InstaFriday

at the homecoming parade with Aunt Laura

Our cheelreader, future Boilermaker

feeding her baby



Work events have their perks. The Trump Hotel, beautiful view and glass of wine

 Go on and check out InstaFriday, see what it's all about. I am so thankful for a fun way to share my phone pics and it's sooo easy to have a post ready to go on Friday, no thought :) Just beautiful! Have a fun and safe weekend everyone.

3 Weeks

3 weeks... it's been 3 weeks since I cried tears of happiness and relief as I heard a heart beat and saw a new life inside me. It's also been 3 weeks since I knew that baby was not mine to keep, it's been 3 weeks since my baby became my angel baby.

3 weeks and I am strong and ready to try again. I am ready to bring another life into this world, I am ready to try again knowing I have NO CONTROL over the future of the little life inside me, knowing it could all end this way again. I can do what I can to take care of myself and love myself enough to give that life a safe place to grow and develop but my GOD he is in ultimate control of these babes of mine. I will trust in him and his timing.

3 weeks and I think of that sweet life everyday, I probably will most days for the rest of my life and that's ok.

Sweet baby of mine you made me stronger, gave me more faith in our God, just as your sister Lydia did when she was born. We will meet you again one day baby in heaven with our Father who is loving you from heaven today and forever.

10.06.11

Weekend Recap: Fall Fun!

This past week was such a dream for me. I love being home with Lydia more than anything in this world, I so hope that some day it is in our plans for me to do just that everyday! For now I  enjoy the time I do get to take off with her.

First Up: Childrens Museum with Daddy! This was her visit and Indianapolis has a fantastic Children's Museum, she had a great time. We will be returning soon :)

With daddy in the train exhibit

Playing in the Playscape (for kids 5 and under, so thankful for this area)

CHEESE :) 

Next Stop after a good nap on Friday was West Lafayette for Purdue's homecoming. The girls packed it up (me, Lydia, my mom, my aunt and her two girls) and we went up to cheer on and support my cousin who was on homecoming court. Lydia thought the parade and pep rally were the coolest thing ever. She hopped from shoulder to shoulder and enjoyed every second of it. We then went to the game on Saturday after spending the night with Aunt Laura.

My beautiful cousin riding in the parade

Enjoying the festivities from Aunt Laura's Shoulders

Cheering on the Boilers to a win!

Sunday we stopped by the big old farmhouse near us that sells pumpkins! No crazy pumpkin patches for us just some fun outside! She loved it.

Searching for the perfect pumpkin

I looove my little family!

This one is definitely more her size

I am so thankful that God granted me with moments and memories like these to fill up my heart and my soul for the hard moments in life because none of that seems so bad when you have moments like these. I hope everyone had a beautiful fall weekend and were able to enjoy your families and friends :)

InstaFriday

Playing at the Hotel in Findlay, OH visiting Aunt Courtney

we have a musician on our hands

Playing on the playscape on her first visit to the Childrens Museum, we will be back, she loved it!

We had lots of rainy days this week so we ended up at the mall to play in the kid area she loved this slide

I hosted a Thirty-one party this week and everyone brought bags that included one complete outfit that will be going to Ordinary Hero to hand out to the street kids of Ethiopia, we collected 15 outfits! 

This week has been so fun and busy for me, I took Wednesday through today off to play SAHM and enjoy a self-proclaimed fall break. Now we are heading up to Lafayette where my cousin is up for Homecoming Queen at Purdue. We are so proud of her and can't wait to see her in the parade tonight and out on the field tomorrow!

I think I just found my Inspiration

For our new kitchen that is. Our kitchen is not going to be brand new, we will keep our appliances, cabinets and everything of that nature. We didn't win the lottery. :) However, I have been trying to find paint colors I like that will go with our living room, it is very open to that space so it needs to coordinate. I have also been looking for a window treatment idea and cabinet makeover ideas.

I LOOOVE THIS KITCHEN! I think I can tackle most of it, I have been toying with the idea of removing some of our cabinet doors, but not sure how I feel about it yet with my dinnerware and how it's all smashed into our cabinets at this time. Maybe I will do it like this and only do a couple cabinets, just for the open feel.

This is how I am going to take my mind off the fact that I should be getting ready to work on a nursery.

Pictures via The Lettered Cottage


Stay tuned, hoping to get started on this while I'm playing SAHM for the next few days.

InstaFriday

I hate missing InstaFriday, it's one of my favorite link ups because it allows me to share and remember the pictures and the moments that only my phone is available to capture.





Sitting on Grandpa's tractor, waiting for a ride



She picked out her pumpkin to use for Trick or Treating

Stretching with the cross country girls

sleepy kiddo wearing daddy's hat

The beautiful flowers from my family

tissue paper bow that her cousin made her

You can find them like this quite often, surrounded by her dogs, in a deep convo with her daddy

Now it's your turn, go on and link up with InstaFriday! Have a fantastic weekend.

It's Not Too Early

It is not too early to be thinking about the Holidays. I know many of you are probably planning your family get togethers, your menu's, and your Christmas gift shopping list.

My goal is to help make a difference by Thanksgiving for those who are wondering where their next meal might come from not just how many types of cranberry sauce will be on the table. My goal for opening my Spread Campaign store through Light Gives Heat was to provide 6 months of food by Thanksgiving. **42 Days Left**.

To be honest, I am nowhere near reaching my goal and we are only a little over a month away. So please take a look at their merchandise, it is beautiful, quality, and made by the people of Uganda. Therefore providing them with a way to feed, educate, and provide shelter in the communities of Uganda.

I cannot think of a better gift to give then the gift of  a full tummy to those who need it. I cannot think of a better way to live out the Gospel then to love others and spread the word!!

Here is the link to my Spread Campaign store, when you checkout you actually get to see how much your purchase provided. So cool!!


All-New Spread Campaign from Light Gives Heat on Vimeo.




Also, thank you a million times thank you to those who sent sweet messages our way after the loss of our sweet baby. We feel the love and prayers and I cannot thank you enough.

Our Loss, A New Chapter

Last week Matt and I added a chapter to our story that we hoped would never be written. We hoped we would not have to join the millions of women and families who have miscarriage and loss as a chapter in their story. BUT we are now in that mix, this is now part of our story.

Wednesday is when it started, we went in Thursday morning for an ultrasound, all looked fine (Great actually) we saw the baby right away and heard that life altering sound … the heartbeat. They were not sure what was causing my bleeding but it did not seem to be related to the baby directly. I went to work for a few hours and noticed it was getting worse again. So I went home to lay down for the rest of the evening, I was on the phone a couple times with my Dr. who happened to be on call (what a blessing to have her talk me though this). I went in again Friday morning praying for the best trying to be optimistic, we had heart the heartbeat not even 24 hours before how could it not be there. There was nothing. No sign of the sweet life we had seen and heard only 24 hours earlier.

Heartbroken.

As I have stumbled my way through this weekend, I am thankful for the friends and family that had already celebrated this sweet life with us and were now mourning and praying over this loss right along with us. I am thankful for my ROCK of a husband who never ceases to amaze me. I am thankful for my spunky daughter who knew no different after mommy came home, I whispered to her as she let me rock her to sleep that night, that I would make her a big sister someday, that her baby brother or sister had gone to be with God ahead of us and will be waiting for us when we meet again.

I am thankful for the band of women who have wrapped me in prayer and hugs, they have told me their own stories. I know I am not alone, and although it doesn't take the sadness away it is nice to be in precious company.

This chapter is not near complete as I am still healing, it will be with me the rest of my life but I will celebrate that sweet life every October 6th, the life that made me a mom all over again if only for 7 weeks and 2 days.

What I Love Wednesday

My Dogs

Bentley "B"

Ellie Mae

Layla

Ok, so they might get on my nerves 100 times a day but at the end of the day I can't imagine our lives without them. When they get all cuddly and curl up on the bed with us or they play with our girl and she lights up when she sees them, they are worth it!

Prayer

Prayer, it's important to me, it's a direct link to our creator, it's a lifeline to my sometimes overwhelmed and scrambling soul to the one who knows all that lives there.


I have grown up in a family that fully believes in the power of prayer, it might be a more silent prayer than some are used to, it's what is said in the darkness of our rooms in between the covers as we settle in for the night, it's done in a quiet church during morning communion service or it's a candle burning in my Grandma's shower for her grandkids who have tests, job interviews, doctors visit or for her friends who simply need lifted up in one of life's struggles.

A thing I have learned about prayer over the years is there is no right time or place, there is no right or wrong way to pray, no right words, just honest and sincere conversation. I have also learned that prayer is a form of worship, it is a way to praise our God for all the GOOD in our lives not just the struggles and hardships that we need help navigating through but for the joy that he has placed in our life as well.

I have also learned that in order for me to pray more completely and with all my heart, I have to write it down. I don't like to be the person who simply throws out the words "I am praying for you," "prayers coming your way" and then I never utter their name. I write it down in my little notebook as I think of those who are on my heart, I also might conduct a "Hey God, here's a quick shout out" as soon as I tell someone I will pray for them. I don't want to be dishonest, I truly want to pray for someone because I believe in the power of prayer. So if I'm praying for you, I truly mean it and rest in comfort knowing you are lifted up.

Prayer, sometimes it's hard, sometimes I forget, sometimes I fall asleep, sometimes I get angry and give God what I think is the silent treatment, but other times I find myself praying and not even realizing it until I'm silently uttering "in your name Amen".

I'm linking up with World Vision and their Annual Day of Prayer. Check it out!!

Ok, so I'm also using this again on Tuesday for Call Me Blessed, We Encourage Tuesday bc I was encouraged after writing it yesterday.