A Needed Reminder

It's been slow at work, which is both good and bad.  There is only so much surfing one can do, and even less if you are trying not to buy stuff you really don't need.

So, I catch up on blogs.  I love reading parenting blogs, faith blogs, family life, hair, DIY blogs, really anything that is inspirational.

I have a few favorites, and today, I found two blogs that seemed to be written just for me. 

Finding Joy is a blog that I have loved for awhile, and I know I have shared her stories before.  The one today (linked above) is about the Lonely Mom.  And as small group is diving into a book called Desperate: Hope for the Mom Who Needs to Breathe, this blog post fit perfectly with the reading this week.  The reading was on depression, isolation, and feeling alone.  I felt convicted when i was reading at home last night, and again today when I read the blog.  A lump was in my throat, and I identified with her.  It's so easy to only see the happy stuff people post, and feel like no matter what you do, you don't get ahead, you are falling behind, failing at different aspects of your life, feeling overwhelmed with a life that sometimes seems like it has spun out of control, and taken on it's own course, while you are trying to figure out what direction you are even going now.

And then there is Diana Wrote who had a blog on faith the size of a mustard seed.  How in the bible even the tiniest amount of faith can move mountains, and she is doubting the size of her faith since her sons have died (she has lost 3 infants in the past 18 months).  Her writing is painfully honest, but so so good.  And I compare the faith I have to her life, and wonder if she doubts her faith with all the struggles she has, how little faith do I have?  And her first comment is that her readers are her mountains, and she is moving us.  And it floored me.  We could have mountains we dont even know we are moving.

I have been LOVING the girls in my bible study group.  It's amazing how we have all just clicked and seems like we have known each other forever.  We did a fun night with the hubby's and kids, and there were no meltdowns, or tears (from the hubby's or kids) :)  I'm so blessed to have these women join me and to have them pray for me, hold me accountable, and support me in growing in faith.  Seriously, these women are amazing and I can't wait to see what kind of mountains we can move together.

Copycat Cafe Rio Shredded Beef

Due to a new baby cousin arriving in October, my sister and I combined my nephew, Carson, and Jacob's birthday parties together.  We figured it would be easier for everyone, and save on food costs.  Shauna had wanted to make taco's for Carson's party, so we kept to that idea, since it's something different than sloppy joe's, and is just as easy.

I've had a recipe pinned for awhile that I wanted to try, even though i have never heard of the store it copycats, but the recipes are alway's popping up and look so good.  Plus, it's made in the crockpot, so can it get any easier??

Cafe Rio Shredded Beef

Ingredients

1	small onion
2	lbs. boneless beef chuck roast
1	c. low-sodium beef broth
1	Tbl. ground cumin + extra to taste
3-5	garlic cloves, minced
1	(8 oz.) can tomato sauce
1	(14 oz.) can green enchilada sauce
1-2	Tbl. tomato paste

Directions

Cut the onion into large, chunky slices; place on the bottom of slow-cooker. Place the roast on top of the onions. Combine broth, 1 Tablespoon cumin, garlic and tomato sauce; pour over the top of the roast. Cover and cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. Transfer meat to a cutting board; use two forks to shred the beef. Strain the juices from the slow-cooker, reserving the juice. Transfer shredded meat back to the slow-cooker and pour some of the strained juices over the shredded beef (as much as you prefer). Stir in the enchilada sauce and tomato paste.Season with salt and extra cumin, to taste. Serve in taco shells with desired toppings.

This recipe was a HIT.  I literally had about 2 spoonfuls leftover, which my nephew Collin begged me for, so I sent home with him.  Earlier, he said, "Nikki - can you tell my mom how to make this, her's doesnt taste this good!"  Made me laugh. 

I also made a chicken taco recipe.  I threw some chiecken breasts into another crockpot, added 1/2 packet of taco seasoning, and a jar of salsa.

No photos, as i have not uploaded them off of the camera yet, but i will do that soon, and post a link of the construction cake. 

Now I lay me down to sleep....

I pray the Lord, my soul to keep

Every night we pray this before bedtime with Jacob.  And before, I would always wrap up the prayer with praying for Jacob and people we knew.  One of the girls at bible study mentioned that she asks her son what he wants to pray for.  Such a simple thing, and yet was one of those, why haven't I done that moments.

Since then, I have asked Jacob what he would like to pray for.  And because he is a MASSIVE creature of habit, I pretty much know what he will pray for and in what order.

First we pray for B (his blanket), Baa (his stuffed sheep) and Nuk.  We pray that they bring him comfort and peace during the night to help him sleep.

May God guide me, through the night

Then he wants to pray for Dada.  And I help him "pick" what we pray for, good day at work, safe travels, more play time, etc.

Next, comes Momma.  (yea, i know, i rank 5th...)  Again, I help pick, but mine is usually for patience.  Can never have too much of that with a toddler....

Then it depends.  We thank God for the blessings of books, Mo's (motorcycles), 4 wheelers, trucks, and anything else he can think of. 

I will usually wrap up the prayer for specific things for friends and family, new baby Avery has been a popular one this week, and when I say "In Your name we pray" Jacob starts chiming in with "AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAmen".  I love it.  Sweetest part of our day.

We read the same books for bed, and a favorite is "God's Little Lamb" which is sang/read to the tune of Baa Baa Black Sheep.  J LOVES this book, and his new thing is to sing "baa baa" throughout the book, and then giggle like a madman when we say it at the same time.  :)

After books, we pray, then sing songs.  I always sing "You are My Sunshine" and every night Jacob interrupts me to ask "one more?"  at least once during the song.  And I have to say "yes Jacob, we will sing one more after this song" otherwise he keeps asking.  Song number 2 depends on how late it is, and how much patience i have...  Sometimes we do "All God's Children", "Jesus Loves Me", one of his all time favorites Revelation Song  or Forever Reign.  It's my favorite thing, cuz he just SNUGGLES right in, and we rock.  Believe me, i was not blessed with a singing voice, but J doesnt care about that.

After we wrap up rocking and singing, as I stand up, he reaches to touch his own back, and quietely says "Back?". His way of asking me to rub his back when I lay him down in his crib for a few minutes before I leave the room.  And I say yes every night.

And wake me with the morning light

It's Confirmed

Riding "Big Baa" he did NOT want to get down

My child is odd.

This weekend we were out an about as we went to Woodbury's Big Trucks (with only a couple melt downs), the Afton Apple Orchard (PACKED!!), Afton's art fair, and hung out at home. 

When we do these little side day trips, I bring snacks with for J, because I've realized he's a lot like me.  If he's hungry, he gets crabby.  and quick...  So to help avoid meltdowns, and to keep the Holy Trinity items at bay as long as possible.  If you are unaware as to the HT in our house it is:  B (J's workd for his blanket), Baa (his stuffed sheep) and Nuk (if you dont know this, I can't help you).  Everywhere we go, they go.  Church, store, Target, Grandma's, a walk, they go.  They can stop tears in no time.  But, as it gets closer to Nuk's depature date (which is not set, but eventually), we try to keep the 3 items at a bare minimum.

Anyways, as a result, I keep food around as much as possible.  Cuz if does get angry/cranky, then he is DEFINETLY acting like his daddy, not his momma!  :)

A go to item tends to be the food pouches (of either applesauce, or a fruit/veggie combo) or our version of trail mix.  Our version just tends to be whatever we have in the house.  Goldfish, cheerio's, life cereal, pb or cheese crackers, but there are 2 items that are ALWAYS in there. 

Nope, not chocolate.
Not nuts.

Raisins and yogurt covered raisins. 

Seriously, this kid LOVES raisins.  He asks for them, and will pick out all the raisins before he eats anything else out of the trail mix.  Who does that??  Usually that's what is left from trail mix, along wtih the peanuts.  Cashews - gone.  Peanuts - hangin out with the raisins. 

I was reading a babycenter blog about handing out candy for Halloween, and people trying to think of other things.  A few comments were about how useless it was to do boxes of raisins, because they just get tossed, and no one likes them. 

Well, send them our way.  Apparently, J did not get that memo, and prefers raisins to chocolate.  (Just add some dark chocolate too, for me!)

Pickin some apples



No idea what that face is about

Hangin out in the bucket

Giving "Baa" a kiss

Big boy hanging out under the snow plow

He does love pumpkin cookies though.  A lot.  :)


My First Quilt Tutorial

I have gotten into sewing over the years, and although my fabric stash comes no where near my aunt Debbie's, it's getting up there.  I buy stuff with no real purpose in mind, if it's on sale, or just too cute to pass up.  I also have a few bought for stuff I know i want to do. 

I was in a purse/bag kick for awhile, and although I love me a new purse, I was getting tired of doing them.  And after tackling an Amy Butler pattern for diaper bag, on my own (aka, no help from Jen) I realized I could do more than just bags.

Jen made Jacob a gorgous quilt for my baby shower.  This girl put time into it.  And it was her first quilt.  That girl has talent.  I realized that I will need to up my game when they decide to have a baby, and so I should start working on that now. 

I made a quilt for my soon to be born niece.  The first on the Posey side.  I actually did it without a pattern, although I'm sure that is obvious.  It is like a playskool, my first ______, except quilt version.
It was fun picking out the fabric, all girly and baby.  I actually had made Bailey a purse for her birthday a few years back, and had some leftover fabric from that, which i was able to incorporate into her baby girl's quilt.  Like Momma like baby right?

I had the baby word fabric from Jen, which was from Jacob's quilt, so Baby Girl Posey gets something from her momma and her cousin.  The other fabrics, purple dot, owl, pink side, was actually from Target and was for receiving blankets.  The backing was the minky pink from JoAnn's that is just so soft.

I started by cutting all the fabric, by far the most time intensive part I think.  The width was the the length of the receiving blankets, and then i did 3.5 inches for the width of each strip.  I cut 15 strips, 4 of the purple dot, 4 of the pink, 3 of the purse fabric, 2 brown baby, and 2 owl.

Start cutting away

 After pinning the pieces, I started sewing.  1/4 inch seam, matching right sides together.  I wanted the quilt to be wider than receiving blankets, so I stitched together all except the 4 pink pieces, in the following order:
Purple, Purse, Baby, Owl, Purple, Purse, Purple, Owl, Baby, Purse, Purple
You can view pics farther down to see a visual.

Starting the block sewing

 First 3 strips done!

 Here is the finished strip sewing, also a visual for those who want to see the pattern.

 Next, I attached the pink strips to the outside where I wanted them.  They meet in the middle since I was using the length of the recieving blanket for this.  Even though a seam in the middle, it works out well, and adds texture.

I then stitched the oustide pink strips to the quilt, again matching right sides together and 1/4" seam

 Next, came the batting.  I went a bit overboard on the batting, because this was My First Quilt, and it didn't seem "fluffy" enough to me, so I did two layers.  You only need one....

I cut to the size of the quilt and pinned it down to the wrong side of the quilt.

 At this time, I also cut the oh so soft pink minky fabric for the backing.  I pinned this to the other side of the batting, so it looked like a quilt (almost) at this point. 

After pinning the batting and the backing to the front of the quilt, I stitched a 1/2" seam around the entire quilt.  Don't worry about the edges, that's what the binding is for!
Sorry for the blurry edged picture...

 After, I added the premade binding (in white).  It took two packages, bought from JoAnn's. I pinned, and then stitched as close to the inside quilt edge of the binding in matching thread.

All DONE!!

 Here is a view with the backside also.

 I opted to not stitch across the quilt.  I had debated on it, but due to timing, it just wasn't going to work with the shower coming up.

Can't wait to meet Baby Girl, who is due to arrive next week!!



Morning Photo Session

We recently did a photo session with Ilisa of Ailts Photography.  She has done lots of sessions for us since I was pregnant, but I love how these ones captured the "true" Jacob.  She came over for a couple of hours one Saturday morning and followed us as we did our normal thing.

One of my favs, signing Johnny Appleseed for prayer time at breakfast

 

So serious, still watching Ilisa

I love his face when he's snffing flowers

It is rare when we pass flowers with out Jacob sniffing them

Look at me climbing the stairs!

Love the colors

"where's Jacob??"

Cuddles

Jacob's FAVORITE pic, he had to bring to daycare with him one day, carried it around and everything

He really does ride the tractor and 4wheeler on a daily basis

Trying to do family pics

Hard work pushing the tractor up the hill

Sunshines & Smiles - Summer Catch Up

Getting comfy on the waok

Taking nieces to get mani/pedi's for their birthdays

Washing the tractor (daddy was so proud!)

Playdate for both J and mommy... :)

Chillin on the way to the state fair with Momma's glasses and the tractor trader

New store that opened in Afton LOVE IT!

First day of Early Preschool (best photo i could get...)

Mumford and Sons Concert with Jess & Jen

Small Group - Large Impact

I had dinner with a friend last night.  One who has encouraged me, challenged me to be better, forced me out of my box.  I love friends like that.  Ones who see the person you can be, and push you (in a gentle manner) to be that person, to help you see who they see.  (if that makes sense.)

She is a large factor as to why I started my own bible study group.  I have been wanting to join one again for awhile, but just wasnt finding quite what I was looking for.  I wrestled with starting my own group. Could I truly lead a group of women, when I feel like I am still learning God's grace and love on a daily basis?  I didnt trust that I could.  Finally, I did it.  And as much as I would love to say it instantly took off it didnt. 

My group was listed for about a month, before I had anyone contact me.  That is like torture.  I questioned myself.  I questioned if this was the path God was leading me on, or if I was just "hearing" what I wanted to.  I felt rejected.  I had put myself out there, on the line, and nothing.

But, I should know by now, God does things on his time, not mine.  (I'm sure it's not a lesson I have mastered yet either).  And one by one, I started getting emails from girls from church I had never met.  Women who wanted fellowship.  Mother's who wanted to raise their children in Christ's love.  During this time, I had also met one of our new neighbors who has a son 4 months older than Jacob.  I had joked (kinda, was half serious) with Mike that I was going to start stalking her, and make her be my friend.  I don't know a lot of moms in my area, especially with young boys.  

She had invited us to her son's bday party, and of course Jacob approved since there were John Deere's and cake involved, and I was even more committed to my stalking project when their family prayed before the birthday meal.  (In full disclosure, I have told my neighbor about my stalking plans, and luckily she still talks to me :))

I decided to go out on a limb and invite her to join my group.  It was another one of those moments I wrestled, and sweated buckets over.  I mean seriously, I didnt want to come across as the crazy neighbor (which I'm sure I did) and I could count on one hand the amount of times I've talked to her. 

So, there started my group.  Two girls I have never met, and another one I practically hog tied and drug to my house.  It has been the best thing for my faith, sanity, and motherhood this year.  We now have 5 of us, and meet every week. 

I realized I don't need all the answers.  And they are not looking for all the answers.  Just to be able to have friends you can share the day to day mundane child rearing, mother guilt, wife tasks, etc, and have people who understand is phenomenal.  I love Monday nights.  I feel so light hearted, and inspired by these women. 

It makes me a better mom, wife, me, and Christ follower.  I have new ideas on prayer with Jacob, on how to show him Christ's love, and knowing I dont need to be perfect.  I'm so excited to see where God leads us, and how we will grow and challenge each other. 

In case you are wondering we finished Out of the Spin Cycle this past week.  I would HIGHLY recommend it to mother's looking for a humorous, as well as thought provoking book.  The chapters are short, so it's easy to read even if you are in the trenches of motherhood.  If you do read it, let me know, I would LOVE to see what your thoughts are one it! 

Our Favorite Room - The Sunroom

We've had some people over now, and the overwhelming consensus is the love of the sunroom.  It is so peaceful, all windows, and tucked off by itself.  It is by far our favorite room in the house.  Sadly, it is only 3 season right now, and I have a feeling it wont be finished off by this winter.  We've spent more money on getting sheetrock done, painting, carpet, and furniture, that this project may be put off a bit.

But, I'm holding out as long as i can in here!

I can't wait until fall, snuggle up in here looking at the trees about a 100 feet away turning colors, as I drink cider and eat some glorious pumpkin dessert!

Before picture - love the sunlight, not the paneling or the carpet

 Originally we thought the carpet could last until we remodeled this to be year round.  While priming, and sitting on floor, when you stood up, your pants came away with yellow smear/fuzz all over.  The carpet wouldnt make it much longer, and the thought of Jacob breathing in the dust was not ideal.

 

 

But first, I decided to prime.  This was the first, and last, room in the house I primed.  What a pain.  The stink, the lack of reward, the time.  Everything about priming is a suck.

Already looking better

Notice the lamp?  I hated the lamp, wicker, 1970 original
 



 But the painting part?  LOVED the paint.  I bought Ben Moore's Affinity line Dragonfly (thank you Young House Love).  With a room with this much sun, I knew i could risk a dark, bold color. 

Dragonfly, opposite walls are all Collonade Gray, like the dining/living room

Puppy photo bombs

 After painting, (of course) we decided to rip out the carpet to replace now instead.  The carpet ripped up fairly well, but the pad, not so much.  It was glued to the floor.  Entirely glued.  So started the process of scraping the floor up. It was a mess of black pad, yellow fuzz, and tired arms.

Pad left behind after removing carpet, 2 little patches are original floor

It seriously took me like 3 hours to do that.  DEPRESSING

All scraped, complete mess

Good thing i like this room for all the blisters it gave me.

Love it!!

 



Jacob's play area

See the light?  Isn't it great??

I absolutely love the light now.  It surprisingly goes quite well, and I've actually had several people ask where I bought it.  Vintage!  The curtains too are great, got from the Tar-jay boutique.  :)