Four Week Ruth.

My sweet baby is now four weeks old.

Time,  slllooooowwww down.

Tonight as we read to her and prayed over her as she was falling asleep, I just had to voice it. God gave us such a blessing in Ruthie. He could have given her to anyone, but he chose to give us this sweet, eternal soul to care for on this earth. What a blessing and a responsibility! 

We love you, our precious Ruthie :)

{She is now well over 9 pounds. Loves bathtime and music. Nurses a lot during the day and sleeps up to 7 hours at night. Loves being cuddled and snuggled (especially by mama), but loves for her daddy to walk with her. She is strong and can hold her head up for awhile. She has her mama's crazy hair that won't lay down and her daddy's lips. Her blue eyes have already begun to lighten up. She loves to coo and be cooed to... 

Our Girl!}

Today.

Today is one of those days I just want to feel inspired.
Today is one of those days where I just don't feel inspired.
I want my fingers to write out exactly what my heart feels right now, but they just don't know the words.
Life is so different. Such a good different, but that doesn't mean it's an easy different.
No complaining is coming from my fingertips, just honesty.
I feel convicted in my last post to say that we are 'poor, poor seminary students' because in all actuality.. we aren't poor at all! We have clothes on our backs, food in our bellies, a roof over our head, and the Grace which we have been given through Christ. 

We are beyond RICH.

I remember reading something one day about how, as Americans, we really could never call ourselves "poor". Our poorest day is nothing in comparison to many people around the world. What about those people who have absolutely none of the things mentioned above? What if their children are naked and starving? What about them? My heart hurts when I think about how much I take for granted and how little I pray for those people and seek to help them. 

Lord, help us.
Help us to get out of these ruts of self-pity discontentment. 
Help us to get out of our lazy comfort zones.
Help us to seek You first.
  
Amen.

Tuesday & Coffee. {recipe}

The title of this post was supposed to be 'Monday & Coffee', but alas, I have a baby and sometimes blogging just doesn't fit into my day.

Yes, Ruthie, I will happily rock you to sleep for the fifth time today. She is mama's girl :)

But back to coffee.

I really like coffee. Hot and cold.  And if anyone has known me for awhile knows that I use to have a slight obsession with getting my Starbucks and sitting for awhile (or Shades of Brown. LOVE that place. And Tulsa in general...) Sweet times in my life have involved a cup o' joe in my hand. Coffee is like a sweet, unopinionated friend :)

Back to ice coffee. I love it! But I am picky. It has to be sweet enough but not too sweet. And I KNOW when they put sugar-free syrup in my iced coffee... Baristas can't fool me!

BUT we are poor, poor seminary students. So spending $4.50 on a Caramel Frappe this summer has to cease!

So, although there are tons of different recipes out there, I hadn't found one that I liked because.. I'm picky. Plus they want you to make like 6 gallons of it and use cheesecloth..blah blah. I want to make one NOW!

So here's what you need...


-Coffemaker
-Coffee
-Half n Half (or milk)
-Sugar
-5-7 ice cubes
-Cool Whip (optional)
-Blender

{Side Note: Yes, I am trying to eat better, and I know, without a shadow of doubt, that white sugar is processed and Cool Whip has High Fructose-Corn Syrup. But like I said..slight addiction. So I would rather make my own, cheap unhealthiness than buy Starbucks expensive unhealthiness. Get off me, bro}

Here's whatcha do...

1. Make your coffee. Ya have to make it stronggg so if you are making 4 cups of coffee, where you normally put 2 scoops, put three scoops. Just add a scoop to your normal amount. Then Brew.
2. If you are making it for the morning, put the amount of sugar and half n half in it that you prefer and put in refrigerator. If you want it NOW, put it in the freezer with sugar and half n half.
3. Once it is cold, it's TIME! Take a blender and put in your ice cubes. This can vary on your preference. I put like 6.
4. Add in 1 cup of coffee (you may have extra!), a bit more half n half, and a dollop (or two) of Cool Whip. 
5. Blend.
6. Voila'! You can add whatever you think you need. Not thick enough? Add more ice. Not sweet enough? Add more Cool Whip or sugar. Too strong? Add more half n half. You get it.
7. And Enjoy! I am saving mine for a little pick-me-up this afternoon. I can't wait!

Let me know if ya try it! 

-T

Random.

Things on my mind...

1. I am pretty sure I have strep throat. Sam had it last week and now my throat is sore and I have a headache. All I want to do is snuggle and kiss my baby and now I have to keep my kisses to myself (for a few days).
2. I made our menu for the month and I am so excited to start making everything.
3. I made our menu for the month and I am so NOT excited to start making everything. I really want to get started, it is just hard to know where to begin. I am not making anything difficult, I just like to get some things pre-made or at least pre-put-together to make dinner time easier. I.WILL.PUT.THE.WHOLE.CHICKEN.IN.THE.CROCKPOT.SOOOOOONNNN.
4. Sam and I have been watching Scrubs. We are on season 7 out of 9. We don't know what we are going to do when we finish. HELP US?!
5. I need to make like 10 more headbands to put on my etsy shop and for baby gifts. 
6. Why is it that I can think of things to do and feel unmotivated, but then I picture myself doing those things with a cup of coffee in my hand, and I all of a sudden am ready to start NOW! Coffee makes things better.
7. I really need to be more consistent with my Romans Bible study. I have a wonderful commentary that helps, I just need to make more time.
8. This weekend my in-laws came to visit and it was so good to see them and have them spend time with Ruthie. The house was clean during their visit (for the most part) and now it is toowww up! I just keep thinking that I would rather spend time with Sam while he is home than mop the floors. 
9. I have got to stop drinking DR.PEPPER (as I sip on one now..). We went and bought nutritious food and then I come home and sip on high fructose corn syrup. God, help me!
10. We have lots of bigger decisions coming in our family. I love it, but it can be hard. When did we become adults??

-T

Decisions.

With becoming a wife and a mother (heck, with becoming a woman!) comes lots of "opportunities" to make decisions.

I am the worst at decision making. I second guess myself constantly. And I, of course, have to check and see what everyone and their dog has to say about a subject on the know-it-all... GOOGLE.

Since welcoming Ruth into our family, more decisions have come. 

Do I use a pacifier?

How often should I swaddle?

When is the right time to start using our cloth diapers?

How often should I nurse?

Do I already let her sleep the 6 hours at night that she will?

When do we go back to church?

Do I take her to the nursery?

Then there are future questions..

When do start food?

What food to start?

Do we homeschool?

How do we homeschool?

How do I talk to her about sex?

I. DRIVE. MYSELF. CRAZY.

I also do this with managing my home. I am trying to get better at being frugal and saving money on groceries by making things from scratch, but even this brings about many decisions. 

Do I buy organic? Can we afford for me to buy organic? Should I follow a more holistic approach to food? What's the deal with coconut oil? Liver Cod Oil? What is the perfect wheat bread to use for sandwiches (that doesn't fall apart?!) How do I get my picky husband to branch out when it comes to food? Should we follow Dave Ramsey to the T?

Do you think I am crazy yet?! I do.

With all of these choices, I am learning that I have to just BREATHE.

One thing at a time. 

I often feel like I have to have every last thing figured out all at once. But I am learning (despite being told a thousand times) that everything is a process. And I cannot expect myself to know it all. Should I try to be a steward of my family, home, and everything else that God has bestowed upon me? Yes. But I can only do my best and, in it all, try my hardest to glorify the Lord.

Does anyone else find themselves overwhelmed with decisions like this?

And most importantly, does anyone have any answers to my questions? :)

-T

P.S. My husband cracked up at all of the questions and said that this is only about an eighth of my brain! He knows me well :)

The Making of A Mother.

The Lord has been so good to me these past few weeks. I really cannot describe it. I know He is always near, but there are times when you just FEEL His presence unmistakably. And these have been times like that.

Motherhood has not met my expectations.

It has exceeded them.

But not with what I expected.

I have been more mentally challenged than I have been in my entire life this past month.

Whether it was waiting for her to be born, going through 35 hours of labor, or late night feedings trying to figure out my baby's cries.

AND life is so good.

With all the challenges that have come, God has graciously met me step-by-step, and I know that I have been in contact with my Maker. Because there is absolutely NO WAY I can do this on my own.

Sanctification at its finest.

What a beautiful word to sing about, speak about theologically, and even pray for,

but during seasons of felt sanctification, it can feel like your head is just above the water, and that you have no idea how you aren't drowning. And this is His grace. He holds us. He doesn't let go. He has ample strength for the long haul when we don't.

"For just as you presented your members as slaves to impurity and to lawlessness, so now present your members as slaves to righteousness leading to sanctification." Romans 6:19

Paul is writing to the Romans telling them that they must either be in service to sin or to God. Because they had believed in Christ, He directs them in that they must CONTINUALLY put off that slavery to sin and become salves to God in obedience. 

Even when it's tough.

Even when you don't want to obey.

Even when you don't think you can.

Look to HIM.

Although there are many things I have learned in the past month, the biggest one has been that any illusion that I had dreamed that motherhood would be like was wayyyy off. 

Because it wasn't true.

 It wasn't raw. 

It wasn't REAL.

I can honestly say with a clear conscience...

The real thing is way better.

Motherhood is the BEST.

Forever Praise.

This CD is just beautiful! You should all buy it. This is my personal fav song that I can't get off repeat. Enjoy!