From Armoire to Family Central

Espi makes and creates so much for this home and land. And sometimes he "makes" all for me...or at least it feels that way, even when he benefits, too.

When we moved into this 70s country home over 7 years ago, I dreamed of a small island in the middle of our small kitchen providing more counter space for dicing up food and casual eating. A couple years ago, Espi looked at our large armoire on our lower level (that was blocking wall space for a new tv) and envisioned cutting off the top, attaching a butcher board slab, and voila, today I have my island.



I love this simple, re-purposed piece he made. It is used constantly for food prep, eating snacks (even fitting in quick meals), doing school work, projects and crafts. Last night, it's where we played board games. Today, on one side I made sugar cookies; on the other side, H finished her birthday thank yous.



This little space has truly become family-central...all because a handy man heard a dream, (desired a mini-theatre home experience,) looked at what we had with creative eyes, and made it happen.

Gracias, Mi Amor.

Loving My Passions

{It's where I grew up, aside from some meal breaks here and there. It's why I enjoy my favorite recreations: hiking, trail biking, and trail running. It brings peace, sanity, perspective, inspiration, health--and it's full of God's wonders and His very evident faithfulness: the outdoors.}

{We are crazy, funny, foolish, wise, courageous. Each individual story is unique, full of possibilities, choices, survival. And each is apart of the great universal story of love and redemption: people.}

{It's the one that is the same today as it was anytime in the past. It's the reason we have sciences because without it all would be random, and there would be no system or order to study: Truth. Also, no masks, no lies allowed. I remember as a child looking for this constantly in adults like it was a hidden treasure--I never want to forget how important it was...and how important it is now that I'm on the other side. It lives free in an environment of love: sincerity.}

My many interests fit well under these few broad topics that have returned again and again to fill me with life, direction, and hope.


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Celebrating love each Friday this February with Jeanne Oliver. Posting "love your passion" here today.

Abiding

Dreaming in Cream

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Loving Myself

{I am most comfortable al naturale. It feels most free. It feels most genuine. There is a place for "decorating" myself, too, and it can be just plain fun. Yet, no matter how I look or what I am doing, I believe that to love myself is to live true to God and true to me. Humility and honestly are a necessity, as well as accepting, enjoying, and caring for what I've been given--what makes up me. May I have the strength and courage to do this until the very end: loving myself.}


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Join in celebrating love each Friday in February with Jeanne Oliver. Posting "love yourself" here today.

Dancing

Thinking back to a freezing, snow-covered day recently when the girls broke out the leotards and pretended and danced away part of the afternoon. Makes me want to do the same thing on this warm, windy, winter's day...no leotard involved, but lots of dancing.

There are short-cuts to happiness, and dancing is one of them. {Vicki Baum}







Anyone who says sunshine brings happiness has never danced in the rain. {unknown}

Unexpected

{After a quarter of a century, my life was simplified and I began to accept that my future was "single" ambitions and dreams, when your honesty, respect, tenderness, and strength turned my world upside down: my husband Espi. I am thankful to God for this unexpected love, which is not for the careless.}


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Join in celebrating love all February long with Jeanne Oliver. Posting "unexpected" loves over at Courtney Walsh today.

6

As of 4:57pm yesterday, our oldest has officially been around six years.

Her snow laden birthday was so cold with flakes continually dancing in the air all day long. It kept family from safely traveling to celebrate with us, but we still cautiously ventured out on the roads to make some simple wishes come true.



{Prep: balloons, cloth celebration flags strung across the room, birthday "crown" by adding a "6" to a princess headdress H fashioned several weeks ago, presents, and gluten-free raspberry pop cake, tasty but so crumbly the 1 1/2 batches of chocolate frosting barely held it as one bumpy mound}



{Her menu request for the day: waffles with strawberries and blueberries for breakfast; Chipotle for lunch; ravioli, grilled asparagus, plus Popeye's mash potatoes and biscuits for dinner; and raspberry pop cake and strawberry ice cream for dessert}



{Wished for ice skating, Wild Life Experience museum, or Monkey Business as ways to spend her day. Given the ages of her siblings, Espi and I surprised her with MB, and they played all morning long until lunch finally called.}



H, what do you think about birthdays? They're the best!

What did you really want for your birthday this year? The phone. [a pretend cell phone with a recording and play back feature] Did you get it? Yes, I did!

What are you going to want to do this year now that you're six? the stuff I liked to do when I was 5. Anything new? drive a car...like my friend Gabrielle did [steering on her parent's lap]!

Who are your friends? Ashleigh, Greta, Addy, Trent...I guess that's it.

What makes you happy? Abran and my blanket

What makes you sad? when I can't have something I really, really, really want

What do you do when you're sad? run to my room

What is your favorite book? princess and make-stuff [craft] books

What is something you like about yourself? that I like jewelry, swans, and everything that's make-believe.

What would you like to do when you grow up? be a mom who doesn't have to make food...because I don't know how to cook.

{Finishing up lunch at Chipotle, H stands up waiting for the rest of us leave. I love her hazel eyes and asked, "How did you get such beautiful eyes??" She replies the regular, "God." She humors me by looking at the camera wide-eyed as I try to capture her hints of green and center-specks of brown gems.}



Happy six years, Precious Girl!

There May Have Never Been a Greater Love Shown

Warning: This post is not for the weak of stomach.

Tonight lengua tacos were served in our kitchen. A package was included in our purchase from the butcher. I knew Espi would be glad. He grew up eating the stuff, and he loves his childhood eats.

Before church, the meat was started in the crock pot. By mid afternoon, it was ready for the next step.

This guy gave me the idea to saute. So then, the removing and slicing and dicing began.

Not to say there was no love involved in the meal prep before this point, but this had to be the height of my love, certainly today,...I question if my love has ever shown greater for Espi than in that moment.

I'll spare the details (or you might have already seen some details from the links above--I'm sorry). It's gross. And I believe any man or woman who has gone through the full extent of preparing lengua deserves respect for their bravery.

After sauteing then warming tortillas, the lengua was topped with pico de gallo and avocado, and we had one very happy Daddy.








Espi says lengua is a delicacy. If that is the case, I would like to argue that it has to be due to so few people in this world being willing to prepare it!

Yet, tonight the "delicacy" was made and Espi said that the lengua even beats carne asada. That's saying a lot considering how much he loves that dish!

Deeply

{You have looked after and protected me more than I know. You are unmistakable everyday, in every part of everyday. Your spirit and counsel are my hope, my joy, my peace. It's not hard to see that any good in me and all the good in my life is because of you. You ARE love. Because of the love you have shown me, deeply, I love you: Emmanuel.}


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Join in celebrating love all February long with Jeanne Oliver.