Living.

      Everyday Riley wakes me up by pulling back the covers and saying "Morning mommy!" very loudly. It drives me nuts but I love it at the same time. I love that she is so eager to start the day. She's more than excited to simply... start living another day. Beck always wakes up smiling and laughing. I try to take notes from my children. Try to imitate their joy over the simplest of things.  I find that when I do that, I feel so much better. As if I'm truly living life to the fullest. And really, that's the only way to live. 

  I am grateful for what God has given me. I find joy in the life He has given me to lead. Sometimes things are tough but He has always provided. And will continue to do so. I'm learning that I don't have time to waste on petty arguments, wanting things I don't have, being upset, gossiping, concerning myself with things that don't pertain to me, people that bring me down, complaining... My time is limited. I'd rather make sure that most of it (cause lets be realistic, I'm not perfect, ha!) is used to uplift, encourage, love, live, breath, celebrate, dance, praise, be happy, eat! And the list could go on. 

  I am all about living right here and now. 

&I celebrate.

      Here is to text messages that simply read: I love you. To the friends that got married today {congrats!}To husbands that change plans to help out. To knowing a best friend called. To long letters from good friends that no matter how little you talk, you will forever be close. To friends who are in love and moving forward in relationships. Here is to clean houses and dinners with friends. To weekends spent together, be it cooking, cleaning, lounging... together. Here is to skyping and chatting with siblings. To working out with friends, sweating and laughing together. To emails from friends far away. To baking and enjoying. Here is to growing. To staying positive amidst trials and tough places. To those that build you up, and encourage. Here is to my family and my friends. How blessed is a person to have relationships with those that will love them unconditionally.

  I celebrate tonight. Celebrate the little victories (really they're the most important, and big steps. I am thankful for today and excited for tomorrow:)!

Sunday Funday.

We haven't gone to the beach in awhile.  I'm not sure why not... Its literally outside our front door. Today though, we ventured to the beach. It wasn't just any beach though. It was the Fort Ord Dunes Beach.

Please Don't Go.

This is a picture that was taken tonight. These two girls are my best friends here in Monterey and the military is taking them away from me. Ashley, the one on my right is moving to Georgia this coming Friday. Summer, the one on my left will be moving to Hawaii come August. I'm having a really hard time with this. I try to avoid the subject but its not really something that can be avoided.

Its hard for me to grasp the fact that someone I cherish and love so much is going to be gone within a week. Its very unfair if you ask me. But life has never been fair. This makes me upset. Its hard for me to write this without crying because when we first moved here I really struggled with loneliness. Then I met Ashley and we bonded right away. It was such a blessing that she too had a daughter Riley's age and was a young mother like me. We spent many days at the park and at each others houses. We watched our daughters go from crawling babies to walking toddlers together. We did photo shoots together and spent most of the money we made on food:) We would go to the gym and then go to Jack in the Box for curly fries, ha! Her friendship has been something I haven't taken for granted.

Remembering the things we did together and knowing that its all coming to an end is depressing. I hate it. I have a hard time saying goodbye. I hate when change involves people leaving and not being close anymore. I know its not the end of our friendship, I just wish she was going to keep living in the house down the street. I wish that Riley and I could continue to walk down there to go play with Kyleigh. I wish that we could still have good conversations in the car.

Friday is still a few days away and I'm going to enjoy the last few days we have together. I'm thankful that I met Ashley and I'm thankful for all the fun times we shared. She's a person I definitely thank God for. My life wouldn't be the same without her. I may be having a hard time with her leaving, but I'm more than happy I met her and her friendship means the world to me. I'm excited for what awaits her in Georgia!

[Thankfully I won't have to write a post like this for Summer for a little while!]

My son.

I am head over heels in love with my little boy.

Although people tell you that you're able to love your second child as much as the first, its hard to imagine. I do know now that I love Beck as much as I love Riley. I adore him. I wish that I could have had Riley here with me when he was born. I want her to meet the little boy that's going to be her favorite playmate and best friend.

All day and night I've been waiting for him to open his eyes and spend some time with me. He has other plans though:) He's been asleep since his arrival. I don't mind too much. I loved when he was just laying on my chest breathing softly and moving every once awhile. I had forgotten juts how beautiful and wonderful these first moments were. I'm so blessed to be able to experience again!

When I saw him for the first time I was so proud. &I loved him even more than I already did. I couldn't believe that I was this beautiful boys mommy. He was mine! I think part of me expected him to look just like Riley but I knew he'd look like Beck. And he does. According to everyone this means he looks like Leif. Which makes me laugh because according to most people Riley looked like Leif as well. Either way both my children are perfect and created in God's image. Amazing.

Right now Beck is in the nurseryand its just me and Leif in the room. I'm missing Beck and I'm missing Riley so much. I'm looking forward to when I get to go home and be with both my children. I can't even begin to fathom how wonderful that'll be. God is such a great God... Its hard for me to look at my children and not thank Him for His goodness.

Because I'm missing you:

Dearest husband this song is for you!


I wish you were here right now. We'd dance to this song and all our favorites.

Remember: Home is wherever I am with you.
Friday can't come soon enough!

Also check out Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. The version of this song is better on their myspace and the song Janglin' is awfully fun.

Some photos: Celebration Sunday.

Last Sunday our church had a celebration in honor of our pastors 25 years with the church. It was basically an amazing big picnic. I snapped a few photos since it was our last Sunday. I wanted to remember the day. It was so wonderful. Nothing like worshiping Jesus amongst trees and grass, barefoot:)













I need to get on the packing. We're behind. I've been spending a lot of time editing photos and trying new stuff out on photoshop. Its too much fun. Plus Riley has become a lot more fun to play with so I've been devoting a lot of time to making her laugh instead of packing boxes. Nothing wrong with staying up all night Friday to pack:)

Intercession

Hi Margaret,
In praying for you and your family, the Lord has shown me a beautiful image of you and Leif reaching out to those whom the church normally would not. That is powerful for the Kingdom of God and a ministry in great need. Keep seeking Him for your calling in Christ Jesus.

Last night someone sent me this message and it really meant a lot to me. First, that someone was praying specifically for Leif and I, and that God put this on their heart. And second, that He has a plan for us. Ever since we found out about Monterey I felt like God was leading us there to do something great for His Kingdom.

Continue to pray.

Hallelujah!

I love this picture so much.
I feel like it says so much about my relationship with Leif
&the love we share.
I'm happy I get to serve God with him.

Good Friends and Food.

I have good friends. Really, I have wonderful friends. And my favorite thing to do with friends is cook & eat.






Last night two of my favorite people came over and made us dinner. We went to Trader Joes, picked up some things, & got some Champagne to make mimosas. What followed was a lovely Chinese dinner outside on the patio. So perfect in so many ways! I'm blessed!





I think not being able to have dinner parties, or Family Sunday Dinners will be one of the hardest parts of moving. Its such a big part of our lives and it'll be weird not being able to throw one of these dinners together. Thank God for trains, buses and cars:) And I'm already thanking God for the people He'll bring into our lives when we move.

Cherished Moments.

Everyday Riley and I go on a walk, or sit in the grass. We people watch and car watch:) Riley loves watching the cars the most. She's amazed by them. I really enjoy these times, when its just me and her sitting together. She'll look up at me and laugh, then go back to watching the cars and people. Yesterday I set her in my lap and played with her feet, she thinks its great and lets out the most happy string of giggles. In turn it makes me laugh. I stopped for a second and told myself to remember this moment and to always cherish moments like this. I know she won't always be able to sit in my lap, and I know she won't let me play with her feet forever. She's going to continue to get older and we'll continue to do other different things together, and I'll cherish every one of those moments as well.

I don't want to take any of our times together for granted.

Love.

This is one of my favorite types of love... Between a father and daugther. I'm so grateful for the father I had, so loving and encouraging all the time. I'm happy that Riley is going to be able to experience that. I love sitting and watching Riley's face light up when Leif simply looks at her. She always has the biggest smiles and squeals for Leif. And watching Leif interact with her seriously is amazing. Its hard for me to sit there and not fall deeper in love with him. I also can't help but thank God for His goodness and grace to us.

Its times like these that I'm overwhelemed by His love and compassion. I hope that I can get to a point where I'm constantly overwhelemed!

I love my In-Laws!

I've been meaning to write this post for awhile and I don't really have an excuse to why I haven't. Laziness perhaps and most likely:)

My in-laws were in town about three weeks ago, and we were SO happy they were able to come down and visit! The last time they saw Riley she was 6 weeks old and only about 12 pounds? This time she was turning 4 months old and about 16 pounds. I was thrilled that they got to see Riley while she's still pretty small... If you can call a 17 pounds 4 month old small. It was a lot of fun having them here. Us girls, me, Gretchen, Maddy, My mother in law and her mother in law got to take our traditional trip to Olvera Street and Phillipes. We visited with other family around the area, got to meet up with my parents and took tons of pictures. (That I still need to work on and got on a cd!) Riley got to swim for the first time with her Grandmother and Aunt and loved every minute. Here's a video of them swimming:

I enjoyed having my in-laws here because they really are a second family and I really hate that we have to be a state apart. I am grateful that it is only a state and that it is possible to visit by car ride. Even if it is a few long hours... I'm also grateful that at least Heidi lives down here and we can visit her often. I'm blessed to have in-laws that are always so loving, so kind, so encouraging. In-laws that pray for Leif, Riley and I on a daily basis and love us unconditionaly. God has given me the best in-laws anyone could ask for. Seriously. I love the time I spend with each and every one of them. My parent in-laws are wonderful examples of a parents that have raised and loved their children in a godly way. Their marriage is also an example of the type of marriage I want Leif and I to have. They love God with all their hearts and its evident. Its also evident in each of their children. I love my three sister-in-laws and they each bless me in so many different ways! I'm praying that when Riley gets married that she'll marry into a wonderful family like I did.

I wish more than anything that they lived closer and could be with us all the time, and watch Riley get older. Until that happens, pictures, videos and Skype will have to do:)

Here are some pictures from the week they were here:

At the Union Station

Before we left for Olvera Street

Grandma:)

Sitting with Grandma

The butterfly Maddy caught
When they first arrived
Riley's grandpa!

Riley and Grandma.
Riley and Aunt Gretchen
Riley and Aunt Maddy!

Prayer Requests

I've been praying for Riley from the minute I knew I was pregnant, and actually... I was praying long before then. When Riley was born I found myself praying for her more often, praying little things, and big. From sleeping well to knowing Jesus in the future. While in the process of praying for Riley more, I've found myself praying for others more often as well. Simple things like praying their day goes well, that they pass tests, do well in work... so forth. I've really been enjoying it plus that's more time with God!

I think its important to pray. I also think its important to pray for others. It doesn't take long, just a simple prayer asking God to bless someone and give them strength. If you pray and even if you don't, please offer up one for my family and I:) And if you have any prayer requests you would like us to pray please let me know! Even if its just a quick prayer that you have a good day at work or get some sleep, Leif and I will be more than happy to pray for you and your family.

Choosing what's right. Not easy.

Life has become less than perfect in our home. Routines have been broken and we find ourselves, again, adjusting to something new. Sometimes that is embraced, while other times it is met with disdain and frustration. Like recently:) Although it would be easy to choose the road of grumbling and irritation, Leif and I want to choose the one that is a bit harder. Less traveled some would say.

Things haven't been easy around here. Its been starting to show, mostly in the arguments that have been happening between Leif and I over this past week. We've been taking our frustrations with the way things have been these past few weeks out on each other. Today we took time to just talk and be honest with each other. To look at what may be causing the strife. I love that when my husband and I have discussions, they never turn into the blame game. Its very open and we make sure we are truthful with each other. It's always encouraging instead of discouraging. Leif could take this time to tear me down, but he uses the time to build me up. And I hope I do the same for him. I left the discussion knowing what I needed to work and Leif left knowing what he needed to work on. No one was hurt or upset. Thank God:)

We haven't taken the time to talk with each other in the way that we used to and need to. Our main focus lately has been Riley, our apartment, making sure things are in order, work, school... There hasn't really been us-time. Even worse, there hasn't really been any God-time. At the end of our conversation we came to the conclusion that we need to continue to take the time to spend with just each other. Talking. Praying. We also need to take a lot more time to read the Word and pursue our Maker. That's what our marriage is founded on and without that we will not be able to make things work.

We are taking steps to make sure that the arguments happen less. I know we're never going to not argue, but we can make efforts to be a better spouse to each other. We can make sure our actions and our words are uplifting instead of negative. We don't have to take our frustration and anger out on each other. Its easy to do but its not the right thing to do:) I think that we both would rather do the right thing than the easier thing at this point. Our marriage is a way to honor God, not displease Him. Leif and I want everything we do to be something that brings honor and praise to God. A marriage is included in that.

While we have some work cut out for us, we're excited to be back on track. I'm blessed to have the husband I have. I don't like that I take him for granted sometimes... I want to cherish and love him everyday, even on the bad days. I can't do that on my own though. I'm so grateful for a Father who is more than willing to help me.