This next week we will start moving...again...but I am so excited!! There is really no rush to move, so I am going to take my time and do things right. One room at a time...that's my motto!
Actually, its more like "one day at a time".

I am starting with the girls' rooms. That's right. You read rooms. Plural. As in they will each have their very own room!!! I debated on making them continue to share, and I might in the future. But for now they will each have their own space. I have a little of Brooklyn's purple paint left, so I think I will paint one of her walls with that, the rest white. I am going to paint Charlie's room a light apricot color. I don't know why the idea struck me, but I can't get the color out of my head and I thought it would be a great color for her little nursery. When I told my mom I wanted that color for her, she said it looked like her. I know she is only three months old, but its true! My posts, at least for a while, will be about home projects. This is for your sake, and mine. :o) So be ready for lots of b&a pictures, a few complaints (I've got some serious wall paper removal ahead of me) but mostly some great changes- for the better.

Beverly and Nita: Thank you so much for your comments. I can't tell you what they mean to me. It is so nice to know that people care...and they take time to read a blog about one girl's life. I feel really blessed. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Oh, one more thing. We have a new baby. He is so stinkin cute. He was unplanned, but welcomed. We just can't get enough of him! I will introduce you next time!

love,
kali

Mathew 7:24 "Everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. 25 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. But it did not collapse; it had been set solidly on rock. 26 And everyone who listens to these words of mine but does not act on them will be like a fool who built his house on sand. 27 The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and buffeted the house. And it collapsed and was completely ruined."

Thanks, Emily.

Sometimes, just when you think everything is coming together, it all falls apart.

Give me a little time. I'll be back.

love,
Kali

Things I am saving for:

I think I will paint the bed...not sure what color. I'm gonna need a basket for the bike. A new slipcovered couch for my new home!!! :o)

Wisdom Extracted :o)

So I had my wisdom teeth pulled this morning. And I must admit, it wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. I walked in the room, sat down, they hooked monitors up to me with those oxygen tubes up my nose. My doctor started an I.V. and said I would start to get light headed. I did. And then I was off to subconscious world! I woke up with less teeth, and a numb tongue/face, and gauze stuffed in my cheeks. Austin brought me home, went and got my prescriptions, brought me some "soup at hand" and took care of the girls all day. I wish it didn't take oral surgery, but its kinda nice being waited on while I lay on the couch...laptop nearby...remote in hand...under a quilt. By the evening I was changing Charlotte's poopy diaper, and taking dishes to the sink...but it was nice while it lasted. And honestly, I wish I could've milked this throughout the evening, but I am really feeling pretty dang good.

Let me tell you what God is doing in my life.

He has been blessing me in ways I could have never imagined. I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to celebrate my wedding with my family and friends. I feel blessed to have two healthy, lovely daughters. I feel blessed to have Austin. I feel blessed to be able to stay at home. I feel His love all around me. And on top of all the incredible things in my life, I am blessed, yet again, in a grand way. Austin and I are going to have the opportunity to move into a much bigger home for a price that we can afford...even less expensive then the little cottage we are currently living in. Our new home sits on one acre with several trees. (Including a pear tree!) It has five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, a formal dining area, a large deck in back, and a porch swing in front!!! It is pretty much a blank slate, decoratively speaking. There is a large finished family area downstairs, and a cute little shed in back with ivy growing on one side. I am going to turn it into a playhouse for the girls!!! I am so excited! And to think, just months ago I was losing my job, living in my grandma's basement, sleeping on a couch, desperate and lost. I couldn't see how I would possibly be able to provide the life I wanted for my girls. And God heard my cries. And He opened doors. He is faithful. And I am going to use my home to bless others. Who knows, maybe I will create a photography studio in one of the rooms and shoot from my home... :o) There will be many dinners for my mom and friends. Poker nights al fresco with good food and kiddos running through the yard. Slumber parties with giggly little girls, fingernail polish, chocolate chip cookies and rootbeer floats to make. (gotta let those moms have some time to themselves, or maybe dates with their sweeties) I have so many ways I want to bless others. I am blessed to be a blessing.

Lately I have been praying for a ministry. I have been praying for a ministry all of my adult life. And a few years ago a very wise woman told me that Brooklyn was my ministry. At least for that time in my life, she was right. But I am praying for a ministry in addition to the two little ones I already have. It feels close.

I believe God just can't wait to pour His love out on us. I think He is just bubbling at the brim with blessings He just can't wait to give. Now I am going to give back. Of myself, of my means, of my home...

You remember what I said about being indecisive???

I have a new wedding dress. And Ladies, this one is...I can't even come up with a word!!!

I wish I could share pictures, but for now I will give you a hint:

MONIQUE LHUILLIER!!!!!!!!

It is unique and incredible and lovely and soft and not white and beautiful!!!!! And my sweet mom who is all of the above except she is white made it happen!!!

All silliness aside...I am so blessed.

My good friend Emily came over today. All the stores in the design district are staying open late the third Thursday of the month. So we spent the afternoon making great food for her store. I should have taken pictures, everything was so pretty! White sangria with white peaches, raspberries, and honey dew melon afloat...a yummy yet simple bean dip with sugar snap peas and grape tomatoes for dipping...dried apricots with goat cheese and basil...it was all beautiful! I love food. I love touching and tasting, preparing and colors, and most of all, I love blessing others with food. Maybe I should start a catering business...Or maybe a cafe...or bakery... :o)

There is a lady in my neighorhood who deals in antiques. She has a garage sale most every spring, and there is usually always a great deal to be had. I didn't have lots of time, but I stopped in this morning. I found a big box of old softballs for 50 cents each. I asked how much for the whole box, to which she replied $5! I am trying to come up with a way to incorporate softballs in our reception decorations, seeing as how we met playing ball. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

My mothers day gift from my honey:

I know, I am so behind the times!!! The best gift of the day was a letter he wrote. I think every mother deserves a letter, at least once a year.

Here I am!!!!

The girls are just a growin'. Like flowers. We took Charlotte on her first camping trip, and it was so much fun! Brooklyn has her first t-ball practice coming up, I am so excited to see how she likes it. Today we are going to buy her the dress. I have told her that it is her wedding day too. She wants a ring like mine. So I think I am going to have to buy her a little ring.

Sorry to be so short, but I will be back soon. I thought I would share one of the roses in my bouquet:

Its one of three white roses in my bouquet. I love white roses. I love all roses, really.

I didn't realize there were so many little details to a wedding...so many decisions. Its cruel and unusual punishment for an indecisive girl like me! I don't even like to pick where we go out to eat, and Austin doesn't mind picking...thats why we work so well. Now they want me to pick flowers and colors and foods and invites. Really though, once I started making decisions of what I want, I have discovered its really pretty fun.

Wedding planning is nuts. Its just plain nuts. Okay, its 80% nuts to 20% fun. I get why people elope.

I am very slowly marking things off the to do list. Yesterday my mom and I bought "the dress" from a sweet little bridal shop downtown. I knew I would probably need to buy one off the wrack, I couldn't wait 6 months for a dress to arrive. I picked out four. Tried them on, with only my moms assistance. Never left the dressing room to parade around. Took one look in the mirror with each dress on, and either dismissed or maybe'd. I picked the third dress. It was just a little too snug, but I am losing, and want to lose more. I should be good. The neckline needs a little modification (it just goes a little too low for my taste) but other than that it is perfect. It was the cheapest of the four, and an additional 25% off (it was the shop's one year anniversary!)...my kind of dress!!!

I am having a dilemma with bridesmaids attire. I really want them to wear something they would be comfortable in, in whatever color they like. I am not so much worried that their dresses match the table settings. I don't really get the matchy thing.

I really want to know what you all think. Seriously. Please post on your thoughts on bridesmaids' attire...

happy tuesday!!!

darling dishes

There is something about pretty dishes, every girl should have some. I can't help but wonder why they don't make dishes like they used to. Why don't we sip tea from sweet little cups and saucers? I am certain that my girls and I will have many sits at an outdoor table in the sun. We will drink tea and eat pie on lovely dishes, as though they were made just for us. We will laugh and admire our garden and I will just sit and listen to them. I will look on with admiration at the beautiful girls that I get to call my own. And for them, I will always get out the good dishes...

Here is some of the collection I have. No matter what my circumstance, I have always been able to afford pretty dishes. I found the pink wine glasses at goodwill for $1 a piece! I remember at the time $8 was a lot for me to spend. A few of the pieces were my great grandmother's, but the rest I found at goodwill and garage sales. I don't really host much, but I would like to. I am thinking I might plan a dinner...no boys allowed. Just the women and girlies I love. And the table will be set in hues of white, pink, and blue dishes. Dishes I loving looked for, and brought home, to their little place in my cupboard...much more fitting for such pretties, rather than being tossed on shelves, or jammed in boxes in someones garage.

Dishes. Who knew dishes could bring such joy?

little ladies

Its hard to get things done when the weather is so nice! Its even harder when you have the best park within walking distance...

Little miss Charlotte has blue eyes. I have green, her dad has brown. We aren't exactly sure where they came from. They are such a pretty blue. Of course, I think everything about her is just so pretty. Two pretty little ladies...

I am so blessed.

Austin proposed to me last July.

As I have stated before, I am commitment phobic. And I had decided that I would never get married. With the divorce rate at 64%+, it seemed like marriage had lost its meaning. I found it hard to trust myself, coming from a "multiple marriage" kind of home. But somewhere, deep inside, I held out for my dream of marriage. A God centered marriage, with a best friend, a good man who would love loyally and faithfully. One who would be an incredible father, a hard worker, an honest man who knew the value of a woman. Did such a thing exist?

I was completely caught of guard when he proposed. I didn't see it coming. Sure, we just found out we were expecting, but I specifically told him I didn't want that to change anything. Little did I know he had been talking to his parents about proposing to me for quite some time. He opened that little blue box, down on his knee, with that smile on his face, and asked me so eagerly as Brooklyn was giddy with excitement. And before I could reply, my heart said yes. Before my brain could send the signal to my vocal chords to give him an answer, my heart just said yes. I was shocked. What was happening to me? Was my heart trusting in ways my brain couldn't? Did my cynical stance on marriage give way for my own beautiful, fairytale moment? Or was that God? I thought back to the day following our very first date...I told my mom I thought I had met the man I was going to marry. It was me indulging in the dream.

I have to take a moment to talk about the ring. It is my perfect ring. Very vintage, lots of tiny diamonds, and the center diamond was in his mother's ring. It is flawless. Austin picked it out. There is something special about a man picking an engagement ring, one that he thinks suits you. He went into a local family owned jewelery store downtown, and looked over many settings before he picked the very one he thought was perfect for me. And it is perfect.

And recently, I have actually felt ready to be married. It has taken going through some serious struggles, finding out just what we are made of. It has taken hours of counseling, and sorting through the baggage, disposing of the crap we have both been carrying for far too long. It has taken serious prayer. It has taken very hard work at maintaining a commitment, when anyone else would throw in the towel.

I think it does exist...the kind of marriage I dream of. I think for as beautifully wonderful as it can and will be, it takes a proportionate amount of very hard work. Sometimes, when things get rough, its just a matter of waking up and vowing that on that day, you will not give up. So for what its worth, my experiences have taught me a few things. It is essential that your partner be your very best friend. It is essential that you build your relationship on a foundation that can't be broken, for me that was God. And counseling...lots of counseling...preferably before you tie the knot.