I actually did some pins!

So for awhile my addiction became pinterest, being inspired by all those creative juices out there....but, alas, I was not able to create anything from it due to the business (and sickness) of life. However, Christmas gave me the push (including having to stay up late to do things) to create some of my first projects. I love being able to make meaningful gifts that will hopefully be cherished in the years to come! Zoe got to be a helper in some of them...which she was not a fan of at all!

After painting her hand for a hand print, she declared it was yucky and no longer liked the idea of helping. Always fun having to convince a toddler that what they are thinking is an awful experience, really isn't that bad....and getting the perfect print from it....let's just say I'm glad we had more than one paper to practice with!

Somebody was happy to be all done, though, and luckily I had Beach to help!

I waited until the little one was in bed to do the next part!

The Grands seemed to love the outcome!

The next project....making coasters for my sister, with her adorable niece! First time working with resin....fun stuff but a little stressful! You have to actually blow out the bubbles with a straw...or a blow torch...which was not an option for me....needless to say I was very lightheaded after an hour of this.

Yeah, they take 72 hours to completely dry....good thing we had all those shot glasses for the extra to drip and dry from.....finally used them for something.

Beach and I, also, took some pictures and made some framed prints...which was actually a lot harder than I thought. Little Ms. Smiles did anything but and did not want to sit still or hold her sign. We got many pictures that looked like this (or worse):

Which the caption, "I think my parents are crazy and this is to stressful!" However, with much trying and praying we were able to get one good shot of each! I was really happy how they turned out!

"Bakuk" by the way, is the name Zoe calls my mom (instead of Grammy). We have no idea how or why she came up with it (esp. since she does not do this with other words) but is very clear that is who she is speaking about.

Now to find the time for the next pin project...hummmm....with baby on the way that maybe awhile! :-)

The things people say...

I think it is so funny the things people will say to you without thinking. They seem to love to comment on Zoe's lack of hair, which is usually followed by some story of how they knew someone or were related to someone who was bald until they were two and then got such thick hair. I smile every time, as if I hadn't heard such, and let them know that I, too, was bald until I was two. This week, though, I had our check out clerk ask if I shaved Zoe's head. Hummmm, not sure why she would even think that I would want to do such.  That was a first.

Now people love to comment on your body when your pregnant! If they think your big or little in the process, and may even want to touch you.  As I was walking out of my gym class, one of the regular guys noted that he could see my beer belly growing.  Got to love it when you have to pretend others are funny....esp. at your own expense.

A Progressive Christmas

We are always out of town for Christmas but I'm not sure how long that will be able to last as our family begins to grown. So we decided to try something a little different this year. We had a progressive dinner with my family which turned out to be a lot of fun. That way we shared in the work and were able to enjoy each others Christmas decorations a bit more!

The Russells kicked it off with their yummy salad!

Not the best family pictures but wanted to include everyone!

My parents house was next.....always a masterpiece!

Then on to our house for the last course and presents. We forgot to take a picture of the real deal, as it was so good it was quickly eaten. But Beach definitely redeemed himself from last year's cheesecake (where he forgot to add the sugar - not quite the same!).

Zoe enjoyed helping to open presents this year...

and even got a moving rocking horse from her grandparents (which she calls a dragon for some odd reason). I'm not sure who was more excited....her or Poppy!

They liked our gifts to them as well!

Beach got worn out and fell asleep....all that work on the cheesecake finally caught up with him.

The "Beach sleeping pose"
Zoe outlasted him though! Fun times had by all...may have to do this every year!

Florida Chirstmas

It was another wonderful Florida Christmas....well.....beside those HOURS in the car with a toddler and Beach, Zoe and I all being sick. It was however, a great time to see family, rest and remember the reason for the season.

Beach didn't take anytime to get some rest in!

Walked in to see his funny position for a mid morning nap....he works so hard I'm glad he finally got to rest! Meanwhile some of us got to enjoy the warm outdoors!

We spent Christmas Eve with Mom's side of the family with our awesome host (and bestower of many gifts for Zoe!):

Zoe got to spend some good time with her family and seeing GiGi again (great grandma)!

Danielle and I finally remembered to take a sister pregnancy picture! The bumps are growing!

Christmas day brought yet another feast with Dad's side of the family.

Amazing decor and a time of sharing favorite memories of Christmas past.

Then finally....the little ones awoke...it was nice that they let their mama's enjoy their meal in peace.

This picture cracks me up! I'm glad Zoe does not normally look like this!

One beautiful day we got to see some manatees. They have an exhibit by a plant in Brandon.

There were tons of them and some came pretty close!

We even got to touch a couple....Zoe was not impressed.My little Zo was not feeling well at all and wanted to be held...a lot....by just her momma. (She does not seem to care that I was already caring another little one!

Four generations of love right there!

In visiting my cuz with her own son just a couple weeks younger than Zoe, she suggested going by the beach....and so glad she did!!!!

I think my girl loves the beach just as much as I do!

Running without a fence to keep one in.....how awesome!

Time to make aunt Lauren run, too!

They also had a park right off the beach that the kids loved....they esp. enjoyed staring at the ground while swinging.

We got to spend a few days at my mom's side in her retirement community. Zoe learned quickly how to fit in.

She loves her Grammy (and getting to spend days on end with her!)

Off to the park for some fun:

Dad didn't want to be outdone.

Gotta love those FL sunsets and winters!
And Zoe holding my hand and not crying that her Grammy wasn't there.
Aunt Lauren is pretty fun too!

All good things must end, though. Poor Zoe, she just didn't understand why she had to be restrained in a seat for so long and let us know with her crying and screaming (and I thought several times that I could never do this again!) She finally was able to get some rest but the only way that could happen was if momma held her head. With a face like that, how could I not!

Entitlement

We live in a country that is full of the feeling of entitlement (or perhaps it's just our fallen nature in general)....."I deserve this!" "It's my right!" "I've worked so hard!" I know I struggle with this concept a lot. Feeling frustrated when at work, yet again, we do not get a Christmas bonus, and what we did have to celebrate taking more from us or when I feel that I should be treated a certain way, perhaps because I'm pregnant or have worked so hard at something. The list really could go on! Hummmmm.....I'm seeing a lot of "I"s here.

So during this time of year, focusing on what truly matters in Christmas, my thoughts have turned a lot to Mary and Jesus. What it must have been like to be caring the Lord of the universe in your womb? What she wondered, thought and feared? Knowing that I've been thinking a lot about my own pregnancy and birthing options it has brought my thoughts to hers.

Then I thought about Jesus' birth, in a smelly stable, with animals, in a strange city (not so much the beautiful nativity scenes we celebrate but more of what it really was like). I'm thinking this was not a relaxed comfortable labor for the mother of God. I'm sure if I was in her place my thought process would go something like this, "Lord, don't you think I, the one caring the creator, should have an amazing place to give birth? or Why couldn't you have waited until we got back home, where I would be more supported by friends, family and a midwife? Why, at least, couldn't you have saved a room in some inn for us...you are God....you can do all things! Don't I deserve this (I mean you did pick me to be his mother), I mean doesn't Jesus deserve this at least?"

I suppose this just reveals more of my sinful nature and how much I need Him in order to understand His perspective, His timing and doing things for His glory....not so much how I think things should be done and MY entitlements. May I remember this in giving birth, as well as around Christmas time when we look to celebrate His birth and throughout the year as more of these feelings arise!

Faith and fear

I've always thought that I was pretty good on the faith department, at least with the big things. We have had some major things in our lives that we have had to depend on the Lord for (Beach making it through school - trust me this was a big one - and supporting things without debt, Beach finding a job before our first baby made her entrance, and then a couple of months latter selling and buying another home - yeah we closed a couple of days before Zoe was due - and moving in after her due date). They were never really that stressful for me. I know God was going to take care of things and I was going to work as hard as I could to help.....hummmm. Well, perhaps that was not completely all bad, but looking back I did feel that pride creeping in.

However, I had no idea that that was the case....until more recently when my faith has had to look a bit different. We are coming closer to situations that I can't "help" out as much as I have in the past. With the coming of a new baby brings a lot more decisions and of corse needing of money. Money has never been big for me. I much rather find a great deal than get an expensive item, and we had learned to live on not buying much more than the necessities. However, it's hard to cut back when there's not much left to cut.

However, God is growing my faith and seemingly giving me passages to read that deal with just that. Today reading in Luke 5, where Jesus told Simon to put his net over the boat, and how does Simon reply? “Master, we’ve worked hard all night and haven’t caught anything. But because you say so, I will let down the nets.” Then their boat could not even hold all the fish that they caught.

My prayer is just this....may I be able to know that it is not my striving, even if I work as hard as I can all night long (which could just produce nothing) but trusting in the Lord, in his timing and his provision. May I look to Him completely, trusting whole heartily, that he will give me all that I need, even when it just does not make sense to my human mind. Lord, here is my net, I will let it down because you say so!