remember this list?

This picture is from my 30th birthday. A lovely, lovely day full of Shannon-made details.

So apparently last year I made a list of 30 things to accomplish in my 30th year.  I hardly remember doing so. But since I turn 31 on Sunday, it seemed time to check off the items accomplished. The funny thing about this list is that I wrote it in haste. I was just trying-to-get-a-blog-post-out-fast. So some are inspired, and some feel like filler. Even a year later I can sniff out the filler. Here's the update:

1. New hair color and style  (a couple times. done and done)

2. Host a Favorite Things party (nope. didn't do it. still would LOVE to though.)

3. Join the Y (joined and dropped our membership six months later... I loved the classes though)

4. Learn how to use the manual mode on our camera (ugh. no. I want to be able to take amazing pictures so badly. This might be the year for a class or workshop...)

5. Make a small quilt (nope.)

6. Keep a prayer journal (I did for a while)

7. Use my water colors (I did!!!)

8. Join a creative arts club (I still want to!!!)

9. Create a place where Bible can stay out all the time (sort of. it's on a book shelf...not open though.)

10. Make modge podge art scenes (done.)

11. Collect frames for wall collages (I have so many it's ridiculous.)

12. Print pics, fill frames and hang on the wall (I cannot believe this has been on my mind for a year now. Must accomplish this asap.)

13. Paint the bedroom (done!)

14. Make this kind of bread (I did! And it was decent. I need a second go around)

15. Pick color scheme for wardrobe overhaul (back in maternity. if it fits, I wear)

16. Finish and print 2010 digi scrapbook pages (yup.)

17. Make lemon ice and eat it with my sister (no! tragedy!)

18. Get a consistent plan together for visiting Mount Olivet Home (nope)

19. Honor the Sabbath (pretty good)

20. Eat more veggies (yes. I love snow peas. All the time.)

21. Write and mail letters by hand (lots and lots of thank you notes. does that count?)

22. Introduce Ivar to Lake Superior (Yes. a definite highlight of my 30th year of life.)

23. Make cupcakes with large decorating tip (hmmm...don't think so.)

24. Try a few new soup recipes (Yes. LOTS!)

25. Find a monthly mom's group (even better...weekly. adore it.)

26. Keep writing (good job, Becca!)

27. Make a picture slide show for Grandma's party (not quite. but I posted so much on this blog...)

28. Present my 'Passing on the Faith' workshop (a variation. felt good.)

29. Frequent the library (all the time. it's our favorite place to walk to)

30. Grow fresh herbs (in the garden. can't wait for fresh basil in the garden again...)
 
Reflection: Not too bad. A few stand out that I still really want to accomplish: a favorite things party, lemon ice, printing pictures and putting frames on the walls, photography class. But not too bad all in all. Good job, 30 year old Becca. And way to eat more veggies. (filler!)

springtime

I have had people ask, "Why do you live in Minnesota? How do you handle the winters?" And the truth is, often in the middle of winter we will ask ourselves these very questions.

But the weather this week is the reason we live in Minnesota. Spring got a jump start and the celebration, joy and jubilee around here is something to behold. We had a subway picnic last night at a still ice-covered Lake Harriet wearing shorts and tshirts and the entire city was out there with us, running the lake, walking, celebrating the warm sun.

Rory was out working in his garden on Tuesday with Ivar and came in after having talked to two our our neighbors about their plans for their yards. One was grilling steaks as they talked. Rory commented that it felt like winter had never happened. They all picked up where they had left off in the fall, ready to plant trees, plant gardens and be outside.

With the early warm weather in Minnesota, we are also keenly aware that we could still get another snowfall before this season is past. We all know this, and it's why everyone is so intent to sieze the day.

joy boy



Ivar discovered the buttons on the air purifier and then found the fan on the side. He does this daily...whips his head around in the breeze, letting his whisps of hair blow in the wind. He brings us so much laughter and happiness and joy.

best buddies

Rory works downstairs each day and there are many lunch breaks when he comes up and tells me how hard it is to stay down there when he hears us having so much fun upstairs. His office is right under the livingroom, so when we play chase and laugh and repeat words and are loud together, Rory can hear it. It's hard to hear the party, but still have to be the provider.

Today we switched roles. I have a sinus and ear infection and spent the whole day in bed. Rory worked upstairs with Ivar playing at his feet and then Ivar went down for his nap. At lunch Rory said he had completed everything he had to accomplish for the day so he was going to take Ivar for a walk to the library to return his books. They got all bundled and left with big smiles. And then they came home an hour later with bigger smiles. Rory said, "hey, I just am grabbing my phone. We're going to Target together!" And Ivar clapped and smiled and they two adventurers walked back out the door.

Ivar was tapping his dad's shoulder as they walked out to the garage. And even though I had a dreamy, quiet house and a warm bed to nap in, I couldn't help but feel left behind. These two boys have so much fun together. It warms my heart

Nebraska Friends!

So this is super fun and I just want to get the word out! Sara Groves and her band are coming to Elkhorn! Which is crazy! Because that's just down the road from where we lived in Gretna!

So mark your calendars and get your tickets!
It's this Friday night, MARCH 16, 2012

Elkhorn, NE
Bethany Lutheran Church
7:00pm (Doors 6 PM)
402-289-4440

www.bethanyelkhorn.org/saragroves

jayber crow

My sister-in-law, Sara, has been telling me about a book by Wendell Berry that she really wants me to read. She's been telling me about it since I worked with them, in 2003. It has been socially awkward at times to explain yet again that I haven't read it. Years of, "Becca, you have to read Jayber Crow!" can get a little uncomfortable when you can't really have an excuse that covers that amount of time. You can't say it's just been a real busy 9 years.

So I got the book. And from page one I have been sucked in. I adore the storytelling. I love the character. I love the pace, the lack of suspense, the sweetness of the tale.

Rory read it before me and had a lot of trouble getting into it, waiting for the plot to develop. And I had a cousin come over who said she couldn't get through it because the story just never started for her.

And it made me so curious about our different likes and dislikes in a good book. Because I was sold three sentences in. I remember thinking that actually. I loved the writing. I loved the tone. I loved the voice of the story.

All I want in a book is a good life story. I don't need drama. I don't need unknowns or a mystery to solve. I just like an honest, likable protagonist and will follow them anywhere if I like them that much.

It was interesting to note this about my style of reading material. I don't think I would have known to make this distinction before but it's true. Of my favorite books, I tend to fall for a sweet story, a noble life and a tight, endearing community surrounding that main character.

And you? What kind of book draws you in?

the gender of our baby-to-be

When the ultrasound technician came and got us from the lobby she asked, “and do you want to know the gender of the baby today?” And I replied a very honest, “Well, I want to know the gender. But we’re not going to find out. We’re going to wait and be surprised.”

This had been the plan since the very beginning. Ivar was a most joyous surprise and there isn’t really any reason why we have to know this news 20 weeks ahead of time. I guess we’re just old fashioned.

However. Waiting to find out with Ivar was way easier. This pregnancy I have been curious from day one. While holding my head over the toilet day after day, I had become quite certain there must be a little girl in there. This pregnancy has been so different from my pregnancy that brought a baby boy. But since then I have heard unending stories of mom’s who say they were positive they were having one gender and then had the other. Which means surely I’m having a boy.

And this has put be back at square one: turns out, I don’t have a clue if I’ve got a little girl in there, or a brother for Ivar.

But an amazing thing happened at the ultrasound. She squirted the warm jelly all over my tummy, and a baby showed up on the screen. And then she turned the camera to 3D (or is it 4D? It's the sepia looking picture with a very real flesh and bones baby on the screen) and I saw a tiny nose and lips, a whole face and a hand up on a forehead. I was looking at my baby.

I began to cry and couldn’t see the screen.

It was the exact same overwhelmingly joyous feeling I had when they lay Ivar on my chest and announced, “It’s a boy!” I swear to you no matter what I had just birthed, I loved deeper and more fully than I had known love before. They could have said, "It's a monkey!" and I would have felt the same joy.
Because that monkey was mine.

I saw that tiny face and the gender question became the silliest question in the world. I don’t know if it’s a girl or a boy…I just want that one. That one that is mine.

I cried after the appointment too. I think I was carrying more fear about the well being of this baby than I had realized. Plus, the whole experience made this pregnancy feel suddenly very real. I have been so distracted with this one. Life hasn’t stopped to process the change that is ahead. But as my heart gushed open when I saw that little face I think I started to comprehend that I have another child on the way who I will love just as fiercely as I love Ivar. That is a powerful thought unto itself.

Rory took me out for cream cheese puffs afterwards and I cried some more big tears in Leeann Chin as we talked about the reality of two kids, the excitement of siblings, and our growing family with all that is ahead. It all became very real today.

we get to see someone very special today...

We don't know who this little bundle is yet. I've been told that this week (21 weeks) this little life is 10 inches long and not even quite a pound. This baby likes to kick and move. I love having this life inside of me. I love feeling the life inside of me.

And I'm so glad that I'm not growing a carrot. How awkward is this picture?!! Today I will get to see a nose and toes and tiny fingers and a chest with a beating heart. We can't wait.

snapshots from our weekend

...in words

Rory began his fight against the squirrels who climb up the skinny metal pole to our bird feeder. He began by smearing cooking oil up and down the pole which was short-term successful. But not as successful as his later discovery: vaseline. It was a great weekend of "get over here! they look like little firemen sliding back down their fire pole!" Rory won the battle. And so did the birds.

While clearing the table, Pandora played Cats in the Cradle. Suddenly I heard the words. This was weird, because I could belt that chorus with the best of them on any road trip. But I'd never listened to the verses. And when I did, I got so sad. Like I had to sit down and have a good cry. Rory couldn't believe I had never heard the lyrics before. But I heard them this time and had a very pregnant moment.

Rory took Ivar and I to our first army surplus show. It was a sight. I believe we were the "preppiest family" in the bunch. No one else brought a stroller and a baby and a pregnant wife. But it was pretty awesome. All sorts of artifacts from different wars, good storytellers selling their goods...and lots of awkward conversationalists too. We celebrated our first gun show by going out for shamrock shakes. It was a good family day.

We made Chicken noodle soup from chicken stock we had made ourselves. How amazing is that?!! It was so delicious. Barefoot Contessa is always talking about how easy it is to make your own chicken broth, so Rory gave it a whirl last weekend and made the soup this weekend. Totally worth it, totally not that hard, and so good.

We unplug our tv the first seven days of every month. As a result, I read lots of books from the first to the seventh. On Saturday I finished Little House in the Big Woods. I got it for my niece Mara for Christmas, and then she let me borrow it back. That was nice of her. Now I'm reading Jayber Crow by Wendell Berry and can't go to bed at night! I am so sucked into this story!

I began taking a bath every night. It's heaven. I bring my book and enjoy some quiet time a the end of the day. I always debate if I should fill the tub, and then once I get in I wonder why I wouldn't do this every free moment of my life?!!

so much to love

I was in the kitchen unloading the dishwasher when I heard the cat begin to meow loudly in the livingroom. Then Ivar started repeating over and over, "uh oh. uh oh." And when I rounded the corner I found him shaking his bottle up and down, while continuing to repeat uh oh. The cat was also wet with milk. Ivar looks guilty, doesn't he?

Ivar at 16 months. So much to love.

Dear Ivar,
I love that you shake your finger the whole time we read Five Little Monkey’s. You love it when the doctor says, “No more monkeys jumping on the bed!” It's especially funny that you use your middle finger. We'll teach you why that is culturally inappropriate later.

I love how you know two signs: all done and birdie. You love how effective "all done" is. When you’re finished eating you flail your arms around and we hop up, wipe you down and free you to your toys. You are proud that you can tell us what you want. We are relieved.

I love that you use Mama and Dadda interchangeably. It is obvious one name is not connected to either one of us in particular, but you use these names with affection and have learned, I am sure, that either one of us will drop what we’re doing to see what you need.

Your words are growing every day. You love pointing out your nose and teeth and ears. You love making animal sounds, “neigh, bow wow, and moo” are the current favorites.

You’ve been sick this week, and we snuggled so much. Oh I wish you would snuggle more often! It is so wonderful to have your head on my chest. But if you’re feeling better, you are much too busy than to cuddle your mom.

We love you baby boy.

diy cell phone thingy

While at the home organization night at church, I was introduced to the contraption they now sell to hold your cell phone while charging so that phone and cord don't have to rest on your counter top. I loved it. And then I was tipped off to the diy tutorials out there for making your own.

So I took a stab.

It's handy. I like it a lot for how it functions. It's made out of a baby shampoo bottle that we just happened to finish off this week. I hung it on some hooks above the outlet because I hope to make one for Rory's phone too, and this way they'll both fit up there.

I don't like how the fabric I used turned all dirty looking with the modge podge. And I really wish I had followed the directions on the tutorial. I took some creative liberty to use random pieces of fabric and that's great, but I'll probably go back and make another with just one fabric, a brighter pattern and no fabric on the inside.

However, one addition I did make that I find to be genius was cutting a hole in the side where the cord can sneak in. I twistie tied up the cord and smooshed it in the bottom. This hides the cord inside the holder so the cord is hidden all the time.

art supply organization

Well, if you've known me for two minutes, you may know that I like to organize things. My drawers and closets and cupboards may not stay organized, but I love the process, I love the sorting and finding a home for each thing. I love purging. This trait has actually surfaced itself in funny ways. Rory has been known to say late at night, "Tonight could you not bring a bin of papers to sort on the couch and just sit here and watch tv with me?"

On Sunday night we had a women's event at our church that was all on home organization. Lovely. I ate it up. And I came home motivated and inspired. So I took myself to Target, bought some new storage bins (the little boxes are a buck!) and for under $20 and in under three hours, got my art supplies in order. Check out the before:

I had stuff everywhere...on a wheely cart, in moving boxes, in a filing cabinet. But I wanted to centralize all of it. Much of it had to go (to my nieces! Who will be getting a super fun and random box of art supplies the next time I see them). Mixed in with the supplies were all sorts of projects I want to tackle. I organized those too and have currently taken over the kitchen table with all of my pre-wedding pictures and invites and wishlists with hopes of throwing it all in a book. Speedy style.

I used nametags to label everything. I like how uniform it makes everything feel. And I like that they say, "Hello my name is" How very friendly. Unfortunately I ran out of the nametags and it is hard to explain how much this bugs me. I can't wait to "finish" this project with proper labeling...

I bought bigger tubs for my ever growing paper and fabric collections. (This was where Target socked it to me...The bigger tubs are $6! Come on! The little tubs were just a buck!)

I am pleased with the result. And super inspired. I currently have three diy art projects going. It is so fun to play in a clean workspace. My mom used to say she could tell how well she cleaned her kitchen based on how quickly I wanted to bake and mess it all up again. That's my plan with these bins. I'll play hard, mess them up, and then some night I'll bring my tubs with me to the couch and have the joy of sorting it all out once again.

art house and andi ashworth

Last Thursday, Troy and Sara hosted their first Art House North event. I am so excited about this new chapter they are beginning. They have moved their family into the smallest house I've ever been in, in order to purchase the church that is now the Art House.

Art House North is an offshoot of the Art House in Nashville, founded by Charlie Peacock and Andi Ashworth. Charlie and Andi are married, and my assumption is that Peacock is a stage name. Charlie has produced a lot of Sara's music and this couple has been hugely influential in how Troy and Sara approach their ministry, marriage, family and the art of weaving these callings together into a seamless life.

Sara gave me Andi's book, Real Love for Real Life for Ivar's baby shower and it was the first book I read after Ivar was born while nursing. I have sweet, sweet memories of one arm holding Ivar and the other trying to turn the pages of this book in the wee hours, reading by the soft light of the lamp covered in a baby blanket.

The book is all about living into our role as caregiver. To celebrate this call, to recognize the importance of caring for your neighbor, meeting the needs of your family, as well as caring for yourself, your passions, your dreams, your hopes. It is beautifully written and I believe I dog eared every other page because I didn't have a free hand to highlight.

I feel so grateful for this book. The timing was perfect for me when I read it. As a new mom I had a whole new life that was forming around me. I felt raw but open. And as I read this book I took hold of this vision and felt so secure in my new role of caring for this baby, caring for myself, creating a home for my family, caring for our neighbors, keeping an open heart.

On Thursday night, Andi and Charlie spoke at the Art House and told their story of intentional creative living, imaginative dreams and hopes, the art of a seamless life no matter who you are with and what you are doing. I was able to talk to Andi after and tell her how this book shaped my calling. It was a real privilege.

If you're looking for a good read. A book that may help set a new direction or a book that will surely help you create an imaginative vision, go get Real Love for Real Life by Andi Ashworth.

And if you're looking for some really great, thoughtful articles on artful living, check out anything Andi has written on the art house america blog.

20 weeks!

This pregnancy has been covered in a cloud of sickness. And I'm so sick of it! I am sick of my pre-recorded answer that replays out of my mouth every time someone asks, "how are you feeling?" I am sick of my own voice. I am sick of saying, "well, I'm still on the zophran, and the moment I stop taking it I end up hovering over the toilet again. bla bla bla."

I think I'm so tired of this conversation because I am realizing I am actually choosing what to dwell on. It is my choice. I decide what words to say, and I'm bored of myself.

To be fair, there were really, super low moments when I had to tell people. I had to let people know just how sick I was feeling because I just needed people to know I was in that dark of a valley. But things have gotten better, my energy has been up, I feel kicks all the time and though I still have to take this sweet miracle pill called zophran, there is JOY TO BE HAD! We are having another baby! And my belly is stretching like all get out. I have had the round ligament pain again, and uffda that is a feeling like no other. But it's all signs that my body is doing what it's supposed to.

And so with the next 20 weeks, I am choosing to play a new record. This record is going to tell about the excitement and wonder of it all, the joy and anticipation, my awesome cravings for brucetta, using a hair tie to make my pre-baby pants stretch another week or two, and the sloppy raspberry kisses Ivar gives to the baby (via my soft belly). So far these kisses always end with the three of us in a pile of laughter and tears. They are so sloppy, wet and loud.

So baby #2, welcome! We are thrilled you are coming.

Next week we have our ultrasound...because I was confused as to what week I was when I scheduled the appointment, we have to wait an extra week!

Here's a pic of me at 20 weeks with Ivar :)

Ivar and walking

Well, Ivar and Walking don't go together yet. He'll be 16 months on Thursday, and he's still quite content to crawl around. He does like to stand on his own now so his balance is there and he loves to walk with fingers...so he's well on his way.

Truly, 97% of the time I am not worried at all about this. But 3% of the time I get nervous when the 29th person that day has asked, "is he walking yet?!!"

In Mesa there was a large in stature old man who commented that "Ivar was a good sized kid." He asked if he was walking yet and then replied, "My mom used to tell me I was 22 months before I took my first steps. And you know, I've been walking fine ever since, no problem."

My dad told me of this exchange and right then I decided I will not officially worry about Ivar and his walking until he's 22 months. Which is September 1st. And then I will worry.

Rory got the footage above of Ivar using his walker to push the cat around. Oh I hope this makes you grin as big as it made me smile.