An update on life (does anyone even follow this blog anymore?)

It's been quite a while.

Here's a little update on our life;

we have a FIVE YEAR OLD.

:)

Owen turned five this month, and it's official that he is NOT a baby.  Okay, he hasn't been a "baby" for a while now, BUT, five just feels REALLY legit.  It feels like he has crossed a line into "school age KID" and can't even be in the "toddler" category any longer.  That's hard for me!! Although i bet it'll be even harder with Cora, since she's the youngest, and most likely are last babe.

This boy is amazing.  He is so funny, and loves to make his friends laugh.  I admire so much how he loves on people, especially babies in his life!   He's a great helper and he is seriously so SMART!!!! he blows me away by the stuff he knows.  And sometimes he is way too smart for his own good.  He is starting kindergarten in August.  I'll be a hot mess that day, i'll just be honest!!

I feel so blessed that God chose ME to take care of this guy, good days, bad days, ALL days.

And, my sweet girl:

Cora has really been showing us who she is lately.  I don't know if that even makes sense.  For a while when you have a baby, it seems like they are kind of just a baby with the basic baby needs, eat, sleep, cry, poop, snuggle, & repeat.  Yes, they each have their individual likes and dislikes, but at least for Cora, i didn't feel like i really truly KNEW who she was when she was that little.   And let me tell you; she is HYSTERICAL.  She is unique from her brother and dad and I in the fact that she FREAKS out about being touched, being invaded in her space; if it isn't HER idea.   She is a particular little thing. :)  She's also a HUGE mama.  Loves to play house and babies all day every day.  It's so clear God made her to be a mama someday.  She's so great.

Next month Mark & I will celebrate six years of marriage, so that's exciting.

As always we are growing and learning and being shaped by God each and every day.

Our family is growing (No, not pregnant...but some in our extended family are!" and that's so exciting.  I'm so happy and blessed by all my kid's COUSINS!!! It's such a great feeling knowing that they are surrounded by kiddos their age.  Nothing makes my heart fuller then having a house full of happy kiddos.  I'll take that chaos any-day!!!

Until Next Time!

:)

A little post on some health things I've been learning.

Every new year it seems like the number one biggest "resolution" is "loosing weight" or something to that effect.
For me, each year, I do strive to become healthier then I was the year before.  For where I'm at in life now, that doesn't specifically mean loosing a ton of weight or pant sizes.  For me, I'm trying and experimenting different ways of eating that make me feel good.  I'm also REALLY interested in holistic health.  With sickness, with eating, with anything really.

Something that I have dove into for the past several months are these little beauties:

yes. essentiel oils.

I've heard of them in the past, but after going to a class about them in june, my interest was peaked.  The gal who invited me to the class talked about how you could use them for things that come up in every day life.  An example could be, for headaches.    These oils are derived from plants, and earth's natural recourses.    I then thought to myself, why not try and use the things that God placed in his world, rather then rely on man-made things.

That was my fleeting thought, so I gave it a whirl.

I'm still "new" and i'm still learning.  there is SO much to learn.  I can tell you though, these have changed my families life!  I've been using them mainly for preventative care.  For example if we are exposed to germs, or if we feel a sickness coming on.   It's been awesome, and we have yet to get sick during this cold and flu season.  (Don't worry, I don't think i'm invincible)  

I have also used them for a diaper rash on cora, for headaches, earaches, and sleep aid.  We've had some pretty positive outcomes!

Anyways, to answer the question several of you might be thinking; No, I do not personally sell these.  

Yes, i am passionate about them, and excited too! :)

Just thought I'd share some of the new stuff I'm learning 

:)

Hope all of your 2014's are off to a good start!

p.s  Don't worry i'm not turning into a crazy hippie woman.  but give me a few months.  ;)

Yet another year.

2013.

I can say, it has been a blur.

And as I look back over this blog, I did a pretty poor job documenting it.  Maybe 2014 will leave me with more time to write.  Or maybe not.  We shall see.

Thinking about this year, here are some highlights that come to my mind.

In March, we bought our very first home.  And what a crazy process that was.  After looking at over 30 homes, we landed in a home that has proven to be a blessing beyond belief.    We were denied the home we thought was meant for us.  God proved to us yet again, that he is in control.  We spent a LOT of time painting and working in this house before moving in.  And then of course, we moved.  We all know what a joy moving is :)  So many people came and helped us.  Such a blessing.

Cora basically potty trained herself this year.  That was pretty neat.  Although still accidents now and again, i'm thankful for her independence. :)

In April, we had our five year anniversary.  And went to Gatlinburg for the weekend to celebrate.  I'm amazed to look back and think about how God has strengthened our marriage.  Through trials, we have clung to God and to each other, and i'm so happy to say we've come out stronger.

Mark started as a part time worship leader at our church.  That's been a good outlet for him.

We spent a lot of time growing in our individual jobs.  Responsibilities on both our ends in our work-lives grew.  I took a CNA course, Mark became manager of his department's help desk.

We've been blessed.  That's evident to me.   As I look around at the house I live in, the job i work, the children I have, the God I serve, and the man i'm married to, I can't help but feel so undeserving.  I'm so very thankful.

Mark & I both feel that 2014 will bring something new.  No idea what that means.  But i'm praying, and we shall see.

I have both fear and excitement to see what this new year will bring.

Happy 2014, friends.

Merry Christmas!!!

Wishing you and your family a beautiful christmas.

We have so much to be glad for, Friends.

Much love,

Mark, Lauren, Owen & Cora.

Thanksgiving.

I failed miserably at the thankful posts :)

But that's okay.

Why I thought I could do that in the midst of work, normal life and a CNA course, I have no idea :)

We had a beautifully lazy thanksgiving.  Seriously, after ending my clinicals on the weds before thanksgiving, i longed for a lazy one.  We ate, we chatted, we napped, we just "were"  It was awesome.

And tonight, my heart is so full after an evening of picking out our christmas tree.  The joy in my children when picking out the tree is seriously something that makes me giddy.

Then, as we set up the tree in our new home for the first time, I realized that I have all that I've wanted.  I don't have lots of money.

I don't have lots of nice things.

But, I have what's important.

I have a perfect family, and a warm home over my head, full bellies, and a Lord who loves us.

ahhh, that is bliss.

As we were setting up our tree in it's newly found "spot" I got a little choked up thinking that this may be the tradition for the rest of our lives if we stay in our home that long.  

Pretty Neat.

Just some of my thoughts from my Christmasy night :)

Owen found us the perfect 7 foot tree.

I promise I'm thankful.

I've obviously missed a few days.  But that's okay, because I'm giving it a go :)

Today, i'm so immensely thankful for a good day with Cora.

This little girl, you guys...she is intense.  She is determined and she is focused.  When she loves, she loves hard...(literally sometimes she loves so much she bites...it's terrible)  ;)

And let me tell you a little bit about how the last week and a half or so has gone.  

She has been potty trained for well over 2 months.  And last week sometimes she decided she didn't care anymore.  She decided she would just pee and poop all over the floor.  She also decided that every day at nap she would make sure to get up a poop all over her floor and then promptly smear it everywhere.  Yes, this happened lots of times.  We put her in a diaper and it didn't matter, she would take it off, quietly climb out of her bed, and do the deed.

She also has the strongest will of any little child I know.  She will defy and defy and defy.  Somedays I felt like I'd tried everything in the world, and nothing could get her to obey.  We tried time outs we tried talking and we tried spanking to get her to obey.  Days were FULL (and sometimes still are) of COLOSSAL fits and tantrums. 

Let me give you a little example.

(excuse me laughing at her.)

YES. that is my baby screaming "YOU DON'T LOVE MEEEEEEE"  and "I DONT LOVE YOU!!!!!!!" Does that totally break your heart???? It did mine.  Although I knew it wasn't coming from a honest place in her heart.

This may seem extreme to some of you but I would end lots of days in full fledge tears. Let me just say, it is so hard. This is so so hard.  I'm in the midst of it.

BUT TODAY!  Today my little girl although not perfect, decided the majority of the day, to listen to me.  Did you hear that?! She DECIDED.  I didn't force her, I didn't spank her, I didn't threaten her.  I gave her choices, and treated her like a human being would like to be treated, and she chose the right thing! (Mainly...again, we had our moments)  We played for over an hour, her and I, in my bed.  She was the "mama" and i was the "baby."  She tucked me in, "rubbed me," read me books, etc.  We laughed and laughed, and then I put her to bed. Rocked her to sleep.  THAT is satisfaction.  I can have so many bad days, but when that happens, I'm so overwhelmed with gratitude.

When my child WANTS to listen and do the right thing, rather then being scared into doing it, it seriously just makes my whole day.  

I'm so thankful for the good times I've had with her today.

Now i can only pray and hope and wait and see what tomorrow will bring

:)

2 ladies i'm immensely thankful for.

These are two of my nearest and dearest friends:

Where do I even begin?  I have known both Abby and Crystal since I was in grade school.  Through both ups and downs in our relationships (as in all relationships) I have always treasured and loved them.  They keep me sane, whether it's having fun nights out, or letting me text them pages and pages of angry rants about how crazy my kids are being or how mad I am, they are always there.   I can be honest with them, even when it's not pretty.

I'm so so blessed.

A lot of times I think "i don't have many friends" and then i wake up and realize oh my word, i do too!!!!  Not just Crystal and Abby, but others too.  Thank the Lord.

So Abby & Crystal- i'm so thankful for you and i honestly don't know how i'd make it in this life without you.

2 days of thankfulness :)

I missed yesterday :)  So this will be a two for one.

I'm immensely thankful for this guy:

my husband.

I cannot say enough how much i Love him.  I don't know what i would do without him.  His constant love and support and understanding is un-measureable.

A compassionate and strong father, and a hard-working and selfless husband.

I can't imagine a day without him.

I'm also so thankful for my job.

I'm currently getting certified in becoming a nurse's assistant.  My boss is paying for me to do so, so that I'm better able to meet her needs.  But it is helping me and benefiting me so much for her to do so.  She could have just let me go and hired someone through insurance.  Instead, she wants to take time and money to educate ME.  I'm truly blessed by the people i work for and I love them like they are my family.

Have a wonderful night.

Day #2 of thankfulness.

Today, i'm thankful for a church body that my kids love and adore.

They feel so comfortable each Sunday and have friends to join them in their class.  They learn things and grow spiritually each week.

Makes this mama's heart happy.


Short and sweet today.

November Thankfulness.

Obviously, it's good to be thankful all the time, every month, every day.  I'm glad that we have thanksgiving to really hyper focus on all that we have to be thankful for!!!

SOOOO
i've never done this before but for the month of November i'm going to write each day about what i'm thankful for.


So today, I'm thankful for my nieces and nephews.

:)

How cute are they?  

They are NOT all pictured here.

In fact, three are missing.

I've always had this vision of a big family, and with all these babes and their parents, we have such a beautiful family.  I love them with all of my heart and I can't WAIT to keep watching them grow up and being a part of their lives hopefully for the REST of their lives.

Never has "school" been so scary.

Parents go through so much.  We freak out about birth, sleeping through the night, breast or bottle feeding, how old is old enough for solids, is co-sleeping okay, terrible twos, biting, too much tv, etc.  I've experienced all of that, and i re-experience it with Cora.   But, a brand new and quite, if not the most, terrifying has come up....and in about 10 months will take place.

school.


Home school?  Public school?  Private school?

my heard seriously spins trying to think about this.  I have fears and concerns for each and every option.  And every parent i talk to has a different opinion.  A lot of times i hear "do what's right for your child."  What if i don't even know which one IS right for my child??  I know Owen so well, all 4 years of him...but, he has so much more to go.  There is so much more to learn.

School thoughts consume me for at least a little bit each and every day.

If you think about us, i'd appreciate and gladly accept any and all prayers for wisdom in what to do.

nothing is more nerve wrecking then choosing where to send your child for (potentially) the next 12 years of his or her life!!!  AH.



Plus---how is THIS kid old enough to have me thinking about school???

eeeekkk.

Today was one of those days.  The kind of day where I put on a calm outer self, and try my hardest not to explode with anger.  Today, Cora threw a fit.   Big deal, right?  YES. big deal.  In fact, a VERY big deal.  It was probably the biggest and worst fit i have ever experienced in the history of raising children.  Which i have been doing for close to 5 years.  I'll spare you details.

My day looked a lot like this:

And some days are harder then others with parenting.  We all know that.  And some days I lay my head on the pillow and think "thank GOD today is over."  For some strange reason tonight i'm thanking God for this day.  I learned a lot today.  I was really humbled today.  In the midst of the colossal fit, i saw God work.  For example, Cora was out of control...i don't even know how to describe the severity of her behavior.  I also had Owen with me.  In fact, this insane tantrum took place at Owen's school.  While Cora was acting a fool, Owen was an angel.  he looked at me, and just seemed to KNOW that he had to be good for me, for my sanity, and i thank God for that.  God also gave me patience.  In my angry heart i wanted to scream at her, and maybe even hurt her.  (come on, i KNOW you've had those moments.)  Instead, i was compelled to hold her and pray with her.  (don't worry, i did discipline her too) I think that was from God.  Thirdly, i had a lot of encouragement from some friends, which confirmed to me that i was a good mom, and that this is normal.

I learned that when i'm getting a bazillion dirty looks, while i look hopeless and people may be taking it upon themselves to judge why my kids are acting so naughty, I have to rely on God.  not my strength, or my wisdom in parenting.  When it comes down to it, with out him, I have nothing.

SO..this evening, i strapped Cora on, and we went for a walk:

(look at her smile. warms my soul)

We had a nice long chat about being kind to mama. 

There's also something humbling about wanting to be as far away from a kid as possible, and yet, strapping them on your body, so close to you, and just being with them. 

I pray tomorrow brings some better behavior.

But i'm thanking God for today, and trying to take hope in the fact that i AM a good parent. 

i'll stop my rambling for now.

:)

These smiles bring me joy.

Lots of babies running around, is lots of hard work.

Moments of joy like this, make it all worth it.

Those smiles! Full heart.

A little house work :)

We spent our weekend working on our house!

we repainted the door frame and put in a nice storm door :)

before (on left) and after (on right)

and garage frame before(top) and after (bottom)

amazing how a little bit of work can make such a big difference!!! :)

A Turning Point.

This week has been a very emotional week for me.  (and no, it's not because i'm crying out for sugar and gluten..ha ha..the detox is going fine.)

The reason why, is because my son has spent several nights this week at prairie camp.  No big deal, right?  wrong.   Imagine the feeling (and some of you know it firsthand, you don't have to imagine) of carrying a child inside you for 41 long weeks.  41 weeks of pain and sickness.  All worth every single bit.  Then, that child, needing you.  For EVERYTHING.   Now, i'm watching that child DESIRE and WANT& thrive during special times away from me.  I'm watching him WANT to grow closer to the Lord and make new friends and be his own person.  I am so unbelievably proud of Owen.  The selfish mom in me is yelling "NO YOU CANT GO TO CAMP! I MISS YOU, AND ITS TOO HARD!"  Instead, i'm encouraging him, and telling him how proud I am of him and his beautiful heart.   I'm not sure if that makes sense, but it has been a revolutionary week for me in the way that I see my not so little boy.

Walking by his room several nights this week to see his empty bed, has been eye opening.  This life is truly flying.  Sometimes i long to re-do it all.  I'd redo that awful pregnancy, to experience and love it again and again.  Meanwhile, I'm praying to GOD that I can be the mother that this thriving boy needs me to be.

(happily eating french toast at Grammy and Pappy's cabin)

:)

My ramble for the week.

21 days.

Today marks day #1 of a new food adventure for Mark and I.

21 day sugar and gluten detox.


So august 12th will be our last day!


Wish us luck!

Our goal with cutting the sugar is to loose weight, and feel more energy.  We all know that putting sugar in your body is not good in any way.  (we're doing this with some friends- the sugar part- so that is ALWAYS helpful!)

our goal with the gluten is to see how it makes us feel to not have any gluten whatsoever in our bodies. We've read a LOT of articles on the not-so-good about gluten.  So we are going to give it a whirl :)

Here goes nothing ;)

These lyrics. My heart right now.

In the middle of the night
When worry finds me
In the middle of the fight
When strength is gone
In the middle of a fire
When fear is closing in
You are, You are my song
You're my hope, when hope is gone

I will cast my cares on You the almighty
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You're good
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You love me, You love me
Oh, oh because You love me

In the middle of the night
When worry finds me
In the middle of the fight
When strength is gone
In the middle of a fire
When fear is closing in
You are, You are my song
You're my hope, when hope is gone

So I will cast my cares on You the almighty
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You're good
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You love me, You love me
Oh, oh because You love me
Oh, oh because You love me

God of glory
You are able
Through Your power
To be faithful
God of mercy
Every moment
You are near to me

So I will cast my cares on You the almighty
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You're good
I will cast my cares on You 'cause You love me, You love me
Oh, oh because You love me
Oh, oh because You love me

In the middle of the night
I'll pray with confidence
In the middle of the fight
You're greater still
In the middle of a fire
Your love is holding me
You are, You are my song
You're my hope, when hope is gone

(song by Tim Timmons)

A Little Honesty from a heavy heart.

You know how some lessons you learn over and over, yet, they affect you every time in a new way?
Yes. I'm re-learning a lesson i've already learned this week.
A classmate passed away very unexpectedly and tragically on Friday.  She was my best friend when I was in 1st and 2nd grade.  We had so much fun together, &got in "trouble" together. :)  As we grew older, we drifted apart, which is normal.  Throughout the rest of my school years, I always still considered her a friend.  She had two little boys around the same ages as my kids, and it was always so nice running into her at target or wherever.  So friendly, and she'd always give me a big hug.  Although not super close to her at this stage in my life, my heart is just broken.  I can't stop thinking about her, or her little boys who lost their mom.

Death is a lesson that ALWAYS teaches me.  It always overwhelms me, and it always confuses me.

This life is so messed up.  We all run around working, collecting money, buying nice houses and nice clothes, builiding up a retirement fund so we can be comfortable, etc.  But then, we die.  And it happens so unfortunately fast.  And those things don't matter in the least.

I want to be known for my love.  I want to be known for my friendship, for helping people, and for worrying about things that really matter.

My heart is so saddened, yet God is trying to re-shape me.

Thanks for letting me spill my heart a little bit.

Treasures.

Sometimes i'll stumble upon things that are on my computer that i didn't even know were there.    Today, i found this picture:

and my heart is in a puddle.

I cannot believe how extremely blessed I am.

I cannot believe how the biggest struggle in my life brings me the most joy.

I cannot believe she is going to be two in less then two months.

I cannot believe how perfect she was and still is (attitude and all)

So glad I stumbled upon this little gem today.

i treasure this photo 

<3 p="">

Owen Turned 4! (a while ago...)

Owen turned 4 a while ago.  And we were a bit delayed in getting his 4 year old pictures between buying a house, an anniversary trip, and moving!  BUT- we finally got them done!

Shannon Chaput at yourstoryphotography.net did them for us :)

here are some of them

even though this were primarily for Owen's 4 year pics, we snuck in a few of the two of them :)

okay and a little of everything ;)

i was not prepared to be in pictures...but Shannon still caught some awesome shots :)