Happy Monday everyone! It’s gray, rainy, and cold here and I don’t have the energy to edit and upload the photos from the rest of our trip (soon!) so I thought I’d share a recent story that I love and treasure.

I keep meaning to share it here, so that I won’t ever forget it (this blog is my brain and I would forget everything if I didn’t type it here!) and I figured today would be a good time.

So I found out I was pregnant on Sadie’s 7th birthday. When I saw the word “incinta” on the stick a lot of thoughts went through my mind and not all of them were pretty. “OH MY GOODNESS, A SWEET BABY!” was countered with “You are too old.” “Who has FIVE kids?” and “Have you lost your MIND?” Yeah. The self-doubt reared it’s ugly head. Big time.

Moments after taking the test we had to run to base to pick up some antique Italian furniture that we had won in an auction the weekend before.

One of the pieces was a beautiful double hope chest. We hadn’t really looked at it or opened it, we just knew we had to have it for our family.

When we went to pick it up I was still pretty stunned. I think I was just walking around with big eyes and a smile plastered on my face.

My friend had us look it over and confirm that everything was okay and before she and Jimmy carried it to the car she opened it up to show us what was inside.

A handmade baby quilt. Made especially to go inside the chest.

I’m not even kidding.

I got goosebumps from head to toe and my eyes immediately filled with tears. Heart pounding, I looked at Jimmy and he had the biggest grin on his face. I felt the silent “We got this.” pass between us and my heart was calmed.

 

I call those moments nudges from God. That He is in charge, despite my best “I’m in charge!” moments with my lists and my neverending multitasking.

Reminders that He has bigger, better, scarier, and more beautiful plans for us than we EVER could have imagined for ourselves.

 

 

xoxo

S

 

I’m back from a trip to Normandy and I have to tell you it was honestly the best trip I’ve ever taken. Life-changing really. Now to figure out how to even begin to organize my thoughts so that I can tell you all about it!

Happy Monday-

xoxo

S

+ Look at these four. When did they get so big? I love this photo (from yesterday before church) for so many reasons. The dresses, the shoes and tights, Lucy’s crown…I just love having girls.

 

+ Good news. I’ve officially come out of the first trimester fog. At almost 15 weeks I now have a desire to blog again but to be honest I don’t know what to blog about. Again. Yep. Back in that stupid funk. Oh well- I’m just excited I want to blog!

 

+ We are heading to Normandy soon for a week. We are staying in Rouen, Honfleur, Bayeux, Mont St. Michel, and a couple of other places. We are doing a one day Normandy tour and I’m already teary-eyed just thinking about it. I just looked up the weather and it’s rainy almost the entire time, though. BOO. Guess that’s France in the spring, yes?

 

+ Finished Orphan Train and I LOVED it, but it broke my heart.

 

+ The ONLY things I want to eat are Japanese, Thai, and Chinese foods. Seriously. Italian food still grosses me out. Sigh. I need this to end. Luckily I found a great restaurant and had an amazing plate of Pad Thai and I could have cried it was so good. Why is pregnancy so weird?

 

+ Any book recommendations? I’m stuck. What’s the best book you’ve read lately?

 

Happy Monday y’all. I’d love to hear what you are up to in the comments, I’ve missed you guys!

xoxo

S

This baby hates Italian food and reading and scrapbooking.

But it loves Cadbury mini eggs. Like LOVES. It also loves jalapeno kettle chips.

We shall name it Cadbury Jalapeno Howell. Has a certain lovely ring to it, doesn’t it?

xoxo

Coming October 2015.

We are thrilled and terrified and overjoyed.

And yes, there’s only one in there. HA! We saw him/her (her, we are sure haha!) today and the heart was strong and well…my cup runneth over.

I’ve been exhausted and just not myself. So I’ll probably be missing from here for a week or so more (if past experiences are any indication!).

Time for that basketball team!

xoxo

S