Shoes Shoes Shoes

When we went to Palm Springs in an effort to pack light I planned to pretty much wear the same pair of shoes for the week (gasp). Then those said shoes got left behind and all I had to wear were my running shoes and black riding boots. Neither of which would do for the week. So the great husband that The Farmer is he took me out shoe shopping. We made our way to DSW and after awhile found these Clarks.


Very practical and very comfortable and on sale. They only thing is I look at them and think mom shoes. Now there is nothing wrong with mom shoes, especial since I am a mom. But it is not like you see them and think cute shoes and I like to wear cute shoes.


So I then found these beauties on clearance and bought them too. Hehe. Surprisingly The Farmer didn't give me a bad time for buying another pair of shoes. He does think I have too many. Sure I might only wear those red high heels twice a year but when I do they look great and no other shoe would do.


Anyways I had also been holding out for awhile on buying a pair of Toms because there is a local store in Hood River that gives you 40% off one item on your birthday (the day after in my case). Being the penny pincher I am I waited to get Toms 40% off.


Now my question to you is does two pairs of cute shoes balance out the comfortable practical ones? Does a two to one ratio work or should it be three to one? It would have been three pairs of cute shoes had I been able to find brown boots in my size, but that is a whole different story.

The Craft Room: Finger Knitting Scraf

I learned how to finger knit from a friend, who learned from a friend, who learned from Anthropology.

This is what I made. Simple, just five chains of finger knitting tied together. If I was to do it again I would make it just a little shorter. But I'm still happy with how it turned out. Now I need to come up with something else to make with finger knitting, it is so quick and easy.

Learning

Micah was playing with these cups the other day and trying to stack them up. The thing is they don't stack very well unless you are doing it in sequential order. He didn't have the the correct one that came next, so it kept falling off. What was interesting is he was starting to get frustrated, swinging his arms around. But then he asked me for help and wanted me to do all the stacking. I can see how in the future this tendency of his will need to be guided and directed.

Nana's Gift

Nana's (my Mom) birthday was early this month. One morning Micah and I got crafty together and made her a present. Well it is Micah's gift to Nana but being that he is 16 months I had to help some.

words say: another year of collecting memories

What I did was cut out the letters and tape them down to the canvas. Then I helped Micah get started painting, and making sure most the canvas got paint on it. Once the paint was dry I removed the letter and tada!


Now for the funny part, the pictures of Micah painting.

Getting Moving

This past Friday my Mom, Micah and I went to this indoor play area at a church nearby. It had been raining all week and I wanted to get Micah out and moving.



When we first arrived there were about 15 moms and their kids by the time we left it was pure chaos! Probably somewhere around 35 moms/dads/grandparents. Micah had a fun time and was all over the gym. It was not chaos enough to scare us away though, we'll be back sometime this week, it was a great place for Micah to burn off some energy.

Missing Him

These two are missing each other. On Thursday Micah had a tough day (which ultimately means a challenging day for me). He was extra fussy and needing much more comfort. I think he is missing his Dad but doesn't know that that is what he is feeling, just that something is off.


Micah is giving my Dad extra long hugs, probably missing male connection. It is hard for Micah since he usually gets to see his Dad all throughout the day. I am also sure that it is hard for The Farmer too since he gets to see both of us throughout the day.


I don't know how single Moms do this. It is challenging and a lot of work. I am thankful I have family around to help.

Push Ups in Action

Had to get this video up too of Micah doing push ups. It is so cute and funny.

The Year of Trust

Last year my one little word was here. As I thought of that word throughout the year I tried to be in the present. Though I am no where near perfect in being here. With a new year comes a new word to focus on. But I will continue to strive to be here through this year and the rest of my life.


For this year my word is trust, trust in the one true God. To trust God with my life, with our future, our health, with my husband, with Micah, with everything and through everything. I want to trust God, period. Not just trust God to provide for our needs, to protect our family, to guide our lives, etc. And not just in the big things, but in the small things, because He knows and cares about those too. (Which actually those seem to be the harder areas to trust in). I want to trust God wholly, that no mater what may come, through it all God is there and on the other side God is there. Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight. Proverbs 3:5-6


When you think of the opposite of trust fear is there lurking. Think of the time consumed in fear? What lies is the enemy convincing me of when I live in fear? Whatever it is I'm not trusting the Lord. I should never be asking myself "What will I do if...?" I should ask, "What will God do if...?"


He will have no fear of bad news; his heart is steadfast, trusting in the LORD. His heart is secure, he will have no fear; in the end he will look in triumph on his foes. Psalms 112:7-8. In a book I read the author drew attention to the fact that it is not that bad news won't come, it is that you will not fear it. Because in the end we will look in triumph at our foes, meaning God will work all things for good.

So maybe my word should be no-fear, perhaps another year.


Oh how I wish I was better at all this. This trusting and no fear thing is not something I will accomplish in a year, it is a life long journey. One I know I will face and struggle with my entire life. But that does not mean I should just throw my hands up and not even try to trust my Maker. I will strive day after day, year after year, decade after decade to surrender more of my life to Him and fully trust Him in everything, through everything and with everything.

Christmas Vacation

This year we traveled for Christmas, a first for us (other then going to visit family). It certainly was different not being at home for Christmas, but we had a great time in Palm Springs. We got to enjoy around 70 degree weather, which is not all that warm but when you are coming from the 30's it feels like a heat wave.

Of course we took a lot of pictures and of course it is impossible to only put up a few. So I smashed together a number of them to show at a glance what we did.


This was Micah's first flight. It was quite a bit challenging going down, we were sitting next to a grumpy lady and Micah being a 15 month had to move all the time. But at least my parents were on the flight with us so Micah could spend some time with them too.

Our first full day there we went to a desert zoo. The best part was the giraffes, there was a two month old baby there. Get this it was already 6 feet tall! The zoo/museum also had a miniature model train yard. Micah enjoyed that, actually it was fun for all of us to watch.


The next day we went to Joshua Tree National Park. Most of the pictures you see above are of the cholla or teddy bear cactus. Very interesting, but you don't want to touch them, we held Micah's hand the whole time we walked around them. The one picture you see of Micah sitting down was his idea he just plotted down in the middle of the path and started playing with the dirt and rocks (such a boy).


We continued on driving through the park and out cropped these giant boulders of granite. Lots of fun to scamper around. Could rock climbing be in Micah's future?


These are the Joshua tree, they kind of look like a cross between a cactus and a palm tree.


One day we tried to go on a hike (the top two pictures). I said tried because we didn't make it very far. The trail was rated at moderate but it should have also included the description of rough. It was much more of a rugged trail then we had anticipated although we could have made it to the top we were not looking forward to the going back down. So we reached a spot with a nice vista and called it good.

The bottom left picture is the view from the condo. And then there is Micah enjoying some reading with Aunt Stephanie.


Micah loved going outside and with six adults someone was always ready to take him out. The first few days we were back home in the cold and snow I think he missed going outside.

Even vacationing in Palm Springs you still have to have iced cut out cookies at Christmas. And the Farmer surprised me by baking a cake for my birthday. Way to go I had no idea.

We had a great time, enjoyed family, relaxing around the condo and the hot tub and celebrating the birth of our Savior!