Blogs you should be reading

I'm over-choosey about what blogs I read. I don't have time to follow very many, so I want to read only those that edify me in some way. Here are two blogs that you should be reading. I promise

1- Under the Sycamore by Ashley Ann Campbell. I've been following her for about 2 years now, I think. Her most recent post sums up my feelings about what I strive to teach my kids perfectly. She is amazing and inspiring. At the very least, read this post.

2- Forever a Family by Alison Lake. She is an amazing young mom and I know her because she was in my small group Bible Study a few years ago. She is walking through one of the most difficult situations I could ever imagine. It makes my "infertility story" seem like a cake walk. You MUST read her story because it is the most amazing picture of what it looks like to give God all the glory, to rely on Him completely, and to have mountain-moving faith all while traveling through an immensely painful journey. You will be challenged and you will be blessed. Start at the bottom. There are only 5 posts- it's a brand new blog, so it won't take very long.

An ordinary doctor's appointment

This is what Tuesday meant for us. I'll just give you the basic run-down.

Picked Eva up from school a few minutes early for her doctor's appointment. She was to get her "spots" re-treated since they didn't go away completely after the last treatment. It isn't painful and she was totally ok and prepared for it.

She asked if she had to get a shot on our way. I thought the doctor had the flu mist immunization, so I told her that I didn't think so.

Arrived at doctor's office.

Taken back to the exam/treatment room and saw the nurse. Asked about flu-mist and was given the TERRIBLE NEWS that they did not have it. Of course, at this point Eva didn't know what I was talking about. And, side note, she has never been awful with shots- never one of those kids that freaks out and has to be held down. She even had to have blood drawn twice over the summer and was scared, but not terrible.

The doctor comes in (who she loves) and I decide that I should probably give her some time to let it sink in that she does have to get a shot. I say in my sweetest, calmest voice, "Eva, I have to tell you something. I was wrong about the shot today. You do have to get a shot and I am so sorry. You are going to be just fine, I promise. I am so sorry that I told you you didn't have to and I was wrong."

Cue wailing. Cue meltdown. Cue complete refusal to let the doctor treat her "spots" (weird bumps on her arm).

Doctor said we will do the treatment another time. If she rubs her arm and doesn't let the acid dry, it will be a problem. I agree and we just decide to do shots (including a flu shot for sam and I).

Then he looks at her chart and says, "Oh, and we need to do her 2nd Hep A, too". Fabulous.

He then left and I was left to try to calm her for 25 freaking minutes (it has never taken so long- no idea what the problem was). Nothing I said, no reward I offered, would even remotely calm her.  She was totally hysterical for 30 minutes by the time the nurse came.

Nurse enters. Cue even more hysteria. I am first and Eva watches. She gets so upset she starts gagging. I know what is coming, so I say to her, "Evangeline. Take a deep breath. You are going to throw up if you don't calm down. See, mommy is fine. It didn't even hurt. See? I'm fine. Breath. Stop gagging."

Then I am holding Sam. She is crying and watching. More gagging as the needle goes in his leg and he starts to whine. Sam is done and I look over at her and know it's there- it's coming out at any second. I throw Sam at the nurse and get Eva to the trash can. She vomits and she hasn't even gone yet.

Sam cried for about 3 seconds. She is still hysterical and now even more so since she threw up. IT'S HER TURN!

It took both the nurse and my full strength to hold her down. She is fighting and screaming and like I have never seen her before. Nurse gives the 2 shots and she is gasping for air. I scoop her up and notice she is soaking wet. She stops crying, and looks up at me with a terrified look on her face. "Mommy, I PEED!" she wails.

My child who practically potty trained herself in a day and was dry overnight since her first day of potty training and has had only a handful of accidents was so terrified of a shot that she peed herself.

Off with the undies. Off with the leggings. Off with the shoes that were full of pee. Clean up the exam table that had pee dripping off of it and down into the cracks where you pull out the drawers and foot stool.

During "operation clean-up", Eva looks up at me and says, "Mommy, the shots didn't even hurt really bad". Cue internal rage, which quickly dissipated and turned into a laugh, "See, Eva, that's what I told you. You didn't trust me. Mommy never lies to you. You can believe what I say. You didn't trust that I was telling you the truth and you didn't trust that Jesus would help you."

I wrapped the clothes up in paper towels, put them in the bag, and had to hold Eva (so that she didn't completely flash the waiting room). Sam would have to hold my hand.

Walking out the door Sam falls and nails his head on the wall. Cue wailing. Cue instant massive goose-egg accompanied by a scrape that starts bleeding.

I scoop him up. Run by reception yelling at them to "bill me" and run through the waiting room with 2 screaming kids- one almost naked and the other with a huge bleeding bump on his head.

It was awesome, and we didn't even accomplish what we went there for. Isn't that totally rad?

On a more positive note, that has turned into an ongoing conversation about trust and bravery that has been very challenging for her. She now recognizes that she didn't trust me and that she allowed herself to become overcome with fear instead of asking God to help her to be brave. It has been eye- opening for her and that has been so neat to watch.

Also, I share this store mostly just to amuse people. I do know that there are many people who have an ordinary doctor's appointment that becomes something so much worse when they get bad news or something is seriously wrong. I am grateful that despite a lousy appointment, I have healthy kids. God is good!

Eva's (2nd) first day of Preschool

Last Thursday was Eva's first day of preschool. She LOVED last year. I mean, really really LOVED it. Her teachers were so amazing and they adored her; it was obvious that she had hit teacher jackpot because they truly loved each other.
I was a little nervous that this year she wouldn't have the same connection and wouldn't be as excited about school. I was wrong. Yes! She is having a ball and wishes that school was every single day, just like last year. Here are a few pictures of her first day last year and this year. I cannot believe how much she has changed and grown. She is such a joy, I actually miss her even though she is only gone for 2.5 hours a few days a week. This little munchkin has a big piece of my heart...

Last year

This year

Notice, once again, the size of that back-pack. All the kids have the same one provided by the school.

Last year

 This year
(Love this one- her cousin, Caleb, has his back-pack on upside down)

Update on the home front :)

Well, once again, I have neglected the blog. I am really the world's worst blogger, but I just can't bear to shut it down because it's such a nifty little place where I have documented a lot of what has gone on in the past couple of years.

So anyhow, I have also been doing some more projects around here. Here are a few pics of the latest :)

FAMILY PRAYER BOARD

 RUG

before 

(Ikea 6x9 Erslev rug, white)

after* 

(I dyed it navy blue in the bath tub- trust me, it was not a fun process)

**there will also be another after because I am also painting it, because it has not been enough of a pain in the A** yet.

JEWELRY FRAME w/lace and hooks

before

(lovely heart print with pink frame, Goodwill)

 print removed, with the lace

after

(this all came out of my jewelry box- 

now there is actually room for the other stuff in there, which is finer chains, pendants and bracelets)

What can I say? I am a sucker for a cheap, fun, useful project, which all of these are :)

Pin-spiration

So, Pinterest. Have you heard of it? If so, you will completely understand this post. It will speak very clearly to you and you may even recognize some of the photos. If not, you may want to stop right here. Be forewarned, if you do not know pinterest, this post may cause you to take a look (pinterest.com). And if you take a look, there is a chance that the addiction could start. Heaven help you! You have no chance :)  Basically, Pinterest is a place to "pin" things that you find online onto a virtual "bulletin board".  It helps you keep track of things you want to remember when you are browsing online. You can also just browse items that other "pincers" have already "pinned" to get ideas.

This makes me smile because it's so true:

Here is a visual to help you understand a little better.

This is a view of all of my personal bulletin boards:

Here is a view of my "projects" board.

I joined Pinterest a few months ago and the addiction began almost immediately (so did the trips to the craft store). For me, it's the DIY (Do It Yourself) projects that are so inviting and pull me in. For other's it's the recipes or the decorating ideas or the photography inspiration. 

I do not consider myself to be super-crafty. (My sister, Jill, on the other hand- CraftyMcCrafster- is another story.) But, Pinterest somehow made me believe that I could do all these awesome projects, and the good news??? I CAN DO ALL THESE PROJECTS. Very exciting stuff :)

So, here is what I (and Eva) have been doing during Sam's nap time.

PINSPIRATION:

 (aka something I saw on Pinterest that inspired me)

 Back to School wreath

P

MY WREATH:

PINSPIRATION: Button/Bead Monogram

MY MONOGRAMS:

for my friend Bethanie's baby, Harper

For us, The Wells'

PINSPIRATION: dry erase board with scrapbook paper

MY DRY ERASE BOARD: made with Eva's own watercolor project

PINSPIRATION: Ombre Garland

MY GARLAND (made with ribbon instead of fabric)

(hung on an antique window, which I was also inspired to hang- after sitting in our basement for 5 years- by Pinterest)

                                     

And the one I did for Bethanie's nursery

PINSPIRATION: Ribbon accented draperies (NO SEW!!)

MY CURTAINS:

I did 6 panels- 2 for each large window downstairs

Well, there you go. I don't just LOOK at Pinterest, I actually do some of theprojects that I find on there :) I have also done a chalkboard for keepsake photos and next week's project is a dyed, AND painted rug!!

Pictures to follow!

If you have been inspired, here's to Happy Pinning! 

Sweet Reunion

I've spent the past 24 hours with some of the dearest souls. It is so good for my heart! My college years were really wonderful and I hate that so many of those girls are so far away from me now. We have gone through years of doing so well being in touch, and years where we were terrible. But no matter what, when we get together, it's like we haven't missed a beat (part of that, we realized this week, is the beauty of Facebook- for all it's annoyances and flaws, I'll stick with it for this reason alone)! It's amazing how that happens though, when you truly have a heart of love for someone. It's doesn't even matter that some are not so good at keeping in touch- we all let it go because we have a genuine love for one another. There is no judgment, and because of that, there is a peacefulness about our relationships with one another that is just so beautiful and refreshing despite our differences. This struck me this weekend- we are all SO very different in SO many ways. It's incredibly rich and stretches you to think beyond where you normally do.

Anyhow, we had a great weekend of togetherness. We went to an outdoor concert, stayed up REALLY late looking at pictures, reminiscing and telling stories, sharing struggles and heartache (sometimes involving tears), shopping, eating, drinking (not too much), laughing, and laughing, and laughing. AND LAUGHING.

Ah, I love these women. They have such lovely hearts! How amazing is it to be around people who love you- really love you- despite all your ugly stuff, your quirks, your snorty laughs. There is no pretense, no holding back, we let it all "hang out", so to speak because we really trust one another. We support each other in all our individual journeys- singleness, dating, kids, wanting kids, careers, marriage, AND, most importantly, working out our faith in each aspect of these stages.

We haven't scheduled a "next" time, but I'm already beyond excited to be with them again. I'm ready to see my kids- I always miss them no matter how much I need a break- but I'll be sad to leave tomorrow, too. There were a few "dear souls" missing this weekend, but I want to give a shout out to Angie James- THANK YOU for initiating this. You are the reason this reunion happened! I cannot even remotely tell you how sad I am that you missed it. Next time, we will make sure you can come :)

Here are just a couple of pics from our time.

Sweet Jen, chatting and having a glass of wine.

Wendy

Christiana- the hostess with the mostest (she was awesome)

Waiting for Vanessa and Krissy to arrive, all giddy knowing what is about to come!

Vanessa and Wendy cracking up looking at old pictures.

Friday night- somewhere around 2am 

Saturday morning- looking a little "fresher"

About to hit the towne center for some shopping

Missing Wendy and Krissy and having our last night together.