A little Update

So it has been a while! Like a year and a half....

Well we are here in Texas, and guess what.... WE LOVE IT! I can honestly say it was one of the best decisions our family has ever made. We took the jump and went in both feet first. We know NO BODY in this little town of Fate and guess what? God showed up. He brought us community. He surrounded us with awesome neighbors and dear friends.

Texas has been such a blessing for our family financially. There is absolutely no way (outside a miracle) that we would be able to afford a home like we have here. The slower pace has allowed us so much more family time. The cost of living is actually affordable. And home ownership has been a true blessing. At our one year mark it was so wonderful to not have to move. The kids did not have to change schools and we did not have to pack up our lives and move due to rent going up or a landlord issue.


Noah has really taken to baseball. It is wonderful that we ALL can be part of his games and practices.  He has excelled in his skills and knowledge of the game. He really has a love for the sport. Hopefully once school starts he will come out of his shy shell more. Hannah has continued to love art. She decided to not sign up for a sport but to take an art class. Once the class becomes available she will get signed up.

Answered prayers are one reason I really to type out all these thoughts and things going on in life. It is always great to reflect on what is going on and where we were a year or two or three ago. God totally has brought us friendships, in all areas. Total answer to prayer. He even brought us family here too. Although it was not the way we thought it would have been, God brought us Jacob's mom. It has been wonderfully amazing having family here. We were even able to help in a time of need, which we would have never been able to do in CA.

With summer quickly coming to an end, I can't help but anticipate the fall. It really is my favorite. The crisp weather--- please come! Everything pumpkin, the smells, the baking, the gatherings, the routines, the shorter days....ahhh come quickly Fall. But this fall will be one like I have never had. Both kids will be in school full time, and SURPRISE.... we are pregnant. Coming this winter, February to be exact, we are having a baby. This was very unexpected for our family, but we cannot be more excited.

I feel the theme of this season of life is to let go, to what I have planned and just trust God. He knows what we need and when we need it. I feel like this is something we need, for our family. And he couldn't have surprised us at a better time. Even if it wasn't something that I planned, in my world of planning, He knew we needed it. And He really does give good gifts. So we anticipate this good gift, and dream and wonder and wait. AND PRAY...

So this is where we are, in this season.

Storms

Texas weather is crazy!

Ok, but seriously...CRAZY!

Last night we had a mega storm roll through. Living in SoCal my entire life, I now feel that I have been very sheltered to say the least. Sunny, warm, and almost always 80. Occasional Santa Ana winds, and very rarely wet stuff fell from the sky.

Now to Texas. Yesterday started off as a warm and windy in the high 80's. Ok, kinda like home, just more humid. I can handle that. But all day yesterday, the weather forecast told us the storm was coming. The tornado warnings had been issued. The hail warning, flood warning, and high wind warnings were all in the forecast. And then we waited. ALL DAY I waited. 

I must say the weather man do a great job at telling you where the storm is, and when it is going to hit. Finally about 10:00 last night the winds really kicked up and the rain came. Thankfully we didn't get a tornado, but we did have really high winds and rain. The thunder and lighting is a different story. Like you will see it, with your eyes closed, sleeping, curtains closed, see the bolts in your eye lids. I have never experienced anything like this before. And neither have the kids. Everyone was up last night. I am quite certain that one bolt stuck close, maybe even the water tower last night. To put it in perspective, the news reported 2,000 lighting strikes. 

One thing that is very different from the storms out here verses home, the Texas storms literally blow through. They don't stick around, they don't last very long. I think one the heavy part of the storm came it only lasted about an hour. The lighting and thunder maybe 3 hours, max. 

I don't know if this is something that I can get used to. But the weather doesn't seem to phase the locals. They go on business as usual. Everyone still goes to work, school and activities. They did have some schools close an hour early or sent people home early to prepare for the storm (at least that is what the news said). 

As for today, I am going to be thriving on coffee and extra snuggles from Noah. We have more severe weather in the forecast so maybe one day we will get used to it.... or maybe not.

Texas

So. Here we are in Texas. I never thought I would move out of state. Away from our family, our friends, our comfort zone. But we took the leap on this grand adventure of life and here we are, Texas.

I couldn't say I would pick Texas as my first choice of places to live, but God had other plans. I was comfortable in CA. The weather was nice and the people, were my people, the places familiar. Three months ago Jacob applied for a new position in his company. God had his hand upon him and the door literally opened, one after another. He was offered the job, and we bought our first house. Which is a miracle. Over the last 11 years of marriage we have looked to buy a house together, many times, and God has closed the door for us, many times. I know that we have been called out here, to this small town that we are living in. But it is not without heart ache.

I do miss "home". I miss the familiar. I miss the playdates, the coffee dates and walks around the lake. I miss the bumping into a friend or familiar face at Target. I miss the kids playing outside with all the neighbor kids. I miss my church.

Moving out of my comfort has been difficult. People don't usually seek out change. I want to grow and be stretched beyond what I think I can handle. I want to go deeper. No. Most people just want to float on by. Stay in the stagnate. Stay in the comfort, even if it is a mess.

I don't know if I was really stagnate. But I was close. I can say, moving has brought new perspective to me. I do have a new appreciation for my family. For my children, and our time together. I know I need to continue to grow and get out there and make some new friends. It is kinda weird at this season in life to make friends. I wonder if I will find any as good as the ones I left behind.

It is really the little things that are hard, the things that I didn't prepare for. The first Sunday we were here we tried out a new church. As soon as I walked into the service I started instantly balling. Like a little baby. I was totally not expecting that. It was just not our home church, with the people that have poured into our lives for the last 12 years. The people who at seasons are closer than family. It was new faces all around, and not our family. It was good to visit, but it wasn't our home church. But you know a couple days later I received a phone call from that pastor. And let me tell you, it was a total blessing. He prayed over our family, and prayed for a home church for us. He even confirmed, its never the job that moves you, but God. His plans are greater.

And that is what I am holding onto. It is Gods plans for us. I find my peace in that. I have hope that he is going to use Jacob and me, our family here in Texas. And that we are on the adventure, for the better. That it is for His glory.

I know the relationships will be built. He has called us to build. He has been discipling us for this. He has been bringing people to us that will cheer us on. He is in this, he is for this. I know this is the hard part of the new. The part where it is lonely at times. The part where we invest in our family. The part where we dive a little deeper in our relationships. Where we build.

The easy part is coming. I know. It will. His promises are good, and he is a good, good Father.

It's almost time

Christmas is almost here! Where did the month go? I am not quite sure. It has been pretty crazy. But it's almost here.

We finally did our Christmas picture. We attempted to do it on our own with the tripod, and that was a bad idea. It was the hottest day of December and it ended up with Noah sliding off Hannah and smashing his face on a rock. Poor guy, (he was ok) but it quickly ended our picture taking. I was pretty much over sending out a card, until last weekend, I thought I have to send one out it's Noah's first Christmas. So we did, I called Chela and we went out right behind our house and got some great pictures. I am so thankful for her. She was so flexible and squeezed us in. So after Jacob did some editing I uploaded to Walmart and cards were printed.

Last week Hannah and I decided to bless our neighbors. Well, it was a process that took a couple of months but we did it last week. Between pintrest and Ryan's service messages, I got a bright idea. I saved all our coffee cans for months.... and I mean months. I looked like a coffee hoarder. I cleaned them and then glued pretty wrapping paper on them over the coffee logo. Then we baked, well Hannah and Noah slept and Mama did the baking. And we filled the cans with cookies, chocolate covered graham crackers and rice krispie treats. We took them door to door and introduced our selfs to our neighbors in our circle and gave them out. Hannah even greeted all of them with a Merry Christmas. It was wonderful. We have lived in our condo complex for almost 5 years, and most of our neighbors we have never met. We have 12 in our circle and 4 neighbors are new the area. It was a great moment to soak in, showing Christ's Love in the form in baked goods. It stretched me a person, I am not the outgoing type, and as a parent, these are the moments that I want to instill in my children. It was great.

So it is almost here, the presents are wrapped, the tree is up, the cards are out... we are just about ready. The elves will come tomorrow to bring us new jammies for Christmas, we will take communion as a family on Christmas morning and read the story of Jesus of birth before we open presents. All preparation and gifts aside, he came as a child, in a manager, to save us all. This really hit me the other day, when I was holding my sleeping Noah..... only 4 months old, that is how our savior came as a child.

Thankfulness in the craziness

These last couple of weeks have been pretty busy. Shopping, lots of birthdays and getting ready for Christmas. We waste no time, after Thanksgiving we put up the tree and deck the halls. It looks like Christmas in our home. We figure why wait, we only a tree in our home once a year so we should make the most of it. It was so much fun decorating with the kids. Hannah loved to put up the ornaments and then take them off and redecorate the tree again. She worn the stockings as slippers and of course the Christmas music was playing. The little Mr. and I sat of the floor playing as Hannah and Daddy decorated the tree. It was great.

I am so thankful for Gods timing. He really knows what he is doing even when I can't see what his divine plan is. I was able to go out and do nearly all my Christmas shopping on black friday. I am so thankful that I was because last week my hours at work were cut.... drastically. I took nearly 30% right before Christmas. My initial reaction was, what an answer to prayer because work was taking up so much of my time during the day that I felt like that I was not here for the kids. (although still so very thankful that I am still the one with them and they don't have to go to daycare) But after the reality started to sink in of how that much less income will effect our family panic set in. I was ready for anything, if we had to move, sell a car, whatever. I KNOW that God has a perfect plan, a plan for me, for my family and he will use this for HIS purpose.

So I am thankful that he knew that I would be getting a cut and he allowed me to get all the shopping done at amazing discounts. We also sat down and did the new budget, and yes it will be tight, but not impossible, I am so thankful we don't have to move. We still owe a great about in medical debt, but I have to trust that God knows what he doing. He knows our needs. He will use all of this for his purpose, after all its Christmas time, when you really think about it, he was born in a manager. It puts thinks all in persective. I think that is what I really need this season, new perspective, new hope, built faith. I have four little eyes that are watching my every move, my every reaction in this crazy season. We will get through this, it will get better, and if it doesn't, that is ok too, we are happy and healthy and have the love of Jesus...... that is all we need.

Family, Turkey

We had a great Thanksgiving. It was stress free and drama free, the best kind. We drove out to my sister's house, hit no traffic, ate way too much good food, and had two very well behaved kids. On the downside, we didn't take any family pictures :( boo.

Family has been a very "hot" topic for us/me lately. I have been reading some really good books, and the more I learn, the more I want apply it to my family/ children. When I was a child, my parent divorced at a young age, I lived with my mom and she played the role of both father and mother. Jacob on the other hand, parents are still married. He had a great example of how a family should ideally work. Finding balance on how Jacob and I were raised verses how we want to raise our children, and how we can be the best parents is a process.

I really do enjoy learning the different ways and styles of parenting. I do have to remind myself not to compare myself and my style to others. What works for me, may not always be the "right" way for someone else. I still don't even really know what I am doing. But I do pray for wisdom and guidance on what to do and how to do it.

Letting go of the little things has been so challenging and yet so freeing for me. I decided if it is going to have the same outcome, why stress over it. Like walking to the car: Hannah loves to stop and enjoy life, look at the leaves, jump off the steps and say "bye bye" to EVERYTHING. Bye trees, bye leaves, bye house.... so cute, but when we need to go somewhere and I am carrying a heavy baby Noah in the car seat it doesn't make for a very happy mommy. It was making me stressed out just trying to get from point A to point B. But I started to think about it, does it really take sooo much more time for her to stop and enjoy life, why does it stress me out, it was just silly. I have embraced Hannah for who she is, and let her take the time to enjoy life, and it makes me slow down a little bit too.

I think there is a reoccurring theme of my life... Slow down and enjoy it more.

We are getting our tree soon, so hopefully some pictures will be up soon. Enjoy!

Fall

Happy Halloween.... and now onto November

Wow, Fall has come so fast this year. Well it seems that everything has come and gone so fast this year. We had a great year so far. We went trick or treating on Halloween. Hannah had fun being meme or Minnie Mouse. Mr. Noah man was a football. He mostly slept once we going. Hannah totally milked the system, she would let the people put the candy in her bucket and then stick her hand in the candy dish and take another handful. She has enjoyed some candy and her mommy has enjoyed way to much candy. I am going to take the rest into work to get rid of it. I am still trying to lose the Mommy weight that Mr. Noah has blessed me with. Its a work in progress.

I Love this time of year. The changing weather, cold mornings, hot coffee or hot chocolate, warm dinners on a dark night, comfy jammies and a blanket to snuggle, its even better having two little munchkins to snuggle too. It is also a great time to stop and reflex on Thanksgiving.

I have been reading some blogs on how people using this season to give back to others. I think that is such a great idea. But being a little low on funds, I am going to use this time to reflex on what has been given to me, and be thankful for all that I have and have not been given.

Today is day two. I am thankful that God has been providing for us. We have had a little bit of a rough time finically since I have had Noah. Living on a much lower income is sometimes a challenge, I don't get to shop like I used to, or even buy the preferred groceries at times. But in exchange I have got to spend some awesome time getting to know the little blessing that God gave me. There was a time a couple of years ago when I longed to have a baby. I felt like I would do just about anything to have one. And now I have been given not one but two. I prayed and he answered. It was a long time waiting for the answer, but here we are. And he is still faithful. Even with the money seems to run out and it is a day or a week late, he provides, sometimes in an expected way, but has always provided for us.

Entry from my journal today: That you love me, you hear my prayers and you answer them. You know my needs and meet them.

Ezra 8:23 So we fasted and petitioned our God about this and he answered our prayer.

Unplugged. Unprocessed. Challenged.

Family:

I have been really challenged lately. I really want the best for my family, for our life. I am really sad that my time off is slowly coming to an end, I go back to work in two weeks. I know that it is the best for our family at this time. And I am so very thankful that I get to work from home, but there is a great deal of time that I spend working at home and not playing with my kids. I do pray that there will be a time that I can stay at home and devote my days to my children. But until then, I will go and work. And use my time that I have and make it quality time.

Food:

Wanting what is best for my family, I have been really watching what we are eating. We have been eating less processed foods. I am feeling great, and eating the way that God intended it to be has been really good. After learning about what some of the ingredients that are in our foods that we eat everyday it is kinda scary. It makes me want to make everything from scratch. But that is unrealistic, so I have been trying to make better decisions for our family. Jacob was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes about 4 years ago. Ever since then our food world has been totally turned upside down, we did really good at first, the slowly faded back into the life of processed. It is really easy to live processed, it is convenient and much cheaper, but not so heathy.

So with a little planning and reading of labels, we are making some progress. It has been over a week since we have eaten out, with the exception of frozen yogurt, my weakness ;). Bottom line, it is worth the extra time in the kitchen.

Tv. Internet.

In short, I am going to unplug more. Spend time where it really matters. I was pouring milk for Hannah yesterday when I suddenly realized, I am not going to get back the time I wasted today. Life is soooo short, and I do waste so much time watching tv or online or doing whatever. That being said, I am still going to have time for myself, wasting it away online and sitting in front of the tv. Just not when I could be doing something more fun with the kids or going outside and enjoying God's beautiful creation.

The World.

I want to make the most of today. Not living for tomorrow. I recently listened to a sermon by Pastor Barry that really brought new perspective in my life. I am no longer going to wait for tomorrow before I start living. If I wait for tomorrow to start serving, or doing the work of God, it is NEVER going to come, there will always be a distraction or hindrance, or I will never be good enough. So today is the day. Ministry starts at home, and that is perfect because that is where I am. I have thought that life would be so great if.... we had a house, a large lot of land, lived in the county somewhere, had all our debts paid off, had more time, but all those if's have been holding us (me) back from living for today. Today is the day that GOD gave us (me). So TODAY is the day to live for. Sure it would be great if we had all those things, but it is no reason to NOT live for today. Make the most of each moment.

Life starts today. Why wait. Be challenged.

Blog a Log

Life is feels normal for me, again. I feel adjusted to having to little munchkins. And I LOVE it.

I also Love pinerest. It has so many ideas for food, decor, style, ect. it's so much fun. I have done a couple of projects with the ideas that I have found on there.

I made a pumpkin spiced latte. It was good, but not quite starbucks. I am not sure how to make it extra creamy, but am working on it.

,

I also made a door wreath. It came out ok, I used a tube to make the wreath. I think next time I will use a bigger tube or stick wreath.

So aside from little projects here and there I have been trying to change my life style on food. That is one thing that I love.... FOOD! Jacob was diagnosed with diabetes a couple of years ago. When he came home from the hospital we completely changed our lifestyle with food. We both lost a lot of weight and felt great. But over the years we slowly let some bad foods back into our diets.

He recently went into the Drs and was told that his sugars aren't doing so well. In effort to get him healthy again, and to lose the rest of this baby weight, I meet with a dietitian. She is has such a great passion for health and gave me some great pointers on eating. So for the past week or so, I have putting her wisdom to practice. And what a difference.

I am feeling great, eating better, and losing weight. I haven't measured a thing, still eating whenever I am hungry, and haven't even counted a calorie. It has really made me think about what I am putting into my body. What God intended for me to put into my body. When did the world turn into everything packaged and processes. That is not how it was meant to be. Jacob and I have both lost weight. I am praying that this new life style sticks. It really helps that we are both on board and that I want my children to know what real food is.

So that's it for now.

I have found some balance in this crazy mommy world of mine. Hooray! I am still only getting about 3 hours of sleep at a time but Hannah has been sleeping much better so for now I will take my 3 hours and not complain.

Noah is now 7 weeks old. He is so chubby, and Happy. I love him so much. He is so easy going and just goes with the flow.

Hannah is still a great big sister. Hasn't tired to kill him. I started taking her to the library for story time. She really seems to like it. It is just enough structure to help her prepare for school but fun at the same time.

Well it has been about an hour since I have started this entry, and that is all I have been able to get done because I am constantly interrupted. And I am being summonsed once again. Until next time.

FInding Balance

This whole Mom "thing" is much more difficult that I had thought it was going to be. No one said it was easy, but trying to juggle two kids is so much more than I thought it would be.

It has been three weeks now since Noah came into this crazy world. He is doing great. He is still a great eater, and sleeper, although he is sleeping less than he was when he was first born. He had a check up this week and has already gained a little over a pound. We don't have to go back for another check up until he is two months.

Hannah is adjusting. She is not really sleeping through the night, and has slept in our bed the last couple of nights. I have no idea what is going on with her. I am sure it's part teething, and part Noah, but it just makes for even less sleep for me and Jacob. She is super cute with her babies, she does everything I do for Noah for her babies, burps them, tries to put diapers on them. She is such a little mama.

I am almost fully recovered from delivery. It has gotten a lot easier to get out, although with this heat, I haven't really gone anywhere. I do look forward to doing more on the weekends when Jacob is home with us.

So here is the balancing act for me. Where do I find time to be a mom, wife, study the bible, and have time with friends, let alone plan dinners, keep up on housework, grocery shop and start thinking about when I can exercise? I haven't! It has been difficult for me in that aspect. I want to make the most of my time with my babies. I want to sit and just stare at Noah, like I did with Hannah. I want to take Hannah to the park for walks like I did before Noah was here. But the reality is, I can't. My time is now divided, it's been hard for me to accept this change. I knew that there would be change in having another child, but I didn't think it would be so hard for me to adjust. I have had some awesome women in my life speaking encouragement to me and reminding me that it is just a season. The biggest factor is this season is so short, as tired as I am I want to take in every moment with my babies, because before I know it, he will be the size of Hannah and she will be even bigger. Having Noah has made me realize how fast 21 months goes by because it was just yesterday that was Hannah.

I wish I could just press the pause button. I need to slow down. The housework is not as important as the memories I could be making with my family.

Family of Four

We are officially a family of four. Noah Jacob Masciave arrived 8/1/2011 at 4:51pm, weighing 8lbs 4oz, 19 1/2 inches long. He is now 11 days old and we are home and all doing great. I love it! Hannah is doing so well. She is such a great sister. Noah is such a champ too. He wakes up about every four hours to eat, and is a great eater too. I feel so blessed. I love being a mom of two! I am so very thankful for what God has given us. Masciave, family of four. Thank you Jesus!

9 months!!!

So I have made it 9 months. I am considered term now. Now will someone please tell my new little bundle of joy, Noah to get OUT! I am so done and as big as a house. Mainly I am just concerned about the delivery, the Dr said that he is big, and I don't want a C-section. At my appointment yesterday, my Dr striped my membranes, and I am still pregnant so I am hoping that it will hurry up and work soon. I have started to have contractions just not regular, and not very painful.

I am super excited for Hannah to be a sister too. She is such a sweetie. I have really been enjoying the last days of just "us", even though I am so done with the belly.

I guess I will just have to wait.... and wait and wait and wait. Only God knows the time.

8 months and almost there.....

I think that nesting has kicked in HIGH gear. I am not sure how I made it through this day. So here is how it goes.

Up at 6:01am thank you Hannah :)

Work, make breakfast, start laundry, pick up toys, start Thank You cards.

10:00 go to work, work and take Hannah to Moms group.

11:00 chase Hannah up a hill, she is a quick one.

11:45 go home, make lunch, put Hannah down for a nap, Work some more, finish Thank You cards, Hannah wakes up, finish laundry (3 loads) and put it away.

3:00 back to work, meeting..... over at 6:00

6:00 Target run.... gotta pick up stuff for the sick Hubby

7:00 still out, pick up dinner, come home eat dinner, give Hannah a bath, put Hannah to bed, shower and now blog.... it's 9:00

Boy I am tired! And I am going to add another one to the mix in about 5 weeks.

Lord give me strength!

7 1/2 months pregnant

My life at 7 1/2 months pregnant, with an 18 month old:

It took me almost three weeks just to paint my toe nails. Week one- remove nail polish. Week two- trim and file. Week three- paint.

I have learned to use my feet as hands, to pick up laundry or Hannah's toys.

It takes me about 10 mins to walk to the car, I am too big to hold Hannah so she walks with me.

I have to alternate washing my hair and shaving, standing too long in the shower is too tiring on the feet.

The buddha belly is too big to do lots of things..... but it is all worth it, I can't wait to meet my little man, Noah.

Last couple of weeks

Time sure does not stand still for anyone. I am really enjoying this season that God has me in right now. I love being a Mommy, that for the most part gets to stay home, a wife, and a housekeeper. I am still reading my "Book", but have paused, I am on the chapter of organization and am not finished getting my home organized so I have paused. This last week has been kinda a drag, I have a sick little Hannah. I am going to take her to the doctors today. It is no fun with a little sick baby. I wish I could take all her pain away.

Last weekend was Mothers Day. It was very nice to spend time with family and just remember what is really important and the importance of being a Mommy. To be discipled by God to raise my children. Sundays message was really great, I felt like the Lord was confirming in my heart why he chose this season in my life to bless me with children. And how I need to focus on them, train them.

I also have a doctors appointment today for myself. I get to see my lil Noah. I am excited to see if he has changed at all. He sure has been very active, I guess he doesn't want me to forget that he is there anymore :)

So What has Hannah been up to:

My little baby is such a big girl now. She loves to give kisses to Noah before she goes to bed. She loves her Baybee (baby), she will play for hours with one. The hair brush is her new friend, she carries it around everywhere with her, and she knows where to get it from too.... mommies bathroom. Oh how I could just squish her she is so cute.

5 Days later I finally get to finish the Blog that I started, LIFE as a MOMMY. Hannah is still sicky but getting better. Noah's appt went well, he is going to be a big boy. He is a thumb sucker too :) I can't wait to meet him. You would think that Life without cable (TV) you would think that I have so much time on my hands that I would just blog all day. Well this week I plan on getting the house back into order, being sick with a sick baby got the house out of balance. Looking for new Menu items. Working and hopefully when Hannah is better taking her to the park. Off to my next adventure.

Family Time

We have been on the go. And it is just going to be better. We cut our cable as of today, and are going to be investing into each other. I am so excited for more family time. I know that the Lord will bless this time with each other as we build our relationships and strengthen our family. And as we also get ready to welcome little Noah Jacob too. Praise the Lord for all he has given to us, I am richly blessed!Family Time! We went down to the park to play with Hannah and blow some bubbles. I love my family!

Hannah dug around in the sand.

She really is little Mama, she was making dinner.

You might think that by the picture that a child took it....nope just Jacob, and I only have half a face. Love you babe!

My loves. I love that Hannah loves her Daddy so much! He is such a great Daddy.

Honor Thy Husband

I love The Home Experience! Seriously the Lord has been showing me so many principles to live by through the book and the scripture that is in it. Here is what I am learning and living.

My Husband, Jacob Masciave, my gift from God.

Serving:

Often we serve our children and train our husbands, Instead we should train our children and serve our husbands. --- this principle really hit home to me. I was raised in a home with a single mom. My parents were married but divorced when I was really little. I do desire to serve my husband. I have been doing really practical things for Jacob these last couple of weeks, like making his lunch for the next day, and getting the coffee pot ready the night before. I have also been trying to keep up on the house so that it is a comfortable place for him to come home. I don't want him to come home from work and feel stressed out at home, with his family. I am still in the early stages with Hannah, but with another one on the way (baby "Noah") I want her to learn to serve with a joyful heart, and that Mommy does it out of love, not with a bad attitude. She is so sweet, she already is learning, she loves to help with what she can. She helps unload the bottom shelf of the dishwasher (gotta love Corral, they really never break) and putting away laundry with me).

His Helper:

I was created to be his helpmate. He was not created to be mine.----- So simple, yet so hard to swallow. This was the way that God intended it be.

Genesis 2:18 The Lord God said,"It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him"

Genesis 2:24 For this reason a man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh.

I have really been trying to be a good helper to Jacob. It is not always easy, when my tired pregnant body just wants to sit and not make dinner. But God has really been doing great stuff in my heart and even when I don't want to do something he gives me energy to do it. And our Marriage is so reaping the reward.

There is so much more that I am learning and I just finished the first section. Part of me just wants to read as much as possible, but I really want to practice what I am learning. I want to have it make a difference in my life. And the slower I go, the bigger I am seeing the differences.

Here is what I am seeing so far:

A clean house- I used to just try to clean once a week or so, but doing the little stuff daily has taken off so much pressure. I love going to sleep at the end of the day with the dishes done and the laundry put away. It has also encouraged Jacob to put his laundry in the hamper and rinse the dishes when he is done with them.

Friendships- I love being busy, but I now feel that I am investing in the Friendships/ Relationships that I have. Instead of chasing down someone that is too busy for me, I am taking advantage of the ones that are here, now. And the time seems to be blossoming.

Quiet Time- Oh this is my favorite. I am challenging myself to get up early everyday to spend that time with my Maker in the morning. It has been so incredibly rewarding. Even the mornings that I just don't want to get up, some how I do. I feel like I am seeing parts of the Bible in a whole new light. And the encouragement from my Husband has been so amazing too. He has been making my coffee in the morning, and leaving a love note/ word of encouragement for me. I just love waking up and getting that love back from my husband, and then my Maker. The Lord has been so faithful.

Mommy- With everything that I am doing around the house, you would think that I am just cleaning or out with friends all day long. Not true. I am not sure how, but after getting into my new routine of things, I have found I have so much free time! I am spending a lot more time at home with Hannah. I really want her to see how a house runs, and we have lots of playtime together too. I, by only the Grace of God and the Holy Spirit, have had so much patients for her. She has been teething like crazy, and was sick for two weeks straight, and not sleeping (both nap time and overnight). But God is so good, he has been giving me everything I need at that moment so I can keep it together. I have been praying a ton more too! Both for her, and myself in those moments.

And my Husband! He is amazing. I love seeing that God is doing such great work in his heart. You would think after being married almost 7 years and together 11 years, we would totally know each other by now and have it all figured out. NOPE. But that is ok, I love being on this adventure with him, especially when I know who is steering our ship :)

So YES, I do recommend this book to everyone. Be inspired. Do something.

So BIG

Hannah has so many new loves I thought I would share.

Like shoes, even high heels. She was walking on the entry way so she could hear them clop.

And getting herself dressed. This is Daddy's shirt, her head is in the arm hole and arm out the head hole.

She played in the shirt for a while. She also takes the kitchen towels and wears them around her neck like a scarf.

More shoes. She actually had a harder time walking in these. She used the stroller like a walker, like an old lady.

And anything she can sit on. She will make a chair out of any toy she can. I really need to get her a little chair and table set.

Change is in the home

Awww the house is quite. Hannah is napping, which is great because she has been such a bad napper lately. Not to sure why (she has a cold) but is refusing to go in her bed, but today she finally went down for a good nap. I usually work or do house work while she sleeps but today I am having some me time. Jacob is at worship practice at the church. He probably won't be home until 7:30 or 8, so I am on my own.

A couple of weekends ago we went to the Art of Marriage, it was so amazing reignited passions in our marriage for each other. This year we will be married for 7 years and together for 12, crazy how fast time flies. I truly did marry my best friend, but over time of doing the day to day and starting a family, we kinda forgot about each other. God kinda got pushed aside from the center of us and just getting things done and laziness entered in. It wasn't terrible, but not balanced, not the way God intended it. So after going we are now rebalanced with each other and God is back in the center. Seeing Jacob as my Gift from God has totally shed a new light to him on how to see my husband. After all God did give him to me.

The weekend of the Marriage seminar I got a book in the mail that I had ordered for my birthday, The Home Experience. I have wanted this book for some time after hearing Devi Titus speak a number of times I knew that it was going to be great. I was really excited on God's timing too, I wasn't expected to get it just yet, and I was excited to continue what God had already started to do in my heart over that weekend.

So I am still on the first section of the book, but WOW! So many great principles. It really all begins in the home. Relationships for example, I never thought that what we practice and set in our home will carry over to Hannah and what she will consider to be the normal. I came from a house of chaos, not necessarily bad chaos but chaos it was always full of people, there was always a sink full of dishes and stuff, lots of stuff. It was the normal, and it did carry over to me. Chaos was ok in my house, granted it was more organized chaos than growing up but still I was ok with it. But I don't want Hannah to grow up thinking chaos is ok, that her mommy has a level of laziness that she is ok with. I started with my "Grand Central Station" my home, and began to clean and organize, I want to feel comfortable inviting people over without excuses or having to say, sorry for the mess. And its been great. I love having a clean home, dishes done, freshly dusted and the laundry is done and put away.

It has been really great having a clean home in the sense of Relationships. With a clean home, we have so much more family time. I am not so worried about what I should be doing, because it is already done. I can focus on my family. I am also spending way more time in the word, it has been so amazing fill my soul with quality time with the Lord every day. We are still fine tuning little things, and I must admit sometimes I really don't want to put away something or pick up Hannah's toys for the 50th time of the day, but when I do I have such a sense of accomplishment. I also feel like it carrying over to my character, and if I can that much more of an example to Hannah it is so worth it. I have noticed big changes in Jacob, like he started putting his dirty clothes in the hamper..... which is huge, without me even asking, it looks like it can be contagious.

Overall based upon what I have read so far, I LOVE it. and even more so the amount of scripture that is in the book too. I feel like it's the guide to becoming un-lazy in the modern day, how God really created a home to be. I can't wait to read more.... I am sure more Blog is to come about it.

Side note- it's now 8:14, life as a Mom, nothing ever goes as planned :)