Set Free

So, yeah, Ellie is 9 1/2 months old and I'm now just posting her 9 month post!  I've gotten worse at these updates, and I'm sure it's only going to get worse the older she gets and more siblings are added to the fam!  But this month was kind of tricky.  She turned nine months old when we were painting the new house that weekend (and it was the fourth of July).  Then the next weekend we left for a week for family camp.  So now I can finally sit down and take a moment to update you all.  And a nice post to look back on some day. In some ways, Ellie hasn't changed much since my last update on her but in other ways she has changed so much!  She still has a "facial expression" she likes to give but it has changed.  I don't have a picture of it, but got a good video of it on our way home from our unplanned trip to IKEA after Jon's family's family camp!  She likes to bow her head and make eye contact at you at the same time.  It's pretty funn...

So about a month ago I posted this link on my Facebook page. http://gracefilledmess.blogspot.com/2013/06/what-not-to-do.html?spref=fb It's a mom and wife talking about what not to do when someone is facing something HARD.  And as I reflect on it from time to time, there are a few things that I would say are different for me personally.  So, with each person if the grieving is different what's the best way to respond?  Sounds tough if people respond different to grief, and for those who are trying to help, right? Sure.  I was in that boat once.  I had not lived very long.  I was a young, married woman.  I have gone through many different things.  I've had to deal with trusting God plenty of times.  But what I had not experienced yet (something that changes your life forever) is becoming a Mom. It can't be explained.   You just become one, and then you understand. Once I became a mother my heart changed.  Love is different. ...

Wait, it's July?  When did that happen?  Oh yeah, we had May weather in June!  I'm so happily enjoying this season though!  I love this weather!  It's so much better than being stuck in the snow.  I love how it's light out so much later at night.  I love how I can just throw on a t-shirt and head outside! We've been getting the house ready to move in!  Spending more time at my parent's house until it has all of our to do list accomplished.... -update and add more lighting -painting -remodel bathroom -electrical stuff (no need to go into details) -buying some new appliances (washer/dryer, and possibly others) And eventually we'll be updating the kitchen. I'm being kinda crazy (working on patience) and allowing my hubby to plan things (believe me I tried taking over).  Now this isn't all that bad.  He's money-cautious and that's great to make the right decisions for our budget's sake.  However if we were in need of making ...

If you would of told me where Jon and I would be in our marriage at our three-year anniversary back when we got married I would have two words for you: amazed.  surprised. I love my man.  our marriage isn't perfect.  he's not married to someone perfect.  i'm not married to someone perfect.  but by God's grace it works.  we're still growing in our love for each other.  and i wouldn't want it any other way.  he's my best friend. our first year anniversary we went to Newton (Jon's hometown) and went to a Bed & Breakfast.  it was a beautiful weekend. anniversary cake:: great chats about the year & our marriage Jon took this as we were packing up to leave last year i was six months pregnant and we went to Hu-Hot in Cedar Rapids.  then we walked around gordman's and got some stools for our kitchen. so romantic i know. :) wearing one of the many hairpins i wore on our wedding day last night we went to bravo for...

I've always dealt with my weight.  I was never a good weight, until I got married.  I was always too thin.  I would eat constantly to fill the void of people telling me I was not even 100 pounds (even though I was).  Sunday mornings I could eat three donuts with no problem (even after eating a breakfast at home prior to church).  I'm constantly snacking.  I love anything salty, anything sweet.  Anything chocolate.  Give my a box of cookies, I'll finish them off for you. oh sorry Liz, best pic I had on file from when I was young When I got married I was a healthy weight.  I felt good about myself.  I was no longer told I was too skinny.  I was no longer joked about as the one that was a "size zero, and you disappeared!"  I was happy.  Eating like a normal person. wedding day June 12, 2010 December 2010 Then I got pregnant.  And you other Momma's out there know exactly what I'm talking about. ...

Yep, you heard me right.  My baby girl is 8 months already!  When did that happen?  I never got around to making 7 month post, because really month 7 and 8 kinda blended together with everything else that's been going on!  Plus the new stuff she is up to all happened within these two months.  So some of the pictures in this post will be from when she was 7 OR 8 months old.  But really, she's cute either way so why bother! ;) Remember when I was helping her go on a "schedule"?  Well that practically got thrown out as soon as we found out we were expecting her sibling.  I was sick, I was desperately needing help.  I let Jon and others do whatever.  Plus, I was just in survival mode.  Now that we miscarried and life is starting to get back to normal (yeah, Ellie has her Mom back!),  she is still not on a "schedule."  However she seriously has always been a good baby but when tired...please PLEASE just lay her down in ...

Here we were minding our own business.... Seriously, we were.  Let me prove it. I had just asked Jon to have a chat with him in the living room--just us.  We sat down and starting talking.  (Nothing serious, just marriage and plans for the upcoming weeks.)  Suddenly the door bell rang and my parent's dog started barking.  I was still dealing with my headache ( thanks to being anemic ) and asked Jon to quickly find out who was at the door. Who is at the door on a Sunday evening? Jon went outside and came back in.  Weird.  He said there was some guys outside with a semi truck full of furniture at a decent price and he was going to go check it out.  Ellie was sleeping so I went ahead and put on my shoes and a jacket and went outside with him.  (We've been on the look out for furniture and other random update items for our future home.) He wasn't kidding.  There was seriously a group of guys waiting around a truck.  One guy in...