Dear Nick:

Nick:
I know I should call you Daddy, but today I am particularly fond of calling you Nick.
Today was hard without you.... I had fun with mom, but I missed you a lot - as always.

After you left for school, we played with the Cowan girls a lot and that was definitely fun. Grace is fast as anything at getting up our stairs and I'm hoping she can teach me soon. She DOES NOT like when I chase her around trying to hug her.

After they left, I took a nap and woke up with a serious vengeance. I was mad as fire & made Mommy hold me for about an hour, even though she was already holding sis. She didn't really mind - but she was trying ot put up some laundry. Then we did a video chat with Ruby, Josh, Abel, AnnaJaye, & Ab... I'm still pretty freaked out by talking to people on the computer, but I'm getting better.

Just before dinner, mom trimmed my hair - which was helpful. She had read some people saying online that the rapture is coming so she wanted to make sure I could see Jesus. She knows you think that is a dumb idea though. (that the rapture is tomorrow, not cutting my hair) I was so frustrated about the haircut, we had to have a Elias-friendly dinner - chips, hummus, & a granola bar. And of course I only wore one boot.



To make us feel normal without you, Mommy took us on our normal trip around our old farm. Mom wanted to take some pictures of us - but I kind of refused to leave her side. She didn't mind. Glory also did her best "wilson from 'Home Improvement'" impression.




We played just a bit more and then got ready for bed. At one point right before I walked up the stairs, I looked at Mama & said in perfect english, "Where's Nick?!" She thought I was too cute to correct me, but she did say tomorrow I have to go back to calling you Daddy.



We love you and missed you today.
We're proud of you for all your hard school work.
See you tomorrow Nick.
love Elias.

Engedi

So I can't say enough amazing things about our current message series at Mars Hill. I already love absolutely everything about my church, and this is only bumping it up. Pastor Mark is speaking on the Song of Songs in a series called The Peasant Princess and he is really opening the word and saying the things the church needs to here. Great truth about the biblical standard of the roles Christian men and women, freeing words about the beauty of Christian sex, and of course - as always - charging our men to pursue, protect, and provide.

One concept he mentioned today was that women need to provide an Engedi for their husbands. In Songs, Solomon compares his lover to this biblical place that was like an oasis for him. Pastor Mark was encouraging us to let our men have their peace - that we should aid in that. I have to say, my mama taught me well. She is passionate about setting up some good old southern Engedi. Everyday when Gibson gets home, she has wine and cheese waiting on him and she makes sure that even when there are five grandbabies running around her abode - it is still a clean and comfortable place to be. I know she tries hard to make her home feel peaceful for all in the physical and spiritual realm - and she accomplishes it.

Anyhow, I've been thinking all day about Engedi. Truly providing that for Nick would mean us moving out of New Beginnings - because I know he is never going to be totally comfortable with pregnant women living with us. Understandable. However, this is where we are for now and until God calls us elsewhere - I have to work with my challenges. The downstairs of our house is such a free-for-all and not really a place where he finds peace, so I'm focusing more on our upstairs. Some things I'm thinking about implimenting:

• Doing all of my/kids laundry in our guest bedroom so our room isn't inundated with it.
  
• Clearing all toys, diapers, bottles out of our bedroom and stop letting the kids play in there just so I can relax on the bed while they do.
  
• Making sure he has plenty of clean, cleared space for his books so he doesn't feel like they can only be beside his bed.
• Having snacks stocked in his office for his study days. And maybe looking on craigslist for a mini fridge where I can put a few bottles of Stella Artois and some salsa for his multigrain chips.
  
• Keeping our reading nook tidy & peaceful for his time with the Lord.
  
• MAYBE stop eating popcorn in bed. MAYBE. We'll see.

I don't currently do any of these things now, so don't be thinking I'm some kind of wife-saint. I suppose the goal is for Nick to see me as that, though! Anyhow - I'd love tips from you wives on how you do it & from anyone else too! I know some single women with some seriously relaxing and peaceful spaces - so don't hold back! And I DEFINITELY suggest checking out the videos from this sermon series. Do it.

love ya'll.

housekeeping and news

So I've only changed my blog like 6,000 times in the last few weeks. Sorry. I think it's set for good now. However, I had to delete my blog list - so will you comment me and remind me to add yours if I forgot? I only put up the ones that came to my mind really quickly but I know I'm missing some important ones! Even if I didn't have it up before - tell me so I can have a link! Thanks so much!

Alsooooo.... I'm really excited because I got accepted to join the Blogher network. I had played around with Google Ads on here, but hated it because the first ads the put up were for porn and the church of scientology. Obviously problematic. BUT - the Blogher network is MUCH different; all women, lots of mommy bloggers & a great little online community. In the next few days I should get the code to put their ad on my page and it will all be done! I hope ya'll enjoy it! They should have pretty like-minded links to things I post about: food, kid stuff, other women bloggers. 

In summary:

I think the blog is semi-stable for now. Hope you enjoy.

Tell me your blog link so I can put it up in here. 

Enjoy the blogher links! 

....date night tonight! So excited!

fashion friday?

Ok - here is the last little concept: Church & Friday Nights.

look #1:

(DRESSy but still comfy)

And look #2:




(imagine the khaki pants minus dorky red shirt)


Look #3:

...this is Glory's favorite: she thinks animal print is to die for!

and finally, look #4:





you may send those smokey quartz earrings straight to our PO Box.

Ok, that was too much fun. Maybe from now on I'll have Fashion Fridays!

love. love. 

tip of the day

Is there anything better than peeling vegetables and fruit? Seriously?

Three yellow squash, two green squash, two sweet potatoes, three apples, and a  whole ton of carrots later and I felt like I had been to the spa. Try it. I swear. 

And it's just beautiful - all those brightly colored veggie shavings are like nature's art. 

It doesn't take a lot for me to get excited. 

Day #2

Okay - here's my second concept: Dr.'s Appointments & Days off.
Look #1:

go ahead & audibly gasp at those awesome boots.

Look #2: 

I looked for that sweater all last year. I will find it and wear it out this fall!

Look #3:

I love the juxtaposition of colors in this outfit, even while it's understated! Also - this bag is the most expensive item on the whole page. Ugh - love it. 

Okay, this was too much fun! Can't wait to do the next day!

my two cents

So I was inspired by Sara's blog and decided to indulge myself and be a fashion editor for a day as well. I really, really crazy miss the days I spent at Anthropologie - not so much the crazy holiday shoppers and long days, but the dressing and shopping for people was incredibly enjoyable.

Not that anyone will benefit from this besides me, I would still like to have a little fun and name my fashion picks for fall. If I really wanted to go to fantasy land, I'd pick outfits for someone actually living outside of their home, in society - but since I'm here all day, for the most part, here are my three categories. #1) everyday at home: I like to be crazy comfortable at home and ready to workout if I have a quick second, play on the floor with the kids, and be semi-presentable in case people stop by #2) appointments: for my own doctor's appts, taking the girls to theirs, or days out alone, still pretty casual - but this usually involves real shoes and I couldn't usually workout in it #3) date nights & church: no where near dressy, still very comfortable, but the closest I'll get to formal for a few more years at least!

Main themes in my picks:

• minimal accessories - just enough, but bigger in size (i.e. bigger earrings or cocktail ring & nothing more)
  
• anything that matches a deep gray neutral
  
• play with colors that don't look good on your skin tones, just in your accessories. that funky yellow that no one can wear? do it on your feet! if turquoise makes you like sick, throw it in your ears.
  
• reinventing the classics. fun cardigans, jeans worn funky ways, mainstream accessories blown up
  

So here's the first category - every single day.