sneak peek - tomorrow's giveaway!


just a little sneak peek to the GIVEAWAY...
going on tomorrow!!

oh, AND it includes a discount code to her precious shop!

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make sure you come back tomorrow to enter!!


AND thanks to yall who linked up for the first
PICTURELESS POST linky!
I was so blessed by EACH of you today, for real. :)

AND..I've decided to do it on
Sundays instead of Tuesdays!!
(that way we can just write whats on our hearts that
day while we are wrapping up the weekend with our families!)

to learn more about this link up click here:

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so... itll be back on Sunday the 20th!
Hope yall had a blessed day!!

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pictureless post link-up// giving myself grace


**This link-up is now taking place on SUNDAYS!!**
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Time for Pictureless Post Link-up!
please feel free to join in if you want!!
I know there may not be many, if any, this first time...
but hey, I'm giving it a shot! :)

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first of all, I know there are SO many link-ups out there
that we all LOVE to join up with,
and I've realized since I had this idea that there are several on Tuesdays...
SO...i think I will try and start doing this on Wednesdays instead!
{what do you think about that?
we will just see where this takes us,
but I'm hoping to inspire some of you to link up here!}

The point of this linky party idea
is to encourage us bloggers to
JUST WRITE.
with no worry or time put into the effort it can be to take, upload, organize,
edit, and pick the right pictures for your blog posts.

Just WRITE whatever is on your heart or mind to write.
It might just amaze you how fast it can come out...
uninhibited writing. unedited sharing.:
LIFE.
(read more about this link up here)

So for my first one, here goes.
{just writing to you today.}
I'll keep it short and sweet, since i already wrote that little "intro". :)

This week, today especially,
I have been struggling with and praying about
accepting grace for each day to look differently than I think it should or expect it to.
especially in my job as a mommy.

Like today,
my pregnant self was feeling very pregnant.
exhausted, stiff, hormonal, moody.

so instead of doing a craft, going to the library,
going to feed the ducks,
I just needed to lay, just rest.
take care of myself and this baby growing inside.

but I had to really tell myself that it was ok
to just turn the TV on her favorite show (The Fresh Beat Band)
and just sit.
{I did most of the sitting as you can imagine if you know my little busy-body.}
it took a lot of effort in my mind to not feel guilty.
that I wasn't "doing more" as her mommy,
or engaging with her like I usually do and want to.

This really could be a lot longer post,
but it's what it is for now.
just being real, honest.

I guess the point of sharing this,
besides just writing what's on my mind in this moment,
is to share that I so desire to be able to give myself grace
and be okay with just "being" sometimes.

I think the Lord knows that each day there are different needs,
for us, and for our children.
And I think that He extends grace to us
in the moment we need it.
And on top of that, I am trying to trust that He knows the
desires and needs of my daughter's heart,
and that even when Mama needs to rest,
her desires and needs will still be met.
He loves her too.


here's to accepting some grace today . . .



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Spicy Honey Chicken!

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this recipe is becoming
one of my hubby's favs around here...
and I haven't shared a recipe in forever,
SOOO I thought I'd share it with you today! :)

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It's SUPER easy, takes about 15 minutes start to finish.
seriously. :)

Here's what you need:
8 boneless, skinless chicken thighs
2 tsp garlic powder
2 tsp chili powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground cumin
1 tsp paprika
1/2 tsp ground red pepper
6 Tbsp honey
2 tsp apple cider vinegar

Now, go preheat your broiler!
Mix all the seasonings together.
next, mix the honey and cider vinegar together.

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Add chicken piece by piece to the dry seasoning bowl, coating it on each side.
Place in a non stick pan, or make sure you use spray!

now, Broil chicken 5 minutes on each side.
(total 10 minutes, flip in the middle)

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Remove chicken after broiling both sides.
and brush one side with the honey mixture.
...then broil for 1 minute.

remove chicken again, and brush the honey mixture on the other side,
...then broil for 1 more minute!

That's It!!
See, I told you it was easy-breezy!
{its great with roasted potato wedges and green salad too}

PS this def has a kick to it so if you are not a spicy person (like me),
it may be too much,
but my husband sure loves it!
not to mention this has made me love using the broiler!


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Make sure you come back and link up tomorrow for my first ever linky-party...
Pictureless Post!
you can read more about it by clicking here:

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{the idea is that its a chance to JUST WRITE, and not worry about uploading, organizing, editing, etc the right pictures for your blog post. We just want to read whats on your mind.}
I'd love to have you!

OH, AND I have an AWESOME giveaway (including a discount code!)
coming on Wednesday - you don't want to miss it!

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Happy BIrthday, My Love...


Today I get to celebrate one of my favorite days of the year...
Parker's birthday!!
(thats the hubbs in case you didn't know!)

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I wont write too much because I might make you gag a little. :)
{but i have to say}

He is the love of my life, my best friend, my confidant,
my teacher,
my leader, my lover, my pointer-to-Christ, my soul-mate,
my walk-through-fire-together-and-not-get-burned partner...
in this journey God has had us on for the last 9 years together.

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oh, and he's an amazing Dada.
better than I could have ever hoped for or imagined.
and boy, does she love him too.
He is her HERO.
every. day.
(though i think he might argue that she is his hero.)

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I've written about my man before, and Id love for you to
get to know him,
especially if we are new friends here in blog world...
so check these out if you want to:


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Parker,
I am overwhelmed at the man you are,
especially considering the crazy obedience and faith
the Lord has required of us in this journey.
It has been amazing to see you continue to have faith and trust in the midst of it all.
It's been awesome to see you fall in love with being a daddy.
I am thankful for the good times, but also the fire we've been through together.
I am thankful to be led by such a strong man,
and I am thankful for your life.

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Happy Birthday, Baby.
I wuv you.

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how to love two . . .

I can't believe I'm about to be a mommy of two.
Two precious little princesses.
I can't imagine anything better.
But like I shared earlier this week, Im gonna be real honest here...


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I have some anxiety.
Not just about how to "manage" two littles day to day.
(though i know that will be a big adjustment!)...

But about how I will love the second
as much as I do the first.
I literally cannot fathom my heart being more full.

It's not that I doubt I will love #2 as much as #1,
but right now,
before I have seen her face and held her tiny body,
I pray and wonder how I can love another, as much as I love the little girl
that I hold every day already.

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That snowy Christmas Eve almost 2 years ago,
Abigail graced us with her (very big) presence, and
our hearts BURST
with a love we didn't know we were capable of.

And we literally still talk every night about how
in love with her we are.
She has changed us, opened our capacity for love, opened our hearts.

(number 2 in there, at about 28 weeks)
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Does this make sense to anyone?
Did anyone else ever struggle with these thoughts
when they were expecting their next child?

I am telling myself that I also never knew how much I could or would love a child
before Abigail came.
BUT . .
Then it all changed, like I said,
the Lord opened our hearts more than we ever
could have imagined.


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So I know that will happen again
with number 2.
and I can't wait for my heart to FILL UP even more.
I mean, wow.
now that, I seriously can't imagine right now.

I do already love her so much, kicking around in my belly each day.

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but for now,
My prayer and hope is that when she does arrive,
the love in my heart would feel as though
it's been MULTIPLIED, and not divided.


{I seriously would love yall's thoughts on this,
if you have any to share, or have been there yourself.}

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linking up with other hearts being shared,
check them out over here:
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