No worries, mama.

      The past two days I've felt lucky to have the kept the kids alive and survived myself.

I can't tell if it's getting a little easier with both babies at the age they are 

...or if I'm just telling myself stories. 

One and three years.

We've had one wonderful year with this beautiful baby! She loves to be in the middle of it all. While we shopped today for birthday decorations, she screamed throughout the whole store. 

Not because she was mad or fussy. 

She was excited!  

I'm so thrilled that both babies have such strong personalities. 

...Which leads me to tell you that they're both 

Capricorns and yes, I definitely did my reading.

Things like "Capricorns carry the great strength of willingness to work hard and determination to succeed." and "Their ambition is boundless." 

...I'll take it.

Regardless of the things we choose to believe or not, 

raising babies is no simple task. 

It's no simple lifestyle. It's 100% selflessness and 100% sacrifice. 

They don't just become responsible, well-rounded adults 

because their sign says so.

Darn it.

But all while we try to be the parents we want to be, daily life happens and you feel like pure insanity.

It's making a complete fool of yourself in a store while you try to keep the baby happy and your toddler in the buggy. (Cart. Whatever.) You're trying to pay in line and your phone rings. You remember you had a coupon. Where the heck did it go... Your kid is carrying on a conversation with someone behind you, the baby just saw you reach in your purse and there was her bottle. She's hungry. She screams.

You're a lunatic. 

Life is crazy and life is good.

My husband made me laugh today when I told him

 I put a grand dent in my car.

It's the little things. The crazy days. The big whoops...

Tis' the season for the crazies.

With the easy days and the tough ones, 

 God created us to be dependent on Him. Always.

So, life is good. Life is wonderful because even in the middle of the chaos, it's our opportunity to call for Him. Through beautiful moments, truly difficult times, or even making a 

family scene in a store...even that. 

Even the tiny things take a toll after so long. 

It's called gray hair. 

The Crazy Month.

It's that season again!

That chilly, comfy, cozy, crazy season.

Thanksgiving holiday really got to me last week. 2013 is almost over, but that's fine by me. It's been an exciting, mostly exhausting year learning life with two babies and work, then shifting to no work at all, (which meant more work) life at home, and learning more about myself as these two grow. 

A few things I've learned as a mother of two little ones...

First, two it is. Two is the magical number for us. 

Two is perfect, and two is plenty.

I hope I'm not speaking too soon.

 Second, I'm a doer. I love crossing things off my lists.

 I love to get things done and keep moving. 

And guess what. You can't always do these things with two babies.

 You just can't.

Third, I love to work. I love that good feeling, I'm pleased with my long day kind of exhaustion. I miss it already. The long hours, the funny requests, the many jobs that a hairstylist can do. We cocktail products, formulate color, we're your therapists, 

(you're ours too, you know) and on and on. 

It's amazing.

I love what I do, and I love the company, too.

My heart was torn between my love for work and my life at home.

You know what? The way time is passing, these precious babies will be both be in school before I know it... and back to work it is.

 Life at home has been a blessing, and the hardest thing 

physically and emotionally I have ever done in my life.

It's only been 4 months.

I'm still pushing through, some days are wonderful and others are just not.

God gave each of us unique gifts...and all the gifts you need to be a stay at home mom, like patience and the gift of being still 

(whatever that may be called)... 

I'm definitely a work in progress.

My husband has been a saint through it all. I wouldn't know where to begin. He has the all the patience that I lack. When I go weak, he takes charge. 

He's my hero.

The month of December is wild, and within two years it's 

become even more of a big deal.

Christmas on the 25th, Marcy's 1st birthday on the 26th, New Years day right before Brady's 3rd birthday on the 6th. The smartest thing seems to pace myself... Christmas shopping, birthday shopping, 

decorating, planning, lists galore!

How is shopping going for y'all? I made my list today and I was surprised!

I've got a LOT more to do than I thought...

Cyber Monday is tomorrow, whatever that really is...maybe I can find a good deal here or there while I sit in my pajamas. Dragging two kiddos out to look for Christmas gifts just ain't happenin' friends...

Today was the first day of the last month of the year. I hope you all actually enjoy this month! The music, the company, the lights, the food & drinks, 

the parties...

it can get a little wild, but just enjoy.

Every day, I'm waiting on little Marcy to take her first step. 

Brady's ready to start school.

It's flying by friends.

Enjoy this happy season!

A Glance Forward.

I promised myself during the time change I'd make the most of my hours and choose to sleep longer. Looks like even when I get every opportunity to enjoy my rest, I find something to do, or in this case, think my way out of sleeping. This week, happy thoughts have been on my mind. For no new reason, just because. It's not the season (although this is my favorite), but a season that I can relate this to. 

God is definitely working in my life, I can feel it. 

The Bible study with the group of ladies I'm with is an unbelievable answer to prayer. These gals are amazing and I can already see how we're lifting each other up, and the lasting friendships that will come from our conversations. 

   This past week, I said said a prayer that I meant with my whole heart, but I was asking for something I wasn't even sure of...

God's blessed me tremendously and continues to bless this family daily.

So much, that after I prayed, I knew He heard me. I just felt it.

I'm excited and nervous with no idea what's in store for our family...

I prayed for God to use me. 

Few words, enormous request.

Sounds small, but no...

He listens, and He has big plans for our family, I know it. 

If you've opened your heart to understand that we cannot control life, you've definitely seen that He can work in mighty ways.

My favorite (from what I've learned from Ezer, the nature of a woman through relationships) is God working through friendships.

Friendships can do so much good for us, but unfortunately, I've learned...not everyone is beneficial to our lives. Which is a total bummer because I'd love to see everyone love each other, but some folks...God's teaching me something, that's all I can figure. My eyes have been opened to the beauty of blossoming new friendships, the healing of wounded relationships, and that sometimes cutting complete ties with others is the only option we have left. I truly hate that, honestly who wants that?

We are human, God is in control, and we were not made to understand everyone. 

As much as I'd love to.

I've felt bitter towards others, and prayed for a change of heart.

He will change your heart. 

But He will also open your eyes to things you need to see. 

It's not always the others who need to change folks...I have to remind myself of this daily...

God will work in your life if you let Him, ya know. 

He's surely used others to bring light to my life.

What a small and huge request that was. To ask to be used.

And having no idea what's in store for us...

Getting back to the basics here, that's the purpose we were created. 

He's blessed me with far too much,

 never failing His promises for me to become passive now.

Prayer and trust for what He has planned!

What's done is done.

I have so many things jumbled around in my 

head to say, and sorting it out seems like too much.

Have you ever been so busy with everyday life and doing, 

that by the time you get a moment of rest, a lightbulb goes off. 

You've become who you 

never thought you might be.

I've just recently started a bible study with a group of women, and this good thing just came in great timing. I can't say why, but the words I'm reading are so humbling and they're fitting like missing puzzle pieces into my life. How many women have gone through life with no definite direction, no definite calling, and painful effects of "trying to be it all"...as in taking responsibility to roles that we're not created to handle. I am so guilty. This study, in my eyes, may be different from another's, but it's opened my eyes wide to my calling. It's a study on Biblical Femininity. 

Click here to learn more.   

Beyond the study and how it's already completely "WOW'ed" me, I've unintentionally realized how my life has changed and who I've become. The first chapter of the study asked how you see femininity. 

Whether you lean towards feminism or traditionalism and the 

positivity and negativity that can come from both. 

Without a doubt, I lean towards traditionalism. 

After reading further, it's amazing what I've learned about myself. Especially in the areas I'm not expressing my own core capacities like God intended. And just like that, reading what God designed women to be, An Essential Counterpart, put so many misunderstood views of what I should be on a level perspective. The only one perspective that supplies true hope of life throughout humanity. 

Wow.

So that's that...this book is a treasure.

Learning more about myself through the everyday things as a mom is just plain funny.

Not sure if it came from watching my own mom play that role or if it's just how God designed me, but I truly do love to iron...seriously. I love to cook. I love to clean. I love staying home and being mom. I love this chapter of my life. And as this book calls it, "Season". 

I'm a traditionalist. I'm not sure I could've ever seen that coming. 

Funny though, you wake up and oh my goodness, you enjoy cleaning toilets... what in the world...

Regardless, I've learned, whether living from one end of the spectrum to another, 

God designed all women for one common calling. 

And what a deep comfort it is to know it's not up to ourselves to create our own lives, 

it's already done.

October Weekends.

October weekends are more than wonderful for the reason that we experience that hint of cool air, more outside play time, and we can dream of the days to come, full of love with 

family time, holidays, 

and the all around coziness of this season. 

Brian surprised Brady by a camp out last night...

He held both his pillows tight as he jumped and smiled his way out to the tent.

Yesterday, the kids and I threw out a 

blanket in the yard, and enjoyed this 

perfect late afternoon beauty. 

Brady roasted marshmallows, Brian showed me the right way to roast the perfect marshmallow and together, we sort of soaked up a special fall night together.

These special times together as a family mean so much to me.

We're still in our pajamas, I've started re-organizing the entire kitchen (it's a disaster) and...

I've got sauce on the stove, ready to make a 

baked spaghetti cheesy goodness to devour for lunch.

 It's Brady's favorite.

(and maybe one of mine, too.)

Books & Soups.

Right now, I'm celebrating that special time of day

 where I can sneak dipping 

Nutter Butter's into my coffee and 

not be caught by Brady. 

Both babies are sound asleep. The days where time works in my favor and I find them both fussy at the same time of afternoon, I know on the horizon, time for myself is waiting...

where I can finally relax. 

By the way, I have no idea how Nutter Butter's are in our pantry,

 I've never bought the things. 

Must have been my husband. Yesterday was one of those days, actually the second day in a row that I had not left my house. Those are the best kind of days. 

If I'm going to call myself a stay-at-home mom,

 I'm going to live up to it.

It hit me yesterday that between two bible studies, a book club, a new devotional, and a wonderful new book from a friend, what the heck am I doing while I should be reading?

So, that's my plan for the week to come. Reading, and lots of it.

I gathered up a bunch of ingredients that (thank the Lord) I had on hand to make dinner. Otherwise it would've been another breakfast-for-dinner meal. This soup was goooood. Perfect for yesterday because, now the norm, our temperature really can't make up it's mind. Since yesterday was pretty cool and fall is finally here, my favorite way to celebrate is to eat. So we did. 

Here's the recipe if you'd like...it's pretty easy and just real good.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

-ingredients-

4 cups chicken stock 

juice of 1 lime (1 1/2 to 2 tbsp)

1 can (14.5 oz diced tomatoes with juice

1/2 jalapeño pepper, finely chopped. (optional, but not really. Yum.)

1 can mild green chiles, undrained (4 oz)

2 tbsp chopped cilantro leaves

2 green onions, chopped (I used about 5)

I also added a little chopped red onion

3/4 cup corn, frozen, fresh or canned (drained)

1 cup cooked chicken (I let mine cook all day on low in the crockpot with chicken stock)

Shredded Monterey Jack or Mexican blend cheese to top off soup

Oh, and a little sour cream on top... We were out, and this soup would've loved that.

You can be real fancy and fry or bake your own tortilla strips. I'll be honest, I used left over tortilla chips we had from a cookout. Still good.

Simmer chicken stock with tomatoes, lime juice, jalapeño, green chiles, cilantro, green onion, and corn for one hour. The recipe I went by said to add chicken 5 minutes before done, but I let it simmer with the chicken for another 30 minutes at least. It'll be fantastic either way.

Don't forget to add a ton of cheese, a little sour cream, and tortilla chips on top!!

(and if you're like me, another couple green onions...)

So there ya have it. ENJOY! 

Maybe build a fire, throw on a comfy sweater and be thankful because this is the best time of year. 

My favorite from Martha.

Last week, I woke up to something so out of the ordinary. 

My husband was awake before anyone in the house

 and he had started a fire very early on a chilly morning.

Talk about a good morning. 

Coffee started, sweater thrown on... my morning was spectacular.

(Our mornings usually start with our toddler stepping on us and demanding a pop-tart.)

A special thanks to Martha Stewart for a pretty delicious "starter". 

Something to munch on. Something I tried a couple years ago and Oh. My. Goodness.

 Bothering with a difficult recipe isn't worth anyone's time.

 Unless it involves chocolate of some sort, then maybe. 

Here's a favorite little something I wanted to share.

 It does look like funny food, but the gals seemed to love it, and I think you might too. 

Goat cheese? Try it if you haven't!

Hope you enjoy this recipe...

I might think you're crazy if you don't.