New Computer, New Couches, New House! Oh My!

This post may seem like I am bragging, and I am really not intending for it to sound like that at all. One of the reasons I started this blog was in order to use it as sort of a journal. To chronicle for myself the goings on of my family so that in years to come I can look back and remember the things we can so easily forget. So if it feels to you like this is an inappropriate post in any way and you don't want to read it, I totally understand and will not be offended.

So, my husband is pretty amazing and got our taxes filed early, like a boss, resulting in the fact that we already have our refund in the bank. And it's a big refund. We are so very blessed by the Lord! Sean has also been thinking smartly about how to spend our refund. Purchasing a few things we need/want, setting some aside for our Disneyland trip next year, and also putting a large chunk away in our savings.

Two of the items we have purchased are, new couches and a new laptop. We had a MacBook Pro for a few years and it was great, but we had been wanting a MacBook Air ever since they came out several years ago. So, that is what we got! It is AMZING! The other purchase is new couches. We went to a locally owned furniture store yesterday (Garrisons) and picked out a sofa and love seat and had it customized to our taste and color scheme. They won't be ready for about 4 more weeks, but we are super excited. Also, we purchased a brand that is made in Oregon, which is really important to us, we try to buy as much local as we can.

And not that this has anything to do with our tax return, but we are also putting our house on the market next Monday (the 24th) and looking at buying a different house. Something bigger and more accommodating to our needs. The house we are currently in is wonderful and we love it; it has suited us well for the past two years. But our needs and desires in a home have changed and we are currently in a place financially that allows us to look for something different.

So, lots of exciting changes currently and on the horizon. And through it all we are seeking what the Lord would have for our lives. We don't want to do anything apart from following the wisdom and guidance He imparts to us.

Escaping the Fog

Winters in Southern Oregon are a bit rough at times. It can get pretty cold, there is often freezing fog, and we even get fog that sometimes never lifts, even for days on end. It becomes a bit depressing when you can't remember the last time you saw sunshine.
So in order to remedy this and since Sean had the day off today, we decided to pack a lunch and take a hike up one of our local, small mountains called Roxy Ann and, oh man, it was amazing! It is high enough to be above the fog, so we were overjoyed to drink in the warm sunshine and marvel at the bright blue sky. It was glorious and we had a wonderful time!

New Years Resolutions

I don't usually make New Years Resolutions. In fact I can't remember ever making one. I think that it is kind of silly that at the start of a new year we say, "I'm going to do such and such differently, or I am going to change this about my life". Shouldn't we be doing that all year long, every year we are alive? That's what I think anyway, and that is what I strive for.

The beginning of 2014 was no different for me, except for the fact that I decided to make some new years plans in lieu of resolutions. As soon as the clock struck midnight (well let's be honest...it was 9pm...but midnight on the East Coast) my mind started working. I started looking to the months ahead and thinking about all that I waned to do, accomplish, overcome, enjoy, and experience. It was a LONG list. But it was an awesome list. And it is a list that I am very excited about!

Here are some of the highlights on my list:

-Host a fashion exchange
-Plan Inara's first birthday party
-Take a 5 year anniversary trip with my husband
-Spend some time in CA with family and friends
-Travel up to Hood River/Portland for a weeks vacation with Sean and the kiddo's
-Clean out our garage and have a garage sale
-Start planning our trip to Disneyland (February of 2015)
-And probably the most important of all: continue to work on being ok with who God has created me to be, and to stand strong as a beacon of light to those around me

I am so looking forward to these New Years Resolutions Ambitions.

Do You Think Mary Knew?

My all time favorite Christmas song is "Mary Did You Know?" by Mark Lowry. If you are not familiar with this song you MUST find it online and listen to it. It is powerful. It is breathtaking. It will change your life.
I've been pondering the lyrics this morning, struck by their depth and truth. Especially now that I am a mother. I have delivered my babies, I have kissed their faces, I have held them tightly and swaddled them.
The first thing that blows my mind when I think about this song is that God saw it fitting to send his only son to this earth as a baby. Why not just as a man? Or even a boy? Why was it necessary for Jesus to grow inside of a woman, be born as any other human on earth (in a stable non the less), and grow into a man? I think it's because it makes him relatable. He is just like the rest of us.
Then, I start thinking about Mary. Did she know? I mean, did she fully comprehend the fact that this tiny baby she birthed, nursed, held, kissed, played with, delighted in, was the Lord of all Creation? Did she know that one day he would rule the nations?
I can't even imagine how it felt to be her. To be holding the Son of God and loving him as her own child, but also knowing that he was so much more that that. What a responsibility to be given.


"Mary did you know, that when you kiss your little baby, you have kissed the face of God?"

Childlike Wonder

I had a couple errands to run this afternoon, so I bundled up the kids and we headed out on our way. Both of my kids are such troopers when it comes to errands; they hardly ever fuss or whine or complain while out and about, which is such a blessing. I think one reason is because they are just easy going people by nature, but I also don't cart them around with me all over kingdom come. I make it a point to only plan one or two outings at a time, and make sure they are always rested and fed before going out. All that to say, my children are almost always delightful to have with me when I run my errands.
Today we made a trip to Lowes and Michaels, which are in the same shopping center, so we were able to walk a bit in the warm sun and splash in the puddles of melting snow. While in line at the check out at Michaels, Declan was happily perusing a display of Christmas themed gift card holders. There was one that was a square tin box with a snowman on it that he was eyeing. Now, I am not the kind of person to buy my son every little thing he has is eye on. For one thing, I can't afford it, and for another, I don't want him to think that he gets everything and anything he wants whenever he wants it. But, it was a really cute box and he was so excited about it, and it was only a dollar, and it's Christmas time...so I bought it for him. Now, here is the point of this whole story.
As we left the store he was holding the box in his little hands and I heard him sigh and say, "This is a wonderful day."

I stopped dead in my tracks. Oh. My. Goodness. Did I just hear what I thought I heard? Yep. Yes I did.
I immediately started laughing in delight because that was such an awesome and unexpected response! I knelt down, hugged and kissed him, and told him I loved him. And then, I felt like crying. Even now, as I type this, I feel like crying. My sweet, precious two year old son was able to find something so many of us can't:
...pure joy in the simplest of circumstances...

If only I could be just as excited about something so ordinary. To be able to find the wonder, the excitement, the happiness, and the contentment in the smallest, most common of life's occurrences. If only I could see what he sees, with his unadulterated mind...
How different would my life be?

Donating My Hair

For much of my adult life, I have wanted to donate my hair and every time I've tried to grow it out with the intent of donating it, I get frustrated and chop it off. Well, a few years ago I was determined to not let that happen again.
When Sean and I got married I had a short bob that I loved. Shortly after our wedding I decided to start growing it out and was determined that I would not cut it until there was enough to donate.

Flash forward to about a week ago...I was again to the point where I was so frustrated with my hair and wanting to cut it all off. I was having to wear it up in a bun all the time because Inara would pull at it. But even up in a bun she would still pull at the hair at the nape of my neck. It hurt so bad and I was just tired of always having to wear it back and never being able to style it.
I got a hold of my amazing hair stylist, Vanessa, and begged her for help. Thankfully she was able to get me in quickly and after much discussion, I came to a decision.
I had her put my hair in a pony tail and cut the bulk of it off, in order to save it to be donated. Then she transformed my hair into a fun a-line bob, similar to the one I had 4 years ago. I absolutely love it!
Although, I couldn't help fearing that I didn't have enough length to donate to Locks of Love...I knew that I had to have at least 10 inches, and that there could be no bleach/highlights in the hair. Well...I barley had 10 inches and there was still some bleach from highlights I had been growing out. So that same evening I researched a bit online and found an organization that changed all of that for me.
It is a non profit called Children With Hair Loss (CWHL) which makes wigs for children with all different kids of illness (even burn victims) who have suffered hair loss. They only require 8 inches and the hair can be highlighted and/or dyed, just as long as it's in good condition.
I. Was. Ecstatic. My hair would be accepted "as is" by this wonderful organization that makes wigs for KIDS!! It couldn't have gotten any better than that. I am so happy with the results of my cut and even happier that my hair will be blessing the lives of children who need it more than I do!

The Perfect Coat

Today my husband bought me a coat. When he came home from work he said he had a surprise for me (I LOVE surprises) and handed me a brand new, water proof, fleece lined, black (with purple accents and a hood) winter coat. I was so excited.
Seriously.
I had been wanting a new coat for so long and I was thrilled to finally have one that was EXACTLY what I wanted. I put it on right away and was immediately thrilled with how it looked and felt; I didn't want to take it off!
Now, you may be thinking, "A coat? You got that excited over a coat?" Well yes, yes I did. But it wasn't just that I got a new coat, although I do get excited about new things, little or big.
What I got excited over was this: my husband bought me a coat.
He listened to me. He remembered what I said. He thought about me. He payed attention to my needs. He met my needs. He honored my desires. He blessed me.

Sometimes I think how it would be nice if Sean would bring flowers, or chocolates or a card home every once in a while. But you know what? That's not his style. He chooses to do more. He chooses to buy me something that will have importance, meaning, and value to me. I am so thankful for that. I am SO thankful for him.