The Family of God.

God's been teaching me a lot about family lately.

An hour before I went into labor with Elijah, we signed a contract that would move us to California. Then my baby was born, and my world turned upside down. I often questioned why the Lord would move us out to a place where we had no family, no support system. I wondered how in the world we would make it.

But as the years passed, and the changes abounded, he began to open my eyes and challenge my view of family. What is an aunt? Someone who loves your kids unconditionally? Who is there for every milestone, and who knows them inside and out? Someone who is a sister to you, a confidant, a place of shelter?

These are aunts. The people who know your children's favorite colors, what books they read, what their favorite movie is. The people who pray for you when you need it, or bring you a cup of coffee when you are having a bad day.

What is an uncle? Someone who drops everything to pray for you when you're in the hospital? Someone who rejoices in your accomplishments, and who enjoys the wonderment of your life? What is a brother? Someone you can tell ANYTHING to and still loves you? Someone who sticks with you no matter what?

What is a mom and dad? People that are there for you when you're in a jam? People that have known you forever? Someone who makes your favorite meal for you? Or who cleans your kitchen for you one day while they watch your children? Who love you despite the fact that you broke their guitar once when you were 17?

What is a grandparent? Someone who can love AND discipline? Someone who can spoil? Someone who voluntarily spend time with your kids just because?

These are pictures of my family. Not the family that I was born into, but the family that God gave me. They are a part of his perfect plan for me and my life. I am so blessed for them to be a part of every milestone, every step, everyday- good or bad. This is what God's family looks like.

A Royal Pain in the wedding

Ever since I was a kid, I had a crush on Prince William. Mostly because I knew he was my age, and was a handsome prince. I mean, come on every girl dreams of marrying a handsome prince. But I wasn't one of those people who was eyeing every girl he dated or anything.

It seems like most of America was just fine and dandy reporting who Kate Hudson or Reese Witherspoon was dating for the longest time. Nobody seemed to care that the prince had a steady girlfriend. That is, until they announced they were engaged. Now suddenly that's all anyone is talking about.

You can't go through a grocery store without seeing Kate Middleton's name posted all over the checkout stands. TLC got their resident fashion experts together to create a whole show about what they speculate the wedding will be like. Really? A whole show about speculation? That's not even entertaining. In fact, it seems like that's what most people are reporting on. There's a whole lot of replaying of Princess Di's wedding. We're really using 30-year-old footage of his dead mother to try and guess what his wedding will be like? So weird.

It's sad really, because as Americans, we're not really there, we have no idea what's going on. How can we report news anything newsworthy? And it seems like every channel has a Royal Wedding Week. Why they would stoop to this level for something that broadcasts at 3am I will NEVER know. But I think the REAL shocker was when I was watching The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse with my kids and they announced they were having a Royal Wedding Week. SERIOUSLY? A 4-year-old needs a whole week about this? WHY?

Don't get me wrong, I will sooo be setting my DVR to tune in because I am wildly curious about the wedding. It's just, I am not curious to the point of obsession. More like, I wonder what a modern royal wedding with unlimited money and resources between 2 good looking people would be like? I mean, come on, who isn't?

The Flan of a lifetime

So, it's no secret that I am rounding the end of my 20's. Even young people have bucket lists and mine is to go to Disneyland. I know it sounds CRAZY. But I've never been. Sure, my parents took me to Disneyworld when I was 6 months old. They tell me all I did was sleep. I'm pretty sure that doesn't count as actually going to Disney.

Ever since I met Tim, he's been trying to move heaven and earth to get us there. Constantly plotting, scheming and devising ways to make my dreams come true. That's when I came up with the term "Flanning". To Flan is to make a fake plan. You look at airline tickets, and hotels, you talk about the cost of gas, you rent vacation package DVD's and you do everything but hit the BUY button.

Then, things happen. Like: You spend all your honeymoon money on a scam and never get it back or you move across the country, you find out you're pregnant, or you have to buy a new minivan, or your drier and your dishwasher break at the same time. And somehow, one year, bleeds into three years, which doubles into 6 years. And before you know it, you've been Flanning for ten years and you've never done anything about it.

This year, we decided that 2011 was the year of Disney! Meaning: No more flanning, no more things getting in the way. It was going to be me and him and nothing but Mickey, Donald, Goofy, Buzz and Woody! We have a date on the calendar, and we have a date tonight to actually click the BUY button..for the first time EVER. I wish I could describe in words what this means to me. How amazing it feels, and how badly I need it. I think I'm gonna cry everytime I take a picture with a character, or go on a ride I've only seen in a commercial. Pretty much every picture of me is gonna be crying. But I don't care. It's time for this 29-year-old to slip back into her 4-year-old shoes and live the dream that childhood forgot.

So Disney- I hope you're ready for me... cause here I COME!

Oh Baby

I was just recalling what it was like to have one baby. Studying it's every movement, cuddling for hours on end. When bathing and feeding weren't chores, but pleasures. There are so many things that are wonderful about having a baby. So many things that I feel like I am missing because there are 2 other more vocal toddlers in the house. Sometimes I keep her up late at night, just so I can spend undivided attention with her. It's sad really, because it means I don't get much sleep. But I can't help it, I can actually feel the time slipping away. And each time I bend over and put her in her crib at night, I wonder if that same face will be there in the morning to greet me, or if she will grow overnight.

Olivia is 5 months old, and I spend most of my time looking for adorable dresses to put her in, or making cute hairthings for her hair. I am enjoying every little second of the girl world that has now officially entered my home. She is such a blessing. And each night I thank the Lord for this precious gift of pink in my life. There was a time when I thought I would never have a little girl. It's still a surprise to me each time I change her diaper, or each time I look in her drawers and can put whatever fabulously cute outfit I want to on her. It's the most content feeling, I cannot explain it. Olivia has brought a sense of peace in my life. I know that sounds weird, since I've added a whole other person to my family. But, there is just something so wonderful about finishing your family. Knowing you are done, that you feel like your quiver is full. That is the peace I am talking about.

So even though I don't always get the moments with her that I wish I did, and while my attention is divided at times, I still feel such a connection to this sugary sweet girl. Who laughs at all my jokes, and who lives for the moments when I smile at her. I thank the Lord for this gift of time. My cup runneth over.

Project Oasis-the boys room

f you've read my blog at all, you would know by now that I am a project person. I love the challenge of a task and the goal of completing it. I love seeing the accomplishment and the betterment of my skills, and life once I've reached that goal. So for the last few months we have been looking for a new house. 900 square feet with 5 people crammed in it has had it's share of challenges. Unfortunately, because we are trying to be good with our budget and stay within what we can afford, we haven't been able to find anything decent that meets all our criteria. This made me a little sad, as I have to live in the space all day everyday and it's driving me to my breaking point.

But this weekend, we sat down and made the commitment to stay in this house longer, as long as we could re-organize it into a more functioning space. So we're diving in head-first to a house-wide project of reorganizing, spring cleaning, and re-arranging everything.

First up: Boys room. We decided to put all the toys in their room- what a feat. I wish I had a before picture. But it ended up working out quite well. I was pleasantly surprised at how much space it created in the livingroom and how much happier they were to have all their toys in one spot. I feel like I have somewhat regained my house.

Next up... the livingroom-eek!