Our Chic Cottage is growing by 2 feet!

Gardener Guy and I are expecting a baby in February and we couldn't be more excited! (Well, I think the Grammas are more excited but don't go there.)

I will post photos of sharing the news with our parents!

This means I will take a maternity leave in the middle of my new Kindergarten job, which I am nervous about but I work with a great staff so I am not worried!

For this child I prayed; and the Lord hath given me my petition which I asked of him. 1 Samuel 1:27

Baby D love and all of mine!

Walk By Faith

From the time of my 1st Lola disaster this fall, to my run-in with the deer, literally, and then gabbing about the weather ... I have been very aware lately.

I don't have a tattoo, and have lost interest in pretending I want one, but in college I had thought about it. I wanted to get, Walk by Faith (2 Corinthians 5:7), on the arch of my foot. Over time in college, I continued the walk and forgot about the tattoo.

Lately I have been aware of how God is walking with me. Did I lose you yet?

Last night, I got a call that my meeting in another town was canceled in the morning. I'll be honest, I was bummed. I would have gotten to sleep in an extra hour, an extra hour! I grumbled and groaned and went to work on time. I rescheduled my reading time with my students, who I had previously canceled for the meeting. And in the first 2 minutes of working with my student I realized that God had canceled my meeting for a reason so that we could take a walk.

Without revealing too much on the internet, my student revealed to me some abuse in his home. After talking with my mentor teacher and the student's classroom teacher about his revelations, I contacted our Social Worker. She contacted services and steps are being taken to protect the student and siblings.

My heart broke for the student this morning who was brave enough to open up trust another adult, and I am so aware and thankful of His mercy and compassion. Remember, He is walking with us.

Compassionate love and all of mine!

Lot's Wife

Do you remember Lot's wife? She was too preoccupied with what she was leaving behind to look forward and have trust. And well as you know, that story doesn't have a happy ending.

This morning I woke up and God has placed this story of Lot's wife on my exhausted mind. I had read Mama's blog about Gramma and this picture had struck me:

Mama, HayBee, Gramma and Darbey Rhea

At the time of this picture, we thought Gramma's life was pretty much over. We were looking back because it was so hard to look forward. Little did we know, we still had many, many memories to share.

Yesterday, after leaving the hospital, I looked back at this picture and thought that I wish we could go back to this time. Yesterday, Gramma was not doing well. Doctors were taking her treatment hour-by-hour, and threats of ventilators and life support were looming in the distance. I should have been looking forward.

God blessed us with another great memory and milestone today as Gramma "earned" Most Improved Patient in the CCU this morning. Traces of Gramma were back today: she was sitting up, talking and making progress on her breathing, so I was encouraged to look forward.

These Heavenly words encouraged me, let them encourage you too!

Psalms 121
¹ I will lift up my eyes to the hills—
From whence comes my help?
² My help comes from the LORD,
Who made heaven and earth.

³ He will not allow your foot to be moved;
He who keeps you will not slumber.
⁴ Behold, He who keeps Israel
Shall neither slumber nor sleep.

⁵ The LORD is your keeper;
The LORD is your shade at your right hand.
⁶ The sun shall not strike you by day,
Nor the moon by night.

⁷ The LORD shall preserve you from all evil;
He shall preserve your soul.
⁸ The LORD shall preserve your going out and your coming in
From this time forth, and even forevermore.

Looking forward love and all of mine!

On a scale of 1 to 10.

Mama plays these sick mind games, like: "On a scale of 1 to 10, how are you feeling?" We grunt and groan, and play along.

Thursday, I was low like a 3.4 or so. Friday, I handled the personnel conflict I had been avoiding all week so I was sailing at a 7.35. I don't totally regret taking my job because I have finally realized that God has a plan and I was meant to learn from this opportunity so when something better comes along, I can appreciate it for all its worth.

Other realizations of the week:
-Avoiding conflict makes it worse. Handle it professionally and move on.
A soft answer turneth away wrath: but grievous words stir up anger. Proverbs 15:1.

- I am learning to literally take one day at a time because that's all I can do.
Take therefore no thought for the morrow: for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:34

Teaching love and all of mine!

1 Peter 5:10

Count your blessings.

But the God of all grace, who hath called us unto his eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after that ye have suffered a while, make you perfect, stablish, strengthen, settle you.

My GranDaddy F passed away this weekend.
My Sister in Law JoJo sent me these Heavenly Words, which are more calming than she knows.

Prayers for Gramma, Mama and Daddy are appreciated.

All my love.

Blessed

Gardener Guy and I are blessed, in about 4,273 different ways but that could be another post. God blessed us over the wedding planning process.

Since Gardener Guy and I began dating over 5 years ago, I had always had the fear that my GranDaddy would lose his fight with cancer, among other infirmities over the past few years. There had been more than 1 close calls in the past 5 years and that has been hard for my Gramma, as well as my entire family. My GranDaddy and Gramma M were healthy enough to share in our day. We are blessed they could be there.

My other Gramma has had a rough go with Alzheimer's over the past 2 years. She lost her brother to the disease last year and with this passing, I also feared that she would not be healthy enough or here to share with us. In fact, just a few days ago, her sister who suffered from Dementia passed away. My Gramma and GranDaddy F were healthy enough to share in our day. We are blessed they could be there.

Gardener Guy's maternal Gramma and Grandpa have had their share of small and large infirmities as well, but all in all, are healthy. God blessed us with their health throughout the planning and wedding day. GranDaddy and Gramma S were healthy to share in our day. We are blessed that they could be there.

Gardener Guy and his family lost GranDaddy Jerry last September. He lost a hard but short fight to cancer. His entire family came together before and after his passing, and his Gramma G has been well cared for as well. Before his passing, GG and I had talked about moving up the date so that all of our grandparents could be present. Jerry would hear none of this. So we focused the last few months him and his wants and needs and little on the wedding. I think our wedding day may have been hard for GG's Gramma as their anniversary had just passed a few days before, but she was very gracious.We are blessed she could be there.

I realized this blessing as we were flying home from Cancun last Sunday. We had no cell phone service for a week and we were both wondering what news or crisis that we may have missed. It was flying over the ocean that I had time to reflect on these blessings that I had worried about for many many months.

And when we returned, no crisis. God is good.

Blessings to you and all of my love!

A Thank You in Blog Form

Dear Mama, Daddy, and The GP's,

Thank you for your models of marriage, friendship, and love. My Guy and I are so BLESSED to have such wonderful examples to follow.

Thank you for teaching us that love, true love, is worth protecting.

Thank you for teaching us that love, true love, is worth having, and anything worth having is something to work for.

Thank you for teaching us that love, true love, is built off of friendship, trust, laughter, honesty, communication, and passion.

Thank you for teaching us that love, true love, came from God who loved us first before we knew how to love Him, or each other.

Thank you for teaching us how to love.

All our love,
B & L


Seriously, we are so blessed to have two sets of parents that have amazing marriages and families and four sets of grandparents that have proven that love conquers all.

We will be recognizing these marriages by displaying their wedding photos at the reception. I am working on collecting, scanning, printing and framing pictures of Mama and Daddy's wedding, Mama and Daddy -in-law's wedding, both sets of My Guy's GP's wedding photos and both sets of my GP's wedding photos.

Inspiration picture:Vintage Chic meets Backyard Chic.

Love and Marriage love and all of mine!

Be still and know that I am God.

Be still and know that I am God. Psalms 46:10

This next week and a half will be about being still and having faith. I always think of my mom when I hear this verse and today it has been ringing throughout my mind. I think that it has to do with my upcoming interviews with a few school districts around the Kansas City area.

So leading up to my interviews on March 1st, I thought that I would give myself a bit of a homework lesson to research each district and let you know about each as well. An extra prayer for my job search would be appreciated :)

Paola USD #368: Ensuring Success for All Students.
Elementary Schools: 3

Spring Hill #230: Building a Foundation for the Future
Elementary Schools: 2

Olathe #233
Elementary Schools: 34

Gardner-Edgerton #231
Elementary Schools: 6

Blue Valley #229: Education Beyond Expectations
Elementary Schools: 20

Shawnee Mission #512
Elementary Schools: 35

Ottawa #290
Elementary Schools: 4

More to come this weekend!

Daddy's Little Girl

I talk to my mama everyday on the phone, texting and/or emails, usually multiple times per day. I rarely talk to my dad on the phone and if I do, it's not too long before I hear "Well, here's your mom..." or "Well Stacey, I gotta go". Lucky for me, when I make it home he catches up on our talks with an, "You're the only one who will let me talk to you." Cough, cough Z!

I am probably most like my dad more than anyone else that I know except that I am noticing those moments -- "I'm turning into my mom". My daddy and I have the same sense of humor and laugh at the same lines in movies. We also enjoy the same small things in life, a quiet cup of coffee on the porch starts a summer morning off better than any other way that I know.

Team A at Dad's Master's graduation from Baker University.

Here is a story to let you know what a great guy he is: Every Valentine's Day, my dad sends my mom and all three girls roses. Why? To spoil his girls so that one day when they have their very own Valentine and he tries to send roses, we can say, "*I don't need your roses, my dad sends them to me." What a great daddy right?

*I wouldn't recommend actually saying this, it might not turn out so well for you either.

So here is a top 5 list to get to know Ron! :)

5. "Everybody else on the mountain feels the same way you do!"

4. Clark, Audrey's frozen from the waist down. That's all part of the experience, honey. -Christmas Vacation

3. Hear , ye children, the instruction of a father, and attend to know understanding. Proverbs 4:1

2. He's just like you Dad, only brilliant! -Father of the Bride

1. "I don't care if you're mad, you're going to smile and fake it!"


What does this have to do with Backyard Chic? He's walking me down the aisle :)

Love to you and your Daddy, and all of mine!

I Will Lift Up Mine Eyes Unto the Hills...

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help. Psalms 121.

It's been one of those days where I am blessed to temporarily live in Manhattan, in the middle of the Flint Hills because, well I needed to "lift up mine eyes unto the hills, from whence cometh my help". Today I found my help on the Top of the World Observation Point near my apartment.

I'm trying to take one day at a time and make it to graduation so that I can move back closer to home..uh, I mean in my front yard. I miss my family and miss living in a house full of people. I'm blessed to have Blake and Haley Beth in Manhattan with me, but I also miss seeing my friends on a regular basis because of Student Teaching. Today was a tough reminder of this coming home to an empty apartment.

Here's a look at those hills, whence cometh my help.

Top of the World Drive.
Pictures via my new BlackBerry.

Dry your eyes Mommy, I'll be home Friday.