24/52

It's Father's Day! This week has been...um...interesting. A lot has gotten done (fun stuff!) and a lot hasn't (hello, housework. I need to get back on track, but it's hard when you have a love-for-life eight year old beckoning you with beach time and fun time and reading books and yeah....I need to suck it up and get better at the boring stuff)

24/52: Gabe worked a couple of late nights last week, and Ella and I basically hung back, painted our nails, did our hair in fancy hairdo's and had some girls' nights. I remember when I was Ella's age, I knew I wanted to be the mom of a little girl. And God answered that prayer better than I can ever imagine!

24/52, Sunday: Ella got a package in the mail on Friday. Two beautiful dresses, as a belated birthday present from my amazing friend Charlene. This is one of them. And...isn't her hair ridiculously beautiful? This girl is my heart and soul!

Tidbits from this week

Here's what's been going on around the Unbehaun household this week.

Injury: Beaker the cat is seriously accident prone! This week, he managed to get himself scratched up by both blackberry bushes and another cat. Maybe the other cat getting him wasn't an accident, but Beaker just can't seem to stay out of trouble!

Summer Planning: Ella and I are trying to plan out our summer. So far, she has told me she wants to spend tons of time at the park and in the creek, as well as visit the lake in the community that I work in.

Spring Photo Shoot: Today, Ella and I did the last photo shoot for spring. Here are some pictures from there

 

 

Rainball!: What happens when it's raining and you have an eight year old? This, of course!

Hunting: For a second job, that is. Gabe is also applying at places that would allow him to transfer out of NC by next spring. Pray, please!

23/52

Things are returning back to normal at our little house. Boy, it's crazy how much doesn't get done when I'm sick.

And now....

23/52: She's at her adopted grandparents' house. It's raining. She's doing a rainbow dance (you know, so the rainbow comes out after the rain). She's getting all wet, but she doesn't care. I love this. Pure childhood!

23/52: Notice the glittery half-boots. Yep. She has outgrown her church flats, but the dressy shoes Gabe's mom got her are still too big. Oh, the joys of having a girly girl. Off to the department store tomorrow!

Girls and Pearls, June 2014 Edition

Today, Ella and I celebrated the 2nd Girls and Pearls. We went to Spruce Pine, North Carolina and explored, walked around, shopped, and ate good food. All in our fancy pearl best.

 

I love this tradition! I hope we can keep it up when I'm old(er) and gray(er)!!!!

Tidbits from this week

My first full week of not being sick, yay! Summer vacation is officially on in the Unbehaun household!

Responsibility:  Ella has been asking for a cat of her own, so I've given her the responsibility of making sure the kittens (formerly Faith and Blessing, now Beaky and Sneaky....Faith was a boy!) are fed and watered. So far, so good!

Nostalgia:  My Dad is officially making the move from Berwyn, IL to his little house in Wisconsin. He is leaving the house that I grew up in, and to be honest, it's making me freak out a bit. This was the first house where I had my own room. I know that he will be happier in Wisconsin, but there's such a finality to this move. My childhood is totally gone. That sounds dramatic, I'm sorry.

Girls and Pearls:  Ella and I had the second Girls and Pearls day today. We went to Spruce Pine, North Carolina, where we shopped til we dropped and had lunch at a lovely Chinese buffet. We got some odd fortunes, too!!!

My fortune. How weird is THAT?

Ella's fortune. Also weird. Hmmmm....

Mean Abs June: I've kind of been dreading this, but once I started, it's really not so bad, and I'm hoping to see more definition in my abs by the end of the month.

I know the calendar isn't up to date, but either way, June has 30 days so we are good.

Working on It: I've decided to work on my part as a wife. No, nothing is wrong. I just feel like I need to be a better wife to Gabe.

October 15th Project

Since the Mother'sDay project, I've been thinking on what to do for October 15th.

Yes, I'm ahead of myself, but October 15th (Pregnancy, Infant and Child Loss Day) is the only day us grieving moms have where it's "ok" (by society's standards) for us to remember our children and speak their names.

Last year, I was told not-so-kindly by my husband's uncle that I needed to "get over" my daughter and "move on" with my life.

Needless to say, I blocked him on Facebook. He and I have never been close, but I drew the line there. We haven't spoken since.

I realized that this might be the only time that some moms have their child acknowledged...and so many of us don't have anything that bears their name.

For a very long time, I had nothing with Riley's name on it. It hurt more than most people can imagine.

So, this year....

Before October 15th, I want to reach as many people as I can.

I've always loved writing Riley's  name wherever I could, especially the little beachy strip in town.

I want to do this for as many Angel Moms as I can. I will send a digital file along with a mailed 4x6 print of your child's name. It's free. I wouldn't feel right taking money from anyone.

Please email me at joanna.unbehaun@yahoo.com

Thank you.
God Bless.

It's a Red-Letter Day!

...and do you know why?

Because this morning, when I looked in the mirror, I realized...
*I am wearing a shirt that absolutely did not fit me two months ago
*I HAVE A WAIST!

When I texted this picture to a friend, she replied, "Look at you, you are so SKINNY!"

Let me tell ya'll something.

Over my ENTIRE LIFE, I have had many compliments thrown my way.
"You have pretty eyes."
" I love your hair."
"You have a lovely complexion."

I have never. EVER. in my entire almost 31 years of life been called SKINNY!

God gets all the glory here!