Etsy anyone?

OK, I know there has been a lack of posts, sorry and I will make no promises for more within the next few weeks. We are just crazy busy in the full swing of summer and posting is just about last on my list of to-do's. But... today, during nap time, I was in the mood to shop, although we have a lack of shopping funds for some reason :) so I "virtual-shopped" and would to share the things that I would have purchased during today's shopping splurge had I had funds in my non-existent shopping fund. :) Enjoy!

I'm a sucker for handmade pottery. These fresh mugs are found at KarenLorenc on Etsy.

Matching hats for the girls would be perfect for this fall! These are adorable and are found at NuxieMade on Etsy.

This O-So-Cute apron made at Bella Bee Designs, Etsy shop of course!

The Tuesday Necklace from Beau and Stella on Etsy.

Earrings from Beau and Stella - my new FAVORITE Etsy shop!

Six Years Ago Today...

Six years ago today I married the man of my dreams. I will remember that day like it was yesterday, perfect in every way. We have been together since the age of 15, so over 11 years now, but the past six years have been the best years of our life so far.

I love this man.

I love every fiber of his being.

I love the way he loves the Lord.

I love the way he loves me.

I love the way he is totally head over heals for his daughter.

I love how he provides for our family.

I love how he desires to grow and better everything in his life.

I love how he plans for our future.

I love how he relies on God.

I love the way he looks at me from across a crowed room.

I love how he misses me when I am away.

I love that we talk about everything.

I love how encouraging he is.

I love the sacrifices he's made so I can have the life of my dreams.

I love how I fit just underneath his shoulder when we hug.

I love that he always knows just what to say.

I love that he makes me a better person.

I LOVE THIS MAN!

Happy Anniversary Babe, I have loved the past 6 years and can hardly wait for the rest of our life!

Angry

I am so angry. I know that the Lord had a reason for all of this, but really, I am angry. I got sucked into this woman's story of her terminal pregnancy that she was caring to term. I checked her site on a very regular basis to see what was happening to her and her baby. I felt for her, I cried for her, I hurt for her. Only to find out, after a whole day of labor and delivery updates, 6 hours with the baby alive, then the baby passing on.... found out that it was all a LIE!!! All of it!

I feel stupid for being dragged into this blog and now, sadly, I will question every blog I read from here on out. There are so many questions that I have that will probably never be answered, but I know that although I am mad at this woman, I will continue to pray for her. She desperately needs prayer and I hope that she finds the truth in God's sweet grace through this whole thing.

If you would like to read an article written about her by the media, click HERE.

You can also go to this site to read more about the unfolding of the untrue events by clicking HERE.

Summer Fun!

Sorry for the lack of posts. We are still enjoying the company of our best friends from college, going on a week and a half now, so my time on the computer has been very limited! The great news is that we LOVE having them here! I thought it would be a little stress full to have 6 people, 4 dogs, 2 cats all in our tiny house for over two weeks, but it has actually turned out to be SO MUCH FUN!!! The kiddos (mostly) love each other and playing together, the dogs love playing together, the cats get along relatively speaking, and we don't want our game-playing partners to leave!

Today, Whitney and Jarrett took Shaun to work, to let us have a family day, since its Kyle's day off. So, we took Ryland to her favorite place in the world right now, Pump It Up Jr. its a indoor bounce house for little ones 3 and under on Wednesday mornings! Her and Kyle had a blast running around and climbing up and down the big slide about 150 times! She actually does it all by herself, climbs and slides down, no hesitation at all!

We also got a small pool for the backyard, and Ryland loves it! Jarrett enjoys sliding into it and running through the sprinkler. We actually have a really nice backyard, which I am just now realizing, so I think we will spend most of our afternoons back there.

Sorry for the lack of pictures, I will get some this week of everyone and post them later. By the way, this is my last week to drive the beautiful Traverse, so if you wouldn't mind, swing over and vote for me one last time (or 50 lasts times)! Thanks!!!

Great Snacks that we LOVE!

Here are a few snacks that we LOVE and Ryland LOVES too! They are great, healthy, snack options. Just thought I'd share. :)

The Fruit Crisps are one of our FAVORITE things to eat! They come in a huge variety of fruits and also have a Potato Crisps option that we have not tried yet. I have been getting these snacks from Costco, but you can visit their site and they actually offer FREE shipping! They are great because the only ingredient in the snack is the fruit itself, nothing more! Ryland would eat three or four bags a day if I let her!

The other favorite at our house is the Veggie Straw! We all love these too! They are a great snack for Ryland as well as us, they kind of taste like Pringles. We buy a big bag at Costco and they last about a week. But you can find them here as well.

Pictures to Keep You Happy

After getting attacked by a mosquito last week. Her poor eye and left ear... she looks like she was in a boxing match! Note to self... remember to put bug spray on the face too!

New water toy. She kind of likes it. If the water does not hit her directly in the face, she thinks its funny. If she gets hit in the face she just stands there and screams, maybe she will get that she can just take one more step and it won't hit her in the face! :)

First Time to Use the Webcam

Kyle's parents bought us a webcam so that we can talk to them via Skype. I am so excited to use it and let our family see Ryland and soon Brenley more regularly. If you don't know what Skype is, go check it out, it's really awesome!

Eyes

Look at her roll those eyes!!! Too funny! :)

Coolio

OK, so random, but we totally met Coolio, the Grammy award winning rapper, this weekend and he sat in my Traverse for the Mommy Madness blog! Crazy, huh!?!? Go check out the full story and watch the video here.

Wordless Tuesday?

Wordless Wednesday

Blogged Out

I have been doing the Traverse Blogging thing for just over two weeks now and I am TOTALLY loving the car!!! But, the thing I am not loving is the creative juices or lack there of. We are required to post 3 times a week about the car. That is not hard for me to do... I really do LOVE the car and can think of three different posts per week. The part that I am having a hard time with is blogging on my own blog. There has got to be other stuff going on in my life to write about other then this totally awesome car, right!?!?

So, I'm just going to start in and see where this leads me. Are you ready to come along for the ride... who knows if it will make any since, but at least it's something!

I've been in deep thought lately. Not about any one thing in particular but about my life as a whole. I think I have said this before, but I am totally the kind of person that looks to the future and totally believes that I will be or do better there, just not now. I am beginning to realize that is a major fault I have and I really need to deal with it. I will not be a better wife, mother, housekeeper, Christian, friend, etc. if I don't do something now.

So, what is it that I need to be doing? Where do I start? How do I prioritize the priorities (as my former boss would say)? I know the saying... "just take one day at a time" but that doesn't really work for me since I take each day as it comes and hope that somewhere in the future it will all work out. I need to be an ACTIVE member of my life, not just a bystander.

I really don't know what to do. I am in a lot of prayer and I've been reading the bible more often then usual... but I am still standing here without a direction. Maybe I just need to listen closer or maybe I am hearing God speak and I am ignoring Him, I haven't decided yet, but when I do, I will let you know.

I feel as though I just need and want to be present. To live in this moment. To take advantage of every opportunity to love my husband better, to show my daughter that Jesus died for her, to listen to my friends, to care if my house is clean or not. So, I guess that is where I am starting and in some cases it feels easier then others... but I am not just choosing one area... I'm going to hit them all.

I will fail. I will let someone down. I will fall short of where God wants me. But, that's OK. Perfection is not my goal... just movement.

Drum Roll Please...

And her name shall be...

... and we can hardly wait to meet her!!!

Moving...

I am not sure if you are a follower of the Bring the Rain blog... if you not... you should be! Anyway, right now, Angie is in India on a trip with Compassion International. It is amazing the things that her and her team are encountering and it is really putting in perspective for me how foolishly we live here in America. Take a few minutes and check out what they are doing. You can follow all of the team members during their trip here.

Rained Out

Tonight we took our longest drive in the Traverse to date. We drove from the White Rock Lake area all the way over Ranger’s Stadium. It was raining and rush hour during our drive over there. We paid for parking, walked inside, watched a woman chew out her boyfriend, watched him leave her there, watched her tell her friends about what he had just done (it was all quite comical from an outsiders view) and then find out the game had been rained out. So, we went for some coffee and dessert near by and then made the long drive home.

But… really… I must say, what should have been a long frustrating evening of driving and weather turned out to be actually quite nice and relaxing. This car rides so smoothly, especially on the highways and is so super quite. The heated seats also make for a “spa” like feeling! I am 5 months pregnant with our second baby and my back has been acting up, but tonight it got a good hour and half with the heat on it, I am feeling quite nice.

Ryland was very entertained by my wonderful sister, so it turned out to be a nice little road trip in the rain. One other thing that I LOVE about this car is the windshield wipers! They are by far the best wipers I have ever experienced in a car before and I am totally digging them. Apparently they are special blades that suction onto your windshield, instead of the old fashioned kind and work fabulously!

You really should go try them out during your test drive! Remember, the one your taking to get your free massage from Massage Envy!?!? And… don’t forget to vote for me!!!