En Love with the Twins

These stunning images were captured by En Love Photography. They literally took my breath away and made me cry. I'm in awe of my son, this good & faithful man, his amazing wife and beautiful children. And to think Jonah & Nathan were only 7 days old.

Shawn & Nicole ~ can you believe we made these little guys?

Elsie ~ Mimi has a baby doll that stops moving when you turn off a switch. Where's the switch for this baby? 

Emolyn ~ I love their tiny little feet & toes.

Nicole ~ radiant & beautiful.

Shawn ~ strong & steady.

Shawn & Nicole ~ trusting God with these precious little gifts.

Shawn & Nicole ~ truly the best parents ever.

Jonah & Nathan ~ oh my gosh, cutest little boys ever.

Nathan & Jonah ~ snug as a bug on a rug.

Nathan ~ means "God has given".

Jonah ~ means "peace".

Have you ever seen anything sweeter in your life?

I told Nicole before the boys were born that I had a double galvanized pail that I found at a yard sale years ago, and that she was welcome to use it for their first photo shoot. I also gathered up old, vintage blocks and scrabble tiles to spell out their names. Well, you can imagine my surprise when a week later I opened up my Mother's Day gift and saw this photo for the very first time. Oh my gosh, I could hardly breathe, much less talk.
SO En Love with these little boys!

I'm linking up with ~
Featured Friday FREE-FOR-ALL

baby ID bracelets

Shawn (1982) ~ Miranda (1984) ~ Tyler (1989)

Jonah's hospital ID bracelet was removed last week. The twins are identical you know, so they kept his on till it got too snug. They are still noticeably different when side-by-side, because Nathan is smaller. But it's only a matter of time till he catches up and all bets are off as to who's who.
So yesterday while putzing (or puttering) in my sewing room, or what I now affectionately call my Nook 'n Cranny ~ I came upon my kids hospital ID bracelets. Yes, how ironic, having just seen Jonah's bracelet posted on facebook just days before. But also miraculous, as I had not seen these bracelets since we moved into this house in 1994. You see, I have a rather large drawer that I deposit memorabilia and miscellaneous stuff that I will either scrapbook someday or just save. So I decided to look through it.
Oh my gosh, talk about a trip down memory lane. Yes, I save everything. Hey, if you'll remember, I'm the girl that not only saved the autograph I got from Harmon Killebrew after a Twins game in the 60's, but the actual gum I was chewing while asking him! And I'm also the girl that saved the tissue I cried in when I made cheerleading. And I also... oh never mind, you get the picture.
So anyways, I find notes & cards from my kids when they were little, ticket stubs, newspaper clippings, vacation receipts... even a letter I sent my Mom while she was in the hospital when my brother Kevin was born in 1969. My Mom had 5 kids in 7 1/2 years and then 11 years later had Kevin. So you can imagine how excited us kids were. So, being that I was 12 1/2 and desperate to feel important, I closed the letter by asking if I could be the first to hold Kevin when they got home from the hospital. Just so you know, I wasn't.
So, when I finally found each of these ID bracelets, I just sat and cried... imagining them being so small and helpless... and me wondering, hoping and praying they would grow to be faithful, kind and loving. I was instantly overcome with the reality of God's faithfulness over these past 30 years. He not only answered my prayers beyond what I could think or imagine, but He's carried them over to this next generation, to my grandchildren. So very humbled... and deeply grateful.

I am confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.

Philippians 1:6

Nathan & Jonah @ 6 weeks

a mountain retreat

Terry & Nancy ~ Randy & Linda ~ Andy & Julie ~ Jay & Sharon

What do you get when you gather forever friends together for a weekend in the mountains? 

Joy. Laughter. Bliss (a spiritual blessedness). Oh yes, we were blessed. 

Jubilee (a celebration of sorts). Oh yes, we celebrated Julie's birthday, but also 30+ years of friendships among these four dear couples.

 We stayed in this beautiful 3200 square foot mountain retreat above Payson.

A beautiful, peaceful sanctuary where you can experience nature, relax by the creek and enjoy the stunning views. You can check it out ~ HERE.

The east Verde River was mere steps from our lovely accommodations.

The weekend was filled with lots of fun & fellowship... but the food was out of this world!

 

Friday's hearty meal was followed by a little concert ~ thanks to Randy & Terry.

Then it was time for some serious hiking the next day. 

 Oh my, beauty abounding around every bend and corner.

I love the contrast of rusty, old surfaces against soft, fresh petals.

I have this thing for weathered, old barbed-wire. Probably because it was such a part of growing up on the farm. We were always crawling under or in-between barbed-wire fencing wherever we went. Oh the clothes we tore up while exploring the countryside.

Some of you already know this about me...
but I'd take a mountain creek over the ocean any day. I love the quiet, calm of a trickling creek. Reminds me of the creeks back home in Wisconsin. 

Nancy ~ Sharon ~ Julie ~ Linda

Thank you Julie for inviting us along and then lavishing us with such a memorable weekend! 

I am especially grateful for these precious women in my life who love and accept me fully.

who speak truth when I have forgotten what is true.

I am forever blessed.

TYCO Lego Phone

• Has this ever happened to you? After listening to Amy Grant's Lead Me On CD over the weekend, I had Saved By Love stuck in my head. So this morning while pinning on Pinterest and singing Saved By Loved out loud, I clicked to a site named Saved By Love Creations. I know ~ kinda creepy, but way cool.
• Today is National Cheese Day. So I thought I'd share this ~ years ago my brother-in-law Dave was in one of those Cheese/ Gift Houses, when the lady next to him said "I LOVE CHEESES!" ~ in which Dave replied "WELL JESUS LOVES YOU TOO!". True story. 
• Who would have ever thought a vineyard & winery would some day exist in the little farming community where I grew up near Osseo, Wisconsin! Check it out ~ Sandstone Ridge Vineyard & Winery.
• I may finally have enough yard sticks to make a tabletop like THIS.
• The YouTube video I made as a tribute to my Dad ~ "So God Made a Farmer" ~ is averaging over 1000 visits per month. That makes me so happy.
• Just for the heck of it, I looked to see what I was blogging about 5 years ago this week ~ vintage chenille! You can read that post HERE.
• I love Legos. So you can imagine my excitement when I found a TYCO Lego Phone (from the 80's) at The ARC in Tempe. And it really works and has the sweetest ringtone. And yes, it has a drawer on the side, that you fill with Legos, so you can build stuff while talking on the phone. And yes, we still have a landline. Thank God.

biscuits & lemon curd

Oh my goodness, biscuits & lemon curd are the best. Ok, lemon curd alone is the best!

But seriously, homemade biscuits & lemon curd with fruit spread and whipping cream is about as good as it gets.

It helps that I had a bumper crop of lemons this year, in which I usually freeze Zip-lock bags of lemon juice cubes & lemon zest for future pans of lemon bars. 

And I also freeze lemonade syrup for quick gallons of lemonade to cool us off throughout the hot summer months.

But my favorite is lemon curd. 

This is the recipe I use and it's made in the microwave! So quick & easy!

My Mother-in-law makes the best pound cake and man oh man does it ever taste good with a dollop of lemon curd on top! 

I put together this quick & easy basket of sweet & tart for Shawn & Nicole when they got home from the hospital after the twins were born. Sometimes we're not always able to bring an entire meal to a loved one, but maybe a basket full of homemade goodness is just what they need to munch on between those delicious meals that others are dropping off. 

I became a Mom...

30 years ago today this little guy made me a Mom.

And because he's so sweet, kind, funny, loving and creative ~

he made me look like a pretty awesome Mom.

When really, God made him that way ~

his Dad & I just had the blessing of nurturing his gifts, his character, his creativity, his imagination, his humor. I can't believe I was blessed with such a delightful, caring son.

And now he's a wonderful, loving husband to his wife Nicole ~ 

and a fun, awesome Daddy to Emolyn, Elsie, Nathan & Jonah!

HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY SHAWN!

Oh, and I can hardly wait to show you the rest of the photos taken by ~

En Love Photography 

when the twins were only 7 days old!

our cozy travel trailer

Now THIS is what I'm talkin' about... ok, so maybe I was only thinkin' about it ~ but heading to the mountains, next to my favorite guy, in my cozy cottage on wheels, with the desert heat in my rearview mirror is just what this farm-girl turned city-girl is aching for. 

Not sure when it's going to happen, but it better be soon!

This time we're planning to park cozy in a remote area with a creek running nearby. And we're hoping our little granddaughter Emolyn comes along with us for the first time overnight. She's pretty excited about sleeping between Randy & I (the bench seats make into a king-size bed- seen here) and having our dog Koda sleeping underneath the bed. 

"Koda better not snore Mimi!" 

"No Emolyn, Koda doesn't snore and thank God, neither does your Pop pop!"

And seriously, is there anything better than fried potatoes and sausage sizzling in cast iron on a Coleman stove? Umm, yes there is... eating it. 

Love spending time with this dear man and our precious puppy.

Oh be still my heart ~ the Mogollon Rim above Payson, Arizona.

The perfect spot to reflect, journal, pray... and be still.

AI & DWTS results

Ok, so tonight I know better than to look at facebook and accidentally find out who wins American Idol. I learned that the hard way last night and found out Donald Driver won Dancing With The Stars before the show had even started in our time zone. The Green Bay Packer Fan page spilled the beans... even though I had informed them, along with many west coast fans, that we'd prefer they wait till the entire country has viewed the show before they start posting results each week. I was thrilled he won, but sad that I was robbed the dramatic build-up of wondering throughout the two hour show who would win. You know, like someone telling you the ending of a good book you're reading.
Anyway, I was a Skylar fan till she was voted off, then it was Phillip all the way. But hey, Jessica is more than deserving. And as we all know, they'll both make it big, so it doesn't really matter does it.

So, what have I been doing? Well my job at the preschool ends this week, so I've been putting in extra hours and then helping out Shawn & Nicole with little projects as they get settled in their new home. It's smaller than their other home, but they gained a covered back patio that they just love.

So this week their Mama sprayed shaving cream on their picnic table and the girls had a blast. Ok, so it took Elsie a bit before she got down & dirty...

... and then she literally squealed with delight! I just love her passion for life.

And I love that Emolyn wears glasses with the lens popped out. We're talkin' the entire day at preschool... and the rest of the day. She's her own person, secure in the love that fills her up each day and that draws many to her sweet spirit.

Hey, results just in ~

HE WON!!! PHILLIP WON!!! And he's crying. Love that. What a great show!

Nathan & Jonah

Nathan & Jonah's Mama carries them in a sling.

They're as snug as a bug in a rug.

Jonah

Nathan

Jonah & Nathan's dedication service on Mother's Day at our church ~

I cried through the whole thing.

Nathan & Jonah's great-grandma ~ my dear mother-in-law ~ meeting them for the first time.

So thankful for these healthy, thriving, blessed little boys.

birds, bees, bugs & blooms

Even the desert cactus in all its prickliness has its own unique beauty...

... especially when the cacti are in bloom.

Birds were perched atop every blooming Saguaro cactus.

 This little guy performed a balancing act that was mighty impressive.

We rarely saw a cacti or flower bloom that wasn't filled with bugs or bees.

And speaking of bees, check out this busy little bee. 

Maybe he's a little camera shy.

Is that not the cutest little bee?

You're all looking at the bee inside the bloom...

but what cracks me up is the bee that is going in for a landing! Do you see him? How cute!

I know! I lucked out... no, it was not luck. Anna & I prayed when we entered the Desert Botanical Garden, that God would surprise us with blessings around every bend and corner. And He did!

The hummingbirds were quite the little show-offs, letting us get up close for these sweet photo ops.

These desert flowers were covered in furry fuzz... or is it fuzzy fur?

Anyway, the Sonoran Desert is filled with boundless, exquisite beauty throughout all times of the year. I love Arizona!
(you're gonna want to click to enlarge these images)