A letter to my 45 year old self...

NOTE: I wrote the following in my journal back in January. So I could remember what my life was like at 35. When my babies are little--because in 10 years I'm sure I will forget.

Wanted to share it with y'all tonight.

Dear 45 year old self,

Just a few things I want you to remember in this season of your life. Your babies are 3, 2, and 4 months  old. 

IT IS BUSY. 

Some days we thrive. Other days we limp. 

But, we make it.

Your boys are in these incredible stages...

Easton just wants to learn. And try everything on his own. He can dress himself from head to toe and MAMA...you thought you had arrived! 

Now, you only have to dress 3 people each morning! 

Easton loves to be silly and say silly things. "Peanut" is as silly as it gets but that one word can make him and Linc dissolve into giggles for a good while. 

Speaking of Lincoln, he just wants to please. 

AND eat. 

1st at the table-last to leave. 

His hunting skills improve everyday. He is silent, but so sweet.

 He's smile melts everyone's hearts. 

With that said, when did he stop coming to sleep in our bed??

Knightley is just about to be able to grab his toes with his hands. He tries so hard. He is at such a smiley stage. And so talkative. 

No worries, Mama. 

You take moments just to hold him. 

Just to breathe him in. 

Sometimes, you even leave the dishes for the morning so you can just be with your baby.

Your world is small these days. 

You don't get away very often. 

But, it's okay. 

You realize this is just a season. 

And through every season you have highs and lows. 

Good and bad. 

You try to look at the good and forget the bad. 

Sometimes it works. 

Sometimes you forget.

Some of the good these days are:

1. Slow mornings. Kids don't have to rush out the door to school. 

We relax. 

And play. 

And enjoy the morning.

2. The snuggles. 

All your babies still love to snuggle in the morning upon waking up.

3. EARLY BEDTIME!!! 

Once the boys go to bed most nights you do also-JUST TO THINK! 

Quiet and PEACE!

You should see how Wil and I communicate.

 It's a riot to even complete a full sentence but somehow we make it work.

And I could add more, but it's 9:15pm and I am fighting staying awake!!

You are living your dream. 

A WIFE AND MOTHER!

And, even though you would LOVE 8 hours ALL.TO.YOURSELF most days you never sit, because if you did rooms would explode in 5 minutes flat.

You enjoy your life.

And, try, daily to notice the things that won't be here 10 years from now.

Still tell your boys, "You will be mighty in GOD someday!"

Because, they will.

Trust me.

We got this.

31 Days of Summer

Summer has arrived. For me, anyway. As most of you know, I spent 9 days of June in the hospital. I then, spent MOST of the 1st part of July trying to regain my energy and strength. Which meant, I sat on a couch and sat. Held Easton. And sat. Didn't do ANYTHING remotely fun because FUN was energy I needed to take care of Easton. So, sit I did.

THEN, RIGHT when I was feeling that I was back to "normal" Wednesday I had surgery and I ended out my month of July once again...sitting. Ugh. NO FUN. EVER.

So, it dawned on me last night that I've spent my WHOLE summer inside sitting. I've only gone swimming once. (the DAY before surgery) and I did that out of sheer rebellion because I wasn't going to do ANYTHING I didn't want to that day.

Today is Aug. 1st. AND, I although YOU may be getting your kids back to school supplies in the next few weeks, I'm living my dream. 31 days of summer. 31 days of I get to do whatever "summery" things I want. Swimming, biking, being outdoors, eating sweet corn, outdoor concerts, cookouts with friends, and the list goes ON AND ON. So, GET READY. 31 fun things--one for each day in Aug. I'm ending this summer with a bang. AND not one that lands me BACK in the hospital.

AND here is my 1st day of summer.
Aug. 1st.

Today, after a GREAT church service, Wil and I packed our bags and headed over to [THE NOT SO] Clear Lake. SO fun to be outside and living.life. Easton loved being outside. And here is a few pics of the afternoon. PERFECT summer day. Just perfect. For our perfect little family.
Getting tired after spending the afternoon outside. BUT, what a great day, the clouds were PERFECT and the sun just kissed us over and over again. The water rushed to meet us as we waded into the water. (Due to surgery...couldn't go ALL the way in) But, what a time we had!

ALL smiles because he was outside with his parents enjoying a family day. He loved to look at the waves...as LONG as he wasn't in them. The crashing sound scared him so we mainly just sat and watched them. He loved being IN the water...but not where he could hear the waves. Surfer boy? Er...maybe later.

Across the lake was a water fountain park where kids would run and run and play. We took Easton over there and he LOVED watching the water. The water was SUPER cold. AND you never knew how high the water would get, he still loved to watch it. He'd try to get his face super close and droplets of water would be ALL over his face...HE LOVED IT. Favorite place ALL day for this little boy.

We took him to the fountains twice. Once as a whole family and once just Easton and myself. Next year will be SO fun when he can run through it. And, as long as they don't sound like waves, my little surfer boy will do just fine! ;)

LOVING our 1st day of summer! AND what a great way to start our summer out by being at a beach. With water, friends, sun, and family.

Oh yes, and I couldn't help but get a cute pic of his shoes. Really, they are so cute. He loved looking at them trying to figure out just what were on his feet. (he's been barefoot the whole summer.) So, this was a treat for him and myself who love shoes. Comfortable shoes.

So, all in all we had a GREAT 1st day of summer.
Can't wait for MORE summer fun!!

Two years ago today...

Two years ago today was our wedding. In another post I'll share our love story and tell you how we met, fell in love, and got married in 3 months. BUT, until then, enjoy these pictures of where we were two years ago.

Wil--You are the BEST gift I've ever been given. God knew I needed someone strong, yet kind, loving and gentle and one that could make me laugh. I'm SO glad you and I are together and look forward to MANY MORE years as husband and wife. (just less E.R. trips!) Love you so much and am so thankful for you!
--your wife--

Me with the Love of my life!

The Bride

Some of my favorite girls in the world!

The wedding party!

The Groomsmen. Yep. I had more bridesmaids than he had groomsmen. Yep. It drove me nuts too...that the bridesmaid/groomsmen ratio wasn't even. BUT, I have SO MANY friends and EACH one played SUCH a huge role in my life that I could overlook the lopsidedness for the sake of friendship.

The Nolt Family
Wil has 8 younger brothers and sisters. To save time...I won't tell you their names! :)

The Phillips Family
Isaac and Libby Wendland, Paul and Dixie Phillips, Rachel and Wil Nolt, John Phillips, and Beka and Zach Fox.
Note: None of my siblings were married at the time. I just added their married names to help with the who's who in the picture!

The Groom's cake. The hunter with his bride!

My mom and Wil's mom lighting the candles.

My sister, Beka, as she came in. Her wedding would be less than a month after mine.

Two of Wil's nieces doing a great job of being flower girls!

SO HONORED my father could BE there at the wedding! He had a kidney transplant ONE month before, and we didn't know if he would be able to MAKE it...let alone perform the wedding! BUT, God is EVER faithful and DAD was there--giving me away and taking part in the wedding! To God be the Glory!

Mr. and Mrs. Nolt---FINALLY!

EVERYONE commented on the Mennonite hats! I received MORE pictures of the hats than ANY other picture that day!

God's Words in hand

Remember HERE where I talked about my goals for this summer? Well, today--is an update!

A little background info will help....

Our church started a SMALL Christian school when I was in 4th grade. Each month we'd have verses from the Bible we had to memorize. The 1st year they were REALLLY tough on us and had to GO DOWN to the Principal's office and say the verses to HIM. (He was/is my dad but it still waaaas TERRIBLE. He was super strict on KNOWING THEM WELL)

Over time, they eased up and you were able to say them to your teacher.

Fast forward years later, and I'm the teacher. Verses were done EACH day in my class. They worked on them and we went over them and over them. Each month they'd have about 15-20 verses and each day they'd memorize them one by one. The next day they'd go RIGHT back to the top and start over. And again, and again. So by the end of the month they'd know their verses WELL. (Guess I do have a bit of my dad in me!)

As most of you know, I didn't teach last school year. And I realized something was LACKING in myself. Scripture memory. Then, I got pregnant, and FEAR gripped me.

This is my blog and I'm going to be VERY honest. As most of you know, my husband's family is horse and buggy Mennonite. They had strict rules they have to go by and I'm forever asking my husband...WHY THIS RULE..and WHY THAT RULE?

Then, I got pregnant. AND my fear was...this child will one day come to me and ask ME the same questions I'm asking my husband. Questions about dress, driving cars, and HOW to GET to Heaven. Plus, little cousins will be playing with each other and I KNOW my children will come home and ask, "WHY don't we do "THIS" like them?" Or, "Am I going to Heaven because I don't do THIS like they do?" "Mommy, they say THIS is how you get to Heaven...is that true?"

And so, as when fear grips anyone, the 1st thing I did was FREAK OUT. I couldn't do it. I DO NOT have the answers to this. HOW was I going to answer. QUICK. Get in the CAR and take them to my parents. They ALWAYS know the right thing to say.

BUT THEN, I realized I did know the answer. Our family has the Bible. God's WORDS written down for ALL to see. There was NO need to fear. Because I had the answers. And when my children had questions about things...I could TAKE them TO the Bible.

And, so, I FREAKED OUT again. MY WHOLE LIFE, I had been IN the Bible. 4th -12th grade Christian school. A BIBLE COLLEGE. Teaching in a CHRISTIAN SCHOOL for 7 years. Pastor's kid my WHOLE LIFE.

Now. At home. With NO one over me to really KNOW the Bible.
Great. Just what I needed. AND speed dial to the great Bible-knowers was NOT going to cut it!

So, this summer, I have begun to memorize Scripture. Again. Let me tell you people, it's WAAAAY easier when you are a kid and NOT an adult.
I get mad at myself cause I remember in grade school working on verses for 30 mins and having all 10 of them done and memorized. Now, 30 mins and I have the 1st line memorized.

So, this summer, I've been working on Psalms 91. And without looking, here are the 1st 9 verses I've learned. (taking me a MONTH to learn 9) Ugh. Where is my 7th grade memory??

Those who go to God most high shall be protected by the Almighty.
I will say to my Lord, You are my place of safety and protection, You are my God and I trust you.
God will save you from hidden traps and deadly diseases.
He will cover you with his feathers and under His wings you can hide. His truth will be your shield and protection.
You will not fear danger by night, or an arrow during the day.
You will not be afraid of diseases that come in the dark, or sickness that strikes at noon.
At your side one thousand people may die, or ten thousand right beside you, but you will not be hurt.
You will only watch and see the wicked punished.
The Lord is your protection. You have made God most high your place of safety.

So, there you have what I've been working on for a month. S-L-O-W-L-Y. Ever so slowly. BUT, when the time comes for Little E to ask questions, I'm going to be ready. Sword in hand showing him what God's WORDS say to US!

SUMMER Goals!

Each summer I set goals for myself. I write them in May, and TRY to hold on to them TIL Fall. SO, hoping THIS post will keep me MORE accountable here are my SUMMER GOALS!

PERSONAL GOALS:

1. Always be reading a book.
2. Learn to RUN this house WELL!
3. Garden/flowers
4. Enjoy Easton as a baby!

SOCIAL GOALS:

1. Invite people over for dinner/cookouts/fun

2. Mini-mops
3. Spend time at the pool


PHYSICAL GOALS:

1. Curves 3x a week
2. Some sort of exercise 3x a week
3. Lots of FRESH/LOCAL veges and fruits
4. Get outside

SPIRITUAL GOALS:
1. Make Friday Prayer a priority
2. Finish Uncommon woman/Insecure/Praying wife books
3. Keep my devotions up and memorize Psalms 91 and Phil 1
4. Prayer and devos with Wil


These are my goals. Feel free to ask me from time to time how I'm doing with them. I HOPE to post more this summer about WHAT I've accomplished with each goal.

What are YOUR goals for the summer?

A promise fulfilled

January 28, 07
"Another journal complete. Another year come and went. 2007. Who would of thought.
"So-and-so" and I dated and realized we were not meant to be. BUT, God has a prince of a man out there for me so I'm not in to hurry, I'm not going to worry, it's in the hands of God there's nothing I can do. It's just one more day closer to YOU."

Found that written in my journal from 2007.
Glad my PRINCE finally showed up!

At the end I wrote:
"Thanks, Jesus, for your unspeakable gift!"