gearing up and getting ready...

 

I am almost eight and half months pregnant and I am definitely beginning to feel the weight of all of it (and I don't just mean the physical part of it, which of course, goes without saying)! I am feeling the need to clean up, clear out, minimize and nest for our new little one. Thankfully I have had support in doing this when my body is not feeling at it's optimum. Last week, my friend generously gave of her time to help me put a new shelf in Nettle's room and to tidy up what had become a pig's pen in the last few months.

The girl still has a lot of things (try as I may to consolidate!) but at least it is looking orderly and organized now. It makes a huge difference to be able to breathe when I enter her room and not feel overwhelmed by it all.

Her room is not the only room that needed addressing. This week I've been going through my own things in effort to make room for our boy. I've had to buckle down and really ask myself what I can give away or throw out. I have a tendency to hold on to all sorts of things 'just in case' whether it's smaller size clothes or crafting material. I'm trying to understand that if I truly need something, it will be provided for and sometimes it is okay to go out and get just what you need so you don't become a bit of a hoarder. In clearing out some drawers and boxes, I did manage to find a few peculiar items (well, not peculiar to me but maybe for others). I found a handful of little dried ginger roots (which I now call ginger bones), cut out paper bunnies instead of dust bunnies, a family of ghost rocks and other assorted stones and old drawings.

Another blessing I've had this week is some really cool hand me downs from another friend of mine. As I was sorting through the clothes and stuff, it really began to hit me that this is real. This little boy of mine, that loves to move about and aggressively remind me that he is in there will be arriving soon!

As I also prepare for him, I wanted to do the best with what we have. Most of you know that we are currently cohabiting with my parents. We have two rooms, ours (Rick and I) and the Nettle's. Like before, our room will now also host the baby (along with already being our bedroom, family room, craft and art space and office). I know it's not the 'ideal' place for a nursery but I still want to make his 'space' nice and intentionally his. I finally finished my first flag bunting for him which I am particularly fond of because it has some sentimental value to it. The denim and white floral flags are actually cut out of an old pair of jeans and a top that was Nettle's when she was younger. It's a small way of including her into what will be his and I truly like that idea. I also made his first initial with buttons and cloth leaves (also from an old top of Nettle's) on an embroidery hoop to add to his 'wall'.

I also did promise Nettles I would make her a flag bunting and an initial hoop for her room as well. I have the triangles all cut out and ready to go! Her flags also include her former white floral top as well as black floral print that once was an old skirt of mine. Again, passing along things that once were ours into something new.

There is still much to do but I am happy of the progress that is being made. The countdown has begun!

Small scenes from Christmas

The Christmas Story, as told by the children of St Paul's Church, Auckland, New Zealand

What I'm thinking this Christmas season...

 Here we are, mid-December and for us, on the eve of a family trip heading up to Northern California, to a place called Angels Camp for almost a week.  I find more and more that December is a special month for me, maybe more now because I have my own family and I can appreciate more things than I have before. I do love Autumn but the onset of Winter's chill is beginning to do just as much for me as Autumn does. In fact, I started this blog three years ago, in November 2008 with my first eight entries and yet the very next month of December I posted a whopping thirty seven entries! Cider and Faun was definitely birthed from colder months, of storybook magic and coziness.

 November and December and all the days leading up to have been magnificent in so many ways. We been attending Mars Hill OC now since the spring and have been incredibly blessed by it's teachings and people. We are experiencing community and even more, personal renewal and awakening. Our thoughts have grown and have been more centered on His gospel and His kingdom. It has been amazing experiencing the possibility of life more abundantly with purpose and ambition all for His glory.

 We have been through some pretty remarkable situations this year, including finding out that we are expecting our second child and Rick being diagnosed with Melanoma, an aggressive cancer in his finger. I didn't share much during these days of feeling both blessed and sadness due to the overwhelming emotions they brought (along with overwhelming sickness the pregnancy brought to the table in those early months). Now, I feel as if all that almost didn't happen since I am in my seventh month and just dealing with general pregnancy tiredness and roly-poly-ness and Rick being rid of a cancer that could have been deadly (his right middle finger was halfway amputated to remove the cancer. By God's grace alone, the cancer did not spread any where but stayed stationary in that one spot. He didn't even need any additional treatment after the surgery).

 I feel that things are heading upward and onward and though I know the valleys will come again, I am confident in my God's goodness and grace to always carry us through. I am thankful for what has been revealed to us and what continues to be revealed. I am especially thankful, during this time of Christmas, for our little family to be having an Advent devotional, Rediscovering the Christmas Season. It has been such a blessing to learn things all over again, even to see things anew and really put the focus back on what this entire season is really about. I love that we are learning to see how Jesus really is at the center of all things, how it is all about Him. What better time to rediscover that than the Christmas season, amidst all of the consumerism?! I am thankful that He is fixing, healing, strengthening and preparing our hearts for the rest of our lives and that we have the awesome opportunity to bring our children into such a wonderful way of living!

 Since so much has transpired, it has been a bit more difficult getting the time to do some activities and crafts. Being inspired by the Advent Devotional and our decorations at church, I've really wanted to do some crafts/decorations for us as well, being intentional about the true spirit of the season. I haven't done much but a small yarn wreath but though we are halfway done with December, I still want to put up something for Advent and the four weeks until Christmas (  some great ideas I've gathered onto Pinterest).

 He is doing things anew, He is opening hearts and minds and I am grateful for it all. I look forward to gathering the strength He gives especially as we anticipate the arrival of our new little one in the late winter/early spring. I am also excited for the Doctrine for Kids series my daughter will begin learning at church  this January. It's so neat to see what God is doing and He just doesn't move and teach adults but He loves all the little children too and desires for them to know Him as well.

 I feel like I just pretty much crammed the bullet points all into one post but it's been awhile and I wanted to share what has been going on. It's been a beautiful thing, establishing new relationships and strengthen old ones, having community and living life together. Building our marriage and seeing in what ways to share the Gospel with our daughter even when that means acknowledging our own sinfulness (another great devotional helping out with that is Parenting by Design Daily).  I've been blessed in both sickness and health and I know there is so much more to come. I am thankful for His faithfulness not just to me, but to my family and my extended family in His kingdom.

I'm off now to pack and get ready for heading out in the wee hours of the morning tomorrow so until next time (if I don't come back 'here' before!) have a very Merry Christmas and be blessed!!!!

peanut butter flourless cookies

 Last night, at Natalie's suggestion, I tried a new recipe out. Peanut Butter cookies are a favorite here but I was venturing in new territory by not baking them with flour. These are the second cookies I have made without using flour and I must say, I am beginning to like the trend! They are still yummy delicious, soft and chewy as well. Go bake some today!

Peanut Butter Cookies from Real Simple

Ingredients

• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt

Directions

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Line 2 baking sheets with parchment. In a large bowl, mix together the peanut butter, sugars, eggs, baking soda, and salt until smooth.
2. Shape the dough into balls (about 1 heaping tablespoon each) and place 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheets. Using the tines of a fork, flatten each ball, creating a crisscross pattern.
3. Bake, rotating the baking sheets halfway through, until puffed and golden, 10 to 12 minutes (the cookies will deflate as they cool). Let cool slightly on the baking sheets, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

By Dawn Perry,  December 2011

(I always like to have some variation, so of course, I added Ghirardelli bittersweet chocolate chips to about half of them!)