Day #315

Mr. Ephraim sat up for awhile today.  He held himself up with his arms, but at least he didn't topple over!  Small victories for this little guy!

I was a tad frustrated that the Funky Truckeria got rid of my favorite taco, the skirt steak taco.  BUT I don't ever remember their dessert nachos before and they kind of made up for it!

Day #309

Little E David Jensen loves his daddy!  There are lots of firsts for this little guy and today was no different.  Today was the first time being up on dad's shoulders.  I think he liked it!  He also like chewing on Luke's hat  :-)

We went to G&G's tonight it rained pretty hard at their house.  But at our house apparently there was lots of wind...we had part of a tree come down...right on our poor mailbox.  Our outdoor chairs were all blown over and our bins were down...but our new chimney stayed in tack.  Luke and Dad were wondering if they braced it enough.  I think so!  

Day #304

What a blistery cold day...feels like Halloween in Ohio!  This is how I remember it.  Wearing your winter jackets with your costume stuffed over it...or hiding your costume with your jacket. We walked in the Richfield parade from the old town hall to the fire station  We were being chased by a family of T-Rexs...you can see 2 behind us but there were 5 of them.  Making Memories!  

 

Day #302

So very thankful for my Dad today we came over in the cold and rain to help Luke install the wood burning stove pipe.  It requires an extra set of hands...or three extra sets to make it all work.  Luke has a few more things to do, but he plans on having a fire in it tomorrow night!  Lunch time with Pa Pa

Today we celebrated Kristen's life!  She is always willing to help out and always ready to listen.  My favorite part of the night was after everyone left.  Greg, Kristen, Luke and I played her new card game, Squirrels.  We stayed up way too late!  :-)

This little bear makes my heart melt...but if you could...Please say a prayer for Ephraim and I.  Today was also a very hard day for the 2 of us...I think hardest on me.  He has gone on a nursing strike.  :-(  I believe it is because of his incoming teeth.  But he is refusing to breastfeed.  A whirlwind of emotions for sure!

Day #301

Today we got to witness Hannah and Joe Cozad's wedding!  What a yucky day but it was made bright by their wedding!
We met a couple at the wedding and ended up talking the night away!  God has a way of bringing new people into our lives at the right time!

Day #300

A day off work, and it just so happens my niece had the day off as well!!!  So we were able to hang out.  We went for a walk and then watched them bounce the day away at the Jumpyard in North Royalton,one of the largest indoor bounce house places. 

She spent the night at Grandma and Grandpa's...so we all went to get some pizza.  Well B had the biggest meatball sandwich!!!
And it was the first time this little girl got to ring the giant bell at Sarah's.  She was so excited!

Day #299

A much needed day with my good friend from Colorado!  The first time she got to meet Mr. Ephraim and she held him all day!  He was loving it! (You can't tell in the pic, but that is because he was tired. It is so amazing what some time with a good friend will do even if it is only for a few hours! 

We went and visited Luke's Grandma and Grandpa...and little Ephraim dressed up as a little pumpkin.  The hat was way too small...Grandpa called him a cute Jack-o-lantern!  Ephraim is giving the best smiles these days

Day #294

We spent the morning moving my Grandma into her new 55+ Senior Living Apartment.  It is a brand new place...but I am not sure my heart has settled on the fact that Grandma lives in an Apartment.  It is a strange concept for me.  I am sure it is going to be strange for Grandma too. 

This little guy is teething and today is the first day we have given him a pacifier...And only to help him sleep.  It is a whole new world.

Day #293

This little guy woke up super excited today...

That is because Mom an Dad had a day off work and played with him all morning!  He gives the best smiles!   

We spent the afternoon with his grandparents.  Mr. Ephraim was the entertainment for the day as he had a million smiles to share with Great Grandpa and Grandma!  Ephraim really enjoyed Great Grandpa's clacking noise

At the end of the day, Luke said..."I am going to take another day off work soon!  This was a good day!"  I think we usually spend our days off trying to get things done and today was a day of rest and restoration with the people we love💕!  

Day #291

Work is busy as usual...and lots of fires to extinguish when you are dealing with people's pay.  I spent the day testing a new system with people who are frustrated and angry and creating a lot of stress because a system is behind schedule for implementation.  At one point I told Luke I just wanted the day to be over.  In reality I didn't want the day to be over, I just wanted my circumstances to not be so stressful.  

He gently reminded me that we only have so many days allotted here on Earth and we need to stop wishing our days away and enjoy them, and make an impact on those that are around us.

Sometimes our journey is not easy but we can still cherish the time and the ability to be the light to those around us.  

As this little boy comes up on being 4 months old he is constantly changing and I am trying to cherish every day because it truly goes by so fast.  I only get so many hours a day with him, so instead of trying to get things done as soon as I get home, I am trying to spend time with him...all those other things can wait till he goes to bed.  Ephraim is sporting his new baltic amber necklace because he has started teething already...yikes. 

After a night filled with talking to God and praising Him...my heart is filled and ready to pour out on my co-workers and those around me!  No more wishing the days away!!!

Day #288

BUSY but GOOD day!

Went and picked up Ms. Ava so she could spend the day with us!  Perfect weather for a fall hike followed by Family Fun Fest at Church.  This little girl had a blast!  We hosted a trunk or a booth since we were inside because of the weather.  Can you tell by the photos that we were a biker gang?  Mr. Bennett LOVED wearing Luke's helmet.  He wouldn't take it off...He could barely stand it was so heavy on him, he wobbled everywhere he walked! 
It was a long day of constantly being on the go and racing from the hike, to make lunch, to set up, to dinner, to getting ready for the week...by 8pm I was beyond ready for bed. 

Brianna ready to pass out the candy!!!

Day #287

We spent the morning in the Kitchen making some food for the upcoming week and straightening up the house from the week of living!  On the to do list of life we didn't get much accomplished...I swept out one of the vehicles and that is about it!  But we did get to have some fun play time with Mr. Ephraim...from tummy time, to bath time, to sitting

time (minus tummy time he had a good time)...I think he loves us being home on Saturday...and I love being home on Saturday!!

Day #286

I woke up to sounds of cooing...at 4:20 ten minutes before my Alarm goes off and I get ready to head to work.  After feeding Mr. Ephraim...he continued to coo and talk to me as I got ready...Every time I would step out of his sight he would cry...and when I would come back in sight he would coo and talk.  

This day in particular as my second week back at work comes to an end was particularly difficult.  Normally he is asleep when I leave...not cooing or crying...and then I had to walk outside and close the door, and close his sounds of cooing behind me...And then the tears came! 

I have said since day one...going back to work has caused me to rely on God a lot more...And for that I am thankful!  But reading the below message was just what I needed..

Nearly every mother I know wrestles with some form of mom guilt from time to time. Some career-driven moms feel guilty about the limited time they can spend with their kids, about how tired they get trying to do it all, about special moments or school events they miss. Some stay-at-home moms feel a sense of loss, missing a career they stepped away from or wishing they could engage more with their professional skills and passions. One mom envies another for the time she gets to spend caring for her kids; one mom envies another as she sees a friend's career advance while she's at home wiping runny noses. And somewhere in between are the moms with part-time jobs trying to juggle a bit of both professional work and stay-at-home parenting—and often feeling they're dropping balls in both arenas.

Advice abounds for finding "work-life balance" or overcoming mom-guilt—but, as Kathryn Butler points out in this week's featured article, it all inevitably falls short. Not one piece of advice can somehow magically solve this conundrum. In fact, Butler believes that no simple answer exists. Instead, hidden within the wrestling is an invitation: deeper reliance upon God.

In navigating such deep and persistent struggles, Butler asserts, "Scripture teaches us to lean into God rather than into our own capabilities." As we wrestle with difficult questions and ongoing battles with guilt, loss, or envy, we can grow in deepening our reliance upon God. For, she says, "when we acknowledge our own brokenness and lean into his faithfulness, even anxieties that steal our breath can bless us."

Day #285

After almost a 100 day hiatus I am back!!  
It was a great fall day and the perfect weather for a fire outside.  Life has been very hectic with me back at work.  I am still learning how to juggle prepping for the next day, making dinner, investing in Luke and Ephraim, and investing in others...and still finding time to sleep.  One of these days I will get the hang of it!  
So last night we had friends over for dinner and what better way to make life a little easier than to make them make their own dinner :-) !!  We enjoyed an evening of making Pizza pies over the fire.  

I love watching the fire dance!  What I don't love is smelling like a smoke bomb the next day after washing my hair several times.  

Day #184

June 24th

We got A LOT done today.  Rotatiled the garden and planted our Tomatoes, green beans, potatoes, and carrots.  For me this was a lot of work bending over.  BUT it is done.  I like to call it our hillbilly garden...as we have left over shutters to walk on and some really rusty garden stakes and a fence in need of help!  The nice thing is pulling weeds and preparing the garden reminds me of God is preparing our hearts!

I started sanding a side table for the baby's room.  I am super excited to get it done.  It was a piece my Grandma O had in the corner of her living room.  I am going to redo it and use it for toys in the baby's room.  Taking a little longer to restore than I hoped but it will be done soon.  

Luke split a ton of wood and staked a whole new second row. We are making some progress.  We need to get it all staked and covered so we can make room for the dry wood.  Wood Burning stove winter we are going to be ready for you for the next few years!!

One of these days we will have a big/little announcement of an arrival.  Today we thought maybe we would get to meet Baby Jensen...But a las...God is still growing Baby Jensen and preparing our hearts!

Day #182

June 22nd

A Thursday and no plans on the calendar.  A lot of days we have different things to do in the evenings, or we are busy working/investing.  Tonight we went to dinner together ALONE...and we got to sit down at the table and TALK.  Then we went on a walk and got to TALK some more.  I think maybe this was our last dinner out as a family of 2.    Yep, quality time is my love language and last night was so good!!

After our walk we passed my sister-in-law driving to go get ice cream.  We joined them for a bit.  This little guy's personality is on fire any more.  This is his new pose while he dances.  It is similar to the Heisman pose...He is getting ready to be a football player! 

Day #178

June 18th

Luke's first Father's day.  Most would say he is not a father yet...But the baby is alive and well and has a daddy..that he/she can't wait to meet him!  So we celebrated him by doing some of his favorite things...visiting the Flea Market, and eating some real french toast!!!   Very soon we will get to meet Baby Jensen!

Day #173

June 13th,

I am feeling pregnant these days.  Luke asked me last night how I was doing...I said the baby is out of room, my feet hurt to walk on (they aren't swollen just hurt), my back is in agony, my belly hurts to touch, and I am super nauseous.  He is like so being pregnant has been good to you...my reply was no this sucks.  <  Yes, I was having a very low moment last night.
So, we spent some time talking about how our lives will be very different shortly, and the things we are looking forward to with Baby Jensen!  It is all about perspective...

Day #172

June 12th

My niece and I planted a new patch of strawberries this year.  I wasn't expecting much.  This strawberry made it.  By made it; I mean it lived to be picked by us instead of eaten by all the rabbits, chipmunks, etc.  This strawberry made it without a net!! Next year will be a bountiful blessing!!!  We still have more strawberries on the way this year!!!

Day #171

June 11th

Sunday = Funday

We went to church Saturday night so we could spend the whole day at home on Sunday!!!!!
I made gluten free cinnamon rolls for breakfast while Luke shoveled dirt and put it into piles around the house.  After a quick breakfast we went back outside...trying to beat the heat of the day.  I spread the piles of dirt while he continued to shovel.  I think Luke will be the happiest person ever when he doesn't have to use a shovel anymore!!!

We spent the afternoon inside working, hanging our new coffee mug holder, and cleaning, while it was 90 degrees outside.  We definitely planned our day right!  Well someone took a much needed siesta after shoveling ALL morning.

Greg joined us for a fiesta dinner.  We enjoy times where we get to slow down and catch up one-on-one with friends!

After dinner when the sun was going down we went back outside to plant, straw, and water our grass seed.  I have never been more excited to see straw all over the yard!!!

Day #170

June 10th,

Today we finished my parents shower.  I spent the good part of the day grouting the shower.  While Luke babysat my nephew.  Bennett just loves hanging out with Luke.  My Dad was like Luke has the easy job...Ummm no I had the easy job grouting, this boy loves to move and play!

After about 6 hours we went home to work in the yard to try and get it ready for laying grass seed.  I think someone was worn out after a morning of babysitting. We did not get to the yard.  I tried mowing the yard, however our mower's self propel feature wasn't working and pushing a mower up hill was a little too much for me.  So, I planted and moved some mulch instead...which is a huge feat for me.  I would normally push through mowing, but I am learning I need to take it easy and rest more often then usual.  It is okay to not be able to do somethings, right now.