There's no place like home. A safe, comfy, beautiful haven where we can let our guards down, relax, and enjoy ourselves. Where we can make memories with loved ones. Where we can be refreshed before going back out into the crazy and chaotic world.
But now that I stay at home full time with a baby-turning-toddler, I'm realizing how much work it takes to keep our home a haven! Oddly enough, it seems that the more often I'm home, the harder it is to keep it clean, warm, loving, and welcoming!
This past weekend was one of those where I was shamefully nitpicky to my poor husband. To be honest, weekends at home can be challenging for me these days. I've spent a long week of making and cleaning up messes and taking care of G, but my husband has spent a long week of working hard as director for his ministries. We're both exhausted but there are still meals to be made, messes to be cleaned, and a mini energizer bunny to keep up with. There's a tension inside me know both he and I desire a break, so who deserves it more?? (I know, I know. I'm not proud of these feelings, just keeping it real!). If I see him lying on the couch, I feel resentment building up inside, thinking he should be helping me do all the work around the house (and don't get me wrong, he often does help!).
Yet one day as I was driving alone in the car, I was reflecting on the situation and a totally different perspective settled in. Yes, it's a lot of work to create a home, but it's also a blessing to have that as a job! Like any job, there are exhausting moments, discouragement, frustration, and such. But what a satisfying feeling to know that because of your efforts, other feel comforted, welcomed, and restful. When my husband is lying on the couch, it's not that he's being lazy. It's that my efforts to create our home have given him a safe space to rejuvenate after his long days working hard in ministry. What a gift that I can provide that for him! It's so funny how just a change in perspective can change your whole attitude. Seeing things this way helps me to see my work as a gift, a privilege, even *gasp* a joy. It's rewarding to know that even the most mundane work that I do (dishes, laundry, meals) is sustaining a life-giving place for my loved ones to flourish. While my husband will continue to help me around the house (grateful!) and while self-care and my needs are certainly an important balance to have with homemaking, I'm finding a renewed energy in my role. Instead of seeing the endless and monotonous, I'm seeing purpose and art.
Whether we're single, married, or mothers...whether we live in an apartment or house...whether we have lots of money or very little...I believe all women have the gift of an innate ability to create a home with beauty, comfort, and security. What are your favorite ways to create 'home' in your space?
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Showing posts with label marriage. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 22, 2017
Tuesday, July 25, 2017
My Fertility Story [NFP Awareness Week]
If you've been following me long enough in this little corner of the web, you know a few personal things about me in the "ladies-only" department.
I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).
I've had major surgery for it.
I've had a miscarriage.
I've had some fertility struggles.
I had a medically rough pregnancy for my daughter.
But what you may not know, and what I'd really like to share, is how deeply grateful I am for the part NFP has played in my story. It's NFP Awareness Week, so it's a perfect time to open my heart and these chapters of my life to you.
Ten years ago I was on a hormonal birth control pill to treat a few symptoms I was having in my early twenties. I was somewhat ignorant and accepted the prescription my nurse practitioner gave me, even though she did no testing of my hormones, etc, but simply made a guess and gave me one of the most popular "women's health" prescriptions out there-- hormonal birth control. Why we heap mega doses of synthetic estrogen into women's systems without even testing their estrogen levels and call it healthcare, I'll never know. But I was swept into the current and took my pills faithfully for six months.
Until someone mentioned the Creighton model of NFP and Naprotechnology-- a medical branch of Natural Family Planning based on science but also very faith-friendly. This person suggested that maybe the birth control pills were simply covering up my symptoms without getting to the root of my problem.
I made an appointment with a Naprotechnology doctor, learned the method of charting, and was thoroughly evaluated with labwork, testing, and in-depth evaluation of my chart. As a nurse, I was SO impressed. As a female patient, I felt empowered and dignified with learning more about my unique body's cycle-- and it's abnormalities.
Long story short, I was diagnosed with PCOS, had major surgery for it by a Naprotechnology surgeon, and continued to use Creighton and Napro through the years for my health. Though the surgery greatly improved my health and fertility, nothing quite cures PCOS so we knew there might be some residual effects.
When I got married, we conceived quickly but miscarried our precious child just as quickly. Off to the Napro doctor we went, and he was SO compassionate and competent with my care. The 'regular' OB world doesn't test you for anything until you've had 2-3 miscarriages consecutively. If you've ever had a miscarriage, you know that this would be pure torture to simply 'allow' 1 or 2 more to happen before getting tested. Our Napro doctor acknowledged that we had lost a child and that he would test us right away because who wants to lose more children if you can prevent it??
I was then found to have low progesterone and a funky genetic issue called MTHFR-- both put you highly at risk for miscarriage but are actually easily treatable once you know. With our sweet G, I was on medications for both even before we conceived her to give her the best chance of sticking around this side of heaven. :) I was also on progesterone throughout my pregnancy and monitored frequently. While it was challenging, it was all SO worth it to carry and deliver our healthy baby girl.
Honestly, I don't think I would have her if it would not for God's grace guiding us to Naprotechnology and the Creighton model of NFP.
We continue to use NFP each month, discerning whether God is calling us to postpone or avoid a pregnancy or to be open to it. It's beautiful. And it's hard. Yes, it would be easier to take birth control have a greater sense of control over my body. But did you know hormonal birth control can actually cause an early abortion? Sure, it might be simpler to use a condom rather than "risk" a pregnancy when we don't feel ready for it, or to have to avoid sex that day if we truly aren't in a good place for a pregnancy.
But we took vows on our wedding day to give ourselves to each other freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully. And that includes in sex. Freely without reserve. Totally without stamping out our body's natural signs and abilities to be fertile. Faithfully and according to the Catholic Church's teaching. And fruitfully, knowing that to bear fruit of our love is a beautiful thing even when it's hard.
I'm always very open about our journey-- both with fertility struggles and with the reality of using NFP as a married couple. If you have questions or thoughts, feel free to email me!
Happy NFP week!
I have PCOS (Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome).
I've had major surgery for it.
I've had a miscarriage.
I've had some fertility struggles.
I had a medically rough pregnancy for my daughter.
But what you may not know, and what I'd really like to share, is how deeply grateful I am for the part NFP has played in my story. It's NFP Awareness Week, so it's a perfect time to open my heart and these chapters of my life to you.
Ten years ago I was on a hormonal birth control pill to treat a few symptoms I was having in my early twenties. I was somewhat ignorant and accepted the prescription my nurse practitioner gave me, even though she did no testing of my hormones, etc, but simply made a guess and gave me one of the most popular "women's health" prescriptions out there-- hormonal birth control. Why we heap mega doses of synthetic estrogen into women's systems without even testing their estrogen levels and call it healthcare, I'll never know. But I was swept into the current and took my pills faithfully for six months.
Until someone mentioned the Creighton model of NFP and Naprotechnology-- a medical branch of Natural Family Planning based on science but also very faith-friendly. This person suggested that maybe the birth control pills were simply covering up my symptoms without getting to the root of my problem.
I made an appointment with a Naprotechnology doctor, learned the method of charting, and was thoroughly evaluated with labwork, testing, and in-depth evaluation of my chart. As a nurse, I was SO impressed. As a female patient, I felt empowered and dignified with learning more about my unique body's cycle-- and it's abnormalities.
Long story short, I was diagnosed with PCOS, had major surgery for it by a Naprotechnology surgeon, and continued to use Creighton and Napro through the years for my health. Though the surgery greatly improved my health and fertility, nothing quite cures PCOS so we knew there might be some residual effects.
When I got married, we conceived quickly but miscarried our precious child just as quickly. Off to the Napro doctor we went, and he was SO compassionate and competent with my care. The 'regular' OB world doesn't test you for anything until you've had 2-3 miscarriages consecutively. If you've ever had a miscarriage, you know that this would be pure torture to simply 'allow' 1 or 2 more to happen before getting tested. Our Napro doctor acknowledged that we had lost a child and that he would test us right away because who wants to lose more children if you can prevent it??
I was then found to have low progesterone and a funky genetic issue called MTHFR-- both put you highly at risk for miscarriage but are actually easily treatable once you know. With our sweet G, I was on medications for both even before we conceived her to give her the best chance of sticking around this side of heaven. :) I was also on progesterone throughout my pregnancy and monitored frequently. While it was challenging, it was all SO worth it to carry and deliver our healthy baby girl.
Honestly, I don't think I would have her if it would not for God's grace guiding us to Naprotechnology and the Creighton model of NFP.
We continue to use NFP each month, discerning whether God is calling us to postpone or avoid a pregnancy or to be open to it. It's beautiful. And it's hard. Yes, it would be easier to take birth control have a greater sense of control over my body. But did you know hormonal birth control can actually cause an early abortion? Sure, it might be simpler to use a condom rather than "risk" a pregnancy when we don't feel ready for it, or to have to avoid sex that day if we truly aren't in a good place for a pregnancy.
But we took vows on our wedding day to give ourselves to each other freely, totally, faithfully, and fruitfully. And that includes in sex. Freely without reserve. Totally without stamping out our body's natural signs and abilities to be fertile. Faithfully and according to the Catholic Church's teaching. And fruitfully, knowing that to bear fruit of our love is a beautiful thing even when it's hard.
I'm always very open about our journey-- both with fertility struggles and with the reality of using NFP as a married couple. If you have questions or thoughts, feel free to email me!
Happy NFP week!
Wednesday, March 15, 2017
On the Bookshelf
Since we've been snowed in (after all that gorgeous spring weather!! boo!) and little G. has not only been teething but also caught a small tummy bug and a big respiratory bug...needless to say, we've been home, indoors, and I've been reading a lot during snuggles and naps. Here are three that have been in our stack: one on marriage, one on motherhood, and one for little ones.
Your Marriage Masterpiece: Transform Your Relationship Through God's Amazing Design, by Al Janssen
This was a good book but not a great book for me. I fluctuated in my opinion through it actually. Some chapters I would be engrossed and think "YES! The world needs to read this!" and other chapters I would skim and feel like I've read similar things before. (Maybe I need to spend more time focusing on my marriage itself instead of reading books about it-- haha ;) ). A few things I liked: the book is a companion resource to The Family Project DVD by Focus on the Family. My husband and I LOVE that course/project, particularly the movie Irreplaceable (about the necessary connections of love/sex/marriage/children and how disconnecting those has broken down the family). I appreciate how much FotF has done and continues to do to promote healthy marriages and families. This book is definitely included in that effort. I liked the real-life stories of marriage. I liked the study guide included. I even liked the Biblical imagination narratives woven throughout, showing us how we are to mirror God's "marriage" to us in our marriages (very Catholic). I did not care for: some of the Biblical narratives were cheesy or took too much artistic liberty for my taste. I felt that the flow of the book was somewhat slow and didn't keep my attention. Overall, a good book on marriage but not one of the top five on that subject that I would recommend to someone.
[Thank you to Bethany House publishers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts on the book.]
Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline, by Catherine McNiel
I did not expect to like this book as much as I am! I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but so far it's exceeding that! What a beautiful, inspiring, and even gently convicting book! Ann Voskamp has a review quote on the cover of this book and I can see why-- it has something of the mystic/poetic prose style that she uses when she writes. This book goes deep into the soul of motherhood by using the simplest, earthiest everyday things. The author writes about the (sometimes monotonous) things we experience as mothers and encourages us to find God in them...the God who became a baby, a child, to bring us closer to Him. He is in our children today and wants us to find Him in them...and to find Him in our own weary, changed bodies as well. One of my favorite parts was when she wrote about Jesus being one of us in the messiness of life-- how He lived with and joined the normal, everyday people and talked about fish, yeast, water, taxes as He ministered and taught the kingdom of God. I mean, I know this already but somehow reading her words and seeing Jesus like that was very tender for me. I also appreciated the Catholic vein woven throughout the book even though the author herself is not Catholic-- she writes a lot about the sacramental realities...God using tactile, tangible things to give grace and spiritual meaning to our lives (reminds me of another great book I'm reading by Laura Kelly Fanucci: Everyday Sacrament). At the end of each chapter, there are several reflection and practice points to integrate into your own life. This has been a very meaningful book to me and one that I will likely read more than once.
[Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts.]
God Loves Daddy and Me, by Bonnie Rickner Jensen
I'm such a sucker for faith-based board books. This one does not disappoint. Beautiful illustrations and a touching story to introduce little ones to God's gentle and fatherly love for all of us. I like the specific message that God loves not only children but also adults (who are also His children). I think it's good for kids to learn that God loves us even as we grow and that God loves and takes care of mommy and daddy too so that they learn faith is not just for children, but also for us as we grow up! (Maybe even more necessary as we grow and lose that sense of childlike innocence and trust!) My only slight hesitation about the book is that some of the activities the dad and child do may not be ones all fathers do with their children-- build forts, go on picnics, etc. I wouldn't want a child to feel left out if their daddy doesn't do these things with them. Also, the raccoon child seems to be a boy, so not that a little girl and her daddy couldn't have these adventures, but there's a father-son feel to the relationship described. These are all fine things, but just information for those considering the book if they have a daughter. :)
Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts.]
Your Marriage Masterpiece: Transform Your Relationship Through God's Amazing Design, by Al Janssen
This was a good book but not a great book for me. I fluctuated in my opinion through it actually. Some chapters I would be engrossed and think "YES! The world needs to read this!" and other chapters I would skim and feel like I've read similar things before. (Maybe I need to spend more time focusing on my marriage itself instead of reading books about it-- haha ;) ). A few things I liked: the book is a companion resource to The Family Project DVD by Focus on the Family. My husband and I LOVE that course/project, particularly the movie Irreplaceable (about the necessary connections of love/sex/marriage/children and how disconnecting those has broken down the family). I appreciate how much FotF has done and continues to do to promote healthy marriages and families. This book is definitely included in that effort. I liked the real-life stories of marriage. I liked the study guide included. I even liked the Biblical imagination narratives woven throughout, showing us how we are to mirror God's "marriage" to us in our marriages (very Catholic). I did not care for: some of the Biblical narratives were cheesy or took too much artistic liberty for my taste. I felt that the flow of the book was somewhat slow and didn't keep my attention. Overall, a good book on marriage but not one of the top five on that subject that I would recommend to someone.
[Thank you to Bethany House publishers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts on the book.]
Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline, by Catherine McNiel
I did not expect to like this book as much as I am! I'm not sure exactly what I expected, but so far it's exceeding that! What a beautiful, inspiring, and even gently convicting book! Ann Voskamp has a review quote on the cover of this book and I can see why-- it has something of the mystic/poetic prose style that she uses when she writes. This book goes deep into the soul of motherhood by using the simplest, earthiest everyday things. The author writes about the (sometimes monotonous) things we experience as mothers and encourages us to find God in them...the God who became a baby, a child, to bring us closer to Him. He is in our children today and wants us to find Him in them...and to find Him in our own weary, changed bodies as well. One of my favorite parts was when she wrote about Jesus being one of us in the messiness of life-- how He lived with and joined the normal, everyday people and talked about fish, yeast, water, taxes as He ministered and taught the kingdom of God. I mean, I know this already but somehow reading her words and seeing Jesus like that was very tender for me. I also appreciated the Catholic vein woven throughout the book even though the author herself is not Catholic-- she writes a lot about the sacramental realities...God using tactile, tangible things to give grace and spiritual meaning to our lives (reminds me of another great book I'm reading by Laura Kelly Fanucci: Everyday Sacrament). At the end of each chapter, there are several reflection and practice points to integrate into your own life. This has been a very meaningful book to me and one that I will likely read more than once.
[Thank you to Tyndale Publishers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts.]
God Loves Daddy and Me, by Bonnie Rickner Jensen
I'm such a sucker for faith-based board books. This one does not disappoint. Beautiful illustrations and a touching story to introduce little ones to God's gentle and fatherly love for all of us. I like the specific message that God loves not only children but also adults (who are also His children). I think it's good for kids to learn that God loves us even as we grow and that God loves and takes care of mommy and daddy too so that they learn faith is not just for children, but also for us as we grow up! (Maybe even more necessary as we grow and lose that sense of childlike innocence and trust!) My only slight hesitation about the book is that some of the activities the dad and child do may not be ones all fathers do with their children-- build forts, go on picnics, etc. I wouldn't want a child to feel left out if their daddy doesn't do these things with them. Also, the raccoon child seems to be a boy, so not that a little girl and her daddy couldn't have these adventures, but there's a father-son feel to the relationship described. These are all fine things, but just information for those considering the book if they have a daughter. :)
Thank you to BookLook Bloggers for my complimentary review copy. This contains my honest and original thoughts.]
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Tuesday Talk #29: An Update
Good morning, ladies!
I'm finally emerging from what's been a crazy month! Medically, I've had some discouraging lab results again and even my providers are somewhat stumped with why my progesterone won't rise despite two increases in treatment. Please keep me and baby in your prayers, that my levels will rise and that baby will stay in there until full term! Every week, baby's chances of living outside the womb get better and better, but the thought of preterm labor scares me greatly. Our little one has been so showered with prayers and grace this pregnancy and we feel it! So grateful to all those on earth and in heaven praying for us! Because of the treatment, I have felt quite yucky. Nausea, fatigue, indigestion. Kind of a throwback to the first trimester. I've noticed improvement the past few days, so perhaps my body is getting used to the treatment! We'll see...it's truly in God's hands and I know He loves both me and baby and will take care of us!
With the whole Murphy's Law things, it makes perfect sense that the month I feel bad physically is the month we are way overbooked in our schedule! There have been several times this month my hubby and I looked at each other and said, "how are we going to get through this??" But God is so good and provided the strength and grace we needed to be faithful to our commitments, find rest in between them, and grow closer together because of going through the craziness together! (Although next month we are purposely keeping it very minimally scheduled.)
Our craziest week turned out to be one of the most blessing-filled. We had two nights of my workplace fundraiser banquet (where my husband was the emcee), and three days over an hour away as presenters for a marriage prep retreat for engaged couples (and had to drive home each day because of two other overlapping events!!). Despite some early mornings, some pregnancy carsickness (you've truly reached a new level in your marriage when your husband holds your hair back while you throw up on the side of a country road...which I can laugh about now...), we actually experienced so much grace through the week! The speaker at my work fundraiser was incredibly inspirational (Matt Hammitt from Sanctus Real), and we met some great new friends at the marriage prep weekend and were able to counsel a few of the engaged couples through some different issues they were having. When the whole week was done and we found we were still alive, we grabbed some pizza and the new Star Wars movie (so late to the game, I know) and had an impromptu date night in and reminisced how God had worked through the week in our lives and in others'.
We have a few more things this month, including a wedding this weekend, but our schedule is slowing down and the weather is warming up! It is absolutely gorgeous and I can't get enough of the blooming trees and flowers and sunshine and birds!
What are you up to lately? Give me some comment-love with your highs and lows of the month.
Want to join this week's link up? Grab our button below and link back to one of the hosts!
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Join the party, friends, by linking up with your favorite post from the week! Here's the scoop:
Blogger:
I'm finally emerging from what's been a crazy month! Medically, I've had some discouraging lab results again and even my providers are somewhat stumped with why my progesterone won't rise despite two increases in treatment. Please keep me and baby in your prayers, that my levels will rise and that baby will stay in there until full term! Every week, baby's chances of living outside the womb get better and better, but the thought of preterm labor scares me greatly. Our little one has been so showered with prayers and grace this pregnancy and we feel it! So grateful to all those on earth and in heaven praying for us! Because of the treatment, I have felt quite yucky. Nausea, fatigue, indigestion. Kind of a throwback to the first trimester. I've noticed improvement the past few days, so perhaps my body is getting used to the treatment! We'll see...it's truly in God's hands and I know He loves both me and baby and will take care of us!
With the whole Murphy's Law things, it makes perfect sense that the month I feel bad physically is the month we are way overbooked in our schedule! There have been several times this month my hubby and I looked at each other and said, "how are we going to get through this??" But God is so good and provided the strength and grace we needed to be faithful to our commitments, find rest in between them, and grow closer together because of going through the craziness together! (Although next month we are purposely keeping it very minimally scheduled.)
Our craziest week turned out to be one of the most blessing-filled. We had two nights of my workplace fundraiser banquet (where my husband was the emcee), and three days over an hour away as presenters for a marriage prep retreat for engaged couples (and had to drive home each day because of two other overlapping events!!). Despite some early mornings, some pregnancy carsickness (you've truly reached a new level in your marriage when your husband holds your hair back while you throw up on the side of a country road...which I can laugh about now...), we actually experienced so much grace through the week! The speaker at my work fundraiser was incredibly inspirational (Matt Hammitt from Sanctus Real), and we met some great new friends at the marriage prep weekend and were able to counsel a few of the engaged couples through some different issues they were having. When the whole week was done and we found we were still alive, we grabbed some pizza and the new Star Wars movie (so late to the game, I know) and had an impromptu date night in and reminisced how God had worked through the week in our lives and in others'.
We have a few more things this month, including a wedding this weekend, but our schedule is slowing down and the weather is warming up! It is absolutely gorgeous and I can't get enough of the blooming trees and flowers and sunshine and birds!
What are you up to lately? Give me some comment-love with your highs and lows of the month.
Want to join this week's link up? Grab our button below and link back to one of the hosts!
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Blogger:
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
Tuesday Talk # 21: Another Year Older
Last week I celebrated my twenty-ninth birthday. One more year of the twenties ahead. Craziness! I'm soaking it up. ;) Actually, several of my friends (including my hubby) are in their thirties now, so I don't think next year's birthday will be a tragic event by any means. But still. I'm a little sentimental about the last year to close this decade.
Anyway.
So it was an amazing birthday. I had very little expectations for it, considering it was on a weekday and a work day. My husband convinced me I should let him make dinner and I happily agreed. Not only did he make dinner, but he had trails of rose petals starting in the garage when I arrived home and parked my car and leading to the dinner table, a few gifts, a dozen fresh roses, and even a cute little setup with our little black bear stuffed animal (honeymoon souvenir from Gatlinburg) holding a rose and a special message for me. He's so darn creative and romantic, he puts me to shame! Dinner was delicious: fettucine alfredo and roasted asparagas (I think I finally found a vegetable I want to eat during pregnancy--sooo good!). He invited my brother as a surprise dinner guest and a friend to stop by later in the evening. Thank you, Jesus, for such a loving husband.
Other delights of the day included non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice from a friend, a cookie cake and card from my coworkers, several texts and cards and voicemails from loved ones, and later on the weekend a visit from two girlfriends to catch up and make cards together. Nothing like a birthday to make you feel all warm and cozy and loved. I think my expectations decrease as an adult when it comes to birthdays so that makes each sweet kindness from others all the more special.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your birthday?
Want to join this week's link up? Grab our button below and link back to one of the hosts!
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Join the party, friends, by linking up with your favorite post from the week! Here's the scoop:
Anyway.
So it was an amazing birthday. I had very little expectations for it, considering it was on a weekday and a work day. My husband convinced me I should let him make dinner and I happily agreed. Not only did he make dinner, but he had trails of rose petals starting in the garage when I arrived home and parked my car and leading to the dinner table, a few gifts, a dozen fresh roses, and even a cute little setup with our little black bear stuffed animal (honeymoon souvenir from Gatlinburg) holding a rose and a special message for me. He's so darn creative and romantic, he puts me to shame! Dinner was delicious: fettucine alfredo and roasted asparagas (I think I finally found a vegetable I want to eat during pregnancy--sooo good!). He invited my brother as a surprise dinner guest and a friend to stop by later in the evening. Thank you, Jesus, for such a loving husband.
Other delights of the day included non-alcoholic sparkling grape juice from a friend, a cookie cake and card from my coworkers, several texts and cards and voicemails from loved ones, and later on the weekend a visit from two girlfriends to catch up and make cards together. Nothing like a birthday to make you feel all warm and cozy and loved. I think my expectations decrease as an adult when it comes to birthdays so that makes each sweet kindness from others all the more special.
What are your favorite ways to celebrate your birthday?
Want to join this week's link up? Grab our button below and link back to one of the hosts!
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Tuesday, February 9, 2016
Tuesday Talk #19: Our Love Story (a blog hop)
Joining the other Tuesday Talk hosts by sharing our love stories today! I hope you will join us!
If God is still writing your love story, I hope you will take heart and hope from the stories shared. I didn't get married until my late twenties, learned the joys and struggles of the single life all too well, and went through a few heartbreaks (including a broken engagement) along the way to my 'happily ever after.' And even though love and marriage are incredibly beautiful and leave me humbled and grateful for my husband and our journey together...in the end, the only real happily ever after is with our Savior in Heaven, for "to fall in love with God is the greatest of romances." -G. K. Chesterton
But without further ado, I decided to share just one chapter of our story today: how we met.
It was a gorgeous midsummer day and I was helping my brother with the music for church at his university parish. He was their summer musician and invited me to sing with him for Mass one weekend.
Afterwards, there was an annual parish picnic and reunion for the current and past college students and parishioners. Not one to pass up on a cookout and festivities, I stuck around after Mass. I sat down with a plate of food at the nearest table with an empty spot. (When my husband tells the story, he insists there were plenty of other seats and that I purposely chose that spot.)
Little did I know I had just sat down across from my future husband: the new campus minister.
He was looking pretty hot that day. Typical campus/youth minister, I thought. Athletic, good-looking, outgoing. Even spikes his hair in the front a little. I was not impressed. I had a preconceived notion that youth ministers tend to have an ego and don't necessarily ever grow up.
But my future husband was quite smitten with me. He took every opportunity to talk with me and I enjoyed our conversations but was actually oblivious that he was singling me out.
Maybe that's because I was dating someone else at the time!
The next day P. (my husband) proceeded to tell his new friend (who also worked at the university church) all about this amazing girl he had met. His new friend smiles and says, "oh, you must have met my girlfriend Laura."
Silence.
Yep. I was dating the other guy, who had been out of town the day of the picnic. My hubby was shocked and embarrassed and mumbled something about how he wasn't sure and then ended the conversation.
It's one of our favorite stories to tell, and P. tells it a lot better than I do-- I love hearing his version of it!!
Obviously, things gradually moved in his favor (and mine!) over time. A few months later, I broke up with the other guy after realizing he wasn't my Mr. Right. A few months after that, there was a mission trip my little brothers were going on with the university church group and they needed another chaperone over the age of 25 (I had just turned 25!). I was excited about the idea of a mission trip and needed something like that after a long winter. I talked to the campus minister (yep, my hubby!) and he was all about the idea of me chaperoning. Wink, wink. He even accommodated me so well by making sure I was in his van on the drive.
Long story short, by the end of the trip, I was head over heels. I couldn't believe how I had failed to see how incredible this man was! He was charming, handsome, funny, deeply spiritual, and an amazing leader! No one had ever given me butterflies like he did and does! Thankfully, he was still smitten with me and we started dating the week we returned!
We had our ups and downs throughout our relationship, and even a few breakups, as we discerned where God was calling us and whether or not that was together. But God worked through everything and on May 22 of last year, we began our journey together for the rest of our lives as husband and wife. Marriage has been very, very sweet. We chose to save sex and living together for marriage and it's just been indescribably beautiful to live out this sacrament the way God intended (but we're still very much two sinners trying to get to Heaven!). His plan is always so good, so joyful, and so rich with beauty and grace.
Here's to 50 more years! ;)
Here's a picture someone took of us at the church picnic the day we met. We were playing a crazy game with the college students. (The photographer says she totally knew we'd get together someday.)
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| Laughter -- one of the necessary ingredients for a good marriage! |
Want to read the rest of the stories?
Beth at Our Pretty Little Girls // Becky at BYBMG
Jessica at Sweet Little Ones // Emily at Raising Barnes
Stephanie at Wife Mommy Me // Stasia at Our Life on a Budget
Sarah at Abiding In Grace // Ruthie at Rear. Release. Regroup.
Laura at Life Is Beautiful // Christina at Waltzing In Beauty
Michelle at Grammie Time // Tina at Go Big or Go Home
Whitney at Polka Dotty Place
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Thursday, December 31, 2015
Of Loss and Love: A Year in Review with Pictures
So I've been pretty sentimental today. I didn't expect it. It was mostly a normal day. I worked. We have no New Year's Eve plans. I'll be going to bed early from exhaustion. But this NYE stuff caught up with me. The reflecting on a year drawing to a close. So as I drove to and from work, I found myself reviewing the year.
And what. a. year. Marriage. A home purchase. Losses that knocked the wind out of us. Joy that seeped into the cracked places of our hearts. New places and new friends...and always the treasured old.
Tears and smiles, awe and gratitude joined me in the car today. But more than anything, I felt grace. Grace all over the year, woven through the ups and downs. God's presence. His protection. And His providence.
Sometimes we need to look more closely at the small things to see beauty...but sometimes we also need to step back and look at the larger picture. Join me as I recount the big and small things of 2015?
January
I was knee-deep in wedding planning, a nervous but excited fiancee looking ahead to the biggest change in my life.
I accompanied P. (fiance at the time) and my bestie R. to the March for Life in Washington D.C. Always a powerful trip as we show our nation's leaders (and the few media channels that will cover it) that we believe every life is a gift and worth living.
P. was invited to lead the prayer for the opening of a House of Rep. session at our statehouse. Such an honor!! His brother, nephew, and I were tickled pink to join him!
February
We were blindsided by the sudden death of my father-in-law. By God's grace, all the family members were already in town for a Baptism (some live as far as the East Coast) and were able to stay together for the following week. The grief and shock were overwhelming. We were too young to lose a parent. I felt so inadequate to comfort my husband-to-be, yet was so deeply touched by the way his family banded together in their grief. I felt blessed to become part of this family, this legacy.
March
We found our house. Searching for a home during our seven-month engagement proved to be one of the most challenging things we did and possibly stretched us the most as a couple. But I'll never forget the day we saw this house...shortly after losing the bid on a previous home I had wanted. We both fell in love with the country view, the quaint two-story, and the white woodwork. Within a week, we had had our offer accepted.
April
My bachelorette party with my sisterhood. These girls. The ones who have been with me through the ups and downs of single life, relationships, faith struggles, and self-image woes. We have a history together...and a future. Their hearts were so generous in helping me plan and prepare for marriage. Some friends will stay in your life forever.
May
I stood face-to-face with the man who swept me off my feet and vowed to love him forever. I watched him cry as I walked up the aisle. We worshiped together in song after receiving our precious Jesus in the Eucharist. We were overjoyed at the church full of so many loved ones who traveled near and far to support us, pray with us, and celebrate with us.
June
After a crazy two-week stint of living in both our apartments (an hour apart) on a random schedule, we moved into our new home! My mom and dad get the highest praise here, I've never seen anyone work so hard in helped us pack and unpack. We also had a sweet band of friends who made endless rounds from the trailer to the house. I hope they move soon so we can begin to repay them!!
July
One of the most joyful and painful months of our lives. We learned I was pregnant. Those moments of awe that a little life is within you...soon changed to the agony of having the little life leave you too soon. We lost our sweet son, Ignatius, to miscarriage. Despite being only two months into our marriage, my husband was a rock for me. My mom and my sister were lifeblood. And all the women who came out of the woodwork and shared their own miscarriages gave me strength and hope that we, too, would get through this. I was most comforted by these words of Mother Angelica.
August
It's an odd thing to be an adult. Because somehow, you can grieve and rejoice at the same time. And so while we still carried our grief, we were also enjoying our first few months of marriage and life in our new home. We hosted about forty young adults at a local park for a summer party of sports, pizza, and a bonfire. Such a gift to have fellowship with solid, delightful people who share our love for Christ.
I took my first trip away from P. and enjoyed the annual girlfriends camping trip at the lake. Despite my tan for the wedding, I burnt to a crisp from too much lounging in the lake!
September
A friend H. and I began Courageous Women, our monthly Bible study. The book has been incredible, the friendships inspiring, and the food quite tasty!
October
In the wake of doctor's appointments, new diagnoses, and discouragement about my fertility, we decided to take a month to refocus and reprioritize. October was a simple, carefree month all about our marriage. We even took a little getaway to Amish Country when my husband was scheduled for a few talks there. I was so excited for him to experience a historic Bed and Breakfast (although I think he mostly just enjoyed watching me get so excited about it all). I found so much peace and joy in this month of surrender to the Lord and gratitude for the gift of our marriage.
November
The day after Thanksgiving my thankful heart overflowed when I got a positive pregnancy test. Despite my deep gratitude, I soon learned this time around there would be a battle with fear and anxiety. I wanted to be excited and joyful but I struggled with detachment and fear that we would lose this little one, too. I so desperately wanted to trust God, but what did that even look like in this situation? I couldn't trust that everything would turn out like I wanted it to...but I realized I could trust who God is, that He loved and willed this child into being, and that He had a plan for it. If that plan was to join Him in Heaven right way or if that plan included us meeting and raising this little one, God's will be done. He is good and He loves us in either outcome.
December
My Advent continued my struggle with fear but I could see grace reaching in, God teaching patiently, and my heart learning slowly. We still don't know what will happen in the months ahead, but I'm learning to treasure every day I carry this child beneath my heart. I'm learning to trust like Mary in the uncertainty of life just as she trusted God in her pregnancy. And there is joy. So much joy.
And what. a. year. Marriage. A home purchase. Losses that knocked the wind out of us. Joy that seeped into the cracked places of our hearts. New places and new friends...and always the treasured old.
Tears and smiles, awe and gratitude joined me in the car today. But more than anything, I felt grace. Grace all over the year, woven through the ups and downs. God's presence. His protection. And His providence.
Sometimes we need to look more closely at the small things to see beauty...but sometimes we also need to step back and look at the larger picture. Join me as I recount the big and small things of 2015?
January
I was knee-deep in wedding planning, a nervous but excited fiancee looking ahead to the biggest change in my life.
I accompanied P. (fiance at the time) and my bestie R. to the March for Life in Washington D.C. Always a powerful trip as we show our nation's leaders (and the few media channels that will cover it) that we believe every life is a gift and worth living.
P. was invited to lead the prayer for the opening of a House of Rep. session at our statehouse. Such an honor!! His brother, nephew, and I were tickled pink to join him!
February
We were blindsided by the sudden death of my father-in-law. By God's grace, all the family members were already in town for a Baptism (some live as far as the East Coast) and were able to stay together for the following week. The grief and shock were overwhelming. We were too young to lose a parent. I felt so inadequate to comfort my husband-to-be, yet was so deeply touched by the way his family banded together in their grief. I felt blessed to become part of this family, this legacy.
March
We found our house. Searching for a home during our seven-month engagement proved to be one of the most challenging things we did and possibly stretched us the most as a couple. But I'll never forget the day we saw this house...shortly after losing the bid on a previous home I had wanted. We both fell in love with the country view, the quaint two-story, and the white woodwork. Within a week, we had had our offer accepted.
April
My bachelorette party with my sisterhood. These girls. The ones who have been with me through the ups and downs of single life, relationships, faith struggles, and self-image woes. We have a history together...and a future. Their hearts were so generous in helping me plan and prepare for marriage. Some friends will stay in your life forever.
May
I stood face-to-face with the man who swept me off my feet and vowed to love him forever. I watched him cry as I walked up the aisle. We worshiped together in song after receiving our precious Jesus in the Eucharist. We were overjoyed at the church full of so many loved ones who traveled near and far to support us, pray with us, and celebrate with us.
June
After a crazy two-week stint of living in both our apartments (an hour apart) on a random schedule, we moved into our new home! My mom and dad get the highest praise here, I've never seen anyone work so hard in helped us pack and unpack. We also had a sweet band of friends who made endless rounds from the trailer to the house. I hope they move soon so we can begin to repay them!!
July
One of the most joyful and painful months of our lives. We learned I was pregnant. Those moments of awe that a little life is within you...soon changed to the agony of having the little life leave you too soon. We lost our sweet son, Ignatius, to miscarriage. Despite being only two months into our marriage, my husband was a rock for me. My mom and my sister were lifeblood. And all the women who came out of the woodwork and shared their own miscarriages gave me strength and hope that we, too, would get through this. I was most comforted by these words of Mother Angelica.
August
It's an odd thing to be an adult. Because somehow, you can grieve and rejoice at the same time. And so while we still carried our grief, we were also enjoying our first few months of marriage and life in our new home. We hosted about forty young adults at a local park for a summer party of sports, pizza, and a bonfire. Such a gift to have fellowship with solid, delightful people who share our love for Christ.
I took my first trip away from P. and enjoyed the annual girlfriends camping trip at the lake. Despite my tan for the wedding, I burnt to a crisp from too much lounging in the lake!
September
A friend H. and I began Courageous Women, our monthly Bible study. The book has been incredible, the friendships inspiring, and the food quite tasty!
October
In the wake of doctor's appointments, new diagnoses, and discouragement about my fertility, we decided to take a month to refocus and reprioritize. October was a simple, carefree month all about our marriage. We even took a little getaway to Amish Country when my husband was scheduled for a few talks there. I was so excited for him to experience a historic Bed and Breakfast (although I think he mostly just enjoyed watching me get so excited about it all). I found so much peace and joy in this month of surrender to the Lord and gratitude for the gift of our marriage.
November
The day after Thanksgiving my thankful heart overflowed when I got a positive pregnancy test. Despite my deep gratitude, I soon learned this time around there would be a battle with fear and anxiety. I wanted to be excited and joyful but I struggled with detachment and fear that we would lose this little one, too. I so desperately wanted to trust God, but what did that even look like in this situation? I couldn't trust that everything would turn out like I wanted it to...but I realized I could trust who God is, that He loved and willed this child into being, and that He had a plan for it. If that plan was to join Him in Heaven right way or if that plan included us meeting and raising this little one, God's will be done. He is good and He loves us in either outcome.
December
My Advent continued my struggle with fear but I could see grace reaching in, God teaching patiently, and my heart learning slowly. We still don't know what will happen in the months ahead, but I'm learning to treasure every day I carry this child beneath my heart. I'm learning to trust like Mary in the uncertainty of life just as she trusted God in her pregnancy. And there is joy. So much joy.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Sacred Marriage: A Book Review
This book has been on my reading list for years. So many of the wives I look up to list it as one of their favorite books on marriage. I love reading books that help me become the best version of myself, and in this new role of wife there's plenty of room for improvement!
The subtitle of this book is so poignant: "What if God designed marriage to make us holy more than to make us happy?" Our culture shouts the opposite: test-drive the opposite sex, use others before marriage, it's all about your happiness and your gratification. It's no wonder we have so many divorces in our society when we're encouraged to simply focus on our own happiness all the time!
Author Gary Thomas radically challenges us to the opposite in this book. He asserts that God intended marriage to sanctify us, to make us holy. And sanctification involves pruning, molding, burning away our selfishness. The beautiful thing about this realization is that it no longer becomes about you. The pressure is off for a perfect marriage of perpetual happiness (which doesn't exist anyway!). Instead, your marriage becomes an offering to God, a union open to His hand and His transforming power. Thomas gives historic, spiritual, and practical insight within these chapters. I would highly recommend this book to any couple discerning marriage, engaged, or already married. As an added bonus, my husband and I are reading the devotional that accompanies this book: Devotions for a Sacred Marriage. It's been neat to have him experience the same principles in devotional form that I'm reading in the longer book.
Christmas is coming up in two months! Either book would make a cozy read by the fire...and might stir those coals in your marriage, too.
Have you read Sacred Marriage? What's your favorite book on relationships?
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Tuesday Talk #2
Hi friends!
Welcome to Tuesday Talk! We're gathering once again to catch up on our weeks, our goals, our families, and the daily grind. If you're a blogger, we'd love for you to join us on the link-up; you can find all the details below this post!
This week, I wanted to share with you our fun weekend getaway. Any bed-and-breakfast fans out there? For years, I've been fascinated with B&Bs and their old-fashioned charm. I'm a huge fan of historic homes (and have been since I was a wee bookworm reading Anne of Green Gables, Little Women, and such). I'll gladly pay anyone some moolah for the chance to stay overnight in a historic home! (and if they're adding breakfast to the deal, I'm definitely a taker!)
I've stayed in a few B&Bs over the years with girlfriends but it's been several years and I've always wanted my husband to experience one. So when he started telling me he had three talks to give in one weekend near the quaint Amish country in Ohio, my ears perked up and I started thinking it's B&B time. A sweet older couple from one of the churches where he was speaking had already offered for us to spend the night at their home the first night, so we gratefully accepted their hospitality but decided staying a second night in a B&B was within our budget.
Ready for some pics?
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| My handsome husband and I with two of the other speakers and E., our sweet hostess. |
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| My very creepy "Yay for B&Bs" face. |
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| The Blue Rose room. It was so gorgeous but I couldn't get a good shot of the whole room. |
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| Here's another corner of the room. My Victorian heart was delighted with the smallest details. |
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| Lo and behold, horses and donkeys to pet and feed! |
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| Yummy horse treats. |
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| We decided we want to buy a farm someday. With a historic home on the property, of course. |
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| Mohican State Park was fifteen minutes away so we had a gorgeous drive through the fall colors. |
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| We took advantage of the sunshine and hiked a few trails before evening came. And then stuffed our tummies at an amazing Amish restaurant-- but alas, both our phone batteries had died so no pictures of our feast. It's probably a good thing I didn't document how much I ate. |
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| Our B&B was called Somewhere In Time, after the movie with Jane Seymour. This autographed picture hung in the hallway. How neat is that? |
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| Breakfast was scrumptious as the soundtrack of Somewhere In Time played softly in the background. |
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| The porch was more modern than Victorian, but so charming! I want those lanterns! |
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| The beautiful brick manor. |
All in all, it was such a refreshing time away. Working as a team for P's talks. Exploring the local pizza parlor and coffee shop in between presentations. Meeting wonderful new people. Hiking in all the autumn glory. Amish fried chicken and mashed potatoes. The luxury of a historic, hospitable B&B. And simply time to be together making memories.
But it couldn't be too idyllic, of course. So to add a little more adventure in there, our dog escaped in the parking lot where we were meeting the dog sitter to pick him up. There ensued a half-mile chase and some quick thinking of a neighbor who threw dog treats to slow him down.
All three of us are safely back at home, along with a few more fun and crazy memories.
Have you ever stayed at a B&B or are you more of a hotel girl? Or maybe a camping tent? What's your favorite accommodations? Dream weekend getaway? Give me some comment love!
The hosts of Tuesday Talk
Beth - Our Pretty Little Girls ~ Michelle - Grammie Time
Keri - Living In This Season ~ Christina - Waltzing In Beauty
Lauren - Simply Free ~ Becky - BYBMG
Jess and Katie - Sweet Little Ones ~ Whitney - Polka Dotty Place
Laura - Life Is Beautiful ~ Elizabeth - All Kinds Of Things
Sarah - Abiding In Grace ~ Stephanie - Wife Mommy Me
Emily - Morning Motivated Mom
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Join the party, friends, by linking up with your favorite post from the week! Here's the scoop:
Keri - Living In This Season ~ Christina - Waltzing In Beauty
Lauren - Simply Free ~ Becky - BYBMG
Jess and Katie - Sweet Little Ones ~ Whitney - Polka Dotty Place
Laura - Life Is Beautiful ~ Elizabeth - All Kinds Of Things
Sarah - Abiding In Grace ~ Stephanie - Wife Mommy Me
Emily - Morning Motivated Mom
You can join us on Pinterest, too!
Follow Sweet Little Ones's board Tuesday Talk Features on Pinterest.
Tuesday, July 14, 2015
$10 Great Dates: A Book Review
I'm in love with this book my husband.
And this book.
I actually received it before we were married and enjoyed it but have since picked it up again now that we're married-- and it's so much more pertinent! When we dated before marriage, we lived an hour apart and when we were together, dating came naturally and easily. We were thrilled just to be together or to go out to eat or to do ministry or visit family together. We still do all those things now that we're married-- and we have even more time to be together-- but I see how easy it is to slip into routine.
So we decided to go all stereotypical and do a weekly date night. But I'm loving it!! It's so great to know there's one day a week that we simply focus on us. Not work, not home improvement, not unpacking...just being together and having fun and growing together. We decided to take turns planning the date and this week is my turn.
As I flip through this book again, I'm pretty sure I want to plan every date! They are fabulous ideas and all of them on a budget! With our recent home purchase, we're realizing how quickly the monthly bills pile up. The challenge remains to make a date special without being costly. This book is perfect for that. I'm a sucker for themes and sentimental ideas and the book is chock full of them. Seasonal dates, themed dates, outdoor dates...
Even the layout of this book is helpful. Each date comes with the date idea itself, but also tips for planning the date, tips for during the date, and even talking points to help you go deeper in conversation together.
Can you tell I'm a fan? We're going with 5 stars on this one.
[Thank you to Bethany House Blogger Review Program for sending me this book. This review contains my honest and original thoughts.]
Thursday, July 9, 2015
Identity Crisis
"I'm living in between cornfields in a tiny little town with my new husband in our new home. I'm ridiculously, undeniably, head-over-heels in love with him. But I don't know who I am anymore."
"There’s an identity crisis when we invite Christ into our lives. But it’s beautiful."
I'm over at The Catholic SIP today with my debut blog post there. Check out my reflections on what marriage is teaching me about identity and walking with Christ.
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