Psalm 37:4

"Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart." Psalm 37:4

I've held on to this verse over the last few years as God has taken me in several different directions with my love of writing. Since I was first learning to write in kindergarten I truly, truly loved the art. I still communicate much better through pen and paper than I do verbally.

My senior year in college I really explored what it looked like to be an artist in the realm of writing, but being a Christian first. I think so many artists identify with their artistic side before identifying with Christ, and I honestly didn't want to do that. As weird as it may sound to some, writing (or art in general) can totally be an idol. It also puts you in a vulnerable spot when you share essays, poems, and thoughts about what God's teaching you. It's a love hate relationship, as anything worth pursuing is. So, when I decided to blog, I really wanted God to do His work through words He gives me. And I've been encouraged to hear some of you over the last year or so talk about how this blog has changed you in some way, usually, hopefully, prayerfully, for good. This blog is meeting God's purposes and plans if it's making my readers more like Him in some way.

With all that to be said, God shows me over and over again that if I continue to delight myself in Him, HE - the Holy Spirit - inspires more words, more creativity, more ideas. God is my muse. His Word fuels my ideas. If anyone would ask me these last few years what my dream job would be, I would say something like, "Being a stay at home mom and getting to write about what God shows me in my life and family."

And guess what? As I've really tried to pursue God's purposes for how writing should fit into my life, and not shying away from using the gifts He's given me, He's dropping the coolest opportunity right in my lap!

Dianne Jago is a blogging friend I've gotten to know over the last year. We were both pregnant at the same time and I know God used both of our blogs in each other's life to encourage and teach one another. As much as I act like I despise technology at times, her blog is one reason I KNOW God uses modern technology to teach others, and one reason I see hope in continuing on with my own blog.

So, this opportunity I'm talking about? I'm getting there. haha

A few weeks ago I got a message from Dianne asking if I'd like to contribute to her new project, Deeply Rooted Magazine. As I read her thoughts and descriptions of what she was feeling God call her to do with this publication, I was bursting with excitement! Seriously, ask B. I don't think I've stopped talking about it since then. ;) haha I was up all night thinking about how cool it is that God allowed me to meet this friend through the internet, form this encouraging relationship, and then get to create art in a way that glorifies HIM through it! It truly is a desire of mine to encourage other women, moms, and wives through God's divine words and what He's taught me, in a vibrant and creative way. And now I get to!

Check out the above link to get more info on the publication. Please be in prayer for us as we work on this project. Pray that God would be shown in each article. Pray that the group of artists working on this publication are about HIS glory, and not our own. Also, pray that God would bring another great, Christian photographer to Utah to work with me, since Gregory Woodman is peacing out pretty soon. :( haha

Again, I am just so thankful that we have a creative God who WANTS us to create out of worship of Him!! So fun!! I hope this encourages some of you to delight in Him through whatever means of creativity He has gifted you with. :)

xoxo

Prepping for winter.

Yep. I'm looking forward to winter already. I always do this...wish away the current season in hopes of the next one. While I'm enjoying all the iced coffee and reading outside in the warm mornings, I'm making the most of my baking and fresh produce from my bountiful basket to stock up some food for the winter. I have a feeling I'm going to be even more homebound than usual with a baby on the brink of crawling/walking.  

 

 

I made some molasses bread today, one for B to have during my upcoming trip to Colorado. (I'm attempting to bake some extra food for him to have on hand that week so he doesn't eat like a bachelor.)

 

 

 

I'm storing one for much later to break out and toast with some winter soup this year. This stuff is so easy to make, it's healthy, smells delicious when it's baking, and I pretty much always have the ingredients on hand.

 

 

I'm using my grapes fro this last basket to make a grape salad for a birthday party Ari and I are attending tonight.

 

 

I really feel like I let tons of food go to waste last year when I was getting my baskets because I didn't make myself get creative enough with my cooking. This year I plan on using every last piece of those fruits and veggies! Pear muffins for winter. Leek and potato soup all around. Every sort of veggie pasta you can think of. Pumpkin bread out of our ears! It's also going to make some great baby food for Ari bug. It really is a great deal, but not when I get lazy and reach for premade food first. Maybe I'll have to share some of the crazy recipes I come up with. ;)

 

My grandparents are in town and we are having a blast. This is the first great-grandchild on both sides of our family. It's been fun to watch the different generations interact. So they will be here for the next two weeks, and then Ari and I are off to Colorado with them to see my parents for a week. B is so, so busy these days. I'm sad that he won't get to go with us, but God's got some stuff in the works for him here. :)

 

 

Ari always steals a few kisses before daddy heads to work. :) I love these two boys.

 

xoxo

 

P.S. I got to be a guest blogger over at The Breastfeeding Cafe today! Check out everything Ari and I have learned so far on our adventures with breastfeeding! ;) haha And please ignore all the grammar mistakes. That's the downside to not being able to get back in to the dashboard to edit, and the downside of having mom-brain all the time. ;) haha

 



Ode to the mundane.

"Set your minds on things that are above, and not on things that are on earth. For you have died and your life is hidden with Christ in God."

 

Colossians 3:2-3

 

 



This verse has popped into my head and study tons this week. (Someone must be trying to get my attention...) I'm having one problem with it. Maybe you can relate?

How in the world am I supposed to set my mind on things above when there's a pile of dirty sheets that need to be cleaned? And last night's dinner is still sitting on the stove? When my little guy can't breathe because his  fallen body has given him a stuffy nose? When my charming dollhouse grows smaller and smaller, and all of my baby's accoutrements grow bigger and bigger? When dinner time is just around the corner and the race begins to get my boys fed?

I thought about this as I snuggled Ari on our bare bed this afternoon. I don't know the answer and please don't tell me you do because I know you really don't. Not on most days, at least. It's just takes faith, I guess. Trusting and believe in God's grace as constantly remaking all things new until the end. But if all of His goodness is so glorious, why does my little world seem so drab? Maybe it's just one of those days. Or lives. Maybe it's me. Or maybe that really is why we long for heaven. Because this world is drab and lacking to meet our real needs. Our needs that go much deeper than clean clothes and yummy dinners.

It won't be long. I belong somewhere past the setting sun.
-Switchfoot

xoxo

A shout out to you lovely ladies. :)

Lots and lots of baby lovin' these days. :) Especially now that Ari's Colorado grandparents are in town!

It's been nice having my mom here this week, folding laundry, changing diapers, teaching me how to properly cut my husband's hair (HA!), and just holding Ari so I can do some running around. We have been blessed so far with sleep (despite those first CRAZY, hormonal few days of utter exhaustion) through most of the night. Ari has only woken up once at night these last two nights. So I've been getting plenty of sleep! So much sleep that I actually have a hard time sleeping at times...which is normal for me. Because of this, I've had quite a bit of energy to attempt to stay on top of things around the house, although things still get crazy when you don't plan for three outfit changes in twenty minutes due to poop and/or spit up while you've got diner burning on the stove. ;) Some things get put on the back burner these days, quite literally. haha Life as a mom...

With my mom being in town and helping me with so many things I was thinking about about these verses earlier, which I keep going back to every few days when I realize how loved and supported I've been by the women in my life over the last few weeks.

"Older women...are to teach what is good, and so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled." Titus 2:3-5

So this is a big shout out to all you ladies you have helped me love my family the last few weeks by washing dishes for me, doing my laundry, bringing us food, getting up suuuuuper early to sit with me so I don't lose my mind, listening to me cry on the phone, giving advice, getting me out of the house, oh so may things!! (And thanks to the husbands out there who let their wives spend some time with this crazy new momma!!) Now I know why these verses are in the Bible. They HAVE to be because we NEED them as wives, mom, and women in general. And God being a good God KNEW we'd NEED them. He's a clever God. :)

I'm so thankful for all you ladies.

xoxo

Life from my view these days. :)

Ari definately doesn't have his days and nights switched anymore, praise Jesus! But this means he's up a lot more during the day...during laundry time, mommy's nap time, shower time, and today it's been around the time I try to get dinner together. This is the first day we haven't had somebody bring us a meal and I was ready to get back to cooking! I missed it! Anyways, Ari suddenly decided that he'd spend his 45 minute awake time screaming. Haaaaa! I knew that was going to make for an extra loooong naptime.

It truly is amazing to me how the love you have for your kids as a parent covers all the crazy annoying things they do...like scream in your face for half an hour as you desperately attempt to dig into the mountain of dirty dishes, boil some water for quinoa, clean the bottles....

But after a few minutes of singing Jesus Loves You and cuddling him close to me in the baby carrier, he was out. :) Until his head hit the crib, of course. haha And that's where he is loudly waiting out naptime until the next time he eats. (And don't you worry...mommy is checking on him and kissing him lots in between frantic wails. haha) Poor little guy. At least I can almost guarantee quite a bit of sleep for the both of us tonight.

On a bit of a heavier note, please keep my parents and brother in your prayers. They live in Colorado Springs and are most likely going to be evacuated any minute due to the wildfires. They are coming in to town this weekend, but pray for protection, safety, wisdom on what to take and how to prepare for evacuation, as well as strength to walk through this crazy time in a Christ-like way.

I had this verse on my mind earlier today and was wondering why. When my mom called me pretty upset (she said buildings were catching fire and blowing up around them) I knew why, so I shared it with her.

"When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you."

Isaiah 43:2

Pray for all of Colorado Springs and the churches in the area that are reaching out to shelter and minister to families. Jesus really is our everything.

xoxo

40 weeks.

Yep. My due date is here. And in 7 hours...it will have passed. haha Guess baby is pretty comfortable in there. :) I'm honestly feeling great considering the well-done baby I'm carrying around. I'm really taking this time to enjoy all the grace and love I feel God's poured out on me (or us) this week through the end of my first year teaching, love from all my students, fellowship with many friends, yummy food and desserts that I (probably) over indulged in, and lots of time in my nest. :)

Much of my down time has consisted of walking the last few days, since I'm officially a stay at home helper until this babe comes. :) I have truly enjoyed this last week of pregnancy so much.

Last weekend we went down to Salt Lake City with Greg and played with photography around the city. This one was taken at the Salt Lake City Public Library. It was rainy, cold, and the only thing I could fit in to was a maternity sweater dress. haha So it was that and my rainboots. Which, by the way, wearing rainboots as a pregnant lady is kind of like trying to hop over a fence! It's hard work climbing in to those things!!

My best friend from back in our homeschool days, Amy, has been in town with her husband for the last few days, and since I've had off, I've been able to see her quite a bit. :) She's also pregnant, 23 weeks, and I got to go to her in town baby shower for her little girl last night. It was so fun to see all the frilly girly things!! (I guess maybe there iiiisss another reason to keep having babies despite all the pain. haha)

But despite of lack of pink and purple feminine lace, these bow ties and onesies are pretty adorable! ;)(Thanks, Amy!) I know daddy is excited about these spiffy outfits for his little man. :)

So aside from friends, eating all sorts of yummy food, and lots of walking, I'm just enjoying my transition from being in the world of working peeps, to being blessed to be able to come home and take care of my family full time.

I know I say this a lot, but I am so, so thankful for my husband. It hit me Monday night as I was getting ready for my last day of work, that after Tuesday, my job description and responsibilities are really changing. My husband feels strongly enough that I should be home that he has taken this step of faith in actually bringing me home, losing part of our monthly income and totally trusting God to provide, to take care of him and our little flock. Wow!! That motivates me to want to be an extra good steward of my time at home, the money God blesses us with through B's work, and my family in general. I am so thankful for B, and the God I see working in him as a husband and father. I really can't think of a better job than being a full-time helper to my husband and shepherd to my child. I am so excited for this next chapter of our life and all the on the job training God has in store for me. :)

Now all we need is that little bambino to cuddle! ;) Keep us in your prayers over the next few days!

xoxo

A breakfast I think Edith Schaeffer would appreciate.

B got to stay home with me again this morning for breakfast. Since I'm on Spring Break and have nothing other than tons of cleaning and organizing to get done this week, you better believe I took the opportunity to make this super easy Dutch Baby Pancake. I love this recipe because it truly was so easy, and you could add any fruit or topping you have. I also used half whole wheat to boost the protein. I was so happy when I opened the oven to see the tall wall of Dutch pancake that I unknowingly created. I forgot how beautiful it would look once cooked!

While cooking it I was thinking about Edith Schaeffer. Specifically, I was thinking about the few recipes she shared in one of her books that were just as easy as this one.

I've talked about Mrs. Schaeffer and all her wonderfully creative books before. She truly is one of those Proverbs 31 women I look up to as a young wife and soon to be mom. It's amazing to me how many times I've actually been made fun of by brothers and sisters in Christ for absolutely loving being so homeward focused (while still working part time) and serving my husband. Yes, I do iron his clothes for him every Sunday night, even if it doesn't look like it by the time he gets to worship practice in the morning, and I do because God has given me a heart that finds joy in serving and helping my husband. One of the best gifts my husband can ever given to me is when I hear him sigh when he comes home from work or a long day of meetings and say, "I love being home." Mrs. Schaeffer greatly encouraged me in finding my God-given role as a homemaker through her writing. One topic I could go on and on about is art and Christianity, and she writes about that often as well, as the while keeping Jesus at the center of everything. That is so, so important, and she manages to do it, and do it well. So well that the Lord gave her 98 year to serve Him and others through her giftings on this earth!! I was so happy to see that number 98 pop up on the article announcing her death. 98 full years her on this earth, and I know she's dancing right alongside her husband right now in heaven for our King Jesus.

I could go on and anaylze her books like the English major that I am, complete with quotes, citations, and lengthy footnotes, but I'll leave that for another time. (Maybe I should start reviewing books on here?) I do want to share one of the things God has impressed on my heart over the two short years of being married from reading her books.

We are a ministry family. God's called us to that. As of right now we are praying about the specific things God has called us to as a family in the realms of church planting. But being in ministry as a young wife for the last (almost) two years now, I have had a few of those experiences where some hungry and hurting friend shows up at your door and you need to cook up some lunch for them, or you have to figure out how to accomodate space for 30 or more people in your tiny dollhouse sized home, as well as dinners, and oh yeah, where will the children play? :) It's always chaotic, but these times are looked back upon as fond memories where we did watch Jesus move. I don't remember the stress of the moment, or some ingredient I may have forgotten to ruin the entire dinner.

That being said, God really impressed a specific term ( I guess you could call it that?) upon my heart through Mrs. Scheffer's writings. It's not a term she ever used, it's just something God has called me to cultivate in my home, family, and in ministry. That term or calling He has been teaching me about through my journaling, reading, and many notes that I've taken over the last two years is creating a Jesus culture. I really felt God saying that's what takes places when you open your home for ministry to happen. You are welcoming a group of people from many different cultures and backgrounds to partake in a common thing, that common thing hopefully being a relationship with Jesus. It was my second to last semester in college when I first picked up her books and I really felt God asking me to be open and okay with many different cultures and backgrounds in my life. I'm still not sure what this means today, but God has again and again asked me that. He has also shared with me that I'm not simply opening up a room made out of paint and wood, but a place that needs to be inviting and welcoming for people to want to spend time there and share their hearts. More very recently God spoke to me again about this Jesus culture He is calling me to cultivate, and I took down another note about what He was telling me in my commonplace. Here it is:

"2/15: Jesus culture: creating a culture where people are able to grow, confess sin, repent, and be broken totally without fear of fear or judgment."

Due to lessons learned in my own life, God was showing me how desperately important it is to not be judgemental of people so they feel accepted and able to confess and repent sin. Acceptance was the word God was really placing on my heart. So, today all I know is Jesus is calling me to help encourage this creative culture through art, ministry, homemaking, and openly accepting and loving others in my home. Still not sure what this means for the future, but God is slowly revealing it to me. (I hope this made sense to someone out there.)

How does this relate to Mrs. Schaeffer? Well, she was really all about that. She is all about flowers at the table, for no other show but to display thought and love you put in to the preparation and meal for the people you are breaking bread with. She is all about encouraging loud laughter from little boys as they run around the house banging on pots and pans. Who knows, maybe God blessed you with a little psalmist from your womb and this is his way of glorifying Jesus with music from a young age. Just think about that: walking in to a colorful home where music is constantly playing, goodies are hot from the oven, and you are always, always welcome to come over and share some thoughts and tea. Who wouldn't want to hang out there? :)

So ladies, I highly encourage you to pick up one of her books. :) See what gifts God has given you to cultivate in your family for His glory. For more reading about Mrs. Schaeffer, these are two articles I've loved reading this week: my favorite being I Owe My Home to Edith Schaeffer and then Challies' article.

I also wanted to share this article on being married young. I married at 19, my husband was 20, and we're about to have our first little boy at 21 and 22. I'm learning how truly crazy we are for doing this, but God is so good and He is the one that sustains any marriage, young or old. Believe me, God is asking me to trust Him over and over again each day that it truly is better for me to walk this life beside my husband, than it would be for me to walk it alone (Genesis 2:18). Happy reading, friends!

xoxo

A nest.

It seems like that's what I'm building when I consider all the fabric and string scarps I'm pulling from around the house for this little boy's nursery. Oh, and the feathers. I had to actually stop myself from buying moss yesterday. haha Thanks to your prayers and encouraging words, I truly felt a difference at work yesterday. Part of it was also just voicing my need for more help, and my wonderful aids came to the rescue as usual. And now I'll be home for most of the rest of the week, and I can feel my momma mode kicking into high gear. I've been staying up a little later than usual making things, and actually taking steps to get organized with his room.

 

 

I'm making a few banners to hang on the ceiling over the crib, coming out from one of the corners. Some of the fabric I'm using are actually vintage crib sheets I snagged several years ago because I liked the print so much. I found myself having to really think about boy colors while making these. "Oh, pink flowers..what shades of pink should I put with this one?" No, no, no, Lexy! Blue! You're having a little boy. haha I've got to retrain my girlish thinking habits.

 

 



We got a big package in the mail last week and opened it up to find this beauty! B's cousins from Tacoma sent it to us. One of them drew it by hand. It's a one of a kind. I love it, as I love all sorts of butterfly or bug prints. haha As long as we have space in the nursery, I plan on hanging this up. :)

Alright, well there are a few peeks at what I've been working on this week. :) Keep me and baby boy in your prayers!

xoxo

A home is a garden.

I haven't really wanted to nest lately. Sadly. Fearfully. What does that mean? Probably that I'm just busy and can't bring myself to go out and spend any money to cutesy up the baby room. So today we're hanging out at home all day after B gets home from church. I'm taking this time to search around the web for some more cute, affordable things to include in the nursery, and I'm hoping to hit up some thrift stores this week. (Anyone wanna make a trip to SLC with me? ;)) I've hit a sort of creative block with the nursery and keep talking myself down about it. "It doesn't have to be cool....he doesn't need anything, blah, blah, blah." Yes, that's all true, but I think I'd enjoy the next three months more and work through this ridiculous anticipation by staying busy making a little Hobbit hole for my little boy. Also, I've always stood my the conviction that a house becomes a home when creativity is encouraged and present. God placed Adam and Eve in the most creative, colorful, expressive garden that ever has been planted in history. That was the home He made for them before sin came and made homemaking more of a chore. I want to encourage the same sort of environment for my little ones, so they know God IS a creative God, and He has made us creative to reflect His image. (These thoughts and more were encouraged when I read The Hidden Art of Homemaking which I've mentioned before.)

While searching on Etsy, I found this adorable shop! I love all these prints!! How could I decide on just one? :)

This was the first one I came across. It has all the little animals I'm trying to incorporate (but still haven't?). But look at the others! Aren't they darling? Very earthy, yet creative and storybook-like. They sort of remind me of Where the Wild Things Are.

 

 

Ahhhhhh!!! Foxes AND France? Oh my!

 

Hopefully my creative juices are being stirred. Have a relaxing Sunday afternoon!

 

xoxo

 



Thoughts from around the house.

I could say this over and over again: I am happy as a lark being in my home 24/7. God's just made me that way, moreso over the last few years, but He has good reason. God warns about the wily woman in Proverbs 7:11 when Solomon writes, "...her feet do not stay home." So I'm plenty thankful, and B has expressed to me many times as well, that God has made me this way.

I spent the last week and a half either running around like a crazy person, trying to ignore my lack of sleep and energy, or prepping to run around like a crazy person. Unfortunately, I can't even guzzle down extra coffee for energy, so I've just given a sleepy smile at most of the, "You look tired" comments from this last week. No harm done! Now you and I just both know I've been tired and pregnant. haha This being the case, I was sitting in second service at church yesterday wanting nothing more than to just laying down in the pew and go to sleep. Since B was teaching I didn't want him to feel bad that his wife fell asleep during his sermon. haha

After feeling that tired, I decided to go home and clear my schedule for today. I have seriously spent the entire day, and will continue to, tackling the dust bunnies, mixing natural cleaners, contorting my body into strange positions to reach hidden corners and clean them, vaccuming (my chest muscles are pretty achey from this now), and just getting this little doll house cleaned up. When I apologize to B for there being too many books on the table, or a random pile of unfolded clothes for a day, he graciously responds with something like, "It's really ok. I don't mind out house looking like we actually live here." What a sweetie. :) Despite that, I do want our home to continue to be a place of comfort to him because I totally gush when I hear him say, "I love being home!" everytime he walks in the door.

Anyways, accomplishing all these things around the house today, God gently reminded me of the call He's placed on my life. He has called me to have a homeward focused heart. Nobody else can clean my house except for me, nobody else can be my husband's God ordained helper except for me, nobody else can raise this little boy and (hopefully) others except for me and their daddy. Someone else can always be a better pre-school teacher, encourager, prayer partner, friend, pastor's wife, and many other things, than I can be. Even though nothing terrible got out of hand during this last busy week, I just realized how much smoother things are when I do it God's way and make sure my heart is homeward focused first, and then all of those other things.

Proverbs 14: 1 "The wisest of women builds her house, but folly with her own hands tears it down."

I've also had a complete lack of any sort of drive to finish the baby's room, also mixed with some normal feelings of anxiousness as I see my last trimester approaching. (I've said this to many people, but that means there's a REAL HUMAN BEING at the end of this next trimester!) It just seems like there is sooooo much that has to happen in the next three months or so: baby shower, reorganize the rest of the house, get the furniture we still need, spend money on baby, spend money here, spend money there, decorate, sigh....a lot. haha

Proverbs 14:26 "In the fear of the Lord one has strong confidence, and his children will have refuge."

God again quietly reminded me through this verse this morning that this baby honestly has everything he needs already: a Savior who died for him, a mommy and a daddy living under the same roof, a crib, and a home. NONE of those above things that I listed really matter. None of them. I just need to make sure that I keep my eyes and heart on Jesus, and God will bless my little ones with a home that is a refuge.

I hope this encourages any other anxious, tired, exhausted mommy and wife hearts out there!

xoxo