Life with the Doke's

A House Story.

2012-02-13T17:13:00.003-06:00

Lately, we've had a lot of questions about our move.

Where are we moving?
Why are we moving?
Why such a fast move?
Was this all of the sudden or planned?

Behold, I bring answers but more than that, I bring a story of the Father's perfect tapestry to stir hearts and then open the flood gates of ease and blessing. This could be a 20 paragraph post so here's the simplified version.

June 2011- Heart stirring from the Lord to move. We responded yes, but maybe in 1-2 years.

July- Looked at a house across town. I loved it, Chris was not as into it. Okay he wasn't even on the same planet as I was. Nothing wrong with the house, just not his thing and the price was way high for us. We looked at it a few more times, among other houses, just casually browsing.

December 12th- Surprise with 2 pink lines. There's a baby coming folks!

December 13th- Through a series of events, the owner of the house (we saw in June) calls me and says, "Megan, honey, come and buy my house."

Um, okay.

We made our offer, a very low offer and contingent upon our house selling. The owners accepted. Holla!

December 26th- The taking down of Christmas, de-cluttering, and packing begin.

December 28th- The hubs says, "Uh, so we have our first house showing in 30 minutes." I'm in my pajamas surrounded by boxes, piles, messes, and 3 kids. The family comes, walks through the house, calls 20 minutes later with an offer. Sold.

Thank you Jesus and goodness sakes, we have work to do.

So that's the story in a nutshell. We are blessed and although the process was a whirlwind, He stirred us, lead us, and carried us with ease. A little bit of updating and remodeling and then it's time to nestle into our new digs. We are grateful.

A massive post will come soon with many before's and after's. I could watch before/after shows all day long so if you're like me, this will appease you.

For now, we're turning into Hoagie's and we like it. Adventure awaits as we snooze on blow-up mattresses and live out of tubs, meshing together 2 families, and partaking in memories.

Farewell sweet home. We have tears and sadness because you were more than just a home, you were the place thousands of memories were birthed and treasured. The place that welcomed us home from long days and the daily grind. Our safe haven of love and affection, the place where we became a family. You are not ours anymore and that aches our hearts more than we expected.

Goodbye to you, thank you sweet house, for everything.

Tonight we are nestling into our new digs, well, the Hoagie's new digs that is. They greeted us with signs of kindness and twinkle lights that say welcome friends.

After a weekend of packing, trips to the house with loaded trailers (thank you Rowdy and Josh), farming out the babies to sweet Diane (more farming for all of the closings), the POD, the movers, the cleaning and hole filling/painting, the celebration of more pink with pink ice cream, and we even squeezed in 2 Daddy-daughter dances.

Ah the Daddy Daughter Dance...my girls shined. They loved the whole process, from picking out their princess attire, to choosing an up-do...m'kay really I have no skills here but just did the best I could and they showed me grace.

**
I love our house story. I love His indentation of provision and simplicity marked for us. I love the season to come of living with 2 different families and receiving from them such grace and kindness. Our hearts are sad to leave our house, really sad. Walking through an empty house you have drenched in memories is hard to let go. We're sad but at the same time expectant and excited.

Home will look a bit different for the next 2 months and then we will anchor into our new nest.

Home sweet home.

Savored Morsels

2012-02-07T20:11:00.001-06:00

You know those people that use the dinner rolls to wipe their plate clean of any remaining sauces, drippings, or remnants of the dish...I'm one of them.

Leave no stone unturned.

Waste nothing.

Every little bit left over is a savored morsel.

Lately around these parts, we're trying to stick near the nest and soak up every last drop of this house.

Enjoying the simple things, like the treasured childhood joy of playing in the mud, followed by a torrential down pour.

This week's movie night called for an added bonus, we decided to use up the stash of M&M's by tossing them in our popcorn. Success, as if there was any doubt.

Playing in the back yard. Sister cruised all over, further drudging her clothes in mud and sand.

Emma did her usual cooking in "the lodge", Pioneer Woman's cooking show is her new favorite.

Today's special, a mud pie cooked to perfection. For Alicia, of course.

And Sophie, channeling her inner princess, tossed herself into a patch of bushes to twirl and sing.

We do leave the nest, but only for the important stuff. Dinner with friends, errands around town, and the ever so important, ballet and tap lessons.

Speaking of dinner, tomorrow night we are diving head first into my current and normal pregnancy craving of Japanese food.

Yes, I am salivating already.

The rest of the week holds appointments, including a sneak peak at out little peanut-to-be and if the baby cooperates, a little guess at if we'll remain a house of pink or if we have some blue shopping to do.

Very soon, we will leave our home. It will be very sad. As much as the excitement of the season around the corner appeals to my heart, the reality will soon sink in. This won't be our home anymore. We won't drive home, stopping for the geese to waddle by, catch the sunset over the pond, and pull into the familiarity of our haven.

This ship is setting sail and we're loaded and ready.

We've come to the table and we have cleaned our plates, savoring ever last morsel.

Adventure. Check. {a lil' Ali Update}

2012-02-02T15:29:00.003-06:00

Good groceries this whole moving with 3 kids thing is an adventure soaked in grace, lots of grace. We are in full swing of boxes everywhere, most everything is packed amidst multiple conversations that _____ is coming to the new house. And yes, I'm positive your toys and pajamas will make it to the new house, I promise. It's funny what little minds process through when moving. Their questions make me smile. And since packing the entire kitchen last week, we're sampling every frozen dinner Target has to offer, so far so good.

Adventure. Check.

Meanwhile, I can't get this child to wear anything other than her kitty cat shirt. I wash it every other day now and Sister stands at the dryer like a broken record asking for it's completion.

And then it happened, the hubs looked at me with those green eyes and asked for some homemade cookies.

I can't say no to that man.

But I did pack everything necessary to measure and make anything. So I sent him next door to grab a casserole pan and I used Emma's plastic cup and eyeballed the whole recipe. Who says baking must be exact? I undercooked that sucker and dumped some peanut butter on it and no one complained a bit.

But in the midst of that, we still had one more birthday celebration with our fellow princesses.

My girl is specific, down to the napkin color and look of her cake. The gym delivered and the girls had a blast.

Emma invited some friends from school to come and celebrate her birthday. A small group of little bodies running around on tippy toes with shrieks of happiness.
A celebration indeed.

Sweet Josh didn't know that we're going make him work. As always, he happily stepped into their world and they delightfully applauded with giggles and smiles.

And pointed toes.

Man I love this baby. She knows a good thing when she sees it.

The conclusion of birthday celebrations was wonderful. My girl savored and loved it.

Happy birthday sweet one. You are loved more than you know.

The week carried on with the perfect ebb and flow of leaving the nest and being home.

Which means more time for this.

And this.
Afternoons at home, playing in the backyard.

Sister started climbing trees and she beams with pride.
Look mama.
I see you Bear, I see you.

Alice had a few appointments this week, all have gone well. We're mapping our goals and benchmarks for my girl, both verbally and physically for the next year. Our therapists and case worker are all amazing. They speak life over our Bunny. Sooner Start will come every other week for a year. We'll also head to the city, for now, every week for physical and speech therapy. More sign language, strengthening exercises, and the best homework we'll ever have, our Bunny.
Dr. Eskew taped her belly today with special tape to stimulate her stomach muscles and she's very proud, she pats her belly and smiles.

She makes me smile.

The beauty of it all, is He's bigger than milestones and benchmarks. He made her, crafted her perfectly. We know her progress will come and we're rejoicing along the way.

And while we're in the city, we met up with Liz for lunch. A girl's lunch if you will. What a treat, what a delight she is. I used to see Liz years ago and think how I would love to be friends with her some day. Dream come true, anyone who knows her agrees.
She's just simply lovely.

So here we are, enjoying this lovely weather, sitting on the back porch nibbling on some mac n cheese, a frozen meal of course.

I could sit here all day long. She's yummy, a sweet morsel to be gobbled to pieces.

Unforgettable surprise in the delight from feeding a baby pasta. Check.

There is much to be done.

Any mama knows the laundry is always coming, someone's always tugging on my pant leg simultaneously smearing their snot, and you can take what Oprah thought was multitasking to a whole new level.

The gift of motherhood, the daily return of immeasurable value in shaping the kingdom of tomorrow, because He's already given them the keys.

So here's to what's to come. To warmer weather, living with friends, watching babies grow, running carpool, and taking a frozen meal and turning it into a memory I never want to fade.

Change.

2012-01-27T16:03:00.001-06:00

Change has happily set up camp in our lives, seeping its way into many areas.
It's on the horizon and I like it, most of the time.

My girl is starting a new season of amazing folks stepping into our world to help her along her way. The next 2 weeks begin with a new pace of physical and verbal development therapists coming to the house. We'll head to the city to meet our new physical therapist and set up plans for speech therapy. We'll have a hearing screening to put suspicions of muffled hearing to rest or we'll remedy the problem.

Sister is set. She's going to rock this.

We have packed, I mean packed. Here we are 2 weeks out from moving and I gone near packed this whole house, minus clothes and soap.
I was having one of those days where I wanted to control something, you know, write it on a list and cross that sucker off. So I packed my whole kitchen, everything in it.

Hmmm, said the hubs.

No worries, I've got paper plates and you will learn to love instant oatmeal and pre-packaged frozen Market Pantry meals. Promise.

While we're on the topic, the hubs deserves some serious credit for doing all of the work it takes to move. Really, all I do is pack boxes, try not to barf on them, and then text him my order from Taco Bueno to pick up on his way home. He's a stud. Period.

Looking around this empty house makes me all teary though.

This is the house we brought babies home to. The blank canvas we painted with discoveries of a deep love for baking with little ones, playing outside until the sun went down, piling babies in our bed on weekend for cartoons, and learning what it is to be us.

We became a family in this house.

No more baking in this kitchen. No more summers outside in the hose watching sand dusted babies play and create with side walk chalk while neighbors passed on the path by the fence. No more walks around the pond and into the Fairy Forest. We've welcomed in our last Christmas around this fireplace. We won't have anymore morning sunshine spill in through our plantation shutters in the living room while babies play.

It's kind of sad. Okay, it's really sad.

The house will soon be crammed into a POD and we will soon cram our family into the Hoagie's house and then with the Waggoner's.
My, oh my, fun times ahead.

We are grateful. So grateful for my friend who pushed me not to wait but to call Sooner Start and get Alice evaluated. So thankful for my sweet friends who have rallied, calling and emailing encouragement and truth from places of authority because they fight for their little ones every day, and they know the words "developmental delays" and "behind" can wound a mama's heart.

We are grateful. For our incredible friends who are opening up their home to us, willing to share their lives and space.

Oh how we love our new home-to-be and the memories that are awaiting little ones to come.

Once the change has settled and we are back in our nest, we will relish in our time together before more change comes. Our little nugget will be here by the end of summer and much will change. We can't wait.

Change, you are welcome here.

Enjoying the Small Things

2012-01-24T21:05:00.000-06:00

I found myself smiling today, thinking about the packages of blessings He bestows on us, some grand packages creating overwhelming emotion and others, smaller gifts, stirring up heart swells.

Lately, the days have provided a feast of small things to be enjoyed and savored.

Right now, we're enjoying...

Dance parties for all.

Josh and Laura came to hang out with us and after dinner, we got our party on. Alicia came home and we were set. Yo, DJ, kick it.

Barbie joined in and busted a move too.

We took the bedtime routine to a whole new level.

Enjoying her journey.

Alice had her Sooner Start evaluation and the results are that she qualifies for help for verbal and physical motor skills. She's currently measuring at a 8 month old verbal skills and a 12 month old physical skills. My girl is almost 16 months old so she needs some help as she comes along on her way. We'll have help come to the house during the week to work with her and we're also looking into more in depth help from physical and speech therapists in the city.
I am so proud of my little one.

I know the places He will take her, the places He has in store for her. I love her story, I love how He has moved the impossible to reality.
In the places where my heart wants to take her place or remove anything hard from her precious heart and body, how He gently reminds me He is there. He is writing her journey into a beautiful story of His faithfulness and nearness.

Heart swells over this baby.

And speaking of babies, we're enjoying...

The every days.
This week, we spiced up our usual batch of chocolate chip cookie bars and added in some Heath bar. I highly recommend it. The smell in my kitchen was unbelievable.

And so was the singing from jammied little girls.

A fabulous start to a week of norms and schedules.

Learning to enjoy the plan B's
I feel lately, my agendas are getting swiped and the plan B's are constantly arriving when the original plan has been dismissed without my approval. Kind of like last weekend when instead of welcoming the rest of Chris' family late night with treats and coffee in hand and preparing meals for the next day, I fell asleep fully dressed at 7:45pm. No worries, the men rallied with boxes of donuts the next morning and I drank a tall glass of humility with my apple fritter.

Enjoying the spontaneity.
I made a trip to the zoo with my girls, knowing the season is coming when Sister won't be able to join us because she may be in school this fall.

We have really relished in our time together this week, more so than usual. And somewhere between making oatmeal for dinner and watching every room in my house overtaken with laundry and boxes, I find myself carried away by their little blooming personalities.

Pure delight.

New recipes.
Enjoying new and easy recipes for dinner. My friend Amy told me about this chicken chili, I approached it more like dip, scooping it up with tortilla chips.

Amy's Chicken Chili

2 chicken breasts

1 can drained, rinsed black beans

1 can corn

1 can Rotel

1 8oz. package cream cheese

- put chicken at the bottom of your crockpot, throw everything else on top.

- cook low 6-8 hours until your house smells so good and you've lost all self control and must have a bowl in the middle of the afternoon.

Yep, it's that good.

Enjoying her.
Bunny is usually the first one to wake up from her nap. We've settled into a routine of sitting on the floor together, just talking and sharing a snack. Today, we enjoyed some yogurt mixed with berries.

She was sweeter than the yogurt.

The week has just begun and has already delivered.

We are excited for tomorrow and for the small things to come.

And we will celebrate and enjoy.

For Rose

2012-01-20T15:24:00.001-06:00

5 years ago on a cold winter's night, sheets of ice glazed the streets and tree limbs, snow covered the ground in sparkling cascades of shimmering white. I went to sleep, you growing in my belly. You woke me up. You were ready to come into the world. We rushed to the hospital, going all of 25 miles an hour because of the ice. After 8 hours of labor, your heart rate dropped too low and even though nurses tried to stop the labor, it persisted and you slipped into even lower heart rates. My wonderful doctor, oh how we love her, said it was time, time to get you out. They rolled us into an operating room and a few minutes later, the sweetest little face was staring at me over the blue sheet. The softest cry and then pursed, rose-budded lips into a content pout. My heart bursted. I've never been the same.

You were here.

This week you turned 5 and we are celebrating. There is much to celebrate Miss Rose.

We kicked off Emma's birthday with a special date to IHOP for pancakes in her jammies with her daddy. He tip toed into her room, scooped up her sleeping body, and whispered Wanna go get breakfast with me? She woke up and excitedly whispered Yes!

Later in the day we went to school with her selected snack of donuts. Solid choice.

For dinner, Sister wanted a burger, fries, and a milk shake. This kid makes me proud.

Gifts were opened and tested out.

The rest of the week ensued with pancakes for lunch, naps with littles tucked under sheets in mama's bed, grocery store trips. And speaking of pancakes, I must share this recipe for pancakes, a new favorite around these parts.
Cranberry Oat Pancakes. The batter is lumpy and wonderful, you'll want to scoop it right off the griddle.

Cranberry Oat Pancakes

2 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp. salt

a little less than 2 tsp. baking soda

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. buttermilk

4 tbl. melted butter

1/2 c. oats

1/2 c. chopped cranberries

- throw it all in a bowl and get to mixin'

- scoop it on your griddle, cook, and flip

They make a perfectly sticky and sweet lunch, preferably followed by a long nap.

The week continued on with house appraisals and inspections. Sometimes I forget we're moving soon, leaving this house we have become a family in. Leaving the home we brought our babies home to. New chapters of adventure await us and we're ready.

While our new house is having some remodeling done, our gracious friends the Ho's have offered their home to us. That's 4 adults and 5 kids under one roof.
Good groceries, we're going to make some memories.

Flowers from my sweet family.
But today, the birthday celebrations paused us from our sorting and packing.
My girl came in a season of boys. Most of my closest friends had little guys around the time she was born. They are all in school together now, most of them in the same class. They seem so big now. So since school was out, we asked them to come for an afternoon at the park to play and nibble on cupcakes.
And they accepted to the Bear's delight.

I don't yet know if this baby in my belly is a princess or a prince, but I know that being around all of these mighty men makes my heart whisper somewhere deep inside, I want a little boy.

The weekend has plenty in store. A visit from family with cousins packed into every part of this house. The coffee will brew late into the night for catching up and reconnecting. Lori's casserole will greet us in the morning. The park will call our name later in the day. Friends are coming for dinner, house church on Sunday. And come next weekend, the princesses will rally. Emma and the girls are headed out for some gymnastics and cake. It will be a lovely and wonderful commencement to birthday celebrations.

I will watch my girl and soak her in. My Bear, Miss Rose, our Emma. You are a delight and precious in His sight. We asked for you and He gave you to us.

We are grateful.

Happy birthday little one. You are loved more than you will ever know.

And happy weekend to all!

Weekend at the Nest

2012-01-16T19:30:00.000-06:00

This weekend we spent lots of time around the nest. And as much as I crave the pace and love going from one thing to the next, the wave of being home settled in just right.

Bunny had the sickies and wanted to be held and cuddled a lot. She stayed in her jammies and went from nap to nap. Mama wasn't feeling well either, my growing peanut is shifting my pace and priorities for each day. I feel the productivity and standards have lowered slightly, okay a lot, sometimes the goal simply being not to throw up the meal just consumed. My hubs has rallied in a very stud-muffin-hunk-a-burning-man type fashion. This weekend he took the older girls on errands, to get groceries, and buy packing boxes. He even made some scrambled eggs and sugar cookies. I laugh when I think about what used to sweep me off my feet, like a bouquet of roses or a Hallmark card. Now, when that man comes through the back door with groceries in hand and follows up with a trip to Bueno, I am carried away.

Nicely done.

Needless to say, the slower pace made for simplicity and ease. I watched my babies a lot, cataloguing their little quirks and preferences. Almost knowing what they were going to say before their little mouth opened. We spent hours outside on family walks, took extra long bubble baths, served Campbell's soup in mugs, watched movies, made spaghetti.

A weekend at the nest was calling our names.

My Sophie Lynn, a package of impulsivity and independence. She wants to dress herself now. Most days, she wears the same shirt until I peel it off of her and wash it, which is usually accompanied by whining and hysterics. She beams with pride and satisfaction that she in fact did it all by herself, and backwards. I love it.

My Rose will be 5 years old tomorrow. How did that happen? I am loving being a part of her world, knowing what she loves and how she dreams. I asked her teacher a few weeks ago if she was trying to run the classroom. The teacher smiled and in a quiet voice said, Oh no, she doesn't want to run the classroom...she wants to run the world.

Yes. That would be the Bear, in full force.

And then there's Miss Beth. She said Da Da today out of nowhere and to no one. But we'll take it. We screamed and cheered, applauding her efforts. I know she will come in on her own timing, the Lord's perfect timing just for her. Meanwhile, I do my best not to kiss her a thousand times a day. Let's be honest, I fail quite regularly.

Whether we want it to or not, the slow pace must pick back up. School, birthday celebrations, house appraisals and inspections, ballet, dinner, laundry. It must all be scooped back up and put on the burner for the week. There is much to be done.

We enjoyed this weekend. I sit here thinking about each layer to our time together and I smile.

Because it was lovely and wonderful.

Our weekend at the nest.

Good News for the Taking {Alice Update}

2012-01-12T14:00:00.000-06:00

Almost a year ago next month, our Bunny started getting sick with her slow draining belly and a tumor growing in her eyebrow. We were given microscopic views into the world of Children's hospitals, doctor appointments, medications, tests, and surgery.

Our gratitude and perspective immensely pushes us to contend for those families who fight for their babies daily and we stand grateful for every milestone, well-child check up, and daily growth.
There's no way to share Ali's healing and progress without shouting from the roof tops of His miraculous power to grow a baby by a pound over night, to make doctors change their minds of the severity of a diagnosis, and to change plans of treatments for our precious one.

We met with our surgeon today for a tumor site recheck and full body scan for tumors. At one point our doctor thought Alice could have a genetic disorder producing many problems including multiple tumors and therefore multiple operations to remove the tumors. She is his youngest patient to ever have this type of tumor.

Today, we are overcome with joy. Dr. El Amm has found no signs of the tumor coming back and her body is tumor free. That has a nice ring to it, so I'll say it again. Tumor free.
The original plan of yearly tumor scans has been cancelled. We will not be returning to his office as today is our last appointment.

Bring it on.

My heart swells with emotion.
I want to cry, laugh, scream, eat a cream pie, do a back flip into a pool of marshmallows. You know, crazy fun stuff. I want it all. Because the dance He is writing in my heart cannot be contained. The heart of a parent so crazy in love, so thankful to close this chapter.
I've lost it. Completely.

The next step, we'll meet with her GI doctor next month. She no longer vomits and loves to eat anything in sight...Pad Thai, peppers, spaghetti, chili, ham, cheese sticks. Seriously this kid is a rock star. She gobbles it up like a linebacker, I expect we will be released from seeing them as well.

There are so many things about this week I want to write and share.
How my girl fell asleep in the car after ballet, in her boots and leg warmers. How Sister's face looked when she talked to her daddy on the phone, smacking her gum and rattling on about her day. How my hubs loves me and brings me Bueno on a weekly basis now. How Alicia loves on my babies and sings songs with them at the breakfast table.

Moments to drink in and know the unexplainable joy in the every day, in the secret places. The victories, the failures. The gulps of grace and forgiveness, laughter and wonder.

Heart swells to come.

Because today, it's good news for the taking. And a celebration is in order.

..."And they will lay hands on the sick and they will be healed."

Mark 16:18

There You Be

2012-01-07T11:00:00.000-06:00

There you be.

Sounds like something a sweet, wrinkled grandma would say as she peels potatoes next to her knitting needles and thread.

There's a lot of change going on right now. And in the life's swirls of finding out we're pregnant, buying a house, selling our house and choosing our doctor's wisdom to forgo hiking around Colorado a few weeks before delivery, I find myself craving the moments of just being.

And all the while I hear Him whispering to me there you be.

That the meals still need to be cooked, diapers need changing, house needs cleaning, laundry needs washing. Babies need cuddling and prompt responses to their pleas watch me mama, watch me.

The every day doesn't pause or relent which ever so pushes me with the gentle reminder to choose to just be. Be in His presence, choose His peace and rest.

Be present in her proud creations.

Be present in the bickering and moments where learning is taking place.

Be anchored into His truth of unspeakable peace when I watch her and know we're behind and other babies are passing her. Our pediatrician confirmed that our Alice is behind both verbally and physically. She's not standing on her own, taking steps, or talking...yet. The next step is contacting Sooner Start for a few evaluations. We have many friends who speak so highly of this organization and we welcome the answers and growth that will come.

My sweet girl, she just needs some tender help to bring her to the places I know the Lord desires for her. And next week when she goes in for a tumor site check and full body scan for tumors, we will continue to rejoice when they say she is tumor free and released.

And I whisper in her ear there you be, Little One.

There you be.

In the perfect place you can be, in His arms and sweet plans.

The weekend has just begun and is already serving up goodness and fun. My mama is in town, and that's always a blessing to us. An early breakfast with a dear friend, watching my girls dress themselves for a birthday party, a celebration tonight of marriage and true love.

We are thankful.

Lord, You are gracious and compassionate, that You would pour out your lovingkindness on us and bring us storehouses of moments to stop and drink in the many moments given to us.

There you be.

Happy New Year

2011-12-31T16:41:00.003-06:00

Little One,

The other night your mama was tired. The day was long, the tasks wrapped in blessing, challenge, and sacrifice. We met friends for a birthday celebration and sweet Caroline tucked you in just right.

And the secret swelled up in my heart.

I wanted to place your sweet body in your jammies and sway in the darkness, singing to you there's no place I'd rather be, and listen to you coo and respond in your own little way.

I wanted to kiss your cheeks and pray His glorious love and affection over your life. And as I lay you in your crib and glance back over my shoulder at you, I wanted to smile and relish in the truth, the blessing.

You belong to us.

As I slipped into your nursery to touch your back and feel the rise and fall of your breath, I noticed you needed a diaper change. And a bath. Secret revealed and fulfilled.

After I zipped up fresh jammies on your bubble bathed body, I turned off the lights.

I swayed and sang while you cuddled and cooed.

Simple perfection.

And these tender moments mixed with my pregnancy hormones have me all sappy and in a state of remembrance and reflection of the last year.

But first, a little craving overcame me today. I just needed a bite of a brownie. Not just any brownie, a brownie in a mug.

Brownies in a Mug

1/4 c. flour

1/4 c. brown sugar

2 tbl. cocoa

2 tbl. coffee

2 tbl. oil

2 tbl. of each peanut butter and pecans

(but you can add whatever goodness you have in your kitchen)

- mix it in a mug, do your best not to just eat the batter, and nuke it for a minute.

I just needed a bite. And let me say the bite delivered.

So now the belly is full, the babies are tucked in, and the sappy mama sits, thinking about lots of things.

I ask the Lord for a word every year and He always delivers. Early last year He spoke the word receive to me. That He would bring my heart to a place of receiving from Him and others.

My goodness.

I was given many opportunities to choose His peace over fear, His trust over anxiety, and receiving His grace over pride.

As much as I want to take many trips down memory lane, I find myself very much desiring the present, the today. So I will just choose a few of the snapshots that barely graced the surface of the blessings we encountered this year.

Our first family vacation to Colorado at Trail West. The best week our family has ever had.

Playing with my babies and watching their imaginations and personalities bloom in the summer sun.

This baby, oh how she already has a story. A story of trusting in Him when tests and labels continued to come. I can't wait for her to learn and know her story of how He grew and restored her precious body. I love her story, I love this memory.

Celebration of 7 years with my hubby. I love this man. Period.

We made lots of memories together and never grew tired of their giggles, messes, questions, pleas, and adventures.

The littlest one turning a year old, the middle one turning 3 years old, and come next month, my baby will be 5 years old.

This past year was an open canvas in the kitchen and we painted ourselves some masterpieces for sure. The year's favorite, Cinnamon Roll Pancakes.

And the best gift and biggest surprise is brewing, growing, and will soon be in our arms.

We're looking forward to the year to come as this year comes to a close. Many days coming of time together with family and friends, of weeks spent in the winter cold baking and painting, of toasty summer days spent in pools and sprinklers. Sidewalk chalk masterpieces are coming.

New horizons are upon us.

And Little One, one thing this mama's heart is looking forward to, nights tucking in babies and knowing we have been entrusted with royalty.
We've been given you.

Happy New Year!

Christmas Joy

2011-12-26T14:30:00.000-06:00

Christmas.

A glorious season indeed. A season of celebration for the One who came into this world only to give His life as a sacrifice so that we may live.

Celebrations began days before. Emma's school party, errands around town, things to do at home.

Emma invited Sophie to her party at school and oh how she loved it.

With our sweet friend Ella
We relished in the celebration, drinking in all He has given us. Some things little, some things grand.

All blessings to be thankful for, including good news for the taking.

I've had a few blood tests the past few weeks and all results show my body's hormone levels are excellent, excellent. The baby is growing just as expected.
And as this baby grows, we stand in awe of this miracle He has entrusted us with.

The holidays sweetly delivered and we enjoyed every last drop.

We even accidentally came upon a new favorite. Take your favorite cranberry bread recipe and add apple cider instead of water/orange juice.
Yes, please.

We had a special delivery from the lovely Sherri Thompson, complete with toys and a stack of Christmas books. What a blessing this family is to us.

Each little girl received her own tea set.

Sometimes a picture is worth a thousand words.

My oldest brother Rod came in from Los Angeles. How blessed we are. This would serve as the kickoff to a wonderful visit to Tulsa.

My mama's house is the best at Christmas. Decorated trees covered in ornaments with snow, shades of red and green draped in every nook. It's just plain dreamy.

And so is her Hawaiian French Toast.

Mama's Hawaiian French Toast

Hawaiian loaf

8 eggs

splash of milk

lots of cinnamon

-My mama slices the bread hours before she cooks it so it soaks up the batter even more.

Simply delicious.

As the visit continued with merry and cheery, I found myself soaking in joy and gratitude.

Emma served Alice breakfast one day...we're working on it.
I'll let the pictures tell the story...

This is the part where I should have fabulous photos of my littles all dressed in their angel costumes for the Christmas Eve service at our church. A sweet service where our amazing community huddles together with our babies to sing carols and tell His story.
While I was adjusting Sophie's wings, Emma proceeded to throw up all over the lobby and even splattered Sophie on her way out the door.
Sweet baby.

It's funny how in the midst of the hustle and bustle, the plans and agendas carved out for the evening, the costumes you spent hours making now in the trash, all of it, gone in a second.
Sister needed us, she needed home.

We packed it up and headed home. Still carrying on with traditions of pizza, cookie decorating, Christmas Eve jammies, and Polar Express. With a little one tucked in on the couch watching from the side lines but still absorbing plenty of kisses.

Christmas morning. The grand finale had arrived. Smells of freshly brewed coffee and homemade cinnamon rolls welcomed all around the tree.

Little hands happily opened gifts and watched each other's eyes widen with excitement and adventure.

The hubs and I sat back and watched memories being crafted, sipping coffee and catching each others eye thinking how it doesn't get any better than this. Listening to the story of a precious King coming into this world one winter's night, long ago. How He came in simplicity yet in triumphant glory.

Sister made us proud with taking a few steps on her new walker and you best believe we cheered her on with gusto.

There's a solid chance Bunny thinks I have truly lost my mind.

She's probably right.

Back to Christmas day...

We played in our jammies, read books, and started a new tradition of making our very own gingerbread house. It was awesome until we added the icing and the whole thing collapsed.

And I'll admit, I wanted to throw a fit and cry about it. Instead, we carried on and made it our own.

Our meal commenced the lovely day and enough room was left in our bellies for the desserts created by little hands earlier in the day.

We had a Merry Christmas. Full of wonder, surprise, and gratitude. The unexpected, giggles, and memories. Full of family, love, celebration and most of all...

Christmas joy.

Merry Christmas!

Heart Swells

2011-12-17T09:25:00.001-06:00

Christmas Confession: when I was in high school, in the winter, instead of toilet papering people's houses, we would rearrange their Christmas lights.
Fabulous idea.

Pinky promise.

This house is stirred up currently.
We've got the Christmas time traditions crankin' and now the added bonus, the fuel on the fire, of the in-9-months-there-will-be-another-baby-in-this-house thing making us all giddy.

My sweet mama sent some Christmas goodies for the girls. Always a treat.

And then I came home to this lovely gift one afternoon from Alicia.

L.O.V.E.

Speaking of love, this little baby and soon to be big sister continues to wreck me. I mean, her little bottom could be one of the cutest things ever. She's so proud of herself these days.
Pulling to stand like a big girl and staying up for almost a minute. Enough time to completely destroy the pantry or any other surface that, in her opinion, needs some shifting around.

I still clap and cheer frantically so she knows just how celebrated she is.
My daughter, Alice Elizabeth, who I am so proud of.

And then there's this one.

Case and point. She's her own character and we wouldn't have it any other way.

This week we settled into a nice ebb and flow of ventures out and staying at the nest.
We went to Hobby Lobby and I love their sweet staff there, they try so hard to greet us and wipe off the look on their faces that say, "Are you nuts, lady? You're bringing 3 kids into this store?"

Yep.

I mean, we needed garland, angel wings, and a utility knife. And Boo found some dinosaurs that needed someone to give them a voice, a roar if you will.

We made a quick stop at the park on the way home. The swings were calling our names.

Especially this one.

I feel unaccomplished this week. Like I made no progress at the important stuff that needed to get done.

This was a week that Sister needed truckloads of lovin' and affection heaped on her, filling her heart and reassuring her the place, the value she holds in our family.

And the laundry grows, the dirt settles in, and sandwiches are served at dinner.

Ebb and flow, I'm learning to love you.

While Chris took the older girls for a donut date, I happily stayed home with my littlest one.
We decided we needed some oatmeal. But not just any kind of oatmeal, we wanted Jenny's Peanut Butter & Honey Oatmeal.

No measurements needed. Just dump in a few spoonfuls of each peanut butter and honey once you've cooked up your oats.
They go even better with a little jammied baby body.

After breakfast, some friends dropped in for a sweet delivery.
This box.

3 years ago tomorrow, Chris came home early from work on a cold, winter's day to tell me my dad had passed. The journey of loss would begin for me.
My friends rallied on that day, the day of the funeral, and have continued to lavishly love me, meeting me in the place of loss.
My friend Stacie brought me a box full to the brim with notes from all of my dearest friends, telling me truth, sharing His words, conveying His nearness.

There are not words to describe the heart swells.

I feel His nearness. I feel His love.

Thank you friends for being the avenue of His grace and peace, His comfort and gift to the fatherless.

I am overwhelmed with unspeakable joy.

After the gift of this precious box, I have found I am left with few words at all.

Left only with His gratitude and peace.

Left with heart swells that stir up the emotion that has filled my heart to the brim, overflowing.

Parties tonight, house church tomorrow. Nights of sipping coffee and wrapping presents on the horizon.

Nothing will come close to touching the way the Lord has captured my heart on this day.

Happy weekend to all.

Pregnant.

2011-12-14T07:30:00.000-06:00

I was the crazy lady in Target with a cart full of groceries, 3 kids...and a pregnancy test.

I've been a little nauseous and really tired. So while I unloaded groceries and mediated disputes over toys, a color scheme was brewing in the next room.

2 pink lines.

2 pink lines.

Enter the biggest surprise ever!
This is when wives should be creative. Wrap the test in a bow and wait to give it to him upon his arrival from work. Maybe bake some cookies and write the #4 in icing. Maybe drive to his office and tell him in some creative and spontaneous way.

I called him repeatedly, 7 times until he called back.

You okay, babe?

Yes. I'm pregnant.

Are you serious?

Oh yes. I'm serious.

He was home within an hour.

We're pregnant.

Alice's face here is priceless.

We are overjoyed. We are grateful. We are surprised...very surprised. We are happy to begin his or her story, their journey into our hearts and into this world.

Some day I will tell him or her, how a few weeks ago I asked the Lord to show His glory, whatever that may be. More babies, no babies, adoption.

Oh Father, we give you all of the glory.

I will tell this little one how He blessed us in the sweetest way.

Come August, we will welcome this little one. For now, sweet celebration is in order for our precious #4.

We're having a baby!

Order Up (Christmas style)

2011-12-12T16:43:00.000-06:00

Christmas time is here.

Time for cranberry scents to fill this house on Saturday mornings.

For kitchen tables to become workshop tables for little hands making ornaments and bringing Christmas cheer.

For the sweet anticipation of my babies' hearts to add to our Jesse tree each night before they are tucked in tight in their cozy beds.

Time for backdrops and accents to reflect this season of welcoming.

Welcoming our Savior, the King, the precious One sent to bring us freedom and life.

And if you ask Sophie, Christmas time is for the 3 wise men having conversations.
They do have conversations you know.
Hi, how are you?
I fine. You?
I good.
Good.
Okay, bye bye.

I'm sure that's exactly how it went down on that special night.

Christmas time.

For this house, that means cookie decorating and letting little hands make the delicious icing to spread over fluffy, sugar cookies. Emily's recipe (here) is our favorite for sure.

We joined our friends for some giggles and decorating. These growin' kiddos warm my heart. I mean tornado size heart swells.

Sullivan Bishop. Oh how we love this little one.

And if you couldn't tell, we love us some Jenny too.

The bunch of little ones had a blast and so did the mamas.

And in true Emma fashion, she wanted to clean up and do all of Shannon's dishes.

I have no idea where she gets this from.

Oh happy day. I didn't want it to end.

Keats and Nolan with their beautiful mama.

The weekend buffet of goodness continued.

We met up with the Rowland family for some dinner and adventures at the Orr Family Farm.

Chips and salsa filled our bellies over conversation of family, babies, and what else between these 2 daddies...Sooner sports.

Once we fueled up and bundled our lovies, we packed in and headed out for Christmas lights and fun. And really cold weather.

Although none of our babies seemed to mind the cold. They were sweetly swept away on magic carousel rides on beautifully, painted horses.

And real horses too. Sophie was placed on the perfectly, tiny pony, just her size.

Emma was placed on a huge horse and sister was so proud.

We just love this family. Our time with them is sweet, like we've been friends for years and instead we've quickly formed friendship on hot summer days, trips to the zoo, a few hours in Ali's hospital room, at basketball and football games. For sure a blessed harvest of speedy togetherness we are so thankful for.

Jenni, Chloe, Trevor, Toby, Payton

This moment makes me laugh.

This is the first time any of my kids made it to Santa's lap, no reason or objections or anything in past years, I just never got around to it and/or didn't feel the gusto to pay loads of cash for 3 screaming babies sitting on the old man's lap. Which is was I thought would happen...but they actually loved it, just sat their smiling like little lambs.

Sweet babies. I resisted the urge to kiss their little cheeks and gobble them up.

The night was simply fabulous. From train rides and hay rides to sampling fudge and cookie sandwiches full of icing. We even managed to accidentally crash a birthday party.

Make unforgettable memories with friends and Christmas Story-bundled babies. Check.

Earlier in the day, we carried on our joyful celebrations in welcoming home our dear friends the Jones' from South Africa.

And welcoming them home as parents-to-be. Come summer time, they will welcome their precious one into this world and from oceans away we will cheer and celebrate.

On this cold, winter morning we came together over delicious treats and time together. Holding new little arrivals, talking of hopes to come of more children, the memories of the little ones already filling our hearts and homes, and joining this sweet, expectant mama in her dreams to come.

Even welcoming home more friends who have followed His voice to the nations, only returning home for time with family and friends for Christmas. Whitney Caldwell. How she lays down her life so that others may know of His goodness and love.

Welcome home.

Welcome little one, you are marked with purpose and joy. We love you already.
Welcome home friends from far away places, in the heart of Africa.
We are blessed to call you friends.

It's Christmas time, folks.

Order up.

Coming Home

2011-12-09T13:50:00.000-06:00

It was one of those days.

Little bodies were kicking and screaming in time-outs by 7am, spilled cereal all over the kitchen, I left the car in drive with my babies strapped in when I arrived at the mechanic. Thank the Lord the car somehow didn't move. Pretty sure I had apologized to my kids about 10 times because of my ugliness and oozing impatience.
Back to the spilled cereal, it was eventually swept up into a pile only to find Alice sitting in the middle of it, eating the various morsels coated in grime.

And while the afternoon called for important errands and things to do, I abandoned ship quickly, and headed for home.

Coming home.

On some days it's more than the final destination and conclusion to the day.
It's the blessed setting, the stage, the safe haven we step into and find His rest.

Come to Me, I'm all you need.

By far at the top of the list for greatest feelings deep down in my soul.

And I'm also happy to announce that Boo's pigtails are back on the line up. A common request these days around the house.

Not too long ago, we were coming home with a new treasure, tucked carefully in her car seat for the first time. First car ride home from the hospital, usually accompanied with evil glares from the mama at every car not adhering to the speed limit, not knowing the precious gift I have in my car.
I tend to overreact on this particular drive home. The hubs has learned to deal.

Hudson, Emma, Keaton

Coming home from our honeymoon, feeling so overwhelmed with surreal and reality each bantering back and forth the memories of days on the beach and the laundry and bills waiting for us. Nonetheless, sweet, unforgettable, and the welcome mat to the years to come.

I have found I like this coming home thing quite a bit.

And we like our adventures outside of the nest just as much. An ebb and flow, if you will, of parties and gatherings of this celebratory season.

When the parties end, we are left with much craved time at home with babies in jammies surrounded by piles of laundry and a house desperate for cleaning.

Home. Where the coffee brews, the music hums, and there is certain to be a little voice somewhere singing and pretending she's a real princess.

I like being home.

I love being home.

One particular night, instead of cereal, goodness filled the dinner time air in the kitchen.
I stumbled upon a super easy recipe for chicken pot pie. My kids thought I'd lost my mind that we're having pie for dinner.
Okay mama may have lost her mind a little bit today, but the pie is full of chicken and veggies.

Chicken Pot Pie

1 box pie dough (2 sheets of dough or use your favorite recipe for dough)

1 can cream of chicken soup

2 c. cooked, chopped chicken

1 1/2 c. thawed, frozen veggies

3/4 c. chicken broth with 3 tbl. flour whisked in

****

- mix it all up, pour into pie shell

- top with pie shell, crimp and seal

- cut a few slits

- bake @ 400 degrees for 40 minutes

This week mama's snuck away from cozy houses of sleepy babies to pick up friends and head to their own party. Cookie decorating and coffee. Yes, please. Emily does a fabulous job of whipping up every color of icing you could possibly need. There's endless toppings and decorations to make the perfect cookie to ooh and ahh over.

Sweeter than the icing is the laughter and friendship tapestry. Conversation of the motherhood challenge stories followed by someone who has walked those shoes and can offer her wisdom and grace.

We'll sip coffee and listen to hearts soaked in joy, share about her day, her heart swells, her heart aches. A new recipe, an old favorite. How her babies are getting married and changing the world. How her little one will arrive in the winter bringing newborn cuddles and tenderness.

For a few hours, we'll forget about the responsibilities and agendas that require our attention and we'll just be.

Then back home we will come.
Kissing little faces asleep in their beds.

My friend Diane made one of these signs for her babies...LOVE.

Because tomorrow His grace and new mercies are awaiting. A fresh cup, the perfect portion to meet weakness and impatience.
The invitation to respond to Him.

Tomorrow holds a blank canvas of sippies and diapers, meals and instruction, humility and forgiveness. We will go and do with bundled babies, armed with Cheerio's, lists, and strategy of outings.

Then we will come home.

And I will smile as we do, because this is my favorite part.

The smells, the giggles, the messes, his tender voice in this house of pink.

Coming home.

Home. Sweet. Home.
**
(Side note: Bethel's new worship is coming January 24th, this trailer is amazing...Jenn Johnson's single Come to Me is available on I-tunes...go grab it and be blessed.)

Heart is Full

2011-12-05T16:56:00.000-06:00

The heart is full right now. As in, full to the brim overflowing, laugh-and-cry-at-any-given-moment kinda full.

I'll start with our North Pole breakfast. Simple joy. I woke the girls up for an extra special weekend kickoff. Because the weekend begins on Friday around here.

Our time around the table with snow-dusted donuts, hot cocoa with marshmallows, and Christmas jammies created the beautiful snowball effect that took on more gusto of merry and cheer.

I mean after all, that's what weekends are for.

Weekends are for baking with little hands.

The weekend pick, Ginger Drop Cookies. We kept it simple with Betty's recipe and I let the mini bakers take it away with measurements and operations.

And my babies delivered.

More powdered sugar, please. We're adding "snow" to anything we possible can.

Weekends are for pajama days.
Since the much anticipated new soft, cozy treasures were received, they only came off little bodies with much pleading and reasoning.

No Sophie, you cannot wear your pajamas to Molly's party.

This weekend was for celebrating little ones growing up, becoming little people, making plans and dreaming dreams.
First up, Miss Molly.

I just love this little princess.

Molly's mama created a sweet book themed party. Sister knows how to throw a party.
And these babies know how to partay.
Even Bunny.

Next stop on the birthday train, Keaton.
This baby feels like he's mine, a treasure prayed for and welcomed into this world with immense gratitude and joy. We happily celebrated as we kept saying how we just couldn't believe he was already 5 years old. How does this happen?

But here's the best part of my weekend. Enter box of tissues and the ugly cry for mama.
This moment.

Keaton's grandpa, loving him some Ali Beth. I went from making snowmen from marshmallows and pretzels to deep gratitude and emotion. Because you see, this is the moment my heart cries out for but will never see...my daddy, their grandpa, kissing their cheeks and feeling the warmth of a baby pressing into his affection. His wrinkled old hands cradling her tiny body, her tender self sitting on his lap while he makes jokes and tells her stories.
This moment is powerful. This moment is His gift to this mama's heart that He sees her, hears her heart cries brought as an offering, her blessing in an unexpected moment.
I am grateful.

And this weekend, those tender moments continued.

We cuddled and read books, waiting for our new favorite breakfast to be ready.

Enter goodness on a platter. Cinnamon Roll Pancakes.

Good groceries, these are the best pancakes I've ever had.

And word to the wise, the last batch of cakes are the best because your griddle will look and smell like buckets of cinnamon and brown sugar.

This recipe is super easy and you can even cheat with some Bisquick.

Two thumbs up at the Doke house.
Because weekends are for new recipes and full bellies.

And Market Pantry extra dark chocolate hot cocoa.

Weekends are for decorating with anticipation the celebration of His birth. We made our Jesse Tree, a wonderful way to gather littles and tell of His goodness. My friends Emily and Abbey do this every year and it's just the berries.

Weekends are for taking little ballerinas to the Nutcracker.
A few mamas got together for a little night of dinner and ballet on campus, treated and blessed by a lovely mama herself, Lori.

There just aren't words to describe these little princesses.

Weekends are for cozying up with a baby, watching her soak in the evening, sitting all pretty in her dress as she holds my hand and asks me to scratch her back.

So this is love.

The weekend was for the taking and we happily partook of His goodness at hand. The week ahead promises bundled babies, nights sipping coffee and reading books to eager hearts, parties and gatherings because we love each other's company.

Thank you weekend and hello to you, week to come.

O Christmas Tree

2011-12-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

This time of year brings so much joy and celebration. So many treasures to stir up gratitude and make way for traditions and annual rituals. The boxes of hot cocoa consumed, the stacks of books of His marvelous journey to this earth, the parties and savored moments to come.

But first, this kid is wrecking me.

I don't know what it is about her that just brings me to tears. Maybe because she's my youngest, the baby, or because we watched her fight so hard as the Lord healed and restored her worn out little body.

Not sure. But the little nugget just about levels me on a daily basis.

Case and point.

And my Bear, she wants to rule the world. Pretty sure she and Valencia could manage to crank out some plans to make that happen.

My Sophie Lynn, she turned 3 and morphed into a little girl. Doing dishes at the sink, talking on her phone, giving quite stern opinions on clothing options. Sister knows what she wants.
And I like it.

But back to this one.

Yep. Wrecked again.

Then stuff like this happens.

And then more stuff like this happens.

Mess. I'm just a complete mess these days.

The pendulum has swung again and I'm back on the playing side of things. The hubs getting dressed in the morning by digging out clothes from the dryer, because I do the pass by, hit the refresh dry button for a few minutes in hopes that I will in fact get to the folding and putting away part. Hasn't happened yet.
Sorry honey. I had North Pole breakfast place cards to glitter.

And he smiles and knows I need grace, lots of grace. You can add it to the list of things not getting done around here because we are drinking in this Christmas season and taking advantage of every opportunity to gulp down some merry and cheer.

Thus, the Christmas tree has been put up with plenty of little helpers.

O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree.

Our tree tells a story. The stories of newlyweds celebrating their first Christmas together, becoming a family, bringing littles home from the hospital all bundled in shades of pink.

Even a treasure of when this mama was once a little girl.

Plenty of ornaments to communicate where our loyalties stand. In case you had any question.

It's the first thing I do before babies wake up, turn on the lights that greet our little feet tip toeing downstairs for breakfast.

And while this dreary, cold weather makes me want to hold up in the house in pajamas dusted in cinnamon roll icing (easy recipe), we do venture out to places of necessity and places of fun.

We stumbled upon the Target bakery and sister picked out of blueberry bagel, which I came to quickly understand she had zero desire or agenda to share with me.

Don't even think about it, mama.
Okay, okay.

Boo went in true Doke fashion with a donut. I can't blame her.

Back home at the nest, Ali Beth is all over this pulling to stand thing. It's like she's known how to do it all along and now busts it out just because.

I'm watching little one. I'm watching.

Alice Elizabeth, my daughter, who I am so proud of.

The forecast ahead is calling for cold and wet with a blistering north wind. And that means the hubs is home, Lori's chicken enchilada soup bubbling on the stove, jammied babied bodies, and football humming in the background.

A fabulous weekend of Christmas cheer is on the horizon.

Gulping will be encouraged.

Tapestry of Motherhood

2011-11-29T06:30:00.000-06:00

Motherhood.

I love this word, I mean l-o-v-e it.

It encompasses a wonder of many things, endless emotions, and constant demand. The tapestry is a beauty of fabrics, each intertwining creating an indescribable masterpiece on display.

Right now, this mama thing is bringing out the cheerleader with a side of I'm-a-complete-nut.

Sister pulled to stand today.

Yep.

She only lasted a few seconds but you best believe I was cheering and clapping and quite sure have completely convinced sweet Bunny that I am in fact completely nuts.

It's true.

We are celebrating this milestone.

We've thrown out the norm, the calendar, the timeline of when babies should be. She will ___ pull up, walk, and talk when she's ready. And when she does, we will celebrate and I will try not to cry.

And maybe I will just cry like a baby because I just can't help it.

Motherhood.

It's carrying babies to bed upstairs at the end of a long day when she's far past this phase, but she's asked me to and my heart simply cannot decline her plea.

It's choosing to not find peace in productivity and instead choosing them, to sit and play and most likely make more messes to be cleaned up later.

Motherhood is all of the loveliness and beauty of His trustworthy provision of heavenly gifts, the entrustment of royalty of the next generation that will change this world. Motherhood is the daily grinds of laundry and diapers, laying the foundation of training up warriors to shake up the kingdom of darkness.

And it's really hard.

With Jonathan...he and his beautiful wife will soon be on this journey and we just can't wait!

It's the floor to ceiling mirror that reflects to me my ugliness and flaws I don't want sewn into my babies and so desperately crave the Lord's intervention to quickly remove and replace with better. His better.

I found the girls sleeping as they held hands. I'll take Precious Moments for 300, Alex.

Sometimes the sacrifice and challenge leave me weary and feeling like I have nothing left.

And sometimes that happens by 8am.

His mercies are new every morning. Sometimes I need a double portion. He is always faithful.

And while we're talkin' double portions, homemade French Vanilla Creamer came to the rescue this morning.

French Vanilla Creamer

1 c. whole milk

1 c. heavy cream

4 tbl. syrup

1 tbl. vanilla extract

- whisk over medium heat, turn off heat and cover for 30 minutes

I think one of my favorite memories is having my babies in the winter, shuffling into the kitchen for a cup of coffee in one hand, and a sweet lil' nugget in the other.

Bliss.

Motherhood is kissing those pink newborn cheeks over and over because she's so sweet and tender. Staying up all night to hold her because that's what she wants and needs and this mama's contending heart for royalty leaves her with nothing but endless love and affection for her new gift.

Anniston Joy.

There are so many phases to this motherhood journey that make my heart swell with joy and tears. Newborn noises and crossed little feet are the best. Hands down.

Welcome little one.

It's giving into her wishes of simplicity and just us, no singing of 'happy birthday' and a quiet evening together, in true Sophie style.

I'm learning to embrace this masterpiece He is weaving, the masterpiece He is entrusting me with.

I'm choosing to align my heart with only His truth, because nothing else will suffice and I can sense the moment I've allowed a lie to take the needle and thread.

Because tomorrow holds a fresh start, a blank canvas, and a new day.

To tell her she's loved and mark her heart with the truth that she is valuable and precious.

To write the words, to sew them deep into her heart how much I love her.

And tomorrow this fabric, this tapestry, will surround her.

"For we are His masterpiece, created in Christ Jesus to do good works,

which He prepared before so that we would walk in them."

Ephesians 2:10

Thanksgiving Goodness

2011-11-26T22:09:00.000-06:00

Thanksgiving gloriously delivered.

And by delivered I mean waves of goodness.

The kickoff going something like me asking, okay begging Chris to hike up to the attic and drag down my tubs of Christmas decorations. He eventually caved in and while babies took in some Polar Express and hot cocoa, I worked myself into a frenzy of garland and snowmen.

Wave of goodness.

We packed up our crew and headed to Dallas to see Chris' family. Keurig Gingerbread coffee and Sportscenter Top 10 were awaiting our conclusion evening drive. Cousins poured out of the house picking up our babies with giggles and stories.

Wave of goodness continues.

The week would ensue with crowded meals of cousins outnumbering adults. Dinner theater at the Muppets, exploring the forest, Cinderella on repeat. The goodness was filling up our hearts and blessing our souls.

The best blessing of the trip, sweet Sophie Lynn turned 3, sharing a birthday with her cousin Austin. I can't believe she's 3. Because it was only yesterday she hollered in the operating room and made her entrance. Cuddling on my shoulder with her newborn scent and tenderness. The perfect blend of fire and sweetness.

My girl fits perfectly into the middle of this house of pink. She blesses us with her silent assassin agendas and sheer determination. We couldn't love her more.
And since she detests grand celebrations and attention, we are sneaking in birthday celebratory bursts whenever possible.

Happy birthday precious one.

And as much as we wanted the goodness to continue, it was time to pack up.

Home we came to our warm beds and cozy decor. Another feast and more waves were on the horizon.

I needed left overs. And I needed them now.

Pioneer Woman is legit and thanks to her blog and about 3 pounds of butter, a spread was served up. (Recipes used below)

My one recommendation, Pumpkin Cream Pie.

Her simple recipe has me convinced I may never have regular ole pumpkin pie again.
Because this was just a Thanksgiving party in your mouth.

My mom and brother came in on a wave too. Plenty of playing, cooking, and squeezing in more birthday celebrations for Sophie.

Which includes bustin' a move over chips and salsa, because why not. Little does she know, we're not done yet.

Pizza and her now requested deep blue cake with flowers are coming.

The best part, this turkey holiday is only the beginning.
The beginning of winter. Trading recipes fashioned with pumpkin puree' for gingerbread and cranberries. But not before taking one last nibble on some Pumpkin French Toast.

Pumpkin French Toast

1 loaf pumpkin bread

3 eggs

1 1/2 c. heavy cream or half & half

1 tsp. cinnamon

- whip it all up, slap some butter on your griddle, dip sliced bread in batter and toast it up

Farewell pumpkin, we'll miss you.

The beginning of Christmas morsels has officially begun and this house is ready.

Thanksgiving was just simply fantastic.
We are thankful for the waves of goodness in this season. Thankful for family, thankful for friends.

And thankful for Pumpkin Cream Pie too.

Good groceries.

Recipes for Thanksgiving from the mama...

Turkey: inside filled with apples, carrots, onions, garlic, lemons and outside rub basted with butter and cooked it like this.

Mashed Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes

Gravy

Used Target's Market Pantry for stuffing

Used the French Onion box recipe for Green Bean Casserole

Used Sister Schubert wheat rolls

Chocolate Pecan Pie

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bars

Thanksgiving is Coming

2011-11-18T14:43:00.000-06:00

Fall days are just the best.

Especially when the agenda includes a field trip to the Dinosaur Museum. I had a morning of child-free errands planned. Emma's plans for me included coming to her field trip.
It's amazing how her little voice and baby blues can easily change my schedule and heart.

Friday was welcomed in with loads of tantrums and professional grade button-pushing between sisters. I thought I was going to lose it. After contemplating running away or eating a whole pan of cookies, I pulled it together, as the patience testing opportunities for me continued.
Although not all mistakes by littles were too terrible.

We stumbled upon this delicious mishap.

Almond Nutmeg Pancakes.

Emma was adding cinnamon, just a sprinkle. Sophie was adding nutmeg and in her rebellion dumped in almost half the jar. Hence, nutmeg pancakes were born.

Almond Nutmeg Pancakes

1 egg

3/4 c. milk

2 tbl. melted butter

1 c. flour

1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp. salt

1 tbl. sugar

3-4 tsp. nutmeg

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 c. sliced almonds

- whisk dry ingredients, add to wet ingredients

- cook 'em up

And we love the idea of using a pizza slicer to quickly cut up hot cakes for little bellies.
Good mistake. The concoction will be repeated again because they were tasty.
Just ask Bunny.

We caught up with some friends for dinner and I thought these morsels would be perfect for an evening of chatting and football.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cup Cookies.

Oh, good groceries.

Kudos to Laurel for sending this recipe my way.

I mean we're lucky the batter made it to the cookie sheets. Although I'm not sure how many peanut butter cups Boo savored.
**
Emma and Sophie went to our church's day camp for little ones on Saturday. The harvest is plentiful and we've got warriors living in our homes, sleeping in our beds, eating our grub. They have rank, they're valuable. And they loved spending a morning learning so.

Royalty, bringing their dance and worship before the throne, before Him.

I've decided there's nothing better.

We happily carried on with our weekend.

Baby girl loves her some swinging. Sister cackles the entire time and could be content with sitting there all afternoon.

After the park and naps with babies, we headed out for a birthday party for our sweet friend Sean Edward.

We love this little guy. I remember the night he came early into this world and since then, he's been such a delight.
Happy birthday precious one.

The weekend.

We cleaned up messes, gave little sister a voice, mediated important disputes over hairbrushes, and met mistakes with grace, digging deep into the well of parenthood storehouses of His mercy and patience. I need a barn these days, for lots of grace and lots of gratitude for the little ways they love me. Lately, it's little tokens left on my night stand. I usually find them as I'm climbing into bed at night.

My heart is full.

The week ahead holds a weekend atmosphere of family and friends, gathering around many tables for a feast of gratitude and love.
New recipes, old favorites.

We'll celebrate our Sophie over a much requested blue cake. I'll tell her the story of the morning she came to us. I'll tell her how her cheeks were kissed a thousand times and how she brought us so much joy.

And how she still does.

And so does this little one.

And this one too.

So here's to the week to come. Here's to hearts bursting with thankfulness and kitchens full of goodness.

For cuddling babies and naps after bellies are full.

Thanksgiving is coming.

Mundane Everyday

2011-11-15T00:35:00.001-06:00

This lovely little treasure is full. She is full to the brim with joy and determination, fire and tenderness. Serving up hugs and kisses each morning and cuddling coos at night.

My heart swells. She belongs to me.
**
Our week has been wonderful. Play dates, Bible Study, and laundry all set to the backdrop of dreary cool, fall weather. For sure the temperatures that call for cups of coffee well past the breakfast time of day. My sweet friend Abbey and her sister Allison make their own coffee creamer.
Genius.

Chris was working one night so the girls and I were nibbling on random things for dinner and playing with Tupperware in the floor, so I seized the moment and quickly made a batch of Pumpkin Spice Creamer.

Pumpkin Spice Creamer

1 c. half/half

1/2 c. pumpkin

2 tbl. sugar

Whisk over medium until bubbling.

Remove from heat and add...

1/2 tsp. cinnamon

1 tsp. pumpkin spice (or 1/2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/4 tsp. ginger, 1/8 tsp. nutmeg, 1/8 tsp. cloves)

1 tbl. vanilla

chill and serve.

I want to stick a straw in the pitcher and slurp the whole thing. For now, the swirling white clouds that turn my hot coffee into dreamy, silky pumpkin will suit me just fine.

It's the little things. And there are plenty of little trinkets weaving through my heart right now.

It all began when I attempted to walk into my "walk in closet" and I couldn't get very far. Let's be honest that's how it's been for months, maybe years.
But for some reason today, I just couldn't stand it anymore.

Yep, that's a potty at the top. Why that's in my closet is beyond me.

Blame it on procrastination, lack of time, or ridiculously late spring cleaning because I had a sick baby last spring and organization was low on the priority list.

Now, it was time.

I came across plenty of things my heart had tucked away on a shelf. The hospital bracelets when my littles each came into the world.
The cards wishing us well on our new adventures as parents.

Blessing.

The cards promising time heals all wounds when you lose a parent.
I found the dress I wore to my daddy's funeral and memories flooded my heart.
The reel is turning from that cold winter day.
The day I left my newborn Sophie at home and drove in the snow, pulling up to my childhood church building and telling Chris I don't know if I can do this. He squeezed my hand.
A car pulled up and my precious friends jumped out all at once and rushed to hug me.
Grabbing a hold to the garments of praise.

Grace.

Preserved memories that filtered through my mind as I weeded out junk and sorted mittens and socks.

I smiled and held in tears.
You're just cleaning out the closet, keep it together.

Because the truth is, He'll take any avenue to rush into my heart. Bringing His reflection and healing into closet cleaning madness.

Gratitude.

And speaking of thankful, I am super grateful for Five Guys Burger. Seriously, now. We've been scouring the construction for months and a few weeks ago spotted the much craved sign Now Open. We marched ourselves right in there.

Sulley joined us for some grub too.

Final verdict, it's worth the hype. Well worth it.
Sister agrees.

The week is coming to a close. Trips to school, ballet class, grocery store runs, cleaning, endless laundry, and daily grinds are coming to a halt. The weekend is on the horizon.
Syrupy breakfasts, football humming in the background, and more play, less work.

More time for baking some of our fall favorites and jazzing them up a bit.
Banana Bread with Cinnamon Swirls. Use your favorite recipe and mash it to bits with a potato masher. Lay 1/3 of batter in the pan, sprinkle cinnamon and sugar. Lay another 1/3, repeat. Repeat until there's a layer of cinnamon and sugar dusting on top.
Hidden sweetness with every bite.

This weekend, we'll trickle to the park and I'll think about how she's almost 3 year old.
How did that happen?

It reminds me of how I found her birth announcement in the obsessive closet clean out. How she was tiny but loud, fiery from the start.
How she came in a season marked with grief and brought with her sweet, pink skin the Lord's joy and tenderness.

You just cleaned out the closet, keep it together.
But my heart swells continue and they create.
Creating the moments that move me out of my warm bed in the middle of the night to tip toe into her room, slip into her bed, and tell her she's wonderful. To listen to her breath and pray His grace and joy over her heart.

The moments that my heart swells with gratitude when my daddy's little phrases about life make me smile and cry at the same time, when they come true and I realize there's a lot of him in me and I like it.

The moments my heart is reminded of the friendship and love from my surroundings of friends and family, of every day notes, baby shower Hallmark poems, and birthday wishes.

All from cleaning out a closet.

He is in everything. Expect greatness the next time I dive into the mundane everyday.

Because He's there.

1 Chronicles 29:11

"Yours, O Lord, is the greatness and the power, the glory, the victory, and the majesty, indeed everything that is in the heavens and the earth; and this is your Kingdom, O Lord, and we adore You as the One who is over all things."

Fabulousness for the Taking

2011-11-13T14:48:00.001-06:00

The weekend did not disappoint.

Fabulousness for the taking.

And we happily partook.

Our sweet friends the Noles' invited us to the lake with a few other families for a weekend of fun, family style. It took us all of 5 seconds to decide yes.

Sister set up camp and made herself at home, beginning with a clutter of dishes that needed to be washed. And Laura revealed her kitchen at her house back at home is, in fact, pink.

So after dishes were dried, Emma made some plans to come to her house for some baking in pink.

I knew we were in for a feast of a wonderful weekend.

And like any wonderful weekend, the time slipped away and no one bothered to search for it.
No schedules or responsibilities. Nowhere to be and the pace revolved around meals.
It was simply delightful.

Daddies were reminiscing of years ago of their independence and lake adventures. Now, strapping in kiddos for a terrain climb on the mule creating new memories and sweet moments for little hearts.

Ity bity ones stayed behind to the mamas' delight. We caught up, exchanging stories of bed time routines and favorite recipes. We laughed and smiled, watching our babies.

I could just nibble her to bits.

I love watching him with his princesses, especially the youngest lovie. I love how she stares up at him and giggles at his voice.
And I just love how he looks right back at her.

Truly, every moment was just simply wonderful.

Miss Molly. Cutest. Ever.

Yep. She belongs to me.

My beautiful friend Shannon. The fabric of her parenting is intentionality. Truly, she loves her children so well and those little nuggets know it. This is her youngest, Cambelle Grace.

I could gobble this little cutie pie right up too.

And I took full advantage and kissed that baby every chance I had.

Seriously. I just can't get enough of her.

All good things must eventually pause for the moment.
We love our weekends and are sad to see them go, but the week ahead is calling our names.
We'll have that served up too. Gladly.

We'll picnic and play.

And welcome unexpected visitors.

And even though the rain shortened our picnic, and Bear has the sickies, and my kids were the ones melting down in Target, we are grateful.

Grateful and happy to take full advantage of retreating back to the nest.
Because cider and biscuits with butter and honey do make everything all better.

Farewell wonderful weekend. We enjoyed every last bite.
Hello week to come, your goodness is ready for the tasting.

Happy Monday.

The Open Sea

2011-11-09T23:15:00.000-06:00

We celebrated our 7 years. We sailed ship to our favorite spot. Cheevers. It's quaint, cozy, romantic, and delicious. The hubs looked handsome, as always.
We talked a lot about us and our story.

Our story, condensed, is simple.
We were set up on a blind date, meeting up with another couple at a high school football game. I didn't want to go. I didn't look cute, wore no make up, and showed up an hour late. We shook hands and I knew my life would never be the same.
We broke up 3 times, once on Valentine's Day.
We were engaged after 7 months of dating, still living in different cities.
We planned our wedding and got hitched 99 days later.
So met, dated, engaged, and married in 11 months. Boom.
I was 23, he was 31. Yep, big age gap.
Emma came at 25.
Sophie came 27.
Alice came at 29.

And I was right.

My life has never been the same.

Thanks for choosing me babe, your grace and patience for me is astounding and doesn't go unnoticed. I may never know how much you love me, how hard you work for us, carrying the load of provision and leadership.
I do know you're perfect for me and you're a dream come true.

Happy Anniversary.
***
I'm feeling all sappy and mushy, many loves are swelling in my heart.

I love to be at home.

I love the pace slowing down, the simplicity that sets up camp. The sunlight that spills into each room touching babies' faces and creating the perfect shadows for her adventurous heart.

I love watching my friends with their babies. How each of us is on our own journey, in our own ships, on the same sea nonetheless. But each captain steers her ship in her own way. No one baby is the same and so each mama serves up kisses, meets them in their failures, guides them from poor choices, and showers them with love, all in her own wisdom.

All different. All just lovely.

I love what motivates me and how it can change at any given moment.

The catalyst that shoves me into action of a grocery store run is when I am near the end of coffee creamer. Because the turkey and bread can run out, even the milk, while the fruit bruises and smooshes into the cracks in the refrigerator. I can deal. I can make anything out of Bisquick for dinner.
But if the treasured creamer is near the end, I must go. I must load up my ship with bundled babies armed with fishies and sippies, blankets, lovies, and school bus toys, and off we will go.
This captain knows the important items necessary to run her ship.
Must. Have. Creamer.

And my favorite love of the moment, the afternoon nap. Slipping under heavy blankets with blinds pulled shut. The hum of the ceiling fan and faint smell of the cookies we baked instead of cleaning up the mess we made. The touch of her little back scooted up to mine, watching the other one's chest rise and fall into a slow trance of dreamy rest. Drifting off letting go of all that should be, the to-do's, the expectation of perfection and productivity and joining them in rest wrapped in cuddles.

Bliss.

This weekend we will set sail, embarking on more loves and hidden treasures. Recipes waiting to be discovered and consumed. Crafts eager to be created by sweet little hands. Time with friends and time with each other.
Until then, we'll snack on Lolli's Cranberry Almond Oat cookies. The bigger the cookie, the better they go down with a glass of milk. I'm all about pumpkin, but this recipe is worth digging into the season ahead, of sleigh bells and snow.

And speaking of pumpkin, these pumpkin biscotti with cream cheese icing go fabulously with a cup of coffee. Honest.

I love how when I have a few hours to myself, I can dock ship and slip into dreamy land where I am a pastry chef, with my own bakery on campus corner.

Today's special is hot and fresh, come and get it.

The open sea is grand. It's full and it's beautiful, mysterious and nothing short of adventure.
I love it. I love every moment on this voyage.

7 Years

2011-11-06T20:08:00.000-06:00

I'm sick. Which is just nonsense because today is a very special day.

7 years ago I married my dreamy man, making today a happy day of remembrance and trips down memory lane. In a few days we'll slip away to our favorite spot for dinner, Cheever's. We have much to celebrate.

The hubs is the berries. It's just that simple.

Just peachy when it comes to loving me and raising these babies.

I am so thankful.

Thankful he chose me. I smile when I think about the chilly, fall night years ago when I shook his hand and he smiled back at me and I knew I needed him in my forever.

Happy Anniversary to you.
Even if you've spent the day taking care of Alice and the mama.

The weekend began as fabulously as it ended.
With jammied babied bodies cruising around the house.

This little one just melts my heart each morning. Sister shimmies in her crib, the pacifier bobbles, and she cuddles her lovie, waiting for mama to scoop her up with good morning songs and kisses. She's extra kissable in the morning.

We kept is light and simple, balanced with time at home, cozied up in our nest. And time away frolicking until our heart's delight.

We even found ourselves an unexpected savored moment of conversation over an afternoon bowl of pasta.

Just because.

These moments are heaven sent. One of the many reasons why the weekend was just lovely.

We met up with Chris at the tent and enjoyed our version of game day fun.

Which means we ate barbeque until we almost burst, and maybe a few peanuts too.

And our hearts skipped a beat when we hugged and greeted not 1 but 4 Chic-Fil-A cows.
Celebrity status for sure.

But we weren't done just yet.

We needed to grab a few things so we said farewell to daddy and headed to Target.

We piddled and talked, we snacked on samples and grabbed a new wreath since my sweet cinnamon stick crafty one didn't survive the front door mayhem.

As we were checking out, we smelled it. Cold Stone.
And I did what any responsible mother would do...

I said yes.

Baby girl was a fan.

Back at the nest our friends the Holmes' came to visit. As always, a blessing to have them in our home and to see the Lord's healing power and sustaining grace in their son, Gage. In years past, this visit brought a tired little boy to our house, weak from the chemo and medications. Too tired to last longer than a quarter at the game. This year, he is healthy and strong.
And he knows it.

We enjoyed our friends, nibbled on french toast and caught up on life. We said our goodbyes and trickled back inside.

And back outside too.

I am grateful. Even though the presence of stomach viruses have made their way into the nest, nothing will distract or remove the joy that has filled our hearts.

7 years and 3 babies later, we are blessed beyond measure.

And the thought of cozying up in a booth with the hubs over our favorite food will soon be here. We've got some celebrating to do and celebrate we will.

Bunny agrees.

Butter, Syrup, & Halloween

2011-11-02T15:21:00.002-05:00

My sweet older brother Rod brought it to my attention that from the blog, you'd think all I serve my kids is cookies wrapped in Crisco with a side of butter and syrup. Eh, yes we do like to cook it up but I promise they eat healthy the rest of the time.

Pinky promise.

And while we're on the topic, we've been cooking like mad lately and I have plenty to share.

But first, Halloween.

Our Halloween was just plain super.

The girls wanted to be the same thing this year, settling in on pink butterflies. My mom happily obliged and delivered, what else, pink butterfly costumes.

Thanks Muka, the costumes were perfect.

I love me some dressed up babies going door to door to see our friends, our neighbors, accumulating chocolate goodies and giggling along the way.

the lovely Cochell family

We began the night with friends, over bubbling chili with littles at our feet and on our hips.

I seriously can't get enough of this sweet one, Cambelle. Good groceries, she's the sweetest.

We ended the night catching up with more friends for delicious food and treats for the babies, tucked under cozy blankets to the tune of mamas and daddies catching up in the kitchen.

Delight.

Asher, Ella, and Emma

We had ourselves a fantastic time.

**
Today's forecast has delivered dreariness and cold temperatures. Boo has a double ear infection and Bunny's nose is a continual faucet, so we brought it back to the nest after bible study.

Some movies, some lunch, and some playing. And if you leave us Doke girls with enough time on our hands, we find ourselves in the kitchen for some mixin' and making.

My friend mentioned to me that you can make Candy Bark out of your kid's Halloween candy.

I'm in.

I found this recipe and then tweaked it just a bit. You just chop up all of their chocolate candies and smoosh 'em down in some melted chocolate, stick it in the refrigerator for 30 minutes. The pull out the pan, drizzle some peanut butter, smoosh in some M&M's and stick it back in the refrigerator for another 30 minutes. And presto, you've got dessert.

May I say that skipping the white chocolate and going with peanut butter instead was a solid choice.

And the makin' continues.
Tonight we're catching up with some friends for some Mexican deliciousness and we needed ourselves some salsa. PDub to the rescue. Truly, if you are ever in need of fabulous sarcasm and amazing recipes, Ree Drummond is the berries.

And her salsa recipe is easy, fast, and tasty.

Before she could eat it with a spoon, Sister crashed for the afternoon. She's working on 3 teeth and in her own sweet way was pleading for someone to put her in a crib. She happily went to sleep, no doubt dreaming about these morsels we made a few days ago.
Spiced Pancakes with maple butter and powdered sugar.

This recipe delivered. I recommend it next time you're wanting to change things up a little bit. We add more amounts of spices than the recipe calls for and instead of Pam, I peel back the wax paper on a stick of butter and coat the griddle in between rounds of batter, always a good move.

Okay, so maybe Rod has a point. I'm just sayin'.

My never ending mountain is awaiting me. That, and the perfected afternoon cup of coffee.
Sweet one will be awake soon and when she does, I must gobble her up.

With butter and syrup of course.

Filling Up Our Hearts

2011-10-29T21:44:00.002-05:00

We are drinking in this weekend of fabulousness until every last drop.

Our hearts filling up with food and joy.

Beginning with the continuation of costumes and cooking up ideas for such occasions.

Emma had her Halloween party and parade this week at school. Sister went as me.

Yep, when asked "Who are you, Emma?" she responded with "I'm Meg Doke."

I must say it's an interesting and somewhat frightening thought to tell your child as they hop out of the car "Okay honey, just talk and act like mama."

Oh crap. Whose idea was this?

Hopefully in the mix of ninja hi-yahs! and Ariel's treasure finds, not too many family secrets and mama's weaknesses were revealed. Only time will tell I'm sure.

Next stop on the agenda, our friend's church fall carnival. We loaded up a bumblebee, Cinderella, a tiger and my one night's granted permission of wearing the color orange and headed out for the fun. Maybe Alice had a hotdog and bag of cool ranch doritos for dinner. Just maybe. Who doesn't love a meal involving mystery meat served up in a transparent casing?

Moving on.

We met up with the Cochell's and Ho's. Always a treat.

I bought this orange fleece the day before I got married, no idea why but it's funny to me.
My lovely friend Shannon and her precious baby girl, Cambelle Grace. By far the cutest lion ever. Love me some baby girls in costume.

And so does the hubs.

Wildwood puts on an amazing storybook walkthrough of the presentation of the gospel. Alice in Wonderland, Narnia, Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan...the whole gang took us page by page deeper into the truth of Jesus.

It was pretty amazing.

I love watching him loving on his babies. He is the perfect daddy to this house of pink.
And baby girl knows she is beyond loved by him.

Altogether, the night was the berries. Time with friends and family, soaking up these babies like they're goin' out of style.

The kitchen of weekend goodness wasn't done yet. More joy was to come.

Our friends, the Jenkin's, are having a fabulous fall as well. In fact, I'd say they have just plain hit the jackpot of awesomeness and goodness of the Lord.
Adoption.
A few months ago they brought home 2 little ones from the Ukraine. Bringing home royalty into the fold of family. Into the blessing of love and affection. Forever.
So today we celebrated.

The Moffit's farm provided the sweetest setting for such a celebration, complete with every kind of pumpkin treat, hay rides, and plenty of opportunity for exploration of the outdoors.

And this precious one. If you know Annie Margaret, you are blessed. She is just truly a treasure to be around and her life speaks volumes of His healing power and fulfillment of promise.

Alison, me, Doc Moffit

Beth, Abbey, Alice

And time set aside to pray over this precious family of 5. Declaring His promise of plans and provision, of health and joy, rest and grace for this season and the seasons to come.
He is so good. We are thankful.

We love this family. Just love them to pieces. They are ambassadors for His kingdom, for the steadfast pursuit of their rainbows, their children full of hope and promise.
Welcome home little ones, you are loved more than you know.

Back at the nest, there was much to be done. Laundry, cleaning, de-cluttering, dishes, and the never ending to-do list.
None of it got done. Not one bit. I opted for a nice, long afternoon nap curled up next to 2 little girls. One staring back at me just like she did as a newborn. The other one a bit giddy and flopping around like a fish until her energy ended and she sacked out.
We needed our rest, you know.

We had hot cocoa to drink and pumpkins to carve.

We toasted the seeds, tossed 'em in some oil and garlic salt at 400 degrees for 20 minutes.
Tasty little bits.

I love fall for so many reasons. Love the smells, the kitchen goodness, the pumpkin decor, the crisp cool air, the football games on television. Just love the whole thing.

The weekend served up memories and joy, welcoming in all fall has to offer with His presence and blessings.
And we happily partook, drinking in deeply.

"He has shown His kindness by giving you rain from heaven and crops in their seasons,

filling up our hearts with food and joy."

Acts 17:14

Just How We Like It

2011-10-26T23:05:00.000-05:00

Every week I see my dad at Panera. He stands there with saggy jeans on his lean, tiny frame with a denim jacket. His hands tucked into his pockets, chatting with his regular group of fellas wearing baseball caps.

My daddy has been gone for almost 3 years but every week when Shannon and I meet, I see him and my heart loves to stare. How can someone else look and have mannerisms just like someone I used to watch and talk to, the man who walked me down the aisle and made silly jokes?

Today, I finally introduced myself. I told him who he reminds me of, how much I miss him, and how much his presence here each week blesses me deep in my soul. He hugged me and smiled and asked me to say a quick hello to him from now on.

Sounds good to me.

Now that's what I consider a fabulous start to the week.

In addition to our pajama party morning. Emma and Alice sat in the floor playing with books and puzzles while Sophie (shocker) did her own thing.

After some much needed time at home, we packed up with the lovely Alicia and headed to the Zoo. We had important agendas of seeing the newly born tigers and of course, the elephants.

As always, the OKC Zoo proudly delivers a fantastic performance sure to delight and bring out immense happiness.

And finding some friends along the way was pretty sweet too.

We found out pumpkin whoopie pies get a little soft and gooey when you throw 'em in a stroller for a few hours at the zoo in my opinion making them even better.

This is my friend Brooke. She's just gorgeous, I mean it. Who can walk around the zoo chasing 2 little ones and still look like a rock star? Her.

Alicia has lived with us for almost 2 years and funny enough, between the hustle and bustle of life, we don't get to spend a lot of time with her. She had a day off from work and chose to spend it with us. She must really love us because I think I would have chosen I'll-stay-home-in-peace-and-quiet for 600, Alex.

Instead she joined us for the day. Lunch in the car, strollers, snacks, playing at the zoo park, and this.
Pretty sure she and Sophie could have sat on this fence all day long watching the elephants. And I could too.

This picture was an attempt at a self portrait of Bunny and I.
I look like a mama in this picture, more than usual I think. I remember years ago watching mamas from the backseat, sipping their coffee, running carpool, passing out snacks, with lines around her cheeks, wrinkles from years of smiles and life. Sun spots from hours and days outside during toasty summers on long walks, park adventures, afternoon dips in the pool.
And now these babies have a similar view from the backseat.
This view.

But my view is better.

Needless to say, the Zoo was the bomb.
**
More costume parties ensued this week even at dance class. Sister went as Tinkerbell.

Emma went as, wait for it...Rapunzel. Our sweet friend Valencia joined us for class and the sugar-overload party afterwards.

I had my weekly hang out in the lobby while she had class. Watching other mamas with their kiddos and watching the older girls going from class to class, without parents because they are years beyond this season of your-wrinkled-face-mama-waits-at-the-studio-for-you-during-class.

I like my season. I like it a lot.

Onto even more exciting things like me learning how to fix hair because let's be honest, I need to figure it out and get pretty good at it with all of these girls around here.
Emma wanted her hair curled.
Success.

**
Fall is bringing some major cold and wet our way this week.

We're pumped. Because he'll be home and there's plenty planned with the perfect ebb and flow of playing at fall festivals, time with sweet friends, syrupy pancake breakfasts with babies, and resting and doing nothing together.

Just how we like it.

Goodness of Today

2011-10-23T11:41:00.000-05:00

I'm impatient.

I like fast results, not a quick fix but an actual speedy progression. It's why I like mowing yards, you instantly have alternating shades of green striped into your lawn, preferably in diagonals. It's why I like running, to-do lists, baking...all things you can start and finish and there's something to show for within minutes.

I would be a horrible farmer because I would want an instantaneous harvest.

This week has been challenging for me as a mama. I want quick results and solutions. I want a 5-step plan to ridding my oldest of the poor choices she's making that scare me and cause me to battle with the lies that this is how she will always be. Moments when I don't want to take time to respond in a way that she knows I can handle her mistakes. I just want her behavior and poor choices to stop. Like, now.

Of course I know that's not how it works and it will never work like that. Because any good harvest is the result of tireless preparing, tilling, sewing, and waiting.

But one day, the farmer strolls out early before the house stirs and he stretches out his sun worn hands and inspects the very first fruit. In time the harvest is ready for the picking.
I like this part.
I want this part now.

I want someone to tell me exactly where I am in the process of the harvest. How much longer do I have and when is the fruit going to be here already.
I know this answer will not come and doesn't exist.

Because 4 years ago when they placed her tiny pink skinned body in my arms, I signed up for this. I signed up for a lifetime laboring and harvesting. I signed up to be a farmer.
And the beauty of this thing called motherhood is the every day harvest will pass me by, if I'm only focused on her dirt and not her gold. If I allow my own fears and frustrations to overwhelm instead of choosing His joy and gratitude.

If my only focus is the harvest then I will miss the goodness of today.

How she glances up at me to make sure I'm still watching her and applauding her sand castle efforts.

How she shimmies across the yard with her own agenda. Eating sand and rolling the ball to mama complete with cackles and giggles.

How when she sleeps I am captivated by love and find myself staring, watching as her little back rises and falls, her sweet breath exhales as she hugs the sheets below.

How when the train comes, she bursts with joy that streamlines right into her heart, and she can't help but wave and whisper...
Hi train, hi.

How quickly He reminds me to find joy and take gratitude in the journey of motherhood. How He has sprinkled His heart for them all over my day.

I am thankful.
**
My friend Lisa stopped in town with her beautiful family. We've been friends for 26 years, our friendship started up in kindergarten. We even went to college together. She's beautiful, just absolutely beautiful. We snacked on lunch and watched our little versions of ourselves make and create.

This is the age we were when we met.
So funny to remember the years we have stored up in our hearts and now that includes our babes.
What a blessing.

I am thankful.

Friday night is Family Night at the Doke house. Sometimes it's just us, usually back at the nest playing and chillin'. Sometimes it's with other families, this past Friday was the latter.

And that means serving up pizza and calling them from their forest adventures to come and eat. Shifting babies from hip to hip and catching up on life with our mamas and daddies.
Letting the sunset bring us inside for homemade suckers and more conversation.

And I am thankful.

These little morsels have been calling my name since I first saw them on Pinterest. So while babies napped, I happily baked in the kitchen.

Pumkpin. Whoopie. Pies.

This recipe is absolutely positively divine. I usually like to tweak recipes but I left this one alone, aside from adding more cinnamon to the filling and making my cookies extra tiny so they were like little bites.

I ate many. I lost count of exactly how many I had.

Pure deliciousness.

Speaking of deliciousness, this baby continues to wreck me. I feel like anything she does makes me cheer, laugh, cry, and just act like I've completely lost my mind. Because let's face it, I think I have.

No worries, I can deal.

And catching this moment was just the berries. As Beth Moore says, it's a God-stop. Any moment when He stops you and says I'm here. I needed this moment, my heart craved a glimpse of truth and perspective.

Granted.

Sometimes parenting is hard. Sometimes it's really hard.

And deep in my heart I know the truth, that I have been entrusted with royalty. That there's no placed I'd rather be.

My mama knows this motherhood thing pretty well.

My family came to visit. We had a great time together playing, enjoying the magic that Sooner football brings to this town.

My mama, she knows how to love. She truly relishes in the love and caring for others.
Even though her own babies are grown and gone, she's still doing it for other folks.
How blessed they are.

Tonight the storms rolled in with a boisterously beautiful entrance, turning the sky dark shades of grey and silver. Lightening streams and waves of thunder.

I tucked in babies and told them how much I love them.

I thought about the week to come and how I want to enjoy my work in the fields this week, not merely focus on the desired harvest but more so delighting in my labor. In the hours and days, weeks and months of sewing. Carefully planting seeds and tenderly covering them up. Pouring into the soil the very drenching things she needs most.

Stopping in my day when my heart feels heavy and telling Him, I am thankful.

Oh how thankful I am.

Do not grow weary in doing what is good,

for in time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we do not give up.

Galatians 6:9

I am thankful.