8 Years and Forever

 Yesterday, Luke and I celebrated our 8th anniversary. It's kinda crazy that it's been that long. I pointed out to Luke that 8 years before we got married I was only 14 and he was 16 and then Luke mentioned that 8 years is 1/4 of his life. That's an interesting way of looking at it. I'm sure glad he asked me to be his. Luke is a good man and such a good match for me.

    This past weekend was the Itasca Bluegrass Festival. It conveniently falls right around our anniversary every year and so that is how we celebrate. Buirlen had so much fun this year and got so dirty. Friday night, I put him in pajamas before we headed home and then he was just put straight to bed. However, by Saturday night he needed to be washed. Such fun. I didn't get many pictures but the music was good, we ate fun food, and it was hot!

Ready to go. He really wanted to carry his own chair even though the strap kept slipping. On our way out Friday night, he once again wanted to carry it, but we wanted to move a little quicker. So Luke picked Buirlen up and carried him, chair and all. 

Cousins added to the fun. 

He finally crashed Saturday night during the last bit. 

This gun has been Buirlen's favorite toy lately. He's been sleeping with it at night and it's been taken into the shower on more than one occasion.

These three goofballs.

My lemon tree is doing great I wonder if and when it will start producing.

I realized I have a few little sunflowers along the side of the house that were planted by the birds. 

 We had gyros for supper last week. Buirlen was all about the tzatziki sauce until he hit what I'm assuming was some spicy raw garlic.

Watch out flies we have a pretty cool new fly swatter from Poppy.

Getting the shopping done

Happy Wednesday.

"Every summer has a story."~Unknown

6 Years and Forever

    My Love and I celebrated our 6 year anniversary this weekend. 6 years, the better part of a decade and some of the very best years of my life. I am so very blessed to call this guy my better half. He helps me to grow and be the best I can be. He does an awesome job taking care of his family and I have so loved watching him be a daddy and love his baby. I am so very glad that our stories intersected and that now and forever our stories go together. He's the best.

      Every summer since we got married, we have attended the Itasca Family Music Festival. The festival conveniently falls right around our anniversary every year and so we celebrate with bluegrass music, food, and friends. I love it.  

Our little music lover clearly excited about his first festival. 

May your week be extraordinary!

"A good marriage isn't something you find; it's something you make, and you have to keep on making it." ~Gary Thomas

Friendship Grown From Friendship

     Lately Buirlen has been dressed to match both Ephraim and Brody. There is just something fun about tiny matching clothes on tiny humans.

Katy, Brody, Buirlen and me

The Lovely Keren Ruth, Ephraim, Buirlen and me

    Someday, the boys might look back at these pictures and think they are ridiculous, but I hope that they will get a good laugh over it and then run off to play because they are the best of friends. Growing up my very best friends were Amanda and Emily. We had all sorts of fun, and we spent a lot of time together because our moms were best friends. It was a friendship that had its roots in friendship. I don't get to see them nearly often enough anymore, but they are still near and dear to my heart and I love the times we do get together. It's a friendship that will last a lifetime. 

Amanda and Emily getting to meet Buirlen.

    And that is what I hope for Buirlen, that he would grown in friendship with the babies of my friends.  That there will be many adventures had and memories made as they grow. And that one day, they will continue their friendship as grown people. Friendship grown from friendship, it's a beautiful thing!!!!

Nothing like a hug from your cousin!

Happy Sunday

"A true friend accepts who you are, but also helps you to become who you should be." ~Unknown

Goodbyes and Hellos

      Today was the end of something beautiful. I turned in my key and walked out of school for the last official time. I've been feeling the bittersweetness of this day as it drew near, but I didn't realize it would hit me quite as hard as it did. This was my fourth year at Heartland Christian Academy and they were amazing years. I learned so much working there and have been truly blessed to be Mrs. Williams the 3rd and 4th grade teacher. I've grown and learned, been taught lessons and laughed. I've been frustrated and overjoyed and I am so thankful for all of it.
      I got hired for the job a week before school started back in 2013. I was thrown into it and started learning right away. I've never enjoyed a job quite as much as I did working there. I was beyond blessed by the women I worked with and created some very strong friendships. God is so very good!
     And now comes my next job, being a mom. A job that I have dreamed about and waited for. It is going to be so good. Adventures Ahead!

The week before I started at Heartland, getting my room in order.(Photo credits to the Lovely Keren Ruth)

It's a good place and I look forward to stopping in throughout the rest of the year for things like science fair!

Saying goodbye to my classroom today. 

This morning at assembly, they had me come up so they could pray for me and give me this lovely painting. It's the fingerprints of everyone at school. Pretty sweet!

And now Baby Williams, please feel free to make your appearance(My due date is Friday). I can't wait to meet you!

"Every story has an end, but in life, every end is a new beginning." ~Unknown

28 Degree Heat Wave...A Matter of Perspective

      Well, January is already half way through and as I mentioned before, my goal this year is to learn what it truly means to follow Christ and to start living my life from a new perspective. I decided that a good verse to sum up said goals would be,

Ephesians 1:17-18

"That the God of our LORD Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give to you a spirit of wisdom and of revelation in the knowledge of Him. I pray that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened, so that you will know what is the hope of His calling, what are the riches of the glory of His inheritance in the saints." 

      This just says what I'm striving for this year. I want to seek wisdom, and learn some new things about The One who created me. I want the eyes of my heart to open up and start seeing things anew. I want to truly learn what it means to understand the hope that Jesus offers me each and every day. 

     After my last post on perspective, I've been thinking a lot about that concept and discussed it quite a bit with my students. I tend to turn lessons I'm working through in my own life into lessons for my students as well. A perfect example of perspective came today with the shift in the weather. 

     Last week was BITTERLY cold. Friday was cold enough(-31 actual temperatures) that they called school 2 hours late. They don't close or delay school for much up here. But today the sun has been shining with all its might and the mercury hit a balmy 28 degrees which felt downright blissful. Perspective!

So warm! 33 weeks and 3 days...Closer and closer!

Before Christmas, Luke made a purchase for his workshop that has brought him much joy. A metal lathe. I have been getting an education on the subject. It is an awesome blessing that fits into his dreams of a future in metal work. 

He has made a couple of little tops as he experimented with the lathe. They work pretty well and Ephraim thinks they are fun to stop once you get them going. 

      As this Sunday winds down, I hope that sun continues to shine in your hearts. Remember the Hope that The One who created today gives, and may your perspective be one of joy!

"Blessed are they who see beautiful things in humble places where other people see nothing." ~Camille Pissarro 

IT'S A....

      BOY!!! 

      Yesterday Luke and I went in for my 20 week ultrasound(Half way there!) It was amazing. I knew I was excited to find out the gender and see the baby, but I didn't realize just how cool it would be to see him moving around. His little feet were one of my favorite things because they were so easy to pick out, tiny and perfect. At first we wondered if we would be able to find out the gender because he had those perfect little feet crossed at the ankles. It was pretty cute. According to their measurments he is about 12 oz. That's almost a pound already. Little chunky monkey!
     Afterwards I texted my friend Allison to let her know the gender and she texted me back "How good is God!!!" And you know what, that comment sums it up perfectly. The One who is creating this little baby is beyond wonder. Psalm 139:14-16 says,

"I will give thanks to You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 

and my soul knows it very well. My frame was not hidden from 

You, when I was made in secret, and skillfully wrought 

in the depths of the earth; Your eyes have seen my unformed

 substance; and in Your books were all written the days that 

were ordained for me, when as yet there was not one of them."

     The other day I was teaching Bible class and we were reviewing the stories of Abraham and Sarah and how they so desperately wanted a child, and God had promised them one, but it seemed to them that God had forgotten. This made me think about the many days I longed for a baby and wondered if it was ever going to happen for us. I doubted and yet God is faithful. And now in just 20 short weeks our baby boy will be here. We are so blessed. 

20 week baby bump

Little Mr. Williams' face

Front view

 Profile

"A new baby is like the beginning of all things--wonder, hope, a dream of possibilities."

~Eda J. LeShan

Today

     My house is currently full of giggling girls. My little sisters are visiting for the week, so I asked a couple of my students to come over for a play date. I do believe it was a good idea, I like hearing the giggles. I've been thinking about the beauty of home today. A home is truly a blessing, a thing that is simple and complex and oh so important.
    The weather is slightly cool and grey today which has me thinking about Fall. To top off the feeling, I've decided to make a pot of stuffing and chicken for supper. Delightful. I've also spent a portion of today curled up on the couch with a good book. My summer job ended last week and I must say I am enjoying my time off before school starts!
     God is good. I am blessed. Life is beautiful. Happy Thursday.

"Rest and be thankful."~William Wadsworth

   

Beautiful Days

     Today is beautiful. The sun is shinning, the air is breezy and it's warm but not hot. The light is changing and the days are starting to have that Fallish sort of feel. It's nice. I really love this time of year. My sunflowers are taller than the porch roof now. They are so fun to look at.

      School is of to a running start and I do believe that this is going to be a great year. My garden continues to do well as does the Lovely Keren Ruth's. Last weekend we made a giant turkey roaster of spaghetti sauce. When I canned it it came out to 14 jars. That was satisfying. 
      Last Thursday I went out for ice cream with the girls I worked with this summer(and the past couple of summers). Friendship is such a great thing and I love to watch how it grows. We laughed and laughed hard. I am blessed.

     This week the Lovely Keren Ruth and I watched the movie Julie and Julia and were thus inspired to try our hand at French cooking. So, the other night we made Beef Burgeon and French bread. I will say that French cuisine is not for the cook who wants a fast and easy supper. Good grief there were a lot of steps. But it tasted good.

      I am getting super excited for this coming week because it is Jackpine time. There is nothing quite like camping in the coolness of fall with some of your favorite people. And this year is even more exciting because my dear friend Miss Polly is coming up early to spend a couple days with us. Actually both Polly and her brother Bob, one of Luke's closest friends, are coming. It's going to be good.
     And to top it all off, we bought the new Matt Kearney cd the other day which is just full of good sounds. Flowers, friends, music, and memories in the making. Life is good. Happy Monday.

"A good life is when you assume nothing, do more, need less, smile often, dream big, laugh a lot, and realize how blessed you are." ~Unknown