{ all is grace }

All is grace.

Even when life feels cattywampus.

Maybe especially when life feels cattywampus.

All is grace.

Especially when you cringe to hear your children cry because they want  their Dad.

And I stop to give thanks and remember how many children go to bed every night without a father. Nearly 40%.

All is grace.

Especially when he leaves for work at 4:30 am and still isn't back by 11 pm.

 I give thanks because what takes him away from us right now is driven  by his  love for us, to provide for and  make a sweet  home for our little family.

All is grace.

Especially  when you are in between homes.

And I stop to give thanks, thinking of how many people have lost their jobs or  homes or both, in the fallout of our economy or through some other tragedy.

All is grace.

Especially when I fail to respond to my children with grace. They forgive so quickly and freely.

And His grace covers my sin.

All is grace.

Especially  when life isn't fun.

Like when all three of my children are crying at the same time.

All is grace. And I give thanks and think of the longing of so  many would be  mother-hearts, who would give anything to be in my place and see the fulfillment of their dreams as they ache for a baby, or another baby.

All is grace.

Especially being without a phone. And I give thanks that for now there are less distractions and more time to pick up my Bible, and be nourished by those life-giving words of His. And in the last week we have been to the library 3 times and checked out over 100 books.

All is grace.

Especially with all our school stuff  packed away in a box.

And I give thanks, especially for this sweet friend who has been my school fairy and done so much legwork for me. Without her help, Annabelle would not have been able to start school this week.

All is grace.

Especially  when we feel the stress and strain and we feel so unsettled.  We give thanks, as what we are going through right now is so far from a real crisis and we remember how blessed we are and how "unfair"  it is that we have our health, we have our love for each other, we have three beautiful children,  and we have Jesus, when so many others don't.

All is grace. Especially being moved out but not in anywhere.  And I give thanks that we have been so lovingly taken in and given a place to stay in the meantime...and for family who would always and gladly take us in. 

All is grace. And " He makes all things beautiful in it's time. Also, he has put eternity into man's heart, yet so that he cannot find out what God has done from the beginning to the end. I perceived that there is nothing better for them to be joyful and to do good as long as they live; also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in all his toil -this is God's gift to man. " Ecc. 3:11-13

This song has been playing on repeat in my head the last few days.

 It is the inspiration behind this post.

( picture source found here )

{ playing dress up }

Annabelle + I are having so much fun playing dress up with our little real life baby doll. 

Sundresses. Swim suits with ruffles. Floral button up shirts.

And little green fairy costumes.

This very beautiful + dear to our heart little friend, told her mom, 

before Lucy was even born that she wanted to give this little Tinker Bell suit to 

" the baby in Chelle-Chelle's tummy."  It was entirely darling + thoughtful of her!

  The bumbo and chewing on her clothes also happen to be two of her very favorite things right now.

We compliment her with great admiration every day by telling her that she's..." pretty and she's fat and she's oh so pretty fat."

She's rather poured into it. 

Delicious little rolls spilling out everywhere.

 

Loving Lucy at four months. 

She's all giggles and open mouth kisses and sweet baby hums,

starting to get up on all fours and playing with her toes.

 And we don't know how we ever got along without her.

{ three guesses }

 As to where the kids and I will be for the next three nights?

Here's a little clue, courtesy of our beautiful, resident 5.5 year old:

 Want another clue? It's one of my very favorite places on planet earth.

I am determined to enjoy every drop of this little summer vacation with my little trio but it sure hurts to be leaving David behind. He's staying home to work and then work some more, on the house, while we're off with his family to play in the sand, chase down waves, kiss on the nieces and nephews and laugh our heads off. 

I would switch places with him in a heartbeat this week...if only I could.

{ Preview }

 So it's not much to look at yet but a certain Mr. oh-so-dear-to-my-heart is working all hours to make this house that we bought on June 24th 2011 into a lovely little home for us. 

By the end of August. 

We just found out that we have to be out of our rental by the end of the month.  

It looks a little daunting, I know...but let me assure you, this house + our time crunch, well it's no match for his super powers. You'll see. 

And what an adventure it will be...as long as we remember to look at it as that make the most of it.

The plan is to set up housekeeping upstairs while the downstairs gets finished. It's crazy to think that we will be living here in just a few short weeks. 

the front

kitchen

dining room + built in 

and pretty archway David built

 

 dining room + window seat

living room + fireplace with built in bookshelves

bathroom

stairs ( this was the day David and David " leveled out the floor + stairs )

downstairs bedroom

peek-a-boo through door to downstairs

side view

upstairs landing and smaller bedroom ( with it's first coat of paint )

kids bedroom (upstairs )

I think we might have our work cut out for us.

And boy are we ever excited for the end result. 

But for now, after putting in another long day 

he's come home. 

Annabelle says that root beer floats sound good and I couldn't agree more.

A love song for...

                                                  you. xo

More often than not, he's up by four and out the door to work.

And then after a long hot day at work he goes to work some more, on our work in progress house. 

We just found out today that we have to be out of our rental by the end of this month. 

He so doesn't need all that extra pressure right now. 

But I know he'll make it all happen. 

He carries quite the load on those handsome broad shoulders of him. 

And more than all, I adore him. 

{ these days }

  I have had the best intentions...for days that have turned into weeks, I have meant to get back here and dust off this little corner and start writing again. I really want to get back to blogging more than once every three months but the truth is that I have yet to find an easy daily rhythm + feel on top of things here at home. I wonder how long this is going to take to figure out how to juggle everything again, and I feel guilty that by now, three months later I don't have more of a handle on life. Which is silly because I feel like we've had the easiest possible transition from two to three. I am not even kidding, and some of you are going to hate me when I say this but Lucy has more often than not, slept through the night since the day she was born. I know.
And ( so far ) it's rare for her to go to the trouble of crying about something. She truly is a wonder and very the best thing that could have ever happened to us. I tell her on a daily basis that she really should be too good to be true. She get's that from her Daddy. It's been two and a half months since she graced our family with her sweet little self, and our are hearts currently brim full and then some.  She's has the sweetest disposition and rolls on her thighs.

And she has cheeks that go on for days. And a signature cough since day one, that we all know means she's most politely asking to be fed. Oh and she's worlds best baby to snuggle. She melts right into you. When she's not sleeping or nursing or pooping she's beaming. And yesterday she started sucking her thumb That's our little Lucy Wren. And I could go on gushing about her for hours if I didn't have so many other things to catch up on around here.

  These days I am trying to let it sink in that Annabelle is about to be a kindergartner. That yesterday she rode her bike all around the park without training wheels and read a book to me. That these days I am so proud of her + that she grows only more beautiful to me.
Even especially when she makes a mud puddle with the hose in the back yard and smears her brother and herself from head to toe in it.

  And these days I am more head over heals than ever for my Jack boy. Not that we don't frequently have hard days/nights with him. He is two after all.

  Right now he's in the middle of a serious obsession with all things fireman, that has grown out of his adoration for a certain favorite uncle/person his. He is has the blondest little head you've ever seen. And a tender heart. Two of my favorite things he says right now are..." Mommy love me, right? " + " Mommy nuggle me! " These days it's so hard for me to watch the hot summer sun take a toll on his fair skin, as I pray for his little body and for wisdom on what to do to help keep his eczema from getting out of control.


 These days I am working on the layout and design of another project house (going to post before pics soon, I promise) as David works around the clock to get this most recently purchased old home of ours renovated + move-in-ready by the end of summer.  The house had eleven other offers on it, and they accepted ours so we feel pretty sure it's where God wants us right now. 

  These days I am longing to grow closer to Jesus, to love my family better, to treasure the blur of days that are turning so quickly into years, to embrace change + to stay flexible, to be less selfish, and not forget to thank Him for his countless daily gifts + goodness to me.

These days I am singing this song as a prayer.

These days, I am blessed, and I know it.

{ Ours }

As every prayer prayed for us was so beautifully answered

Lucy Wren

Arrived ever so sweetly at home, on April 14th, at 6:40 am

8 lbs. 14 oz. + 21 inches long

The timing couldn't have been more precious as Jack + Annabelle woke up Thursday morning to her very first cries.

Annabelle is flying high, with a baby sister to hold, sing to and dote on. She climbed into bed with us this morning looking for Lucy with a sleepy: " Mom, we just adore her, don't we?!"

As you can see Jack is pretty tickled with her.

He calls her baby or just "whaaa.." for short.

Him with her.

Melts me hardcore.

She's really, really sweet and soft and she smells like heaven and at three days old we've hardly heard her cry. And when she does it's sounds more like a chirp.

We fight a little over who gets to hold her next...as we soak up + drink in her newness and the pure miracle of love, of joy, of life. Of the gift that she is to us, straight from the heart of Jesus.

{ Date Due }

That day has come and gone. 

And little Lucy girl of mine, I just want you to know that I have been waking up every morning for the last three weeks, with my heart skipping a beat, wondering if this is the day we'll finally get to meet you...of course I would be lying if I said that by the end of the day I am not fighting off a little tug of disappointment or that I don't ache a little harder for you to be here
Is there any way to tempt you out of that quiet, safe and snug little cocoon that you have called home for the last 9 months? I get that life out here is loud and crazy and sometimes full of hurt. But it's every bit as beautiful and worth it as it is those other things. And baby girl, if you only knew how loved you are..If you only knew how many people are praying for and excited about you. Some day you will. 

Also, if only you knew that we are quite literally going insane beside ourselves in anticipation of you. While praying for patience, and attempting to give thanks and trust in the middle of the mess and the tears and hormones gone wild, even though I am doing such a bad job of it, that Jesus knows what's best for you and when and where and how.

Take a look at all the pretty things that have been made with so much love and so many,

just especially for you:  

 

 by her

 and her and her

 and her again

 and her.

 

Only one thing is missing from your sweet little corner and our very arms right now...

and we know all too well baby doll, just who that might be.

And just for the record...you are worth the wait...times ten,  little one.

{ bliss filled days }

               { source }

  I apologize for vanishing like that after typing up my last post, giveaway and all. We do infact have a winnner. ( see the end of this post for the details on that )

  March, even though we are only two weeks into it has turned out to be sweeter than I ever imagined possible. Baby Lucy doll and I were spoiled beyond words + so overwhelmed by the love made visible of a dear, dear group of amazing + gifted friends . It was truly the loveliest baby shower of all time. The atttention paid to every single pretty detail, made me feel so treasured + loved.

  Then somehow magically ( due in great part to our loving, giving, super wonderful husbands ) this past weekend we were able to pull off, in true March tradition, for the third year in a row..a weekend visit from this oh so adored lady. Darn it that she caught me, I almost booked her to stay until May.  

 And now the question remains...as we wait with baited breath to see if March will include getting to glimpse and cuddle this sweet baby girl that we have fallen so in love with. 

And now back to the giveaway results. The ever lovely Jessica at Living the Swell Life was the lucky winner of One Thousand Gifts...Keep an eye out for it in mail as it is shortly on it's way to you dearie.

It is my sincere wish + hope that March has been and will continue to be oh so good to you, my friend. xo

March is for...

March is for reading beautiful books + counting gifts. And for giveaways. To enter your own copy of Ann Voskamp's book, One Thousand Gifts leave a comment with a book recommendation or current good read of your own. Check back on Friday to see if you won. I am so very excited to start our study of this book with dear friends on Thursday morning.  

" Thanksgiving creates abundance; and the miracle of multiplying happens when I give thanks - take the just one loaf, say it is enough, and give thanks - and He miraculously makes it more than enough. I have beheld suds in sun, and I have known miracles like that. "

March is for cheerful primroses to brighten up the gray, snow-melting days.

March is for baby showers, thrown by amazingly artistic + precious friends.

Is that not the sweetest little invitation you have ever seen? It's been hanging on my refrigerator and making me smile all week long.

March is for...wearing cute hats.

 March is for...enjoying the swirl of pretty colors in Annabelle's birthday fish in their vintage green mason jar "fish bowl."

March is for homemade waffles on the weekends

March is for stacks of pretty fabric + sewing up quilts.


What is March for to you friend?

{ Interview with the Birthday Girl }

Last year we started a couple new birthday traditions. This one and the following, the birthday interview.

What is your name? Annabelle

What are some of your nicknames? Anniebelles, Sugar Plum Fairy ( that's what Daddy calls me ), Twinkletoes, Lovie + Sugs ( that's  what Mommy calls me )

How old are you? Five

Where do you live? by Audrey's house

What are your favorite things to do? Go to the park, go to parades, smell flowers, dance, color + paint, pick bouquets of flowers, play dress up

What are your favorite foods? bacon, rice, shrimp, sushi, strawberries, birthday cake

What do you want to be when you grow up? a ballerina

What do you do on your birthday?  go on treasure hunts, play with balloons, open presents, blow out candles 

What are your favorite colors? red, purple, pink, green + blue

What is your favorite thing to wear? dresses with tights

What would be the best thing someone could give you? ballerina slippers

What do you do all day? play with Jack and my stuffed animals

What is your favorite toy? Winnie the Pooh

Who loves you the most? Jesus, Daddy, Mommy, Jack + baby

What is your favorite book? Twig

What is your favorite song? There's Something in the Water   

Where is your favorite place to go? to the toy shop and the pet shop

What makes you happy? surprises, kisses, dancing

What makes you sad? hitting, when I hurt myself 

What was your favorite thing about your 5th birthday? Getting two pet goldfish with Poppy + Nana...one is mine and one is Jack's. I named my orange goldfish Petunia. Jack named his white goldfish, Big Tool.

What's something that you want to do this year that you've never done before? Go to the circus.

What are you most looking forward to about being five? doing bigger things, my baby sister being born, starting ballet

What do you think is the most important thing in the whole world? for God to rescue us

{ 5 }

{ Her to a t }

" Some people are so much sunshine to the square inch. "    - Walt Whitman




Happy last day to be four. 
Happy almost five years old. 
Happy you. For you find delight in all things great + small. Especially the small. 
Happy us. That you are ours. 
Happy all the way around.

{ my little craft room }

Who doesn't dream of a pretty room to call their very own?

A room for the express and sole + purpose of creating...

For years I have been wishing for a craft room...

and with this remodel those dreams came true,

thanks to a certain Mr. Dream Come True Maker of mine...

And here it is, complete with lettuce green walls, scallop-trimmed work  table+ vintage sheet stash: