In 2002 I had one of the greatest priviliges of my life thus far, I traveled to Kenya, Africa on a mission trip. One the last 2 days of our trip our group got to go on a real-life safari! It was nothing short of stunning. We were riding in a land rover through the wilds looking for animals big and small. We drove into a large open area with few trees and we spotted what looked like hundred's of elephants. They were so breathtakingly beautiful and HUGE and I must have taken 30 pictures of them. Every since then I have sort of had a thing for elephants.
Easter is tomorrow and this year I am really anxiously anticipating celebrating the risen Lord. David and I participated in the stations of the cross at the Village Vineyard Thursday evening. It was powerful, profound, painful and surprisingly peaceful. ( A whole lotta P's to describe the event...) Our dear friends Aaron and Kristina usually put the effort together with a few others and it is now a wonderful Easter tradition in our family. Last night while driving home I turned to David and asked "Can you believe Jesus died for us? That He loves us that much." David replied "It's crazy, isn't it?" It is. I greatly look forward to the celebration tomorrow.
Emaline is now 19 months old and here are a few things I want to remember:
-She is totally enthralled with the plastic alphabet letters that are magnetized and go on the fridge. She has even learned the letter "I" and walks around with the "I" saying it over and over again and points out that letter in words. Genius!
-She is NOT FUN at the table these days. She is suddenly picky. She still eats a variety of things but I never know from one day to the next what she's going to want to eat. Yesterday she wouldn't eat peas, today she will probably love them. I don't get it. She is also SUPER messy because she refuses to eat unless she has her utensils...which is great but messy since she doesn't have a lot of control yet.
-She is taking baby gymnastics and LOVES it! Her favorite part is the trampoline!
-Her coloring is her daddy's, but the rest of her is just like Mama. Our baby pictures are so similar.
-She calls my dad "PawPaw", Betty "NaNaNa", David's mom "Oma", and my mom "Mimi".
-She is obsessed with Silas and calls him "Si". They are adprable together and Elisha and I took them to get their pictures taken Thursday. Precious!
-We got a swing set in our backyard for Em and she loves it. She can climb up all by herself and go down the slide. She calls the whole thing "WEE".
-Her 18 month check-up was last week and she weighs 21lbs. 15 oz and is 31.5 inches long. The doctor said Emaline is right on target developmentally except with her gross motor skills. In that area she's ahead of the curve. Baby girl can walk up and down stairs, climb up anything, runs, and she can manuever herself on unsteady surfaces. She gives her mama a heart attack by the hour.
-She is so full of JOY and we are in love...
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
D is for Doors, Dolphins and David
We got a new front door as a Christmas gift from my parents, and we love it. It really changed the look of the front of our home for the better!
Dolphins are probably my favorite animal. I think they are beautiful and I hear they're quite smart. When I was about 8 my family took a trip out on a dolphin cruise in Florida and it was stellar! When I saw those dolphins chasing our boat I got so worked up with excitement that I could hardly contain myself. When I see one now I get that same rush of excitement and I feel like that 8 year old girl all over again.
David. I'm in love. In about 3 weeks my man will be turning 29 so in honor of that occasion here are 29 reasons I'm so in love.
1.) We are a good team.
2.) He works so hard for our family.
3.) He has beautiful hands and forearms.
4.) Emaline lights up when he's around. What an amazing Daddy she has.
5.) He loves my family...dysfunction and all.
6.) He thought I was beautiful when I felt invisible.
7.) His servant heart.
8.) A liar he is not!
9.) The way he takes care of our home.
10.) He let's me sleep in every once in awhile.
11.) He takes care of his mother.
12.) He loves the Lord.
13.) He supportive of me.
14.) His family comes first.
15.) He is strong.
16.) He calms me down and balances me out.
17.) His easygoing nature.
18.) The way he thoughtfully considers his options.
19.) He is good at finding a deal.
20.) He loves a good adventure!
21.) The way he holds fast to both his Dutch and Eritrean culture.
22.) The way he is bringing Emaline into the fold of those cultures.
23.) He loves to travel...even if it's only to Dayton for the weekend.
24.) He likes getting together with MVNU alumni almost as much as I do.
25.) He pushes me when I need it and he backs off when I need it.
26.) He speaks softly and kindly.
27.) He loves my clients and they love him back.
28.) He's not afraid to cry.
29.) I just have to say it...he's great in the sack. :)
I HAD to be a little inappropriate! It's Fez I'm describing! Seriously though, I could go on (and on, and on...) about all the ways in which I feel blessed by the man I married. He is a treasure and I just know that in 50 years I'll feel equally as blessed.
Dolphins are probably my favorite animal. I think they are beautiful and I hear they're quite smart. When I was about 8 my family took a trip out on a dolphin cruise in Florida and it was stellar! When I saw those dolphins chasing our boat I got so worked up with excitement that I could hardly contain myself. When I see one now I get that same rush of excitement and I feel like that 8 year old girl all over again.
David. I'm in love. In about 3 weeks my man will be turning 29 so in honor of that occasion here are 29 reasons I'm so in love.
1.) We are a good team.
2.) He works so hard for our family.
3.) He has beautiful hands and forearms.
4.) Emaline lights up when he's around. What an amazing Daddy she has.
5.) He loves my family...dysfunction and all.
6.) He thought I was beautiful when I felt invisible.
7.) His servant heart.
8.) A liar he is not!
9.) The way he takes care of our home.
10.) He let's me sleep in every once in awhile.
11.) He takes care of his mother.
12.) He loves the Lord.
13.) He supportive of me.
14.) His family comes first.
15.) He is strong.
16.) He calms me down and balances me out.
17.) His easygoing nature.
18.) The way he thoughtfully considers his options.
19.) He is good at finding a deal.
20.) He loves a good adventure!
21.) The way he holds fast to both his Dutch and Eritrean culture.
22.) The way he is bringing Emaline into the fold of those cultures.
23.) He loves to travel...even if it's only to Dayton for the weekend.
24.) He likes getting together with MVNU alumni almost as much as I do.
25.) He pushes me when I need it and he backs off when I need it.
26.) He speaks softly and kindly.
27.) He loves my clients and they love him back.
28.) He's not afraid to cry.
29.) I just have to say it...he's great in the sack. :)
I HAD to be a little inappropriate! It's Fez I'm describing! Seriously though, I could go on (and on, and on...) about all the ways in which I feel blessed by the man I married. He is a treasure and I just know that in 50 years I'll feel equally as blessed.
Thursday, April 21, 2011
C is for Cesareans, Cee-Lo Green and Chic-Fil-A
I had a cesarean in 2009 and that's how Emaline Joy emerged into the world. While I wish it had gone differently I tread lightly with those thoughts because out of that birth grew education, courage and a change I can't into words. I am thankful for cesareans and I wish they weren't overused.
"F You" by Cee-Lo Green is Emaline's favorite song. It's a tad (or a LOT) inappropriate, but it's so darn catchy and we love it. Baby Girl loves to shake her groove thang. She's so much like her mama...
In the past 7 days we have eaten at Chick-Fil-A 4 times. EMBARRASSING. Here's why:
1.) It's reasonably healthy. Well, it is the way I order it. Grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad for mama, chicken nuggets (not organic but real all white meat chicken) and a fruit cup for Emaline.
2.) They help me with EJ. Yep, they bring me a place mat, refill our drinks (water), bring our food out to us and clean up after the food ends up in the floor.
3.) We got a gift card from EJ's papa (My dad) so it's cheap.
4.) Toddlerhood has brought many eating challenges. It seems that meal time usually involves a huge mess, tears, and a kid that has eaten very little protein. This has not always been an issue with EJ. She loves to eat but in her toddler age she is showing her colors. Not so at Chic-Fila-A! She will sit ther and eat independently for ages and that means mama and daddy eat in peace.
We will stop it soon. I promise. I am still cooking dinner nightly. Can you read in that I have some mommy guilt with this? Something about putting it into writing has made me feel slightly bad about soooo much fast food. SIGH.
"F You" by Cee-Lo Green is Emaline's favorite song. It's a tad (or a LOT) inappropriate, but it's so darn catchy and we love it. Baby Girl loves to shake her groove thang. She's so much like her mama...
In the past 7 days we have eaten at Chick-Fil-A 4 times. EMBARRASSING. Here's why:
1.) It's reasonably healthy. Well, it is the way I order it. Grilled chicken sandwich and a side salad for mama, chicken nuggets (not organic but real all white meat chicken) and a fruit cup for Emaline.
2.) They help me with EJ. Yep, they bring me a place mat, refill our drinks (water), bring our food out to us and clean up after the food ends up in the floor.
3.) We got a gift card from EJ's papa (My dad) so it's cheap.
4.) Toddlerhood has brought many eating challenges. It seems that meal time usually involves a huge mess, tears, and a kid that has eaten very little protein. This has not always been an issue with EJ. She loves to eat but in her toddler age she is showing her colors. Not so at Chic-Fila-A! She will sit ther and eat independently for ages and that means mama and daddy eat in peace.
We will stop it soon. I promise. I am still cooking dinner nightly. Can you read in that I have some mommy guilt with this? Something about putting it into writing has made me feel slightly bad about soooo much fast food. SIGH.
Wednesday, April 20, 2011
B is for Baths, Blueberries and Birth...
Last January we had our bathroom remodeled and we got a new bathtub. I promptly fell in love with it. Since then there has not been a day when I haven't indulged in a bubble bath.
Blueberries are Emaline's favorite fruit...by far. She is always saying "Mama, more BWEEEZ!" Yep, she calls them bweez and I think it's adorable. The girls gets her antioxidant's that's for sure!
As of late (the past two years) I have become a sponge for anything and everything about birth. I love reading birth stories, blogs, and websites dedicated to birth. I have seen everything Netflix has to offer on the subject. Anyone and everyone who will listen has heard me talk about birth. Emaline's delivery has only increased my desire to know more. Part of me wants to have another baby just so I can have a reason to talk birth all day long. What a weirdo I am becoming.
Blueberries are Emaline's favorite fruit...by far. She is always saying "Mama, more BWEEEZ!" Yep, she calls them bweez and I think it's adorable. The girls gets her antioxidant's that's for sure!
As of late (the past two years) I have become a sponge for anything and everything about birth. I love reading birth stories, blogs, and websites dedicated to birth. I have seen everything Netflix has to offer on the subject. Anyone and everyone who will listen has heard me talk about birth. Emaline's delivery has only increased my desire to know more. Part of me wants to have another baby just so I can have a reason to talk birth all day long. What a weirdo I am becoming.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
Quote
"Sometime symbols are all we have to help us to remember our resolve, to help us remember our most cherished and our darkest days." -Peter Schroeder
A is for Apples, Arbonne, and Acrobats
I am copying off of my good friend Wendy D. Hutcheson and am going to try and blog for 26 consecutive days about things starting with that days letter. Today is day one, letter A.
Lady Alice apples+lime juice=my favorite snack of 2011.
In December of 2010 I began seling Arbonne products. They are 100% natural and I LOVE them. However I am terrible at selling and I mostly just like my discount. :)
Acrobats...that's a starnge thing, no? Recently David and I finished a 6 episode documentary by PBS on Netflix called "Circus". It was excellent! I loved the soundtrack, the layers of each perforemer and crew member and I loved how visually stimulating the cinematography was. All around pretty excellent and I was surprised by how much we enjoyed it.
The circus is not one of my favorite things but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I am astounded by the talent of the acrobats. The flying trapeze has always left me speechless. It looks so simple, easy even and oh so graceful. I wonder what it would be like to fly around weightless like that. David and I are both sad that the series is over and we even sort of want to go see the circus now. Hmmmm....
Lady Alice apples+lime juice=my favorite snack of 2011.
In December of 2010 I began seling Arbonne products. They are 100% natural and I LOVE them. However I am terrible at selling and I mostly just like my discount. :)
Acrobats...that's a starnge thing, no? Recently David and I finished a 6 episode documentary by PBS on Netflix called "Circus". It was excellent! I loved the soundtrack, the layers of each perforemer and crew member and I loved how visually stimulating the cinematography was. All around pretty excellent and I was surprised by how much we enjoyed it.
The circus is not one of my favorite things but I'd be lying if I didn't say that I am astounded by the talent of the acrobats. The flying trapeze has always left me speechless. It looks so simple, easy even and oh so graceful. I wonder what it would be like to fly around weightless like that. David and I are both sad that the series is over and we even sort of want to go see the circus now. Hmmmm....
Saturday, April 9, 2011
Rest...
My body is just plain old worn out. Tomorrow morning David will be running the CBUS 10 miler without me. My body is just screaming at me to slow down or else it may just stop cooperating. Logically I understand why I need to bow out tomorrow, but I won't lie, it hurts. I trained hard and worked for this and I can't do it. David reminded me that I have nothing to prove to myself or anyone. 10 miles is 3 less than what I did in October and I can stand behind that. Still...
I have been apprehensive to write about the struggles I am having as I learn to deal with how hard it has been for my mind to catch up to my body. Body image is still a struggle and I always figured it wouldn't be once I was at my goal weight. WRONG. What would lead me to believe such a thing? Women (and men) of all sizes and shapes struggle with this so what makes me think a "magic number" would change that for me?
My challenge right now is this: I need to sit in this. I need to come to terms with what I have done to my body (in a very poitive but challenging kind of way). Most importantly I need to bask in the assurance, abundance and mercy of God and his love for me and remember that it's always been there.
I feel like I don't know who I am anymore. That both exhilarates and terrifies me. I am SO different and most of those changes are not physical. I am having learning where I fit. God is drawing me out of the season of weight loss and into new territory. My tendency is to want a new goal, a challenge. Yet right now I keep being told to just sit, just be. Huh? How do I do that?
I have been apprehensive to write about the struggles I am having as I learn to deal with how hard it has been for my mind to catch up to my body. Body image is still a struggle and I always figured it wouldn't be once I was at my goal weight. WRONG. What would lead me to believe such a thing? Women (and men) of all sizes and shapes struggle with this so what makes me think a "magic number" would change that for me?
My challenge right now is this: I need to sit in this. I need to come to terms with what I have done to my body (in a very poitive but challenging kind of way). Most importantly I need to bask in the assurance, abundance and mercy of God and his love for me and remember that it's always been there.
I feel like I don't know who I am anymore. That both exhilarates and terrifies me. I am SO different and most of those changes are not physical. I am having learning where I fit. God is drawing me out of the season of weight loss and into new territory. My tendency is to want a new goal, a challenge. Yet right now I keep being told to just sit, just be. Huh? How do I do that?
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