Away in the Manger...

http://www.spurgeon.org/sermons/0485.htm

I wanted to remember this and read it again next year and years to come.  So I'm posting it here.

Welcome to DRESSEMBER

Goodbye Movember!

Hello Dressember!

This month, DRESSEMBER is partnering with International Justice Mission to take a stand against human trafficking world wide. Did you know that over 27 million men, women, and children are trapped in slavery today? That number is greater than during the entire Trans-Atlantic slave trade.

So Dressember, is an opportunity to do something quirky and champion an incredibly valuable cause at the same time.  I LOVE it!

I know what you're thinking:

How will she do it?  How will she train, research, raise funds, bring awareness, rescue people....

There is no way she can do it!  She has enough going on.

Oh, she just has to put on a dress everyday?

She's got this ;).


Wanna join in the fun?
http://www.dressember.net/

Wanna help me reach my goal?
http://www.ijmfreedommaker.org/account/7852/Kaitlyn-McCarty

What's in a name?

I have loved the name Everly.  It has been fun to call her Ev and Evie.  Not so fun to hear that Channing Tatum has named his new baby daughter Everly as well.  There goes the originality factor ;).

Noelle has always had an ability to create wild names for the babies in her life. Natalie was "Zicka nair baby, Zicka, Tunmilly, and more recently Genning."  I felt the need to document Everly's journey that I can remember here.

As a new baby she called her "Hoovenem bedem"  - Hoove, hoovey for short

More recently she has been Dictionary, diction, friction, Doredo, Pit Perry, Mit Merry, Canary, and I'm sure there is more to come.  I cannot even pronounce them all appropriately.

Summer Snap Pea Salad

On a field trip with Noelle's class to Tanaka Farms, I learned that snap peas have a ton of protein.  I wanted to start using them more!  Here is the recipe that I created tonight:

2 cups snap peas, rinsed and cut into thirds

2 cups spinach

1 cup cooked pasta (I cut penne into thirds)

1 tomato diced

1 small apple diced

1 avocado diced

Feta

Dressing:
Balsamic Vinegar

Olive Oil

Garlic Salt

Pepper

Sugar

1 hour before serving, I mixed approx 1/4 cup olive oil and 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar, 1 tbsp sugar, and salt/pepper to taste.  Then added the snap peas to soak.

Mixed all ingredients in a large bowl with the dressing and snap peas.

We had to write this down because we LOVED it!  Such a fun mix of flavors.  I also through in some basil because I had it on hand.

Felt very gourmet because we had extra strawberries that needed to be used so blended them with some basil and a small amount of water in the blender.  Added a little extra cold water and ice to create STRAWBERRY BASIL FRESCA!

A perfect end to our camping weekend.

Journaling

Today is 9/11. A day of tragedy and yet tragedy is taking place daily.  We live in a world that robs from us, batters us and leaves us shaking, unsteady.  My guess is that every day marks a tragedy of grand proportions throughout history and the world.  We walk the earth, a hurting people.  At our core we long to make things right.  Justice, hope, peace.   They often seem elusive.

And yet standing in the midst of the suffering is the God-man.  He, who came to enter in.  Enter into a hemorrhaging world, in an epic attempt to embrace it all.  We see him standing there and we’d love for him to wrap up the loose ends, in a Mary Poppins manner, usher in order and perspective. 

And there he stands, tears and passion, the chaos around him rages, and we’re just not sure that what he offers is enough. 

If we could but look into his eyes and glimpse the God-love and the glory.

It’s hard to find his eyes in the midst of the chaos, so hard to silence the distractions calling for us to choose them and be well.  He remains, this God-man, knowing they will never bring us wellness, knowing that our hearts long to not hurt or be afraid.

What might he offer, if not a fix? What could he matter to me?

We pause for a moment to acknowledge tragedy today.  We grasp at understanding.

For years I’ve tried to stifle the fear that tragedy threatens in me.  And yet a lid may prevent the steam from rising but doesn’t calm the boil underneath.

I test him.  I breathe deep and look into his eyes.  One emotion, just one overwhelming circumstance, distractions aside, I allow it to boil to the surface and I bring it before him and hold it out.  Can he be trusted? 

His eyes lock. They hold mine.  The chaos rages.  A shelter.  My pounding heart begins to beat with his.  A wellness penetrates the chaos within me.  He knows.

I turn.  Someone is approaching.  My arms are outstretched, my eyes like his.  We embrace.  The chaos rages.

One Thousand Gifts (continued)

As I parent:
 
Counting gifts is a way for me to choose joy over anger. In Chapter 7 Ann shares about an incident between her sons and how counting gifts helps her choose joy over anger, and lead her son to do the same. “The parent must always self-parent first, self-preach before child-teach, because who can bring peace unless they’ve held their own peace?” (p. 124). As she maintains her own calm in the situation and walks her son through the conflict with his brother she tells him, “Feel thanks and it’s absolutely impossible to feel angry. We can only experience one emotion at a time. And we get to choose–which emotion do we want to feel?” (p. 136). Wow. Now to put that into action when the anger and frustration is rising!
http://www.morethanmundane.com/2011/03/12/one-thousand-gifts-by-ann-voskamp-and-a-giveaway/

One Thousand Gifts

I just finished the journey of ONE THOUSAND GIFTS - A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp.  Farmer's wife and mother of six - she earns a voice in my mind.

She has gracefully and poetically invited me in and spoken to my soul about thankfulness, grace and being met by God in any moment life offers.  I love how this book met me so perfectly in this season of life.  A season, at home with life full of children and the mundane.  God enters in and the ordinary becomes a reason to rejoice and moments with children become opportunities to love.  Definitely have been in need of more of that in my life.

I just wanted to share a couple of my favorite quotes from the book:

"I may have always known that change takes real intentionality, like a woman bent over her garden beds every day with a spade and the determined will to grow up something good to strengthen the heart." (43)

But she didn't know how to begin and with that came the birth of one thousand gifts.  Writing one thousand things to be thankful for.

"God is not in need of magnifying by us so small, but the reverse.  It's our lives that are little and we have falsely inflated self, and in thanks we decrease and the world returns right.  I say thanks and I swell with Him and I swell the world and He stirs me, joy all afoot." (59)

2 moments that struck me had to do with my parenting and I know that God is speaking to me, asking me to let Him enter in to these moments.

HURRY


"Being in a hurry.  Getting to the next things without fully entering the thing in front of me.  I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry.  But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time.  It turns out I was throwing it away."                                           Mark Buchanan

"I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live in the present, because here-time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive." (69)

CHILDREN

Stay tuned...

Babies

Beauty

What a gem to have this four generation picture with me, my mom, her mom and my grandpa's mom. My mom's dress on the other hand... ;) love you mom!


My neighbor (who has watched me grow up as well) came over a couple of days ago. I had my baby book out as we were comparing my pictures with Everly. She took a look and said, "That is how I think of your Grandma." I said, "to me she will always have white hair (because she did by the time I was old enough to really remember)."

As the day went on I thought about my response and how I think of my grandma and she has white hair. But what really struck me was how beautiful she is to me. And honestly I think that she could have green hair or no hair and she would be just as beautiful. In fact, I hardly notice what she looks like because when I see her I just see Grandma and all that represents.

Beauty. My kids don't care what I look like, do they? They will know me as mom and what that will represent. I hope that they see beautiful. And I know that my hair, make-up or clothes will not define that for them. My heart and actions will.

Camping with Daddy!

Last June, while I was at my annual Girl's Weekend, Ryan took the girls camping for the first time by himself. It didn't quite go as hoped. When I called for the update of how things had gone, I found out that after a red ant bite, an unfortunate potty incident, and a couple enjoyable experiences, they had to abandon camp at 3am and head for home.

I told Ryan, "See, that's why I didn't think it was a good idea!" His response was, "If it were up to you, you would protect them from any bad thing that could happen in life. This how you learn and grow and experience life." I had to give it to him, he made a good point.

Since then, we've been camping several times and the experience got better and better. Even though it's still February Ryan was itching to camp because my in-laws got us a new tent and some other new equipment for Christmas.

He got his chance this past weekend. At O'Neil Park in Trabuco Canyon, they were having an event for families and Ryan saw that you could camp right there as well. Everly and I stayed home and they had a really great time! I was proud of Ryan for creating this fun experience for the girls and thankful they had such a fun time. They made s'mores and went on adventures and even collected some "potpourri" for our home.

Everly Julianne McCarty

Born February 15th 2012 @8:48 pm
8lbs 20 inches

Pictures HERE!

A Fave Photo of Me

Don't have a ton of older pics scanned in but looking at the ones we do, took me back to so many fun memories. Can't say these are the actual most favorite pictures of how I look but they are favorites because of what they represent.

Cal Poly Football! This group is some of our closest friends, my roommates and Ryan's and some big CP Football fans. I loved when Ryan would make a great play and I would get congrats all around for it :). I remember the smell, hugging Ryan after all of those games, too many to count. I remember waiting for him after the games, win or lose... Ah, the memories come flooding back... I love Cal Poly.
This picture here on the bottom, our first annual girls night out! We've now had 11 years of fun and have added 6 more beautiful faces. These girls have shaped me and loved me in such incredible ways. This really was the start of something incredibly special.

Sigh... maybe I will have to make GAG weekend 2012, newborn in tow.

#FEBphotoaday - catching up

PHONE
February 15th - Everly's birth day

So fun to send out the message that our daughter had arrived.


SOMETHING NEW

February 16th
Fitting.



TIME

February 17th
8:48, the time that my whole world changed.



DRINK

February 18th
Tea.


SOMETHING YOU HATE TO DO

February 19th
Sickness.


HANDWRITING

February 20th
This precious dresser was hand painted for Miss Noelle before she was born. I chose this passage out of one of my favorite books, Hinds Feet on High Places. It is an adaptation from the song of solomon and this hand writing is so beautiful.

HEART

#FEBphotoaday

I love this girl.
It's hard to wait with so much anticipation for our new baby and yet one thing that it has driven me towards that I'm thankful for, is taking time to really connect with Noelle and Natalie.

I know that there will be times in the next couple of months that I find myself lacking the energy to give a lot to my two big girls. I have the energy right now, so I am doing my best to see them, listen to them and pour love into their little hearts. I will try my best to continue to do so with three.

I am so thankful for the girls that I have been gifted with. They really are so incredible. I look at them and am beyond excited for another sweet girl to fill our home with her love and personality.

BLUE

#FEBphotoaday

When I think of blue, this immediately comes to mind. I have always loved light blue and always found opals to be so beautiful. This ring and earrings are so dear to me. They were given to me by my Grandma, who got them from her favorite Aunt Beryl.
The picture does not do them justice, these blue opals are so stunning. I love them and love who they came from.

Inside My Closet

My closet is not well organized. I have the hamper always overflowing and my shoes in a big ole pile. I don't mind it like that.
On the far right are my maternity jeans hanging to dry. Don't want to dry them because I need them as loose as possible at this point :).
I pulled out my two new purchases from the recycled clothing store and I can't wait to wear them, post pregnancy. Not sure why I insisted on trying on clothes over the belly but I had a little time by myself while Natalie was at gymnastics and Noelle at school. So soon, baby will always be in tow.
I love this green coat and the other is a DKNY long stretchy dress with a belt. Fun new things and for a great deal. I get so excited about good deals.

Makes Me Happy

The girls were getting ready for a "princess party" and needed Daddy to be a prince. Here's Noelle bringing him clothes to wear for the party.


#FEBPHOTOADAY

Self Portrait

Not too excited about today's prompt. Spent most of the day trying to get things in order for baby to come. Think she's coming soon.

This is at my hopefully last of this pregnancy doctor's appointment.

A Dare to LIVE FULLY Right Where You Are

That's what the cover of the book says. I've finally joined so many of my friends and picked up the book One Thousand Gifts by Ann Voskamp.

I'm 4 chapters in. I appreciate the simplicity of the call to gratitude. I appreciate the way she brings her own story to life in a way that makes you seek to create room for her story to penetrate your own. There are so many books that tell you what to do and they help but the inspiration is often lost because of the heaviness you feel at how you fall short from all of the "shoulds." I feel inspired with this book and am thankful.

Today, I gave pause at a response she shared from a pastor when asked what was his profound regret in life. His response:

Being in a hurry. Getting to the next thing without fully entering the thing in front of me. I cannot think of a single advantage I've ever gained from being in a hurry. But a thousand broken and missed things, tens of thousands, lie in the wake of all the rushing... Through all that haste I thought I was making up time. It turns out I was throwing it away. (Mark Buchanan)

I started this morning with complaints on my lips. My sweet new baby is coming soon. We awoke with coughs and stuffy noses. I stumbled through the morning knowing that I needed to seek some perspective, something to push the bitter thoughts away.

God met me and my heart is filled with thanks again and I am not going to count this as a wasted "sick" day but embrace the moments here with my girls and listen to these words, "All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given to us." J.R.R. Tolkien

Front Door

Today, my Natalie and I picked up our favorite smoothie ingredients and some leftover potato soup and arrived at the front door of a sweet friend. She's been sick this last week and I was hoping that these little things could be a blessing to her and her precious boy! I'm scaling back a lot of things right now in preparation for baby but it felt good to take a moment and love on someone else - especially someone like my friend :).

SUN

Button

Dinner

Well, this is what was left of it. We had our Share Your English night tonight and had to eat and run, so this was the table as we left it and headed over to the class. We join with the rest of our life group, once a month to host a Share Your English night where we partner up and practice English with those in our neighborhood wanting to learn.

I didn't clear the table before we eat, so you see random odds and ends that collected there. Share Your English was a good night though. I partnered with a woman who came for her first time and knew hardly any English at all. Reminded me how tough it is to learn a new language. She was so eager to learn and try though.

She didn't get this from me!

I distinctly remember not being too fond of the beach because the sand just got everywhere and you couldn't escape it. I remember playing basketball with my elementary school class and standing holding my hands up and out because they were really dirty and I really wanted to be done so I could just go wash them. I wasn't a neat freak or anything but dirty to me wasn't so fun.
Noelle on the other hand loves getting her hands on things, loves things she can manipulate. She has always loved playing in water. She loves soft things, like her blankets. I've found her in the bathroom filling her hands with soap and just standing at the sink playing with it, moving it from hand to hand and smearing it all inside the sink. She has told me numerous times that she would really like to do potions. And as you can see she loves the mud. Much to my chagrin I have found her countless times like this, so happily playing in the mud.

Daddy took these pictures. Me, I usually am not thinking to take pictures, just thinking about hosing her down and keeping her from coming inside like that.


There is currently a nice mud clot on my front door as well.

10 am

@ROCKHARBOR

A Stranger

This man is not totally a stranger, because I see him almost everyday. Strange, that you could see someone everyday and they could remain a stranger.

He lives in our neighborhood and from the moment we got here we have watched him walk. He walks for what must be hours, around the neighborhood and we've even passed by him in Target. He's friendly enough when greeted. We say hello and an occasional, "how are you?" or "have a good day." He waves us by when we meet at a stop sign or are pulling out of the garage.

There is something that propels him to walk and something that makes you know he has a struggle as he mutters under his breath and his hands tremble.

It would be nice to know a little more. I'm hoping that maybe we could move away from him being a stranger, at least know his name.

Rainbow Waffles

I was inspired by pinterest to make my own creation. Someone had posted waffles turned into rainbows with food coloring. Fruit seemed like such a better option and fun for the girls to decorate. We love our Saturday morning pancakes, why not try waffles.

We love using Bob's Red Mill pancake and waffle mixes because they taste great, have dairy free options and are packed with healthy grains and ingredients.


I picked out some fruit to make a nice rainbow display of colors but you could try other options like mandarin oranges, mangoes or raspberries. The fruits we chose tasted really good with the waffles.

We created rainbows and a little sunshine "to dry up all the rain," says Natalie.

Delicious!

Hands

These hands have their prints all over my life. They share my DNA, they rocked me to sleep on countless nights, they built my fence and painted my walls. They are guilty hands, holding a candy wrapper that they cannot stop themselves from constantly doling out to my girls. These hands have created a lot in their 50+ years. And they will soon hold my tiny newborn and share love all over again.

Words

This morning, I got to immerse myself in words, meaningful words.



http://www.multiplymovement.com/

February Photo a Day

Going to join the photo challenge of posting a photo a day in February. Sound like fun. I'm guessing there's a chance I'll miss a day or two around the middle of the month when baby is the one consuming my view but still I'll give it a try.

For February 1st, this is my view today:


Her room is ready. I get to walk by it and anticipate. I love her and I can't wait to hold her there. It is so peaceful there now and though her presence will also bring disruption and noise, there will be the moments of sweet calm that only a tiny baby can bring. I can't wait to meet you my precious daughter.

DIY - Craft #2

Noelle's name is taking up an entire wall so I didn't want Natalie to be left out in her new shared room with no name. We had gotten her very precious letters for her baby room but they are light pink toile and don't go at all in the new room.

They were really pricey though so I was hoping to find a cheaper alternative. I came across some wood letters at Michael's for $.60 and found some fun scrapbook paper. I re-purposed some frames I already had and this is how it came out. Super cheap and goes perfect in the new room.

:)

PINTEREST

I finally decided to join in the Pinterest fun. Both of these things that I attempted were actually things I found on my own and put on my pinterest boards as something I wanted to do. And I did them!


The first are these cute little pancakes. We love making pancakes on the weekends and this made them a little extra special with bacon for a scarf, chocolate chips for buttons and mini marshmallows as snow. We made them in Big Bear on our snow trip.


Our favorite pancake mix is this one:

It's got some great ingredients and is dairy free for Noelle. Vanilla soy milk tastes great with it.


And today I accomplished 3 crafts.
I see other people post on facebook about crafting and that is so not me. I don't have a lot of patience for crafts. But I am wanting to get the girl's rooms set up before baby comes and had a couple ideas. Initially I wanted to completely redo the room that the girls are going to share but Ryan convinced me to reuse what we already have and so I just needed some finishing touches. Was hoping by doing them myself I'd find cheaper alternatives and I did.

I took a picture of one of the crafts that I completed. It's a headband holder. I found a very simple tutorial on youtube, posted it to pinterest and today found the time to make it. It was so simple and the girls helped. Adds a little fun color to their room and holds their headbands.

I'll take some pictures of the other two crafts tomorrow after they're completed.