Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Currently.

I follow a blog called Jones Design Company. The blogger, Emily, seems to be a sweet gal who loves the Lord, her family, and all things crafty and design-y. She's inspiring.

Anywho. She occasionally will post about what's "currently" going on in her life. Because it has been such a long time since I've blogged, I thought I'd try to catch everyone up with a post like that. So, currently....

LOVING // Making some improvements to our home. I was given some freedom with a particular "home" savings account, and I don't think Andrew realized what he was doing when he waved the green flag for me to dig in! A few of our new improvements/purchases...
- Owen's room painted and complete. We painted a chevron wall where his crib will go.


- A freshly painted headboard for Lima Bean's new {to us} twin bed along with a new mattress and new bedding. The girls are now sharing Lima Bean's room. The second photo gives you an idea of how we squeezed a crib, chest of drawers, and twin bed all on one wall.



- An indoor/outdoor rug for our back porch.


- A rug for our foyer.


- A bench for the front porch.



READING // I have multiple books that I have started, but have yet to complete. Reading is not my current "go to" downtime activity. Sleep usually is. I truly love reading though, and I'm loving the books that I'm reading... "A Hole in Our Holiness" by Kevin DeYoung, "1000 Gifts" by Ann Voskamp, "Parenting by God's Promises" by Joel Beeke, and one that I just finished {which I recommend to EVERY married woman} "What's It Like to Be Married to Me" by Linda Dillow. Whoa. That one will get ya. :)

WAITING FOR // A new phone. Last week I upgraded my iPhone 4 to an iPhone 5. Fun! Well this weekend, after Andrew and I spent 2+ hrs at the urgent care (where we were both diagnosed with strep - {pity} party at the Jones' house!), Firecracker decided that it would be fun to toss my brand new phone into their water table outside. So today I'm stuck at the house waiting for my replacement phone to come in exchange for my two-day-old-but-water-logged iPhone.

Andrew in not-so-great of shape at the urgent care.

EXCITED ABOUT // Auntie Rach arriving from GA today! I think the fam felt pretty sorry for us this weekend, so Rachel decided to push up her visit (originally arriving Aug 1) so she could help this sad puppy of a mom out.

TRYING TO //  Find joy and contentment in my Savior. Quite frankly, I'm on the fence about being ready for O-dog to be here. (Of course I am, really!). But this has been a very difficult season for me (just ask Andrew... poor guy has to listen to me whine and complain every day). The year 2014 is quickly going down in the books as one of my harder years, right behind 2013. Parenting isn't easy. Sometimes I wonder if I was really cut out for parenting, because I have to work really hard to be joyful in it. There are days when I wake up, and dread the day. Between exhaustion (3 yrs of pregnancy and/or nursing has taken it out of me), occasional loneliness, and heat (hello (90+ degree weather!), I find that I am physically and emotionally weary. My joyful spirit just isn't where it needs to be. I acknowledge that this is a problem and I'm trying to work on it. A lot of it boils down to feeling sorry for myself. (The truth comes out!!) I'm not ready for three children under three. Who's idea was that, anyway?! The thought just frightens me! But in all seriousness, I'm resting in a verse that my mom put in the front page of a delightful Bible study she gave me intended to be read during the first month after your baby is born... Psalm 61.

Hear my cry, O God, listen to my prayer;
from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint.
Lead me to the rock that is higher than I, 
for you have been my refuge, a strong tower against the enemy.
Let me dwell in your tent forever!
Let me take refuge under the shelter of your wings!


WORKING ON // Three projects: 1) Painting the kids' bathroom, 2) Making a stocking for OGJ. (didn't I just have to make a Christmas stocking for a new addition last year??), and 3) a "Taggie." I made a taggie for both Lima Bean and Firecracker, too. It's just a small, square blanket with a bunch of ribbons sewn around the edges for holding. Lima Bean can't go to sleep without it. Firecracker hasn't taken to it quite like LB. I don't mind. She's still my feisty Firecracker.

ENJOYING // Summer with my hubs and kiddos. Summertime = more available team members at CFA = more time with AJ. Woohoo! I love that he's been able to be home more often. This summer certainly looks different from last summer when he was putting in 80-100 hrs a week at the store! Thank goodness. Also, I'm enjoying all summer fruits right now. I'm craving watermelon and peaches. Yum!



USING // The "notes" app on my phone a whole lot these days. My brain is officially fried. Anything important better be typed in to a note otherwise the chance of me remembering is slim to none.

WEARING // As little as possible within the confines of being appropriate. Did I mention I'm 34 weeks pregnant? Yeah, I'm super hormonal and SUPER hot. Lots of shorts and tank tops.

Lima Bean + 34 week old O-dog

PLANNING // For a lot of guests. I LOVE that the calendar is filled with family and friends visiting over the next few months.

NEEDING // Patience and kindness when interacting with my delightful girls. Yes, they make me want to run into a wall sometimes, but I bet I do the same to them too. ;)  Oh yeah, and to potty train. Don't ask. I have confidence LB will not be 10 and in diapers. (Right?!)



LEARNING // To rest in God's good timing for all things. Also, how to decorate a little more. Thanks to my mom and sister, plus a new neighbor friend, my house is starting to look a little more complete. Fun!

DOING // Meal planning. I've been in a cooking rut lately; partly because I'm tired, partly because I'm lazy. Andrew and I had a heart to heart and we've come together to create a meal plan, including a variety of new recipes. Here's to a month of successful cooking and creating new dishes!

DREAMING OF // Holding the little squirmer in my tummy. I can't wait to meet him. As much as I covet my {quasi} solid sleep at night, the thought of having him in my arms excites me... even if it means sleepless nights for a couple of months.

So there it is folks! Be looking out for a photo dump soon too. :)