Tidbits.

- Our church broke ground on Sunday for our new building.  The church has been meeting in an Elementary school for the past 15 (or more?) years, so this is HUGE!  We are so excited about the possibilities that we'll finally have once we're on our own property.

- Tyler and I are going to a marriage retreat next weekend and I can't wait.  We get to stay overnight downtown (again, yay!) and spend some time in the Word together.  I'm also excited to get to know some couples from our church that we don't know well!

- Erin Condren is running another promo through Plum District... you get $50 worth of goodies for $25!  Click here to purchase. 

- I love the age Cohen is at right now.  There's definitely frustrating times for us both since he's not talking yet, but this age of learning and growing and just being silly is SO fun.  This was one of my favorite ages with Jaxon as well.

- I have been running lately and in the last month or so have really started enjoying it.  My Sister is the runner, not me, so this is definitely a whole new world for me.  Of course, just as I've started enjoying it, my knees are not having it.  They ache and burn all.day.long, even on the days I don't run. I had knee surgery in high school and the surgeon told me I would never be able to be a runner... for a long time I used that as an excuse, but now I'm starting to believe it... and I'm super bummed about it.  As we speak, I've just taken more ibuprofen and have ice on them.  Big sad face.

- Yesterday my friend Andrea and I went out for coffee and then took the boys to storytime at the library.  The coffee shop had a big play area for kids which I thought was GENIUS!  Non-mommy's might disagree, but I loved it.

- I am in another redecorating mood and I think my living room is next on my hit list.  I love this rug but can't decide if it's too modern for my house, as much as I don't want it to be!

- We're looking into buying a cow (for the quality + better price) but haven't had any luck yet.  I've gotten a couple leads, but both are too expensive at $4-5 a pound.  I know it's better quality, but at this point in our lives we're just looking to save money, not have the best meat on the market.

- We have a super busy weekend ahead, but I'm looking forward to it!  It will be one packed to the brim with family and friends... one of my favorite kinds!

Talking vs. Praying.

As you all know from a few posts back, the desire to want to live in Iowa someday is pretty great in my heart.  The night we got home from our visit there, we were on our porch watching the boys play and could hardly hear each other speak because of the interstate traffic.  Suddenly I felt the discontentment of city life reaching an all-time high and since then, Tyler and I have had multiple conversations about what we're going to do.

The interstate traffic is a pretty easy fix, just by moving to a different house.  The problem is this... we've moved 7 times in the past 6 years.  Moving "across town" doesn't sound appealing, even in the smallest way.

So, then we talked about buying.  With rates at an all-time low and our credit scores at an all-time high, we thought this seemed like a good option.  Only to take a couple steps back and say "but, is this where we want to live for the next 5-10 years?"  The answer is no.

We keep talking... and talking... and talking about different scenarios.  The "what if we did this" conversation rolls off our tongues on a nightly basis, basically just going no where, because there's too many unknowns at this point.

Then I stumbled across this...

{source}

... and it hit me like a ton of bricks.

We've tried to manage this and make this decision on our own without even consulting the one who ultimately decides.  

I am seriously convicted about it today as I think about how true it is... even on a day to day basis.  When I'm stressed out, or hurt, or EXCITED... I am so quick to call my husband! Call my Mom and Sister! Text my family and friends! ... without even praying about it or before I even talk about it with the Lord.  Either asking for wisdom, or thanking him for the blessing of whatever exciting just came my way.

We have certainly done a lot of talking and not a lot of praying about our future.  I don't know about you, but I find extreme comfort in knowing He already has it all worked out.

His plans are so much better than mine anyway. 

Hello Monday.

hello monday... I really can't believe you're here again.

hello time spent with my best friend friday night... good for my soul!

hello playing 'baseball' in the back yard

hello scary weather all weekend, so thankful that we are safe!

hello quality time spent with my husband 

hello busy week ahead

hello groundbreaking at church yesterday... can't wait for our new building!

hello lack of motivation to get to the gym... help.

hello baking cookies today for small group

hello being thankful for a "mundane" past couple weeks... a little bit of calm is always welcome

hello praying hard about our future

hello needing to get started on our passports for our trip to Canada in July... yikes

hello boys really starting to play together and become friends... finally I'm starting to believe all of those people who told me "they'll be the best of friends!" 

hello my boys ALWAYS looking dirty in pictures.  it's true, boys will be boys.  

my husband tells me I need to get used to the dirt. 

how was your weekend?  anything fun happen? 

Still believing.

Talking with my Mom today, I was reminded of something.

In the good days where you're on top of the world and everything is going well, and on the horrible days when you get bad news from a doctor and you feel it all falling down on you, the Lord's love is the same. We continue to look to the cross. 

It's easy to jump to "why me... why did this happen... what did I do wrong... what could we have done differently", and yet one thing remains and stands true.  His unfailing, steadfast, true love for us.  His love never fails, never gives up, never runs out on us. 

My heart is so heavy and I've cried off and on in the last day alongside my best friend and her husband.  Brian got some not-great news from their doctor yesterday about his cancer, and I feel broken for her.  Helpless.  So badly wanting to make it all right for them.  I can't try and comprehend how she must be feeling, but when someone close to you hurts, you hurt right alongside them and with them.

She may not believe it, but I still do.  I am believing for a complete healing over Brian's body.

It is okay to cling to someone else's hope when you don't have any left.  

God asks us to be patient, remain hopeful and keep praying. (Romans 12:12) Our time is not His time. 

I believe in a God who heals, one who protects, redeems, delivers, and comforts us in our need.  I am so thankful that He is right there with Angie and Brian today.  He sees the big picture.  He knows all, sees all, and IS all.

Will you join me in praying for them today?

I love you Ang.
xoxo

As soon as I pray, you answer me;

    you encourage me by giving me strength.

Psalm 138:3

Hey there.

Has it really been 2 weeks since I've blogged?

Sorry about that.

My 4 days in Arizona was a blast... I was able to spend some quality time with my parents and family who I don't see near enough, take some wedding pictures, and even had an entire morning of sitting by the pool with a book and coffee.  But by Sunday morning, I was more than ready to be home... I missed my boys!

Last week every waking moment was spent with them.  Between being sick for 9 days and then being out of state for 4 days the following week, my Mama-meter was in overdrive.

Then this past weekend we traveled to Iowa for Easter... first, we spent a couple days with Tyler's family for his Mom's birthday, and then Saturday night we traveled a bit south to help my Sister + her hubby move into their new house.

We had a great time at both places and talked a lot on the way home about how we love the way small towns force you to slow down. Being in the country, or even in a tiny town really helps you to just be.  Of course living there you don't realize it... you just focus on the fact that the nearest Target is 45 minutes away and all of the drama that abounds, but from the outside looking in, that life seems inviting.

Growing up in a small town and really loving my childhood is making me want that for my boys.

A town that they can ride their bike to their friends house and just be home by a certain hour.
Dirty cars from gravel roads.
No interstates or heavy traffic.
A low cost of living.
My boys spending hours outdoors and needing a bath from having too much fun.
Little to no crime.
Fresh air... green grass... corn and bean fields surrounding.
Older homes full of character.

I bet you can guess what is on my mind today.  :)

I have had to make a conscious effort today to try and stay positive and be thankful for what we have here in Kansas City.  Great friends, a roof over our heads, and hundreds of stores and restaurants just a couple blocks away.

But man, oh man... I think I left my heart in Iowa this weekend.