One crazy week in photos

Wishing Mommy and Ittai good luck with hugs and kisses before we head to the hospital. 

Welcome to the world my Little Man

After we asked Aria if she wanted to hold her new baby brother she very simply and very seriously stated "yes" and walked across the room to sit on the couch next to Daddy. 

 Aria was curious about Mommies new bracelets. 

She also wanted to know what happened to Mommies tummy

Such a good big sister bringing Ittai his toys

                                      

Like father like daughter.  

Daddy brought home three pounds of strawberries from Costco. Aria votes that daddy does the shopping from now on. 

                             

Grammy getting some last snuggles in before flying home

                     

       
 

There's nothing like freshly washed baby hair. Especially when its styled in a dashing bouffant! 

 Aria singing lullabies to Ittai. She ever does the English accent on "Your Mother and mine"

Watching cartoons together.

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The many looks of Ittai 

2013

As I sit back and watch the snow sift down on the winter wonderland in my back yard I am overwhelmed by a feeling of thanksgiving. Initially I was thankful that my husband wasn't out in this weather. Instead he had retired for his "evening" just a few hours earlier before I woke up to Aria chatting in her crib. As my thoughts grew pensive I started to think back across this last year, as one often does around this holiday, and there was one thought that kept coming back to my mind. Faithfulness.

If there is one thing that God has reiterated to me over this last year it is that He is ever faithful. He has been faithful in giving me a husband that I have complete trust in. Over the years Roger has proven time and time again that he will work as many hours as it takes, and lose as much sleep as he must, to provide for his family. God has rewarded his faithfulness with wisdom that has proven its self so many times that I no longer doubt him when he speaks of a monumental business ventures that I have a hard time just wrapping my head around.
Rogers endless pursuit for truth has inspired me to a deep, stronger spiritual life and I have confidence that our family's beliefs will never be stagnant under his leadership.

This year has certainly had its ups and downs and once again God proved to me that he was always there being faithful to his word. When my old employers asked me to come nanny for a few months right before we moved I had no idea it was God putting things in place for down the road. At the time I accepted, thinking a little extra cash would be nice and I might as well take advantage of the opportunity as Aria was in a very manageable time of life. As it turns out that little extra cash paid the bills while Rogers business went through a less prosperous transition. This just proved to me that God would be faithful to my scriptural desire to be a home maker by providing me with work when it was needed, in a safe healthy environment, where I could take my daughter and not lose those precious moments with her.

And finally the unseen battles. The life of a Christian is not easy. Even when things look good and prosperous on the outside there is constantly a battle raging within ones mind and spirit. This year I feel as though I have been through so many seasons in my spiritual life that I could barely acclimatize. Months of numbness would be followed by a flood of spiritual fervor and revelation all seemingly for no reason what so ever. The one thing I can say through all of it was that God never stopped speaking to me. Even when I walked away from a service feeling like Eeyore "... that was the truth...I'll give it a try... probably won't work..." I was still walking away with the Bread of Life. Regardless of how I responded there was never a "throw away" sermon preached. Every time I was on the mountain God was saying "I'm right here with you" and every time I was in the valley God was saying "I'm right here with you". Faithfulness.

With all of that said I think I have nailed down my new years revolution. I pray that in this new year, regardless of my feelings, I will show my self faithful and steadfast. To my God when the valley is upon me. To my husband and daughter when I find them slightly less lovable. And to all of the people I interact with everyday. Even when I don't understand or agree with their actions, convictions, or words. I pray that I'll be faithful to the standard of truth, love, and steadfastness that God has called me to.          
 

Hearts Cry

I am so frustrated. I live in a world that demands I support the evil actions of evil men with the money that God has provided for me. I KNOW that God will never leave me begging for bread. He has always provided and always will provide. However I have a righteousness indignation for the acts of enslavement and tyranny that are taking place against supposedly free people every single day. All of which I am forced to fund against my beliefs.

I am reminded of a story. A man is perusing a group of slaves, interested in purchasing, when he notices one slave with a demeanor unlike the rest. This slave, though toiling with his burden along with the others, appears to have a higher tilt to his head and a stronger lift of his shoulders. Though sweat covers his brow it is set firmly and determinedly and has no sign of the dejection and defeat that has etched its self on the faces of those around him. Though the whip traces its mark across his back he does not crumple beneath the pain but maintains his stature never stumbling under his burden. "That is the one I want." Says the man but he is quickly refused. " Then tell me." Asks the man. "What do you feed him? How do you care for him that he works as he does?" The owner looked on at the slave in question and answered. "We feed him the same and treat him the same. He is given the same amount of work as the others slaves. However back in his homeland he is the prince of his tribe. And no matter how we treat him and no matter the burden we give him he always remembers that he is the son of a king. And therefore he always carries himself as such."

Though I am pained at the wrong and evil things that surround me I absolutely cannot let them affect my demeanor. I am not a daughter of this world. If I was I would have every reason to be dejected under this terrible burden. No, not a daughter of this world, but rather a child of the King. I must always carry myself as such and remember that the indignation that torments me is simply my hearts cry for my true home.

Arias 1st birthday (Children's characters costume party!)

Good morning birthday girl!

Nothing buts smiles the day she turned one.

Flintstones! Meet the Flintstones!

Here's pebbles and Pipi Longstockings at Arias "Children's characters and cartoons" costume party.

One of Arias favorites from the evening. A handy me down from her Alla (a.k.a Aubriella).

This Dolly is gonna get a lot of love in her life

Ode to my Garden

Prayer in a Garden

Today the world seemed cruel, but evening hours

Were filled with perfume from forgotten flowers.

I saw again familiar filigree

Of moonlight through my lacy Lilac tree;

I heard the robins stirring in their nest;

And saw the path that fairy feet had pressed;

Reflected stars were in my garden pool;

On my warm face the breeze was kind and cool.

The silence seemed to speak, my head was bowed,

Then ramblers that had grown into a cloud

Lifted my eyes that, tear-washed, now could see

The beauty that today was lost to me.

Dear god, who is so near to flowers, and birds,

Be nearer still, as I shall search for words

To thank Thee for the blessings night revealed,

Which through the day discouragement concealed.

-Eva Sparks Taylor

I find it sad that I am so ridiculously excited about watching the very natural, very common process of growing vegetables. There is a gaping void between the average person and their food and if I am going to be completely candid I will admit that I wasn't positive that those little seeds I put in the ground would ever be more then what they appeared. Now I have sunflowers that are taller then me, baby cucumber, watermelon scattered across my yard, tons of green tomatoes, and zucchini that are ready to pick and eat. I'm so excited that my black thumb has been overcome and I now get to enjoy the literal fruits of my labor.

Dedicated to Kimberly. I now understand your gardening joy :D

Might I suggest... Lavender?

I know this is sad but I must admit that this post is yet another to be inspired by Gods little crawling creatures. In case you missed my previous bug post here is the link. Please annihilate responsibly.

Any way back to the post at hand. After moving into my beautiful new home I began to discover a rather large assortment of bug killers that had been left behind in a few of the cabinets. I then hurriedly referred to my bug blog for guidance and my eye instantly fell on the lavender section. I had recently been gifted a box of essential oils which contained lavender oil and I had already reaped the benefits of this remarkable little plant in other areas (wounds, bug bites, and stress relief). After a little research I became sold on the idea of creating a all purpose cleaner to drench my house in. Lavender is also a natural, non toxic antiseptic which is perfect for a home with a highly active little girl who plays "tea party" with any cup like object she can find.

After a little research I hit the kitchen and this is what I came up with. The measurement are not exact so feel free to tweak where you see fit.

1/4 cup baking soda

2 cups boiling water

1 1/2 cup vinegar

10-15 drops of Lavender oil

In a bowl combine the baking soda and hot water. Stir or whisk until the baking soda is dissolved. The baking soda should dissolve but if there is any left undissolved in the bottom its okay. Then very carefully and very slowly add the vinegar. If you remember, in your grade school science experiment, baking soda and vinegar when combined create a fascinating affect often used to simulate volcanic activity. So please be patient and and combine with care. When the mixture is cooled pour it into a large spray bottle and then add the lavender oil. Be sure to add the oil only after you have poured the mixture in the spray bottle. That way no precious oil is left behind in the mixing bowl. This can also all be done by combine everything in the spray bottle its self but I've found that it is sometimes hard to get all the baking soda dissolved this way.

And that's it! I seem to think this cleaner works very well but I admit I am not an authority on house hold cleaners. So please ladies give this a try and let me know your results. I suppose if nothing else your house will smell absolutely lovely and your family will be wonderfully calm. ;D

P.S. I found a very inexpensive lavender oil at Meijer and right now its on sale!

P.P.S Oh and by the way I have had zero bug problems. Whether it is due to my nifty spray or simply my initial overreaction I have yet to discover.:D