Honesty is a Rigid Policy

A few days before Valentine's Day, Casey and I locked our eyes on yet another positive pregnancy test. With the last miscarriage still so close to our minds and hearts, we celebrated with guarded optimism, and decided not to share our happy news until we had seen the doctor and heard a healthy heartbeat. That appointment was scheduled for today, but unfortunately over the weekend I had another miscarriage. Somewhere in the five minutes that I was pregnant, excitement barged in before its cue, and I found myself a little more heartbroken than I was going to allow myself to get. So much for "guarded optimism."

I've been dying to blog about anything but this, not that I was keeping it a secret or anything, I just didn't want to. But as I attempted to write about other things, it just felt dishonest and if I want my blog to be anything I want it to be honest and authentic. So, while honesty is my policy, I'll tell you that I am doing okay. I am still a little sad sometimes. I've been really tired and quite irritable, but each day is better and better.

Thanks for reading and letting me share. Hopefully, tomorrow I'll find my mind a little clearer and I'll be able to write about, well, anything.

How Long Does It Take to Hang a Mirror?

Um...for the Cease's, 10 months and 2 minutes. In this post, I mentioned a certain antique mirror that I purchased at my very first Round Top trip, almost a year ago. I also mentioned how it was just propped up against my dresser waiting for me to either get tired of seeing it there, or for that task to get drawn from the Little Jar of Diligence. Well today, after Braelyn fell and knocked it over for the too many-th time, I just did it! Thankfully, it turned out to be an easier job than I thought. :)

I really like how it looks. Why did I wait so long to put it up? UGH!
Up close.

And speaking of my little jar...I've been pretty good about sticking to the rules and getting all my jobs done. It has proved to be quite a handy homemaking tool.

Transform Got a Face Lift

Transform's new website is up and running. I think it looks awesome! For any new friends out there, my husband Casey runs a non-profit ministry called Transform Ministries. Casey travels around the country speaking to students, college students, and adults about the transforming power of Jesus Christ. Through Transform, Casey and I are blessed to partner with a number of other amazing pastors, worship leaders and missionaries. To find out more, please visit:

www.transformministries.com

And to our old friends, go check it out if you haven't already!

Proud Sister

I mentioned a few posts ago that I was supposed to go see my brother play baseball with my family this weekend. With bunco, Casey staying overnight at St. Paul's and then going out of town, Braelyn and me being sick, and forecasts of bad weather, I just decided this wasn't the best weekend to go. I could just shoot myself in the foot for being so darn practical! I should have been at those games...snot, sweaters, umbrellas and all!!!!

Tyler is a Junior at the University of the Incarnate Word in San Antonio. He's always been a talented ball player, but he's quite exceptional in the field. This particular weekend, not only did he do well at shortstop, but his bat was rockin' as well. Friday night he got a homerun, and in the second Saturday game, my baby brother, "drove home the tying and winning runs with a left field double!" I missed it! GRRRRRR!!!

I am super proud of you Tyler! I'm coming to see you play in Austin next month. There's no disease or dilemma that can stop me! I love you!

Steph's Last Bunco

Last night, I said my goodbyes to bunco. My beautiful friend, Erin hosted this delightful party and it couldn't have fallen on a better day for her, as she loves Valentine's Day. She is an expert party planner. The tables were gorgeous, dinner was delicious, the bunco gifts were perfect, and her chocolate mouse...DIVINE! It was such a fun night! I wish I had taken more pictures, but I hated to keep disrupting the party. Here's a few I did manage to get.

Julie, Christy and Morgan gettin' ready to throw down some dice!

Jenny, Julie, Diana and Cat...all looking cute as buttons!

Almost everyone was was feeling festive in their red or pink.
Only three of us weren't feeling the love.

At the end of the night I had 11 wins, but still had to roll off with two other gals...but guess what folks? I took home the prize for most wins! My first time in bunco history! A fitting farewell, I would say!

Happy Freakin' Valentine's Day!

A Post About Nothing

I'm feeling the urge to blog, as I do not like to go too many days without posting something new. Unfortunately, I don't really have anything to blog about. Thus, a post about nothing....just the this and that of my week. I think a list of nothingness will suffice.

~ My whole family is sick.
~ The second placemat I made came out worse that the first one. This is annoying! The shape is funny, the fabric isn't laying right and this utensil pocket is also crooked.
~ Tuesday is Casey's official day off (since he's speaking every weekend for forever!), and so yesterday was family day. Lazy in the morning and then a trip to College station in the afternoon. Very fun. I love Tuesdays!
~ Tomorrow Casey is camping out most of the day and through the night at St. Paul's Day School so that Braelyn can go to school there in the fall. That seems crazy, doesn't it? I am going to go visit him and bring him a care package of treats. Pray that we get in! (Oh, and Casey is sick and after staying there all night he has to go to the airport, fly to Abilene and do a D'Now! He's amazing!)
~ Transform's new website is going to be up this week! Not sure what day yet, but soon. Keep your eye out for it at transformministries.com.
~ I am going to my last Bunco party tomorrow. :( This is very sad. For two years I've played in this bunco group, but I have to give it up as it has started conflicting with our Thursday night community group. I love the girls in this group and I love the game...although, I hardly ever win. Hopefully, I will sub every once in a while, and to make up for the girls' night void, a group of us are going to start a little, once a month "sewing circle." So, not all Sugar Land girl time is lost! :)
~ Speaking of LOST...I think this season is pretty good!
~ I was supposed to go see my brother play baseball in San Antonio this weekend with my family, but now I'm not. Just couldn't seem to fit all the pieces together. Bummer!
~ I think I want to bake something soon. Don't know what yet.
~ Casey and I do not buy each other Valentine's Day gifts, or cards...nothing. Maybe a hug and a kiss.
~ Alright, I think this is all the nothin' I got. Hopefully, I'll post about something soon. :)
~ Have a Happy Valentine's Day tomorrow.

All By Myself!

While Casey was away this weekend I decided that I would use my quiet evenings to get some practice time on my sewing machine. Tuesday, I went to College Station to get some sewing essentials and practice fabric, and while Casey and I watched Super Tuesday, I practiced setting up my machine. I also bought some books online that would give me practical instructions and cute ideas. Finally, Saturday evening arrived. I put Braelyn to bed, got out all my supplies and went to work. My project: Placemats with a utensil pocket. I used the basic idea and pattern from this adorable and handy, little book Simple Sewing. (Look familiar, anyone?:)

I had hoped to knock out a set of two placemats, but I only managed to complete one. I also made a few mistakes. One edge of the place mat is not quite straight and my pocket somehow ended up a little crooked. Oh well, I'm still proud of it and tickled to pieces that I did it all by myself! :)


The utensil pocket in the book was for chopsticks, but since we never use chopsticks, I made it a little larger for silverware. I also put the pocket fabric on the back to make the place mat a little heavier. The plan is to do another one like this and then two more reversing the fabrics. We'll see...the possibilities are endless! :)

What God Can Do with a Crock Pot and a Casserole!

I've been meaning to write a little update about Christ Church for quite some time, but after last Sunday, I can wait no longer! Each week I fall in love with our baby sprout of a church more and more. It's been over a year now since the first few of us began meeting, and not quite six months since we officially opened our doors. I confess, there have been things that have not met my foolish expectations. I knew it would take some time in the beginning for people to start coming to Christ Church, but somewhere around two months I decided that the "beginning" was over and wondered why more weren't added to our our numbers. I (and I think others) allowed seeds of discouragement to grow into the weeds of distraction and doubt. Justin (pastor) and Casey (elder and my husband) urged us to grab onto a little thing called REALITY and understand that good things take time. So, here we are now, more have been added to our numbers and we press on...meeting together, worshiping together, praying together, studying together, and...eating together.

Every Sunday night after church we continue to worship through sharing a meal and enjoying each others' company. A meal is also shared at our Thursday night small group. I consider it worship because over that hour we eat, laugh and connect; we become invested in each other and our church, community is built, and I believe God is pleased. When Justin first mentioned doing this I thought, "Wow, that just seems like a lot of work." It is a lot of work, but I have come to realize that it is well worth the effort. Something about sitting around a dinner table creates a sense of family, and like a family, we all contribute, we all cook, we all help set up, and we all clean up. It's hard to stay disconnected when you're asked to bring a casserole, you know?

Anyways, I love this tradition and marvel at what God's doing through it. Again, He has humbled me and amazed me.

Last Sunday's Feast. Way to go Peter on the pulled pork and ribs!

After dinner, everyone headed to our house to watch the Giants triumph over the Patriots! Braelyn was in bed, so everyone had to celebrate with spirit fingers.
Well done Eli, well done!

Super BOWEL Weekend

This past week and weekend has been largely influenced by my daughter's potty problems. I never imagined how much Braelyn's diaper would determine my days...and nights!

It started last Tuesday or so. She woke up about 1:30am (which wasn't that unusual since she had just been sick and was waking up a lot), but what was unusual was that she was soaking wet with tee tee! This never happens! So I changed her clothes, Casey changed her sheets...everyone back to bed.

The next day, she woke up in the middle of the night with diarrhea! Grrross! Luckily, it was fairly contained. In the days that followed, the diarrhea continued, the interrupted sleep continued, and on several occasions a new set of pjs was required. By the middle of the week, the rough nights were starting to get to me, but what can you do?

The weekend arrived. I had been looking forward to this weekend for a while, because we were going to Sugar Land and on Saturday I was getting together with some of my favorite friends to learn and practice sewing. We were all bringing our sewing machines, supplies and project ideas. It promised to be a much needed afternoon with the girls and a chance to plug away at my neglected pillow project. Well Friday night, Casey and I had a dinner party to go to. We had a very nice time, but it ran a little late, foiling my plans to run into Hobby Lobby for my missing sewing supplies. I thought, "OK, I'll just get up a little earlier, drop Braelyn off at my mom's and run into Hobby Lobby before the sewing party begins." Well, sure enough...1:00am...DIARRHEA...the uncontained variety! We get her cleaned up, but putting her back to bed didn't come quite so easily since we were away from home. We spent the next two hours all snuggled up in one bed, awake! Finally, Casey put her back in her crib and we all went back to sleep. Needless to say, the morning arrived uninvited and unwelcome and the three of us avoided the inevitable for as long as possible. I soon realize, however, that there was now no time for me to go to Hobby Lobby. So, I went to the sewing party unable to work on my project. I still had a great time chatting and seeing others get their first lesson in sewing, but I couldn't help feeling a little bummed.

To top off the weekend, I gave Braelyn a bath this morning (now back at home), and I'm sure you can guess what's coming. About 5 minutes into it, she stands up and we're singing to each other and laughing, having a great time. Suddenly, she gets very focused. No, she wouldn't do that, she's never done that. Her face starts to color. Oh my gosh, she's gonna do it! Oh, my gosh, she did it!!!!! Poo in the tub!!!! What do I do? This has never happened before. I fish out the...um...the poo with a cup (at least it was fairly solid!) and get her out of the tub. I wipe her tush and proceed to clean the tub. We had not accomplished our goal of actually bathing yet, so Braelyn stood naked, waiting to get back in. And of course, what happens next? She tee teed on the mat! Brilliant!

So, to sum it all up, I'm tired, I have poo poo pajamas to wash, I have unsewn pillows, and I have a dirty bath mat. But, at least the timing was useful for a clever title ;).

Alright, it's 12:00am...I'm pooped! G'night.