Pensacola.

 We celebrated our 2nd anniversary in Pensacola, FL, applying sunscreen, listening to the small but constant waves crash onto the shore, and enjoying the white gritty sand between our toes.

 It was heaven. 

The days were hot, but the beach breeze, our umbrella, and the crystal clear water made for a comfortable and relaxing visit.

We watched the sunset. We went out to dinner. We enjoyed being with each other, as a family. 

 

Ellery Meets the Beach.

Pensacola, FL

May 25, 2012.

She loved it!

 

It's been a busy week for us.

Date night, Church, Swimming. Anniversary.

Ellery getting sick. Throwing up. Running a fever. Wheezing. 

The pediatrician seems to think she has a case of acute spasmodic croup. 

Please pray!

Blackberry Jelly!

Saturday, Justin, Ellery, and I headed out to the country in search of ripe blackberries to pick. On our agenda for the weekend was to make blackberry jelly & syrup, and in order to accomplish that, we needed fresh blackberries. 

We drove around 45 minutes to a patch Justin had seen on the side of the road earlier in the week. We picked and picked, it started to rain, and we picked some more. In total, we picked about a gallon and half. 

We got home, found the perfect blackberry jelly recipe (which happens to be found inside the Surejell pectin box), and got to smashing.

We used a potato masher to crush the berries to extract as much juice from them as possible.

Then just rigged up a strainer using an old white undershirt and a wooden platform to separate the juice from the seeds and skins.  We let gravity work all night.

 

Then after church on Sunday, we came home and got to work. We sanitized jelly jars and boiled the blackberry juice, added sugar and pectin, and made jelly. 

 

and syrup. 

We proceeded to put the syrup on everything. And decided to have waffles for supper!

Our taste buds were doing happy dances. It's quite incredible. 

Blackberry Jelly Recipe: Here
Blackberry Syrup Recipe: Here

We ended up with 12 jars of jelly and two and a half bottles of syrup. We've had breakfast for dinner several times this week, just so we could have an excuse to use it!

Yesterday, We Started Solids.

Here's how it went:

She ate about a spoonful.

Here's to hoping we have better luck today.

Mother's Day.

Last year's Mother's day was pretty special to us. With a smile on our face and a little bump forming under my shirt, we made our big announcement: we were going to be parents.

At that time, motherhood was an idea, a dream, a picture of days to come with the Little growing inside of me. In the year between then and now, I have experienced love unfold from places I never knew it could grow. I've seen a helpless 7lb 10 oz baby transform into my 6 month old, who often has quite the opinion. I've seen sleepless nights turn into snuggle-fests and rocking chairs create magic.

To me, the meaning of motherhood is different now. It grows stronger and deeper and more powerful with every passing second. It is about constantly making sacrifices -- well-worth-it sacrifices. And about caring more for another human being than you could ever possibly care for yourself.  My motherhood is created out of my intense desire to nurture and support and give all that I have with hope of raising happy children who make this world a little bit of a better place.

Last year was special, but this year meant more. This year had meaning, purpose, and a sleepy Ellery curled up beside me while husband brought me breakfast in bed. It was perfect.

Letter to Little: 6 months old

Pictures: At our friend Neel's birthday party last night. 

My dear Ellery,

Six months ago, we were meeting for the very first time. I was holding your soft and sweet body close to mine and inviting you to experience this life with us, as a family. You nursed, you cried, you slept. You were a newborn, innocent and delicate.

To watch you grow everyday is something so special. A miracle that can only be understood when you're a parent yourself. Watching you learn and reach new milestones have been some of the best times in my life.

In the past month you have practiced your rolling non-stop and you can sit unassisted. You have a giant smile and two bottom teeth to accompany it.   Your interest in everything is increasing daily and you show it by reaching. You reach for my face, my food, your toys, and anything else in your line of vision. 

Your daddy and I often find ourselves just siting and staring in awe of the personality you are becoming. Your cute, happy noises and your chubby thighs keep smiles on our faces and a glow in our hearts. 

You are our sweet love, and we are thankful everyday for the blessing of you.  

Love upon love,

  

     Mommy

Power and Strength and Grace and Guidance.

'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord. 'Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans for hope and a future.'                                                                           
                                       Jeremiah 29:11


Lately I haven't felt like blogging. Not that we don't have tons to share, it's just the stories that currently captivate my thoughts and uncover the worrisome nature that I have tried hard to suppress wouldn't make for very inspiring or uplifting reads.

These past two weeks have put a test on our patience and our ability to deal with stress in a Christ-like manner. Turning our eyes on the One most Holy has been the only way to calm my weary and restless mind and to rest assured that He has our best interest at heart.

Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.
                      Colossians 3:15

Some days it is easy to see only the bad. Like when you run over your dog. And get the $250 repair bill for your DSLR camera. And you have a clogged milk duct. And your husband gets a speeding ticket and just may have a case of Lyme disease. All in one week. All while trying to trust God for guidance and grace and strength to get through a stressful personal situation.

But in and through it all, we are trying to take a step back and look at it from another perspective. We choose to take the perspective of the blessed and see that the Lord is good. How often do we come to expect the niceties and forget to thank the One who gave them to us? How often do we take our  families and friends and the ability to have a healthy, beautiful baby for granted? These are the things that matter.

As much as our world tries to tell us otherwise, material things don't matter. Money doesn't matter.   Maybe these trials are teaching us something.  Maybe this time in our young married life is preparing our hearts for something greater, for something far bigger than ourselves. Maybe He is just making us a little more humble. I am not sure. All I know is that He never fails us.  His love never fails us. For this is what calms my heart.

Taste and see that the Lord is good; blessed is the man who takes refuge in Him. Psalms 34:8

It is amazing to me how intimately God speaks to us in his perfect timing. One morning in the past couple weeks I decided to just bite the bullet and purchase a devotional I've had my eye on for quite a while. But while I was looking at it on Amazon, I came across another book written by the same author, 40 Days with Jesus: Celebrating His Presence. I read the introduction and noticed the Kindle Edition price was only $1.99, so I jumped at it.

I put Ellery down for a nap, left the dirty dishes in the sink and the laundry still in the dryer, while I curled up on the couch for a quiet moment. As I began to read, my body was suddenly covered in goosebumps. It was as if my heart was being spoken to directly, as if this passage was written just for me.

"Sometimes my blessings come to you in mysterious ways: through pain and trouble. At such times you can know My goodness only through your trust in Me." 

How powerful and mysterious our God is.

Sarah Visits Mississippi.

One of my best friends, college roomie, and pretty much one of my favorite people on earth, came to visit us this past weekend. She flew from Charlotte to Atlanta and from Atlanta to Jackson, Mississippi! 

It has been two years since we've seen each other, and the last time was when she was standing next to me, as one of my bridesmaids, when I said 'I do'. So, we had quite the catching up to do.

The time she spent here was wonderful. We stayed up late, laughed incessantly, and used the phrase 'remember that time' at the beginning of most of our sentences.  With two years and so many life changes between us, it was incredible to be able to just pick our friendship up from where we left off and remember so many of the good times we've shared. 

There wasn't much to do in our sleepy little southern town, but with all that we had to catch up on, we didn't need any of the extras. We did a lot of playing with Ellery and hanging out with friends. We shared a few recipes and even made a day trip to New Orleans. 

It was fun and relaxing and nice to have a change from our daily routine!

  

 New Orleans was fun, even with a baby.  The weather was perfect and Ellery couldn't have been better! When she was strapped into the Ergo, it was almost as if she wasn't there. She slept on and off most of the day and enjoyed taking in the sights when she was awake.  It was fun hanging out with friends and doing the touristy thing for a day.