Bored

So I'm a little bored with blogging. Is that bad? It kind of feels like a chore now. So.....I think I'll take a break. I know what you're thinking..... a break from once a month? Since that's about all I've managed since Ilsa's been born.

I kind of want to start a food blog. What yummy things I'm cooking and eating. But that'll probably turn into a chore too??

I'm sure I'll get back to this (just like my other 'hobbies'), thanks for reading friends, love you all :)

Some of my favorite things.....

Favorite parts of my day:

Hearing Ilsa giggle in her sleep in the hours before waking up.
Waking up all in the same bed every morning (yes, everyone.....she sleeps in her own bed but I usually bring her in with us when she wakes up at 5 or so).
Playing with my little on all day long.
Snuggle time before naps.
When Kyle walks in after work and kisses me.
Cooking a good meal for my family.
Crawling into the chair with Kyle after Ilsa is in bed and talking and watching stupid tv together.
Sneaking in time for bible study or a good workout.
A long hot shower after working an evening shift. Alone. Quiet. Relax.
Having a call or lunch with a friend. Girl time.
Feeling that I used an opening to talk about God well.

Who am I kidding.......

Sorry that the blog is now 'updates on ilsa' .....but let's face it.....she's our life currently :) I will update on us as well at the end :) Snookie (as I affectionately call her) is very mobile now and in to everything....or on 'cruise control' as Knelly would put it :) Standing holding on to something at every opportunity. She is also crawling "normally" now. We weren't the least bit worried about her worm-style crawl and thought maybe it was a sign of things to come (not giving in to peer pressure, embracing her individuality, etc) but I guess not :) She loves jabbering away, eating paper, crawling all over the house to see what she can get in to, avocados, spinach, and yogurt, waking up at night to check on mommy & daddy, rides in the stroller, going swimming with mommy, going to the park, and when she hears the door open and daddy comes home :) She does NOT love going to nap or bed, oatmeal, falling down, or being confined (to the exersaucer or your lap or whatever). The newest and cutest is that she starts to clap and move to the beat when music is turned on :) I can only hope she will have more rythm and better dancing skills than either Kyle or I :) I'll post a bunch of pics to 'the facebook' (<--as my grandma calls it) today hopefully :)


Our first and now second camping trips were moderately successful. The first in June to Hok si La near Lake City and this past weekend to the North shore near Lutsen. I realized that what I always loved about camping (hiking, sitting by the fire reading for hours, long afternoon naps) is a bit harder now with Ilsa. We had rain on both trips (shocker I know!-- as of yet, we've never been camping without rain)....which is also harder on Ilsa because she get's locked in the tent. But we did enjoy some great outdoor time to enjoy the Creator's work. We did get away from the distraction of everyday life. The hiking pack we bought for Ilsa worked great so we did get out on a few hikes. Hopefully Ilsa loves the lake as much as we do. She even got to dip her toes into the ice cold water and wasn't nearly as wimpy as I was about it :)

Kyle and I have just been keepin on. Family life, work, house projects. I love what a friend wrote on her blog today :

"I am also writing this to remind my self that nothing will ever be perfect. Nothing will ever be “done”. But everything, and everyone, is beautiful."

http://farmovation.com/2011/07/21/little-ones-little-things-amazing-grace/

Love that heart!

In other news......

Kyle and I have decided to return permanently to the church I attended before we were married. We have been feeling pulled back the past few months and finally made a decision. Pray for a smooth transition if you think of it.

You can also send up a prayer for my uncle......he's in his 50's and has a pretty serious heart condition. He's been in and out of the hospital this past year and has had a lot of other life stressors the past 5 years or so. He is set to have a procedure this week I think..... hoping he can get back on the road to rehabilitation and better health. The burden on your life and spirit is immense when things are not right with your body.

Until next time.......stay cool and love the Lord!

Summer

I think it's officially summer when it gets over 100 degrees :) Thus, we're out enjoying it and not sitting in here writing a blog so I'll keep it quick :)

Spent a great weekend at the cabin with Kyles parents and sister/nephew last weekend, weather was fabulous, took a walk, had mimosas, took Ilsa in canoe, ate some fresh caught fish :)

Took Ilsa to the RAC pool one of the hot days this week- was so fun! She just sat in the water with me and squealed and watched the kids-- totally loved it!

Kyle's gotten our "garden" in and has been working outside alot. Getting the basement paneling done too-- the longer we take, the fancier the basement gets :) He is just wonderful-- such craftmanship and skill -- you'd think he was a carpenter.....

Just got off working a long weekend, whew, glad that's over....I miss Kyle and Ilsa too much when I'm at work but I think it's great for them to have bonding time....they are like 2 peas in a pod....when Ilsa hears the door open in the afternoon she get's all excited and starts looking for Kyle to come up the stairs-- she just loves him so much-- so sweet to see :)

We're headed camping this weekend with another family so are looking forward to that-- Ilsa's 1st camping trip-- wish us luck!!

I posted a great quote on facebook tonight " Dance like you've never been tagged, love like you've never been unfriended, and tweet like no one is following."- Will Ferrell :)


Blessings friends!!!!

Chatty Kathy

Hey friends.....
Wow, time is flying, here it's already been a month since I've written :) It's definitely spring here.....warm one day, cold the next, sun, rain, flowers and trees in bloom, mowers starting to be heard (well not at our house, but ya know what I mean) :) I've been patiently waiting many months for summer to come so yay!!! I'm looking forward to many walks and afternoons at the pool with Ilsa :) We've also got a few camping trips planned so that should be fun!

I've still been working through my study of Hebrews 11 and recently have been studying each of the Judges listed....very interesting as I've never spent more than a few minutes at a time reading Judges. One thing I've learned is that we are to GIVE GOD THE GLORY!!! All we have and are are from him and we should proclaim him when he comes through :)

Kyle has been making good progress in the basement. He's recently built a cupboard and run the wires through from the other room (it will hold the cable box, etc). He also got our small garden in :) Work has been busy for him........he had to work with people from China last night so was waiting for them to "wake up" so he could meet with them at like 8-9pm our time :)

Ilsa is quite the inchworm lately and can make it across any room very quickly. She's subsequently has finally mastered rolling back to front : ) She's finally starting to be somewhat more interested in baby food (despite my beautifully pureed, homemade, organic baby food....she's been less than enthused) :) She's very chatty and smily 95% of the time :) I recently posted on facebook: "I somehow convinced Kyle tonight that Ilsa saying 'da da da' meant 'take us out to get ice cream' " :) Anyways, she is just delightful!!! God has truly blessed us with an amazing daughter!!!

I stocked her up on the next year of clothing from garage sales these past few weeks....may need to pick up some basics as we go along but was pleased to find so many nice clothes out there! You know me......how I love getting a bargain :) Actually one of the best bargains I got was not for Ilsa.......I bought these cute curtain panels that match our basement bedroom well for $3 and found a pole somewhere else for $3 (which later ended up being broken, but can be glued)......so I was pleased to find a whole window covering for $6 :)

We also had a nice visit from my dad, sister, and grandma! It was quick but so nice to have them :) We walked in the rain at the farmers market, in the sunshine later that day, went to church, ate alot, and just spent time together :)

Well, we're going to go out and enjoy this amazing day!!!!

Ooofta!

Hello my friends, it's been awhile..........

We celebrated a nice Easter last weekend. We attended my old church, went out to breakfast, and then drove to Kyle's parents to spend the rest of the day and have dinner with some aunts/uncles. Ilsa was able to wear her beautiful new easter dress that Kyle's mom made her (pics to come when I download them :) ).
We've had a pretty busy work week with Kyle working like normal and me working 5 out of 7 days. I'm sooo not cut out for this 5 days a week business anymore.....eye roll, I know! Friday night and Saturday most of the day I attended a conference at a church in town here ....Kay Arthur was the speaker.......I was deeply convicted to get my nose in my bible more.... Quote: "How many books are in the bible? 66. How many does God want us to know? 66. How many do you know?". Ugh. Saturday night we went to a get together with friends in honor of our friend Sou who was in town visiting. Sou was my discipler when I first came to Rochester, my friend for the last 7 years, and sang in our wedding......Ilsa was very fond of her :) We had such a nice time getting out and hanging with some good friends! This morning we went to church, out to breakfast at a new cafe, and then I went to work :( I work tomorrow yet but then have 9 days off. Woo hoo! I plan to spend lots of time snuggling and playing with Ilsa and maybe getting some housework and projects done along the way :)
I'm 80% done making a valance for Ilsa's room....then the nursery will be done! I'd also like to get some soap, lotion, and cards made........we'll see :)
We're starting to talk about and plan our fall vacation. We have 3 weeks off in September (yes, 21 glorious days) and at this point we're planning on driving out to Yellowstone/ Glacier area. We think we'll pass through my parents, my mom's, and then out there and then maybe come back a different way stopping at interesting points. Any recommendations on camping, things to see, places to stay in that area??? I'm afraid of bear attacks after watching an episode of 'I shouldn't be alive' ........ eek.
Ilsa is doing great! She's 7 months old now. She weighed 15.5 pounds at her 6 month visit so is getting big! She's got two bottom front teeth. She can sit up pretty well with only occasional topples. She starting to get up on hands and feet and hands and knees and can somehow get wherever she wants to go. She enjoys her giraffe teether, johnny jump up, exersaucer, and stroller rides....she also really loves watching other people and especially other kids. We took her to the church nursery for the first time today ( I'm happy to report that we all survived) and she loved the activity. We don't have another hip check up until she is one so we won't know much else until then. I just keep praying that the harness worked and she won't need anything else-- I can't bear the thought of ..........blah, not even going to say it.


Godstop:

Easter always makes me joyful :) Christ is risen! Because Christ rose and overcame death.........because he took our sins on himself and died for them, paying the price, clearing our names........we can expect that death will not be the end for us either. For those of us who believe, we will come into the presence of God after we die, our earthly woes over, an eternity to worship him..............I want you there with me my dear ones :) Hell seems like a scary alternative.
I heard on the radio once, that knowing the truth of the gospel and not sharing with people is like having the cure to cancer and not telling anyone.
I love each of you and I can't bear to think that one of you might not go to heaven because I was too afraid to tell you what I know to be true. I never want to push anyone away and I know that everyone has their own reason for not having faith in God. If I can ever help answer any of those questions or guide you in the right direction, you know where to find me.

Here it is friends:
We are all sinful. NOT ONE OF US IS WITHOUT SIN. Because God is perfectly just, he cannot allow sin to go unpunished. The punishment for sin is death. We should all be put to death for our sins. Because God loved us sooooo much, He sent his son Jesus Christ to earth. He lived among us and faced the same trials we do.....but did so without sinning. Jesus supernaturally took all the sins of the world on himself. He was humiliated, tortured, and crucified for us....a bunch of sinners....because he loved us. When he died, the penalty for our past, present, and future sins was paid. Paid in full! When he was on earth, he told us to repent of our sins, follow him....and that he would prepare a place for us in the place where he was going (heaven).

So friends, if you know that you believe what you just read and that you want to have a relationship with the Jesus that died so that you can live an abundant, free life............pray this prayer out loud:

Heavenly Father, in Jesus' name I repent of my sins and open my heart to let Jesus come inside of me.
Jesus, You are my Lord and Savior. I believe you died for my sins and you were raised from the dead.
Fill me with your Holy Spirit. Thank You Father for saving me in Jesus' name. Amen.


If you said that prayer for the first time, welcome to the family precious one :) You are a new creation in Christ- congrats!

Don't stop there.....start reading the bible. Get an new american standard version or new international version bible and start with the book of John.
You can go here and they will send you free info on what to do next:
http://www.backtothebible.org/Indexes/index.php?option=com_mosforms&Itemid=180
Or if you feel comfortable you can always come to me with questions :)

Hip- Hip Hooray! It's Spring!!

I don't know about all of you but I feel like a new person :) I just love when winter is over and the promise of months of warmer weather comes :) I love to go walking and feel the sunshine....to go out and see what plants are coming up each day....to open the windows in the warm afternoon :)

We've just been same 'ole here. Working and being a family :) Ilsa is doing well-- very smily, giggly, and busy! She got her first tooth through today (bottom front left) :) She's gone back to getting up 4 times per night (yikes!) so not sure what's going on there. She liked the rice cereal for the first 2-3 days and then decided she didn't anymore.....she would just tighten her lips or blow bubbles with it or just let it dribble out....so we're giving her a few days break and think we'll try some bananas :)

I've been walking the last 3 days and just loving the weather. Our frugal club met last evening and made firestarters for camping! There are two other gals with babies in the club so was fun to get them all together again :)
Kyle took me out for Pho Hoa and Cold Stone tonight so that was nice :) The baby went down easy and I'm headed to bed soon :)