House = bought!

Most exciting news ever, we bought a house! It's wonderful and we love it. The home-buying process hasn't been as terrifying as I thought it would be. Yet. We haven't had inspections or closed yet. So ask me again in about a month. We close March 3! We have purchased all of the needed appliances ---> refrigerator, microwave, washer and dryer. They are all Samsung, which was not on purpose, and they are beautiful. I am so excited. My mind swims at the thought of everything that needs to be done before we move. But I am way more excited than overwhelmed and it is SO AMAZING to know that after moving pretty much once a year since we got married that I will not have to anymore! That is the best feeling.

In other news, just had a birthday and it was a good one. Nathan let me sleep completely uninterrupted on my birthday night which is what I asked him for for my birthday. It was blissful. Especially since Roman is teething right now and doesn't sleep very well at all. I think his schedule is out of whack too, because he's in our room with us. Once we move I hope to get him back to sleeping through the night. Teething has given him cold-like symptoms and I feel terrible for him. He feels awful. He's asleep next to me on the bed and has been for about 1.5 hours. Boy needs his rest and hasn't been able to sleep without being next to me or Nathan lately. Poor baby. 

Today is a snow day. Kind of stupid considering I'm pretty sure we could have had school and now we only have one snow day left before we have to add days. I do not want to go to school in June, but I LOVE days home with my boy. And I got to take a long shower and shave both of my legs. This is the life! : ) Brought Roman in the shower with me in his bumbo to get his nasal passages steamed out. Dude loves the shower. He's so cute! 

Saturday night we went to Chili's after church for my birthday and ordered Roman his first restaurant food. Mashed potatoes. Hold the gravy. He liked them a lot and ate about 1/3 of the order. Growing up so fast. Speaking of his food. I should go make him some while he's asleep. 

Til next time...

Keeping track of myself

3.5 years is a long break from blogging. Mostly I feel like I should document thoughts I have about myself. Since having Roman, I rarely think about how I feel about things and I don't want to lose track of myself. Now that I'm writing I am struggling for things about myself to say. All I can think about is Roman, Nathan, living with in-laws, buying a house, church, and work. I guess those are good things. Other things I know that I try to suppress - like the death of my friend Michelle in December and its affect on me, my best friend moving to Arizona, and the fact that I'm not a stay-at-home mom and I wish so badly that I could be. This season of life is completely wondering and heartbreaking at the same time. Full of bittersweet moments.

One thing that has really changed an challenged me has been going to LifeChurch. I always had a preconceived notion about it like it was fake or water down church because it appeals to people that aren't like me. Dang....there you go! Probably exactly where I need to be. And it has been that. Each message is like God is writing an inscription on my heart, telling me who I am to him and why I should strive for godliness. The biggest change I would say is that I have been able to be much more generous with my time and resources. I have been a very selfish person for a very long time. Michelle's death really changed me. Through ministering to her family after she passed, God opened my eyes to a lot of things. I could talk about all the things for days, probably. But mostly that the heart of Christ was to love people, especially when they are hard to love. I am so curious and pretty nervous about how God might teach me things in the future. Having a friend die was/is one of the scariest and most painful and weird feelings ever. Made me stop and treasure things. I hope that neve goes away. It's good for a person to do that, obviously. But bittersweet when it's because of such a terrible reason. Why don't we just always do it?! Treasure things and people. We know we should. I don't want to forget to do that.

One thing that I know for sure that I want to try not to do is wish this time away. Even though it is crowded and frustrsting a lot of the time because we live with Nathan's parents (they are wonderful, by the way, it just isn't an ideal situation, and we knew that going into it, but it has been a godsend) this is special and important time in my life and the life of my family. I wouldn't trade it for 10,000 full nights of sleep, or uninterrupted layout sessions by the pool, or even a perfect body (or even my pre-baby one). It's so special and I am so grateful.

Two of my goals for 2014. Quit drinking pop forever and be present in the moment. I'm doing pretty good at both so far. I'm 2 weeks "pop sober" which I think is more than I've ever done, since I was maybe 5 or something. And if Michelle's life taught me one thing it is to be present in the moment. I'm working on living that one out every day. It's a process.

My LifeChurh word of the year is Patience. Thinking about it all the time is changing me. Patience with my family, students, living situation...you wouldn't think so, but it's staggering the difference just thinking about it has made.

Gonna put the baby in bed. This is the 3rd time he's been put back to sleep since initially putting him to bed at 8:30. Teath and Winter are mean to babies.

The end for now.

Haven't blogged in forever....

I'm gonna be honest....I completely forgot about this blog! The last couple of week have been CRAZY! We've been out of town for family (our little "family" once, and Nathan's whole extended family another) vacations! I'll just give you a quick recap on what we've been doing because I have a HUGE cupcake order due this afternoon and I need to get rollin!

Our second vacay of the summer (the first was Colorado) we went to Cassville, Missouri and hardcore camped at Roaring River State park. Nathan and I have done this before and its SUCH FUN! This time Bethany, Nathan's sister, came with us, and Nathan's brother Jason came up for a little bit too. This trip was lots of fishing, sunny/hot weather, leisure time, floating the river and great campfire meals! It was a lot of fun. We plan to go back in the fall with some couple friends of ours and it'll be cooler!

The next and last vacay of the summer was the annual Hearn Branson Trip! Bethany and I had to come late because I had to deliver cupcakes and she had to work, so we drove up together on Friday night and met the family! We went to Silver Dollar City and rode rides and shopped with the fam the next day, then went to the Presley's Country Jubilee that night! Always a good time. After the show, Nathan, Bethany, Jason, and I did mini-golf - my favorite part of the trip. The next morning before we left we went shopping at the outlet mall and got some great deals. Its always and fun trip - Thanks Grandma Hearn!

Since we got back last weekend, I have been up to my eyeballs in cupcakes! Business has REALLY taken off and I couldn't be more thrilled!!! I am doing my first wedding in September and I have 3 orders this week alone! I absolutely love this little side job/hobby. I can't wait to see where it goes in the future. I might have my own little shop some day - who knows?!?! That'd be cool....... : )

Well, I've got to get cracking on some boy baby shower cupcakes. Don't have time to post pics of all our adventures now, but I surely will soon! Thanks for reading!

Gracie Kate

Cupcake!

Aren't these the CUTEST cupcakes you've ever SEEN?! I did not make them. In the "Cutest Cupcakes 2008 Contest", they won the Grand Prize. I just love 'em. I'm hoping my business calls for some tea party themed cupakces soon! These would be awesome to make!
I am making all kind of things lately and in the near future. Here are some I made last weekend...

These were such fun, and I especially enjoy creating this "smasher."

One of my very favorite things...

.....lately its my nighttime routine. I'll outline it for you, then we'll talk about it. Haha.

Nice hot shower
Wonderful pajamas
Comb out my hair
Brush teeth
Myself, between cool sheets
Play "hanging with friends"
Watch Food Network w/ the boy
Sleepy time

My mom always told me that its good to have routines. She's right. Babies and children need bedtime routines, and often adults simply don't have time, or choose to for-go this luxury. But, it is probably one that I will protect with fervor. Its so calming and relaxing to get out of a hot shower, dry off, put on clean clothes, brush my teeth, and feel so fresh. I sleep much better when I follow this routine. Obviously, I often deviate from it - such is life - but man! It feels great to slip into cool sheets feeling relaxed and ready for rest after a long day. Finishing the day playing "hanging with friends" is honestly just a guilty pleasure - its fun and relaxing. Food Network is something that Nathan and I both really love. Its a calming and enjoyable way to end the day.

I've been following this routine for the last couple of nights and I've been thinking about how much I love going to bed this way. Its wonderful. If you don't have a nighttime routine, you should make one and try it for awhile. I wake up feeling so much more rested when I do. Might not be for everyone, but I quite enjoy it.

Sweet dreams and goodnight!

G

Too much time on my hands

I think that in the summer, or at least this summer in particular, I have too much time to think. Never thought I'd say this, but maybe a part-time summer job is in order for next summer? Maybe I'm not being imaginative enough. I just always seem to be riled up about something these days. Too much time to think.

Been doing lots of swimming/laying out, reading....Lets stop right there. How in the HECK, does a person get 4 books at the library with hopes that the majority will be worth reading, and get the books home and only ONE of the books is worth reading. The first book, the one I was most excited about reading, was very good. Sad thing is, it was so good I finished it in 24 hrs. No problem, right? I've got 3 more books to read. Nope! They're worthless. In the first of the 3 terrible books that I picked up, the first several chapters were set at a funeral where the narator of the book meets the person that ruined her entire life. 2nd book of the 3, the old lady has Alzheimer's. WHAT?! The 3rd book of the 3, starts with the sentence "I fell in love with my great unlce Harper..." and goes on to the girl's grandmother's dying words being, "What I know about you, little girl, would break you in two." Come on! Give me something I can feel good about getting into. I don't read novels that make me cry unless its because I'm so touched. These novels were just dumb. I'm determined to try and give at leave one of them another chance. Maybe the great uncle Harper, dead grandmother one. I'm a little intrigued.

Dear me (I like saying that, because my Grams says that, and I miss her. She's fine, she just went and got herself married and moved away), today is already July 4th. This is like the middle point of the summer and its downhill to school from here. I can think of few things more depressing than that thought. 4th of July is just my very very favorite holiday. I love what it stands for, I love the time of year, I love the kind of food, I love fireworks, I love red white and blue, I LOVE AMERICA! What a wonderful place - there will always be something to complain about, and of course it is far from perfect - but don't kid yourself, you wouldn't want to live anywhere else. Share the wealth. I could talk about this for hours. I'll spare you..... : )

I need to get back to Master Chef. Count your blessings today, hug the people you love and the ones you don't, and HAPPY BIRTHDAY AMERICA - I LOVE you!

Here are some pictures to keep you interested. Haha.

Going to our friends' Kayli and Brandon's wedding - congrats guys!

Taking advantage of seasonal produce!

Stone Canyon fireworks display with some of my very favorite people!

Me and B at the SC fireworks display!

Me and Nathan going fishing!

Happy SUMMER!

CS Lewis

So I follow CSLewisDaily on Twitter and I was just reading through his quotes. I think that he must have had just such a soft heart toward God. The way he thinks and the things he says seems to me the way that God would want to be perceived. I want to cry reading some of it, because of how true and convicting his thoughts are. Here are just a few that I couldn't resist sharing:

"It is safe to tell the pure in heart that they shall see God, for only the pure in heart want to."

"Continue seeking God with seriousness. Unless He wanted you, you would not be wanting Him"


"I pray because the need flows out of me all the time, waking and sleeping. It doesn't change God, it changes me."


"God, in the end, gives people what they most want, including freedom from himself. What could be more fair?"


"Fallen man is not simply an imperfect creature who needs improvement: he is a rebel who must lay down his arms."


"It's a poor thing to come to Him as a last resort. If God were proud He would hardly have us on such terms: but He isn't."


"The virtue of courage is a prerequisite for the practice of all other virtues otherwise one is virtuous only when virtue has no cost."


"Forgive us as we Forgive-We are offered forgiveness on no other terms. To refuse it is to refuse Gods mercy for ourselves."


I could go on and on and on and on......I really believe this man had a gift for clarity about God and his character. I'm ashamed that another person has taken the time to experience and put into words the character that I know to be true of God. I need to start experiencing this for myself and stop reading about how other people were so blessed by the presence of God.


There. is. a. hunger.