Hello, how are you?

Hello my friends, how are you. It’s been a minute. A couple of years to be exact. There is much to say, much to share, and much to write on. But before we roll into the deep (ok so I really hope people are catching the Adele references here) lets do a quick recap and update.

Mom of three here, married for 14 years, pastor wife and doing ministry for 10 years, business owner of a family company, and literally trying to slow down time with every ounce and strength I have but this fast pace life is for the birds. So with that, sitting in my chair and taking the time to express what’s on my mind and heart is one avenue I am trying to practice the art of slow living. If that is even a thing. So come along folks, if you are willing, and lets see where this journey will lead together.

Birthday Getaway!

Last weekend, Jonas and I enjoyed a quick birthday getaway to St. Louis.  We have some dear friends that moved there a couple of years ago and opened their home to us for the weekend.  I don’t know about you, but a short weekend trip can either be stressful and tiresome or relaxing and fulfilling.  It was definitely the later.  Jonas got to choose where we went for food and activities and let me just say, my husband has great taste!  Let me highlight the areas we went to.

Strange Donuts

Now with me being preggers and all I was quite reluctant/giddy about going to this.  I have been craving a blueberry cake donut for weeks now and I thought this was my chance.  As we pulled up to the store, I ran inside with excitement.  I searched and searched for that one perfect warm donut and natta!  These donuts where much more “sophisticated” than my blueberry cake donut. With a small melt down rolling on inside of me, I choose a french toast donut and slowly dragged my feet outside.  Now, I must say that I was able hid all of this from my husband because he still doesn’t know the disappointment I felt over a small donut, but Jonas was in heaven.  He enjoyed it so I sucked it up and smiled on.  If anyone ever goes to St. Louis and wants to try some crazy tasting donuts, try Strange Donuts.  But learn from me don’t expect your simple donuts, your hopes will be left at the door.

 

St. Louis Basilica

Our second stop was the Basilica.  Small background: I was raised Catholic until College.  I then began going to protestant churches in which I met my husband.  Jonas was raised Southern Baptist and was not fond of the Catholic Church in the beginning.  However after much time in seminary and talking and learning about the Catholic Church, we both have come to have a great respect and honor for the rich history of the catholic church.  Jonas is a history buff and combine that with anything church history, he is in his element.  This basilica has the most beautiful mosaics that I have ever seen.  The ceiling of this church is completely covered with them.  It was absolutely breath taking.  The ceiling looked like it was glittering with gold.    It was wonderful.   Jonas and I could of sat in there for hours.  We treasure places like these.   If you ever get a chance to go, please do.  You will never forget it.

 

St. Louis Art Museum

First of all, this museum is free!  Second, they have 3 floors of art, from the 1300’s to now.  It amazing.  My favorite piece is below.  Water Lilies by Monet.  This piece took him 25 years to complete and it’s huge!  I sat and stared (yes just like the movies) at this piece of art for a long time.  It was beautiful.  Unfortunately I was not able to go through the entire museum but we will definitely go back!  Jonas and I love art.  He studied art for a couple of years in college and I took a few classes for leisure.  When you learn about art in high school or college, some may tend to zone out or not think about the time and effort that is put into this magnificent pieces. I most definitely did that.  I heard about DaVinci, Picasso, and Monet in my schooling years, but never thought about seeing them in person.  I am so glad I had the opportunity to last weekend.  Monet was definitely my favorite.

 

 

Salt and Smoke Restaurant

YUM, YUM, YUM! Best BBQ ever!  I beg you please, go to this place.  You will not regret it!! This place has such a fun atmosphere, great service, and awesome food.  I had the house salad, BBQ Sweet Potato Chips, Jonas’s BBQ, Corn Chowder, and Mac and Cheese.  It was all wonderful.  Our friends, who live in St. Louis, said it was the best in town by far!  So please again tell your friends, try it out!

 

 

The birthday weekend was a success.  To top it all off, I made my homemade carrot cake that I make for him every year only for his birthday.  It’s delicious if I do say myself.  Happy Birthday my dear!  Until next year…..

 

Have a delightful weekend!

An Unexpected Joy

I had seen it in movies and heard about it from friends and family. You listen intently and try to store it in your brain for later. For me, I didn’t know how to respond to it at first. Nothing of what I heard came to mind. All I thought in that moment was, “SERIOUSLY?!?” 🙂 Jonas was gone at work and I was home alone. I sat there and stared knowing from that moment on, our lives will be forever changed. Yes, you got it, we are expecting. An unexpected joy.

We knew for about 6 weeks before we told everybody. 6 weeks and keeping it hush, hush was tough but needed. We were able to process and pull it together alittle bit. We needed that space to just be our little family. Now, as I sit here 3 weeks later, questions, comments, concerns, ideas, poking, looking, and the small squeaks of joy are all around me. Don’t get me wrong, its good to listen and learn from those around me who have been in the world of motherhood. I need to start carrying around a notebook and pen everywhere I go. But to be honest, its overwhelming at times. I am so thankful God has given me 9 months (now 6 months) to prepare. PRAISE JESUS!!

So our journey begins.   I look at the next 6 months with so many emotions, really.  Excitement, fear, joy, worry, many more.  But I embrace the journey and everything that comes with it.

Blessings to you today.

To 5 Years!

Today is my 5th anniversary to my Kentucky boy, Jonas.  Our story is an interesting one, full of ups and downs and laughter and tears.  I can’t believe it has already been 5 years.  Here’s to my dear for another year.

“We are all a little weird and life’s a little weird, and when you find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutual weirdness and call it love.”  Dr. Suess

 4 Year Anniversary- Every year we celebrate our anniversary by going to a Bluegrass Festival in Owensboro, KY.  Here we are last year.

We moved to Indiana in the summer of 2013.  We lived in my grandma’s home for awhile and then we bought our very first house!!

After 4 years of blood, sweet, and tears, You finally got your diploma…you graduated!!!

If anyone knows my husband, he really, really really, loves oreos.  So we celebrated his birthday in style!

Jonas has always wanted a dog.  I was always hesitant on this, but we finally added an addition to our family, Miss Penny.  She is such a blessing to us!

Our dear friends came to visit and surprised him for his birthday!

Our favorite season is Fall and thankfully we enjoyed a beautiful fall in our new home!

One thing we love to do is travel.  We got to travel to Ohio for a dear friend of mine’s wedding!!

We experienced our first snow/winter in Vincennes.

We were unsure how Penny would do in the car, but she did great! This is us taking our first family trip!

I am a huge Christmas fan.  I even gave a speech in college on Christmas 🙂 Our first Christmas in Indiana!

Our niece Maeley Kay.  She absolutely loves Jonas!  They are best friends.

We got into our first wreck together…..

We made gingerbread houses!

I had the grand idea to paint my cabinets in my kitchen. It took alot of convincing!!

Probably wasn’t the best idea 🙂

Then I had another awesome idea to renovate the entire kitchen!!

 In the middle of it, we found the ants……

But after 2 months of dust and chaos, we came to the other side of it. We survived the renovation!

We love experiencing new places and see old friends.  We were able to join a few of them in Georgia for a retreat. It was beautiful.

But this wasn’t.  We came back to this….we almost killed each other on the way home!

 We added some new landscaping to our home!

We love working on new projects and use our creative juices.  Here is one of them!!

Happy Anniversary babe, what a year it has been.  And I know that this one will be even better 🙂 You are my best friend, and I love you dearly.  Thanks for walking this journey with me.

Much love. Forever Yours.