In my previous post I mentioned some of my bff's, except Alison. Well, where do I begin? We were destined to be besties. Our husbands became best friends in college, before they even started dating us. But, naturally when Dan & I started dating, we hung out with Ryan on a few different occasions, & I immediately got along with & loved Dan's outgoing, goofy, fun-loving, Sanquine personality, best friend. A few years later, Ryan & Alison started dating & although it took months to finally meet her, I did, at mine & Dan's wedding, & immediately loved her as well. I remember thinking, wow, Ryan has met his perfect match : ) After that, we got together with them here & there when we could, since we lived a few hours a part. The following year Ryan & Alison got married, & I'd say that is when our friendship really started to grow. Al was still in school at UWP, but we managed to go see them there & they came to see us here. & then when they told us eventually that they were moving to Naperville, 25 minutes from us, we were thrilled! We were then inseparable! I'm so thankful for our friendship with Ry guy & Ali girl : ) Well, I tell you all this because a) I wanted to brag about our best friends & b) because I thought it would be a good sag way into the reason for this post... of a day with my Bff, Alison...
Whenever we are together, we have a lot of fun! And this particular, recent day, was just that, fun! Her & Parker came over after school & hung out for the afternoon. I had already put Josiah down for a nap, & after lunch Al put Parks down too. We then made, for the 1st time & definitely not the last, Nutella iced coffee's! Yes thats right, I said NUTELLA iced coffee's. They were to die for! & we sipped them while we soaked up some sun outside on the deck, it was perfect : ) Once our boys woke up, we walked to the park down the street to play, we were there for a while because they were having sooo much fun running around together! Cuteness! & of course Al & I just loved watching our son's bond & become best friends before our eyes. We walked back to the house & made dinner, a yummy mexican pasta dish, & Angie & Tehya came over then too. I loved having 2 of my bff's & their cutie kids over for dinner with Dan, Siah & I. It was great! Another girlfriend & her 3 year old daughter came over too after dinner & we had a blast playing with all the kiddos & had great conversations together as moms. I'm so blessed to know these women!
What a fun day that was, one that will stick in my mind for ages to come (I hope!)
Thankful for best friends,
Kate
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
When Dan travels for work...
I fill up my week with play dates, coffee dates, sleepovers & family time! Hey, I figure, why stay home alone all week & mope around missing my husband, when he's having fun going to baseball games & golfing, when I can have fun too! = ) So, this last time a few weeks ago was no different, fun I had!
Dan left early on Tuesday morning, as in 4:30am, before I even begin to think about waking up, early. Josiah & I got our things together & drove out to Hampshire to spend the day with my mom, aka Nana, as well as sleepover. It was loads of fun! My parents bought Josiah a sandbox to put on their deck & so he got to enjoy that for the first time & loved it! I stayed up way too late watching a movie with my bros, but since I don't get to do that anymore, I'm glad I did. We even popped popcorn, something Dan & I don't very often do.
Wednesday morning Siah & I met up with one of my childhood bff's at her new apartment in Huntley. I love her new place & the location, right behind her is a fun park that Josiah loved playing at! She also made me some very yummy passion iced tea that I have to make sometime! Later we came home for lunch & a nap before trecking down to Naperville to spend the night at one of my new bff's Jennifer, & her baby boy Owen & hubby, Jeremy's house. Note to self: DO NOT drive south on 59 at the 5 o'clock hour! But I quickly forgot my 1 hr plus drive when she put dinner on the table... one of my faves... a baked mac n cheese with garlic bread, how did she know?! Thanks hun! After putting the boys down, Owen & Siah that is!, Jen & I put together a surprise sprinkle gift for our bestie, Angie. We had A LOT of fun! Again, I stayed up way too late, but it was sooo worth it, because not only did Jen & I have lots of laughs, but it included a whole half of a chocolate pie! We may or may not have eaten the whole thing ; )
After waking up & feeding Josiah breakfast Thursday morning, we left Jen's & took back, country roads to one of my besties, Angie's place. The drive reminded me of growing up in Hampshire & all the back roads we always took out there, sweet memories : ) Once we got there we loaded the kids up in Angie's car & we met up with Joei, another bff, & drove to a few garage sales in the area. They weren't the best, but I did find a pair of shoes for Josiah for the fall. & its always fun with this clan of girls & kiddos! I then spent the afternoon at Joei's, & highlighted her hair while the kids napped. She's a beautiful blonde bombshell, kinda like my twin ; ) Later we went over to the Knapp's for dinner & Lucas & Ryan watched all the kiddies while all us ladies- all 6 of us!!!, did our Excellent Wife study. Thursday also turned into a late night when some of us stayed out talking around the camp fire, fun, fun times! & I can't wait for many more of those nights alllll summer long! Oh & I always enjoy staying at the Knapp Inn : )
Friday morning came & Angie had a brilliant idea to go to a donut shop in dt Oswego & a park nearby. Well, let me tell you, I had the best donut EVER! A glazed, white frosted, with a coconut crunch yummy goodness donut! & a very good cup of coffee to top it off! We also found out the woman who owns it is a Christian & the place they get the coffee from are Christians too & have a cafe in dt Yorkville! Can't wait to check them out too! We then went down to the park, & well, this is one of the BEST parks I've been to! Josiah & Tehya had a lot of fun playing! We went back to the house & had lunch & put Tehya & Josiah down for a nap, & Ang & I sat outside & soaked up some sun for a bit. But... it was a 90 plus degree day so it didn't last long before we came inside. I helped her with her sisters baby shower invitations & then got Josiah up to head home & see Dan!
Unfortunately, I dropped the ball on this one & didn't arrive home until 30 minutes after he did. Now you say, whats the big deal? But, not only was he locked out of our house (didn't have a key), earlier in the week he had asked me to be home when got there, so of course I wanted to, but failed to keep track of time. I've apologized many times, & he has forgivin me, but again, I'm so sorry babe! I promise to do better next time, & have a home cooked meal waiting for you as well ; )
So what a fun week we all had, even though we were separate. But I truly do believe in the old tale, absence makes the heart grow fonder! Also wanna add that I love all these women of God that I got to spend quality time with this week, thank you for your generous hospitality! : )
Dan left early on Tuesday morning, as in 4:30am, before I even begin to think about waking up, early. Josiah & I got our things together & drove out to Hampshire to spend the day with my mom, aka Nana, as well as sleepover. It was loads of fun! My parents bought Josiah a sandbox to put on their deck & so he got to enjoy that for the first time & loved it! I stayed up way too late watching a movie with my bros, but since I don't get to do that anymore, I'm glad I did. We even popped popcorn, something Dan & I don't very often do.
Wednesday morning Siah & I met up with one of my childhood bff's at her new apartment in Huntley. I love her new place & the location, right behind her is a fun park that Josiah loved playing at! She also made me some very yummy passion iced tea that I have to make sometime! Later we came home for lunch & a nap before trecking down to Naperville to spend the night at one of my new bff's Jennifer, & her baby boy Owen & hubby, Jeremy's house. Note to self: DO NOT drive south on 59 at the 5 o'clock hour! But I quickly forgot my 1 hr plus drive when she put dinner on the table... one of my faves... a baked mac n cheese with garlic bread, how did she know?! Thanks hun! After putting the boys down, Owen & Siah that is!, Jen & I put together a surprise sprinkle gift for our bestie, Angie. We had A LOT of fun! Again, I stayed up way too late, but it was sooo worth it, because not only did Jen & I have lots of laughs, but it included a whole half of a chocolate pie! We may or may not have eaten the whole thing ; )
After waking up & feeding Josiah breakfast Thursday morning, we left Jen's & took back, country roads to one of my besties, Angie's place. The drive reminded me of growing up in Hampshire & all the back roads we always took out there, sweet memories : ) Once we got there we loaded the kids up in Angie's car & we met up with Joei, another bff, & drove to a few garage sales in the area. They weren't the best, but I did find a pair of shoes for Josiah for the fall. & its always fun with this clan of girls & kiddos! I then spent the afternoon at Joei's, & highlighted her hair while the kids napped. She's a beautiful blonde bombshell, kinda like my twin ; ) Later we went over to the Knapp's for dinner & Lucas & Ryan watched all the kiddies while all us ladies- all 6 of us!!!, did our Excellent Wife study. Thursday also turned into a late night when some of us stayed out talking around the camp fire, fun, fun times! & I can't wait for many more of those nights alllll summer long! Oh & I always enjoy staying at the Knapp Inn : )
Friday morning came & Angie had a brilliant idea to go to a donut shop in dt Oswego & a park nearby. Well, let me tell you, I had the best donut EVER! A glazed, white frosted, with a coconut crunch yummy goodness donut! & a very good cup of coffee to top it off! We also found out the woman who owns it is a Christian & the place they get the coffee from are Christians too & have a cafe in dt Yorkville! Can't wait to check them out too! We then went down to the park, & well, this is one of the BEST parks I've been to! Josiah & Tehya had a lot of fun playing! We went back to the house & had lunch & put Tehya & Josiah down for a nap, & Ang & I sat outside & soaked up some sun for a bit. But... it was a 90 plus degree day so it didn't last long before we came inside. I helped her with her sisters baby shower invitations & then got Josiah up to head home & see Dan!
Unfortunately, I dropped the ball on this one & didn't arrive home until 30 minutes after he did. Now you say, whats the big deal? But, not only was he locked out of our house (didn't have a key), earlier in the week he had asked me to be home when got there, so of course I wanted to, but failed to keep track of time. I've apologized many times, & he has forgivin me, but again, I'm so sorry babe! I promise to do better next time, & have a home cooked meal waiting for you as well ; )
So what a fun week we all had, even though we were separate. But I truly do believe in the old tale, absence makes the heart grow fonder! Also wanna add that I love all these women of God that I got to spend quality time with this week, thank you for your generous hospitality! : )
Mama's Day 2012
Leading into Mothers Day, you know, MY day, without a minute of sleep was not my idea of 'fun'... but being a mom means you sacrifice for the good of your child, & the night before mothers day I sacrificed sleep to comfort & cuddle my sick baby boy. But being a mom is not just a sacrifice, it is sanctifying & satisfying & sooooo rewarding! I wouldn't change my role as a mom to Josiah for anything in the world, & I mean that with all of my being. So... when I knew Josiah was up for the day at 6:30am, Dan so graciously took care of him & played with him while I got a little shut eye, until 8:30am. Wow, a whole 2 hrs of sleep, woo hoo! LoL Well, I adjusted my attitude, & we ended up having a very fun day! We drove up to Rockford to my in-laws, & my parents & brothers came too. It was a beautiful summer like day & we loved being outside watching Josiah run around the big yard, see the bunny rabbit, ride on the gator with Grandpa, & kick the ball. We enjoyed cooking out on the grill & each others company.
I am so thankful for my Mom, for the way she raised me & taught me about the LORD. I'm thankful for her sacrifice to home school my brothers & I. I'm thankful for all the basketball games she drove me to & watched & all the games she came to once I was in college. I'm so thankful for her godly insight & wonderful encouragement. God gave me the best mom for me, He knew I needed her as my mom. I pray I am half the woman, wife & mother she is, someday.
I'm also very thankful for my Mother-in-law, for her sweet spirit & her giving heart. She is so kind & compassionate, & always thinking of us & our needs. I thank God for blessing me with such a mother-in-law as her!
I pray I am the best mom I can be to Josiah. I'm so thankful for that lil boy & love him so much it hurts. I was joking around on mothers day saying it would just make my day if he said 'Mama'. But he didn't, & hasn't yet, but I know he will someday, & it will make my day then. Can't wait! Mama loves you Josiah with all of my heart, you're the reason I get to celebrate Moms Day at all! So thank you! You're so special to me!
Friday, May 11, 2012
Last night
Yesterday was a very fun, but very long day. The garage sale we have been prepping for for a few weeks now started yesterday, & it was busy! What a beautiful day to have a garage sale. & what a beautiful day to go shop garage sales. A few of my girlfriends met me there in the am to score some deals too, & boy did we! I came away with a baby gate to block off our kitchen, a booster seat for when Siah outgrows the highchair, a little tikes basketball hoop (Oh ya!), a few lil boy clothing items, & 2 (1 for us & 1 for my mom) toy lawn mowers. SUCCESS!
Well after a few hours out & about & a sun burn later (ouch!), we took time out to play & then eat lunch. I tried putting Siah down for a nap at my aunts but it being somewhat unfamiliar, he wouldn't have it. So we went for a walk instead & while singing Jesus Loves Me over & over again, my active, never wants to sit still, lil boy finally fell asleep! For 45 minutes. & well 45 mins is never a long enough nap for that busy of a lil boy. But he adjusted fine & just went on exploring like most lil boys like to do. After we closed up shop for the day, we drove out to Hampshire, with Nana, to see Josiah's uncles & have dinner. Again, Josiah couldn't get enough of play, play, play. On our drive home he took a cat nap & then we played & played some more, squeezed in a bath & went to bed around 8:15pm. I would have loved to put him to bed sooner since we had such a long, busy day, but Josiah is too smart for his britches some times & thinks now since its still light out at 7:30-8, he should be able to stay up longer. Dan got home around 9:45 from a work dinner meeting & we went to bed shortly after.
Okay, so I tell you all this so you know a little bit how I felt when Josiah woke up at 3am = ) I was exhausted, I was pooped, I was frustrated, I was sad, well you get the picture! So I sat up with him for close to an hour rocking him, & it didn't take me long to realize how precious my son is all cuddled up in my arms on my lap & how blessed I am to be able to hold him & comfort him. This doesn't happen very often anymore (where I get to hold him & rock him), so I knew I had to cherish the moment. So cherish I did. I started singing worship songs to my God, & thanking him for entrusting such a sweet lil boy to me.
But... after an hour I figured it was time to lay him back down in his crib. Well... he didn't like that too much. So for the first time in a LONG time, I brought our almost 14 month old into bed with us at 4:20 in the morning & we slept peacefully until 6:30am. Now, no this is not my ideal night of sleep, but I am choosing to cherish it in my heart forever. Because I know when my son is grown & living on his own I will remember last night & thank God for it once again!
I write this now as Josiah is taking a morning nap, which he never does anymore, but after a day & night like last, he sure did need it. & I'm sipping my coffee & looking out the window at another beautiful day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice & be glad in it!
Lovin mommy-hood,
Kate
Well after a few hours out & about & a sun burn later (ouch!), we took time out to play & then eat lunch. I tried putting Siah down for a nap at my aunts but it being somewhat unfamiliar, he wouldn't have it. So we went for a walk instead & while singing Jesus Loves Me over & over again, my active, never wants to sit still, lil boy finally fell asleep! For 45 minutes. & well 45 mins is never a long enough nap for that busy of a lil boy. But he adjusted fine & just went on exploring like most lil boys like to do. After we closed up shop for the day, we drove out to Hampshire, with Nana, to see Josiah's uncles & have dinner. Again, Josiah couldn't get enough of play, play, play. On our drive home he took a cat nap & then we played & played some more, squeezed in a bath & went to bed around 8:15pm. I would have loved to put him to bed sooner since we had such a long, busy day, but Josiah is too smart for his britches some times & thinks now since its still light out at 7:30-8, he should be able to stay up longer. Dan got home around 9:45 from a work dinner meeting & we went to bed shortly after.
Okay, so I tell you all this so you know a little bit how I felt when Josiah woke up at 3am = ) I was exhausted, I was pooped, I was frustrated, I was sad, well you get the picture! So I sat up with him for close to an hour rocking him, & it didn't take me long to realize how precious my son is all cuddled up in my arms on my lap & how blessed I am to be able to hold him & comfort him. This doesn't happen very often anymore (where I get to hold him & rock him), so I knew I had to cherish the moment. So cherish I did. I started singing worship songs to my God, & thanking him for entrusting such a sweet lil boy to me.
But... after an hour I figured it was time to lay him back down in his crib. Well... he didn't like that too much. So for the first time in a LONG time, I brought our almost 14 month old into bed with us at 4:20 in the morning & we slept peacefully until 6:30am. Now, no this is not my ideal night of sleep, but I am choosing to cherish it in my heart forever. Because I know when my son is grown & living on his own I will remember last night & thank God for it once again!
I write this now as Josiah is taking a morning nap, which he never does anymore, but after a day & night like last, he sure did need it. & I'm sipping my coffee & looking out the window at another beautiful day the LORD has made. Let us rejoice & be glad in it!
Lovin mommy-hood,
Kate
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Psalm 103
I have been continuing my journey of reading through the Bible chronologically again this year & it has again been so instrumental to my faith & my walk with Christ. Not to mention our new series at church, Authentic Jesus, as we go through the book of John verse by verse, I am falling more & more in love with Jesus my Savior. The past few weeks I've been reading through the Psalms, & although they are all SO good, Psalm 103 is what I keep going back to & reading over & over again. It starts by saying,
"Bless the LORD, O my soul, and all that is within me, bless his holy name!
Bless the LORD, O my soul, & forget not all his benefits-who forgives all your sins
and heals all your diseases, who redeems your life from the pit and crowns
you with love & compassion..."
Just those words alone give me goosebumps. I think of the song by Matt Redman, 10,000 Reasons (Bless the Lord), & every time I hear it I have to stop what I'm doing & praise the LORD! Does that ever happen to you? There are so many reasons to worship our LORD Jesus- he forgives me of my sins & washes me white as snow, he has saved me from hell, he is HOLY & for all his goodness I will keep on singing! The Psalm goes on to say in verse 8-
"The LORD is compassionate & gracious, slow to anger, abounding in love.
He will not always accuse, nor will he harbor his anger forever;
he does not treat us as our sins deserve or repay us according to our iniquities.
For as high as the heavens are above the earth, so great is his love for those who fear him..."
I'm so thankful for God's amazing grace. I'm so thankful that God is love. I'm so thankful that even though I deserve death, he gives me life everlasting.
Bless the LORD, O my soul, O my soul, worship his holy name.
Sing like never before, O my soul, I'll worship your holy name.
You're rich in love, & you're slow to anger.
Your name is great, & your heart is kind.
For all your goodness, I will keep on singing,
Ten thousand reasons for my heart to find.
Thank you Matt Redman for making this Psalm come to life for me. Thank you LORD for all the reasons you are GOOD! I bless your name FOREVER! I LOVE you Jesus! Praying you too fall more in love with the God of the universe as you read his word.
Princess of the King,
Kate
Thank you Matt Redman for making this Psalm come to life for me. Thank you LORD for all the reasons you are GOOD! I bless your name FOREVER! I LOVE you Jesus! Praying you too fall more in love with the God of the universe as you read his word.
Princess of the King,
Kate
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