Weekend Links 5/31/13

Life
There's Power In Your Story - in(courage)
Worst End of School Year Mom Ever - Jen Hatmaker
The World Lies Upward - Enjoying The Small Things
What I want you to know: parents of special needs kids are not saints - Rage Against The Minivan

That's all for this week. We've been busy, which leaves little time for internet surfing in our house. Oh, and a very very happy 30th birthday to my friends Amanda and Allison! Hope you girls enjoy your day!

Happy weekend, y'all!!

2013 goals, May roundup

Y'all. . .  I was doing so well with my 2013 goals and then May happened. We have had A LOT going on this month, and the next thing I know the calendar reads May 29th. . .  and so there ya go. While yes, I technically have two more days to get cracking, it's just not going to happen people. So without further ado, here's my sad attempt at my 2013 goals, for the month of May.

Recipes:
I only made two new recipes this month. And they were not main entree recipes, mind you, they were bread recipes. Now, both were amazing and delicious, but since man cannot live on bread alone, I will need to get back at it next month. That said, if you need some good amazing bread to go with your meals, check these out. They will not disappoint!

French Bread Rolls - My friend, Emily, made these for our play group and they were so good I knew we had to make them at home. I think her batch was better than mine, but nonetheless these were still yummy and center nice and doughy (but not undercooked).

and

The Perfect Loaf of Bread - We ate the first loaf in two days, if that says anything about how it turned out. Then we made another loaf, and another, and both only lasted two days. Seriously. It's addicting. So much so, that I promptly froze the loaf of Mrs. Baird's that was on our counter. So long store bought bread. It was nice knowing you.

Scripture memory:

Psalm 38:15 "I wait for you, O Lord; you will answer, O Lord my God."

Exodus 14:14 "The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still."

Seems as though many of the verses I select have an overlapping theme of waiting, and being still. Not always easy for me, thus why I need these reminders on the forefront of my mind. Wait. Chill out. Be still. Don't freak out when God hasn't answered in some earthly timeframe that I concocted in my head. He will answer. He will fight for me. But I must do my part. I must be still.

Reading:
I did not read anything this month. The. End.

Computer clean up:
What do ya know? I actually cleaned up my computer a little this month. I looked through the 5,739 downloads and sorted a bunch, organized a bunch, and deleted a bunch. I love deleting things. It's the Type A in me.

And just because. . . here is a picture of Clara in her super girly tutu outfit that my mom bought her before she was born. She actually bought one for Clara, and two other baby girls, Lucy and Ruby, that were born just a few months before Clara. So we met at the park last week to take their picture. Their older buddy, Jake, was there too, so of course he had to get in on the last pic. Such cuties!

Bye!

Happy Memorial Day!

We've had a nice weekend thus far, and are excited to continue the fun today on Memorial Day. Thankful for the long weekend, and that Brandon is home with us, but even more thankful for the freedoms we are able to enjoy, and for those who risk their lives to fight for these freedoms.

Today will be spent doing lots of this. . .

This girl LOVES being in the water. 

And maybe some of this. . .

Been going on lots of walks lately. Sunglasses stay on approximately 2.5 seconds. 

She looks so thrilled, right?

And, if time allows, maybe some of this. . .

Yes, we shop at the Dollar Tree. Big spenders right here. 

Happy Memorial Day! 

Weekend Links 5/24/13. . . and apparently playing "patty cake" makes my child cry

So. . . remember how I took that unplanned blogging break last week? Well, I just haven't felt like writing much this week either, it seems. Not sure why? Maybe it's just a phase. Not too worried about it. Clara and I have been busy and having lots of fun, so that is what is important, right? Oh, and she woke up Tuesday night about 9pm crying (so not like her) and the second we went in we knew why. The girl was congested and couldn't breathe, and then proceeded to cough so hard that she threw up. She slept a total of 4.5 hours that night (upright, in our arms, b/c she would scream cry very intensely if we laid her down) and thus took a stellar 3.5 hour nap for me on Wednesday. Poor kid. This has happened several times and we never see it coming. She goes to bed just fine, and then wakes up a few hours later with a nose full of snot and struggling to breathe well. And then I take her to the Dr. to find out it is just another cold??? These are some serious colds if you ask me!

Sorry for that rant. . .

Anyway, I have still been reading and browsing blogs during some of my spare moments, so here is this Friday's weekend links. Maybe catch ya'll next week. . . if something interesting (or not) strikes me! Enjoy the holiday weekend, everyone!

Life
The Middle Parts - Enjoying The Small Things
It's Ok to Not Be Ok - (in)courage
Where you water it - Simple Mom
Living in fear - True Worth

Eating Disorder and/or Self Esteem
How to be the mom in the mirror you want reflected in your daughters life - Lisa Jo Baker
fears of weight gain - Surviving Anorexia
Understanding and helping the siblings of eating disorder patients - Dr. Ravin's blog

Food/and or Recipes
Grilled lemon chicken with sweet corn & tomatoes - Iowa Girl Eats
The best spinach artichoke dip ever - The Pioneer Woman
Peanut butter cup crack brownies  - Cookies & Cups

Clara's 1st birthday party

I took a little (unplanned) break from blogging last week. We had Clara's birthday party on the 11th, then friends in town until the 14th, and then two big medical appointment for Clara that consumed the rest of the week! And then when you're living life all in between, there is no time left for the computer. And. . . that is ok. :)

Here's a recap of Clara's 1st birthday party. I'll let the pics do the talking! A big thanks to my sister Susan, mother in law, Debbie, and friend Aja for taking so many cute pics. I have SO many more, but there was no way I could post them all! (And sorry. . . didn't have time to organize them and post in a nice little order. You know this is killing the OCD in me. But. . . I'm working on letting it go, Ha!)