Here is a gorgeous hutch that my grandfather built:

Where grandchildren get to play.

Steven Curtis Chapman and his wife Mary Beth Chapman are being interviewed all week on Moody Radio.  Yesterday I happened to hear them speaking of the loss of their five year old daughter, Maria.  Tears streamed down my face as I listened.  I felt panicked and started crying out to God “Protect Cora, don’t take her from me, ever… I never want to understand this kind of loss” And then the host on Moody spoke truth I needed to hear.  He talked of a man who adopted a little boy and every night when the boy was sleeping he would pray over him.  He would ask God to “Protect him and keep him from harm.  He has had such a hard life, don’t let him experience any more pain in his life,”  and the man came to a realize that this his was not the prayer he needed to pray.  He needed to pray for his child’s salvation.  God could take his child from him at any moment.  Every breath is a mercy.  More important then his son’s physical safety was his standing before God.

Steven Curtis Chapman agreed with these words.  He said, “The church today makes death so final and it is not final.”  This is the hope he and his wife cling to.  They will see their baby girl…not just for a few minutes or a day…but for eternity.  I found this song from his newest album Beauty Will Rise.

A little 1970′s but still pretty.

And the other side.  See the beautiful built-in shelves Justin’s uncle built? We have this little island that was a Craigslist purchase.

It will definitely be replaced with something that has more storage and is a little bigger. So here is the plan… We obviously have an amazing canvas to start with.  Gorgeous shelves, panelling, a chimney (seen in first picture…)etc.  We have to leave the counter tops and back splash as is…which is great because we both love black countertops.  We also are going to keep our appliances the same.  The floor we have talked about replacing but that is not going to happen right away. We cannot afford to make big change so we are going to have to work with what we have.  It’ll be a challenge but we both enjoy this sort of thing! We would love an island this big. This kitchen is an idea of what we are envisioning.
But then I love this as well:

I will keep you posted.  Thankfully I have Justin to tackle this project and he is so talented with all things design…he’ll come up with the best solution!

This past weekend was wonderful and busy.  Friday I spent most of the afternoon outside with Cora. The weather has cooled off ever so slightly which makes it bearable to go outside.

Cora loves our cat and even walked across the porch in her pursuit of her.

Friday evening we took her to the local park. We have not taken her their since she was tiny. Of course she loved it.

We love to watch her enjoying new things.

Sweet baby.

Saturday morning we went for a family run.  I love family runs…and Justin never ceases to amaze me!  He ran 4 miles without stopping and he has not run in about a month.  Before we left I snapped some pictures of Cora in a shirt I bought her for her birthday.  I am in love with Target baby clothes.

Saturday evening we spent with friends.

They are newlyweds and she has decorated so beautifully…I had to take some pictures.

Sunday was our nephew Cooper’s 3rd birthday.  I still cannot believe he is such a big boy!  It was a pool party and the theme was Thomas the Train. His Pa painted him this beautiful painting.

Cooper was kind enough to join Cora in the baby pool for a little while.  She loves spending time with her big cousin.

His cake was beautiful…

I wish I had more pictures of his big day but spent most of my time chasing after Cora as she seemed determined to plunge head first into the pool.

I love weekends…if only they were longer!

I love the freshness of a new day.  The morning sun softly shining through the trees…slowly warming the earth.  I love dew…the grass wet and cold on my feet.  I especially love a morning fog.  I look out our back window to see that the mountain top is hidden under a misty cloud.  I love drinking a hot cup of coffee (or two, or three) savoring each sip.  I love it when I am awake before Justin and Cora.  Alone. Peace.  Solitude.  Time for me before a busy day begins.

There is something that struck me this morning.  I love morning.  I love a new day.  I love a new beginning.  I like the clean slate…all the fatigue of the day before has been slept away, all the frustration of the day before…it is now yesterdays frustration.  All the loneliness (poor Justin has had some late nights at work), the guilt, the sin, the temper, whatever it might have been…it was all yesterday.  Today is a new day.

The day begins.  Sometimes with a morning run at 6am or if I take Cora 10am.  Then I rush around getting Justin breakfast, getting Cora breakfast, doing the dishes, laundry, go shopping, clean, clean, sweep, sweep, entertain grumpy baby, play with baby, read to baby, try to get baby to nap…make lunch, cook dinner, etc etc.  Before I know it I have completely forgotten the peace I felt in the morning.  I am running around like crazy…I might start losing self control, I might start getting frustrated…or I might simply feel defeated.  Not every day, but often.  By 10pm when I go to bed I am the complete opposite of myself in the morning.  I am ready to sleep, I do not feel cheerful, I am over it.  And then I wake up to a new day and the cycle continues.

A couple thoughts.  Almost any morning can be a good morning for me simply because I am a morning person.  However, there is something that makes every morning and every day so much better. Lately I have not been disciplined in my devotions.  Not on purpose I just get distracted.  I sometimes wonder…will I ever delight in His ways so much that I crave his word every single morning?  That I cannot take a step without crying out to Him?  I hope so.  Unfortunately as a wife and mother I am so distracted I am having to make myself find the time.  There is always a pressing desire for his word but in my sin I am so ready to sweep it aside. I do find the time to check Facebook, email or to blog…priorities not in order.  I know from experience what a day is like when I am in the word.  It’s a better day.  It’s a more self-controlled day, a more loving, giving, kind, beautiful day.  God made the morning and he did make each day new.

“In the morning, O Lord, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait in expectation.” -Psalm 5:3

“Weeping may remain for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.”-Psalm 30:5

“By the day the Lord directs his love, at night is song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.” -Psalm 42:8

“Because of the Lord’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.” -Lamentations 3:22-23

So, this week I am going to start prioritizing as I should.  My desire is that I start my day well and that I end my day well.  I know that’s not always going to be the case because I know myself.  But God’s faithfulness is great and I know he desires me to grow.  He desires for me to be in his word.  May he grant me the self control I need.

It was so fun driving around our old stomping grounds…reminiscing and going into thrift store after thrift store.  Ashley is always so helpful with Cora…pushing her in the cart, taking her in and out of her car seat.  I could not have enjoyed a day of shopping were it not for her!

I definitely found a few treasures.  I love GAP jeans on Cora.  They are cute, they are durable,  and fit her round little body well.  I found the exact pair I was debating buying last year at the GAP and they were $1.60.  I also found polka-dot corduroys and these little leather shoes.

We walked next door to an awesome 2nd hand store called Revive and I found this pea coat for Cora.  Isn’t it adorable?  I would wear it they had it in my size.

I had to grab this brand new J. Crew shirt for my mom.  It is a perfect style and color for her.

I found myself this $.89 pillow sham from Value Village.  It is the exact color of our bedroom walls.  I love the pink, brown and green combo.

An entire day spent laughing and talking with one of my best friends, much needed pants and shoes for Cora…$14.00 later… I would say that’s a pretty good day.  Oh, and a baby who didn’t make a peep until the ride home even though she only took one 20 minute nap…she is such a little trooper.

I decided to have her party at 2:30.  That way I would not have the pressure of making a meal and so I served light food.

I made a banner and pom-poms.  I really wanted it to look girly and colorful.  I made sure flowers from our garden were placed throughout the house.

There was such an age difference between the kids at the party that I thought candy treat bags were the best choice.  (I don’t know if parents would have agreed with me)

The cupcakes were from a local bakery.  I wish I could take credit for making them. I made cupcake toppers to place on each one but unfortunately was one short.

I made sure to salvage as many toppers as possible and plan on using them for something…they were so much work I just don’t have the heart the throw them away.

Cora had her own jumbo cupcake and she loved it.  Her first taste of cake!

Cora also received beautiful gifts.  (thanks again to everyone!)

She so “ooohhhh!!!!”  every time I handed her a new book to look at.  She was most excited by the gift bags and cards.

There were sweet babies everywhere.

Poor Will kept getting attacked by the baby girls.

And our only family picture is terrible but at least we have one.  Justin was still holding on to Will…so it’s a family picture plus Cora’s baby cousin.

We had so much fun celebrating our little girl turning one year old.

Dear Cora,

Today you are one year old.  You have been our precious little girl for 365 days, 8,766 hours, and 525, 949 minutes….and that hardly seems real.  It seems like just yesterday I held you for the first time in my arms.  You were just a tiny bundle…so warm and sweet.  So perfectly formed.  So long anticipated.  I feel like last night I was up nursing you, changing you, and laying you in your bassinet…hoping you might sleep.  You were so needy then…and sometimes I miss that neediness.  The comfort you would find snuggled up against me…falling asleep in my arms.  You used to lay for hours with daddy when he came home from work.  But now you have become Miss independence. Unstoppable.  Forget cuddles, or even taking your bottle from anyone.  You want to crawl, cruise, play, and read your books.  You want to explore and conquer the world.

Now that you are such a big girl, your personality is coming into its own.  You are social, just like your daddy.  You love to make people laugh.  You notice everything around you and you don’t want to miss out on anything.  You are full of energy…all day long it’s go, go, GO!!!  You are especially attached to your Mimi and Nan…always wanting their cuddles and attention.  You love to play with the kitty cat and your whole body starts moving in excitement when you spy her.

You can charm anyone…

You chatter all day long…

Every once in a while your temper flares…you clench your fists and yell at the top of your lungs.  But then you quickly switch back to a sweet and jovial little thing.

Cora, my greatest desire for you is that you learn to love the Lord with all your heart, your mind and your soul.  I pray that you will grow up to be a good and godly woman.  A woman who is gracious and kind, a woman who loves others well.  A woman who does not cling to outward things but instead clings to your savior.  I pray that you will live a long, happy and healthy life.  A life filled with joy.  I pray that you will,

“hear the instruction of your father, and do not forsake the law of your mother; For they will be an ornament on your head, and chains about your neck.” -Prov. 1:8-9

You are so precious to us, beautiful baby.  We prayed for you, God heard our prayer, and he gave you to us...He gave you to us to love, cherish, protect and instruct.  You have completely won us over and stolen our hearts.  We love you.  Happy First Birthday Cora.  May God bless you with many, many more birthdays…and bless us with many more years of enjoying you.

“Jesus said, ‘Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.’ ” -Matt. 19:14

My dad laid the brick walk…he also has been the one to do all of our landscaping.  We are blessed to have such loving and helpful parents!

With all this heat and no rain our landscaping is looking a little crispy.

Our home is looking like a little cottage…which is what I love.

Thanks again to our two dads and thank you Justin for making our home have so much more curb appeal!

Friday night we had a dinner party with three other couples.  It was such a fun time…full of serious and light hearted conversation. You’re all welcome back any time!

Saturday Justin and his dad finished hanging the window boxes!!  (I will post pictures soon…they look amazing)  We spent most of Saturday outside.  As I was watering plants, I turned and saw Justin and Cora playing on the driveway.  They were sitting under the  shade of the trees and both looked so precious.  I had to take some pictures.

She loves her daddy.

The excitement of spying the kitty cat.

Cora begging daddy to please pick her up.

“Mommy…will you pick me up????”

Hope you all had a wonderful weekend!