A favorite.

My wonderful SIL introduced our family to this recipe while we were out vacationing in Colorado this past January. The first time I had it, I had just gotten over the flu so it wasn't my favorite thing ever. The second time I had it a few weeks later, it was. And ever since being pregnant, it is the one thing that I cannot get enough of. In fact the other night when I made this, I made enough for 6 people so that I could have leftovers. And leftovers again the next day ... and the next.



So ladies and gentlemen, here's what ya need to make Stack-ups.

Rice
Chicken (about 1 breast per person or so)
Cream of Chicken and Chicken Broth (equal parts, 1 can of each or 2 cans of each, you get the idea.)
Green onion
Celery
Shredded cheddar cheese
Pineapple
Coconut
Water Chestnuts (not pictured, because I forgot it this time)
Chow Mein Noodles
Salt. Lots of it.

Boil the chicken, then shred it. Mix the cream of chicken and chicken broth, heat it up. Then take the green onion, celery, and pineapple and cut them into small pieces. Then to make your plate you start with the rice, add your chicken, and then "stack" everything else on top. If it's your first time, I would recommend being brave and trying everything. Then you can figure out what you do/don't like for the second time around. But believe me, as weird as it sounds, the pineapple and coconut are my two favorite things. Finally, pour broth over top of everything and add salt. And lots of it. Mix it all together and enjoy ... heaven on a plate.

Temptation.

I love TOMS. Not only are they cute AND the most comfy shoe on earth, but they give a pair to a child/person in need every time you buy a pair. How much better could it get? Well, it just did. It got better. Today I got an email saying they now have them available in toddler sizes.

How can I resist? I mean, seriously! Look at how cute they are.




Step away from the website, Megan.

Resist the urge to "add to cart" ...

A newborn's conversation with God.

Received this as an email the other day and just had to share it ... it makes me cry every time!

A baby asked God, "They tell me you are sending me to earth tomorrow, but how am I going to live there being so small and helpless?"

God said, "Your angel will be waiting for you and will take care of you."

The baby inquired further, "But tell me, here in heaven I don't have to do anything but sing and smile to be happy."

God said, "Your angel will sing for you and will also smile for you. And you will feel your angel's love and be very happy."

Again the baby asked, "And how am I going to be able to understand when people talk to me if I don't know the language?"

God said, "Your angel will tell you the most beautiful and sweet words you will ever hear, and with much patience and care, your angel will teach you how to speak."

"And what am I going to do when I want to talk to you?"

God said, "Your angel will place your hands together and will teach you how to pray."

"Who will protect me?"

God said, "Your angel will always talk to you about Me and will teach you the way to come back to Me, even though I will always be next to you."

At that moment there was much peace in Heaven, but voices from Earth could be heard and the baby hurriedly asked, "God, if I am to leave now, please tell me my angel's name."

God said, "You will simply call her, "Mom".

Morbid.

If given the opportunity, would you want to know when (and how) you're going to die?

Don't know why I thought of that today. Just curious what you think.

Second chances.

Remember the whole Ted Haggard scandal?

Most of you probably don't know that Pastor Ted was my pastor while I was in college. Because of the school and program I was enrolled in at the church, we were required to attend staff meetings every week at New Life church. A lot of people hated these meetings, but I personally loved them. It was a time to worship with all of the staff, to hear a lot of "behind the scenes" things, and to hear Pastor Ted speak to his staff members. To hear what was on his heart and a lot of times just to hear/see him be silly and relaxed. I really respected Pastor Ted.

Then the scandal happened. I remember the exact time I heard about it. I was driving from Palm Springs, CA to Olathe, KS (when we were moving there) and my best friend Angie was in the front seat at the time. We happened to stumble across some guy talking about it on the radio and of course it caught my attention. I remember sticking up for him from the beginning, saying they were false allegations and there was no way he had done the things that were being said about him. They even played this audio clip of him talking and I said "nope, that's not him." In the back of my mind I thought it sounded like him, but there was no way I could believe that this leader that I really respected could have done this.

Then, come to find out, most of those things were true. I was completely heart-broken. At first I felt betrayed, like he had been living this false life the entire time he was leading New Life. Then over time I started getting angry because of all of the media attention. I remember sitting in a church in KS the following Sunday and the Pastor mentioned the situation and prayed that we could all be stronger than temptation, and I was offended that this Pastor had made Ted seem so high and mighty above sin, like he should have been a better Christian and this wouldn't have happened. As time went on, it seemed like that settled as most people's mind-set of him. That if he would have just been stronger, a better leader, or a better Christian, that this wouldn't have happened. UGH... to this day I could still go on and on about the situation. And a lot of people don't understand why I defend him.

Here's why I defend him. Ted is human. He is just as prone to sin as I am, as you are. Let's get one thing straight: I am not condoning his behavior, what he did, or saying it's okay by any means. What he did was definitely wrong. But in God's eyes, sin is sin... him doing what he did would be the same as you or I telling a 'little white lie'. Yes, he is a Pastor and it says clearly in the bible that he will be judged at a higher standard or level. But who are we to judge him and label him like he should have been perfect? I am sure he battled with many things just like you and I do. One of the biggest differences between us is that he had a bigger support system than we could ever imagine ... I can only guess the thousands of people that would have been there for him and helped him through those tough thoughts and things he was struggling with. I'll say it once, I'll say it a thousand times ... get plugged into a community group or small group. Everyone NEEDS a group of people who you can tell anything to and will pray for you and carry you through the tough times.

This has turned into more of a book than I had planned, but the point of this post ... Pastor Ted started a new church in Colorado Springs out of his barn. I admire him, and I think it is amazing that he is strong enough to go through tragedy and come out the other end of it and go back into ministry. I would love to attend his new church sometime ... he was always a fabulous and energetic speaker.

I believe in him. Many prayers are with you, Pastor Ted and your wife Gayle, in your new adventure.

Tears.

We are still in Denver, but we are packed and loaded and just waiting for the shuttle to arrive to take us to the airport, where I'm just praying Jaxon will sleep on the flight home. Please Lord.

Tyler left for work this morning, and just like last time, we had a couple of good cries and promises to see each other again soon. Had a great time here. Lots of new memories made and learned how to appreciate our time together even more. As Tyler left and his car pulled out of the parking lot, Jaxon started whining, then kicking his legs and eventually tore out of my arms. He ran towards Tyler's car and was screaming "Dad-deeeee!!! Dad-deeeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!"

He didn't do that any other morning while we were here as Tyler would leave. He definitely knows something is going on. My poor, poor baby.

So what did I do... I broke down and cried with him. Because my heart breaks, just like his does, when we have to say goodbye to "Dad-dee". Life is not fair. But it's life, and we'll get through.

Goodbyes do not get easier, just in case you were wondering.

Have you seen this?

I love it.

To the men in my life.

I am the luckiest girl in the world. And here's why.

Not only do I have the BEST Dad ...
... a Dad who has a heart of gold. He cares genuinely for others. He puts himself behind others and puts others wants before his own. He loves authentically. He is real, you never doubt his motives or for the reasons for the things he does.
... a Dad who has been there for me and my family no matter what the circumstances.
... a Dad that has been through so much {ask to hear his testimony sometime!} and has thrived through it all, bringing our family closer together though the hard times.
... a Dad {and Mom!} that has taught me what commitment and true love in your marriage really means.
... a Dad that has shown me and taught me how to express my feelings through worship and music.
... a Dad who LOVES his children and grandchildren. There is no other relationship more important to him than the ones with his family, other than with God of course.
... a Dad who prays. Prays for his family. Prays for his leaders. Prays for his community. "A family who prays together, stays together."
... a Dad who is the spiritual leader in our family.
... a Dad who is amazing. What else can I say?


BUT ... not only do I have the best Dad, but so does my son. I truly have the best husband.

... A husband that loves me unconditionally. He knows my faults, my failures, my dreams, my goals, and loves me and supports me the same.
... A husband knows how to comfort me like no one else.
... A husband who is can be funny and serious in the same sentence, always keeping me on my toes!
... A husband who is dedicated to our marriage, through the thick and thin. Not only to our marriage, but to our family.
... A husband whose goal is to have a stable family and marriage for our kids' sake. And our own, of course.
... A husband that is a hard worker, and who will do anything for our family, no matter the cost.
... A husband who leads our family in prayer every day.
... A husband who loves loves loves his Jaxon baby, and puts their time together and their relationship above anything he wants to do on his own.


Happy Father's Day to all of the amazing men out there ... but especially to my Dad, my husband, and my Father-in-law! Love you all so.very.much.

Funny guy.

Talking about baby names this morning ...

I made my list, Tyler made his.



Yes, you can start feeling sorry for our 2nd born now.

{sorry to anyone who has a child with any of these names ... they just aren't my style!}

Another language?

I am not sure when Jaxon turned into the most talkative little boy I know, but if you knew him at all as a baby baby, this is super unusual for him. I have even expresed concern over time to our pediatrician and family about his lack of speech... everyone always tells me it's just because he's like his Daddy. Anyway lately all of this babble comes out his mouth and I loooove just hearing him go on and on about nothing! I have no idea what he's trying to say but it's fun to have 'conversations' with him anyways!

My Grandma Nancy says it must be because he is hanging out with his mommy so much! Hahahaha. Love it.

Enjoy my 'lil chatter box. {and sorry about my super annoying voice!}

Part two.

On a much, much, much happier note...

... Tyler makes me laugh. Hard. He has the most random personality, he can go from quiet and serious and just randomly make this off-the-wall comment that has tears rolling down my face. A lot of people are not fortunate enough to see that side of him. I love being his wife. Love.it.

... I had one of those "ah-ha" moments realizing that I honestly think the reason the stupid bank fired me was because I was never going to trust God enough to quit. As much as I hated it there and absolutely loathed being a working Mom (hardest thing EVER!), I would have never trusted God enough to quit. I know, that sounds terrible, but I am sure a lot of you can relate to that feeling... thinking you know better. I would have thought there was just no way we could ever survive without my income and wasn't strong enough to risk it all and quit. So here's those fancy bank people laughing thinking that I'm suffering because I don't have them anymore, and here's me laughing because they are soooo wrong. We are not suffering. We are happy and thriving.

... It is such a weird thing being pregnant. First trimester, let's face it, sucks. Puking and my terrible coffee aversion I had ... it was terrible. But now I feel kicks. I feel him moving around. Jaxon lays his head on my belly and {tries} to wrap his hands around me. The sickness is gone, the belly is sticking out there, and it is amazing. I am really trying to enjoy these moments, because I am about 99% sure we're going to be done having kids after this baby boy makes his appearance into this world. So despite the back pain, the RLP (round ligament pain), and having "i'm huge and fat and disgusting" meltdowns... I love these times. I love carrying our second son. It is a miracle.

... I looooove being with Jaxon all day, every day. As overwhelming as it can get at times, I love moments like this:
{watching Barney in the morning}

and like this:
{knocked-out asleep after a fun day at the pool with mommy}

... I love the sunshine. I do not love heat, but I love how sunshine instantly boosts my mood. I love driving down the road with the radio cranked up and windows down just enjoying life. It may be crazy and upside-down, but I have everything I need.

... I think people take advantage of being together with their spouse. Sometimes while I'm sitting at stop lights I look over and see this man and woman sitting there just staring forward. And all I can think is, "hold his hand. Love and remember the small things, even if you are just on your way to the grocery store. At least you're doing it together." I can't wait until the day that Tyler and I can just be together again. I mean, we are right now, because I'm visiting him, but I mean permanently. I think this time away has seriously taught me so much ... I'm learning to love the little things and it's funny how every day since I have been here I have thought about what to wear, and seriously tried to look nice for my husband. He deserves to have a good-looking wife, not someone who is still in PJ's and hasn't showered for a few days when he gets home from a long day at work. Right? Right. I hope I never forget marriage is something to constantly work on and to never get lazy at.

... I love the movie "Pretty Woman". Sometimes when people ask me what my favorite movie is, I can never think of it. So next time, just remind me that my favorite movie is Pretty Woman. I could watch it once a week and never get tired of it. I also like The Notebook, The Holiday, The Proposal, and all of the Bourne movies.

... I was at Target a couple days ago and bought leggings. Aren't you proud of me, sister? I am a little behind (always) on fashion things, that is one thing I wish I would have the motivation to change about myself. I love dressing cute, but I really just don't have that many cute clothes. One day maybe I can give my credit card to my sister and let her buy a new wardrobe for me. Anyways, back to the leggings. A lot of maternity shirts now are really long and they just don't look that cute with shorts or capris. So I thought "hey, maybe I should buy some of those legging things." Later that day when Tyler got home (correction: to the hotel), he said "wow, you look cute!" Score.

... A couple days ago, I went to this really fancy mall a couple miles away from our hotel. Jaxon and I spent... um, 3 hours there... just walking around. People watching. Sitting by the fountain and letting him splash in the water. Walking slow and letting all these rushed people pass me. Sipping on my beloved Starbucks that I can finally drink again without vomiting. And I loved it. I never do things like that... everywhere I go I am always in a hurry. It was so refreshing and relaxing to walk slow and just browse, I had no intention on buying anything (and you'd be proud... I didn't!). You should try it sometime. Just take a moment (or day) and relax. Let life and people pass you by and just enjoy having a slow-paced afternoon.

... I love weddings. And I love that I am the matron of honor in Brian & Angie's wedding. {They have an incredible story, check out their blog!} Their wedding is in October, which means I am going to be... 8 1/2 months pregnant. The really funny thing is that when we were little teenage girls dreaming about our wedding, Angie used to always tell me I would be pregnant in her wedding. She has always been spot on about things like that ... a little freaky, actually. ;) I am so excited for her to be married and experience how much fun it is. I mean, yeah, it's hard work. But it's fun, isn't it?! I love it. And I love her. Cannot wait to see her walking down that aisle.

... Now that I am a SAHM, I am going to try reeeaaallllyyyy hard to: A.) cook more frequently, because my husband loves it when I do. B.) do laundry more frequently, because my husband loves it when I do. C.) Get dressed and 'get ready' every day, even if I am staying home... because my husband loves it when I do. {and so do I! I hate feeling yucky and lazy}. D.) blog and stay in touch with friends. I love it when I do. E.) spend a lot more time with God, and not so much time on facebook. Yes, I am a facebook addict. And I am terrible at devoting specific time with my maker. Because HE loves it when I do, and I do too. So refreshing. F). Find a gym, get a membership, and work out. Because it makes me feel sooo good when I do. And if they have babysitting service, I have no excuse. And... G). Read more. I love to read, just never ever do it.
Those are my goals, hold me to them.

... There's more that I could say, but because I only had two pictures in this post my sister is probably thinking about algebra and other boring things by now, along with the rest of you. I love to blog, I am just not very good at it. But I'll keep trying.

See? No matter how crazy your life is, take a second to reflect on the many good things surrounding you right now. So here's your challenge... write a post about all the good things in your life and the things you love and send it to me. Things are never as bad as they may seem. I promise.

Part one.

I have so much on my mind today, and so much of it is fun things and exciting things... and so much of it is heavy and depressing. So today my posts will be split up between two... part one and part two.

A few weeks ago my Momma and I were chatting about this decision I was trying to make, trying to decide if I could justify finding out the sex of this child with the hubs while I was going to be out in Denver visiting him or wait a few weeks longer and pay nothing (hello, insurance!) and find out alone. Okay, not alone, because a-bazillion people have told me they would love to go with me, but without my husband. You know, not having the whole "holding hands while we look at this amazing creation and miracle full of anticipation finding out whether there is a penis on-board or not." Anyway, my Dad suggested that we should just wait and find out when the baby is born. "Are you kidding me? Do you not know your daughter? I do not do surprises. I hate them." was my reply ... to which my Mom said "isn't that your life right now? A big giant surprise? Not knowing anything about your future at this point?" Ha... thanks for pointing that one out. I said, "yeah, doesn't mean I have to like it NOR would I choose it, if it was up to me."

We decided to find out together because honestly, money is not everything and I really want to cherish every moment I can when I'm with my husband. We found out we are having another BOY !!! There is such a special place in my heart for boys, they love their momma's! I cannot wait to see Jaxon be a big brother, be best friends with his little brother, and to meet this amazing miracle in October.



Life, even though it's completely upside-down right now, is good. Jaxon and I are currently out in Denver visiting Tyler right now, and even though we are living out of a suitcase and our home is a hotel, we are cherishing every moment we get as a family. Each night once Tyler is off work we find something fun to do, even if it's just driving around gawking at the weird people and beautiful mountains, we are together. I love being here with him ... it just makes life feel halfway normal again. Come next Tuesday when I'm boarding the plane to leave, I may have something else to say on this subject.

We got an offer on our house that we are super excited about, and now we are just waiting for the bank to approve the offer and then they will give us a close date that we have to be out of the house by. (it's typically 30-45 days after approval) I am grateful to have my parents and inlaws who have both said they will come out and help this poor pregnant lady pack up a 4-bedroom house. If that tugged at your heart, even just a little, know you are welcome to come join me anytime day or night and help me pack. Cuz seriously, packing 4 bedrooms, 3 baths, a garage, a sub-basement, 2 living rooms, etc ... makes me a little sick to my stomach. Oh, while watching a 16 month old whose life's purpose and goal is to destroy and undo anything I just did. And where am I going to load and move all of these things? That is a really good question. To which I do not have an answer for.

I try not to complain. I really do. And I think I do a decent job of not complaining. But not knowing where we are going to be living in a month or two, being pregnant and not knowing where I am going to give birth to this baby, and feeling so ... alone? It sounds strange, because I'm not alone. My parents, my inlaws, my extended family, my small group & church, my friends, have been nothing but amazing. I know I have a lot of options for where Jaxon and I could live for a few months. But I don't want to be without my husband. But at the same time, I don't want to move 12 hours away from my current home, just to move again weeks after I have a baby.

What would you do? No, seriously. I want to know. Move and unpack, just to move again very shortly after having a c-section... or maybe we won't have to move, if the hubs gets hired directly on after his contract ends. So would you risk it? Or would you move your things to a storage facility and roam from home to home until you have a definite answer as to what direction your husband's job will take you and then go from there? Tyler obviously wants us out here, and I want to be here too, but I don't know. There is too much at stake and being 12 hours from our family and any kind of support system makes me really hesitant.

Regardless I am thankful for a God who continues to show his love and mercy every day. He wraps his arms around me in my down times and comforts me in my alone and scary times. He has poured his love into our lives so many times in the last 6 months, I have lost count. He has proven that he is faithful; never going to leave us or forsake us. He has taught us how to trust and lean on others. And for all of that, I am so thankful.

You deserve an award if you made it through this post. I apologize if you are now depressed after reading this, ha!

As always we appreciate and covet the prayers that are being said for us ... so thank you for that.