9 {Years}

Yesterday marked our 9 year anniversary! Crazy, right?! It doesn't feel like we've been married for almost a decade, but goodness, we're almost there!

Yesterday was definitely a unique anniversary...Aaron and I spent almost the whole day apart...he was on Daddy Duty with the boys while I was on Floral Duty making flower arrangements for my sweet sister Gloria's wedding which is tomorrow! But, last night when we were just about to fall asleep, Aaron said that it was such a great anniversary because even though we were apart for most of the day we both understand and know how much we love each other, and we don't mind "sacrificing" our day to help out our family that we love so dearly.

We are going to celebrate Sunday though. We've got Nana and Papi lined up to help with the boys and we're going to spend some time together! Woohoo! (Thanks, Robert & Jamye!)

So, Happy Anniversary to US! I love you, Aaron!

*Grace*

Clearly there was something more to it

Tears come gushing out of my sweet Johnathan's eyes as he walks up to me asking

"Why didn't you come to wipe my heiny?"

"Um, what? You're crying because Daddy came instead of me to wipe your bottom?"

"Yes."

Clearly there was something more to it than that. Something deeper behind those crocodile tears.

It was 8:30, a little past his bedtime, when he got up to go potty. Funny, having to use the bathroom is the only excuse we let him use to come out of his room past bedtime, and almost every night he takes us up on it. But tonight was different. You would have thought his world was ending with one look at his sad little face. Eyes brimming with wetness, cheeks moist with the trail of tears.

"Oh Johnathan, are you really upset because I couldn't come wipe your bottom or is it something else?"

"No, I just wanted you to come wipe me."

"Honey, are you really saying that you're crying these big tears just because I didn't come to help you in the bathroom, or is it something else? Daddy helped you, right? You still had help."

"But I wanted you to help, I just wanted you to come...I just wanted you."

There it was, and I knew it too. Somewhere beneath the explanation of wanting only me to wipe his bottom was the realization that what he really wanted was just me. And I knew why.

Our nighttime routine hadn't gone as usual, and Johnathan is a stickler for routine. Due to a rowdy little brother (eh, hem, Eli, that was you!) we weren't able to read our book like normal and the progression of our bedtime wind-down with it's clockwork-like schedule of reading a book, singing, and nighttime snuggles was cut short.

So, as I knelt in front of Johnathan on the kitchen floor, my mother's heart knew what he couldn't put into words.

"Honey, does your heart hurt because you need some extra love from mommy before you go to bed? Do you need me to love on you?"

"Yes, that's why I'm crying."

Johnathan's love language is touch. Even at his young age it is so apparent. When ever he gets really happy about something he will say "I want to come give you a kiss!" and will run over to plant one on me. Whenever he is upset he wants to be held. When he thinks I am upset he wants to be close to me. He hugs me multiple times throughout the day and is still a big snuggler. He needs it. And tonight, even though was going to bed, his little love tank was running on empty. His normal "fill-ups" that happen during our bedtime routine hadn't happened and the reason why he looked like his world was ending is probably because his little heart felt like it was. Feeling a mother's (and father's) love is a powerful thing, and when it's absent (or feels that way to a child) it can be devastating.

So, we went over to the couch and had some snuggle time. I sang a simple song (Jingle Bells, his request!) and then he skipped happily into bed and is now fast asleep.

It's nice to feel needed.

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Dear Lord, please help me to always be able to slow down, and be able to see into the heart of my children. Help me to be able to give them what they need through your grace. Help them to see You in me, and to eventually come running to You when their love tanks run dry. Fill me up so I can fill them up.

In Jesus' Name,
Amen

Vintage Letter Tiles {DIY} Canvas Typography!

The last few weeks I've been focused on creating my inventory for Etsy, but today I decided to take a break from all that and just make something for our home! I wanted to try my hand at painting even though I am absolutely NOT an artist with a paintbrush...however, I can draw stick figures with the best of 'em, so I figured drawing a tree was right up my alley! I also wanted to include one of my favorite Bible verses in my project, and this is what I came up with:

I started with a blank canvas and literally just dropped blobs of various shades of blue for the sky, green for the grass and then blue and gray for the water. I simply wiped it all around with a dry cloth until the canvas was covered.

Here are the paint colors I used:

And the paintbrushes...just some from a starter kit at Hobby Lobby.

After I had my background I drew my tree...my sticks!...with 3 different sized brushes. I mixed together a mixture of black and gray paint for sort of a charcoal colored hue.

Then I added some leaves by mixing together some green and gray paints and just used the dry end of a brush to tap them on the branches.

Close up of the leaves...they sort of blend in to the background.

Then, I grabbed my set of vintage Anagrams letter tiles that I purchased on Etsy and went to work with my verse. I simply hot-glued them to my (drying!) painting...yes, I was impatient!

And there we have it! A beautiful gift for ME!!! ;)

My abbreviated version of Psalm 1:1-3

Blessings, *Grace*

Linking up to Home Stories A to Z!

Grace Note Gifts Grand Opening Sale! :)

Hello all! My shop is up and running with some new categories added just today thanks to some dreary weather...good time to stay inside and work on my listings! So, to launch the creation of Grace Note Gifts on Etsy I am offering a 25% discount as part of my Grand Opening Sale! Enter Coupon Code GNG2012 at Checkout!

Happy Friday!

Blessings, Grace

Self Sabotage

Have you ever had good intentions of doing something and then become a victim of self sabotage? I have, lately in fact, and I thought maybe writing about it would help end the cycle.....

Babies. We've got 'em...we've lost them...we want more...but boy, am I bound and determined to use every excuse in the book to postpone the creation of the next one! :) Eli is going on 2 and we figured we'd be ready for another one about now...Aaron is ready, I am too, sort of, but I when it gets down to it I am a big ol' scared mess about getting pregnant again. After 4 losses, Johnathan's less than ideal pregnancy and Eli's scary delivery there is just something inside me that is more than a little apprehensive, and I'm sure that's completely normal. But I need to get over it!

Recently I decided on just one last "excuse" before we tried again for baby #3 (#7 really). I wanted to get "in shape"...well just in a different shape than I am now, a more toned, fit shape...and that was going to be my last roadblock before having another baby. BUT, I have totally sabotaged myself in regards to getting into the shape that I thought I had to be in before I get preggers again. *If I'm not in shape, I can't get pregnant yet...and then I can put off facing my fears until later, that sounds good (insert cookie in mouth, forget about working out!)*...yeah, that's how my mind works I guess.

So, I am realizing that sometimes you've just got to take that leap of faith, and (obviously) I can't be the one in control...I've tried, and failed...so I'm just going to give up this fight of worrying needlessly about the future regarding the next baby and just see what happens! AND, I am going to try to get even more fit so I can keep up with my boys who have their own way of keeping me in shape! :)

Blessings,
*Grace*

Our Garden {at Night}

The last several weeks the boys and I have been working on our side garden. We have a neat little area right off of our living room that had been previously neglected, and I wanted to take advantage of the outdoor space. We've potted some herbs, planted a few flowers and hung bird feeders & houses. We've hung some signs and frames on the wall for visual interest and just yesterday we mulched the bed to cover the dead vine-y mess that used to be there. Then, for some added nighttime ambiance, we strung outdoor lights on the pillars and overhead surrounding our little garden area. The effect is much more magical in person, but I tried to capture it the best I can here with my limited photography skills and simple camera.








*Grace*