Tomorrow another dear friend of mine gets married.  She happens to be marrying a boy that Justin grew up with.  What are the chances?  I like the way God works.  I know I benefit from this marriage as it ensures my friend will always be in my life.

Emilie is a wonderful woman.  She is practically a sister to me.  I have watched her wait for the right man to come along…and from the first date it was obvious…She and Perrin were meant to be.  They are a sweet, sweet couple.  I cannot wait to see what God has in their future!  We love you two.  We cannot wait to celebrate your wedding day.  We are praying for you.

“And now these three remain: faith, hope and love.  But the greatest of these is love.” 1 Corinthians 13:13

I  believe Cora may be the most unmotivated child in the world when it comes to physical activity.  She has been fussing lately because she cannot get around but she has no incentive to move on her own.  She lays her head down in rebellion when we try to persuade her to crawl towards an object. Poor baby has somehow mastered a backwards crawl…I often find her underneath the coffee table or straddling the leg of a chair. She can pull herself to stand but does not seem interested in learning to move from there.  She is a funny little thing.  I’m thinking she is laid back like both her parents…so she’ll learn to move when she’s good and ready.  Until then, I will be her form of transportation!

Last week Justin and I tried to give her lessons in crawling.  We started laughing.  What has happened to us?  We were crawling around the kitchen table hoping that maybe she would learn by example.  First time parents…

We are wrapped around her finger.

And she knows it.

Something else i have to share.  If you have an ACE Hardware near you and have not bought vegetables or herbs for your garden, they are 50% off!  I bought tomatoes, cucumbers, an assortment of peppers, basil, thyme, and parsley.

Justin and I are on a cash only budget.  Every week I take out the allotted amount of money, divide it into its specific envelopes, and whatever remains is what I use for groceries.  Unfortunately by the end of the month that amount gets smaller and smaller.  Once we master the envelope system it should not be quite so tight…plus, we have been setting aside a large sum of money for weddings which will free up some money the end of this week!

In order to help me enjoy this system of budgeting.  (which I really do!)  Justin told me to order some sort of organizational system.  I chose this:

My original intention for this post was not to share our budgeting system but rather to share what happens when you are at the end of a week and have no food and no money left over.  You resort to the few things that remain in the fridge.  This past week it was carrots and red potatoes.  (and lots of bread..thanks to Kroger manager specials)  I looked up carrot and potato soup.  I was surprised to see how many recipes are out there.  I found three that looked good…combined those three and voila!  Here is the recipe.

Carrot Potato Curry Soup

1 onion, 3 C diced potatoes, 3 C diced carrots, 2 cloves garlic,  1 clove garlic, 5 C chicken broth, 1/2 C light cream, 1.5 tbsp curry, 1.4 tsp cayenne pepper, salt and pepper.

Turn on pot to heat.  Add olive oil or butter to pot.

Dice carrots, potato and onion.  Add to pot (along with garlic) and sautee until soft.

Once soft add 5 C Chicken broth ( or in my case 4 C and 1 C water), and spices. Simmer for 15 minutes.

Take off heat and cool for 10-15 minutes.  Pour in blender and blend.

Add soup back to pot, turn on heat and add light cream. Season with salt and pepper.  I then heated my .59 loaf of bread.

Steamed some broccoli (yes, interesting combo) and it was ready to serve.

This weekend we are going to buy some window boxes.  We have give our house more curb appeal.  We considered shutters at one point but there is  one window that could only be fit with only one shutter.  Since we are still trying to sell our house we figured we may as well do something to improve its looks…and if we never sell?   We have some adorable window boxes.

I love these handmade ones.

But then I had these traditional white ones in my mind but our door is green so will probably have to paint them.  Our house is actually this same yellow.  If only we could have those shutters!

And I am all about this look for Christmas time!  I never knew window boxes could get me so excited.

I’ll make sure to post pictures of the finished product.

When Justin walks through the door a huge smile spreads across Cora’s face.  She instantly starts talking, laughing, performing.  She does anything to get daddy’s attention.  She knows although he is tired from work, he will play with her and give her is undivided attention.  This is their time together and this is my time to finish whatever needs to be done.  Usually, I am busy cleaning up from dinner.

Last night Justin came home with a bad headache.  Cora doesn’t understand headaches and even if she did…I’m pretty sure she would still only be concerned about getting attention.  She’s too egocentric to care about her parents ailments…maybe some day.  She started her usual performance when he sat down at the table.  She would laugh and then look at him…”is he noticing me?”  When dinner was over Justin picked up Cora and headed to the bedroom. This is what I found.

We all know with babies it does not stay this cute for long.  She was soon twisting and turning.  She has become so active.  Here is a long series of photos.  Picture overload I am sure.

She finally found a zipper to chew on.  It is always the strangest things that keep her occupied.

I finally have time to post.  It’s way too late for me to be writing anything.  I apologize in advance.  This past week was insane and May is only going to continue in its craziness.  We have lots of people visiting towards the end of the month, two more weddings, (one of which I am in..can’t wait Em!), and then Cora and I fly to Canada.  So, if I am not a very good blogger these next couple weeks, you know why!

Victoria and Daniels wedding was beautiful.    They had their dads marry them as they are both pastors.  Victoria’s dad preached a message that any married couple needs to hear.  He quoted G.K. Chestertons famous response to the Times article on what is wrong with the world.  His reply was simply:  “Dear Sirs, I am.  Sincerely Yours, G.K. Chesterton.”  Her dad reminded them that is marriage one must reflect on self and sin.  Our first action is to blame our spouse when we are having problems…not to look in our own heart and see all the sin that lies within. Not your usual feel good wedding message but words of truth.  Something we all need to hear!

Here are some pictures from their beautiful day.

Tomorrow.  Tomorrow, a dear friend of mine gets married.  This woman has waited a long time for this man.  She is a wonderful person…the kind of girl that many men have pursued but she kept waiting.  Waiting for a man who would love her and lead her in God’s truths.  This woman has had her parents prayers surrounding her and protecting her.  She has been unwavering in her commitment to the Lord.  And now I have the honor or witnessing her marriage.

Am I crazy to tear up?  Since being married myself, since having Cora…every celebration, ever joy in life makes me cry.  Tears of joy.

Victoria, may God bless you and Daniel. We love you.

“So they are not longer two but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no human being separate.” -Mark 10:8-9

“Many waters cannot quench love, neither can floods drown it.” -Song of Solomon 8:7

Sunday was my first Mother’s Day…well, my second.  I was carrying Cora in my belly last year and that was a lot of work.  I will never again underestimate the weight of a pregnant belly…the back pain, the side pain…the foot pain, and the swelling.   Even though having Cora in my arms as opposed to my belly is even more tiring, I definitely prefer post pregnancy.

Enough of this rabbit trail.  Mother’s Day was busy.  Sunday morning we woke up, Justin made me breakfast and coffee and we went to church.  Our church had a rose for every mommy and every woman over 18.  My pastor recognized the moms in our congregation for their hard work and unseen labor.  He then prayed for us.  He also recognized any woman who despite not having a child of their own, had loved, taught and poured into the lives of children. They were each given a rose and he prayed for them. A beautiful start to Mother’s Day!

After church we ate lunch with my mom and dad.  Dad cooked for all of us.  He is a great cook.  He never uses a recipe and his meals are amazing.  Cora napped while we visited.  When she woke up we headed to my in-laws house.  We spent some time visiting with them and headed back home.  Justin had the ingredients for chicken curry and started cooking my Mother’s Day dinner.  The curry was delicious.  As he washed the dishes I realized something.  I had gone an entire day without one meal to cook or one dish to clean!  Bliss.

I realized something on Sunday.  The call to motherhood is not an easy call.  The constant need, the constant guilt, the constant demand, the constant sacrifice…the constant desire to love well and realization that I will fail, a lot.  However, it is a high calling, a beautiful calling…one that has made me whole.  One that has make this family whole.  I want to embrace my role as mother with joy because God has blessed me with our little girl.  I need and want to love her well. The reward has proved to be rich…and will only become richer.

“The cultivation of a mother’s heart and a nurturing role under God will place our submissive souls in the way of salvation and of the greatest use to the kingdom.” -Barbara Hughes (Disciplines of a Godly Woman)

“Motherhood is the essence of womanhood.  I believe that whether or not a woman has children, she is called to embrace the discipline of nurturing.  This aspect of womanhood goes far beyond the physicial bearing of children” -Barbara Hughes

And because he helps me be a better mother and wife…I can’t leave out my best friend and Cora’s beloved “dadadada.” (and I’ll just be honest, I love this picture)

The reason I have been M.I.A. this past week is because Cora and I tagged along with Justin on his business trip to Savannah.  We left Wednesday afternoon and came back Saturday afternoon.  It was wonderful to have a mini-vacation.  Poor Justin was so busy that we barely saw him but Cora and I enjoyed ourselves.  Every morning I took her for a run in Forsyth Park, came back to the hotel, she took a nap…when she woke up I put her in the stroller and we walked the city.  I have been to Savannah many times and must say, I never get tired of it!  It is a beautiful place.

Since Justin went to SCAD for his four years of college, there are certain places he has to go when we are in Savannah.  They usually include: Forsyth Park, Parkers (lemonade he loves), Sakura (Japanese food we both love), Vinnie Van Go-Go’s (yummy pizza), and Clary’s (because I love pancakes).  Friday night we were able to visit some of his friends from college.  It was a whirlwind trip but somehow we managed to do a lot!  I wish I had taken more pictures…for those of you who have not been to Savannah, it is gorgeous.  A place you must go when visiting the South!

Cora spent most of her time in the stroller…when she wasn’t in the stroller she was on the hotel bed. (I’m a germaphobe and the bed seemed the cleanest spot to play)

And she continues making the crazy face…

This baby is 100% performer.  Everywhere we go she makes sure to get attention…if people do not look her direction she makes noise until they do.  She also likes to pull her sun hat of her head and toss it into the street…I had to retrace my steps more than once.  I would find her little sun hat crumpled up on the side off the road…or laying on a store floor, looking so lost and forlorn!  Poor Sophie was also tossed and fortunately I found her! Tomorrow I’ll write a little bit about my first Mother’s Day…Happy late Mother’s Day to all mommies!

I have decided I have another favorite chapter in the bible.  One I have read many times but suddenly it has struck me…struck me to the core of my being.  One of those moments that I wish I had more.  A moment where I weep over God’s word because it reaches me.  It touches me as nothing else can.  Hebrews 11 reads “Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.  This is what the ancients were commended for.”  This is what the ancients were commended for…Men and women who did not have the Holy Spirit, men and women who did not have the joy of the death and resurrection of our Lord.  These men and women loved and served God by a completely unseen faith…faith of the hope of a messiah…faith of the hope of eternal life…faith, unbelievable, commendable, faith.

“By faith Abel offered God a better sacrifice than Cain did…And by faith he still speaks even though he is dead…by faith Noah, when warned about things not seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that comes by faith…by faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going.…For he was looking forward to the city without foundations, whose architect and builder is God…By faith Abraham, even though he was past age-and Sarah herself was barren-was enabled to become a father because he considered him faithful who made the promise.  And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore…All these people were still living by faith when they died.  They did not receive the things promise; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance...Instead they were longing for a better country-a heavenly one.  Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he prepared a city for them…”

The chapter goes on and on…through the line of people obeying  God’s instruction, by faith.  They did all, they gave up all…for the sake of the reward that was coming.  The unseen reward of eternity and forgiveness…the reward of forever, with God.

These great men and women of the bible lived out their faith.  What if Abraham did not believe he could have a son and therefore Sarah never conceived?  What if Noah did not build the ark…and died in the flood?  What if Moses had chosen  not to be “mistreated along with the people of God rather than enjoy the pleasures of sin for a short time” ? (Hebrews 11:25) No, instead he “regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as a greater value then the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking forward to his reward.” (Hebrews 11:26) What if, what if, what if?

So, when we think about the gift of eternal life, let’s not take it lightly.  Do you not see what godly men and women of the past had to endure?  They did not have the new Covenant of Jesus death on the cross…they had to live under the law, a strict law, a law that was impossible to obey perfectly.  They did not have the gift of the Holy Spirit leading and guiding them.  And yet, they loved God and chose to follow him and obey him because of their great faith.  “The world was not worthy of them.  They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.  These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.  God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.”  (Hebrews 11:38)