A Thankful Heart: New Life & Coffee Dates in Red Cups

Today, I had the blessing of making house visits and visiting special people in my life.

First, I spent the morning with my special friend at home on bedrest.

We celebrated her birthday with peppermint lattes and lots of girl talk on her comfy couches.

Sipping coffee, doing her dishes, sharing in her nursery room joy,

and talking about the future of children and the treasure of new life.

Laughing thinking back over the journey of life we have walked through together 

and how we ended up where we are now.

I loved every minute of our time together.

The Lord is molding her heart for the little one still growing inside her 

and I am so excited for her to get to experience being a mom. 

She's going to be amazing at it.

 [from her baby shower last week]

Then I visited my little buddy Adrian and his mommy Nicole.

I used to have the privilege of watching him grow up every day.

Now I get to jump in for snippets every once in awhile.

It was so fun to watch this little 2 1/2 year old jump around, dance, laugh, ask for tickles, and tell me all the words he knows. And it was so special to catch up with his mommy and hear about the family and wedding plans and silly kid stories and yummy dinner ideas.

All over white peppermint mocha frappuccinos.

There's something about sharing coffee with friends that creates a bond.

Especially on day one of red cups.

It is so exciting to think about the future, to share dreams with each other, to laugh,

to plan and then say - Lord take my plan.

Today, I am thankful for new life. 

And getting to see and share in it over red coffee cups.

Welcome to this world, Elle Jasmine

August 5, 2011 at 1:12am,

Mark and Katie met their long-awaited, precious 

Elle Jasmine Ritter

for the first time.

6.5 lbs of beauty, grace, peace and love in a baby.

J and I went to visit our friends and meet Elle Sunday morning before church

when she was only 55 hours old.

We enjoyed blueberry muffins and coffee bean together

as we watched their little girl squirm and smile and coo and sleep

and chatted about life, labor, moving, friendship, and change.

And of course, we took a few pictures.

I love how Mark and Katie celebrate together. They had the entire house decorated for Elle.

princess Elle [the "elle" was courtesy of crafty jess]

Meet Elle

their family... exhausted but so peaceful and joyful

Congratulations, M and K.

We are truly so excited for you.

Thank you for letting us share in your joy with you.

Your little girl is beautiful.

So honored to watch you grow as parents together.

We love you!

Joy overflowing

Joys past:

friend time with YMC friends, Dwain and Jaclyn

a few job apps out

time with Ali

nursing package arrival

successful dinner

Baker meets Frankie

jamba $1 oatmeal

Carly's birthday celebration 

blog-themed office decoration

a few episodes of house

apple picking

condo party

chocolate chip cookies and mud pie

Joys future:

YMC breakfast, friends, and encouragement

Shae's baby shower

 a bit of free time

picture uploading

coffee dates

October

our first camping trip

And these are just the big ones.

I'm so blessed!

Details/pictures to come on many of these joys :)

For now...

The latest regarding the couch

Some days they are good. 

Actually, a lot of days they are good.

But some days, they are a bit too curious and are not so good.

Manaja puppies!

But then they look at me

and I realize, the couch is worth nothing

compared to the joy Emma and Baker have brought us.

So, they get to stay.

The couch, on the other hand, may not make it much longer.

Imprints on my life

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory." 

Colossians 3:1-4

In the midst of so many blessings, I am overwhelmed with the brevity of life and the loss of a few special lives, and yet I am celebrating their joyful time in Heaven with our Lord right now.

First there was Pat. My RD my junior year of college, and one of the most inspirational people I knew at Point Loma. She passed away June 25th of this year of breast cancer. Her service is this Saturday.

And now my friend Jaimee. Jaimee and I lived in the dorm together that same year I was an RA. She loved life and loved Jesus with her entire life. And she loved Rony. 

A small example of Jaimee and Rony's joyful spirits: one night after an incredible evening of worship with an incredibly talented worship leader, Jaimee and Rony were going out to dinner with Lincoln and his band. We were there also, because we loved Lincoln. And they invited us along. "You guys are welcome to come!" Just like that. And we went. And we all had dinner together. They didn't even know us well, except Jaimee and I lived near each other and we all always said hi and chatted a bit. But they both reached out.

Jaimee and Rony loved the Lord and loved each other. They married each other after graduation.

Jaimee also had Cystic Fibrosis.

Two weeks ago, she wrote a love song to Jesus.
This Sunday morning, Jaimee went to sing it to Him in person.
Rony wrote about her journey and their faith yesterday.
Please pray for him. And their families, the Renfrow's and Baker's. And friends. 
Her service is Wednesday.

I don't really understand the devastation in this world.
But I do understand the need for a Savior.

"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted."

Matthew 5:4

I looked at my J as I told him. Our eyes filled with tears and we hugged.
"It's us," I said. "Except she was sick."

And I realized, this is what matters.
Making the most of every moment.
Finding joy in the small things.
In every thing.

Ironing. Making dinner. Laughing. Listening. Meeting my neighbors. Stopping to say hi.
Hugging my husband. Calling my mom. Walking Emma and Baker. Reading the Word.

I want to live a life that overflows with joy... laughter... grace... peace.

I don't know what will happen tomorrow. I don't know if I will get sick or hit by a car, or be blessed with another day.

But no matter what, I want to live today like it counts.
Because today is what matters.

"Come, let us sing for joy to the Lord; let us shout aloud to the Rock of our salvation."

Psalm 95:1

4 smiles and 1 Joy

My animals make me smile. 

And my Savior brings me joy.

summer haircuts

fun in the lovesac

sleepy Baker

me and my girl

"And we pray this in order that you may live a life worthy of the Lord and may please him in every way: bearing fruit in every good work, growing in the knowledge of God, being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light."

Colossians 1:10-12

Spring [break] spurts of joy

Grandma time

A lovely bike ride along the water with my friend

Sister time

Dinner and dessert with great friends

Getting PALS-certified

Pet and honey cuteness

Easter festivities

Along with some homework... so much time spent, yet not nearly enough accomplished. Oh well.

And now... 4 weeks and counting til the end of 3rd semester... it's crunch time.

Breakfast, coffee and desert in one

I had the pleasure of having coffee with my grandma this morning. We had coffee and breakfast, and then 'dessert' as she said. :) All in one.

My grandma always reminds me of the joy in life. I love spending time with her.

She also went with me to the dry cleaners, when we found out they were going to charge $45 to... not dry clean... stick it in their big washer. We both said, forget it. I will find my own large washer. :) And Grandma offered to clean it for me. She's always offering herself.

I got her on my "pray for a nursing job" prayer committee. I am excited. I am praying too. But when my Grandma prays, things happen. Watch out, world.

She's simply the best!!

Welcome home, Baker!

Our second little Terrier mix pup, Baker, came home to live with us on Wednesday. He was so sleepy and still under effects of anesthesia, since he had gotten neutered just that morning. Poor little guy was so out of it, but still smiled and wagged his tail.
We tried to put him on his bed, but he rolled off.
Once he began waking up, he started moving slowly and made it halfway between his and Emma's beds before he got tired.
Emma was really not sure what to think about him.
Then she got brave enough to sniff him. Their first interaction.
Learning how to go outside to go potty. Emma: "Mom, what is he?"
Since Wednesday, he has quickly become a part of the family and showed some of his personality. He likes the bathroom.
He likes his head scratched.
He looks like a sea otter when he stands.
Bear still watches him closely.
But they have started to play a little. And they lay together.
I love our little family of canines. :)
He's healthy and healing nicely, he lays at our feet, he follows us, and Emma, he's fairly potty trained, he eats when I feed him, and he is darn cute.
Welcome home Baker boy! You have already added so much joy to our family. I love you little one!

Baking the way to Christmas

Every year since I was little, my mom has done tons of baking. Usually my sister and I helped, when we could. And by help, I mean sit and watch, chat, and sneak bites of sugar cookie dough. My mom can frost cookies better than anyone I know. And she always made lots of different things. And then we would deliver them on Christmas to all my aunts and uncles and family. Baking day was always such a joyful day. Long, exhausting, and probably frustrating for my mom at times... but always a joy.

Since I got married, I have tried my best to carry on that little tradition. As much as cooking stresses me out (well, it used to!), baking makes me happy. This year, I made sugar cookies (a staple item), peanut butter temptations (proud to say I found this all on my own), chex muddy buddies (of course), peanut buddy bars (thanks for the recipe, Mom), and banana and zucchini bread. They are all ready to be delivered tomorrow!