The Ring Family

Stickers On A Table

2012-02-22T09:25:00.000-05:00

I left Emery playing at the kitchen table a few days ago. Crayons and coloring books. Somehow she had gotten her little, chubby hands on some stickers and decided to decorate. I was annoyed. I scolded. I complained. These were some STICKY stickers. They did not just peel off. Windex didn't moisten enough for them to easily scrape off. I was getting frustrated and decided to do something I don't do very often - Walk away. :)

The next day the table was clean. I don't know if it was my visiting mom or a helping husband(I'd guess mom), but when I realized they were gone... I missed them. I am all for a straightened house. In fact, I LOVE a straight house. But I'm learning... Learning that a messy playroom is proof of life. Learning to be thankful because unmade children's beds means they were slept in. Couch pillows on the floor means there were little people wrestling. Stickers on the table means I had company in the kitchen while I cooked dinner.

(Interruption: A runny-nosed 2 year old asking me to read Dr. Seuss' ABC. I stopped and read. Twice.)

I'm on a bit of a thankfulness journey. Thankful for the strewn toys and messy couch. Thankful that I have 4 beds to make. I forget so quickly. I know I do. I wish I didn't. So this, this is for those days that I forget and feel overwhelmed with the state of affairs in our home. I prayed for this life. I asked for these children. And the Lord granted my request. Why? I have no idea... But I'm working hard today to show that I am grateful for it, and that I know that this is far more then I could ever deserve.

Recipes Page Is Up

2012-02-21T08:10:00.000-05:00

I am in the very beginning stages of a "Recipes" page, but have found myself anxious to get it up. No more searching back through-out the blog for my favorites! Take a look up top and cook away!

Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Noodles

2012-02-20T08:00:00.001-05:00

I shared a menu plan 2 weeks ago that included this meal. Because our family really enjoyed it, I wanted to share the recipe and encourage you to give it a try! I was very simple and not expensive.

Ingredients

6 ounces egg noodles

2 cooked chicken breasts, shredded

4 to 6 garlic cloves, minced.

1/2 cup frozen peas

1 3/4 cup whole milk

1 slice bread

1 cup parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

Mince your garlic and grind your parmesan cheese.

(I purchase a wedge or block of cheese and grind it in my food processor because I think it is generally, fresher.)

Warm your milk in a dutch oven.

Add the garlic and 3/4 cup parmesan cheese.

Shred your chicken and add to the liquid.

Add peas at this time, as well(although I forgot them completely).

Warm thoroughly, but be careful not to bring to a boil!

Through the bread in the food processor for homemade bread crumbs.

Combine with 1/4 cup of parmesan and 2 tablespoons melted butter.

Sprinkle on top.

Bake for 15 minutes.

Top with freshly ground black pepper.

Hope you enjoy!

We did! :)

Our Love Story- Part 1

2012-02-14T08:00:00.002-05:00

I thought it appropriate that I share Blake's and my "Love Story" on Valentines Day. Our "story" is one that we have shared often with friends. We were even invited us over for dinner after we became engaged, and the couple confessed by dessert that they just really wanted to hear the low-down from our lips. :) For some reason, I have never written it down until now. Now seems like a good time, though...

August 2001

I(Lydia Cook at the time) was a senior in high school(homeschooled), but had just turned 16 the month before. Blake had moved to Louisville only a week or so before... to begin his Mdiv at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. A long-term friend of my families had recently moved to begin the same and he and Blake met their first day in Louisville and the 2 men became fast friends. Brad brought Blake to Ninth and O Baptist their first Sunday in Louisville and it was that day that I first met him.

And that was that. We saw each other around a bit. Waved. Might have been friendly enought to greet one another as we passed. But that was it. No sparks. No love at first sight.

August 2002

The following August is when it all changed. I graduated from highschool and turned 17 right as I was moving from our church's youth group into the singles ministry. There were few college students so all singles were grouped together at the time. I don't even remember how we first began chatting. I don't remember what we chatted about. I do remember arriving at our single's department's weekly trip to O'Charlies and wanting to sit beside him. I remember caddily asking for advice on a "boy problem" and hanging on every word. I didn't really need help. I knew how I was going to proceed in that particular situation(not claiming I was an example of maturity).

Through out the next few weeks we often found a way to sit beside one another at events or services. Conversation flowed easily. We smiled readily. Numbers were exchanged at some point and texting playfully began. I was attending Boyce College... It was Southern Seminary's undergraduate so Blake and I were often in the same coffee house, same cafeteria, same study lounge.

I can't even remember who said "I like you" first. I can't remember the conversation. I can't remember the timing. I just know it happened by the end of August/beginning of September.

Even in my own mine, the memories of that next year are hard to put in order... But, Valentines Day is a day for smiles and heart's so this is where I'll stop today.

To Be Continued...

A New Best Friend

2012-02-13T08:00:00.027-05:00

I LOVE Riley! She has such an incredible imagination. She loves EVERYONE! She is friends with everyone... EVERYONE! I just had to share this hilarious display of love she bestowed on her newest friend this weekend.

Riley asked for a photo with her new "best friend"

PS: After much study, I am not convinced this was actually a bug we allowed our children to play with. I think it might have been a pebble. :)

Coming Soon

2012-02-12T12:31:00.001-05:00

A "Recipe" page is coming soon! Keep your eyes open!

2012-02-10T08:00:00.005-05:00

I am sharing with you our dinner menu from the past week! It was full of new recipes from Pinterest! Head over to my button on the side of this post to follow me and search for some of these recipes!

Monday: Grilled Cheese and Tomato Soup

Tuesday:Creamy Chicken Taquitos, Chips and Salsa, Fruit

Wednesday:Spaghetti, Garlic Cheese Bread

Thursday:Chicken Vesuro, Italian Bread

Friday: Garlic Parmesan Noodles, Salad

Saturday: Pancakes, Bacon, Fruit

A Work In Progress - The Basement

2012-02-08T08:00:00.006-05:00

Keep in mind that I still have a list a mile long of things I'd like to do to finish up this space. We need a few new pieces of furniture. There are a few blank walls. More toys fill the room then I would prefer, but man do those toys keep my children entertained. :) Just thought we would share where the removal of the wall left us...

This cubbie has been updated slowly, but is finally complete. A perfect place to drop their shoes and bags when coming in from the car.

The original paneling and chipped walls left it looking dingy and dirty - Painting the basement lightened it up!

Ottomans with storage were a must! Our 3 kids are obsessed with blankets and these offered a clever hiding spot!

Yes. Yes, that is Law and Order SVU. And yes I have watched every single episode. And still watch reruns religiously. Please don't look too closely at the bookshelf. It needs some major staging!

Now the half wall has been removed the basement seems so much lighter and airier. There was great light in the back, but was blocked/cut off. The room feels pretty bright for a basement.

You can see a slight variation in the carpet. Honestly, it is hardly noticable unless you are studying the floor. Mom and I went to a carpet store and bought a 2x3 size sample for $1 that mom pieced into the space. Of course, new carpet is on our to-do list, but I don't mind waiting for a few years until the kiddos are beyond the "drawing on the carpet and walls with a sharpie marker" phase.

Our kiddos LOVE these chairs. They help to keep the peace when watching movies or having quiet, reading time. Man, are they bulky! It was helpful to get to spread them out a bit.

Like I said - There is still ALOT to be done in the next few years to get this space exactly where I want it, but it is most definitely on its way!

*The toys that clutter the room? Well, they are a precious reminder of the blessings the Lord has given me. I know that one day I will miss those toys... So I'll be grateful for them today!

Room Specks

Wall Color: Eddie Bauer Wicker - Valspar Paint from Lowes

Wall Mirrors: All 4 are from Home Goods

Bookshelves: Ikea - Expedit Bookshelves

Couch: Ikea - Extorp Sofa

Ottomans: Target

Stuffed Children's Chairs: Pottery Barn Kids - Anywhere Chairs

Children's Table: Ikea Kritter Table

An Update On Riley

2012-02-07T13:04:00.000-05:00

Poor Riley has had about 7 UTI's since Aug, including one this past weekend!

We loaded Riley up in the van at 6:00am yesterday morning and drove to downtown Kosairs Children's Hospital. Her surgery was at 8:00am. Basically, they injected a substance into the corners of her bladder that lead to her kidneys to block the urine from traveling back up and causing a UTI or kidney infection. The dr was very hopeful that this will take care of the problem. In 3 months she will have a series of testing done to ensure that the reflux is solved and if not she will require a more invasive surgery.

Thank you for your prayers! Thank you for your texts. Thank you for your calls and offers of meals. After a quiet day full of pain killers, Riley seems to be about back to normal today. The wonders of modern medicine!

I've Got To Keep It Together

2012-02-06T08:00:00.002-05:00

I got a fun surprise in the mail last week!

My planner!

I ordered the same planner last year and adored it. It is from the Erin Condren line on Tiny Prints. I'll admit. This planner is a splurge as far as planners go. The 20% off code and g free shipping helped me to redeem myself in my husbands eyes a bit. :) I felt a bit lost for the month of Janury while waiting for it to arrive.

Can you believe how they package a planner?

Now you understand why this planner is a little pricier then most.

I have rather large handwriting and fine those tiny little planners difficult to use. I can never read my handwriting and can never squeeze everything I need onto one day. I love the large spaces this planner provides.

We could be busy every night of the week if we aren't careful. This year, we are working hard to maximize family time. Then there are upcoming tball practices and games. And we want our children to grow up in a home where a focus on ministering to people in emphasized to them. The there are evenings to be spent with those precious, "like family" friendships the Lord has blessed our family with.

Time to get our schedule together!

A tip? Don't make concrete plans without first consulting your planner. I find I have to be careful not to plan our families time away!

Spaghetti - Ring Style

2012-01-31T08:00:00.001-05:00

Ingredients:

1 lb ground beef

4 cups tomato sauce

1 cup sugar

We fix an assortment of spaghetti sauce recipes in our home, but this recipe is the kiddos favorite. This is some sweet spaghetti sauce. :)

Brown your ground beef and drain off the fat.

Just a reminder: Drinking a Dr. Pepper while cooking is always a good idea!

And yes, I realize that buying spaghetti sauce at SAMS might not have been the smartest thing. :)

Add 4 cups sauce to your meat.

Measure out 1 cup of sugar. Yes. 1 cup. That is not a typo.

Add the sugar to your sauce.

Simmer for 20-30 minutes or until the sugar has dissolved. :)

Serve over noodles.

You'll be wishing you had been eating "sweet" spaghetti sauce from the beginning.

2012-01-30T08:00:00.003-05:00

Friday night was "Family Night" in the Ring household. It has been a busy few weeks and we finally had an evening where there was absolutely nothing on the agenda. We fixed our family's favorite spaghetti(new recipe coming) for dinner. Painting masterpieces were created. Bubble baths were needed to clean up from the masterpiece making. I beat out our homes Candyland champ(Will) and enjoyed watching them get some giggles out playing The Cat In The Hat's - "I Can Do That"! It was officially decided that this kind of evening is needed every week. Perhaps 2x a week. I'm panicking - Time is moving too swiftly. Kids are growing too quickly. I guess I'll just continue to snap hundreds of photos a day for those weepy, mommy afternoons. :)

Now You See It - Now You Don't

2012-01-27T08:00:00.002-05:00

We have a little half wall in our basement. We did not like. We did not need it.

An old photo where you can barely see how the wall divided the back half of our "L" shaped basement.

So we asked Blake's handy grandpa to help us remove it and Blake's Dad came along.

In 3 hours flat the wall was out!

I can't tell you how thankful I am that Blake's father and grandfather made a day trip for our little wall! We most definitely done it without them. Ok. We couldn't have done it at all. :)

They did all the work and we just watched.

Thanks Papa and Grandad Riley!

There is still alot left to do to finish up the basement, but I am thrilled to have the space! It totally opens up the area and provides alot more space for play! I can't wait to share the "after" pictures... Things are coming along.

A Solution

2012-01-25T08:00:00.001-05:00

Sweet Riley has been struggling with UTI's(urinary tract infections) since her first at 3 months old. There was testing by 5 months and daily antibiotics ever since. Riley still struggled with a UTI here or there even on antibiotics, but the urologist was content for her to wait a bit longer to see if she outgrew her reflux.

Since August 2011 Riley has had 4 or 5 UTI'S... Her new pediatric urologist that we saw in November was not so content. Our visit with him was much more thorough then any we had before and we left knowing much more about her condition. Riley often runs a high fever with her infectections and he edjucated us that means her kidneys could have been affected. While there is no major damage that has shown up on a ultrasound, he told us there is still likely scarring.

Tomorrow we take Riley in for a urine culture and if clear she will have an outpatient procedure done in 2 weeks to attempt to resolve the situation! This picture was taken this past week when Riley was battling yet another UTI... :( The pediatricians in her office all know her when we come in and are so kind and sympathetic. They treated her aggressively and we are praying she will remain well enough for her procedure so this sweet girl can finally stay well!

Favorite Beef Stew

2012-01-24T08:00:00.008-05:00

This stew is easy-peasy! It is one of the first meals I make as soon as it become warm enough to light a fire in our fireplace.

Ingredients:

2 lbs stew meat

2 cartons beef broth

Salt

Pepper

Olive Oil

2 packets McCormick Slow Cookers Beef Stew

Red Potatoes

Carrots

Green Peas

Mushrooms

Parsley

Slice carrots and quarter red potatoes.

Add 2 packets of McCormicks Slow Cooker Hearty Beef Stew.

Your secret weapon!

Season flour with salt and pepper.

Flour stew meat.

Heat a few teaspoons olive oil in a pan.

Thoroughly brown stew meat in small batches.

Combine in a crock pot and cover with the beef broth.

Add chopped parsley.

Here is the really hard part - Cover and cook on low for 6-8 hours.

I promise, you can handle this. :)

An hour before your ready to partake in this wonderfully smelling stew add button mushrooms(7 or 8 cut in half) and a splash of frozen green peas.

Taste for seasoning. I generally find I need to adjust the seasoning with a teaspoon of salt and a 1/2 teaspoon pepper(the freshly ground stuff).

Serve over egg noodles.

I promise you will not regret adding this to next weeks dinner menu.

The Evolution of a Toy Corner

2012-01-23T08:00:00.061-05:00

Our home's living room has become our families toy room... It is a slow evolution, but I'm starting to become quite happy with the direction it is headed.

April 2010

May 2010

The bookcases were a housewarming gift build by Blake's grandfather. Custom fit to the corner and baseboards.

January 2012

I'm not ready to share the entire room, but this corner is close to being finished.

Most of these frames have been laying in a pile in our basement since we moved into our home in April 2010. The photos rang from family photos 2011, Disney World 2011, a few snapshots I took, and the white frame is photos from our wedding rehearsal.

I love this art. I should, it took 13 hours to complete. :)

Everyone should have a friend that will stay over till after midnight 2 different nights because she is a much better stenciler then you are. :)

A tutorial will be coming...

Wall Color: Eddie Bauer Wicker

"R" Initial Print & "Grateful" Print: JDC Monthly

2012-01-18T22:56:00.001-05:00

This is the reason that blogging hasn't been happening a whole lot... I've been really tired and feeling crummy recently and a check-up at the hematologist this month explained it. Low B12(200) and low ferritin(10). I am receiving B12 shots and taking vitamins like crazy! If not improved by my check up in 4 months, I'll start IV transfusions. Praising God for doctors and medication! And mommy's and husband's that pick up the slack. :)

Check back Monday - Our new camera is loaded with great shots of kids, crafts, and food.

5 Years

2012-01-13T20:39:00.001-05:00

I wonder if it will ever become cliche for me to type some sort of adoption post following Will's birthday. I guess I don't really care. His birthday is one of those days where I find myself overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions surrounding the unique way the Lord added Will to our family.

But on birthday's, one often reminesces about that person's beginnings... This year I went back into my saved e-mails and opened that very first email with his referrel and photo - telling me that this was to be my son. Tears. From the time I saw his face for the first time, I begged and pleaded with the Lord to bring him home as quickly as possible, and as soon as I held him for the first time I began begging for time to slow.

I sat with Will on Tuesday and shared with him about that first meeting in the hotel lobby. His understanding of the way the Lord added him to this family is growing.Will can tell you he is adopted. He understands that he grew in another women's belly. He is still working out everything in between... It scares me. His understanding of the inbetween. I never want him to feel different. I don't want him to ever feel unloved or unwanted. It makes me joyful as well. I am so thankful for him and what an opportunity for him to fully understand just how the Lord cares and provides. What an answer to our prayers he was... is. We pray constantly for the Lord to guard his heart from insecuritites... To fill his mind how loved and adored he is.

We don't have belly pictures to put in an album. We don't have some dramatic birth story to share with Will on his birthday. But we do have an exciting trip to Guatemala. We have stories of one of the best weeks of our life - holed up in a small hotel suite, learning this precious baby whose face we memorized from pictures. We have video from a wonderful "welcome home" airport party... Those stories are his "birth" story. They are some of the pieces to the puzzle that we call William Thomas. At 5 years old, what wonderous things we have yet to learn about this boy. Some days I beg for him to not grow a day older... Tonight, I'm looking forward to seeing the boy he will be tomorrow.

Party Time

2012-01-11T12:48:00.000-05:00

We had a small family gathering to celebrate Will's birthday last night. He had 2 requests: Pizza and Chucke Cheese. He got both, just not combined. :) We visited Pizza Hut for Pizza and then followed that up with presents, cupcakes, and tokens at Chucke Cheese. The boy was in heaven.

The evening was made complete when Chucke Cheese made an appearance...

Happy Birthday Will!

Angry Bird Cupcakes

2012-01-10T14:50:00.000-05:00

It's my big boys 5th birthday and I searched and searched pinterest for an original idea for his dessert... He is one of those precious people that truly appreciates any effort to please him, which makes it all the more rewarding to please him. Angry Birds is the activity of the hour. I'm not sure how recognizable these cupcakes ended up being, but the effort was made and I got a smile from Will. That was worth it all. :)

There are plenty of wonderful thoughts to share about my treasured son, and precious snapshots to serve as evidence of the growing boy he is... Keep your eyes peeled!

Girl Power

2012-01-09T13:23:00.000-05:00

All 3 kiddos were gifted with capes/ masks for Christmas this year. I LOVE them!

Emery and Riley were running around saving all the animals a few days ago - Just had to share how beautiful these super heros looked!

Dinner Menu

2012-01-06T13:56:00.000-05:00

Since my weekends often include putting together a dinner menu and grocery list, I like to think everyone else has to do the same. :) I'm not the most creative cook, nor am I a pro at it... So I love any dinner idea's! Here are a few idea's for you from our very modest, unexciting dinner menu!

Recipes: Shepherd's Pie, Salsa, Chicken and Dumplings via Pinterest

Recipes Coming Soon: Spaghetti & Beef Stew

Daddy Relearns Lessons

2012-01-05T18:37:00.000-05:00

I (Blake) just never seem to learn my lesson (or in this case lessons). First, its never wise to give a 2-year-old a bath before dinner because the dinner-eating process will likely necessitate one afterward. Second, its never wise to leave a 2-year-old at the dinner table unsupervised for more than 30 seconds for that's all the time it takes for them to go from clean to catastrophe. On a related note, Emery enjoyed mom's spaghetti!

A New Hobby...

2012-01-05T17:16:00.000-05:00

Blake came home with a late Christmas gift today - A Canon Rebel T2i!!!

I know nothing about photography, but can tell I am going to have a new addiction!

What better way to introduce the crazy photos it takes then to share a few of top obsessions... :)

Aren't they stunning?

Dr. Blake Ring

2012-01-04T08:00:00.002-05:00

Make a video - it's fun, easy and free!
www.onetruemedia.com

Friday, December 9, 2011 is really a day that changed our family. 6 years out of 6 years and 6 months of marriage have been spent with Blake in school. The other 6 months were spend on studying and test and interview taking to get into the PhD program.

I am so proud of this husband of mine. So proud of the days upon days he was able to hole up in a closet size office and type away. In awe of the way in which he appeared home after hours hunched over a desk, ready to wrestle with the children and unload the dishwasher.

I honestly believe that the past several years will remain some of the hardest of our families existance...

But, how faithful and good our Lord is. There were so many times we honestly wondered and pondered on whether or not we would ever reach this point... Whether the fruit of our families labor would come to pass. The day went too quickly. The weekend passed to fast.

But, oh are we enjoying ourselves now. Weekends full of playing. Chore lists that actually have tasks marked off. Date nights that are not cancelled. Family nights full of games and laughing.

Relief. Peace... This is gonna be a good life.

An Explanation

2012-01-03T17:53:00.000-05:00

Well, we ended up with very few pictures this Christmas as our camera is on its last leg. A few came out without being blurry. So there is the lack of photos...

Then there is the trip to Illinois. It was great, but blogging just didn't happen.

And sickness. The kids are coughing up a lung, poor things.

And then well... I've just been enjoying time with my family.

So there are my lame excuses for not blogging for almost an entire month.... Tomorrow is the graduation post, so check back. :)

What Happened???

2011-12-28T20:31:00.000-05:00

I have no idea what has happened to the month of December... Between PhD graduation(yes, it actually happened) and Christmas, I found myself without an ounce of free time! January is coming quickly and with it, the start of some new year's resolutions that include blogging more frequently/consistently! So, I guess if I've already taken this much of December off, I might as well hold off until January. :) See you then...

2011-12-17T12:51:00.001-05:00

We are still here... I promise. Check back on Monday. :)

The Highlights...

2011-12-05T08:00:00.000-05:00

There were very few photos taken this weekend so this will be a photo-free post! We had a wonderful, busy weekend so I thought I would share a few highlights:

* We steamed our carpets and furniture! A kind friend lent us their steamer so that was one of Blake's projects this weekend. The biggest bonus is that the sharpie is so faded you barely notice it! :)
* We got our new couch up in the basement! Blake took me on a surprise day trip to IKEA on Monday for my "graduation" gift.
* Emery had an accident free day! And it was only day #5! We even took her out and about to the mall and to McDonald's for lunch/play!
* Some much needed quality family time happened on Saturday... Our children were in heaven with their daddy home ALL weekend! It has been almost a year since we have had a good weekend with little going on.
* Blake and I enjoyed a date night with friends on Friday night! Dinner and a concert... I can honestly say that the company of my husband and our friend's was my favorite part.
* Andrew Peterson concert! I wrote extensively about my love for his words and voice here, so I won't gush. :) His Behold The Lamb concert was amazing... I highly recommend finding a concert near you next Christmas season...

We have a HUGE week coming up! Family in town, some celebrating, and a little stage prancing! :) I am really looking forward to the week to come!

A New Outfit

2011-12-01T08:00:00.000-05:00

Blake brought home something exciting... Graduation is less then 2 weeks away!

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-11-30T09:09:00.002-05:00

I have seen these "What I Wore Wednesday" blog posts for years now... It seemed a bit odd to me at first. I'm not gonna lie. :)

But now that I have found myself to be a sweats and t-shirt gal more often then not, I have decided to jump on the band wagon and give it a go. Basically you photo-document to hold yourself accountable to shower, dry your hair, and simply put a little effort into how you look. I certainly don't think my husband is going to complain about my experiment.

I am linking up with The Pleated Poppy and Momma Go Round today.

Friday: Several hours worth of shopping, of course!

Sweater: Target, Tshirt: Gap, Jeans: Target, Boots: Naturalizer(several years old)

Saturday: Traveling to St. Louis to visit Blake's Family

Sweater & Shirt: Ann Taylor - The Loft, Jeans: Target, Boots: Naturalizer

Necklace: Forever 21

Monday: Surprise trip to IKEA with Blake and good friends!

Sweater, t-shirt, leggings: Ann Taylor - The Loft (Black Friday Sale!), Boots: Naturalizer(several years old)

*PS - I am still working on photo documenting myself. I realize that I lack technique and these are pretty juvenile. :) I'm gonna work on that.

Welcome To Our Week

2011-11-29T21:58:00.000-05:00

I have to admit that I am so very proud of my baby girl! Emery had a terrific first day of potty training... The second half of the day involved only 2 accidents and a bunch of successes! This girl continually surprises me! Our house is a mess (due to the on and off the potty every 5 minutes), but we are on our way to a diaper free household! :)

"You think I did this?"

2011-11-10T13:45:00.000-05:00

Came downstairs and was met by this face. I knew immediately that something was not right.

Do you have any idea how long it takes to vacuum dried oatmeal from carpet?

About 1 hour. With an attachment. On your hands and knees.

Ok. I don't know from personal experience because I was sick this day.

My mom told me though. :)

Mom's - Be sure to put your oatmeal on one of the high shelves. Just do it. You'll thank me later.

Did I mention that somehow the oatmeal container got left downstairs?

Came downstairs to this sight a few hours later.

Will I never learn?

What I Wore Wednesday

2011-11-09T14:13:00.001-05:00

When I originally saw this first done, I remember thinking, "What in the world"??? I used to do a wonderful job of getting up and dressed and ready almost every day of the week. Ask my friends in college. I didn't even own a pair of sweat pants. I only own 2 now, but I wash them often! :)

I thought it if I got it out there this week that I was going to link up with The Pleated Poppy next week, and post pictures, it would help to ensure that I took a few days to dry my hair, put on some jeans, and do my makeup. I am pretty sure I my husband won't regret this at all. :) He is precious and thinks I'm beautiful all the time, but I want him to know that I want to take care of myself for him.

So check back next Wednesday. I'll be taking photos and posting a few as a sort of accountability.

Welcome "Home" Arden

2011-11-08T16:10:00.001-05:00

Baby Arden via Live From Louisville

This precious girl is the reason there has been no blogging! I had just gotten it together on Wednesday and had a list of topics to start blogging and come Thursday morning, we found Arden Smith in our home for the day. Well, her momma's appendectomy(?) didn't go as planned and we were blessed with 3 more days of Arden! :) Needless to say, no blogging. We felt grateful for 4 days with this smiling face, since her family moves back to Arkansas as soon as her mommy, my precious friend can travel...

*Reminded me how much I love having a baby in the house*
*Reminded Blake how much I love having a baby in the house*
*That does not mean that it reminded Blake how much he loves having a baby in the house(though he loved carrying this girl around for a few days)* :)

Candy Land

2011-11-02T10:34:00.000-04:00

Our ~~little~~ big boy is loving my childhood favorite game. In fact he will often play alone after Blake or I have played what we feel is a sufficient amount of games... 10 or 12 in a row. :) Snapped these pictures the other night... Just wanted to be sure that I remember his favorite game at 4 years old. Did I mention he turns 5 in 2 months? *sniff, sniff*...

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

2011-10-27T23:28:00.001-04:00

I made these cookies for a fall girls night get-together... Huge Hit! They are the epitomy of fall and will be making an appearance again next week.

1 cup softened butter
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 box alpine instant spiced cider mix(all 10 packets)
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 bag kraft caramels(14 oz)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line pan with parchment(This is a MUST!). Mix flour, baking soda, baking powder, and cinnamon in small bowl. Cream butter, sugar, salt, and powdered cider. Add eggs(1 at a time). Add vanilla. Slowly add dry mixture - mixing continually. Refrigerate 1 hr before working with. Unwrap caramels. Place a caramel in center of 1 tablespoon cookie dough. Bake 12-14 minutes. Do not brown! These cookies are wonderful very soft! Slide parchment and cookies off of pan immediately so your cookies don't continue to cook. After 3-4 minutes flip cookies upside down to ensure caramel dries evenly.

Go forth and impress your home with your baking... These are cookies to impress!

HAPPY FALL!

Linking Up Here

Joy

2011-10-27T09:00:00.002-04:00

This is busiest, craziest season of our families life thus far... Blake has been home so little since January, working hard to finish his PhD! We have know this has been only a short season in the grand scheme of things, but I'll admit, this has felt like the year that will never end! :)

I can not begin to tell you where the sanity to actually enjoy this time has come from. No, I haven't enjoyed every second, yet as this season of life is coming to a close, I found myself finding pleasure in the way our lives have been. It most certainly hasn't come from within myself. Christ' goodness is the only answer.

Christ has blessed me most recently in allowing me to fully enjoy my children. He has covered me with grace and I have found myself enjoying all of the alone time with my children immensely. I have often found myself sitting on the couch at the end of the day, with a million and one things to do, enjoying Tangled, with a child on my lap and one on either side of me. Pure Heaven. Will and I have played Go Fish 10 times in a row while the girls napped. Riley sat on the counter and chatted with me while I fixed breakfast this morning. Emery has said, "I love you mommy" out of the blue several time in the past few days. My heart melted all over the floor.

Disney World - Day 1

2011-10-26T09:00:00.006-04:00

Our travel morning began very early in the morning. Like 5:00am for Blake and I. 5:40 for the kiddos. We were at the airport by 6:45am! Wow. After a whirlwind morning that involved running from one plane to another in Detroit(who would have guessed they would have such a large airport) we arrived in Florida! The air just smells better there. I promise.

We took a ton of pictures so I will let the photos do most of the talking. There was pool time, dinner eating, and monorail riding. And basically continual ooohhhing and aaahhhing from our children. If I had told them we were in heaven they would have believed me... And been thrilled about it. :) And that was only on night 1 - before we even saw a single character or visited a single park. Maybe we should have held out another trip or two on the parks. :)

A Little Blog Updating

2011-10-25T14:05:00.000-04:00

It is not a fun thing to decide to categorize your blog posts after writing over 650 posts... That's what I've been up to! :) And will be doing for several more days.

Working on a few more fun add-ons for the blog... Keep your eyes posted!

Thicker Than Thieves

2011-10-24T09:00:00.003-04:00

I am knee-deep in Disney World photo editing... Came across this one last night.

Blake took this picture of Will and Riley on our way to Florida.

Blessed.

We are so very blessed that these two love each other with such a passion.

Two different birth mothers. Two different DNA's.

They have NO idea. They don't even care. And they never will.

Beautiful. Blessed.

A beautiful blessing.

Show A Little Love!

2011-10-22T22:03:00.001-04:00

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Cooking Our Own Dinner

2011-10-19T10:30:00.001-04:00

We made a quick trip to Illinois last week to visit Blake's family. It had been far too long because of this whole dissertation thing. :) The trip and time with his family was much needed. We had dinner with both of his grandparents, Lauren(Blake's sis) came home for the weekend, and Blake and his dad got to go to a St. Louis Cardinals playy off game.

Our last night there was beautiful so they pulled out the fire pit/grill and we roasted hot dogs and marshmellows! The kids loved it!

Pumpkin Muffins

2011-10-18T09:00:00.003-04:00

These are literally the EASIEST muffins you will ever make. Actually, these are probably the easiest item you will EVER bake! Period.

Pumpkin Muffins
1 Box Yellow Cake Mix
1 Can Pureed Pumpkin

Mix the 2 ingredients and divide between 12 cupcake liners. Bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes.

Thats it. Seriously. The EASIEST muffins ever. And insanely scrumptious and moist! Man. Now I am wondering if I should have even shared this recipe or kept it for myself. Well, I'm sharing. You can thank me later.

Just Keeping It Real

2011-10-17T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is what our home looks like the morning after our 2nd trip in 2 weeks.

And I couldn't even bring myself to share with you photos from our second floor. :)

Friends, if you don't hear from me for a few days... Well, you know why.

Beautiful Faces

2011-10-13T22:50:00.001-04:00

So many years from now

Long after we are gone

These trees will spread their branches out

And bless the dawn

These trees will spread their branches out

And bless someone

A Sneak Peak

2011-10-12T22:38:00.001-04:00

These are by no means Marshman quality or anything :)

We rented a camera to take to Disney World last week, and took the kids out for some photos before we had to return it.

Here are a few snap shots of our precious ones anyway...

25 Ways To Wear A Scarf... In 4.5 minutes!

2011-10-10T09:00:00.001-04:00

This is the perfect video to watch with fall in the air! I love wearing scarfs and have been waiting all summer long to add to my collection! And man have I been wearing them in a boring fashion... I only use 2 of these styles! I'll have to watch this video everytime I wear 1 and work my way through all 25! :)

They Are Coming

2011-10-09T22:03:00.001-04:00

We came. We saw. We left exhausted.

Disney World didn't know what hit it.

There are pictures. Lots and lots and lots of pictures. They are coming. I promise.

A Repost

2011-10-07T09:00:00.000-04:00

Take a read: Before You Were Conceived...

A Repost: It's Not What You Think

2011-10-05T09:00:00.002-04:00

*The Ring family is on a much needed vacation. We are reposting a few favorite posts as we are away from the computer at this time. Thank you so much for reading.*

We have friends who are adopting. 2 families actually. Everytime we seem to expect a lull in adoption at our church, someone steps forward. People's hearts are changed. The Lord moves. It has just been so wonderfully overwhelming to me.

All of the recent buzz about adoption in our world has brought back memories of our journey... I tell this story over and over and over again. I write about it every chance I get because I never want to forget. I want to remember every detail. I want for Will to feel like he knows his story inside and out.

In 2003 Blake and I went on our first date. Somehow the conversation went to children. I shared my dream to adopt. He agreed, mainly I think because he wanted to marry me and wasn't going to ruin it on our first date. :) I held on to that conversation. I treasured it in my heart. Blake tucked it so far away that he forgot about it.

We married in 2005 and despite having every intention that Blake would finish his PhD before we added to our family, it was only a matter of months before I was begging for a child. We began trying to get pregnant rather quickly. I knew that it might come slowly. I knew that it might be hard. I knew right away that I wanted to pray about adoption being a way that we expanded.

I was searching the internet immediately. I spent hours and hours on adoption agency websites. And then the mail came. About 10 info packets on domestic and international adoption. Blake laid them on my side of the bed and had little to do with them. I poured over them, memorizing every detail. I was still not pregnant.

I don't know what happened, other then to say that it was just God. I had been praying and working on Blake and the topic of adoption for probably 6 months. He had been telling me to give the pregnancy time. But to me, this wasn't about whether or not I was pregnant. I didn't just want to be pregnant. I wanted to me a mom and I didn't care how that happened. From March 2006 to October 2006 God changed Blake's heart and one day I heard him say "I want to adopt."...

We hit the ground running and by the next month we began the process of the homestudies. Our dossier reached Guatemala in January 2007... The same month our precious son entered the world.

Because we adopted Will before I became pregnant with Riley people almost always assume that it is because of the infertility. It's not what you think, though. There was infertility. Almost 2 years of it. There were tears and hurt and disappointment. But adopting Will was not about that. Adopting Will was about what Christ did for Blake and I. It was our totally flawed attempt to mirror... mimic his adoption of us and the way in which he picked us up and pulled us out of a terrible life.

When the Lord changes your heart towards adoption - When your heart becomes sympathetic towards it, amazing things happen. You see pictures of a little girl in Asia and wonder what dress you might help her pick out for her senior prom. You study a photo of a little boy in Africa and imagine teaching him to ride a bike or throw a ball. In our case, it was the photos of young boys in Guatemala. We studied those photos daily for weeks... wondering which one we would soon be kissing. Imagining rocking that small bundle to sleep. January 26 was the day we put a face on those dreams...

It's not what you think. Things seldom are. Will was not just a body to fill our empty crib. Will is here by an act of God. A desire to fulfill our Lord's instruction to care for the orphans... A desire we could never have on our own. We want him to know.

Happy Birthday Emery!

2011-10-03T09:00:00.004-04:00

God's plan is always so much better then our own. For instance, this little curly haired beauty was not originally part of our plan. What a precious gift she is to our family. I remember very clearly how thrilled both Blake and I were the night we discovered I was pregnant.

Her pregnancy and delivery was difficult and scary(coming 4 wks early)... The outcome far more precious and sweet then I could have possibly imagined!

Emery Ann turned 2 on September 28. We celebrated a night early. After grilling out and eating cupcakes she got to open her presents. It was precious... the first time she has really acknowledged that she understands she is receiving a gift and been excited about it. Out of all the gifts her favorite was a sticker book. She moved stickers from page to page for an hour straight!

Emery is such a wonderfully, joyful child. She talks. Oh, she talks. In her squeaky little voice she says, "I did that!" "Hold you." "I luv you." "Lets watch t.d."(tv) "Read me a book" "I went poo-poo."(Potty training is high on my to do list)

Our sweet girl loves to sing. I can imagine how much God must be smiling while listening to her rendition of "Jesus Loves Me".... And her run. She swings her arms to hard she has literally knocked herself over. I cringe everytime she takes off running, for fear this will be the time she injures herself!

Emery will make a wonderful mommy one day - She adores babies. Carries around baby dolls and wants me to swaddle them. Perhaps she will be a chef. Emery loves to be in the kitchen while I cook dinner - She stirs and mixes along with her mommy.

My favorite things about Emery? She has a sensitive heart. So soft! She apologizes quickly and easily and often without being told to. Emery loves her brother and sister. So, so much! She wants to do everything they do. She wants to be everywhere they are. I love it. And people. She loves people. She wanders the halls of church saying, "Hi guys!"

2 years ago Blake and I were sitting in the special care's nursery staring at a little 5 lb bundle attached to a bunch of machines. Before we had even held her in our arms, she captured her mommy and daddy's heart. I mean, have you seen those big, brown eyes? :)

And We're Off

2011-10-03T08:59:00.005-04:00

We are having a few *MAGICAL* days at Disney World... There will be a few reposts about how much I love my family throughout the week!

2011-09-30T14:06:00.001-04:00

I am loving this websight! What an easy way to organize all of my internet favorites!
Here are a few of my favorite things...

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spaghetti

2011-09-27T09:00:00.001-04:00

If you are wondering what kind of things you can use that wonderful homemade chicken stock for here is a recipe for you...

You start out with 6 cups of chicken broth.

Add a teaspoon salt and 1/2 teaspoon pepper.

The zest and juice of 2 lemons.

2 chopped carrots.

The rind of a chunk of parmesan cheese.

The meat of 2 chicken breasts.

A handful for spaghetti noodles, broken into 3rds.

Simmer it all for about 20 minutes and serve.

The soup is yummy topped with more shredded parmesan cheese.

Now go forth and make some for dinner! :)

Let The Countdown Begin

2011-09-26T09:00:00.005-04:00

We leave on Sunday morning and will spend 4 full days filling ourselves with all of the *Disney Magic* we can handle.

6 Teeth

2011-09-23T09:00:00.004-04:00

Yesterday was a tough day for this beautiful girl! Less then a week before Emery turns 2, this poor baby is getting 6 teeth! 4 "i" teeth and 2 molers. We spent the day hunkered inside giving motrin and tylenol on schedule... She is really the sweetest thing! Emery was all giggles and smiles during bathtime, so I had to grab the camera and show off a few of those beautiful faces that have totally captured my heart! Can't imagine what we ever did without her 2 years ago!

Chicken Stock

2011-09-22T09:00:00.002-04:00

I have wanted to try my hand at homemade chicken stock for quite some time. A few weeks ago I worked up the courage to dig out a few recipes and combine them to come up with one that works for me. My number one complaint about all of the recipes I saw was that they took alot of chicken that ended up being tossed at the end of the simmering process.

Here is my compromise: I purchased 5 lbs of chicken breasts with bone and skin on. I cut the breasts from the bones and took off the skin. The chicken breasts were individually packaged in ziplock baggies and the rest of the pieces placed in a bowl. The next morning I gathered up these ingredients:

Chicken remains, 2 yellow onions, 4 stalks celery, 4 carrots, 1 head of garlic, dill, thyme, parsley, kosher salt, and pepper corns.

Slice up your celery and carrots into large chunks, and quarter your onions - skin and all.

Throw the chicken, veggies, herbs(stems and all), and garlic head(simply cut in half widthwise) and cover with water. I actually measured out about 4 qts.

Add 1 1/2 teaspoons whole peppercorns and 1 tablespoon salt.

Bring your liquid to a boil and then reduce to a simmer.

Simmer for 4 hours.

I believe I am going to need a larger pot. :)

The photo on the left is from 2 hours and the photo on the right of at 4 hours, right before I removed it from the heat. At 4 hours remove from the head and pour into a bowl straining out everything but your freshly made chicken stock!

I ended up with 11 cups of homemade chicken stock in my freezer in only 5 hours...

So much richer and flavorful then the store bought cartons!

Just in time for fall soups!

A Much Deserved Thank You...

2011-09-21T10:25:00.005-04:00

I think that I will always look back on this last year as one of the hardest. I say that at the age of 26 with children, 4,3,2(next wk). So perhaps, one day, I will look back at this past year as a breeze. :) Hence the italicized think. I realize that 10 years from now I may think that life was never easier then now.

I know that when I am pondering what the Lord has taught me this year, one the resounding themes will always be, "how to be a friend". I didn't learn it from being one, but from the way a group of women friended me. These friends will remain nameless in this post. You know who you are.

Thank you for the late night visits. I know you were weary from your day of mothering and cleaning and would have simply loved to lay down and dwell on nothing... yet you put your children to bed and loaded into the car after 8:00pm and came over to give me fellowship. The laughter was good for my soul.

Thank you for your playdates. I know that crowding 10ish kids in my home isn't the easiest way for you to spend your days. There were missed pool mornings and organizing binges, traded for 2 hours of "who took your toy?", and "you have to take turns with the rapunzel dress." I am sure that most often it would have been a much more peaceful day for you to have stayed home, yet you came... You often came for my sanity and for the sake of my children's lives.... :)

Thank you for the text messages. The constant, "I am praying for that date in 3 weeks"... the "have you heard" messages. The offers for meals and errands and babysitting. The gentle reminders that I was not alone.

You ladies have become a part of my family. You have become a permant part of my memories from this period of time... A wonderful part of my memories. God has used you spur me out of laziness and self-pity. I have so often been challenged by your responses to circumstances, far beyond the stress level of mine. Your sacrifices have far surpassed my own. Thank you.

A Light Stripe

2011-09-20T09:00:00.003-04:00

This is not a well organized post. I attempted to find some "before" photos, and searched and searched and searched... None. I know that I have some somewhere, but I have filed them away. Yesterday, my mom came over and fulfilled my dream for a stripe in my little boy's nautical room. I was finding the Eddie Bauer Wicker dark. The only window is off center and the room felt dreary. Between the bright blue accents and the white stripe(that appears off-white in these photos), I think I am on track for a lighter look! I think that after a few more accents and headboards we will be about done!

These pictures are terribly grainy and out of focus... So sorry!

Hoping to start a photo series with some great photos in the near future.

Smiles

2011-09-19T09:00:00.004-04:00

We are smiling in our house today... Blake heard from his professor yesterday evening. He has a defensable draft of his dissertation and he is going to sign off on it! This is a tremendous answer to prayer. Only a few weeks ago, we were not sure that this was going to happen in the time it needed to in order to graduate this December. There are a few days of corrections to make and then Blake will turn it in by Wednesday and will be hands off until his oral defense in October! There will be lots of studying and thinking and practice arguing :) until then, but we can't help but feel overwhelmingly thankful for every step we get to cross along the way. Thank you for praying with us... Please continue. I have become so greatful for this process and all that the Lord is teaching me about himself through it.

Stars In My Eyes

2011-09-18T21:48:00.001-04:00

Ok, so basically Andrew Peterson has one of my very favorite voices in the entire world! I don't even remember when I heard it for the first time. It's been years. And his lyrics. Oh, his lyrics. They are real and honest. They are deep and profound. They are what I have always wanted to say, in a much more beautiful way then I could ever say them. His "Behold The Lamb" concert is absolutely my favorite concert ever. Ok, enough gushing - Blake is getting a bit jealous. :)

Friday night Andrew Peterson did a benefit concert for Rosalynn's Hope - Ninth and O Baptist Church's adoption ministry. The Lord blessed by working out a way to bring in such a wonderful and popular artist that about filled the house. I'm smiling just thinking about the families we will be able to scholorship with the added funds.

And man, I thought I was a fan, but Ninth and O's sanctuary was filled with people that knew every Andrew Peterson song by heart. I saw one man wait in line 1.5 hours to simply shake his hand and thank him for his music. His number #1 fan? Well, I am not crazy enough to be anyone's #1 fan, I think. :) But did I sit in the back during his sound check and sneak a few grainy pictures? Ummm, yes I sure did. And have I listened to his music over and over and over again day after day after day?... Well, that I have.

*Blake fully endorses this blog post* :)

Soccer

2011-09-17T20:31:00.001-04:00

Will's first soccer game was last Saturday! It is a great sport for him, because this boy LOVES to run... And we kind of think that soccer just might be in his blood. :)

Relief

2011-09-10T22:02:00.002-04:00

Blake e-mailed the main rough draft of his dissertation off last night at about 4:50 pm!

The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary was having their annual "Family Night" beginning at 6:00 pm and we were actually able to go! We met my mom, dad, and brother Paul and had fun like we haven't had in literally months!

Will went right down this monstrous slide!

Paul and Blake raced. I won't say who won.

I can not even tell you how much this girl is growing up!

A prince needs a sword. This prince was pretty happy with his cotton candy! :)

Don't ask who dad bet would win... Oh, wait!

Did I say "bet"? I mean, "guessed".

The Ring girls absolutely love their Mimi! Don't know what we would do without her!

There are still a few hoops to jump through before we reach graduation, but for now we are thrilled to have a few days without writing! "Relief" was the word of the night. Thank you for praying for us.

Our Good

2011-09-03T20:54:00.001-04:00

Updates have been few and far between recently... Mainly because we are still in the middle of utter chaos! Blake's second draft of his dissertation is due in exactly 1 week. Every spare minute is spent at the library. A plus? Our grocery bill has been less because I am seldom cooking! :)

"He has promised to use everything in your life for your good and His glory. This is the kind of watchful, fatherly love He has for you... You can rest in His everlasting arms - now." Give Them Grace, pg. 28

There was a much needed week long break that came after turning in the last draft and receiving it back to make corrections. The amount of time left to finish the corrections is overwhelming. It will be such a LONG week, and yet I wish there was more time for him! He lives, eats, and breathes the life of Dan Kimbell at this moment and to be honest I am not the least bit jealous! :) I would rather that we push on and finish, then spend longer then we have to with our lives revolving around this man I have never met(though I am sure he is a wonderful man). :)

"He who sacrifices thank offerings honors me, and he prepares the way so that I may show him the salvation of God." Psalm 50:23

I am learning so much about gratitude. There have been few times in my life that I feel have been harder then then the last 7 months. I am learning how to totally depend on Christ. I am learning how to be independent as a mother and caretaker of our home(though I will admit our yard is looking rough). As difficult and stressful as it has been, I am truly so greatful for this time.

"Thanksgiving - giving thanks in everything - prepares the way that God might show us His fullest salvation in Christ." One Thousand Gifts, pg. 39

I know I'm rambling. Blake has been gone about 12 hours now. "For our good" is what I have been running in my head today. "For our good" is what I whispered to myself after I browned up 2 lbs of stew meat and realized I didn't have what I needed for the dinner I had planned, but was home alone with napping kids. "For our good", as I sat with my friend whose husband started the PhD program with Blake and we let our kids run WILD so we could have a moment or two of adult conversation.

"If the church is in Christ, it's initial act is always an act of thanksgiving, of returning the world to God." Alexander Schmemann

We covet your prayers. Life right now is tiring, but tonight, I can honestly say that I know that this is "for our good".

A Cold Snack

2011-09-02T22:25:00.001-04:00

Need an idea of what to do with those ripe bananas you won't be able to eat before they go bad?

FREEZE THEM!

Place sliced banana on a cookie sheet lines with parchment paper.

Freeze for several hours then place in baggies.

The kids ate these up - Along with the frozen grapes!

A Repost: It's Not What You Think

2011-08-27T12:44:00.001-04:00

We have friends who are adopting. 2 families actually. Everytime we seem to expect a lull in adoption at our church, someone steps forward. People's hearts are changed. The Lord moves. It has just been so wonderfully overwhelming to me.

*Will's Gotch Day was at the beginning of the month. I am working on a post - In the meantime, here is a re-post of a blog I wrote last year:

All of the recent buzz about adoption in our world has brought back memories of our journey... I tell this story over and over and over again. I write about it every chance I get because I never want to forget. I want to remember every detail. I want for Will to feel like he knows his story inside and out.

In 2003 Blake and I went on our first date. Somehow the conversation went to children. I shared my dream to adopt. He agreed, mainly I think because he wanted to marry me and wasn't going to ruin it on our first date. :) I held on to that conversation. I treasured it in my heart. Blake tucked it so far away that he forgot about it.

We married in 2005 and despite having every intention that Blake would finish his PhD before we added to our family, it was only a matter of months before I was begging for a child. We began trying to get pregnant rather quickly. I knew that it might come slowly. I knew that it might be hard. I knew right away that I wanted to pray about adoption being a way that we expanded.

I was searching the internet immediately. I spent hours and hours on adoption agency websites. And then the mail came. About 10 info packets on domestic and international adoption. Blake laid them on my side of the bed and had little to do with them. I poured over them, memorizing every detail. I was still not pregnant.

I don't know what happened, other then to say that it was just God. I had been praying and working on Blake and the topic of adoption for probably 6 months. He had been telling me to give the pregnancy time. But to me, this wasn't about whether or not I was pregnant. I didn't just want to be pregnant. I wanted to me a mom and I didn't care how that happened. From March 2006 to October 2006 God changed Blake's heart and one day I heard him say "I want to adopt."...

We hit the ground running and by the next month we began the process of the homestudies. Our dossier reached Guatemala in January 2007... The same month our precious son entered the world.

Because we adopted Will before I became pregnant with Riley people almost always assume that it is because of the infertility. It's not what you think, though. There was infertility. Almost 2 years of it. There were tears and hurt and disappointment. But adopting Will was not about that. Adopting Will was about what Christ did for Blake and I. It was our totally flawed attempt to mirror... mimic his adoption of us and the way in which he picked us up and pulled us out of a terrible life.

When the Lord changes your heart towards adoption - When your heart becomes sympathetic towards it, amazing things happen. You see pictures of a little girl in Asia and wonder what dress you might help her pick out for her senior prom. You study a photo of a little boy in Africa and imagine teaching him to ride a bike or throw a ball. In our case, it was the photos of young boys in Guatemala. We studied those photos daily for weeks... wondering which one we would soon be kissing. Imagining rocking that small bundle to sleep. January 26 was the day we put a face on those dreams...

It's not what you think. Things seldom are. Will was not just a body to fill our empty crib. Will is here by an act of God. A desire to fulfill our Lord's instruction to care for the orphans... A desire we could never have on our own. We want him to know.

Study Break

2011-08-26T23:31:00.001-04:00

Blake has been spending many evenings at the library writing this summer. On those long days, I try to take the kids up so we can spend a few minutes visiting with him. On this particular night it was VERY hot and the children were relieved to find some relief in the largest sprinkler these kiddos had ever seen. :)

Dinner Menu

2011-08-20T11:03:00.000-04:00

Menu Planning is one of my very least favorite things to do! I find myself inspired some weeks and brainstorming for what seems like hours others...

I am by NO means a pro, but here are 5 things I have found that make menu planning a little easier:

1. If 4 out of 5 won't eat it, I don't fix it! By the time our family reached 5 people, I knew chances were that there were going to be things the majority ate, but might be disliked by one. I don't have time, nor do I want to fix 2 seperate dinners in one day, so I created this rule. Example: Will only eats pasta in spaghetti. The rest of the family love pasta. So we fix pasta every once in a while and he will eat leftovers or whatever veggies I might fix and chicken nuggets.

2. I plant our menu on the fridge so that we don't deviate from it. Ok, that sounds a little extreme. Let's rephrase: If there is one way to blow your grocery budget it is by buying for meals you don't fix and re-buying for meals your in the mood for. I have found that posting my meals on the fridge are the easiest way to ensure I am going to stick to my guns. I print up a cute menu and put it up where easily seen!

3. I plan our dinner menu with my calendar in front of me. I used to simply plan a certain amount of meals in no particular order and just fixed them based on my mood. Well, I would find that we would reach of a busy day and I had already fixed all of my "easy" or "quick" meals. So, now I plan on particular meals on particular days. Example: Wednesday we will be taking dinner to Blake at church and eating with him there. Rather then a meal that requires all sorts of ingredients to pack up, We are having homemade chicken and noodles. A one pot meal that I can make in the crock pot and will still be hot when we get there.

4. I plan one fun meal a menu. I love cooking and would gladly spend half of the day doing it. Ummm.... Except that I have a 4,3,and almost 2 year old. So to ensure that cooking doesn't become too monotonous, I try to throw either a new meal or perhaps a favorite that costs a little more to make or might take a little more time then I might normally give to my dinner cooking. Example: Last week was busy and I had easy meals planned, except for Saturday night. Blake was home that evening so I could cook an unfamiliar meal that required more time and attention. We had Cajun Chicken Pasta. The result: I looked forward all week to being able to try out a new recipe. Oh, and it turned out delish and thus we added another meal to our list of regulars!

5. Always have a fall back meal or two. I don't typically schedule or plan out a fall back meal, but we always have a few essentials stocked in case one is needed. There is always pancake mix in our pantry so I could easily throw that with scrambled eggs if dinner just wasn't going to happen that night. There is always noodles and spaghetti sauce in the pantry as well and our deep freezer often holds a few extra chicken breasts that could easily be marinaded and grilled.

I love hearing ideas from friends and often scan blogs for them, so please feel free to share a favorite meal of yours in the comment section! What is your go to family meal? Here is our dinner menu for this next week... Perhaps a little inspiration.

Layers

2011-08-11T14:37:00.002-04:00

I feel like every room in our house is a work in progress...

This is our family room about 6 months ago. I think of this as our first layer.

This is our family room today. Not alot has changed, but a few accessories have warmed the place up. A rug(better, but not perfect), side table, lamp, and a few wall hangings later and the room feels warm and used! I love the result of SLOWLY layering... It is adding those books and pictures and knick-knack souveniers that make a room "you". I searched for months for the perfect side table and I have had my eye on that lamp for months just waiting for the perfect place to put it... Sometimes I rush to finish a space, but am learning that if I slow down and build a room layer by layer as opposed to throwing everything in at one time, I am much happier with the result. This is a room I feel "at home" in.

Kate's Craft Fair

2011-08-09T20:51:00.001-04:00

Kate doesn't yet know that her name is Kate. She is a little girl in an Ethiopian orphanage that has yet to see the dimples on her beautiful mother Rachel's face or see herself through the eyes of her father Jeff's gorgeous photographs. But Kate is prayed for, wished for, hoped for... by the Marshman's. By her mommy and daddy that God hand picked for her. Becoming her mommy and daddy is no easy or cheap task and Rachel has been running an online craft fair as a fund raiser: Kate's Craft Fair. Rachel and friends have been painting, sewing, and gluing up a storm to offer precious items for you to purchase with all proceeds going to help bring precious Kate home to her family.

*Hoping to complete my own little goodies to be available through Kate's Craft Fair in a few weeks, so keep an eye out!*

5 things vaca reminded me about my husband

2011-08-02T15:04:00.001-04:00

Life is pretty crazy in our house now. Well, honestly it has been for several years, but the past 6 months have been very trying. We, as a family, have been working very hard to ensure that Blake graduates in December with his PhD. The past 6 months have been full of very little family time and even less husband and wife time. The trip came at what seemed liked an inoppertune time(near the end of his writing), but ended up being a much needed break for us. We just needed to spend time together! While spending one on one time with Blake 2 weeks ago I was reminded of some of the many reasons(in no particular order) that I love my husband.

1. This man knows how to win a girls heart... My husband is a romantic at heart. Don't let him fool you into thinking he is all tough - I have letters, poems, dried flowers, gifts... and a million memories. We sure crammed in alot of hand holding, cuddling, and canoodling during those 3 days.

2. This man cracks me up... It can certainly be a humor that has to be acquired through thorough exposure, but he has me laughing constantly! :)

3. I love this man's smile. Enough said.

4. This guy loves the Lord passionately. He is zealous. He is intense. He desires Christ. He is constantly challenging me. Pushing me. Spurring me on.

5. I love the way this guy loves his family. We had not been dating long before I we payed his family a visit and I came home blissfully happy with what I saw. Just as I had prayed, it was a window into the way he loves his children. Listening to him talk about his hopes, desires, and dreams for his son and daughters had my heart skipping a beat!

Sometimes, in the monotony of the daily I find myself taking Blake for granted... I came home grateful for these things and so many more. I bet he would have taken me on a trip years ago if he had known that was all it would take! My heart is so full for this man...

words

2011-07-31T21:40:00.002-04:00

"But words are things, and a small drop of ink,
Falling like dew, upon a thought, produces
That which makes thousands, perhaps millions, think."
- George Gordon Byron

I have alot of blogging to do to catch you up on the past few months. I find myself far too tired to do that tonight. But I did feel led to give a brief update of where our family is in terms of Blake's writing... Technically, the rough draft of his dissertation is due tomorrow. He has been gone several full days a week for the entire summer. For the past 11 days he has been gone from about 8am - 10pm...

"By words we learn thoughts, and by thoughts we learn life."

- Jean Baptiste Girard

At this very moment, he is writing/correcting his final chapter in his office. About 180 pages total I believe...

"For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience."

- Ingrid Bengis

He is tired. I am tired. The kids are tired of things being like this. Just since beginning this simple post, I have had to go upstairs to quiet Will and Riley(who have been in bed for an hr!), not one time, but two.

"I like good strong words that mean something."

- Louisa May Alcott, Little Women

Yesterday, I purchased a copy of One Thousand Gifts: Dare To Live Fully Right Where You Are by Ann Voskamp. As I began reading, I sarcastically thought, "What great timing to begin this book." After the first chapter I was praising God with "What great timing to begin this book!"

"For me, words are a form of action, capable of influencing change. Their articulation represents a complete, lived experience."

- Ingrid Bengis

I find myself extrememly tired tonight... I probably shouldn't have push mowed the lawn last night after putting the kids to bed. When I got home I decided to read another chapter from the book and suddenly find myself feeling so blessed that Blake has the opportunity to be in school. That I was able to bring my children home to a cool home. That tonight(eventually) I get to lay in bed next to the one I love.

"If words are to enter men's minds and bear fruit, they must be the right words shaped cunningly to pass men's defenses and explode silently and effectually within their minds."

- J. B. Phillips

Please whisper words to the Father on our behalf. There is still much to be done tonight and tomorrow and while the break that follows is desperately needed, it will be short lived. Corrections, additional research, and rewrites will come. Pray for the words he types as they are beginning to run together. Pray for the words I speak to my children, as I have spent about 2 hours away since this stretch of craziness started 11 days ago.

"Kind words are a creative force, a power that concurs in the building up of all that is good, and energy that showers blessings upon the world."
- Lawrence G. Lovasik

a little can of spray paint

2011-07-26T15:48:00.001-04:00

So technically this took 2 cans: a can of primer and a can of glossy white.

The owl and the tray came from the dollar section of Target!

The candelabra's were my great aunts and are so heavy! Solid Brass.

I need to take a few shots of them in their new homes... The candelabra filled out a space above my bed and the owl and tray are still being moved around. :)

Bebo Norman

2011-07-26T15:11:00.002-04:00

Over the years I have spent countless hours listening to Bebo Norman's songs. His emotion is raw. His lyrics honest. His style is easy listening. I've recently downloaded some music from his newest cd and have fallen in love with the lyrics of these songs... It's time to go to I-tunes and purchase as much of his music as you can.

Could You Ever Look At Me
could you ever look at me

the way you're looking at the ocean
all wounded in your smile
but holy and unroiled
could you ever look at me

could you ever look at me
the way you're looking at the sunrise
how it settles on your face
whole and unafraid
like the light of your world

i don't know how
to chase away the fear i have inside me
i don't know where it is you go
when you drift away
when you drift away

could you ever look at me
the way you're looking at the ocean
could you give to me that smile
if only for a a while
could you ever look at me

and i don't know how
to find a way to keep you here beside me
and i don't know where it is you go
but it's beautiful to me
so beautiful to see

i hope you never look at me
the way you're looking at the ocean
'cause in the sunrise i have seen
i was never meant to be the light of your world

I Hope You See Jesus
Instead of fear, instead of blinded eyes

Instead of shame, instead of all my lies
Instead of an orphan without a name
I hope you see Jesus

Instead of anger, instead of unbelief
Instead of weakness in the heart of me
Instead of a wounded soul that sometimes loses faith
I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in my place
Bearing all my shame
I hope you see Jesus

Instead of voices in a faceless crowd
Instead of prophets crying out from behind a shroud
Instead of fingers pointing out the blame
I, I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in my place
Bearing all my shame
I, I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see love
I hope you see love
I hope you see love

Oh my God, when You look on us
A broken people who have turned from love
Instead of the words we throw and the wars we wage
I, I hope You forgive us, I hope you see Jesus

I hope you see Jesus
I hope you see Jesus
Standing in our place
Bearing all our shame
I hope you see Jesus

Standing in my place
Bearing all my shame
I hope you see Jesus

my top 10 favorites from vaca

2011-07-22T16:15:00.001-04:00

There is so much for me to say about my little 3 day trip to Destin with Blake... I have re-written this post several times. So I decided to do several posts about it -The first is a Top 10 List...

Top 10 List

1. Laying Out In The Sun - I am a Florida girl at heart! I love to be tan(and use sunscreen). :) I love to be in the sun. It has been about 4 years since I have taken a vacation that involved several hours of laying out(before Will) and this one involved 2 days worth of it! I think that even Blake enjoyed the peacefulness of it! :)

2. Reading a book - I love to read novels and mysteries, but often find myself taking so long to finish that I have forgotten much of the book by the time I finish. Blake and I both bought a new book the day before we left and had them finished before we returned!

3. Being in Florida - I lived in Florida for 10 years and basically grew up there. I always enjoy being able to go back with Blake and tell stories and reminesce about the wonderful beach trips and friendships...

View from our hotel balcony

4. Taking Naps - My children are precious, but there are a few things that they don't do well and napping is one of them. Since adding Riley I have seldom had all children napping at the same time, therefor napping for myself has been non-existent. Blake and I napped 2 x in 2 days... Quite the accomplishment for me!

Following dinner by the beach at The Crab Trap

5. Eating Late - I don't when it started, but our kiddos like to eat dinner early! 4.30-5.00 is their preferred time! Granted, they get up pretty early(by 7) and are in bed no later then 8... I think that Blake and I often find we aren't very hungry by dinner time and often don't really get to enjoy our food because of it. We ate at 8.00pm both nights we were gone!

6. Long Meals - I am sure that every other parent feels exactly the same way... We eat FAST! Blake and I discussed before leaving the fact that we wanted to enjoy every second alone, so when we sat down to eat we worked hard to eat slow! We chatted, ordered appetizers, tried each others food, and did everything we could think of to take the longest time possible during our meals(especially dinner). We had some incredible conversations during those times.

7. Late Nights - I have always been a night owl. Even now, I hate to go to bed before 10 and find myself up till 11 most nights. We didn't even find ourselves returning to our room until after 10 those 2 nights! I loved it! Then a movie followed before bed both evenings as well...

8. The Beach - Ok, my husband thinks I am the strangest thing, but I do not enjoy ocean water. It involves a story about a jellyfish, alcohol, and a terribly swollen leg... I seldom find myself in the water at the beach, but I ADORE to be at the beach! I love walking up and down the beach. I love listening to the waves crashing. I love watching children play in the sand. I love the smell... The beach just makes me happy. Blake rented up beach chairs and an umbrella on the Tuesday morning and we spent about 4 hours doing all of those things!

9. No Schedule - We did not have a single thing we had to do during our time in Destin! We didn't have to eat at a certain time. We didn't have to sleep at a certain time. We didn't have to worry about anyone being too hot or getting sun burned. We didn't have to check e-mails or listen to voicemails... There was NO dissertation writing for 3 entire days! :) I believe that it has been years since we have relaxed that much.

10. Alone Time With Blake - Our 6 year anniversary was in June and for 4 of those years we have been growing our family and raising children... And we love it. We adore it. We wouldn't choose anything over it. But in the midst of ministry, PhD writing, and children we had found that we had become very lazy in our efforts to spend quality time together. We brought no computers and only watched tv when watching a movie after 10pm... We took walks, rode bikes, ate long meals - I felt like I just couldn't get enough time with him! We wouldn't trade our lives, but we definitely waited way too long to do this. I'm already brainstorming where we can go next year!

The fact that we got to go to the beach(due to a great deal) was amazing, but I will tell you that almost everything on this list can be accomplished by spending time almost anywhere. We needed to go somewhere quiet. We needed to go somewhere slow. We needed to go somewhere that we couldn't find things to do to fill up every spare minute with activities. We needed to need eachother. That's what made such a wonderful trip...

A Smoky 4th of July

2011-07-08T10:29:00.001-04:00

We had a very low-key 4th of July. It was a very needed, quiet day coming off of Blake being gone for 6 days(mission trip in NYC).

We ended the evening with the kiddos first experience with fireworks!

Well, sparklers and smoke bombs. :)

The Powder Room - Finished

2011-07-04T14:32:00.002-04:00

Our first floor powder room has been a work in progress. It was one of my least favorite rooms when we moved into our homse and is now, perhaps, my favorite! If you need a reminder of the process you can read this post about how I painted the cabinet, or this post about choosing the mirror, or this post about painting the walls the perfect blue.

After months of searching for just the right accessories and wall hangings, I was stumped. Couldn't find just the right thing. So after seeing stenciling on several popular blogs mom and I decided to give it a go.

We painted our first stencil right behind where the mirror hangs. :)

We chose to use a random pattern.

WThe stencil needs to be cleaned between every application. Make sure to wipe all the excess off of the back so not to transfer the bleed through.

We were able to roll out 3 stencils off of 1 wet roller. You have to be careful to not make the foam too wet or you will bleed through the stencil. All. Over. The. Place. :)

I love the results!

Where Did The Stencil Come From? Royal Design Studio

*Got 10% off using coupon code YHL10 from Young House Love*

How Much Did It Cost? It cost about $20 for the stencil and about $20 for the other supplies.

What Supplies Were Necessary? The stencil, foam rollers, qt of paint(your choice-I used Valspar White Satin), Paint tape

A Year Old Purchase and a Sneak Peak

2011-06-29T14:49:00.001-04:00

I have a cabinet in my laundry room that has nothing but knick-knacks and accessories for our house. I have sea shells, candels, vases... Items used in the past and items with tags on them. These sand dollars and sea urchans were a purchase I made a full year ago at Pottery Barn. I didn't know what I would do with them, but they were too good of a deal to pass up.

$3.97 a set.

And then 50% off! No joke!

I love the beach(I am from Florida) and have little touches of blues and shells all over our house and while I didn't have a spot for them at the time, I knew that one day I would wish I had them.

Tuesday night I came across the perfect place for these guys.

Our first floor powder room got a makeover and they became the perfect filler for the apothocary jar...

SNEAK PEAK!

Homemade Ranch Dressing

2011-06-27T22:21:00.001-04:00

I have always been a little picky about ranch dressing. Not a fan of Kraft or Wishbone, but LOVE the stuff you often find at buffets like Golden Coral or Ryans. Not kidding.

I ran across the Pioneer Woman's ranch dressing recipe and knew I had to try it. We don't buy Ranch anymore. Seriously. Every week or 2, I make a batch and even our children love it! Its always a bonus to be able to find a way to use all these herbs I have growing in pots on our back porch as well!

I only add about 1 teaspoon of finely chopped parsley.

The I throw in 1 tablespoon of freshly chopped dill.

The 1 tablespoon of chopped chives.

Finely mince 1 clove of garlic.

ONLY 1 CLOVE!

Just believe me. :)

Take a little course kosher salt and sprinkle osme on the garlic.

I ended up using about 1/3 of the amount in the photo above.

Take a fork and work the salt into the garlic.

You want it to be broken down and sort of a paste like consistency.

Next, add 1 cup of mayo and 1/2 cup of sour cream.

These are 2 of my favorite things in the world!

The final ingredient I add is milk.

I have used buttermilk before and it is wonderful, but I NEVER have a reason to buy it and you don't use enough for me to justify it.

So I just add plain ole' skim milk.

It doesn't add extra flavor, but turns the thick mixture into a liquid.

Ok, all that to say, milk works totally fine.

You can add as little or as much milk as you want.

I add a little milk almost everytime I use it because it seems to thicken up after only a few hours in the fridge.

Homemade Ranch and Homemade Salsa are staples in our fridge.

Not because I am so super mom who can magically whip them out of my back pocket, but because once you taste them you just can't go back! :)

ENJOY!

How My Heart Aches...

2011-06-24T14:40:00.003-04:00

When I hold you in my arms, love

Somethin' changes, it's the strangest feeling

The things that used to matter,

They don't matter anymore

When I see you and you're smiling

How my heart aches so full it is about to break

You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways that you changed me, baby

Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue when I'm with you

When I hear you and your cryin'

It resonates dear, in a place I didn't know was there

You make me believe in love

I could never count all the ways that you changed me, baby

Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue when I'm with you

Beautiful baby, you're sweeter then strawberry pie

Just like the morning your smile brings the sun that shines

I could never count all the ways that you change me, baby

Every day the sky is a deeper shade of blue when I'm with you

I could never count all the ways that you change me, baby

Everyday the sky is a deeper shade of blue when I'm with you

-J.J. Heller

Spent yesterday morning at a new park only 3 miles from our home! It is beautiful! The playground was creative and had a few things I had never seen before. The splash park was huge and had all sorts of sprayers and fountains... The children napped beautifully! We are going back tonight. And in the morning. :)

Hoo, Hoo

2011-06-20T21:45:00.002-04:00

Our family room built in's are my favorite feature of the room. My mom and I painted them last summer while Blake was in Equador and it totally changed the entire room! The ceilings felt higher. The room felt lighter. I love staging bookshelves. I love them to be pretty!... But I haven't been in love with them. I filled the shelves with books and pictures and vases and knick-knacks that I already had on hand and a year later I am ready to start changing things up. Went to Home Goods with Momma tonight and fell in love this owl. My sweet Mother bought him for me as a little present and so he found a new home tonight.

I love this thing! No idea why, but I've been searching for the perfect owl for this very spot!

While snapping pictures tonight my kiddos begged for their photos to be taken.

I seriously can not believe how old Will is seeming to me...

Of course, the 1 time I pull the camera out for something other then them they can't stand to not smile for me! :) So I jumped on the chance to snap photos of them without begging or bribing them to smile...

"What do you think of this? I like this Mommy" while shopping at Home Goods tonight.
Really??? Where is the time going?

She was caught telling Will "No, no Wi" today...
I think I am looking at a little Mini-Me! :)

As much joy as this owl brought me a few hours ago, just glancing at the photos of my kids brings me back down to earth... They are what ground me. Take the owl. Take the fireplace and the painted bookshelves that took hours of work. Give me these 3 faces and I am totally content and blissfully happy.

"Put Your Ear To The Bible..."

2011-06-16T16:01:00.002-04:00

Found this picture of Will and his Uncle Paul this afternoon... I took it the evening before he left to go overseas.The sight of his face immediately compelled me to pray for my baby brother. He is spending the summer in Asia with the IMB. I got to chat with Paulie via SKYPE a few nights ago and he shared with Blake and I some of the hardships that he and the other missionaries are facing...

I have been hit with a vivid reminder of the world's need for the Savior.

A brother who packed up a duffle bag full of stuff and traveled literally to the other side of the world for the gospel.

Pray.

Pray for him.

Pray for them.

"Not called!" did you say? "Not heard the call," I think you should say. Put your ear down to the Bible, and hear him bid you go and pull sinners out of the fire of sin. Put your ear down to the burdened, agonized heart of humanity, and listen to its pitiful wail for help. Go stand by the gates of hell, and hear the damned entreat you to go to their father's house and bid their brothers and sisters, and servants and masters not to come there. And then look Christ in the face, whose mercy you have professed to obey, and tell him whether you will join heart and soul and body and circumstances in the march to publish his mercy to the world.

William Booth, founder of the Salvation Army

"I have but one passion - it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ."

Count Zinzindorf

Learning To Unclench Those Fists...

2011-06-14T21:39:00.002-04:00

I really wanted to take a bath tonight. At least until Emery pooped in MY bathtub! Even though I have cleaned it several times I just can't bring myself to fill it with water yet... So I am blogging.

I have felt compelled to blog all evening... 3 wks ago a friend from college and church passed away unexpectedly. 2 wks ago a church member - mother of 3 young kids - was diagnosed with an aggressive form of cancer. 1 wk ago a precious family in our church lost their little boy. It has been a few contemplative, sobering weeks.

Because of all this thinking and thankfulness I have found my time with my kids to be refreshing and so enjoyable. I really can not tell you how much I am enjoying my children! This evening especially.

At Dinner:
Riley: Emery, take a bite of your ice-cream. It's gonna fall on the table.
Pause.
Riley: Emery, hurry and take a bite! Daddy help her!
Pause.
Emery drips ice-cream on her shirt.
Riley: Awww... It's ok Emery. Here's a napkin. Let me help you.
Riley leans across Chick Fil A table to help wipe her baby sister up.

Open Hands, Lydia.

Still At Dinner:
Will and I are sitting at table alone.
Will: Momma?
Me: Yes, Will?
Will: Thank you for my dinner Momma.
Me: Thank you for saying thank you baby! *teared up*
Will: I love you Momma.
Seriously trying to keep from crying in the middle of Chick Fil A...
Me: I love you too, Will.

Open Hands, Lydia.

Walking into the Chick Fil A playplace...
Emery: Momma!!! *Grin on her face, running towards me!*
She grabs my hands and pulls me to go play with her.

Open Hands, Lydia.

Sitting in the Chick Fil A playplace watching our children play their hearts out...
Blake: Emery doesn't seem like a baby anymore.
Me: When did that happen?
Blake: It makes me sad.
Pause.
Blake: I think we need another baby.

Open Hands, Lydia.

I am terrible at it. Truly awfull. I often wonder if I will ever be able to do this well... To hold that which I love and cherish in open palms, fingers spread wide instead of in clinched fists with white knuckles. It goes against every natural instinct in my body.

Open Hands, Lydia.

But isn't that part of it? Who wants only gifts that are easy to give? Who wants only "sacrifices" that require no effort? I'm prying my hands open tonight. I am pulling at one finger at a time trying to reassure myself that, that which is most precious to me truly is nothing I can hold in my hands.

Open Hands, Lydia.

I have no idea what book or blog this was written in, but I came across a post a few days ago where she had copied this quote...

"When a woman has a kingdom heart, she has an active understanding of what matters most to the heart of God. She lives in the balance of passion and contentment. She learns to love well, give without regard to self, and forgive without hesitation. The woman with a kingdom heart may have a duffel bag full of possessions or enough treasures to fill a mansion, but she has learned to hold them with an open hand. Hold everything with open hands. I don't think we are ever allowed to grab hold of anything or anyone as though they matter more than the kingdom of heaven. When you hold relationships with open hands, then people come in and out of your life as gifts of grace to be cherished and enjoyed, not objects to be owned and manipulated. And then when you hold your dreams with open hands, you get to watch God resurrect what seemed dead and multiply what seemed small."

Open Hands, Lydia. Open Hands.

My Favorites - For The Moment

2011-06-05T22:45:00.004-04:00

I was looking back at My Favorites post from January... How quickly things can change.

This song by J. J. Heller has been the background music for me while I read, cook, clean...

Have a listen...

I have been a foundation-a-holic. Is that a word?
I have tried every drug store brand under the sun.
I have tried Estee Lauder, Clinique, Lancome...
Bare Minerals...
And then there was MAC.
I haven't worn anything but their Studio Fix powder plus foundation in years.

Ok, I am not a sushi pro.
I don't even enjoy uncooked sushi.
But I love almost anything you can buy that is cooked and wrapped! :)
I'm slightly obsessed with Shogun's Derby Roll.

I have read this book 10 times in the past 5 years.
I pulled it off the shelf as reading material during my bath 2 nights ago.
I have now read this book 11 times.

I don't have an excuse. I need to cut back.
I can't.
I've tried.
I am convinced if I had to live without food I could survive just fine off of Dr. Pepper.
I'd be perfectly happy.

Clinique was the first nice brand of facial care products my mother ever bought for me.
I have used it on and off for years.
Everytime I go back to this soap, I say I will never use anything else.
I got lazy about heading to Macy's and tried something else for a few months...
and now I am back.
I promise its for good this time.

I love trying new restraurants.
I love new food.
This show is one of my favorites right now.
Who better to tell you what and where to eat then celebrity chefs?!?!

I came across Jones Design Company while blog hopping a few months ago.
I have since become obsessed with this crafty, cooking graphic designer.
This print, in particular, is simply calling my name!
What a beautiful, simple reminder...

Me. At our rehearsal dinner.

June 10, 2005.

That look on my face?

Love.

My all-time favorite feeling...

For my all-time favorite person.

I can't help but smile the entire time I am listening to this song... It's my favorite love song for the moment...

It's Going Too Fast...

2011-06-02T13:55:00.049-04:00

I wish I could freeze time. If I could, I would. I feel like my children are growing up much too fast! I mean, I know I am going to love this next phase of life. We are playing t-ball, doing crafts, taking lots of walks, playing in sprinklers... But all of the sudden... All of the sudden they are outgrowing naps(2 at least). There are play dates and scooters and bikes and purses and nail polish and big kid cups with no tops. Where are the rattles and teethers and bottles? The things that remind me we have such a very long time before these kids grow up... I want to remember them this way... Always.

I want to hear 4 years old and think of the way that Will can now scoot around on that razor scooter 10x faster then when he was 3. :) I'll never forget the way he joined the mob of tball players that tackled one another for that ball every. single. time. :) He loves going to the movies and playing with his sisters and is still in love with trips to the zoo. It is at 4 years old that I believe Will really began to understand what it meant to apologize and mean it. He doesn't always mean it, but often he is truly repentent. Will's soft heart is one of the many things that marks this age for me.

For me, 2 years old mean a passionate fear of bugs. Riley is terrified of them. That and dirt... I love how girly she is! There is nail polish, purses, shoes... She talks on her "phone" often. The paci - what let me feel like she was still, in some way, a baby - is gone. No naps. No bedtimes. It was hard, and I won't wait so long with Emery. :) 2 years old... But rushing off to play with her friends. Helping me cook dinner by handing me potatoes or putting an empty box in the trash. 2 years old... I think of Riley's sensitive heart. How she kisses and says "I love you" all on her own. And though it terrifies me, I also love the fact that she joyfully speaks to strangers. You should see the smiles she can capture.

And 20 months... Oh, no. Emery just turned 21 months! See what I mean? I blink and it's gone. 21 months for Emery means sentences of 3 words! It means, baby dolls that I am continually swaddling for her. Emery's favorite word? "No". I keep trying to convince myself that she didn't learn that from me. 21 months marks the the month that Emery learned how to climb up the ladder into our fort and go down the slide all on her own. I hold my breath everytime, but force myself to stay planted where I am, because 21 months is now much too old for mommies to help with that sort of thing... WHAT? My greatest joy in her the past few weeks is to begin to see her turn that glaring eyed look into a sort of playful look as she begins to realize she is about to be in trouble... She is learning the correct responses and even responding with them at times!

Tomorrow, I won't want to go to a HOT t-ball game... Or I might be too tired to paint 10 little finger nails that just can't manage to remain still... Or that 21 month old bottom will hit the ground too hard after sliding down the slide alone. I will be annoyed. I will be impatient. I will be unsympathetic. I don't want to be. I am going to try hard not to be. But when I am?... I will read this. I'll remind myself that I one day he might not want me at every single game(though I promise I will be anyway). One day she will be able to paint her own fingers. One day sliding will be for babies or little kids...

And one day I will wish we were back here. Right where we are right now. 4 years old. 2 years old. 21 months old. How good is my life?

swinging

2011-05-28T21:04:00.003-04:00

Crispy Oven-Fried Chicken

2011-05-24T13:54:00.002-04:00

This recipe is from Weight Watchers: Ready, Set, Go Cookbook. I have been promising several ladies at church that I would post this recipe for them... For a very long time.

This recipe is so yummy!

Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Mayo, Dijon mustard, garlic, salt, hot pepper sauce

1/3 cup fat-free mayonnaise

1 tablespoon Dijon mustard

2 garlic cloves - minced

1/2 teaspoon salt

a few dashes of tabasco

Roll in the dip and then in 3/4 cups cornflake crumbs

(I threw a little salt/pepper on top after)

Bake on a baking rack for 30-35 minutes.

In our home, cornflake chicken is eaten with mashed potatoes and corn.

Enjoy!

Andy Gullahorn

2011-05-13T13:15:00.003-04:00

We were invited to a sort of intimate graduation/birthday party last night. I could go on and on about how proud we are of our friend’s graduation from medical school… How much I love his wife. But I will be honest, I spent the evening having to reign Blake in – He was totally star-struck! Ok. I was pretty insanely happy about the entertainment for the night as well… Andy Gullahorn!

Blake and I attended a Behold The Lamb concert in Nashville, TN a few years ago… Some of our favorites were performing: Andrew Peterson, Sarah Groves, Bebo Norman. And there were a few names we didn’t recognize at the time… One of those names was Andy Gullahorn. Before he finished his first song we were fans! We went home and downloaded everything we could on I-Tunes and have been listening to Andy ever since!

Our friend’s are also huge fans of Andy… Bigger then Blake and I. Apparantly, they have sort of stalked his concerts :) for several years to the point that Andy now recognizes them and knows them by name. He kindly obliged to sing at the party for his #1 fan. Those of us that knew of Andy Gullahorn begged for an invitation and those there that didn’t know of him, left fans!

He is down-to-earth. He is approachable. He is kind and chit-chatted with Blake and I several times last night. Andy Gullahorn's lyrics are silly and easy listening one song, and deep and thought provoking the next. Ok. Enough. Just go and buy his music. Please.

It Just Needs A Little Something...

2011-05-09T14:21:00.001-04:00

Blake's grandfather made the china cabinet that sits in our dining room... He is such a precious man with the gift of working with his hands. We have several beautiful pieces in our home that he built.

Our dining room has kind of become mono-chromatic. Lots of whites, creams, and khackis. I love it, but I'm beginning to feel the need for splashes of color. I had wanted to pain the back of this shelf several times, but just couldn't bring myself to do something that permanent to it!

The there was wallpaper, but a tad expensive and pretty permanent too.

Fabric.

My mom had just done this project to the back of her china cabinet and had some fabric left over and offered to pretty up my cabinet as well.

Well, sure!

Mom took some old boxes she had and cut them to size... Each space had to be measured carefully.

Using spray adhesive she attached the fabric to the cut box.

Fold over the sides and press firmly.

Oh, yeah! Be sure to mark the fabric so that your pattern matches when you place them.

Trim the extra fabric from the back to that the board will smoothly fit to the back of the shelf.

Ahhh... Just a little something. Just what we needed.

Take Me Out To The Ballpark

2011-05-07T14:24:00.002-04:00

"Do not ask that your kids live up to your expectations. Let your kids be who they are, and your expectations will be in breathless pursuit. "

I grew up going to the ball fields several times as a week... My brothers played for years. I remember mosquito trucks driving through the parking lot and all of us running before they began spraying. I still love those hard balls of gum you could get for 25 cents and spit out 2 minutes later because all the flavor is gone. And then there were the all star games(yeah, John was pretty good). Some nights we would be there for multiple games because we had to see how the team we were playing later in the week was going to do. And we had to watch all of our friends...

Last night was a little sureal for me. It was Will's first t-ball game. I was thrilled because I have such precious memories from growing up... And terrified because I have a child old enough to play! Well. They sort of just stand around and take turns hitting the ball. But they wear uniforms. So I guess that makes it official.

These kids were so comical to watch. :) There was alot of wandering around. Alot of laying on the ground. Alot of not being able to see because everyone's caps were too large. A few tears when only 1 of the 10 kids that jumped on the ball came up victorious.

What precious memories we have in store...

"Each day of our lives we make deposits in the memory banks of our children. "

"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son."

"You have a lifetime to work, but children are only young once."

Chatty Cathy

2011-05-03T21:52:00.002-04:00

In a catch up blog last week I shared a few words that Emery was using... Later in the week I began to think of a few more words this cutie is saying...

Passa(Paci)

Bankie(Blankie)

Dog

Bat(Bath)

Uh-Uh(No)

Uh-Huh(Yes)

Cany(Candy)

Bye-Bye

Peese(Please)

Ni-Ni(Night-Night)

And did I mention that she *puckers* when she kisses?

Recovery Complete

2011-05-02T09:10:00.003-04:00

The fabric I ordered for my kitchen chairs came in last week. In true "Cook Fashion", Mom and I had the chairs recovered by lunch the next day. Well, mainly Mom recovered(though I have done it before) and I ensured that no children were stapled in the process.

I was happily surprised to find that though the fabric was laminated,
it was about the same thickness as a normal cotton!

The "old" fabric...
Actually only 3 years old. This is mom's 3rd fabric on the table.

#1 Unscrew the chair pads.

#2 Position fabric and start stapling to back of pad! Pull it tight on 2 opposite side and then begin to work on the corners. Because the fabric was laminated it took a few more staples then normal.

#3 Hammer the staples gently to ensure they are attached.

#4 Trim extra fabric

Time to add fabric #4!

#5 Re-attach chair pads!

I am loving the end result! Bright and Cheery!... And wipable!!!!

Plate Walls Aren't Aren't Just For Grandma's...

2011-04-27T12:47:00.002-04:00

For the longest time I considered hanging plates on the wall to be something for my grandmother... Or perhaps my mom. :) That was until plates started getting so cute! There are birds and polkadots and beautiful bright colors...

Mom and I(mainly Mom) repainted our kitchen a few weeks ago and I decided that it was time to move on from the bamboo and iron plate hangers these plates were hanging in. I happened upon this product when searching the internet... Disk Hangers allowed me to hang the plates flat against the wall(tutorial 2 follow)!

I went for a bit abstract hanging, attempting to make my plate wall a little more modern. :)

Love it! Even more with my newly recovered kitchen table chairs(this is the old fabric)... But that's another post.

It's Been Busy Around Here...

2011-04-26T14:33:00.001-04:00

We have had alot going on in the Ring household... Lots of dissertation writing, lots of yard clean up(I even push mowed the yard last week), lots of house projects. The kiddos have been changing alot too! This post is all about their wonderful adorable selves!

Will is growing so quickly. I was talking to friend last night about when he came home and talking about it like it was just a year or so ago... It was almost 4 years ago! Where has the time gone? Will is still going to speech once a week and is improving so greatly every week! If you don't know him well, you would notice little, to no difference between him and his 4 year old buddies! Will is also playing t-ball! Our first game was rained out last night, but my little man is loving his new Yankees jersey! He counts to 20, knows his alphabet in order, can tell you the sounds of several letters(work in progress), knows his basic shapes and colors, and can write his name. Will is also showing a fascination with words! He asks for most signs to be spelled for him and can recognize fire, women, men, and stop. His favorite pastimes include elevator button pushing, running, scooter riding, and t-ball hitting! He is sweet and sensitive and says things like "It makes Jesus sad when I don't obey"... I am loving the little boy Will is becoming! *I asked Will to smile for the above picture(on the right) - He wanted to make a "silly, mad face". This is the result*

Sad times for Will, Riley is about the same size as Will! Our eldest daughter turns 3 in July and is already tall enought for 4T clothes! She is loving being potty-trained and wearing her princess undies, and I am definitely not gonna complain! :) Riley loves all things girlie... Nail polish, purses, baby dolls, disney princess', and dress up clothes. I am loving this stage! Riley is a chatterbox! She talks non-stop... literally. She loves having friends. And she is sweet and kind and gentle and friendly and sensitive. I can not wait to see the lovely young lady she will grow into... Well, actually, I probably could wait. In fact, I might freeze her in this stage for a few more years if I was able to.

Emery... There is so much to say about this spunky girl. She is 19 months old, but seems to think that she is 19! She has decided she doesn't need to be carried. Anywhere. Period. She talks alot. She can identify all major body parts(eyes, ears, nose, mouth, tongue, knees, feet, hands, belly, hair). Emery is fiesty! When she is happy she is giddy and joyous and a total delight... And when she is mad she pouts and shouts and screams. :) I can't figure out why they call it the "Terrible 2's"... 18 months seems to be the beginning of that phase of life. Sweet Emery is saying words like Momma, Dadda, Mimi, Papa, Will, RiRi(Riley), here, no, cup, more, that way, mine... She smiles freely. Laughs infectiously. Pouts openly. :)

I am really loving this time in our lives. As crazy as life around us might be at this moment, these children are my joy! And life is certainly joyful right now!

I LOVE SALSA!

2011-04-25T12:52:00.003-04:00

*Linking up with Lyndsie at A Love Worth Waiting For*

I have 2 love affairs when it comes to cooking. One is with Ina Garten(aka Barefoot Contessa). My second love affair is with Ree(aka The Pioneer Woman).

This is an adaption of The Pioneer Woman Restaurant Style Salsa.

I just could not get this to upload the correct direction!
SORRY!
Parsley, Onion, Jalapeno, Salt, Pepper, Cumin, 2 Cans Rotel, 28 ounch Whole Tomatoes, a Lime(not photographed)

I drain the extra juice from the tomatoes. I found Ree's recipe to be a little too runny.

I am sure you could use an immersion blender is you do not own a food processor, but I have no idea why you would not own one! This is my favorite kitchen item!

2 cloves of garlic.

I threw in about 1/4 of a roughly chopped onion.

Dump in your Rotel. Liquid and all this time.

Since Cilantro is not my favorite flavor, I use Parsley.

Chop your jalapeno... I only add the seeds from about 1/4 of it.

Then I cut them out of the rest and add the rest of the jalapeno.

Add the juice of 1 lime. Add about 1 t salt and 1/2 t pepper. Add 1 T of Cumin. Taste test and add a little more cumin if you desire your salsa to be smokier. I like mine smokie and ended up adding close to 2 T.

We don't buy salsa in our home anymore! I make a batch every few weeks and store it in tupperware in the fridge!

The Gift That Keeps On Giving

2011-04-24T21:15:00.001-04:00

My bestie's birthday was earlier this month...

After picking my brain, I came up with a gift she can actually USE!

A few pots...

Decorate with a paint pen and some twine

Add some fresh herbs

There is nothing better then paying the same amount for an entire plant then for a few springs that will wilt within the week! And even better then that is knowing that all you have to do is step on your back porch and snip a litle when you need it. Hope you enjoy cooking with the fresh herbs friend!

Happy Easter

2011-04-24T20:51:00.001-04:00

Just wanted to share a few photos of the kids from this morning...

Out of 5 photos this was honestly the best choice! :)

A little blury, but this is totally Riley... I have no idea where she picks these things up!

Easter Sunday with Papa and Mimi

Family Photo - Take 1

Family Photo - Take 2...
We have learned to become content with very few family photos :)

The Ring Family

Stickers On A Table

Recipes Page Is Up

Garlic Parmesan Chicken and Noodles

Our Love Story- Part 1

A New Best Friend

Coming Soon

A Work In Progress - The Basement

An Update On Riley

I've Got To Keep It Together

Spaghetti - Ring Style

Now You See It - Now You Don't

A Solution

Favorite Beef Stew

The Evolution of a Toy Corner

5 Years

Party Time

Angry Bird Cupcakes

Girl Power

Dinner Menu

Daddy Relearns Lessons

A New Hobby...

Dr. Blake Ring

An Explanation

What Happened???

The Highlights...

A New Outfit

What I Wore Wednesday

Welcome To Our Week

"You think I did this?"

What I Wore Wednesday

Welcome "Home" Arden

Candy Land

Caramel Stuffed Apple Cider Cookies

Joy

Disney World - Day 1

A Little Blog Updating

Thicker Than Thieves

Show A Little Love!

Cooking Our Own Dinner

Pumpkin Muffins

Just Keeping It Real

Beautiful Faces

A Sneak Peak

25 Ways To Wear A Scarf... In 4.5 minutes!

They Are Coming

A Repost

A Repost: It's Not What You Think

Happy Birthday Emery!

And We're Off

Pinterest

Lemon Chicken Soup with Spaghetti

Let The Countdown Begin

6 Teeth

Chicken Stock

A Much Deserved Thank You...

A Light Stripe

Smiles

*Stars In My Eyes*

Soccer

Relief

Our Good

A Cold Snack

A Repost: It's Not What You Think

Study Break

Dinner Menu

Layers

Kate's Craft Fair

5 things vaca reminded me about my husband

words

a little can of spray paint

Bebo Norman

my top 10 favorites from vaca

A Smoky 4th of July

The Powder Room - Finished

A Year Old Purchase and a Sneak Peak

Homemade Ranch Dressing

How My Heart Aches...

Hoo, Hoo

"Put Your Ear To The Bible..."

Stars In My Eyes