General Chaos and a Goal List Update

Whew! The weather here has been amazing the last few days, so I've been as far away from the computer as possible! Just a quick goal-list check in.

1) Lose the weight: Working on it. Trying to eat better and exercise more!

2) Take my girls to the beach. It may end up being the beach here in NC, but I've got something in the works!!!

3) Sell some artwork/lettering: I'm working on a piece right now that someone has already bought!

4) Do something wild with my hair: Stay tuned. Ella and I are both going to do something this weekend.

5) Learn to make butter chicken from scratch. Done! I made it and it was AMAZING!!!!

6) Buy a wafflemaker. Going to cross that off my list this weekend, too!

7) Start a family tradition. It's in the works!

8) Pay the adoption fee for a cat for someone at the Humane Society. (The cat won't be for me, sigh) It's in the works, too. Going to start a change jar just for that!

9) Rescue another cat. You guys saw that coming, didn't you?

General Chaos and a Goal List

So, I did one of these a couple of years ago, and meant to do one every year. LOL.
And then I got pregnant with my Twins..and then Thomas...and then Josie, our miracle of miracles who got to come home with me...my only goal at the time was to keep her safe inside me.

Josie is 8 months old now! (What?) And I figure it's time to jump on the goal train, and keep myself accountable. I'll be checking in as often as I can, so here we go!

My 2018 goals are:

1) Lose the weight. I'm going to start with 25 lbs, and go from there. I need this for my health and my sanity and my self-image.

2) Take my girls to the beach. Sorry, IL/WI, you're just not on my list this year. My sanity is more important.

3) Sell some artwork/lettering

4) Do something wild with my hair. Blue streaks? Maybe. Purple tips? Glitterage? Anything but a total dye job, because I've actually come to enjoy my silver streaks.

5) Learn to make Butter Chicken from scratch

6) Buy a wafflemaker. Laugh ALLLLLL you want, but my husband wants one, and we don't have one. If I don't put it on a list, it's not getting done.

7) Start a family tradition

8) Pay the adoption fee for a cat (not for me, just pay the fee for someone at the Humane Society, we've got our hands full with the Sphinx and Ren...for NOW)

9) Go on a date night once a month. I miss my husband, dang it!!!

I'm sure there's more, but that's all I can think of at the moment. Part of me is toying with the idea of adopting a senior tabby cat, but I'm already insane between children and cats at my home, so...

What are your goals?
Keep me accountable!!!

Baby Days, Dahlias, Chicago (!), and the Obligatory Eclipse Post

Life moves super quick here, and then I don't blog for weeks on end, of course. Mom life and such.


Josie is growing like a weed, and she will be 3 months old on the 28th. She loves her family (especially Gabe!), her swing, baths,  and being outside. She hates having her diaper or clothes changed, but otherwise she is pretty chill.

Josie on her birth day, at one month and at 2 months. It's so fun to watch her grow!

Now, for the Dahlias and Chicago part of the blog. On September 7, I leave for my hometown!!!! It's technically a work function as my boss is showing dahlias (and so am I, holy moly!) in the National Show, which takes place at the Botanic Gardens. I'm bringing Josie with me and my parents are driving up to see us. They will get to meet their newest grandchild before she isn't so new anymore...hahah.

Be ready for a deluge of pictures...eventually!!!

I'm sure you guys all know that today was the solar eclipse. Where my little fam is in NC, we hit about 96% totality...and it was pretty awesome!!!

Josie did not watch of course, but she had to get a picture taken in her eclipse glasses.

I did get to see some of the eclipse (through Ella's glasses) and it was pretty darn cool!!

Stay tuned for my next (probably way overdue) post!!!

So, I Suck At Blogging

Truly I do.
We're at the end of the school year, I'm almost at the end of my pregnancy.
It's Saturday night, Ella and I are up way too late, listening to Ray Stevens "Mississippi Squirrel Revival" and my rainbow baby is kicking away.
I can and will make it through this next month.
Ella turns 11 on May 17th. Riley would be 12.
The twins would be 2 in November.
Thomas has been gone a year.
Time passes by and waits for no one.

We have butterflies we are raising. One of them has come out of its chrysalis. Toby is what Ella named it.
We are patiently waiting for the others.
Gabe and I are both working, and working on our marriage, which is in a good place.
I am scheduled to be in Chicago this September for a flower show.

Life moves fast.

I am as big as a house, with a month to go yet.
Pray for me, my friends.
Pray this baby stays in.
Thank you for bearing with me here.

Where the Heck Have I Been aka Everything Changes Now

I haven't been on here much, and I think that has been a good thing.
Why, exactly?
Well...
After losing our twins in November of 2015, and then our son in April of 2016, I had a lot on my mind, and I think I needed to process it.
And then...
in September...

It was shocking and unexpected, and I was honestly not surprised when at 6 weeks, I began spotting.
Except...I didn't lose the baby.

I'm currently 21 weeks pregnant, with a due date of June 10.

It's been strange, and wonderful, and overwhelming at times. I didn't want this blog to become a chronicle of my pregnancy. It wouldn't have been fair to any of my children.

I'm doing well, past the horrible morning sickness of the first trimester, and well into the "smooth second."

Otherwise, things are much the same. Life clicks along. Gabe and I both work, and Ella is doing well in her schooling.

I wish I had more eloquent words, or some major words of wisdom, but I do not. This is perhaps the first time in my life where I have taken a gigantic step back from everything and just concentrated on staying well.

I've been in my bubble for the past 4 months or so and I'm slowly making my way out.

So...
I'm back. I guess. For now.

General Chaos Update: November 2015

Life's been a whirlwind here, but this is how I thrive, so I probably wouldn't have it any other way :)

We are now a 3 cat household: Dave (my big guy!), The Sphinx, and Magpie aka Pie

This is my favorite picture of Dave. It was taken when he was still at the Humane Society. He's been with us for nearly 4 months now!!!

This is where Sphinx can be found when she's not raising all kinds of chaos...in the window in Ella's bathroom, looking out at the world disapprovingly.

Pie is our newest family member. She's sweet and shy, although she and Sphinx have hiss-fests. I'm hoping that resolves itself sooner rather than later.

Gabe has been working an insane amount of hours, and between his job and my jobs and school (for all 3 of us!!) that leaves very little for family time. HOWEVER...an opportunity has come up and it would mean a massive improvement in that department...so, please pray!!! I miss my husband, and I don't want to be a work widow (anymore than I already am)

I've been trying very hard to make sure that we, as a family, are eating healthy. I try my best to buy organic, and really really pay attention to what we eat. (It's a far cry from where we were a few years ago).  I made sheet-pan fajitas last week and they were amazing.

Fall is definitely here in NC. The wetlands across the street from our little house look very different than they did when we moved in this May.

Sometimes, I have a hard time with Fall, and everything dying. Today, while on a walk, I had to remind myself that plants and trees have to die to live, and that most of a plant's growth happens during the winter, underground. And God made everything beautiful in its time. Even the bare trees are lovely here.

This place is still crawling with ducks...they don't actually ever really leave. I have pictures from a few winters ago, of ducks walking on ice.

I was thinking today, of the differences in our lives in the past year.
Last November, we were gearing up for a move. And we moved, indeed. To the house with no stove...it's something I can laugh about now, because the place we live now is so awesome.
Last November, I was in a constant state of anxiety. My husband and I were both stressed beyond belief. We were packing up a house and it was just stress, stress, stress...all.the.time.
To be here, in this house, on a quiet street, with a STOVE, lol...
to be able to go out on my deck at sunrise and not have to worry about the cops looking for my neighbors...
to have a yard that my daughter can play in, and to NOT be in landlord hell (I actually have a landlord that I can include on my facebook!!!!) and have amazing neighbors...
we are blessed. we are thankful.
A year ago, I couldn't imagine what bad thing would happen the following day. A year ago, I prayed for faith and the ability to trust Him.
He's carried me through the last year, carried us all, really, and gave us this good little life.
Despite the chaos of the everyday, I am thankful for this little life.
Praise God :)

Oh, goodness: General Chaos Update, August 2015

Where do I even begin?

Life shows no signs of slowing down around here.

All 3 of us (Gabe, Ella, me) are in school, and that makes for some interesting days. (Especially since I also work 2 jobs, and Gabe works full time, and I am Ella's teacher)

As busy as that makes us, it's all going to be so very worth it in the end. Plus, I get to see this lovely, eager-to-learn face every day!

I haven't posted a garden update in a while, but that's because I've been too busy harvesting to post! We had a huge pepper crop which totally threw off my meal planning for the week (but, hey, stuffed peppers, so I'm not complaining!!!)

I get to bring in a few handfuls of these beauties a day.

I've been eating them off the  vine...and I know I need to stop that, and start freezing them, (and everything else!!!!) because we are supposed to get one heck of a winter this year!

In other back yard news, how gorgeous is this plant? It's about 65 years old and I can see it off my deck. I never get tired of looking at it.

It's a bit windy this morning, and it's been pretty cool out. Sweater weather! I'm sure in a couple of months I'll be whining about snow and cold, but right now it's amazing!!!!

Gabe had a guys' night out last night and won a food challenge at Primo's Pizzeria. He ate a giant 4.4 lb calzone in under 45 minutes. He got his picture taken and got a free T-shirt. Yay, Gabe :)

And then last night, I had the most incredible thing happen.

Yes, that is a gorgeous dragonfly. On my hand. Amazing!

In my devotions today, I read about not turning back to what you were before. The words struck home. I've done a lot of stupid stuff in the past...those closest to me know about it, but I'm not sure the blog-verse is ready for such stupidity. When one becomes a Christian, one is supposed to grow up, and I'm working on it. A lot of it is letting go. Letting go of things you used to do. Places you used to go. People who are toxic for you. And when you've done that, you aren't supposed to look back, or go back to what you were before Christ. So, I'm making it a point to move forward.

Have a blessed week, everyone!!!!

Checking The List: General Chaos Update, June 2015

Do ya'll remember this post and the list that came with it? That post was written at one of the most stressful times in my life, when I was trying to keep a grasp on my sanity.

That stress has passed, Praise God, and I remain (mostly) sane. I wanted to update ya'll on my list :)

Here goes:

1) Working on my relationship with Christ: It's been rough. I've read a lot of things in the Bible that have challenged things I've believed (not God-wise, life-wise) for years. I'm realizing now that being in a church doesn't make you a Christian any more than being in a garage makes you a car.

2) Enjoying my family. CHECK! YES. I love it. I love spending time with my husband and daughter, and the various others that comprise my little family.

3) Basking in the major change my family is undergoing: CHECK! Yup! We moved! (side note: we are about to undergo more changes. Stay tuned....) We are currently living with this view....

4) Repairing a broken relationship that means more to me than I realized: That would be my Mom. Working on it! It's better than it was :)

5) Finishing up the homeschool year: CHECK! (and I didn't do last day of school photos because we moooooved)

6) Planning a trip: Ok, cat's out of the bag. Sometime in the late summer/early fall, Ella and I will be taking a trip to home, sweet home!

7) Taking aforementioned trip: Working on it :)

8) Not neglecting this blog: CHECK! I've actually written some worthwhile stuff :)

9) Learning to sew better: working on it! Have some projects that will be getting accomplished in the next few weeks

10) Taking measures to pursue my dream job: CHECK! I am back in school!

11) Trying new recipes: CHECK! I made braised ribs and cauliflower alfredo . Lately, it's been way too hot to cook, but as soon as it cools down enough so my kitchen doesn't feel like hellfire, I'll cook more new recipes.

12) Helping my husband expand his cooking horizons: CHECK! He made spaghetti and has been helping with cooking here and there. He feels more confident in the kitchen, I can tell that much.

13) Meeting new people: CHECK! I've met several sweet people I am proud to call friend.

14) Helping others the best that I can: CHECK! If I'm in a position to help someone, I've made it a point to do it.

As far as the general chaos update: It is what it is. And what it is is chaos :) I'm working, I'm in school, I'm keeping up the house. I'm trying to breathe and take time to myself (because I'll go insane if I don't). And currently, I'm waiting on the UPS man and trying to get work done at the computer. Ella is doing well, and Gabe is doing well, and we're all healthy and I thank God for it. Keep praying for my Daddy, as he is doing well, but could always use the prayers! Say a prayer for my Mom, she is a brave woman for going through having the rug pulled out from under her and Dad, during his cancer treatments. There are so many people out there who need prayers and God knows each of them by name. So, just send up a prayer for everyone who needs it. Life is too short and precious NOT to pray.

General Chaos Update, Early May 2015

Earlier today, I was in the kitchen of the old house, looking through to the living room. Boxes have completely taken up the bay window area. I debated taking a picture....but ya'll have already seen my house covered up in boxes....

and it kind of looks pretty much like that. The walls are a different color (darker brown), but I'll let your imagination fill that in. Did I ever tell you I hate moving? I did? Well, let me say it again. I.Hate.Moving. Buuuut...I have never in my life been as glad to move as I am now. I LOVE our new house.

This is the new kitchen. With a STOVE, ya'll.
All of that aside, I'm surviving. Mother's Day is tomorrow. I have some sweet cards on my fireplace mantel, and that has to be enough for now. In a week and a day, I will celebrate one girl's birthday and miss another girl terribly. The 10 year milestone hasn't hit me yet. Not as hard as it maybe should.
Say a prayer for me if you can spare one, please?

General Chaos Update

The weather here has been pretty awful. Cold. Snow. Insane windchills. So, I've not had anything fun to update this blog with.


*We are still stoveless. Blah. It's hard to move a stove into a house when there's the danger of you slipping on ice and the stove crushing you. Just saying!



* We've taken in another cat, part time. This is Butterscotch. She and Sparrow are um, working on an agreement. Sparrow is set in her ways and for now, Butterscotch isn't a part of the routine.

*We've gotten a new fish to replace the one we lost. Meet Hawkeye.

*Due to a recent health scare (which turned out to be nothing, Praise God!) I'm back on the weightloss train. Also, I'm severely cutting back on caffeine (which kind of scares me....) Pray for me. Pray for my poor husband who will be seeing the fallout from a somewhat decaffeinated wife ;)



*Speaking of husbands....Gabe and I celebrated 10 years of being together!!! We've been through some pretty rough stuff together, but he is truly a blessing from God!

Surviving the Chaos

Due to some scheduling adjustments, I've found myself dealing with a lot more time-management chaos lately. I'm sure I'm not the only one, so here are some things I've found that help deal with the insanity.


PRAY.
Seriously. Pray, or you will go insane. Been there, done that, probably needed a rubber room at some point.



COFFEE.
I cannot talk enough about the importance of coffee. On days where I'm rushing everywhere, it's always good to have some coffee ready.

CROCKPOT.
My best friend, Mr. Red, was a housewarming gift (from the old place) from a sweet friend of mine. He has been most useful lately.

PRE-PREPPING FOOD.
As in the night before. Yep, it's a pain in the butt, but when you rush out your door at stupid o'clock on  a Tuesday morning, it's good to just dump a bunch of stuff in your crockpot. (See above)

JUNKY BREAKFAST FOODS. I'm not a fan of toaster waffles, but everyone else in the family is. Days where you're practically insane by 8 a.m., go for it. Toast the waffles ;)

These are just a few tips for days where it's all flying by so fast you can't even blink...just remember to keep it in perspective. Your mornings won't be busy forever.