Thankful

^^^ Maeva at 2 days old^^^

I didn't plan on starting up on blogging right away and maybe it won't be an every day thing, but I do enjoy it and I do feel like it today, so here I am!

I'm overwhelmed today by so much. Overwhelmed by love for my little family... 

James, Braden, Maeva... I just love them so much, I'm sure that if love could make my heart explode, it surely would. I'm overwhelmed with thankfulness... there is so much to be thankful for! 

I'm thankful for Maeva and how perfect she is. So adorable and precious to my mama heart. 

I'm thankful for a great doctor and that the c-section went well. Thankful I'm recovering quickly.

Thankful for James and the fact that he is so caring and doing whatever I may need.

Cleaning, cooking, taking care of our babies, letting me nap. 

Thankful for parents, in laws, and grandparents who bring us food and buy us crock-pots! ;)

Thankful that they are willing to take care of our sweet big boy while we had our daughter.

Thankful that they are willing to come and play with him. 

Thankful that they love on him to show him that he is still just as loved. 

I'm thankful that Braden is adjusting well to his little sister.

That he wasn't too mad at us...

 for leaving him with grandma for a few days while we were at the hospital.

That does mean sleepovers for him in our bed though because he missed us so much! 

I'm thankful that my husband was able to take time off work and be home with us.
Thankful that we are able to just be a family for a few days before things go back to "normal." 

I wish this was our normal...him at home...always all of us together. 

I'm thankful that we were blessed with another baby. 

I was talking to James today and told him that when it was just him, Braden and I, it was perfect, but now with Maeva, its even more perfect.

I'm thankful that God trusts us with these little ones. 

I'm thankful for the life we have. 

Our babies.

Each other. 

Caring, loving people, around us.

Jesus... especially Him because of Him this is the life we have. 

All that matters is Him and them

Today I want to write about something that has been on my heart for a while. I've been meaning to write it out, but for some reason, just haven't. I guess maybe because I'm a bit embarrassed by the truth, Or I don't want others to feel like I'm judging them. 

Blogging has changed for me. I mean, its still about writing things out, still about sharing my heart. 

There's one area I've noticed a change in...And its wanting. Wanting more things. I read a ton of blogs, so many that I cannot keep up with them all. I read lots of posts that are heartfelt, inspiring, encouraging, uplifting, but I also read posts about fashion, products, books, blog conferences. 

And those posts... they leave me wanting things. 

I hate that. I'm embarrassed by that. 

I read blogs and at times come away wanting things I didn't know I wanted until I read that post. 

I get on twitter and see tweets about things people just bought or want. 

I see the same on pinterest and even facebook at times. 

And all those posts leave me wanting more than I have. 

They leave me feeling ungrateful for what I do have. 

They leave me wishing I had more money.
At times it causes me to spend more than I should.

I hate that. I cringe at that. 

I guess its one of the reasons I haven't been keeping up with blogs as much as I used to.
I don't get on blogger to read blogs the way I used to. 

Because I don't want to be ungrateful. Because I don't need more. 

Because I don't need to spend money that we don't have. 

Because I just don't like the feeling of wanting. 

Because things really don't matter. 

The bank account may never be huge and I'm okay with that because money isn't really what matters. 

What matters most is God and my family. 

Really I don't need anything more than that.

Give me Jesus and give me my husband and babies and all is right in the world.

That's all I want, that's all I need.

Is this a struggle for anyone else? How do you deal with it, if it is? 

A list of inspiration

Today I'm linking up with Gussy Sews for her monthly inspiration workshop!
Have you checked it out? If you haven't, I suggest you do!
Maybe you'll be inspired or find some blogs you just love! =)
Plus her blog is one of my favorites!

This months prompt is readers choice! So what inspires you?
There's so much that can inspire a person and we are all inspired by different things.
Look around your life, what inspires you on a daily basis? Is it your husband? Your children? God?
Look inside yourself, what deep inside you inspires you? Is it love? Is it Truth? Is it dreams? Passions?

Sometimes in life its hard to be inspired. Life is busy and full.
At times it doesn't feel like there is any time to be inspired!
But if we take a few moments, just a few, I'm sure we can find one thing (if not more) that inspires us!

A few things that inspire me:

^^^ picture taken by Nikki Wiarda^^^

My family.

There is no one in this world who inspires me more when it comes to passions and dreams than my husband. He's been flying for a couple years now and works so hard at it. He has gotten multiple licenses and is a flight instructor. It is his passion, his dream to one day fly for an airline. He's working towards that and never gives up! I have no doubt in my mind that one day it will be a reality for him. 

It really is inspiring to watch him dream of this because I've never seen someone work so hard at something! He also works his tail off to provide for us and that inspires me because his job isn't always easy, but he does it, to provide for us and so I can stay home with our children. Blessed by him, truly.

James doesn't know this (and he'll probably find out reading this ;) that he inspires me to think more about how I treat people and makes me realize that often that needs to be different. Often, I'm not the nicest to my husband. What wife is, all the time? What husband is all the time? What person is all the time? No one, but sometimes my words are pretty mean. In those instances where they aren't so nice, he makes me think about my attitude and how it needs to be changed. He makes me realize I should consider my words before I open my mouth. A hard lesson to learn most of the time! So even though I don't always enjoy this, thank you honey! Love you!

My children inspire me. Braden has since he was growing inside me and continues to on a daily basis.

Maeva, inspires now, even though she still has a few more days (11- oh my) of growing to do. They may not know it now, but one day I will tell them how they have inspired their mama. Inspired me to be more patient, to love more fully, to slow down daily, to thank God more, to be more thankful, to be a better parent, to be a better wife to their daddy.  

Excuse me while I cry now. Making this pregnant lady emotional! 

The word of God.

I've written about She Reads Truth a few times, but want to say more about it. Don't know what it is? You should definitely check it out because I promise you, you will not be disappointed, but uplifted and inspired! She Reads Truth is an online community of women who are reading the word together. We use the you version Bible app to go through devotionals together and share what we are learning via instagram by posting on twitter, on our blogs, or on the website. I really cannot tell you how much this has inspired me. I've written before that its been a long time since I've read the word of God on a daily basis, but really its deeper than that! I do not remember the last time I read the word this much because well, I've never read the word this much! I've never picked up my Bible pretty much on a daily basis and never felt accountability like this! It is amazing! 

Its one of the best things to go to the word of God every day. I find encouragement in the word. I find understanding, peace, love, hope. It helps my days go better and me feel better. I'm also more connected in my relationship with God then I have been in a while! I am so thankful for this and I find it pretty inspiring that all this started because two women knew that they needed to be in the word more, so they shared it and more and more women kept on joining! How awesome is that?

My own heart. 

At times I find inspiration when all is quiet in the world. When I'm lying in bed unable to sleep or while driving in the car, with the radio off, while the toddler sleeps. My dreams aren't necessarily gigantic, but they are mine and that's what matters. I dream about traveling to different places and seeing the world. I dream about going back to Hawaii because really, I fell in love with the beauty of it. I dream of living by the beach, of being able to go there whenever I want and looking out at the huge ocean God created.  I dream of becoming a photographer, of actually figuring out how to use my camera and being good at it. I dream about creativity - how I'd love to be able to draw or do graphic design. I dream about writing a book. So many dreams in my heart and the truth is, with time and patience a lot of them could probably come true! 

There's much more I could write about when it comes to inspiration in my life, but I'm not trying to write a book here! ;) So tell me, what inspires you?

Anniversary

Happy 2nd Anniversary to my wonderful husband! 

I can't believe its been two years because I remember it like it was yesterday. 

It's been two years of...

Love.

Good times and hard times.

A baby boy and a baby girl (soon)...

Traveling.

Flying.

Dreaming. 

Prayers. 

And so much more.

I love you James and am so glad I married you.

Thank you being a wonderful husband and loving me no matter what.

Maternity session

A few weekends ago we had some family/maternity pictures taken

by a friend of mine from junior high school. 

I'm very thankful that I have friends who are talented in this area,

as being able to document our family and capture us well, is important to me. 

I'm also thankful that the weather wasn't at its hottest during this session.

There are lots of pictures, but here are a few of my favorite! 

^^^My favorite. Such a big boy!^^^

^^^Hoop by TBlendings^^^

Love these pictures and will cherish the memories for the rest of life. 

Photos taken by Nikki Wiarda. 

Remembering our first date

^^^^ our first photo together ^^^^

Our first date was a few months before that picture was taken and it was different than most first dates. James and I had gone to junior high together, but we don't really recall one another even though we knew some of the same people and the school wasn't that big. We always joke that maybe there's a reason we can't remember one another -- maybe I couldn't stand his junior high self or maybe I was too awkward looking ;). James started talking to me via facebook when I was still away at college, when I was still a girl who was pretty darn sure I wasn't going to fall in love or let a guy near my heart EVER again. But we connected, talking about God and he mentioned maybe hanging out sometime, going to a movie, "just as friends". 

Honestly, I never thought it'd actually happen. I don't go out with people I don't know. Yet, when it came up again I was okay with the idea. I wasn't uncomfortable about going out with someone I'd never met. I wasn't freaked out. Totally a God thing. So we made plans to meet at the movies. I remember sitting outside the movie theater waiting for James, thinking it was really weird that I wasn't shakily nervous. We saw each other and as we walked towards one another I couldn't help but think about good looking he was. Much more good looking than his facebook pictures told. ;) James always tells me that I had a halo around my head. I laugh and look at him like he is nuts. 

Can I just say that first dates are awkward? Maybe more so for a girl? Especially when you say its just as friends? I wasn't sure about the whole "is he going to buy my ticket and how do I know?" But he did and it was only awkward on the inside. =) We went into the movie theater and shared a bit about our lives. I remember him telling me about his parents, that they were strong Catholics and that he had 9 brothers and sisters, that he was the baby. I was so surprised that he had that many siblings -- just WOW. I told him about my family and church. We talked about others things, I am sure, but those are the things I remember the most. 

The movie started and we watched for a while, but it (The Surrogates) was awful and we ended up walking out. We decided to go to Old Chicago and get something to eat. For some reason, it got strange here. I think it was me, really, having to eat in front of someone. Tell me I'm not the only girl with this issue, please!?! We ordered pizza and I barely ate a thing. We awkwardly looked at each other, not sure of what to say. At one point James said something like, "you know this isn't a date right?" HA! Oh my goodness... so awkward... but I think it was all nerves, really and not knowing what to say. I think I smiled and said okay or something lame. 

After that he asked if I'd like to go flying with him (I'm sure this came up at the movie theater as well) and I accepted.  Apparently he didn't want this "non-date" to end! ;) On the way to the airport we talked more and it was more awkward. I remember James saying something about how when guys and girls hang out it always feels like a date, even if it isn't. We laugh about this now because really, it was a date. =)

We got to the airport and I remember waiting as he got the plane ready. He stepped up onto the plane to check something and I remember seeing his shoe and in that instant I remember thinking, "I could fall head over heels in love with this guy." It scared me to death because remember I was the girl who wasn't going to fall in love or let a guy near her heart ever again. I think about that almost every time we go flying now... We went up in the sky and overlooked the city at night. It was so nice and I liked seeing his confidence in what he was doing. 

After that we drove back to my car and exchanged a few words about having fun.  We got out of his car and I quickly got into my car so he wouldn't touch me (ha, a long story about me not liking to be touched). We laugh about that now too. =) After that night we were pretty much together every night from then on, going on lots of non-dates. ;) 

I'm happy we went on all those non-dates. They led us to where we are now. 

Love you James. 

Linking up with Gussy Sews Inspiration Workshop about date nights.

I'm thankful God

Gave me these boys to love.

I love them so much.

Thank You God for placing James in my life 

And trusting me to be Braden's mother.

Thank You.

My side of the story

A few weeks ago my husband wrote this post about the first night we'd met. 

I decided to write about the night from my view point. I wrote about it a bit here, but vaguely, so here I go into it a more deeply.

I was sitting outside AMC theater waiting for James, this guy I'd never met. I remember thinking how strange it was that I wasn't super nervous. I didn't quite understand because these things (as in meeting people I've never met before - especially a guy) normally made me nervous, so nervous that I usually refused. But with James, I didn't get that feeling. I sat there, just patiently waiting and then I saw him and he saw me. I got up to walk towards him and even before I got super close I remember thinking to myself, this guy is really good looking. I don't know why this took me by surprise - I mean, I'd seen his facebook (ha ha), but it didn't do him justice. We introduced ourselves and went to get our tickets. This was a bit awkward for me because before getting together we'd established that we were just hanging out as friends, so I was like is the guy going to pay and if so is this a date (this goes through every girl's head right...I'm not strange right)? He paid and we went to find our seats to view the movie Surrogates. We talked and talked. We talked about our families (how I had one sister and he had 9 other siblings), how we went to the same junior high and both grew up Catholic, and things we liked to do (for instance, he loves to fly). The movie started and it was awful. I'm pretty sure it was the first movie I've ever walked out of. After the movie we went to Old Chicago where we ordered a pizza and talked more about our lives. At one point he said, "you know this isn't a date right?" It was SO awkward. I, of course, said that I knew because well, any other thing would have just made it more awkward. He asked me, after dinner, if I'd like to go flying with him. I said I would and as we drove we talked more about this not being a date. I remember James saying something about how this may not be a date, but whenever guys and girls hang out it always seems like a date. Part of me laughed inside because I knew that this conversation was more then conversation or he wouldn't  be saying such things. When we got ready to fly James had to put fuel in the plane and he stepped up onto the side of the plan by my window. In that moment I knew I was in trouble. In that moment I knew I could fall for this guy and I could fall hard. It scared me. Its all I could think about while up in the air looking at the night down around us. Its all I could think about as he drove me back to my car. Its all I could think about as I quickly got out of his car and into mine to drive away. 

I thought about this night for a long time. I still do sometimes. 

The whole time we were going on "non-dates" I kept on thinking about this night and the moment I knew I could fall hard. I tried to fight it, I really did, but you can't fight what God has for you, you can't fight love.

(A picture from a recent date night)

Love you James Matthew Rew

Even then...

I love days when...

The sun is shining, but its not too hot.

When I capture great things with my camera.

 I get to spend them with my husband even if its just running errands.

My baby boy is so happy and wanting to explore the world. 

I get to eat things I've been craving like pizza and ice cream (always craving this).

I get to lay in bed cuddling with my husband and just watch t.v.

I hear worship music that speaks to my heart. L

Oh, and when there are fun giveaways where you can enter to win 4 gussysew headbands.

I would love them and so would you! Go here to enter. 

I am blessed

Very, very blessed.

Thank You Jesus.

One day as mama

Its inspiration workshop at Gussysews! The prompt was "One day in your life." So, here you go!

Mmmm starbucks, I love you so much. Iced coffee is my fav. By this time I'd already fed my boy, put him back down, and went to the dr. Just drinking my coffee and blogging, while he was sleeping. 

Waking up from a nap. "Mom, why do you have that in my face now?"

 He got so excited about being in his highchair because....

it meant food. =)

Reaching for the camera. He does that a lot.

Playing with his toys. He does this a lot. 

 Some mama time. He's distracted by something else. 

Fighting nap time. This is a regular occurrence and it is so horrible. 

Meeting a puppy, who liked to give him kisses. Braden loved talking to her!

 Having coffee (at starbucks again...) with a dear friend. We've know each other since freshman year of college and she's such a good friend! She's been gone for a while, in Canada. So good to catch up! This is the 3rd time she's been around Braden.

This is Braden passed out after not sleeping all day even though he was tired. Sorta my fault. This didn't last long then. Over-tired babies are not fun for anyone!

Daddies home! 

Giving our boy rasberries on his belly. He just laughs and laughs. Wonderful sound!

Reading the Bible. Husband is funny. 

There you have it. Not everything about the day, but a huge chunk.