At This Time Last Year

The other day as I stood at the kitchen window pouring myself a glass of water , I peered out the window...A flood of sweet memories came rushing back to me. Remembering a year ago today I was very much pregnant with our beautiful little miss Esther. I remember studying so hard that semester in microbiology and trying my best to concentrate, as our sweet little girl kicked wildly inside! I remember watching out the back windows into our yard and seeing all of Gods splendid creatures rushing about to prepare for their new little ones to come, just as I was "nesting"... I watched the robin family set on their brood of eggs, chicks hatching, then learn to fly and now an empty nest sits in the pear tree as a sweet reminder of...where I was a year ago today. I caught myself in a moment of Thanks, Thank you God for your beauty that surrounds me, for the gift of memory, for a home to rest my feet and head at night. Thank you for the amazing husband you created just for me! Thank you for 9 beautiful months (and 1 week) of preparing me for what You were about to so richly bless us with!!! Thank you, thank you, thank you...

We've started a few small projects/ hobbies around our home. With the ever pleasant weather we have been able to open windows to enjoy the fresh air outside. Jeff has started his vegetable garden and is so excited for the harvest to come. Healthy foods to feed our family include: Squash, green beans, peas, tomatoes, asparagus, bell and hot peppers, cantaloupe, onions, garlic, radishes, carrots, broccoli, and basil.

I've kept myself busy with classes and baby, of course but have also enjoyed an extremely thought provoking book! I enjoy reading and on the weekends, as Esther naps, I curl up either on the couch, back patio, or in the rocker quietly in her room to read. Along with this book, I have also been keeping a journal of thanks, my "eucharisteo."Ann Voskamp writes about giving thanks for the life she already had, and in doing so found the life she's always wanted!
" How do we find joy in the midst of deadlines, debt, drama, and daily duties? What does a life of gratitude look like when your days are gritty, long, and sometimes dark? What is God providing here and now?"  Such an inspiring book and I encourage you to read it...to find grace, joy and give thanks for the life the Father has so graciously given you!

One Thousand Gifts

A dare to Live Fully right where you are

Another fun project this month has been the setting up and preparing for a fish tank. We got off to a rough start with the onset of Ich. in the tank but have treated our little fishes and have been "trucking" right along ever since. Mommy, Daddy and even Esther got to pick out our favorite fish to watch in our tank (as long as they could be housed together. ie: no salt water fish in a fresh water tank and no aggressive fish that may eat other! yikes) I really enjoy the trickle of water the tank makes when the room is quite and the little fish swimming around. I think little miss Esther does too!

 Spring has been such a fun time to do things we all enjoy. And the warmer the weather gets, the more we'll be able to spend time outdoors.

At this time last year I didn't know what God had in store for us, what beautiful things He would show us! What He would open our eyes to after the birth of our first born. I day dreamed about what life might be like, if I would be able to love a child ENOUGH, or if I'd even make a good mother?! It's safe to say I'm a work in progress but man, what a work God has been doing in me!!! I can't imagine my life without Esther or without her in my arms each day...I'm addicted to this child in a way only God could have made me. In no way am I saying I know it all or that I'll always have the answers or that I will never make mistakes but I'm confident in my parenting abilities in a way only God could have made me. He's done so much and our family and in our lives, we've come so very far from where we were "at this time last year"!

THANK YOU