule.

reading
I have three books I'm working on right now.

weekend at the beach with good friends and their adorable kids
We. Can't. Wait.

Halloween, Thanksgiving, and CHRISTMAS