30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 23 - Hobbies

First, I'd like to give a warm welcome to any new visitors/followers from today's GFC blog hop. Thanks for stopping by! If you follow and leave a comment, I'd be glad to follow back.

We're getting down to the final week of the blog challenge. I'm excited to start doing a little more diversified blogging again, like DIY projects and recipes, but I am a bit nervous about suddenly not having any writing prompts. I hope that I can keep up the flow I've got going from this challenge even when the prompts run out.

Day 23: List 3 hobbies you have and why you enjoy them.

| clockwise from left: green and gold vase, spring free form bowl, confetti votive |

It's a little known fact, but I absolutely love to blow glass! My dad bought me a 4-hour lesson for Christmas a few years back and, from the second I stepped up to the furnace, I was hooked. I love the heat of it, which is surprising because if it ever gets over 75 degrees where I live then I'm whining. I love the not-knowing factor of glass blowing, though professional artists would tell you that doesn't exist. I love the tools, I love the care, I love the entire process and all it entails (minus the carcinogens found in some of the color chips). I've made quite a few pieces and kept almost all of them, though a couple vases, bulb ornaments, and some business card holders have been given as gifts. The bowl pictured top right is my favorite piece I've made, but I gave it to my dad since he was the one who inspired me and made it possible for me to start doing something I love so much.

| some of my autographed and rare books |

Another hobby of mine falls in line with one of my greatest passions. I love reading, so of course I love books. In particular, I like to collect rare and autographed books. A lot of people who do this do it as an investment - waiting until the book reaches peak value, or just waiting until they need a little dough, then cashing it in at a pawn shop. I, however, want to keep all of my books (except for one - Little Bee by Chris Cleeve has got to GO!). This love for collecting rare and autographed books started one day in a very small, old, independent bookstore called The Snowgoose. I was perusing the shelves with my dad during a visit to Washington (I was living in Michigan at the time). I found a signed, PRE FIRST EDITION, uncirculated copy of Shopgirl by Steve Martin. She was beautiful! She was also out of my price range at $75. A month later I got an Easter package in the mail from my dad and instead of a giant chocolate bunny, that beauty of a book was inside. Since then I've gone to author readings and signings whenever I can, but my main go-to for sweet deals like these is a bookstore just outside of Seattle called Third Place Books. It was there that I met David Sedaris and got his autographs, but it's also where I got a signed first edition of Little Bee (for a whopping $6!). Once or twice a year they hold a 40% off sale on their used books and that's when I go with a mission in mind: to find the coolest autographed/rare book and snatch it up at the discounted price. In the picture above you see me holding a first edition, autographed copy of The Lonely Polygamist by Brady Udall (there is controversy surrounding this book as it was supposed to be called Big Love and the publishers changed it without author permission right before printing... then shortly thereafter HBO released the show "Big Love" which has a strikingly similar storyline). I also got the yellow book above, which is a special edition, as well as being first and autographed, of the story The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake by Aimee Bender. Oh, books, how I love thee!

| clockwise from left: rosemary sea salt bread, chocolate-dipped lavender cookies, tater tot casserole |

Baking and cooking fill an inner desire in me. I feel so accomplished after baking a loaf of bread, so triumphant after successfully completing a new and foreign recipe! I love simple foods with a twist and adding my own touches to recipes so it has my personal stamp on it. For example, whenever I make a meatloaf I like to use turkey instead of beef, and I add a touch of liquid smoke to the glaze before baking to give it a slightly smokey flavor. I also love to bake for others - especially Josh. He's so appreciative and always gives me the best compliments on my cooking skills, and when it comes to what plucks at my heart strings, words of encouragement rank at the top. Plus, who doesn't love the smell of something warm and yummy cooking away in the oven? I know I do!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 22 - The Future

Day 22: Where do you see yourself in 5 years? 10 years? 15 years?

I was always terrible at answering this question when they'd ask us in school. The pressure to predict my future, or at least make public statement, was just too daunting. I took it very seriously and put a lot of thought into my answers. However, I lacked the wherewithal to make it a hard and fast goal.

That being said, I'll make my predictions below with this preface: I will not feel bad for not achieving or reaching these goals in the allotted time frame, because my plan is nothing in comparison to His plan, and His plan is probably more fun anyway.

In 5 years...

I will be 31. That's just cray.

I hope to have 2 sweet dogs, 3 well-behaved children, and 1 happy husband.

I hope to have published a book.

I hope to have a successful business run from home so that I can be with my kids but still feel like I'm contributing financially to our family.

I hope to have learned how to play the piano or some equally elegant instrument (the banjo, perhaps?).

In 10 years...

I will be 36. Now we're talking!

I hope to still have 2 sweet dogs, make it 5 moderately-behaved children, and 1 very happy husband.

I hope to have another book published, with a third in the works.

I hope to have become an excellent party planner, just in time for my husband's 40th birthday.

I hope to have learned how to cut hair in order to save money on taking all those rugrats darling children to the groomer's salon.

In 15 years...

I will be *gulp* 41 years old, and probably still celebrating my 29th birthday.

I hope those 2 dogs aren't senile and crapping their way through my house, that those 5 kids have left me with a shred of sanity, and that 1 husband is still very, very happy.

I hope to take a family vacation to Italy, since everyone will be old enough to enjoy it by this point.

I hope I'll still be a minivan-free mama.

I hope to consider Steve Martin and David Sedaris among my closest friends because they read my books and thought me incredibly fascinating. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 21 - Superpower

Hey there! Before jumping into the challenge, I'd just like to send out a quick prayer request. Isaiah seems to have caught the upper respiratory cold that Josh and I have been fighting off over the past week and a half. We consulted with his doctor over the phone this morning and she's not worried - he's breathing well, eating (REALLY) well, and not showing signs of distress. However, we still would appreciate you praying for him as he does already have low oxygen levels which make colds that much harder on his tiny system (more on that below). Please feel free to email me or comment on any prayer requests you have so I can pray for you in return. Blessings to you all!

Day 21: If you could have 1 superpower, what would it be and what would be the first thing you did with it?

Power: To heal.

First Thing I'd Do With It: Fix Isaiah's heart.

For those of you that haven't been around this blog long, Josh and I have a 10-week old son named Isaiah. When I was just 20 weeks pregnant, we found in our gender reveal ultrasound that Isaiah might have a congenital heart disease known as ventricular septal defect (also known as VSD, it is a small hole in the wall between the left and right ventricles of the heart - this is very common and often referred to as a hole in the heart or a "murmur"). To be sure, we were sent to a cardiologist who specialized in fetal echocardiography. Heading into the appointment, we thought the worst news we would get was that our baby had this VSD and might require surgery to correct it. What we found out made our heads spin...

Not only did Isaiah have this VSD, but he had a slough of other congenital heart defects - a hole between his left and right atrium, an underdeveloped left ventricle, his two main arteries were backwards, his mitral valve was non-existent, and his pulmonary artery that carries blood from the heart to his lungs (to be reoxygenated and sent out to the rest of the body) was not even attached to his heart. In utero this wasn't a problem, as babies have something called the patent ductus arteriosis - a small little "bypass" of sorts that allows blood to flow between the aorta and the pulmonary artery. Once he was born, though, that bypass would disappear and there would be no way for blood to get to his lungs - he would need a lung and heart transplant unless they could figure out a way to reroute the blood from his heart to his lungs.

By God's providence, we live in one of the nation's leading areas for infant cardiac medicine and research. Seattle Children's Hospital has been a pioneer with a great success rate in treating many cardiac issues and they are the region's cardiac hospital, servicing not only Washington, but also Idaho, Oregon, and Alaska. We had the opportunity to meet ahead of time with the co-director of the Heart Center at Children's and he personally promised to be the surgeon when it came time for Isaiah to have his surgeries. Later that evening, we actually found out that that very same doctor had just gotten out of an 8-hour heart transplant surgery - the 100th that the hospital had performed - right before meeting with us. Amazing!

It's been 10 weeks since Isaiah was born, and we are delighted to share that he is doing so well. You can read my post about his first couple of weeks here, but since then we've just had a continuum of good news by the grace of God. We found out Isaiah actually has a dominant left ventricle - this is great because it's the stronger of the two pumping chambers. His mitral valve was there all along, just opening into the wrong ventricle (which turned out to be a blessing). And the hole between his left and right atrium was also a blessing because they needed it for blood to flow more easily, relieving stress from the pumping chamber. In fact, one of his first procedures was to have that opening made even larger!

As I said in the post I linked to above, Isaiah does have a long road ahead of him. Sometime this year, likely in the fall, he will need to have open heart surgery. I shudder to think of it, but know that not having it is even worse and not at all an option. He'll need one more surgery around the age of 3, also considered open heart, and once that is complete he should be like any other child. This is from the first blog post I wrote after discovering the news of his heart condition, and it stands just as true now as it did then:

What this all means is that Josh and I will likely not have a track or football star for a son. But you know what? We're ok with that. While our hearts ache at the thought of him undergoing such pain, and not being able to participate in high-endurance sports, he'll still be able to ride a bike... to color... to love... and, by the grace of God, grow into a young man whose once broken heart is completely healed by, and chasing furiously after, the love of his Perfect Father.

All of this to say that, given any superpower in the world, I would most certainly want it to be the power to heal my son's heart. But I know I can't do that. I can, however, pray and petition to Christ and ask him to align our hearts with his will, to guide the physicians caring for Isaiah, and to continue to bless us each day with the world's most wonderful baby. We love him so.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 20 - Childhood Memories

Back in April, I started a series called 'Before I Was a Mommy.' You can read the first post here, but in summary, it was inspired by the idea that I'd like Isaiah to know who his mommy was before she was a mommy. It was a way to document memories that stood out to me, things that shaped who I was or reminded me where I came from, so that he would know that about me, too. Today's blog challenge falls in line with that pretty well, so I'm excited to share with you my answers (and memories).

Day 20: Describe 3 significant memories from your childhood.

My mom was, by no means, wealthy. She struggled and worked entry-level jobs with long hours and little pay to help provide for us. She didn't have much of a social life that I can remember, and even with child support, we lived very frugally. However, I didn't know that at the time because my mom tried so hard to make sure I didn't realize how poor we were. So when we needed to move to a new apartment and mom was in between jobs, we couldn't afford a 2-bedroom so we went with a small 1-bedroom instead. She gave me the room and she slept on a daybed where most people would keep their dining room table. It was in this small apartment that my favorite memory took place. 

I remember it was Summer and it must've been in 1999 or 2000 because I was still in middle school. I woke up in the middle of the night, which was unusual for me, and decided to go to the kitchen. When I walked into the living room, though, I noticed the sliding glass door was open to the porch. Sitting out there in the dark, warm night air, was my beautiful mother. She was just sitting, staring out across the lawn to the towering Evergreens and starry night sky. 

I asked her what she was doing and she said she was just thinking and enjoying the fresh air. She asked if I was alright, since I was up at such a late/early hour, then said I could sit outside with her if I wanted to. I did. We talked like there was no one else in the world, and in that quiet hour that's exactly what it felt like. It was just the two of us. When the sprinklers came on it gave us both a start. Since it was so nice out, and I've always loved being in and near water, I asked my mom if I could go play in the sprinklers. Surprisingly enough, she said I could. So while she sat on the porch watching me, I danced barefoot in the spray and mist coming up out of the ground. It felt so wonderful, so lovely, to be enjoying the water and the quiet under the loving and watchful eye of my mother. She helped me dry off and gave me a kiss, then back to bed I went.

When I think of middle school, I think of three things:

1. Torture.

2. Hell.

3. Jones Soda.

That last one seems out of place, right? For a while I started asking my mom if she would take me to school early on her way to work. By showing up before all the buses, and frankly before most of the staff, it gave me time to hang out with my best friend. His name was Justin, and the mornings we spent together on the steps of our middle school, chatting, eating breakfast, and drinking Jones Soda, are some of the best memories I have from those years. Justin passed away almost nine years ago, I miss him terribly, and I still think of him whenever I see Jones Soda.

In elementary school, we had this thing called a Mustang Medal. It was a half-sheet of cardstock that teachers and other faculty could give to students in recognition of achievements or just generally great dispositions. It was pretty coveted because if you were awarded one, not only did they call you up to the front of the gym at our assemblies to receive it, they also displayed it in the main hallway for all to see. I think they got rotated out once a month. 

Anyway, I had been at my school since the first grade and, as a fifth grader, had yet to receive a Mustang Medal. I figured I was either: A. cursed, or at the very least B. severely disliked. 

However, in the fifth grade I had an amazing teacher named Mr. Hamilton. To this day he is still the best teacher I ever had, and definitely the most influential. He was also the first one to give me a Mustang Medal for being a great teacher's helper - the first one of the school year. I still have it somewhere, too. :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 19 - Dream Home(town) and Friday's Letters

Again, welcome to all the new followers here! So glad to have you and I'm looking forward to getting to know you all better through your comments and blogs.

Day 19: If you could live anywhere, where would it be and why?

Ah, this question is torture for me. I'm an HGTV junkie, especially when it comes to shows like House Hunters (and House Hunters International). I'll watch one episode where they're in Paris and think to myself, Yeah that's where I belong! After the next 30-minute episode I'm thinking, Yeah Belize is where it's at! 

Oh, Indecisiveness, you are a cruel-hearted being with your iron grip around my flighty little brain. So since I can't decide where I want to live, and it's Friday (which means Friday's Letters!), I've decided to write a letter to a few of the places I'd love to own a home should I ever win the lottery and become independently wealthy.

| source |

Dear Denver,
You are gorgeous, aren't you? Oh how I would love to call you home! I have never visited your city, let alone your state, but something deep inside me has always yearned to call Colorado home. Even in the wake of the attack in Aurora, I still think you are the city that was meant for me. From your picturesque setting to the way you handle snow days, from the art scene to the gorgeous parks... you are (what I imagine to be) amazing. If anyone has a varying opinion, please don't share - I'd rather keep this fantasy for as long as possible.

| source |

Dear Venice,
Again, I've never been to visit you but I've seen so many travel brochures, documentaries, and photographs of your gorgeous city and I can't help but yearn for a home within your walls (preferably that cool brick building right in the center of this picture). I know your canals are stinky and you have an impressively high crime rate, but I'd risk smelling bad and getting pick-pocketed daily to be able to wake up to your splendors.

| source |

Dear House on "Roseanne,"
I realize you're not really located at the corner of Third and Delaware in Lanford, IL (you're actually in Evansville, IN!). I also realize the show wasn't really filmed in this house, but I still love the idea of calling you "home." Should I become rich enough to afford you and homes in all the other places listed, I'm assuming I would also be rich enough to hire the entire cast (with the ORIGINAL Becky) to come over for dinner sometime and re-shoot the opening scene, adding me to the table. :)

| source |

Dear Pine Trees Beach (Kauai),
I know I should just say that I'd like to live in Kauai because, really... beggars can't be choosers. However, should I have the choice, I would love to reside on your shores. You are the most beautiful place I've ever been and with each crashing wave and every swaying palm, you remind me of how wonderful, creative, and perfect our Heavenly Father is to create such an extraordinary place on earth.



Dear Other Places I'd Like to Live but Don't Have the Time to Find Pictures For,
Please don't be offended. I would love to find homes in all of your locations, but I can't seem to find appropriate images to convey your beauty to these lovely readers. Instead, I'll list you here and hold on to the mental images that inspire my daydreams.
Savannah, Georgia
Guernsey
Paris (but 1920's Paris, like the one Owen Wilson visited in "Midnight in Paris")
Provence
Providence, Rhode Island
San Francisco
Buenos Aires
Turks and Caicos
Halifax, Nova Scotia
London (or really the surrounding countryside, something akin to where Dianna Athill grew up)
So many other places...

30 Day Blog Challenge: Days 17 and 18 - Oops!

Hello, all! Today you're getting a two-fer with the 30 Day Challenge because I didn't get around to writing yesterday. Why, you might ask? Oh, nothing big. I was just hanging out with my dad at a gorgeous winery in the sunshine a mere 20 feet from this guy...

Yes, ladies (and maybe a gentleman or two out there)... that is the one and only Steve Martin. On the banjo. Playing my favorite song. Swooooon.

With that, I'll wipe the drool off my keyboard, smack the glazed look off my face, and get back to the challenge.

Day 17: What is the thing you most wish you were great at?

I wish I were great at learning and applying. That'd cover the majority of the things I want to be great at. For example, if I were great at learning something and then applying it I could be great at writing (and thus writing novels for profit), sewing (which would mean I could make baby blankets and other cute stuff), speaking other languages (so I could more easily eavesdrop on foreign conversations - no practicality there)... the list goes on and on.

Day 18: What is the most difficult thing you had to forgive?

My own sin. When I got baptized I made the choice to turn from sin and publicly proclaim Christ as my Savior, then getting dunked to represent the washing away of my sins. To wash those away, though, I had to recognize them and forgive myself because God forgave me through Christ's death on the cross. I still struggle with it daily, so I guess it's an ongoing process of sanctification (my fancy Christianese word of the day).

| my baptism - december 2009 |

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 16 - Accomplishments

First thing's first: Did you look at the adorable picture of the French Bulldog from yesterday's post? And did your heart not melt when you saw that awkwardly adorable pooch? I seriously can't get it out of my mind. I want it so bad! And not just any French Bulldog... THAT French Bulldog. Better to have loved and lost, my ass!

Second (and on second thought, maybe this should've been first), welcome to all my new followers! I'm so glad you've come to my little corner of the blogging world. I hope you enjoy the content here. I'll always follow back, but be sure to leave a comment so I know where to go and who to thank. 'Preciate ya!

Third, and last before I get to the actual blog challenge of the day, is a little plug for an awesome blog that I discovered! The blog is called Whispering Sweet Nothings and is worth a visit all on its own. Cooler yet, though, is a great tool Shane has on it called Coast to Coast. You submit your blog to her site and she has an interactive map so that you can find other bloggers in your area! Amazing, yes? Check it out!

Day 16: What are your 5 greatest accomplishments?

Well, I managed to push out this little nugget of cuteness. Ok... I guess I didn't push him out. I did, however, lay perfectly still in a drug-induced paralysis while two surgeons performed major abdominal surgery on me and pulled him out in the style of the Kool-Aid man. I think that's pretty cool. And even if all I did was lay there, I'm still taking credit for this one. Ok, ok... partial credit. I guess his papa played a part in it, too.

Somehow I managed to snag the most handsome, loving, witty, kind-hearted, genuine, intelligent, hilarious, hard-working, devoted husband in the entire world. While I'm not sure how that happened, and I have a feeling it had little to do with me, I'll go ahead and take the credit and consider it one of my greatest accomplishments. :)





This next bit is going to count as two accomplishments. When I was in high school, I had the extreme honor of being chosen to direct two very emotionally-charged plays. The drama society accepted my proposal to perform the play "The Laramie Project," by the Tectonic Theater Project, as well as the one-act play "Bang Bang You're Dead." Both plays dealt with hatred and violence, how reactions sparked by anger can literally end lives. Our production of Bang Bang became mandatory viewing for the entire high school, some 1200+ students. And our production of TLP was not only recognized in the news, but we also received commendations from PFLAG and other local groups who supported our message of peace and tolerance. In casting TLP, there were so many parts to cover and not enough willing actors, so we ended up casting staff members and students from surrounding schools. It was an incredible experience, though trying at times due to so much backlash in regards to the fact that the play was about the murder of Matthew Shepard - a young gay man from Laramie, Wyoming. The play, which I'd worked on for over a year between planning and casting and rehearsing, opened on January 24, 2003. The night after my mom passed away. I don't remember much from that night except for asking for a moment of silence for her before the play started, and then this: after the final bow, my best friend came up to me on stage. With teary eyes and a big hug he told me something I'll never forget. "Claudia, I know your mom couldn't be here tonight. But I want you to know that she had the best seat in the house." A few minutes later, my dad found me in the crowd. We hadn't talked in months due to a stupid fight, but it's the most vivid memory I have of him telling me how proud he is of me and I'll cherish that memory forever.

Again, not sure how much this has to do with me, but I have an amazing dad who always tells me how much he loves me and appreciates me. Our relationship has gone through more struggle than I care to recount here at the moment, but suffice it to say, the fact that we even have a relationship (and such a great one at that) is a miraculous accomplishment on both our parts. I love him so much and I'm so thankful for God's provision, grace, and healing when it comes to wounds of the heart. 

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 15 - Animal

Yay! Today's the halfway point for the 30 day challenge! Thanks to everyone who's been following along and commenting as I go. I appreciate the encouragement to keep on keepin' on. Why don't you give it a try?

Day 15: If you were an animal, what would you be and why?

This is a ridiculous question. Mostly because I'm a ton of different animals... just depends on my mood as to which one I'll exemplify more. It can also depend on surroundings and whether I feel threatened or defensive.

For example, when the weather is just right and I'm feeling at my most relaxed, most centered self, I'd liken myself to a deer. I like peace, tranquility, nature, and being in the midst of it all. Keeping a quiet exterior helps me keep a quiet interior, allowing me to reflect and ponder. This doesn't happen very often, especially since the arrival of little man, but I enjoy it when it happens nonetheless.

Giiiiiiiirrrl... oh no you di-int! Lay a finger on my baby and guess what animal I become? That's right. Mama Bear. Hell hath no fury like a mama bear (as proven by the picture at right), so when someone takes their liberties too far and touches/yells in front of/coughs near my baby, I become a beastly transformer and damn near need a tranquilizer to calm back down. Hmm... on second thought, maybe I should've just put a picture of the Incredible Hulk on here.

French bulldogs are kinda funny. They're awkward, have a scooped nose, clownish disposition, and are a bit bulky. For some reason I always think I look like these dogs, between the nose, the squared forehead, tiny eyes and neck wrinkles (aka double chin). Still, they're funny little dogs and very smart. I guess this would be my "default animal" for whenever I'm just being me and not being particularly swayed towards one more or another. The only difference is that I don't have big ears. On the contrary, I feel mine or quite small and they make me self conscious. Oh well!

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 14 - Strengths

Well I'm 2 weeks into the blog challenge - almost halfway - and I'm really enjoying it so far. There have been a couple nights, tonight in particular, where I seriously contemplated just skipping a day. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who knows my heart and encourages me to write.

Day 14: Describe five strengths you have.

I don't like tooting my own horn, and some days (like today) I can be pretty down on myself. I asked Josh to help me with today's post because, even though I had a couple ideas of what my strengths may be, I wanted to hear what someone else thought.

One of the greatest compliments I've ever received was from Josh. It happened at our community group this past Winter as our church was going through a book examining marriage and how it ties in with the Christian faith. In front of our group, Josh told everyone how much he loved and appreciated that I was a great encouragement to him. This flattered me beyond words, and ever since it's been a great reminder to always seek out additional ways to encourage him and be his one-woman cheer team. Sometimes it's something simple like just telling him how proud I am of his work ethic. One time I cut out 100 paper hearts and wrote a different thing I loved about him inside each one, then folded them up and put them in a jar. Each morning he would grab a heart and read it on his way to work, then keep it tucked in his pocket throughout the day. Even after he went through all 100 hearts, he just kept recycling them.

Thanks in large part to my dad, I'm also great at bargain hunting. I'm trying to get more into couponing, but even without clipping coupons I'm pretty good at price comparisons and figuring out the best deal on items. For example, I went to Costco one day and looked at their prices for my "preferred brand" of tampons. Costco had a box of 84 for $14, which broke down to .17 cents per tampon (rounding up). My local drug store had the same tampons for $5 for a box of only 18, which broke down to .28 cents per tampon (again rounding up). That's an .11 cent per tampon savings by choosing Costco's bulk box over the smaller drug store box. I then figured out that, if you use 4 tampons a day, 5 days a month, and 12 months per year, that's a total of 260 tampons per year. When you consider I'm saving .11 cents per tampon by shopping at Costco, that's a savings of over $26 per year - or, almost 2 free boxes of bulk tampons! And yes, I actually did call my dad when I figured this great deal out because I was so excited and just had to share it with someone as frugal-minded as I.

Another strength of mine, which makes the bargain hunting easier, is that I have a great memory. Though I haven't officially been tested, all signs point to me having a photographic memory. This comes in really handy sometimes, but for the most part it just provides for interesting and odd details in my memories. For example, every time I hear the song "Landslide" by the Dixie Chicks (and only their version, not the Fleetwood Mac version), I remember the exact bend in the road that I was on when I first heard the song while driving in the car with my mom. She loved Fleetwood Mac's version, but when she heard the Dixie Chicks she cried. Driving on that stretch of North Road always reminds me of that day and that song.

I thought that I just enjoyed getting to know people, like it was just another hobby. Then Josh pointed out that it's a great strength. I love to put people at ease, hear their story, build rapport, and be able to feel the honor that comes with someone allowing me to share bits and pieces of their life. That's the reason why I loved working with seniors so much. Their stories were so fascinating and I genuinely loved getting to know them and their families. On the flip side, I'm terrible at making friends (especially women my own age).

Last, but not least, I like solving puzzles. Whether it's a mental puzzle or problem that needs logical deduction skills, or an actual physical puzzle (a la Thomas Kinkade wannabe paintings cut up into puzzle pieces and spread across my dining room table). When I worked at a women's clothing store I used to love when we had to reset the store's appearance because it was one giant puzzle of moving shelves, mannequins, floor fixtures, and tables. Or after a big sale our jewelry section would be a hot mess - I mean hundreds of dollars of jewelry all tangled up into one giant ball of metal and jewels. I'd just prop myself up at the counter and go to town, meticulously pulling this chain here, or that chain there, until finally it was all untangled and ready to go back out on the sales floor.

So what about you? What are some of your strengths? Toot your own horn! :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 13 - Weaknesses

Hey y'all! Before I get into today's blog challenge, I wanted to share a photo. The other day I wrote about pet peeves, and the one that seemed to get the most "buzz" was my hatred of stick figure families on cars. While I stand by what I said, I did want to show you this picture I snapped of a car in the Target parking lot the other day. It is, thus far, the only sticker family to garner my approval. You're welcome for its awesomeness.

Day 13: Describe 5 weaknesses you have.

This is an area where I've been feeling a lot of conviction lately. God has really laid a few areas of my life on my heart, and He's showing me my weaknesses in them on a whole new level.

First, I'm terrible at reading my bible. And I don't know why. I love the Lord, I believe the bible is God-breathed and without flaw, and I love learning new things about Christ and what lead to and followed his death, burial, and resurrection. So why can't I just pick up my bible (or pull up the app on my phone) and read it?! Josh and I talked about this and, what I think it comes down to, is that I don't know how to read the bible. Sounds silly, but it's true. I'm hoping that through prayer, research, and just sitting down and reading the bible whether I know what I'm doing or not, that it'll eventually become something that I'm eager to do instead of something that confuses me and fills me with self-deprecating thoughts.

I'm also weak in the area of being a homemaker. While becoming a mom and making Isaiah my full-time job (that I'm so thankful for) has been difficult, I think even harder than that is taking on this other role of caring for our home and just generally having it together. Most days I wear sweats or jeans and a plain shirt, throw my hair up in a ponytail, and pretend to not notice my makeup as I dig through the diaper bag for a clean pacifier. I'm getting better at staying on top of laundry, but sometimes Josh has to remind me and that makes me feel so inadequate, though that's totally coming from myself and not anything that he's projecting onto me. Cooking and cleaning are my biggest areas that I struggle with. We don't eat at home much, if at all, and that's something that I look forward to changing once we're in our own place and the kitchen can be my domain again (we're currently living with my mother in-law). Cleaning, too, will be much easier once we're moved and especially as Isaiah gets older and settles into more of a routine. So yes, it's a major weakness, but I see hope and progress and that encourages me immensely.

Golden Double Stuf Oreos. I can eat a whole sleeve without batting an eye. Yum.

Sleep n' plays. They're so cute, comfy, and makes middle of the night diaper changes so much easier. Now that the weather is heating up, though, I worry about putting Isaiah in them lest he gets overheated. Still, anytime I go to Babies R Us or Target, or really any store that might carry baby clothes, it's a definite struggle to keep from buying up every sleep n' play they have (especially now that I discovered the zip-up ones from Carter's!).

Books, books, and more books! I can never have enough! I love books and my ability to resist the urge to buy one with a cute cover, catchy title, or thrilling summary on the jacket is basically nonexistent.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 12 - A Typical Day

Day 12: Describe a typical day in your life.

Typical? I'm not sure that exists. Each day brings new things, new developments, new adventures. And I like it that way! Being a stay at home mom can get a little dull from time to time (don't get me wrong - I LOVE spending time with Isaiah), so I look forward to any opportunity to make each day a little less ordinary.

Today, for example. I knew what the blog topic would be so I brought my camera around with me to do a photo documentation. Only problem is I forgot to take pictures at the majority of the places I went. So, it's a little scarce but I'll fill in the blanks.

Most mornings, Isaiah and I get up around 10am, though we're mostly awake once Josh leaves for work at 7am. It just takes me 3 hours to get up the energy to start moving, and it takes Isaiah 3 hours to transition from coos and grunts into get-me-the-hell-out-of-this-bassinet cries. From there, the routine is pretty standard. I give him his heart medication, then he craps and I clean it up. After that, we chow down on some formula (I usually enjoy a breakfast of Oreos or a can of Pepsi). His clothes are dirty, so I pick out something that a geriatric might wear. Then we snuggle on the couch, we chat, we watch old episodes of Roseanne, and I catch up on any Words With Friends games that updated.

The rest of the day is what's really up in the air. We sometimes go for a drive, and occasionally we have a doctor appointment. Today, though, we did quite a bit! To start, I spilled formula on the couch. Luckily it's a removable cover... just not very easy to remove. I got it off, though, and threw it in with the rest of the laundry I'd packed up. Then we headed to the bank so I could get some quarters, followed by a quick stop at the grocery store for some cleaning supplies. Next, we made a run for some food (I'm totally loving Taco Bell's new cantina chicken burrito!). Then it was a hop, skip and a jump to the laundromat.

After we finished with the laundry, we ran one last errand to pick up and drop off some things at alterations. Then we headed home. Once there, Isaiah enjoyed a nice nap in his bassinet while I put away the laundry and wrestled the cover back onto the couch cushion. I would've loved to have flopped down right then and there and taken a noonie myself, but we had other plans! So back in the car we went and met Josh at Ikea to return the bed frame we'd gotten. We took store credit and were going to use it to buy new desks, but we were both pretty tired (and hungry), so we headed off to dinner instead. Mmm... Claim Jumper's!

The food was delicious, and definitely made me feel like a gluttonous American. I'm pretty sure the I Declair! could feed the entire country of Zimbabwe. With bellies full and eyelids heavy, we headed back towards home. I had to drop Josh off at the transit center where he catches the bus in the morning, so that he could pick up our other car. He parked on the top floor of the parking garage so when we got to the top we had the most amazing nighttime view of the sunset with rain shadows, plus lots and lots of heat lightning!

One last stop to get gas, and then we were finally back at home. Josh has been fighting a cold (please say a prayer for him that he feels better soon!), so he headed to bed early. Isaiah and I hung out for a little bit, got a clean diaper on him, then sucked down a bottle and passed right out. As soon as that happens, it's blogging time!

You know, no day is ever typical, whether you're a stay at home mom or not. As a stay at home mom, though, I know it's easy to get the cabin fever-y feeling and view your days as nothing more than an endless cycle of diaper-feed-nap-diaper-feed-nap. I have those days, too. Regardless of how mundane the day may feel, or even how exciting, the best part is always ending my day laying in bed next to my husband, with my baby boy in his bassinet at my feet, and remembering all the faces he made and growing he did throughout the day.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 11 - Pet Peeves

Ok, so I may have stretched the "few" part of today's challenge a little far. I'm pretty easily frustrated by stuff, though I keep it locked down a lot better than I used to. Below are some of my top pet peeves that, when faced with them (or the opportunity to share about them), you can bet your ass I'm going to mouth off like a megaphone-wielding cross between Ty Pennington and Roseanne Barr on crack.

Day 11: Describe a few of your pet peeves.

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Stick figure families. Who in the hell came up with the idea that we needed to start notifying our fellow motorists of exactly how many family members we have, their general ages, interests, and gender? All of these minivans with families where the little girls are dressed like ballerinas... uhm, hello, but your car is now a  pedophile's wet dream. How about where the dad is dressed as a doctor? You're asking for some sue-happy person to rear-end you and claim whiplash, just so they can tap into your hefty physician salary.
Even worse are when the families aren't your typical nuclear family, or someone has passed away so there's a halo over their stick figure. I'm all for loving and remembering your family members who have passed on, but why would you advertise your sorrow on your back window? Instead, spend the $5.50 it cost to have that figure custom made and put it towards a therapy fund.

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Did you just use the last piece of paper on the toilet paper roll? And you thought it perfectly reasonable to leave the empty one sitting on the holder, even though there was a spare roll right next to you that could've taken its place? Or you thought that by short-changing yourself and leaving two squares of paper on the roll somehow alleviated you of your moral obligation to change the roll? Well, let me introduce your face to my fist.

| buy it here |

Hey there, Stranger! Never seen you before in my life, so let's be friendly since we're in a public setting. Mhm, chit chat this and chit chat that... wait... what are you doing? DID YOU JUST TOUCH MY BABY WITH YOUR GERMY HANDS?!?!?! Just so y'all know, hell hath no fury like a germaphobic mama.

While we're on the topic of babies, let me just say I'm so glad I'm not pregnant so that I don't have to deal with women like this anymore.

Woman: You're having a baby! When are you due?

Me: In May. I'm really excited.

Woman: I bet! Is this your first baby?

Me: Yes! *insert glowing smile of expectation and hope here*

Woman: Ohmygawd! Well let me just tell you what you're in store for because I went through it and, obviously, your birth will be exactly like mine. So many things went wrong so you should take notes. Let's see, I was well past my due date so that tells you right there that you'll just be in a shit mood to start out with. Once they induced me with a rusty hook, my contractions immediately started going every 30 seconds and they lasted approximately 2 years each, and I was in labor for over 72 hours on a bed made of nails and thorns. I had incompetent doctors, rude nurses, a resident anesthesiologist who took 12 hours to come to my room with the drugs which only ended up giving me a series of adverse allergic reactions, and all of this took place in the hospital that everyone knows is only a half step up from a dirty back alley, but because I had my baby there you must act shocked that all this shit went down.

Me: ...

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The picture says it all.

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You know how some people hate the sound of nails on a chalkboard? That's sweet music to my ears compared to the sound of someone chewing with their mouth open. Now I know exactly where this pet peeve came from because it's hereditary. My mom passed it on to me and I expect I'll pass it on to Isaiah some day. Anyway, the sound of someone's pie hole flapping, smacking, popping and chomping on a bite of food that was obviously too large to fit in their mouth sends shivers up my spine. It's a really tacky habit and totally inexcusable (unless you have a cleft lip). But what if I have a cold and can't breathe through my nose, you say? Simple. Take smaller bites. It's a pretty simple rule of thumb: don't bite off more than you can chew... with your mouth closed.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 10 - Embarrassing Moment

Ah, if only that had been true for me. 

Day 10: Describe your most embarrassing moment.

It was fifth grade and I was painfully shy and supremely awkward. Being the token fat girl in the class, it was easy to make jokes about me. In addition to being overweight, I also dressed poorly (think multi-colored button-up shirts with stretch pants), was pretty studious/nerdy, and I had a perm that could NOT be tamed. It was awful.

So, it was fifth grade and I was in Mr. Hamilton's class. Every afternoon we would have SSR or Silent Sustained Reading. I think it was about 30 minutes of silence in the classroom while everyone read a book of their choosing. In other words, it was Heaven to me.

This particular afternoon during SSR, one student decided to be a total ass and cause lots of problems for our teacher. The student had to be removed from class and our teacher went with him into the hall. Of course, we all know that this means everyone else in the class starts chatting since there is no authoritative figure in our direct line of sight. Everyone starts talking, laughing, throwing wadded up homework assignments at each other, and eventually we caused enough of a ruckus that the teacher stuck his head in and told us to quiet down. We complied, sort of...

Our desks were set up so we sat in groups of 4, which made the room crowded enough that you pretty much sat back-to-back with the group of desks behind you. I was sitting back-to-back with a kid named Ryan, and my friend Hillary was sitting straight across from me. In an effort to be quiet, yet still rebellious, we started making funny faces at each other while trying to hold in our giggles.

I was also trying to hold something else in. A big ol' fart. Unfortunately, I suffer from something called photoptarmosis (when you look at the sun and it makes you sneeze), and this day happened to be a particularly sunny one. I looked out the window into the sun and felt the sneeze coming on, so I turned my head back towards Hillary only to see her making this ridiculously funny face. In one instant I sneezed and laughed, which apparently was all the concentration my mind could muster, because I forgot to hold in that fart and I really let it fly.

Normally the sneeze would've covered the sound of the fart. In fact, I think most people thought it did. But little Ryan turned around and asked in his loudest voice, "What was that?!" which got the entire class' attention and all eyes turned on me for a response. "Uhm, I burped," I said, trying to cover up for the sound of the fart. That's when Ryan literally shouted...

Laughter erupted. People started pretending to choke. Enough noise was made that the teacher re-entered the room, only to have the story retold to him. He tried not to laugh at me. I blushed and wished I could become one with the fibers in the high-traffic carpet. Not so awesome. End of story.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 9 - Influential People

Day 9: List 3 people who have influenced you, and how.

When I sat down to write today's entry, it seemed like it took me quite some time to get my head on straight. I just couldn't come up with a solid answer to the question. This was, in large part, due to the fact that I didn't have the right frame of mind as I approached this entry. Instead of just picking three of the many people who have influenced me throughout my life, I was agonizing over which three to pick. Upon discussing this with Josh, he advised me to just pick the first three that come to mind. "It doesn't mean they're the most influential, it doesn't mean they're the least... it just means they made a difference in your life," he said. So, without further ado, I'd like to introduce you all to a few good people who have made their mark on my heart.

If you haven't been to the blog, The Arizona Russums, go now (ok, well finish reading this post and then go there immediately). You'll find an incredibly kind woman writing over there, who answers to the name of 'Jen.' :) Jen and I met in the Fall of 2009 at a community group through our church. It was the first night either of us had been there, so we were both newbies. Through our community group, I got to know a bit of Jen's heart and see how much she loved serving the Lord and glorifying Him in all she did. She inspired me to be more vulnerable when asking for prayer, she converted me from a Cougs fan to Huskies (for the most part), and she gave me my favorite nickname - Pebble. By being comfortable in her own skin, she put me at ease also, and I slowly started to feel more comfortable with my style.
When Jen got married in July 2010, her wedding set a precedent for me. It was filled with scripture, worship, and all things lovely. It was so beautiful to witness her marriage to Micah, who I'd also come to know and care for through our time at group together. Immediately after their honeymoon, the two newlyweds moved to Arizona and that's when Jen started her blog. I read along at first to see how my friends were faring in the sunny Southwest, but soon found her blogging to be inspirational. It had been a while since I'd put much effort into writing and I missed it dearly, but blogging seemed to be a little foreign to me.
Jen has inspired me to blog in many ways. By example, I see her posting regularly and thoughtfully. She's been so gracious to answer all of my questions, to support my writing, and to spend the time to read some of my posts and comment back. It really is a blessing to know her in the blogging world, but such an honor to know her in person, too.

David Sedaris, the American humorist and NPR contributor, has inspired me more than any other author (though Steve Martin and Gene Wilder tie for a very close 2nd place). It was actually my dad who first introduced me to Mr. Sedaris' work, when he "lent" me a copy of Me Talk Pretty One Day. The stories, so entertaining despite it being autobiographical, opened my eyes to an entirely new style of writing. Here I was, a teenager, thinking the only thing I could contribute to the literary world was angst-ridden poetry, and suddenly Mr. Sedaris opened my eyes to a life of wit. I was blown away by his ability to compile short, essay-like stories into such a cohesive collection. Never had I read such entertaining non-fiction! From that moment on, I was hooked not only to his written works but to my own, rekindled need to write in a personable and entertaining way. While I don't claim to be perfect at it by any means, without David Sedaris' work, I don't know that I ever would've realized how enjoyable or fulfilling writing could be for me.
In fact, it was when he released the book Dress Your Family in Corduroy and Denim that I was given the opportunity to meet him. He was going to be doing a reading and signing at my local bookstore and I just had to go! Luckily I got tickets, but at the end of the reading, my friend needed to go home for a medical emergency. I took her home and had almost given up, when I thought I'd go ahead and return to the bookstore to see if he was possibly still there with a few straggling fans. When I showed up, there were only 2 people left in the signing line. I was the very last, except for a few eager bookstore employees, which David didn't seem to notice.
When I approached the table he was sitting at, he must've thought me strange. Not only did I have every book he'd published thus far for him to sign, but I'd also printed out pictures of him from the internet to sign for my friend's mom, plus the audiobook for Me Talk Pretty One Day. I watched as he signed each one, starting with the photos and working his way towards the books. We began chatting and pretty soon I was telling him about how much he had inspired me, and how I hoped to write my own book one day. When I said this, he looked up and asked me what my name was. "Claudia," I said. "No, your whole name. What's your last name?" he asked. I told him, and his reply was a wide-eyed little gasp, followed by flailing arms and shouts to his publicist to come over to the table we were at.
David said to his publicist, "Listen to this name, ok?" Then, slowly and meticulously, he said my full name. The publicist also went wide-eyed and gasped. I just looked at the both of them, worried that maybe I had the unfortunate luck of having the same name as a terrorizing childhood bully of his or, at the very least, a cleaning lady that hadn't worked out to his liking. That's when they both informed me that my name - MY NAME - was "an author's name." While this sounds cheesy, I can assure you it was quite genuine on their part and was Heaven to my ears. Then David had his publicist write down my name and told her that, should she find out I got a publishing deal someday, that he'd like a first edition copy of my work.
We finished up our chat, David signed the books I'd brought last, and then I was out the door. When I got to my car I decided to look at his signature on the title page of one of the books. Inside, I found this inscription, which will always stay in my heart as the fuel that feeds my writing flame...

Dear Claudia,It was such an honor to meet you. I look forward to reading your book someday!Love,David Sedaris 

Another influential person in my life is my current community group leader. Josh and I met Lewis shortly after we'd gotten married, which was in April 2011, at a community group where Lewis was apprenticing to become a leader. I always enjoyed when he would lead discussion, but it wasn't until he decided to replicate a new community group (that Josh was to follow and be an apprentice in) that I realized how influential he truly was.
A man of "25 words or less," with a deep passion for spreading the Gospel, Lewis is simultaneously knowledgeable and very personable. He's been the best and most encouraging example I've seen of how to live in this world, but not be of it. To be open and honest, humble and humorous. He's encouraged me to tap into the areas where God has gifted me, even if they are a bit outside of my comfort zone. It's been such a blessing to be in community with him and his wife, Geneva, as both are great examples of how to truly be in community - how to genuinely care for others, welcome others, encourage others, and pray for others for the advancement of the kingdom.
So, to Lewis and Geneva, thank you for being so inspiring. Without you knowing it, God has used you to motivate me, convict me, reassure me, and encourage me. Josh and I are both so thankful for the friendships we have with you, and I pray that our marriage will reflect God's glory and grace, too. I look forward to knowing you both for a very long time. :)

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 8 - Passions

No, not the cheesy soap opera from the early 2000's (but you know you watched it and liked it!). Today's blog challenge topic is on your life's passions!

Day 8: What are 3 passions you have?

| from our wedding - photo by rebecca rose photography |

My marriage. In a previous post, I made a point of stating why date nights are important to a marriage - not just because it's fun to get dressed up, but because it's so important to stay passionate for (and with) your spouse. Passion can be defined many ways, and in regards to marriage this was my definition:

Luckily, Josh and I realized this truth pretty quickly: that date night is something to be intentional about, cherished, and thoroughly enjoyed - all to the Glory of God. Just like our marriage. 

 I love my husband and I love being in love with him. I'm so exuberant, so full of passion, that sometimes it feels like I may just explode. Or, as Josh and I like to say, "I love you so much it makes me want to vomit little chocolate hearts." Gross? Yes. But I wouldn't trade it for the world.

Being a mother. That title, or that role, encompasses so many other titles. Just like being a "manager" means you also have the ability/obligation to, at times, be any number of other roles that you supervise. For only being a mom for 2 months now, I can safely say that I am also a comforter, an advocate, an entertainer, and a human burp cloth, among other things. But I love doing it so completely, and I yearn to bring a smile to my baby's face so deeply, that I can't think of a better way to describe it than saying I'm passionate about being Isaiah's mom.

| from our wedding - photo by rebecca rose photography |

Writing and reading. I love to write. When I write, it feels like I'm fulfilling a purpose God has called me to. I'm not sure why He has called me to it, but I know that I feel completely satisfied by it and like I'm being productive or contributing something, somehow. Going hand in hand with the writing is reading. It's one of the values I hope to instill in Isaiah - that a good book can never be underestimated. A love of learning is so important to one's imagination, creativity, problem-solving skills... the list goes on and on.

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 7 - Dream Job

After yesterday's heavy subject, and the difficult experience that almost thwarted the post, I'm glad to see today's challenge topic is a little more lighthearted.

Day 7: What is your dream job, and why?

This is a toughie for me, because in one respect I've already had my dream job. I worked with seniors in their home (which was a retirement community, not a private residence) and that was very fulfilling. I was in marketing and sales, so I got to know the people from the day they decided to start looking at options. I got to meet their families, too, and rapport was built all the way around. It was less of a job and more of a giant family. I saw them day in and day out, spent holidays with them, celebrated their birthdays with them, hugged them, joked with them, and loved them. I got paid to, essentially, spend all day hanging out with my "grandparents" and trying to enrich their lives at whatever cost.

I still visit the community I worked at, and even keep in touch through letters with some of the residents and their children. Today, in fact, I got a package from the daughter of a woman I moved into the community back in the early part of 2007. The woman moved out, eventually, but her daughters kept in touch with me. Today they sent me a sweet card and a few thoughtful gifts for Isaiah.

My co-workers were blessings, as well. I loved the marketing director I had for the majority of my time at the community and, to this day, cannot thank her enough for the effort and care she put into making me into the marketer that I was (Lisa, you're the best!). The executive director at the community was like a second mother to me, and cared for me to a level that no other boss ever has (and probably ever will). She gave me a shot at the job that I thought I could never do, and it turned out to be the most rewarding experience of my young adult life (thanks, Karen!). When I finally did leave the community, wouldn't you know that my replacement ended up being awesome, too? Ashanda and I became friends when I was training her and, considering how I viewed my job duties as my babies, I couldn't have entrusted my children to a better, more capable, more exuberant person.

Now, to answer the question more directly. If I had to pick a different job, though, I'd probably want to just label myself as an "artist." That way I could do all the things I love: knit blankets, sew sweet things (though I'd need to learn to sew first), write books... and, thus, hang out in bookstores all day. Ahh, sweet bliss! Being creative is so important to me, and if I could make it into a full-time paying gig then I certainly would. I hope to, someday, but right now is a time to focus on Isaiah and his well-being. :)

| an old photo with one of my favorites "grandmas" |

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 6 - A Difficult Experience

So a bit of a 180 from yesterday's post, which was all about happiness. Today's blog challenge prompt is a little more morose, but I'll try to put a positive spin on it.

Day 6: What is the hardest thing you have ever experienced?

It would be really easy for me to answer this question in a multitude of ways. I could tell you about all of the seemingly terrible things that I've gone through in my life. All of the things that broke me, made me cry, and are so horrible that when I've told people in the past, they've actually gotten angry - not at me, but at the "injustice" of it all.

Here's the thing... life sucks sometimes. It gets hard, it gets messy, it gets frustrating. It seems like, sometimes, the entire universe is conspiring against you. You call out, "Why? Why me?" and you feel like there's never going to be an answer. But that's why God is so amazing. Because He does answer. He just answers in a different way than what you're looking for, and often on a different timeline.


One of my "Why Me?" moments came when I lost my mom at the age of 16. I couldn't figure out why it had to be my mother to die. Why it had to be my world that got turned upside down. It just didn't make sense. I asked God to please tell me why He took her, and why it was so much more important for her to be in Heaven with Him than to be with me on Earth. After all, He was the creator of the entire universe and had plenty of folks to keep Him company in Heaven... the least He could do was let me have my mom around for a while longer, right?


Fast forward 7 years. I'm working in sales and marketing for a retirement and assisted living community. It's a Saturday night at 10pm. Most people in their early twenties are out at a bar, hanging out with friends their own age, drinking and partying their youth away. And where am I? I'm just getting off work, 6 hours after I was supposed to, having pulled a 14-hour shift. I sat down in my car and let out a breath that seemed like it had been held all day long, then I thought about what I'd done for the last 14 hours. Since it was the weekend and the management staff was at home, I was the go-to person for any crisis. That particular Saturday had plenty of them. One of our senators was coming to visit her mother-in-law for the first time and needed discreet entry, one of our elevators went down, the copier went belly-up, one family was moving in, I had walk-in tours, family members and residents with complaints, and the occasional granny that just wanted to sit and chat with me for a few minutes... or forty. We also had a gentleman who was "actively dying," as we would say in the industry, right above my office. This man, who we'll call Mr. S, had four lovely daughters whom I'd gotten to know quite well as they were moving their father into the community. When his final day came, the girls took turns running from his room to my office to give me a play-by-play of his declining health - something I'd neither asked for or expected, but nonetheless respected as a way for them to cope with the inevitable grief. 


Eventually, Mr. S passed away that evening. His daughters came downstairs to give me the news and we all hugged, just as we had throughout the entire day. Since I was the senior-most employee, I needed to stay in the building to file a report and ensure that the funeral home had a contact person. I also had to escort Mr. S and the funeral home representative out of the building and into the awaiting Hearse, all the while making sure that Mr. S's dignity was kept in tact, that the other residents didn't become looky-loo's, and that the daughters felt their dad was well taken care of.


When I got back to my car, I reflected on that day and gave myself a once-over. Was I tired? Not really. Was I hungry? Kind of. Was I emotionally distraught? No. Wait... what? It dawned on me that I wasn't an emotional mess after that day, and then the Lord spoke to me. I realized that, though not the reason for my mother's passing, her passing did allow me a greater sense of compassion and a higher tolerance for emotional situations. God redeemed that heartbreaking moment in my life and used it to make me stronger and better suited to pass along his grace to others who were in similar situations, i.e. the daughters losing their father.


Ironically enough, halfway through writing this post, I found myself in one of those "Why me?" moments. Though not nearly as jarring as when I lost my mother, it was (and still is, to be honest) a difficult time where I questioned why I'm being subjected to a particular person's barbs. I prayed for a calm and peaceful heart and felt like I heard nothing. Then I remembered I was in the middle of writing this blog entry. To be honest, I considered deleting the whole thing and telling you all that life sucks and mine ranks near the top. But then I realized that wasn't honoring God, who has saved me from much worse than the current situation. So with that, I hope you enjoyed the post. I also hope you'll enjoy the scriptures below - they are my go-to's for times of strife so I tried to pretty them up for y'all.

| Linking Up With |

She Shares

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 5 - Happiness & Friday's Letters

I'm super excited about today's writing subject for the 30 day blog challenge, and I've kind of combined it with Friday's Letters from Adventures of Newlyweds! I mean, who doesn't love to write about happiness? And who doesn't love to write to what makes them happy? Ok, I suppose Edgar Allan Poe may prefer a different topic, but for the rest of us it's quite enjoyable and not at all tortuous.

Day 5: What are the 5 things that make you happiest right now?

Dear Josh, Every morning, you give me a kiss goodbye before you head to work and once you're there you send me a text telling me what you're praying specifically about for me that day. It's a wonderful way to wake up. You fills me with so much joy, happiness, laughter, fun, and love. You are, without question, the best friend I've ever had. I love you so much!

My sweet, sweet boy. Isaiah, you make me laugh every single day. Even when I'm exhausted and frustrated, I just look at you and am instantly happy. I'm so honored to be your mama and to be able to stay at home with you so I can see how you grow and change, moment by moment. Even the dirty diapers don't bother me!

Dear Caffeine, You are awesome. That is all.

Dear Redondo Beach, Josh and I have recently started going on walks together in the evenings and you are our favorite place to stroll. Your boardwalk that runs parallel to the water is perfect, though a bit bumpy for Isaiah's stroller. I appreciate your convenient parking, the benches that pepper the pier, and the gorgeous sunsets you host for us.

Dear Daguerreotype filter on PicMonkey, I love you. Specifically the Shiro tint. I just think it lends such stunning looks to portrait photos. A little haunting. A little ethereal. A whole lot awesome. To the left is a before and after example so you can see why I like it so much.

| Linking Up With |

Friday's Letters at Adventures of Newlyweds

30 Day Blog Challenge: Day 4 - My 16 Year Old Self

Aaaand we're onto day 4 of the blog challenge! I'm really enjoying it so far. I find myself yearning for the evening, when I put Isaiah down to sleep and can have some time to devote to writing. The past couple nights have been a little more difficult because he's fighting sleep pretty hard.

Day 4: List 5 things you would tell your 16 year old self if you could.

1. Love Jesus with reckless abandon and don't worry about what others think of it. Love him like you love that new singer - John Mayer. Love him like you love your first car - a 1972 Volkswagen Super Beetle painted an exotic eggplant purple. Love him like you love poetry, acting, and painting. And love him with all of those things, worshiping the one who allows you to enjoy them in the first place.

2. Spend more time with Mom. She'll be gone before you turn 17 and you'll miss her all the time. Plan a party for her 50th birthday, fight less, hug more, record the sound of her laugh, take pictures, go on long drives together, and ask her about every detail of her life and write it down. Someday, not long from now, you'll wonder what her favorite flavor of ice cream was and it'll hurt your heart to not know such a simple thing about her. While you're at it, spend more time with Dad, too. Ask him to take you fishing again. Get your passport and plan a trip with him to Oldenburg, Germany. Make Minnie and Mickey Mouse burgers.

3. Do your homework. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I still agree that it's just a way for the teachers to keep you occupied so they can play solitaire on their classroom computer, but they really do grade you on it and those grades really do matter. So pay attention, do the assignments, and for crying out loud... hire an algebra tutor!

4. Take better care of yourself. Eat right, exercise, floss, do your hair and makeup, iron your clothes, take time to journal your thoughts and feelings, enjoy some quiet time every day, and know deep in your heart that you are a child of God. Beloved. Precious. Adored. So show it.

5. READ! You will never again have so much spare time on your hands, so spend as much of it as you can with a good book in your hands. Read classics just for the sake that they've stood the test of time, even if they bore you to tears. Read fantasy novels because they'll give you a nice vacation in your own front yard. Read biographies of great people like Abigail Adams and Diana Athill. Read love stories, comedies, and even an instruction manual or two. Just read. And enjoy your local bookstore for as long as possible because someday it'll be replaced by an internet connection and a 5"x8" piece of metal and plastic.