Its Moving DAY!!

Ladies and Gentlemen I have moved!!

2babymama.wordpress.com

Hope to see you there!

Blogging is so yesterday...

As you can see, it's been awhile! For some reason blogging has been the last thing on my mind. Perhaps it's because on my birthday this year I found out we are having another baby, or because we bought our first home, or even that Nash has become so independent that all I do is chase him around. Whatever the reason is, it's now time for an update.

JANUARY 2011

Jake and I started the process of becoming homeowners. Like most of our decisions it was pretty spur of the moment. Thankfully it all worked out and we ended up for a great home and a great deal. We also found of that we were going to be parents for the 2nd time. Baby number two will be joining us September 2011. This was great and scary news. It has taken awhile to adjust to the idea of two little ones running around, but everyday I get more and more excited to see this baby.

Mostly January and February consisted of SNOW!

FEBRUARY 2011

This month was a blur, to be honest I can hardly remember what happened during this time. 

MARCH 2011

We celebrated Loran Kinley's birthday, and Jake spend a few weeks on a work trip in Philadelphia. While Jake was away Nash and I were able to take a trip to Pine Ridge with some of our old friends, Andy and Alissa.

An older photo, but you get the picture.

After returning from the Rez, Nash and I stayed with the Ladds and enjoyed a trip to the Shoreview Community center.

The first swim of the season!

Nash lasted about an hour then it was time for "baby burrito" 

Jake was delayed on his drive home by 3 feet of snow. We missed him and were excited to celebrate his birthday when he arrived home.

APRIL 2011

April was a big month for us. We celebrated Jakes birthday which I had big plans for but Leanne Rhymes seemed to through everything off. Another reason I don't listen to country music. 

Welcome home and Happy birthday!

A birthday wish for papa.

Also in April we closed on our first home! Everything went well and it seemed that we started working on the place the next day. May and June were filled with house work. I wish I had taken more before photos, but hey I'm pregnant and busy. 

517 Sand creek Drive!

The work started right away.
New doors
New paint
Demo the kitchen and bathroom.

Jake and his brother and dad did all the tile flooring in the home.

A look into the dining room.

JULY 2011

Finally after a month and 1/2 of NO water and NO bathroom it was Installed. Oh and NO kitchen. We had the goal of finishing everything by Nash's 2nd birthday and we did!!! Thanks to a LOT of help from family and friends we feel like this place is finally a home!

And now we are entering August with so many plans that I will post about at a later date... Maybe 5 months down the road this time. 

A graceful reminder...

I never cease to be amazed at the things I am reminded of when i take the time to listen.  It doesn't happen often, listening that is. I find it hard to sit still with nothing on to entertain my mind. But I am beginning to remember the beauty in stillness. Maybe the two feet of snow this morning reminded me that all creation can be stilled by beauty. That all of creation can be blanketed by the dazzling abundance of Grace. Its in these moments where little worries occupy my mind. Where I find my soul content. Where for a brief moment I know what Peace truly feels like.

I am thankful for these moments.

It is so easy for me to become a chameleon. I have the ability to adapt to my surroundings or those surrounding me. But for me it has mostly been a battle. This ability could be considered good and useful, but I have yet mastered it. For now I find my self conforming, forgetting what life is truly about. I seek success, financial wealth, recognition, pleasure, and abundance. I feel shame for not doing as the world does. But there is HOPE. In moments like this morning I am once again brought to my knees with Grace and Mercy. The following Passage from The Message reminds me of the Truth. The life that I am called to live and excited to strive for. Perhaps it will help us all remember what our souls are searching for...

1 Whoever is a slave must make the best of it, giving respect to his master so that outsiders don't blame God and our teaching for his behavior. 2 Slaves with Christian masters all the more so - their masters are really their beloved brothers! 3 If you have leaders there who teach otherwise, who refuse the solid words of our Master Jesus and this godly instruction, 4 tag them for what they are: ignorant windbags who infect the air with germs of envy, controversy, bad-mouthing, suspicious rumors. 5 Eventually there's an epidemic of backstabbing, and truth is but a distant memory. They think religion is a way to make a fast buck. 6 A devout life does bring wealth, but it's the rich simplicity of being yourself before God. 7 Since we entered the world penniless and will leave it penniless, 8 if we have bread on the table and shoes on our feet, that's enough. 9 But if it's only money these leaders are after, they'll self-destruct in no time. 10 Lust for money brings trouble and nothing but trouble. Going down that path, some lose their footing in the faith completely and live to regret it bitterly ever after. 11 But you, Timothy, man of God: Run for your life from all this. Pursue a righteous life - a life of wonder, faith, love, steadiness, courtesy. 12 Run hard and fast in the faith. Seize the eternal life, the life you were called to, the life you so fervently embraced in the presence of so many witnesses. 13 I'm charging you before the life-giving God and before Christ, who took his stand before Pontius Pilate and didn't give an inch: 14 Keep this command to the letter, and don't slack off. Our Master, Jesus Christ, is on his way. 15 He'll show up right on time, his arrival guaranteed by the Blessed and Undisputed Ruler, High King, High God. 16 He's the only one death can't touch, his light so bright no one can get close. He's never been seen by human eyes - human eyes can't take him in! Honor to him, and eternal rule! Oh, yes. 17 Tell those rich in this world's wealth to quit being so full of themselves and so obsessed with money, which is here today and gone tomorrow. Tell them to go after God, who piles on all the riches we could ever manage - 18 to do good, to be rich in helping others, to be extravagantly generous. 19 If they do that, they'll build a treasury that will last, gaining life that is truly life. 20And oh, my dear Timothy, guard the treasure you were given! Guard it with your life. Avoid the talk-show religion and the practiced confusion of the so-called experts. 21 People caught up in a lot of talk can miss the whole point of faith. Overwhelming grace keep you!

A holiday compilation...

It sure has been awhile from the last update. ( I believe I start many blogs with that saying)
Jake and I left for the second trip of the season, this time to Birmingham AL. The drive went wonderfully, we all stayed safe and enjoyed our tight fit in the truck. I was given a few great gifts on the drive, and would love to share them with you.

The first gift I received was the realization that I have become content with my surroundings. I live in a nice apartment, have electricity, running water, Free heat, and food on my table. Now I am not ashamed of those things, but I am saddened that I have forgotten to be thankful for those things. How easy it is to just want more , to believe that I have the right to more. To become more comfortable, and to gain more so my life will become easier. How easily I fall into the trap of consumerism.
While driving to Alabama I was slapped in the face with my disillusion of how our world is. Living in the comforts of Golden Valley, I slowly start to see the world as what I see around me. Boy am I wrong. There is so much poverty around. There is so much we can do. I felt awakened to the realities of life. It made me realize how much I focus on myself. What a battle it is to look out and not just see your own reflection staring back at you, but see humanity and the gifts we have to offer.
I feel like Christmas time has become such a blur in my eyes, it comes and goes and it seems that all that's worried about is what to give and what to get. It truly is a struggle for me, my love language is Gifts, so giving and receiving is a way of showing Love. Although I know there are ways to receive and give selfLESSly. This season I tried to find gifts that I could receive and give that would benefit others. My desire this holiday season is to reflect on the blessings I have and to not desire those things I do not need. May the Lord help me stay focused on His abundance of Love and Mercy.

The second gift I was given on the journey was when we stopped in Cairo Illinois. Jake had to deliver paint for the summer and as we drove through this town I was amazed. Most of it is run down and I mean run down. Buildings half there, streets abandoned, homes hanging on by just a thread, but I felt beauty that is unexplainable. God had delivered us through this town to receive a message, from a young women named Heather. She has been living there for the last 6 years doing full time missions work. Their main work is through intercession prayer. After hearing her story we had a chance to share ours and the words she gave us were beautiful.
 "God does not want you to be confused, He wants to bless you and shine upon you. He will lead you on whatever path you have chosen. He does not want you to feel guilt, only love."
Thank you Heather for sharing the Lords heart. We really needed to hear those words at that moment. May we let them sink in and become real in our hearts.

Here are a few unconventional gifts to give... (just click and it will take you there)
CLEAN water in Africa
Give a cow???
Sponsor a child
Missions in Mexico

An update in photos...

It has been awhile from my last post, so I figured why not post today. As I drove to pick Jake up from work yesterday on 36th Ave S, I was reminded of my love for Fall. I am sure there are more beautiful streets to drive down, but at that moment I was surrounded by beautifully colored trees of amber and orange, red and yellow glimmering brightly in the afternoon sun and I couldn't imagine anywhere more amazing. Then I realized that soon fall would come to an end and quickly prayed that God would give me something about Winter that I could love.

Anyways... I wanted to post a few photos to show what the Ladd family has been up to.

 Family photo after a day of fun!

 Jake and I went to see Wicked. It was amazing!!

 Nash riding his tractor at Grandma and Grandpa Ladds.

 I was able to watch Nolan for a day, they had some good times.

 We went for a burley ride to the park. I love the look Nash is giving here.

 Riding the Bee.

 Nash Loves naked rocking... Not sure who he learned that from??

 He also loves to see what small spaces he can fit into.

 We spent an evening at MOA with the Ladds.

 Nash with his cousins, Micah, Ashley, and Emily. Oh and Dora and Diego.

On the way home. You can really see his black eye here. Now that he walks, he also has pretty nashty falls.

Thank God

It has been a while from my last posting. Jake, Nash and I moved into our new apartment and are still getting settled in. Somewhere between moving in and today I have realized that I have become a not so desirable person. My attitude resembles that of a "debbie downer", I am easily angered and less then a patient wife and mother. So I have had to take a good hard look at myself in the mirror and find out what the heck is going on.

I have not devoted any of my time to growth, to challenges, and to gaining of wisdom. I am merely a girl holding on by a string, living just to get by. I know that through my lifetime I have had these moments, but for some reason this time it seems even more painful. I believe that I am better then this moment, that I have faith, hope and experiences that should have kept me from this. That even though things may seem tough I could have persevered, taken the high road, or at least stayed focused on God. Yet I fell apart, became a spirit filled with bitterness and frustration.
So...

Thank GOD, for never leaving me when I left him. Thank God, for showing up in my everyday even when I ignored His presence. Thank God for the memories of those who helped mold me into a better person. Thank God, for redoes.  Thank God, for giving me a husband who sees beyond my darkness. Thank God.

"Don't worry about a thing..."

Jake and I started the moving process today, and it was pretty exciting. Yet there was a part of me that felt unsure. I feel that this choice has brought me to a place where I must learn to trust in and on God. Jake and I have not lived alone together for 3 years. So this is a big deal for us, to have a chance to be a little family again. Although I am excited, there is a part of my that worries. I worry about the loss of community, the ability to afford living on our own, how we will connect being just us. Then I am reminded that I must always remember that God is in control. That He cares about what I feel and am going through. My thoughts must always be directed to Him first. Then when I begin to loose faith I hear God whispering this sweet melody...

Don't worry about a thing, cause every little thing is gonna be alright.


July 16th... a helpful reminder