Happy Birthday Jonas!

Happy Birthday to my wonderful husband! Jonas turned 40 today!! Now that's a milestone. We went to the Hobbit last night to celebrate. We enjoyed it!! And this morning I made him his favorite...biscuits with gravy! He was in heaven!

I am so in love with this man! Jonas is a great husband and father. And he loves the Lord with all his heart. I can't imagine being married to anyone else! May the Lord bless him with many more years to come!

For his birthday, we were able to get a locker for the back axle of his jeep. It helps him get through the tougher trails when he's off-roading. Jonas is an off-roading junkie! He also went on an off-roading/camping trip for his birthday. He went to Death Valley and absolutely enjoyed it.

Beautiful, huh? I am so glad he went on this trip. He came back refreshed. Here's to many more birthday and camping trips! I love you, Jonas!!

Happy Anniversary!

Today, Jonas and I celebrate our five year anniversary! I am married to an amazing man who absolutely loves the Lord, myself and our little Grace. I can't imagine my life without him! God really blessed me when He brought Jonas into my life.

Jonas and I met online! Yes! Modern romance. Jonas was living in Monroeville, Alabama (out in the sticks!) and I was living Pasadena, CA. We started talking to each other online in May of 2005, met in person in Nashville that August, and engaged in October and married in April of 2006. It was a fast engagement, but we knew the Lord had His hands all over it. We were what each other had prayed for. And now five years later, our marriage has gotten better and better! It's amazing to think that you can just keep loving someone more and more as time passes. I love Jonas more today than I did the day I said, "I do."

And to share a bit of scrapbooking, here a few of the layouts I created documenting Jonas and my relationship.

This was one of the first layouts I created. I had never scrapbooked until I decided to put together a wedding album. And I was hooked! You can tell that this layout was basic. I didn't have a paper cutter or any sort of real scrapbooking tools. I though about re-doing this album, but decided against it. I love it just the way it is.

I actually used paper that I bought in the dollar section at Target! Love it when I get a great deal on scrapbooking supplies!

This layout commemorates our engagement pictures compliments of my friend Summer's stepfather and it is also the first layout of the album I put together documenting our engagement. It was an impromptu photo session while we were in Nashville for our first Thanksgiving together. I love this picture of Jonas and I.

And now for a little bit of Grace! We have now added 18 months clothes to her wardrobe! Some of it is still big on her, but some of it fits! Oh boy! She is a big girl! And she keeps growing right before our eyes. She is so tall. She is also cutting teeth like crazy. Last week she was working on her front two teeth and all of the sudden we notice that not only has she cut those two, but also three more on top and two more on the bottom (she already has the front two bottom teeth). Poor baby! I suppose that's why she keeps waking up in the middle of the night. Can't imagine it's too pleasant cutting teeth.

I took her to get pictures taken with a bunny (we don't call it "Easter Bunny," because a bunny has nothing to do with Easter. We celebrate the resurrection of Jesus). She smiled a bit for us before she started crying. I dressed her up in the dress we bought her for Easter. She looked so cute! It's turing out to be a great month.

We are celebrating our anniversary, Jonas' 40th birthday, Grace's 9 month birthday, Easter and we'll be hosting Jonas' stepmom and my best friend. It's going to be a fun month! Hope you are having a blessed month too!

Beth

ps...not sure why this is underlined...couldn't figure out how to undo it...

Bounce Grace, Bounce!

Happy Monday! Did any of you miss changing your clocks this weekend? We almost missed it! Thanks for a friend on Facebook who posted a comment about it on her wall, I changed our clocks right before going to bed Saturday night. We made it on time to church, but noticed the parking lot looked a bit on the empty side! This morning, I made a mad dash to Starbucks. I was tired!! I think it will take Grace a couple of days to adjust to the time change. She went to bed close to 9pm last night. Her normal bed time is about 7:30pm.

Speaking of Grace, I have finished her first scrapbook album! It was meant to cover her first year, but it ended up covering birth to three months...with 6 added pages! That's a total of 32 layouts!! I'll try to take some pictures of layouts soon to share, but for now, here's a picture of the album. THICK!!

Grace is about to turn 8 months. But I finally picked up her 7 month pictures. Here's four of my favorites.

This one looks like a school picture! She's so big!!!

Too sweet for words! She wasn't smiling much during this photo session, but I still love this shot of her in the hat box. I think this one would look great with the Sepia effect. I can't wait to scrapbook it!!

She was a hint of a smile in this picture. You can see a watery eye. She was crying a bit. I don't think she liked being in the hat box or the boas.

Ahh, my sweet little one. Thank you Tia Alicia for this great dress! It's picture perfect.

Grace loves her jumper. And she loves jumping. Not sure why the video came out sideways, and I wasn't sure how to rotate the image. I took this video with my cell phone. Next time I guess I need to rotate my cell phone.

I am consistently amazed at God's amazing provision for my family. I have the tendency to stress about finances and within the last two months, God has provided twice in situations where I wasn't sure how we were going to pay a bill or have enough saved up to get us through summer. Both times, God provided more than what we needed...try three times as much as needed! I am so glad God provides despite my worry. What is worry? Lack of faith. Thank you Lord, and forgive my unbelief.

Praying you have an amazing week!

Blessings,

Beth

Working Moms...

Being a working mom is hard work! Let's see, today I forgot the check for daycare and I forgot to pack nipples for Grace's bottles...signs that I am way too busy and tired! I have a patch of grey hair because I have not had time or energy to get my hair done. I'm still overweight and I don't have much time to grocery shop much less eat healthy...AHHH, Calgone, take me away!

Here is a day in the life of me...

5:00am wake up, take shower, get ready

6:00am wake up Grace to nurse (unless she has woken up earlier and probably thrown me off my morning routine

6:55am leave for work

7:30am to 3:30pm...work

4:00pm pick up Grace from daycare

4:20pm arrive home and nurse Grace

5pm start dinner and feed Grace

6ish dinner, play with Grace, time with Jonas

7:30pm...start bedtime routine with Grace

8:30pm pack Grace's bag, bottles, etc

9:00pm Spend time with Grace

10pm hit the sack (and get up at least once during the night to nurse Grace)

Can you relate?? This past weekend, I decided to throw it all in the wind...Saturday, Jonas, Grace and I went to the local Santa Ana Zoo for a couple of hours. It was great to get out of the house. We had beautiful weather! Then Sunday afternoon, we went on a hike in Santiago Canyon. We had a great time. But...I have to say that it was a bit stressful timing it all with Grace's naps, feedings, etc. All in all, it was well worth it.

Here is Grace...she makes it all worth it...

She's been working on her top tooth. I hope she cuts it soon. She isn't fussy, but sure has been trying to gnaw on everything. Sweet thing! I hear the molars are a real treat!!

Hope you have a great week! I'll be working on slowing down! So what if the sink is full of dirty dishes...

Blessings,

Beth

Yummy Biscuits

I hope you had a wonderful holiday weekend. We did lots of resting and hanging out. I was able to get in a bit of scrapbooking too! I have been so behind in sharing scrapbook layouts...I have to decide whether to scrapbook or use the time to take pictures. These days, time is very limited!
We had an awesome church service on Sunday. It was Missions Sunday and the focus was on adoptions. Mike Ramsey, one of our Elders gave an incredible message focusing on our being adopted into God's family. It was really great. You can hear it as a podcast here. I was hit by how many children around the world and locally go to bed every night without love, a family, or a sense of belonging. Many live in poverty, are exploited and abused. I cried so much during the service. My heart really broke at the thought of children suffering. Maybe I'm a bit more sensitive to it now that I have a daughter. At any rate, Jonas and I have begun a conversation about what our role maybe in regards to orphans. We are praying. Pray with us. And pray that the Lord raises up families to adopt. We are are a very blessed nation with abundant resouces. Let's put those resources to good use...
I am continually blessed by Grace. She is growing and developing so much right before my eyes. She has started to throw little fits! Yes!!! AND NOOOO! She get's a little mad when I take something from her that she is playing with...like her spoon during meal time! It's cute...for now. Ahhh, it's time for Grace to learn the word "No." Fun times. Grace also said "Dada" this morning as part of her babbling. Ahhh...both Jonas and I were in the kitchen with her and heard it. When is she going to say "mama?"
We introduced teething biscuits this weekend. Grace loves them!

Blessings!
Beth

Happy Valentine's Day

I love Valentine's Day! I mean, sure you should show your love and appreciation for your loved ones every day of the year, but what an awesome thing to have a day specifically for focusing on love! In my single days, sure it was hard with all the romantic stuff happening. I remember many a Valentine's spent with dear friends. Now, with Jonas and Grace, Valentine's has taken on new meaning. We'll be celebrating Valentine's Day with a nice dinner at home.

Haha! Finally, a scrapbook layout! But...it's from 2008! An oldie. This is the last Valentine's Day that Jonas and I actually went out to celebrate. I made this layout to commemorate the day. Last year, I was pregnant and too tired to go out.

I love Jonas!! The Lord sure did bless me big time when He brought Jonas into my life! Happy Valentine's day to the love of my life! Jonas is an amazing man, husband and father. He has such a hear to follow Jesus...what could be better?!?!?! I am one lucky gal!

Happy Valentine's Day to my sweet baby girl! Such a sweet blessing Grace is to me. So cute and so adorable. My hope is that Grace will know how deep and how strong is the love of God. And that His love is better than anything this world can offer.

The two loves of my life! Aren't they cute!! Yes, thank you Lord! I am one blessed woman!!

I leave you with one of my favorite passages from the Bible. May these words inspire and bless you on Valentine's Day and everyday of the year!!!

¹ If I speak in the tongues^{a]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[a]} of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast,^{b]" style="font-size: 0.75em; line-height: 0.5em; ">[b]} but do not have love, I gain nothing.

⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

⁸ Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. ⁹ For we know in part and we prophesy in part, ¹⁰ but when completeness comes, what is in part disappears. ¹¹ When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me. ¹² For now we see only a reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.

¹³ And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

1 Corinthians 13

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Beth

A Little of This... A Little of That

Happy Tuesday! I can't believe we are less than a week away from Valentine's day! Last year, I was so tired that we cancelled our dinner reservation and stayed home! We cooked up a fabulous dinner. Who knows what we have in store for this year. We take turns planning Valentine's Day activities and this year it's my turn...hmmmm.... How does one celebrate V-Day with a 6 month old around?!?!?!
So I've decided to take down the web site for my scrapbooking business. I am scaling down what I do for scrapbooking. I find it hard to find the time to do any sort of papercrafting these days. It's work, Grace time, and after she goes to bed, it's mommy and daddy time. Most of the time, I end up falling asleep early because I'm so tired! Most of any papercrafting I do these days happens on the weekends when Grace is napping. I have been scrapbooking Grace's baby pictures. I'm almost up to her 4 months pictures. I thought I would make one scrapbook for her first year, but it looks like it's going to be more like one scrapbook for every three months with lots of pages added! Silly me! I promise to share some of the layouts I've worked on soon...as soon as I find the time to take pictures of the layouts!
Jonas has taken up a new hobby. Kayaking! He loves it! So far he's been out in the Huntington Harbor and around the Newport Marina area. He loves looking at boats in the marina. He's a happy clam!
Grace is doing great. She seems to finally be getting over her issues with the bottle. These past few days she's been doing great at daycare and drinking plenty of milk from her bottles. That makes me very happy! She's such a little person with her own personality. She definitely knows what she wants and let's us know.

I love this picture of Grace. She's in the front seat of the Jeep. She looks so big!! Not like a 6 month old baby, but like a toddler! She's growing so fast! She'll be driving in no time.
Here's she is standing! She is getting a bit of support from the couch behind her. My little luvbug is growing up! Pretty soon we'll be chasing after her!
Blessings!
Beth