On My Heart: Connecticut

Image Via

It's been three days since the shooting in Connecticut. As a human being, and as a Mother my heart breaks for those sweet, innocent children, and the teachers that were taken away from their loved ones on that incredibly sad autumn day. I cant even begin to fathom the pain that, that community is going through right now, and I pray I never have to.

As I hold my little girl tight in my arms I feel humbled and blessed beyond belief that she is here, warm, and safe, and healthy. To think of something like that ever happening to her brings tears to my eyes. My heart aches for those parents who's children we're taken away from them on that day. No one should ever have to go through something so devastating and tragic.

Our love, and prayers, and thoughts go out to all those affected in the community of Newtown. May you take comfort and refuge in God's great arms.

25 Lessons For Chloe

This past week, Marqaux at Young Nesters has been featuring a series on her blog called 25 lessons for my little one and on Thursday Margaux shared my list! Coming up with 25 lessons for Chloe was a little more difficult then I thought it would be but it was an incredibly meaningful exercise and I am so grateful I was able to be a part of Margaux's series.

Today Margaux wraps up the series by sharing her own list she wrote for her adorable son Darwin, go check out her beautiful list!

Here are the 25 lessons I want Chloe to know

1. God made no mistake when he created you my dear, always know that you are beautifully and perfectly made by the hands of our creator.

2. Seek a relationship with God, pray to Him and share your heart with Him because no one will fulfill your heart like He does.

3. Your Father and I love you more then we could ever say, you have enriched our lives with so much love, and joy and beauty. Please never forget that.

4. Your family will always be here for you.

5. Enjoy each and every moment of your childhood, one only have one.

6. Friends should be those who are encouraging, loyal, and love and accept you for exactly who you are. Don't settle for anything less.

7. You can come to your Father and I for anything, please always know that.

8. There is so much beauty in this world, take your time and explore all that's around you.

9. Do not be afraid to stick up for what you believe in and for people that may not be able to stick up for themselves.

10. Kindness is beautiful.

11. Take your time with matters of the heart. To love and be loved is an incredible thing but relationships should not be something you rush into, they should be taken slowly and handled with care.

12. Your opinion matters, don't let anyone tell you it doesn't.

13. Don't compare yourself to others. God created each one of us with special and unique gifts to share with the world.

14. Do not judge others, you never know what their story might be.

15. You are never to old for a hug from me.

16. No one is perfect, each and every one of us will make mistakes throughout our life and that is ok.

17. Immerse yourself with music, art, books, photography, and dance, they will bring beauty and culture to your life.

18. Go on an adventure.

19. Your body is a gift from God, treat it with love and respect.

20. Spend time giving to others, whether it be taking the time to listen to someone's story, giving donations to a charity you support, picking up trash along side a road, or going on a mission trip.

21. It's ok to cry.

22. Live in the sunshine, Swim the sea

Drink the wild air

23. Go on a road trip or two at some point in your life.

24. Smile and laugh often, it's so good for you.

25. Always remember, you are so very loved my your Father and I, and there is nothing you could do that would ever take our love away.

A Beautiful Baby Boy

Yesterday in the early morning light my dear friends Erika and Eli welcomed their beautiful baby boy into the world. His name is Jonah and he is so perfect and sweet! We are so incredibly happy for them that they now get to experience the beauty and love and joy that parenthood brings! This sweet little family could use some prayers and good thoughts though because Jonah is in the NICU due to difficulties breathing. The doctors are all very optimistic that he will recover quickly and in a week or two go home with his Mom and Dad!

We love you three and cant wait to finally meet you Jonah!

Merry Christmas

We want to wish everyone a wonderful, merry Christmas! We hope your day is filled with lots of love, laughter, and special time with family!

Love, Mike, Jennifer

& sweet baby Chloe

This Time of Year

Its hard to believe that Christmas is only 2 days away, that the month of December is coming to an end,  and that in 9 days we will welcome the new year with outstretched arms and hopeful hearts. I cant help but think about this time last year, when Chloe was still growing in my belly, when we didn't even know we were having a sweet baby girl, when all I could do was daydream about celebrating Christmas as a family of three and sharing the love and joy that knowing Jesus brings with my baby.

I'm not going to lie, this Christmas inst what I daydreamed it would be. The realization that I will always remember this season in our life as a time of great trials and tribulations is a little saddening to me. I'm trying to remind myself that though this year has been full of challenges I still have so much to thank Jesus for. My daughter is perfect, and healthy, my husband and I are alive, healthy and together, we have food and shelter, and amazing family and friends that love and support us!

And for all that I feel blessed!

Feeling Thankful

I cant believe Thanksgiving is already tomorrow! It's hard to believe that next month is December.....which means Christmas is right around the corner!! I don't normally freak out about the holidays but this is Chloe's first Thanksgiving and Christmas, and it's so important to me that I make the holidays special for our little family!

Last Thanksgiving Mike and I were in Chicago visiting my family. I was 3 months pregnant and so excited to tell the rest of my family and friends the exciting news. We went to my Grandma's house for Thanksgiving dinner and as everyone was eating we went around the table saying what we were thankful for. That's when I was going to tell everyone that we were pregnant! Finally it was my turn to share what I was thankful for, I remember feeling so nervous, and just as I was about to speak everyone started clapping and saying Congratulations!! I couldn't believe it.... my whole family already knew!

I thought it would be a nice idea to write a post about what I am thankful for, even though at times it feels like nothing is going right, I know I still have so much to be thankful for and that God has blessed me greatly!

I am thankful for....

:: God, and His undying love for me, for His forgiveness, and for all that He provides.

:: My husband, who has always been an incredible gift.

:: My beautifully sweet and perfectly made daughter, she has enriched my life in more ways then I can even say.

:: My family, who I love and miss.

:: My friends here in Seattle who have always been there for me and who have become my family.

:: The roof over my head and the food in my belly.

:: Being able to breastfeed Chloe.

:: Spending all day, everyday with my sweet daughter.

::: The way God made me.

:: All the simple things in life.

:: This wonderful community of Mom blogger's.

::Creativity.

:: My Family's health.

What are you thankful for? I'd love to know!

On My Heart: My Marriage

I've written this post about a million times in my head, but every time I sit down to write it the words just wont come out. It's terrifying to be honest and vulnerable, to let people in, to show the world that my life is far from perfect. This blog has been an incredible blessing to me, and I'm so very proud of it, but its much to easy to paint this picture that my life is a fairytale.

I feel that God is calling me to be honest, to share my burdens with the world, no matter how terrifying it may seem.

My husband and I are going through something right now, something deep and scary and all consuming. We have faced many obstacles in our relationship and have made it through each one together, always stronger for it, but this, this thing that we're going through right now seems utterly impossible to get through.

It's so difficult to hear Gods voice in all this mess that we've created.

I'm terrified that we're going to look back on this time period a year from now and think to ourselves that what we we're going through then (now) is nothing compared to what we're going through right now (future).

I feel like God is allowing this crises to happen to wake us up, to bring us back to him and I want so desperately for Mike and I to get back to Him together, but by waiting for Mike I'm falling even further away from God. I need to make my way back to God by myself, and to pray for Mike along the way, to pray that he will join me someday soon. I need to think about myself and my daughter. No matter what happens to Mike and I, I want Chloe to have the best life possible and for her to know how loved she is.

I don't know what this will exactly look like but I know what I need to do.

Dear Chloe: Oh The Things You Do

Dear Chloe,

       You bring your Daddy and I so much joy! To watch you blossom right before our eyes is one of the greatest treasures we've ever received. You have such a beautiful and sweet personality my little love and you can be so silly at times!

The way you....

:: Always have your cute little feet in your mouth while lying on your back

:: Are constantly rolling over onto your belly even while having your diaper changed 

:: Make high pitch squeals of joy when you are happy 

:: Flash everyone you see your beautiful gummy smile

:: Laugh at Daddy and I when we are being silly

:: Grab my glasses off my face a million times a day

:: Turn your head and entire little body to see or grab something that has caught your eye

:: Sound like a baby bird when you are so very happy and filled with wonder (the only way Daddy and :: I could describe this ridiculously adorable sound that you make) 

:: Look up at me and smile while sitting on my lap ::sigh:: oh those beautiful blue eye's of yours, they make my 

heart swell with such an overwhelming love

:: Fill our hearts with so much love, and joy, and excitement.

In one short week you will be five months old, FIVE MONTHS! and in these five months you my sweet Chloe have taught us so much about the love that Jesus has for us. Its incredible to me that he has shown us a glimpse of the deep love he has for us by giving us you, by becoming parents God has given us the chance to understand just how much he loves and cares for us, his CHILDREN. It's just all so beautiful!  

We will never stop thanking Jesus for the gift that you are to us!

Love you always Chloe,       

Mama

18 Weeks And The New Year

At 18 weeks pregnant my baby now weighs almost 7 ounces, and is about 5 1/2 inches long. I cant believe how much my baby has grown over the months, and how much more he or she will continue to grow in the next 4 months. It's so exciting to me, I love seeing my baby bump grow each week. It's been a slow growth but my belly definitely has gotten bigger and rounder.

On January 13th my husband and I go in for our first ultrasound, I cant even express how excited I am to be able to see my baby for the first time!

It is officially 2011 now, so much has happened in 2010, good, bad, sometimes uneventful, lot's of changing and growing and maturing. God has really helped me to grow so much this past year. I have learned how to trust him more, to know that he is always there for me, always will provide for me exactly what I need, and to pray about everything whether it be big or small, because nothing is to big for God to handle nor to small for God to care about. I can say now that I am a lot more proud of the woman I am becoming.

I really believe that 2011 will be filled with even more blessing and surprises. On February 27th my husband and I will be celebrating our 1 year wedding anniversary. It has been an amazing first year of marriage, we have shared so many special moments together, and have gone through some really difficult times together. I feel like we have really grown as a couple this past year, and look forward to growing even more in love in 2011. In June our baby will be born and we will be able to hold him or her in our arms for the first time and look into his or her eyes and think WOW we created this little precious baby. I know our lives will never be the same after that. Yep, 2011 is going to be an exciting year!