#70

#70 Turn 30









Well. I'm 30! And...how...boring! Haha. It was just an ordinary day...kinda sad, huh? I guess that's what life is like now that I have children! But...I'd like to thank everyone for the birthday wishes!

...TIL...

...sweet baby smiles...

...goodbye...

Well...this is it...my last few hours to be "in my 20s"...tomorrow will start a new decade in life for me...and I've got to admit...I'm kinda excited! I'm looking forward to watching my children grow...seeing the type of pre-teens they will become...I'm looking forward to growing older w/ DLo...seeing where God will lead us...

...but...I've had a good run in my 20's...I'll never forget:

* my first breakup...
* my first car accident...
* graduating from ASU...
* my first real job interview...
* my first "real" job...
* getting engaged...
* filtering out friendships...and discovering friendships that will last a lifetime...
* my first house...
* getting married...
* "trying"...
* vacations vacations vacations with my best friend...
* getting fat ::sigh::... ;)
* DLo's siblings getting hitched...
* PVC...and the story of the guitar...
* Aryanna...
* Daisy...
* buying my first car...and calling my dad a zillion times b/c I was nervous (and didn't trust DLo's judgement...sorry DLo)
* buying my second car...
* sacrificial giving- and God's blessings...
* sacrificial LIVING- and God's blessings...
* 2 lines...
* annual passes to DLand...
* Jude William...
* watching my parents become grandparents...
* Emme Ann...

It's been a good time... :) Bring it on 30s!

#10

#10 Help Derrick launch "Our Response"

Back in November...Derrick had this sort of "spiritual awakening"...He had been wrestling with a bunch of questions- "Is there eternal significance to what I'm doing?...Am I completely missing the point?...What does being a worship leader mean?...etc" One night, the Holy Spirit spoke to his heart. (You will have to hear the full story from DLo) Derrick had a new understanding of worship and a renewed vision for his life. What he discovered is that worshipping isn't just about singing a song...but that it's MORE than that... Worship is our response to God.

So. As Derrick began sharing his heart...his vision has become my vision. Part of how we are changing our lifestyle is to be a champion for the hurting and the oppressed. What does this mean? Oh...well, it will look like different things at different times of our life...but an example might be to take sandwiches downtown and pass out to the homeless- or working a Saturday morning at the Arizona Haitian Disaster Relief bagging up medical supplies- or sponsoring a child- or not doing Christmas gifts, but adopting a family instead.

Recently, Derrick came across the story of Scott Harrison. He's the founder of charity: water. The long and short of it is that this man was living it up in the Big Apple but ended up in Liberia- where there is no public electricity or running water...or even sewage. He was able to see first hand what poverty looks like (-the world currently has 1.2 billion people living in poverty-). Why water? One in eight people on this planet do not have access to clean drinking water- which is the cause for 80% of all sickness and disease. Wow. Many children miss school- walking more than 3 HOURS a day to fetch water...dirty water that will more than likely make them sick. Why NOT water? (check out charitywater.org to read all about it...it's heartwrenching)

Last night, Derrick was able to share his heart with his worship team- thus launching "Our Response". He shared some powerful scripture (Matthew 25:31-46, Matthew 22:36-40, John 6:1-14, Luke 10:25-37) and then presented each member on his team with a gift: a bracelet. (each wristband can give one person clean water for FIVE years)

Derrick plans on launching a website for "Our Response" soon...I'll let you all know when it's up and running! :)

...TIL...

Okay...New random topic: Things I Love
...kinda like a "status update"...just a lil blurb about things that make me smile and brighten up my life. :)...

...when Jude plays his guitar and sings his made up songs- and they're about me (I know b/c he says "mama" here and there!)... :D

...emme's room...

Okay...So the room is practically done! I have to buy some holdbacks for the curtains and the gallery wrap to go above her crib...and I have a spot of touch up paint to do and then we're finished! :) Here's what her room looks like:

(This is the view from the door)

(Her closet is along this wall too!)

(Here's her crib again- I'm going to get a wrap of her in the tutu and hang it on the pink wall)

...skillz...

So. My friend, Brooke, sent me a WHOLE bunch of bows for Emme...which is super exciting b/c I get to girlie up my princess...and I was on etsy looking for a bow holder...but GOOODNIGHT they are expensive! So. I took matters into my own hands and MADE my own bow holder! :) I think I did a pretty darn good job, if I say so myself! Haha!

...one month...

I cannot believe my little baby girl is already a month old. I mean...wow. Time always seemed to drag onnnn and onnnn when we were kids...and now I can't slow it down!!! I've been uber busy having two kiddos...there's not really time for myself...and any free time I HAVE had, has been spent on Emme's room! (I just need to get the cushions from Penny for her rocker and print a couple more pix, and I'm DONE! I also need to order a gallery wrap, but I'm waiting to see if they go on sale in March)

Anywho. Things I've learned in the past month:
* All those things I said I couldn't do...I can...
* It takes a LOT longer to get out the door with two kids than it does one...
* It takes a LOT of preparation to get out the door with an infant- I forgot about everything I need to bring: diapers, formula, bottles, bibs, change of clothes, wipes, binkies...oy
* I do NOT like being woken up from 4am-6am...anytime before or after is fine...
* Trying to put one child to bed at the same time the baby is awake is worse than giving birth w/o an epidural (wait- is that too dramatic...yeah- try being here)

LOL. Mostly...I've been having a blast. It is adorable to watch Jude w/ Emme...he completely ignores her when she is screaming/crying in the car...but will say "uhoh, baby!" if she's upset at home...he always wants to kiss and tickle her...and he wants so badly to play with her (we often find a toy phone on Em's face!) and every so often he's womp her on the head! lol. He's very protective of her as well...you can tell he gets uncomfortable when someone other than DLo or I are holding her. :) I'd forgotten, too, all those new baby things: the smell of the diaper...the smell of the baby...little coos...the scowls...the shaking of the head looking for food...lol It's been fun!

So... Miss Em. You are SO different from your brother...you:
*sleep ALL the time...
*do NOT like to sit and stare at things in the swing...
*have THE loudest cry of any baby I have ever heard in my LIFE!...
*love being held...a little too much, in my opinion...
*do NOT like the carseat- not even a little bit...

...and you're seriously the most beautiful baby girl... Mommy and Daddy and Jude love you so so much...we are so blessed to have you in our lives. We look forward to watching you grow...and seeing what little person you become! :)


Jesus,
Thank you for once again blessing us with such a perfect child. Derrick and I pray that we will have patience with our TWO children...that we raise them to know You...that they will grow to have a passion for serving You. Please guide us and give us wisdom in raising these precious gifts...

#30

#30- Paint 2.0's roomEEEP! I did it! And...I did it mostly when I had both kids home by myself! (What was I thinking?! Whatever, it's done!)

So...After months and months of saying that I would NOT do pink if I had a girl...what did my room end up being?! I loved the bedding- it was one of 3 I had picked out, and it was by FAR the pinkest of them all... Originally, I thought I could pull one of the colors from the dots on the bumper to paint the walls...but when it was all said and done...pink was the best color. So...I took both kids out on my first excursion- to ACE hardware to buy paint. Good thing Emme was sleeping in the carseat...and Jude was entertained by the chicks that ACE had for sale (chicks?! at a hardware store?!) Anywho. I started painting the next day...during Jude's nap...and the following day...when Jude was awake- he was SO good to stay out of my way- and he enjoyed playing w/ his sisters stuff!

The walls are mostly beige with the one wall being pink....and there is a darker pink stripe on two of the walls. It was fairly easy to paint- and although it took me 2 days...it seemed to be easier and quicker than when I painted Jude's room...and it was all one color! Hmmmm. I'll post pictures of the room when it is toooootally done!

...blessed...

Oh my word. I have literally sat down to blog like everyday...but then I realize there are a zillion other things that I need to do...or it's all of a sudden time to feed Emme...or Jude takes a 2 second nap! So. Here's a REAL quick update on the Logan's:

Derrick- went back to work last week...was so excited to get back to the grind...has been an incredible help...and a fabulous dad...

Kim- is maintaining...it's been tough not having DLo around 24/7...can't believe I have 2 kids...trying to have patience with my children when I am so sleep deprived...loving life...waiting for things to get a little easier...

Jude- loves his baby sister...so helpful...testing us and is getting closer to those terrible twos...has a fever right now...doing better in the bigboybed...growing up too fast...

Emme- is a great sleeper...very high maintenance when she's awake though...beautiful...