Craft Wars

Have you seen the previews for the new show starting on TLC?!?! Craft Wars starts tomorrow night and I can't wait! From the previews, it looks like this is just the show for me. Three crafters compete to create winning masterpieces using only items provided.  It's on kind of late (10 EST), so the DVR is set to record just in case I fall asleep.

Realty TV + crafting = awesome!

Lily Jane

I want to introduce you to the newest love of my life. My sweet niece, Lily Jane, was born last Wednesday, June 13th. She was born at 9:21 pm weighing 7 lbs 12 oz and 20 3/4 inches long. I have yet to see her in person and hold her, but I already know she's just precious. My brother has been great to send me several pictures every day documenting her exciting life so far. I can't wait for August to get here so I can hold her!

Our first glimpse of Lily just hours old

Lily holding onto her Daddy's finger

 

 

 

One day old

Getting her hearing checked - - this picture makes me smile!

4 days old and just hanging out

We got to Skype with Lily (and my brother, sister-in-law, Mom and Dad) on Saturday night

3 Days Old

8 days old and out on her first shopping trip

Dream Jobs

If you ask a small child what they want to be when they grow up, you're likely to get some slightly outlandish answers. Astronaut, President, archeologist, baseball player, chef....these are all typical answers. I can only remember four things I said I wanted to be when I grew up: doctor (pediatrician), teacher, wife, and mother. Now, my Mom might remember other aspirations from when I was younger, but these are the only four answers I can remember giving to the favorite question. I held onto the dream of being a pediatrician until I was in middle school when I learned just how much schooling was required. I  knew that my main goal was to be a mother and going to school for a gazillion years and working ridiculous hours wouldn't work so well with raising a posse of little tykes. So I switched to wanting to be a teacher. Specifically, I wanted to be a special education teacher. Growing up, I had a very good friend with cerebral palsy. I loved to play with her and help her in school. I wasn't interested in doing my own work because I wanted to help Brooke first. I loved doing hand-over-hand to help her with her assignments. I thought her switchboard was the coolest thing to help her make choices and answer questions. Then my cousin was diagnosed with autism when I was in middle school. Even though we didn't live close, I enjoyed spending summers with my grandparents and helping with his therapy. In high school, I read an article in our local paper about a young family who had recently moved to the area. Their daughter has cerebral palsy and they were looking for volunteers to help with therapy in their home. I was excited to get to know this family and help with her therapy. From the first time I met her, she reminded me of Brooke. Her parents were also homeschooling her and I was able to help with some of her schooling. These three experiences combined led me to the desire to be a special education teacher.

Now, at the age of 25, I have been able to experience two of my dreams. In 2008, I was blessed to become a wife to a wonderful man. Being a wife has been the greatest joy and blessing. I know I don't always do my job well, but the Lord is merciful and my husband is patient. In 2009, I was blessed to teach for one year in a great school with an amazing group of kids. That year changed my life in many ways and helped prepare me for where I am today. There are days when I long to get back into teaching, but mainly just to teach that same class again. I know this isn't possible and life moves on, but I still think about my students every single day.

Being a pediatrician is no longer a dream of mine, but being a mother still is. We hope and pray the Lord would bless us in that way. Until then, I enjoy making a list of "dream jobs" I would like to have. Most of these I would like to experience for just one day, but others are a little more serious. Here's my current list:

• Small business owner -own a craft, vintage, home decor type business
• Author - I've often considered writing about dating, caregiving, the challenges of being a young Christian in such a worldly society
• Photographer
• Clothing Designer - specifically modest clothing for women and young girls
• Chef/Caterer
• Doula
• Operate a Christian pregnancy care center
• Bat girl for the St. Louis Cardinals :)

What are some of your "dream jobs?"

Happy Birthday Dad!

Today is a very special day. It's my Dad's birthday.Woohoo!

Happy Birthday Dad!!! 

I love you! 

Dad and Me at a Cardinals game, 2010

Proud Pop admiring his first granddaughter, Lily

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Wedding Day, 2008

One of those days

I'm having one of those days where my brain isn't quite firing correctly. Some people might be convinced every day is one of those days for me, but I object. They just seem to happen to me more often than other folks.

In the 4 hours that I was out running errands today the following things occurred:

• Tried to use library card at the ATM
• Forgot my headphones and armband to workout at the gym (an hour workout with no music is PAINFUL!!!)
• Forgot to bring a post workout snack
• Realize I forgot my purse at home. Thankfully, I grabbed my wallet, but not my purse. I struggled through Walmart as I tried to juggle my wallet (which refused to stay closed), keys, phone, and shopping list. Of course, today would be the day I chose to wear a skirt, thus no pockets. 
• Got incredibly distracted  by every odd thing I saw in Walmart. It's Walmart, so that's A LOT of distractions! One of the most interesting sites which caused a great deal of pondering was the guy I saw with 5 potatoes in his cart, not in one of the little plastic bags. Just sitting in his cart. 
• Dropped my phone in the parking lot as I was trying to juggle getting everything loaded in the car. Cracked the screen. Awesome.
• Chugged a bottle of chocolate milk and a package of almonds. Then wanted to puke after realizing I consumed more calories than I just worked off at the gym. 
• Go to Aldi where I'm so flustered I forget several things on my list. 
• Nearly back into someone backing out of my parking space at the library. 

I think I should go to bed and try again tomorrow. Let's all pray no one gets seriously injured throughout the rest of the evening. Amen. 

Black Thumb

Both of my parents are wonderful gardeners. Their yard is perfectly landscaped and they enjoy spending time working to keep it looking great. My mom always has a ton of flowers planted in the flower beds, pots around the yard, and hanging baskets on the porch. Growing up, when people would find out where I lived, they would usually make a comment about how pretty our yard was. Dad has done a great job landscaping all of the yard. It looks professionally done.

Let's just say their gardening abilities were not passed down to me. I don't know if they were passed down to my other siblings. I haven't seen any evidence of it. But I can't keep a plant alive for anything!

Case in point #1:

 

This poinsettia was given to us as a housewarming gift when we first moved here. It was so full and beautiful. Once the Christmas season was over, it got moved to our patio. It's still alive, but pretty sad looking. I might remember to put some water in it once a week or so. Poor poinsettia.

Case in point #2:

Chris bought this hanging basket shortly after we moved in. Like the poinsettia, it was full and beautiful and really helped brighten up the front entrance. I did really well remembering to water it at first, but it slowly started slipping my mind. Once it got to sad and unattractive for the front of the house, it was also moved to the patio. I was excited that the one measly flower popped up after I watered it one day this week. It really is a sad, sad story.

Up until last week, those were the only two plants we had under our care. Our yard is beautifully landscaped, but the landlords pay someone to take care of it. Very wise choice on their part!

Last week, we added a new plant to our care:


 

We bought this beauty at IKEA for only $1.99! I thought that was a good price to pay for something that might end up dead in a few months. The cute pot was also only $1.99. The best part about this plant: it only needs to be watered every 5-6 days! The instructions say that it needs to be completely dry before watering again. Perfect for me!

I have high hopes for this little guy! Perhaps my black thumb will begin turning shades of green.