A Look Back

I can't believe it, I made good on my resolutions from last year! Unbelievable. Maybe I should set the bar low every year. hah.

In looking back on old posts I'm reminded of the year we've had. It's often easy for me to forget all that has happened. Mostly, our announcement at the end of last year that we were moving home and the domino effect that followed. It was our most chaotic year to date but one filled with growth and love.

Parenting continued to be a learning curve for me, but the highs were so high, E asking Jesus to come into her heart, and the lows so traumatic. I think also me realizing who Emerson is, and coming alongside her heart and her desires ( i.e. letting mine go), and embracing her has made our relationship easier and my love easier as well.

Another parenting learning curve was school -  Josh researching schools in LA, applying, and E's transition to a "real" school. And me finding who I am in all that and being ok with it.

Losing people we love.

My health always demands something. At the beginning of the year it was the frozen shoulder surgery and rehab and towards the end of the year announcing we were having another baby.

Selling our house, moving, and the most unexpected blessing of our time in Valencia. Spending the summer in the Green House. Living with my parents.

Things I don't talk about, Josh and I both began serving at church and I already see the personal fruits of that labor, for Josh personally and for our family. And for me, my daily walk with God has been encouraged and guided by an Instagram community I've stumbled on of Godly women and mothers.

Lastly, and certainly all consuming, building a house.

Amidst all the change, Jesus has been our constant. What grace! What a love! As in every new year, may you grow closer to Jesus and discover His deep love for you.

Friends, thank you for following along with me on this journey. You, my sounding boards, my diary, my community. You are a gift to me.

See you in the new year.

So Goes Life

Tomorrow is the start of a new week and here's where I'm at.

I had to redo facial recognition on my iPhone because my face got too big to be recognized. I am not above that putting me into some kind of funk.  Also not helping, I gave birth to Landon at my current weight. Three. more. months.

We are supposably weeks away from home, sweet, home but the money has all but run out. Any free labor + materials out there?

This little girl is constantly moving.

There are a lot of social media types posting gift guides. Jenny Komenda on Insta nailed it. So good! By far, the best one; down to earth, mostly affordable, and reasonable.

I was told to go on bed rest for a few days but once I laid down I crashed and couldn't move till Saturday. I made it to church today and am hoping I'm on the up and up. Glad for the fresh start to a new week.

Bed rest put me behind in all the Christmas things. Cards hopefully making it out before Christmas, presents in the same boat. But you know what? I've settled myself with making do with an apology and "coming soon". It is what it is.

Thankful for those who made the effort to change our address and still send us their Christmas card. Each one is like a little gift to my soul.

And one last thanks to our family - who stepped in and took care of our kids this past week while I was down for the count. Angels sent from heaven.

We celebrated Christmas early at my parents today. It was fun and joyous and man, my mom is so good at all the celebrating things.

The hard mixed with the easy. So goes life.

Miyabe Family Christmas

Since we were unable to host our annual Miyabe Family Christmas party this year, my cousin's family stepped in and took over. It was so fun! Their house is p.e.r.f.e.c.t. for a bunch of kids to run around unsupervised and it's filled with things they love to do. 

I actually got to sit and talk with the gals this get together! It was relaxed and memorable (sorry for the terrible photos).

My cousin Davy, kindly playing with my daughter in a pink tent. 

Kid table #1 with the youngest two. Next year, two little girls will take that title from them.

Annual White Elephant

And probably the most entertaining, my cousin's large selection of nerf guns.

Let's play who is enjoying this more. Josh?

Landon?

Or maybe my Auntie Ruth?

Thankful for family. And Paige. lol

Pool House Update

The Ikea cabinets and the Semihandmade fronts were installed this past weekend. It would be fair to say that planning/executing this kitchen has aged Josh a few. For someone who likes perfection, he really is a custom cabinet kind of guy but we are working off an Ikea kitchen kind of budget. 

Anyway, after many trips to IKEA and a last minute one the night before installation, we had what we needed for the install. We hired the company that IKEA contracts out with to install the kitchen since we are on a tight time schedule. Also, looking back, sure we could have done it, but it would not have been done like these guys. Ernesto was so fast (two days), and so precise. They did great work. They were also for us - after the first day we decided to move the fridge/pantry unit to the right four inches they did it no problem. They used less material than we needed because they new how to cut and handle the filler and the spacing for the appliances was measured dead on. Josh and I have been very happy with these guys and our tile guy. 

A lot of agonizing decisions went into this space. Do we extend the hood range to the top of the ceiling? Which wall do I put the open shelving? How much open shelving do I use? How much space goes between the window and the cabinets? How far to the edge do the cabinets go? Island/no island? counter depth fridge? regular fridge? height of cabinets since our ceilings are so high? height of scones? size of range? what to do with the corner upper? on and on..

The range will go below the white hood, the dish washer to the right of the sink, the counter depth fridge in the tall wall unit, and the built in microwave next the fridge (in part of that white space).

The island has been cut for now. We may or may add it later depending on if we need it, want it, can afford it.

We are both happy and relieved with the final product. In the end, the biggest concern was how it felt in the overall space. When we stepped inside, it didn't feel like the kitchen was too big for the room. *sigh of relief

Another thing about IKEA cabinets - they have a lot of different storage options. Like this drawer within a drawer. I'm looking forward to laying my spices flat and not spending 5 minutes looking for one of them in an upper. Geeking out!

They also have a great warranty so if something breaks (which they feel sturdy) we just take it back and get a new one. Presto!

If you read the previous post regarding color, we ended up going with the Sherwin Williams Light French Grey cut at 10% for the bottom cabinets. The uppers will be the same color as the walls, Benjamin Moore Super White. It's risky for me to add color since I'm so pro white so here's hoping I like the end product.

Paint, countertops, backsplash, and appliances coming soon.

Need For Jesus

I haven't been feeling well lately so I went in to see my ob this morning. Nothing too terrible (no alarms) but he has put me on bed rest for a few days. I'm hopeful this is a simple days solution and nothing more.

But I also know I've got a hundred presents to find, buy, wrap, and distribute. And at this new pace of doing nothing I won't be able to get it all done. Even if I am back on my feet soon the reality is I need to slow down so a little symptom doesn't turn into a bigger problem for this baby girl.

I don't want to let people down.
I don't want to be given a gift where I am unable to give a gift in return.
I don't want to be a burden to those around me.
I don't want to miss anything.

While I was mulling all this on the way home from the doctors appointment, I read this.

This season was never meant for us to celebrate all that we've got, but instead was designed for us to celebrate our NEED for Jesus and His grace in coming. - Jess Connolly

Boy, do I ever feel the need for Jesus right now.

We just need to hear it like a whisper in the midst of all the noise:
What was intended to tear you apart - God intends to set you apart. 
What has torn you - God makes a thin place to see your glory.
The places where you're torn to pieces can be thin places where you touch the 'peace of God.'
- Ann Voskamp

Pool House

Now that we are in the finishes part of the house I'll have more updates. This week they are installing the kitchen and painting another interior coat. The tile work in the bathrooms has finished too. Yahoo!

I'm liking this view from the hallway into Landons room.

If you follow me for house updates on Instagram, you know we have been picking paint for the interior and exterior. A somewhat mind boggling task. This week we need to pick the color for the kitchen cabinets. I'm pretty set on a two toned kitchen, white upper cabinets, and light grey bottom cabinets. I don't know if this is true but because the space is small I don't want the uppers to appear bulky and am hoping they more blend in with the walls. And since the house is so so white, I thought a little color would be nice.

The problem we face is picking the right grey. Which there are thousands it seems. I should really title all this, "The House That Instagram Built" but I think Diane Keaton might take issue with that. :p Here are our samples pulled directly from pictures I've seen on Insta.


This is the main photo inspiration for the grey. And it's actually the bottom left swatch in the picture above. Much darker in person don't you think? Thank you Instagram and all your overexposed photos.

We saved money on the kitchen (and I use that word lightly because we still had to pay for it) by going with an Ikea kitchen and using Semihandmade fronts. I'm hopeful it doesn't overwhelm the living/kitchen area and still leaves the space feeling open.

Disneyland

Well, our annual family trip to Disneyland didn't quite go as planned this year. Emerson got sick on the first day so she stayed with me in the hotel for the majority of the time. All her grand plans to ride Grizzly Bear Run and Guardians of the Galaxy had to be put on hold till another time. But the times we did venture out into the parks was still special, especially because their great grandma was able to join us for the trip. Plus, I don't think Landon minded being the center of attention. :p

Emerson explaining in detail what she would like for Christmas. Landon went afterwards and asked for a real black puppy. *head smack

Proud of her visit to the nurses station for Tylenol. haha

The only ride we went on as a family. :)

Luke made a series of short videos that I'll be posting eventually, highlighting some of the most special moments. But mostly, we are thankful for another year of memories with our favorite people from this magical place.