happy weekend.

"In all your ways acknowledge Him [God],

and He will keep your path straight." 

Psalm 3:6

pic pix: on a river walk, Calgary, AB, August.2013

a summer night.

All's pretty quiet tonight.  The evening light is absolutely gorgeous in my 'lived in' living room ... and these homemade plum galettes are to die for.

We're gearing up for another busy weekend away, as my cousin is getting married.  We'll be back before you know it, getting ready for our next big adventure.  No more airplane trips planned until after we are a family of four.  That feels crazy to type!

So for now, while it's quiet, I'm going to take this simplicity in and drink up these summer nights while they're still here.


pic pix: 1. juju playing - i love him so  2. plum galette - crust recipe | filling recipe *i didn't use almond paste & dusted with icing sugar after they were baked*

day on the boat.

We were literally on the boat for hours ... though it felt like only maybe one hour or two.  I'm relating it to kind of like how this summer has felt - moving way too quickly.  Maybe it's because you enjoy it so much it seems to go by faster?!  I don't know.  All that I am certain of is that each minute still has 60 seconds, each day 24 hours and that I can't explain how this phenomenon works!

But, back to our boating day.  It was a guys boating trip that we caught the tail end of.  A very fun tail, mind you.  The water was a bit choppy and the clouds were overcast on the day we went up, but it made for a comfortable temperature to just relax in rhythm with the water, and let the waves move you wherever & however (don't worry Mom, I won't post any videos for you and your stomach's sake!).  Judah loved being IN the boat and OUT of it!  I love the "hi mom" wave he's giving me (in the pics above).

Matt's been talking about getting a boat for weeks now... after this excursion, I think I'm really warming to the idea :)



pic pix: Judah's first time tubing, Little Bow Lake, 27.Aug.2013

happy weekend.

"The beautiful thing about learning is that no one

can take it from you." 

B.B. King

pic pix: Judah taking in the sites at Butterfield Acres, Bearspaw, AB, July.2013

sweet thought.

We've been battling these colds/eye infections here all week, and have not been ourselves.  My poor little buddy is cuddling all the time - which does some therapy for both of us, but to see him not do anything else is sad.  Sesame Street on netflix has been our week's play date.  Fruit and liquids our week's diet.  All to say, I'm happy we are on the upswing of this now.

Yesterday, specifically, it seemed that nothing would go right.  From the moment we got up.  We had slept in (cuz we haven't been sleeping through the night), piles of laundry/paperwork/things due, yada yada yada.   Then ...

I lost the van keys.

If any of you have ever been on the receiving end of this phone call from me, "So, I don't think we can meet today.  I, uh, cannot seem to find my keys..." I am so sorry.  I thought that we've been pretty good at not losing keys lately...but I guess, I spoke too soon.

As I was completely wound up and frustrated, having no solution to fix this problem on my hands, we had no other option except to cancel our day's plans and stay home (and hopefully find those keys!).  Judah was tired, so I put him down for a nap.  I was mentally exhausted, so went to my bedroom to lay down and read.

It was then that I read this:

His love for us is a lot bigger than our love for us. (Romans 5:6-11 see below)

Wow.  Did that ton of bricks ever hit me good.

In those moments, I was SO frustrated with myself that I could not love myself.  For the things I did do, couldn't do, didn't feel capable of, etc.  Yet, here was God ... still telling me that He loves me way more than I could ever love myself.  Talk about hearing what I needed to hear.

I pray this thought is as sweet (and special) to you as it is to me.  It'll change your immediate circumstance/perspective instantly - guaranteed.  Receive it today.

"...and hope does not put us to shame, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us.    For while we were still weak, at the right time Christ died for the ungodly.  For one will scarcely die for a righteous person—though perhaps for a good person one would dare even to die—  but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.  Since, therefore, we have now been justified by his blood, much more shall we be saved by him from the wrath of God.  For if while we were enemies we were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, now that we are reconciled, shall we be saved by his life.  More than that, we also rejoice in God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 

through whom we have now received reconciliation."

Romans 5:6-11

pic pix: some wild flowers in K-Country, Kananaskis, Aug.2013

colorboard / no.17

color: lemonade
word of inspiration: pick me up

source of word: Simply put, when it's been a long day, or I just need a refresher, I resort to lemons.  Especially lemonade.

1. comfy sweater season is on it's way /2. i have an obsession with furniture /3. paper straws > love /4. this braiser is just begging to be in my kitchen /5. love the color of this twine /6. juju would look cute in these /7. also, soon to be loose shirt season for post preggo over here /8. yum! /9. dahlias are beautiful, as is this hair piece /10. lemon watercolor /11. crochet cutie for new baby?! /12. i can almost feel this on my shoulder {le sigh}

happy weekend.

"I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught." 

Winston Churchill

I love this little boy so much.  I feel more, hurt more, laugh more...all because of this wee face.

This morning, I've already faced some of the most challenging moments that I've encountered with him yet.  He's teething again, and this time with a vengeance.  His understanding that things aren't "normal" helps, but equally as much doesn't, as I can't explain it all to him.

My little meltdown this morning (after poop got everywhere-don't ask!, tears were coming down both of our faces, our colds flaring up into coughing fits...blah blah blah), caused me to think deeply about the quote above and how my relationship with Father can be a lot like me and Juju's.

My understanding has grown ... but I can't understand it all.

I go through growing pains ... and all He can do is comfort me, love me as I have to go through it.

Even though I want to learn, explore, and try new things ... it's hard to be taught how to do 

something when all I want to do is know it and have mastered it already.

Not sure if at all you are like me, but wherever you may be within your current travel of learning, be reminded that it's okay to not have all the answers - it's normal to face frustration.  Just the same, it's natural that our Father DOES have the answers and He wants to guide us if we allow His comfort into our lives.

May your hearts and minds be open and teachable ... happy weekend!

"If you love learning, you love the discipline that goes with it..." Proverbs 12:1


pic pix: from our exploring walk with Uncle Jesse, K-Country, 12.Aug.2013

think. less.

I've been reading about different women in the Bible lately, and have noticed an "interesting" commonality...they weren't perfect. Yes, you read that right, not perfect. Trust in theirselves was sometimes greater than in God. The tendency to want to take matters into their own hands was evident in more than one situation. Things weren't always ideal.

I'd say, that would sum up how I feel somedays - unworthy of grace and love, ungrateful, spent - not ideal.

For my devotional reading the other day, one of the questions prompted a description of: who I thought Eve was or what came to mind when I thought about her. My mind immediately classified her as "the woman who lead Adam to take of the forbidden fruit", "the one who was deceived and listened to her own thoughts and not God's". Thinking that I had given the right answers, I moved on in my devotion. The next question to think about was: how did God see Eve and what she was created for?

It took me a moment to push aside all preconceived ideas about her and think of her how God did/does. She was created to be a helper to Adam - a comparable creature. Her name means "Living", so to Adam (who named her) she represented life. She paved a new way as a woman to be a mother and wife...something never done before. God created her for all of that, and clearly, thought as His creation, she would be capable.

Then I started analyzing the way that I view myself, and how much I hold on to these minuscule flaws that aren't really "me" but things I've done in the past. Things I've been forgiven for. Things that yes, had a part of shaping me, but don't (and shouldn't) be shaping me today.

His grace covers that old Sarah, and His love allows this new Sarah to view myself differently, freely, and unashamedly.

We don't have to be stuck in a box in our own perspective of ourselves ... we need to think less about the past and dwell and marvel in the beautiful right in front of us. As imperfect and flawed as we may see ourselves, His perspective breaks that and frees us to live. Hallelujah!

pic pix: try looking at these leaves with a new perspective ... it's amazing how beautiful they are, taken on a K-Country walk, Kananaskis, AB, 12.Aug.2013

our wee gallivant to p.e.i.

If you can't tell by the pictures ... we had an absolute blast!  These are only just SOME of the highlights of the get-away we experienced last week.  Lots of laughs, a healthy bit of relaxation, that fresh island air - it all did us some good.  Trips to the dairy bar, downtown Charlottetown, the beach, Meme's house, family dinners were all too wonderful.  The only part I regret is leaving so soon.

Judah was an absolute champ with the whole travelling/meeting new people thing.  Pretty much, the best.  And, as usual, Matt was the ultimate husband.  I can't wait until we can all go back!

pic pix: our island adventure, PEI, August.2013