Fantastically Four

Can you believe my little Love is FOUR!?!?!

I couldn't be more proud of how he's grown this last year. His speech is continuing to improve (therefore, mommy and daddy have to be more careful on the words we use around him. HA!)
His pretending and make-believe play has been so fun to watch. He continues to explore both the physical world along with peer relationships. My prayer for him since he's been born is that he would have courage and kindness and I can see God working those things into his sweet heart.

Thank you, Wyatt, for teaching us more about ourselves and how to love. You've encouraged us to accept the gift of slowing down to enjoy the sweet, rich moments the life so readily offers.

May you always know you are dearly loved by the Hands that made you.

With love,
Amanda (your momma!)

"Wyatt! W-Y-A-T-T!"

This face much be in the genes!

"My snowman is my BEST FRIEND!"

The beautiful hairs on his head!

Making Room

ASH WEDNESDAY!! That came quick but is eagerly welcomed.

I love lent, which might sound weird but I do. In this life it feels crucial to make space to reflect, remember and feel all the things these hearts of ours feel. Lent is one of those times where I am reminded to make room for the One who made room for us. It's a time that takes work, it's a time that realigns me, it's a time where love and sorrow meet.

I hope on your journey you feel the freedom to make room, and to know that "He first loved us" so it's also okay to fail. In the mist of reflecting on my own journey I've felt heavy so I've been meditating on this passage in Matthew 11:

THANK FULL

What a season of Gratitude this has been!

I've been reading the book "One Thousand Gifts" and it's been so wonderful to be reminded that being grateful right where I'm at can make a big difference. To just see the beauty he has put all around and it's not just a life of "someday when..." or "when I have time to...". It's freeing!

Today I am thankful for:

YOU!!!
For Honesty
For a Love that meets you in the mess
To be married to the most wonderful man!
For the sunshine (in Kansas!)
That someday we will have this feast together :)
And for being known truly!

Hope your day is is full of Thanks!

Love, Amanda

November = MORE Autumn!

Have I said how much I love Autumn??? Well...I DO!

November is such a great month because it includes things like: Samantha Ann's Birthday, Thanksgiving, my Sweet Lemon's Birthday (aka Elizabeth Joy/Queenie Green Beanie/Flower/Liz/MY SISTER), and other cool stuff!














I've been getting crafty (speaking of crafty have you seen Get Crafty with Cleetus??? It gets me every time! SO funny!) These below were for our Navigators Women's Retreat. There hair doodads...in the shape of leaves (just in case you were wonderin').

But nothing competes with the real thing!

How do celebrate Autumn in your home???

October 2011 Recap - I Blinked and it was Over

I really love this time of year! It's funny that in a lot of ways Autumn feels like a time for new beginnings even though it marks the the season for falling leaves and the ushering in of a cold and windy winter. But for me it just feels like a season with so many possibilities. I love the colors, the pulling out of sweaters and layering up. I love soups and warms beverages and snuggling into someone special. It's fabulous and I will forever love this time of year!

Here is a quick (slash LONG) recap of a wonderful October!

Grandpa turned 80!!!

I really love this guy!

We got to go to a Waterdeep concert! It was soul satisfying for sure!

My first "Mugs and Muffins" with the Kansas State Nav girls!

Wyatt had school pictures (but we took our own).

Before we took that the Olinger lads had a little fun.

Nothing says Autumn like a little baking.

Coloring Pumpkins (it may be our new tradition...because I dislike wilted carved pumpkins)

Nice lines, little Olinger!

My sweet dad took our family pictures. This one was cut because Austin thinks his shirt looks funny, but I still like it enough to share!

"I'm Gonna Put a Brick on Your Head...

so you'll stop growing!" This is a phrase we use in my family to say "stop growing-up so fast". It sounds a little weird now that I think about it but hopefully you have the same kind of silly phrases in your own family history.

I was going threw some old photos and it made me get all teary. I miss holding "little" Wyatt. He is seriously getting big and a bigger part of me really loves that he's growing and developing and changing but there is also the small part of me that's like "Really!? This is happening too fast!".

I say...WE NEED MORE OLINGERS!

We've gone from this:

To my very own ham!

GOSH! Could they be any cuter!

Better to Make then Buy

I have had a hustle and bustle of crafty things happening around my house. I prefer to make rather than buy (although making still involves buying but you get what I'm saying).

With weddings and more weddings, it just feels more meaningful to put the time into making something that, hopefully, will be better then that one small and seemingly forgettable item off of someone registry. Since we have a small budget I can stretch a dollar by creating PLUS I really love to make things. It makes my heart happy and it tends to be therapeutic!

Here are some resent crafty projects:

My sweet Grandma Jarvis had these A-MAZING vintage squares that were my great-grandmother's lying around her house and she gave me a whole box! All I had to do was lay some out the way I liked and after a few hours I had a picnic blanket for my wonderful friends, Luke and Stephanie!

Frame: Secondhand store, spray painted. "B": bought and hand painted black. "Love" paper: bought, it's actually scrapbook paper aka I'm a big cheater. Final Product: A personalized home decor piece for my friends, Lauren and Joey!

And this is a little drawing I did for my friends, Erika and Ben. They want to have a more unique guestbook for their wedding. Thumb prints for leaves and signatures in the grass line! I can't wait to see the final product!

More to share soon! Pinky swear!