Faithful & Obedient

Since I am new to blogging many of you that are checking out my posts for the first time have no clue who I am or what has been going on in my life.  Well today I can fill you in a little!  People that know my husband and I know that we love kids.  In fact we love to give to kids and for Christmas purchased gifts for two families whose kids we love!  We would have done more but my husband was on workman's comp because the ladder he was on broke while he was on it 20ft in the air working. (Not a fun call to get while you are at work)  He was fortunate to only break is collar bone.  Anyhow, that is a story in and of itself!

Back to kids - Peter and I have been married for 5-1/2 years and almost 2-1/2 years ago decided that we were ready to start a family.  Unlike a lot of people this has not been an easy road for us.  Throughout trying I was laid off from my teaching job, brought back, had my hours reduced... story of many peoples lives right now.  This just added stress as if the entire process was not stressful enough!  Long story short we are still do not have any kids!  I have been tested Peter has been tested, and we are finally ready to embark on trying out fertility.  We went a few weeks ago to visit and talk with a Doctor in Grand Rapids.  Tomorrow (Thursday 3/1/12) will be my first ultrasound.  I have not had an IUI treatment yet, but tomorrow during the ultrasound they will be able to tell me how my eggs are looking.  From here we will be able to set up the first IUI procedure. 

Some of our friends know about this others to not.  I have been praying for faithfulness and obedience with whatever God's plan is.  I know that his plan is the perfect one and if we are able to conceive this way then that is awesome.  If he wants us to head down a different path then he will send us there.  Please pray that we are patient, faithful & obedient.  If you have ever been through fertility you can get very anxious so you know where my brain is at right now.

If you are reading this and have went through fertility either successfully or not I would love to hear about it.

Fun new Wreath

I finally put the finishing touches on a new wreath for my dining room door.  I had a yarn wreath there and just wanted something new. 

So, here it is......



The wreath is wrapped with burlap and then I cut out about 75/85 - 2 & 3" circles and just placed them all over.  Some are layered others are not.  Lastly, I cut pieces from the fabric I used and just tied a simple bow at the top of the wreath.

Eventful weekend

Quite an eventful weekend

Who doesn't love the weekend?  I especially love weekends that are full of fun ending with a lazy Sunday! 

My Friday night started with dinner at Rockwell's downtown Grand Rapids for my friend Erin's birthday.  It was so much fun to catch up with her and some others that I used to teach with.  Here is a picture of me with my favorite two Spanish teachers!

Saturday started off with a nice long walk outside with my baby Celia!  Then I got ready and headed out for breakfast with my sister-in-law Kara.  We were on a mission to plan my sister's bridal shower and bachelorette party!  We went to Wealthy Street Bakery and each had amazing danishes!  After we were done we did a little antique shopping.  I have been looking for a bench to go with my new dining room table and chairs.  The bench that came with the set was $500 and I thought WOW - I think I can find something else way cheaper.  Guess what I did!!  I found the bench below on Saturday for $35.  It is the perfect length and everything for my table.  Although I bought it re-finished already I will have to re-finish it again because the green does not go with my decor! I think that I will be leaving the top as is (because it matches my table) and staining the bottom black.  If anyone has any good techniques for staining furniture to make it look antiqued and rustic let me know!  Also in the picture below is a planter that I got after my grandma passed away.  I just put some stuff inside it right now that looks horrible, but that also needs to be re-finished and I am not sure how I want to do it yet.

After getting my bench on Saturday I went to buy material for a purse that I am going to make next weekend with some of my girlfriends.  Yes we are going to have a sewing party!  Here is a picture of my fabric selections - I will post a picture of the purse/bag when it is done!

Now Saturday evening - Peter and I were invited to a friends surprise party and everyone was to bring a munchie.  I decided to try something new that I found on Pinterest.  The carmel apple dip that I made was a hit and so easy I would do it again in an instant!  In the picture from Pinterest (below) they show it package very nicely for a gift, since I made it for a party I put it in a pie plate.  The ingrediants were 1 container of the T. Marzettis (not sure I spelled that right) carmel apple dip, 8oz. of cream cheese (I used light cream cheese because it is softer and I thought it would be easier to mix in carmel) and then lastly I topped it off with heath bar candy pieces.  It was really good and somewhat healthy right since I used low fat cream cheese and apples were involved!  Although the apple dip was good, it was fun to be with all our friends for an evening of games, fun and laughter! 

Finally Sunday - The Lord's Day came, which is my favorite day of the week, and we were able to go to church and worship!  Had great sermon on why it is important to use our spiritual gifts, and then a nice relaxing day at home.  Now I am off to bed to watch Glory Road with my husband.  Have a great night!





First Day of Lent

I am a day late on getting this posted, but my husband was so sick yesterday that it just got put on the back burner!

How many people have asked you what you are giving up for Lent?  Typically when you hear the work Lent we think of the Catholic faith.  However, more and more churches are taking the 40 days of Lent to really meditate and fast as we lead up to Easter.  Last year I gave up sweets for Lent and it was hard at first because I LOVE York Peppermint Patties!  This year I thought about giving up a food, or facebook, or even TV, but then I heard someone on the radio talk about how instead of giving up something they are giving something everyday!  I then began to think – what can I give??  I finally decided that I am going to give of my time and write one letter to someone everyday!

This is not going to be an email or a facebook post, but rather the real deal.  A letter sent the old fashioned way by the post office.  My plan for this letter is to share my two words that I am focusing on for Lent (sorry not going to disclose in this post) and reflect on a verse from the Bible.  By writing a letter everyday for Lent it is going to allow me to spend time in the Word of God.  I am very excited for these next 40 days and all the people that will surprisingly be picking a letter out of their mailbox.

My first letter went out this morning and I sent the first one to nun other than my Grandma Sabin.  She has been such a strong role model for how to live a Godly life that I couldn’t of picked a better person! 

I would love to hear all the other amazing things that people are doing for Lent so leave a comment.