devotion: one word for 2015

Happy New Year, y'all! Don't you just love a fresh start? I know I do. I have enjoyed reading about everyone's goals, resolutions, or reasons for not making resolutions this year. I think to some degree, regardless of how we label it, we all have our own way of pursuing growth in our lives. I don't know many people who want to say exactly the same. However that looks for you, I hope you see growth in your life in 2015!

Last year I learned of many people declaring one word for their focus in the upcoming year. Examples include: courage, peace, create, thrive, delight, bloom, etc. I loved this idea and declared simplify to be my one word for 2014. I aimed to for simplicity in many ways-- in our home, in our routine, in our lives. Through saying "no" to some things, I was able to say "yes" to what mattered most. Through letting go of  some "stuff" I was able to better appreciate the gifts I've been given. I hope to continue to simplify this year as well! With a growing family, I am sure it will be a challenge but I know it will be worth it.

This year, I am declaring devotion to be my one word for 2015. 

: a feeling of strong love or loyalty

: the use of time money, energy, etc., for a particular purpose 

: synonyms- affection, love, passion, commitment

I came across a form of this word while reading {1 Chronicles 22:19} last week and it has stayed with me since. 

My prayer for 2015 is that I remain mindful of my devotion. To the Lord, to my husband, to our family, to our friends, to my health, to the roles God has given me. I want to carefully consider how I am using my time, our money, and my energy. Too often I am guilty of wasting time worrying, spending money on frivolous things, and exerting energy at times when I should just be still. I pray that my love for and commitment to the things that truly matter in life continues to grow. 

Are you declaring one word for 2015? If so, what is it? 

Happy 2015! 

2014: a year at a glance

Time flies when you're having fun! Honestly, I think it just flies no matter what. I can't believe 2015 is just a few days away. What a year 2014 has been! As I transfer birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, and appointments to my 2015 planner, I have enjoyed looking back at the past year. *Also, this is my second year using Emily Ley's Simplified Planner & I love it! You should check them out!* This is just one of the many reasons I like keeping an agenda-- not only does it keep me organized for the future, it provides a great way to reflect on where we have been. Here's a glance back at 2014:

January:
-first day of work in my first position as a dietitian
-we traveled to Texas with Dustin's work

February:
-lots of Illinois wintery weather meant using 4wheel drive & the fireplace often
-lots of learning & growing in my new role as a dietitian

March:
-March was full of madness & we enjoyed cheering on the CATS

April:
-we had fun doing some updates around the house with the help of our family
-Dustin & I were baptized together, a moment I'll treasure forever
-we started our first garden

May: 
-I was diagnosed with a tick-borne illness, thankfully my coworkers encouraged me to see a doctor
-we traveled to celebrate two beautiful weddings of loved ones in California & in Tennessee

June: 
-we cheered for the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium a couple of times
-we received an opportunity to move from Illinois back home to KY
-many meals were enjoyed with produce from our garden

July: 
-we celebrated our 2nd anniversary
-we learned that we were expecting a baby
-I celebrated my 25th birthday

August:
-we shared the news of our little one coming with our family
-we traveled to Florida for a work trip
-we celebrated another sister-friend's wedding in KY
-we put our house up for sale

September:
-we shared the exciting news of Baby C with everyone
-we went to St. Louis for a fun concert & time with friends
-I started working as needed at a hospital back home in KY

October:
-we finalized the sale of our home in IL & moved in with some hospitable friends in KY
-we found out Baby C is a GIRL
-we celebrated Dustin's 28th birthday

November:
-Dustin went on a hunting trip
-I attended a week long course to become a certified lactation counselor
-we counted our blessings & ate tons of dressing with family & friends for Thanksgiving

December: 
-I received my letter stating I passed my CLC exam
-Dustin hunted anything that flies
-our puppy sisters, Callie & Chloe, turned 1
-we played Dirty Santa, drank lots of hot chocolate, & celebrated the birth of our Savior with family & friends

By no means is this an complete list of the highlights of the year. It would be an even longer post to try to include all of the laughter shared, tears shed, prayers lifted, & memories made. This year has been more than we could ever ask or imagine, which is exactly how our God works according to Ephesians 3:20. Thank you Lord for your faithfulness & provision. I am always amazed by & thankful for your mercy, grace, & love.

Looking ahead to 2015: we cannot wait to find a home to call our own, welcome our baby girl into the world, & continue to seek Christ & share His love.

Have a very Happy New Year, y'all!

Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen. 

{Ephesians 3:20-21}

7 on the 7th: a few of my favorite things

7 on the 7th is a monthly post in which I share seven of my favorites with you. I always love when others share their favorites & I hope you do too! I chose the number seven and the 7th of each month because of the love I developed for that number once we set our wedding date, 07.07.12. I love that we continue to stumble across special meanings to or connections with the number seven. Some months I try to have a theme while other months I share a random compilation of sorts. This month I'm going smorgasbord style...

1. revlon colorstay gel envy nail enamel
I am a huge fan of getting a manicure and pedicure. Dustin (aka the Budget Police) is not which means mostly DIY manicures for me! Revlon Colorstay Gel Envy polish lasted a good week before noticeably chipping. I went with "Hold 'Em" which is a deep purple, and love it! They have several other colors I would like to try. Walgreens happened to have a coupon for $3 off two bottles so I snagged the Diamond Top Coat while I was there. I have been really pleased with the durability of the polish and love the rich color!

2. sparkly green earrings by melanie shankle
These next two favorites could easily be their own post but I wanted to include them as favorites instead. Sparkly Green Earrings, a memoir of motherhood tales, is so encouraging and uplifting. Melanie Shankle is the author of Big Mama blog, which is nice for a daily dose of her humor. I debated holding off on reading Sparkly Green Earrings until after our little girl arrives but I just couldn't wait. I am glad I didn't. I loved this book. Few people can combine sentiment, scripture, and sarcasm in such a beautiful, hilarious way.

3. the antelope in the living room by melanie shankle
This book is to marriage, what Sparkly Green Earrings is to motherhood. Hilarious, genuine, and honest. I laughed until I literally cried, which really doesn't take much for a pregnant woman, but Big Mama is seriously funny. She has the ability to share her experiences of motherhood and marriage in a way that leaves you feeling inspired without being intimidated. Both books are such easy reads. I can't wait for her next book about friendship to be released next year!

4. bacon wrapped dates
When I read Bread & Wine by Shauna Niequist last year, I shared a couple of the recipes I loved from the book here on the blog. One that has been on my list to try is her Bacon Wrapped Dates. This year for Thanksgiving we finally did it! They are delicious! The perfect blend of salty and sweet. The recipe couldn't be easier, which makes it even better.

8oz package of dates

4oz goat cheese

12-14 strips of bacon

Slice the dates in half from top to bottom. Also cut the strips of bacon in half. Spoon some of the goat cheese into the dates. Wrap in bacon. Bake for 25 minutes at 400. Enjoy warm or room temperature. 

5. advent readings

I so love this special time of year. Last year I followed along with Ann Voskamp's Advent book, The Greatest Gift. This year I was excited when she released a new family Advent devotional and ordered while it was on sale. Even though I can't wait for our baby girl to be in our arms as we study and read about Jesus' birth, I am really enjoying this tradition we are starting now. I love love love Advent! 

6. trader joe's cookie butter cups

What's not to love about cookie butter and dark chocolate!? These delectable treats pair so well with a cup of coffee. I enjoy indulging in a sweet morsel every now and then. If you do too, make your way to the nearest Trader Joe's. 

7. gift bags
I love pretty wrapping paper & beautiful homemade bows, however, my gift wrapping is not my gift. Which makes a cute gift bag my BFF. Plus, I love the functionality of a gift bag. You can easily carry your gift home. Another perk: they're reusable, so basically a gift that keeps on giving. Of course, you have to watch for when the corners are crumpled and the handles are falling off. At that point, it's time to part ways. I picked up a few darling polka dotted bags at TJMaxx & love finding pretty tissue papers to spruce up more simple bags.

What are you loving right now? Do we share any favorites? 

life of a hunter's wife

rifles & carharts, cabelas & camo,

waders & antlers, duck calls & ammo,

a day's limit of waterfowl tied up with string,

these are a few of my husband's favorite things

the first time dustin took me hunting was while we were dating. i may or may not have shown up to his parent's house bright & early, fresh from the shower. his response was "what is that smell!? are you wearing perfume!?" well duh. what girlfriend doesn't want to smell good for their boyfriend!? how was i supposed to know that you should either be odorless or smell like deer urine while hunting?! nevertheless, we trekked over to the deer stand & proceeded to wait for a few hours with no luck. apparently deer don't find vanilla body lotion an attractive or natural scent. i also have yet to receive another invitation to go hunting.

i've always admired my husband's love for the outdoors, despite the hard time i give him for leaving me early in the morning. i may not fully grasp the thrill of waking before dawn to spend hours outside in the cold and sometimes wet conditions but i appreciate the fact that he, along with many others in our neck of the woods, do. i've learned that the hunting seasons go quickly so it's important for him to take advantage of the time, even if it means him being gone for days. what i haven't convinced him of yet is that i need to plan a spa getaway with the girls that coincides with his week long hunting excursions. he can hunt for the perfect buck or duck; i will hunt for the perfect nail color.

since dating & marrying dustin i have definitely expanded my palate & culinary abilities. growing up my meme prepared fried venison occasionally but only a handful of times that i recall. my mom could easily be a vegetarian & the thought of bambi or daisy duck being on her plate could bring her to tears. she struggles with beef & chicken too! i, on the other hand, need my meat sources of protein, which has now expanded to include deer, duck, and the occasional quail/pheasant/dove. deer stew, deer chili, & deer meatloaf have all been somewhat mastered. ground deer meat is pretty versatile and can be used for just about any recipe calling for ground beef. duck is still in the works. our favorite ways to prepare it: wrapped in bacon & covered in brown sugar or stuffed with cream cheese & jalepenos. seriously, what wouldn't be enjoyable with those ingredients?! i'm hoping to branch out a bit, though. his uncle makes a delicious duck stew & while in san antonio this past january we had some wonderful duck gumbo. i've learned that brining & marinading are absolutely essential. one time i skipped that step when attempting to prepare pheasant, or maybe it was quail. it was so bad, the dogs wouldn't even touch it.

being a hunter's wife is pretty awesome. if a situation ever arose where we had to fend for ourselves, i'm confident & glad he could do it. while i don't deck out in camo on a regular basis (ok ever), i do keep a pair of his hunting gloves in my coat for those super cold mornings. sure i miss him during the long hunts, but i think there's some truth to that old saying: absence makes the heart grow fonder. i also think it's important for both spouses to have their own hobbies & interests. last, but certainly not least, it's nice that he puts food on the table, both figuratively & literally.

are you married to a hunter? or maybe you are a huntress yourself! what are your favorite aspects of this role? any favorite recipes?

taking stock

this time of year, it is easy to rush around from house to house, project to project, event to event, holiday to holiday. it's nice to slow down and take stock of the here and now. ashley who blogs over at the vanilla tulip had a "taking stock" post a few weeks ago. i loved the format and idea. here's mine.

making :: lists of nursery ideas and dreams.

cooking :: delicious warmed leftover pumpkin pie for breakfast (not really cooking but close).

drinking :: decaf coffee with a splash of cream.

reading :: sweet children's books to our baby girl. so looking forward to holding her in my arms. 

wanting :: opinions on e-readers/tablets. yay or nay?

looking :: for baby girl bedding.

playing :: with sweet puppies. our callie and chloe sure do love our friends' pup, rupp.

wishing :: best of luck to my hunter and all hunters enjoying the waterfowl opening weekend.

enjoying :: a restful day after a busy past few weeks.

liking :: the fact that there will be a new cinderella coming to theaters next march! ok really loving.

wondering :: who baby girl will look like.

loving :: this time of year-- the weather, holidays, flavors, colors, scents, you name it. 

hoping :: for some plans to become reality soon.

marveling :: at the thought of brave black friday shoppers. may the odds be in your favor. 

needing :: to recognize that i don't actually NEED all the books in the world, but it feels like it.

smelling :: christmas spirit essential oil diffusing. 

wearing ::  cozy, comfy pjs.

noticing :: the little things in life are such sweet reminders of God's love.

knowing :: the Lord's works are wonderful {psalm 139:14}.

thinking :: about the upcoming advent season.

opening :: scripture more often through the day.

giggling :: everyday thanks to my hilarious husband.

feeling :: blessed&thankful.

7 on the 7th: pregnancy favorites

Yesterday marked the halfway point! 20 weeks! I cannot believe we are 20 weeks away from meeting out baby girl! This month I am resuming my 7 on the 7th posts by sharing my 7 favorites during this pregnancy so far.

1. Waiting in Wonder devotional journal: My mom gave me this sweet book for me to document my pregnancy. I love the scripture that fills each reading and the space for writing prayers and things to remember.

2. Bubbies Pickles: So cliche, right?! In all seriousness, I haven't really craved any certain foods. I just enjoy them all more than usual. Which for a food lover like myself, is a lot. Hands down, these are my favorite store bought pickles ever. The flavor is superb. I also love the health benefits of these particular pickles. The Bubbies brand uses lactic acid fermentation to make their pickles and sauerkraut. Fermented foods, such as certain sauerkraut, pickles, and kefir, contain probiotics which promote healthy gut function. Great taste + health benefits = a win win. You can find them at most health food stores or co-ops.

3. Maternity Clothes: A couple weeks ago I transitioned from regular to maternity clothes. I had been squeezing into making do with my clothes for as long as I could. I'd used the Belly Band only to have it roll down my hips and look awkward. I'd tried the pony tail holder trick only to have a it fly off my pants at random times. Both of these tricks worked at first, but as the sweet lady helping me in Motherhood Maternity said, "If you're having to "make do" with your regular clothes, it's time to invest in maternity clothes!" Such truth! For a girl who always searches for longer shirts to cover my long torso, I am so pleased with the fact that I can wear shirts that are long enough to cover my growing belly. The lovely world of maternity pants and clothes is magical and oh so comfortable.

4. Body Butter: While at Motherhood Maternity, I received a promotion of a free skin care item. I selected the Lavender & Vanilla Body Boost Butter. Not only do I love the soft scent, I love the way it makes my skin feel. As your skin expands and stretches, it itches. I've found using this body butter along with coconut oil has helped the best.

5. The Bump App: Baby Girl is about the size of a banana right now according to the Bump App I keep up with on my phone. I love the little insights the app provides regarding the growth and development at each week. I also love how they equate her size to produce. It's like they know my love language is food.

6. Peppermint Essential Oil: I am thankful to say morning sickness has only affected me a handful of times. I have noticed a tendency to get motion sickness in the car. The few times I have experienced it, peppermint essential oil is my go-to. Just inhaling the minty goodness alleviates my nausea. It is also a great pick-me-up when I am feeling tired. Naps are also great for that too!

7. Psalm 149: This chapter has always been one that comforts me. Now it is even more special. Especially verses 13-18. How I pray our sweet girl knows she is fearfully and wonderfully made and thought about more than she can imagine by our Creator.

For You formed my inward parts; You wove me in my mother's womb.

I will give thanks to You for I am fearfully and wonderfully made;

Wonderful are Your works, and my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from You, when I was made in secret, 

and skillfully wrought in the depths of the earth;

Your eyes have seen my unformed substance;

And in Your book were all written the days that were ordained for me, 

When as yet there was not one of them. 

How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! 

How vast the sum of them!

If I should count them, they would outnumber the sand. 

When I awake, I am still with You.

The past 20 weeks have been wonderful. I so look forward to the next 20 and meeting our baby girl!

Do you have any pregnancy favorites? I'd love to hear them! 

what's new

Hey friends! Care to join me for a cup of something cozy as I attempt to share what's new in our lives? I'm still here! Promise. It's been over two months since my last blog post. While this little hiatus from blogging was not really planned, I have to say it has been good for me. To be quite honest, it is so easy for me to get caught up in the mindset of thinking I need to blog a certain number of times a week/month/etc or that I need to post certain topics however often. When I joined the blogworld I wanted to avoid that mentality. This break was a great reminder. I am continuing to learn to avoid unnecessary, and often unrealistic, expectations for myself and others. I have had to put blogging on the back burner the past few months but I am hoping to resume now that things are somewhat falling into a routine again. That said, to those who are pros at regularly posting on their blogs-- way to go! You encourage so many, including me.

So what's new? Well A LOT! 

First, we sold our home and moved from Illinois back to Kentucky for my husband's job. To say we were excited to get back home closer to our family and friends is an understatement. However, leaving our newly made friends, coworkers, church, and first home we purchased together was so bittersweet. We will forever be grateful for our time in Illinois. I have no doubt God brought us there to grow closer to Him, each other, and the people He placed in our lives for that season. To our Illinois friends, thank you for opening your homes and hearts to us. We miss you and are so glad you are not too far away! 

We are currently residing in our dear friends' basement as we look for a home here in Kentucky. They are so generous by allowing us to stay with them. Not only are we thoroughly enjoying our time with them, our puppies are loving their little pooch too! 

We both have started new positions in work-- Dustin has a new territory in his job and I was able to begin working as needed at the hospital where I completed my dietetic internship. We are so thankful for both opportunities! 

Last, but certainly not least, our family of two is growing to three! We found out in July that we are expecting our first baby! Just this week we learned we are having a sweet baby girl! We are beyond thankful and thrilled for her to join our family next March. Poor Dustin will continue to be outnumbered with a wife, daughter, and two female pups for now! I have no doubt he will be just fine and an amazing daddy to our little girl. 

That about sums up the major life events in the past few months! It has been a little overwhelming at times, but I am so thankful for the lessons God continues to teach me-- to trust His plans, His timing, and His faithfulness. I joined a Bible study at church this week and it could not be more perfect for this season in our lives. It is Beth Moore's latest study of 1 & 2 Thessalonians. In the opening video she reminded me of such truth-- we are not here in this world to stay the same. For a girl who loves routine, order, and familiarity-- oh how my heart needed to hear that this week! However, can I also say how thankful I am for freedom and grace through renewal as well? I don't want to be the same person I was five or ten years ago and I pray five or ten years from now I am continuing to become more Christlike. I am so grateful for the transformation God gives us through His son Jesus Christ. I look forward to what else God will reveal to me through this study and during this special time in our lives. 

I hope y'all are doing well! What's new in your neck of the woods?