Arms High

I wrote this post in the Fall, soon after we had some scary complications with our pregnancy.  I wrote about my tendenacy and desire to want to hold everything I loved as close as I could, as if I was the one that could protect them and keep them safe.  I knew God was teaching me this big lesson of surrendering and letting Him hold all the things I treasure, because they are His.  
Well here I am learning that same lesson again.  Two weeks ago my mom went in for a routine test and they found that one of her valves in her heart was leaking significantly and that she will need open heart surgery. 
I know that open heart surgery has become a common procedure and being that she is young and healthy she should be okay. But my mind couldn't help go to the worst, as I can't even begin to fathom life without my mom.  For days the tiny thought of it would bring me to full tears. 
I was sitting in our baby room, crying one day, thinking about how I wish I could keep my mom from doing anything that could make her heart worse, keep her healthy, and keep her from needing surgery.  A little too slowly I was reminded of the lesson God showed me back in November.  

My mom is such an amazing woman.  She is beautiful, has a positive attitude, is an example of a Godly woman with a strong faith. She was telling me not to worry and that God was in control. (Sounds like a wonderful mom thing, right? Encouraging and comforting me when this is happening to her.)  I fully believe that, but it is still scary as even though God is in control, tough and painful things still happen and it's hard for me not to worry about the future.
But as I learned in November, my hands can do nothing to protect my mom.  As I was sitting in our baby room that day, I knew God was teaching me to open my hands and give Him control over the things I love the most.  My mom being right near the top of my list.  
In church on Sunday we sang this song: 
I'll stand, with arms high and heart abandonedIn awe of the one who gave it all. 
My soul Lord to you surrenderedAll I have is yours. 
And I was reminded again, that I need to stop wanting to hold the things I love myself and open my arms and surrender them to God.  Surrender my fears, the future, my mom and this whole process.  
God is in control and I trust in Him. 

Feeling . . .

proud for finding these leggings for $2 at Jcpenney. 

tunic: old navy maternity   leggings: jcpenney   boots: kohls  scarf: discovery 

thankful for a date night on Friday.  Old movie theatre, $5 tickets for Silver Linings Playbook, and delicious sandwiches while we watched.  

excited for our 20 week ultrasound this week to find out if our little baby is a boy or a girl!
anxious for our appointment to see if everything is healthy with our baby. 

annoyed that these boots slide down and never stay straight up when I wear them.  

confused as to why I ever paint my nails because they look like this the day after. 

happy that it is almost March!  Which means my February giveaway is almost over and I have a few large and medium ad spaces open for March.  Check out details here!

Four

scarf: DIY (tutorial here)   cardigan: gift years ago  dress: old navy  boots: kohls
ONE:  It finally looks like winter around here.  Just in time for it to be February and for me to want it to be Spring.  Bummer.  
TWO:  I told my class that I was pregnant yesterday.  One kid suggested I name my child Zorro and another asked "How did you know?"  I avoided both comments.  
THREE:  I will now shop in all sections of a clothing store.  We know I have a few things from the little girls' section and this weekend I was looking in the men's section for Chris and found this $6 shirt for me. 

. FOUR:   And most importantly:  Happy birthday to my Mom!  I am well aware that my greatest blessing in life is my family and I couldn't have been luckier with the mom I was given.  I consider her one of my best friends and can rarely go a day without talking to her.  I'm so thankful to have such a wonderful, loving, amazing mom.  I LOVE YOU!!

Happy Wednesday! 

Playing Favorites

sweater, leggings & necklace: kohls    boots: dsw   watch: groopdealz 

Joking about what child is my parent's favorite is a common conversation in my family and it's pretty much known that I am my mom's favorite.  Even though I have played the middle child syndrome card a few times.

While I don't think I have all of the typical middle child traits, like having to fight for attention, or feeling like I don't belong, I may have a few like being shy or impatient.

But I don't think I can attribute that to being a middle child, because I think my parents did a really good job of giving us equal attention and not favoring anyone when we were younger.

However, now that we've gotten older I have to say I may have earned the most favorite child.  Proof was that my mom bought me this ornament a few years ago:

It took a few years for my siblings to notice my ornament and due to their jealous feelings and my mom's need to make everything seem completely equal and fair, she had to buy them one too: 

But I'm just going to have to hold on to the fact the she bought mine first and without being asked. 

Is there a favorite in your family? 

How to have a good Thanksgiving

1. Don't waste any time taking an outfit picture.  Consider a family picture even better.

dress: old navy   necklace: carolineg  boots: dsw 

2. Chase your niece and nephew around to try to get a picture with them. 

3. Once you catch them don't give up.  Even if they cover their eyes or don't look at the camera.

4. Count your self very lucky when you finally get a good one.

5. And even luckier when they jump into your pictures without being forced.

6. Take at least one picture of your meal.



7.  Do lots of sitting around, watching episode after episode of Friends or admiring a fire and Christmas decorations.

8. Be so thankful that Christmas is four weeks away and you get to do it all over again!

Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Giving thanks

sweater: kohls  skirt: target   bracelet: francesca's

First off, I have to say that this outfit may as well be pajamas. Ridiculously comfortable.

Secondly, I wish all the time my hair could do a top knot or high bun. This is the best I've got. A tiny nub on the back of my head.  Someone help me.

And thirdly, I wanted to share one of my favorite recent traditions.
Two years ago Chris started a tradition that I hope we do every year for the rest of our lives. 

During the month of November we put out a big piece of paper on our banister by our stairs.

Throughout the month we write different things we're thankful for. Big things. Little things. Everything. 

It's a great reminder that God has given us so many blessings and is a daily reminder that He has given us far more than we will ever deserve.

Starting this year's list of with these things: 

A new recipe.  (pumpkin chocolate chip bread)

Dinner out with Chris this weekend. 

Coffee on a Sunday morning. 

A family that I couldn't be more thankful for.  

 Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.
James 1:17

What are a few things on your list this year?

Weekend Getaway

shirt: old navy (similar) pants: kohls  boots: dsw (similar)   scarf: made by my sister

Last weekend Chris and I spent three nights in Wisconsin Dells and had such a great time! This is one of the outfits I wore and I think it is one of my favorite outfits so far.  

It was SO good to get away and spend time together. 

The first day we were there we hiked around Devil's Lake.  

It was gorgeous! 

Despite being a little chilly we had such a great time hiking, sitting on the boulders and enjoying the beautiful fall scenery! 

I have to say that heights are not something I am too fond of and I was quite proud of myself for climbing up to this rock. 

We hiked on a path on the way up, but on the way down we crawled, jumped, went "bouldering" down these huge boulders. 

It's hard to tell in the picture how big and steep they were, but let me tell you that it was a lot of work. 

I really didn't mind it at the beginning.  Even enjoyed it. 

However, after about 20 minutes or so of doing it I was ready to be done!

Here is my I want to give up and just sit in these rocks picture:

That night we thought we'd be really cool and find a bar that had a happy hour, have some drinks, stay out late, you know, act our age?

Let's just say we ultimately failed after getting the first happy hour restaurant's time wrong, then finding out the next restaurant had closed, among other failures.  

I'll just tell you that we ended up eating at Culver's, being in our pajamas and bed by 10 and watching a movie. 

The second day we were there we walked around Wisconsin Dells and found a chili cook-off.

We got to taste lots of different chili and vote for our favorites. 

I only wish the tasting cups were about five times bigger. 

We also went to a winery that had a band playing and wine tasting. 

I loved it!

It was such a great weekend!

Leaving a Legacy

dress: kohls  boots: dsw  sweater: ?

It has been almost a year since my grandpa passed away.  

Two years ago in October my grandpa was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.  Soon after he was diagnosed my family flew down to Texas to say goodbye, as we weren't sure how long he would have left.
Thankfully, God allowed him to live another year which was such a blessing. 

It was such a blessing to be able to have a year that we didn't think we would have. 

To have a year to make it a point to call him and talk to him more often. 

To have a year to write him a letter telling him how much I loved him and how lucky I was to have him as a grandpa.  

My grandpa was an amazing man.  One of the greatest things that I admire about him was that he was a man of prayer.  My dad spend a lot of time with him during his last year and was able to spend many nights with him. 

I learned that each night my grandpa would spend time praying for every member of his family. 

And not just listing names, but praying for our specific needs and struggles we were going through. 

He knew what we were going through and knew that one of the best ways to love us was to lift us up in prayer. 

About a year and a half ago, Chris and I started praying together every night.  We too lift up our families, friends and our own needs and struggles.  We have yet to miss a night of praying together.

Part of me is sad that my grandpa isn't here for me to tell him when I do get pregnant, as I know that he prayed that for us every night.  But I know one of his prayers is being answered, that Chris and I continue to grow in our marriage and grow closer to God.  

I think of my grandpa all the time and am so thankful for the example and legacy that he left. 

And I'm so thankful for that extra year we had with him so I could tell him that.
I'm so thankful that I have no doubts that right now he talking to God face to face.  

I know he would be so proud of Chris and the man of prayer that he has become.  

sunday style  YOLO Monday
Monday meetup

Camping - Lessons Learned

Be prepared for a picture overload. I couldn't help myself. 

Last week my family went camping and overall we had such a great time. 

I learned a few things while I was there. 

I'm a little (maybe a little more than a little) more high maintenance now than I was when I was younger.  Things like my own shower, bathroom, mirror, etc. definitely weren't an inconvenience  when I was eight. 

I am an official converter to the one piece swimsuit. 

For those of you that asked before, this one is from Old Navy but is a year or two old. 

I'm thankful for the men who set up our campsite when we got there.

This little man even did his part.

I don't think I could ever eat enough s'mores to make me feel sick or to get tired of them.

My sister is one of the strongest woman I know. After being diagnosed with Lyme's disease a few weeks, and feeling quite terrible she still wanted to go camping.  And then after a health scare and trip to the ER while we were camping she was beyond a trooper with such an amazing attitude.

She is incredible.  

My nephew is now officially a runner.

And I'm already planning to fulfill a dream of mine and run a mini race with him this next year.

We did quite a lot of practicing while we were camping.  

Starting stance, countdown, finish line. We did it all.

I have the most sweetest, cutest and most loving nephew in the world. 

(This one I already knew, but think so even more.)

I appreciated the break from phone, internet and even blogging. 

 These kids LOVED the beach and we had so much fun playing.

Camping is hard when you have little kids.  Even with nine adults. 

But luckily the kids don't even have a clue and loved it. 

Flies, dirt, wind.  Nothing bothers them.  

(I can't say the same for myself.)

I absolutely love my family and feel like they are my greatest blessing.