Happy 84th

This morning I dialed up an all too familiar phone number. The phone rang several times and then that voice... the one I've known my entire life... answered. Just the sound of their voices warms my heart and reminds me how lucky I am to have them. My grandparents.

Yesterday my grandpa turned 84 years old! I asked him how his "big" day went and he just laughed and talked about how he sat in his chair and watched the stream of people come in and out to bring their good greetings. But he enjoyed it...and did have some cake. 84... what a world he's seen! 84 years ago this would have been the typical sighting on the road:

And perhaps as he grew a little bit he may have played with this toy...

The president then was signing all kinds of new "tax" laws, etc.... {2pts if you know WHO}

And the clothes at that time...were... well, just classy! If you had money to own them!

So much has changed. He has lived through the depression, the Korean war, raising 3 sons and now watching his 6 grandkids and 6 great-grandkids live their lives. He's an amazing, tender but firm, loving, generous, patient, funny man. He's my grandpa and I'm so blessed to have him! And we continue to pray that very soon he'll call on the name of Jesus and be saved... it's on my everyday prayer list!

And just for fun - here's what was in the news headlines this weekend 84 years ago. I can bet you wouldn't see the silly things we read about Paris Hilton, Lindsay what's-her-face or some football star shooting up a place. However, there were shootings... at Al Capone. :/

-Germany was admitted to the "League of Nations"
-Robert Goddard launches first liquid-fueled rocket.
-Winnie-the-Pooh is published by Author A. A. Milne
-5,000,000 Unemployed in Europe with 2 million in Germany and 1 million in England
-John Logie Baird gave first public demonstration of a television
-Henry Ford announces the 40-hour week
-Radio network National Broadcasting Co ( NBC ) is launched
-Fidel Castro, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner were born this year.

Happy 84th Birthday weekend Grandpa!

Lord, I wanna be just like you...

You know the song by Phillips, Craig & Dean... "I want to be just like You"? Well, it's been on my brain the last few days - random. Perhaps not. My little girl is growing up... she's doing new things, testing new boundaries, saying new words and just amazing her daddy and I. Along with all of these "new" things, I'm seeing a lot of imitations of what she see's Daddy and I do. For example, EVERY time I bake or am in the kitchen... she "helps". I usually end up giving her a bowl with some flour and parsley sprinkled in it - so she can make "soup" and she loves that! Watching her whisk that flour-y mess just warms me. Then there's wearing our shoes. She loves my black heels, daddys tennis shoes and any other pair she can manage. And, maybe my favorite... writing. She LOVES to write and draw. I started writing around 8 years old...but always had a crayon or something in my hand even prior to that. I've always loved the feeling of paper beneath my hand - ready to write out every thought on my brain. The other day I was working on the computer getting some stuff ready for bible study when Ava came with her pad and pen and propped up next to me and began imitating the way I was writing my notes. She cocked her head to the side...like me..., held her pen in the same weird way I do and mumbled under her breath like I do. It was adorable. I just stopped and watched her - she's learning so much and wants so badly to be like Me and her dad.

The first time I heard this PCD song I was in jr high. My dad was in bible college and there was often special music times on campus. A man that lived a few houses down from us sang it and was just tearing up the whole time. While I was sensitive to it... I didn't have a clue. Now I'm the one tearing up at this "old" song - and, of course, changing the words to "little girl". :) What an amazing impact and opportunity we have with our children.

"Just like You"

He climbs in my lap for a goodnight hug

He calls me Dad and I call him Bub

With his faded old pillow and a bear named Pooh

He snuggles up close and says, "I want to be like you"

I tuck him in bed and I kiss him goodnight

Trippin' over the toys as I turn out the light

And I whisper a prayer that someday he'll see

He's got a father in God 'cause he's seen Jesus in me

Lord, I want to be just like You'

Cause he wants to be just like
I want to be a holy example

For his innocent eyes to see

Help me be a living Bible, Lord

That my little boy can read

I want to be just like You'

Cause he wants to be like me

Got to admit I've got so far to go

Make so many mistakes and I'm sure that You know

Sometimes it seems no matter how hard I try

With all the pressures in life I just can't get it all right

But I'm trying so hard to learn from the best

Being patient and kind, filled with Your tenderness'

Cause I know that he'll learn from the things that he sees

And the Jesus he finds will be the Jesus in me

Right now from where he stands I may seem mighty tall

But it's only 'cause I'm learning from the best Father of them all

Lord, I want to be just like You

Cause he wants to be just like me

I want to be a holy example

For his innocent eyes to see

Help me be a living Bible, Lord

That my little boy can read

Lord I want to be just like You'Cause he wants to be like me

Lord I want to be just like you cause he wants to be like me

Apples, and peaches and cider, Oh my!

Yesterday was cool. Literally, we woke up to a chilly home as the windows remained open overnight...inviting in the feeling of a little early fall. It took a long time for the sun to burn off the crisp feeling and I LOVED IT! This morning was even more chilly - and, though I will probably never be able to explain it. I always feel more alive in this upcoming season.

I know, I know...

There are probably still many days of warm summer left. I am ready for the unexpected heat wave to roll through one more time, or two. And I know that kids are just now starting back to school, splash parks are still open and bathing suits are still on sale at walmart.

But, nonetheless... I'm dreaming of my Fall. Of hot cider on the stovetop, the smell of leaves warming under the sun, cool breezes, sweatshirts and shorts, watching my daughters blond hair shimmer in a sunset... so many things!

But for now I'm getting all my planning done. Family trips to the orchard and pumpkin patch, fall crafts to attempt, dates to go on with my hubby and of course... Fall desserts and meals. :) The list has been narrowed down and this fall in the Pausley home we'll be having:

Cider-Glazed Apply Dumplings

Candied Apple Pie Cheesecake

Apple Streusel Loaf Cake

Peach Raisin Crostata

Apple-Raisin Crisp

Spiced Apple Cake

Awesome Apple Butter Cake

and of course... homemade classic applesauce.

No worries, we have LOTS of company to help us share all of those!

And, Happy pre-Fall :)

*still building this home*

Wa-hoooooo!

We finally got our furniture!

I don't think it's bad to say that I'm a teensy bit excited!

Here's a before shot of our living room - once we ridded ourselves of "the beast".
(a 200 pound hide-a-bed couch)

And here is the special delivery!
Our very first brand new couch...ever! It's a 2 piece sectional. Microfiber, and has a "pilly" texture... so nothing EVER shows up on it - well, minus some fuzz.

Ava has already made herself at home - and refuses to let me take even one picture without her climbing all over it! We so so blessed to own such a luxury and I can't wait to have people in our home to enjoy it with us! Thank you Lord for such a gift!

And, I would be a bad wife if I didn't mention the awesome
job my hubby did in our dining room...
He took the span of a few days and turned our plain white dining room
into... Well, let's do some before and afters. Much more fun.

We love the color and how it just makes the room feel so warm. I love the earth tones (of course) and how it completes our first floor! With a red kitchen, "spice cake" living room, and "ancient copper" dining room... things are finally starting to feel like "ours". It's such a fun challenge to put together a home!

Now we are looking for a semi-retro, antique but not antique-looking hanging light fixture for the dining room. Right now we haven't seen even one that we liked - and are open to suggestions.

Making this big ol' house into a home is quite the project... I'm so thankful for my "home building" partner, my husband. He's such a hard working guy and it never fails that on days when I have zero energy left...he comes home with tons - and does things like, well, the entire dining room! Love you Babe!

This IS my life

So many funny little things happen in my every-day life. My husband is just one of those naturally hilarious people... always singing, or quoting lines from a movie or favorite TV show. He has nicknames for everyone and is just overall quite entertaining to watch live.

My daughter has inherited some of his traits. She always has a tune on her tongue or is doing some little jiggity-jig in the living room. She is learning a new word every hour {so it seems} and loves to try to say them correctly. Yesterdays word was, "shadow". So at one point I heard her say "shadow" about 10 times...in a row. :) She is into everything including our Clue game, my journal {with a pen!}, the computer room, baby powder, magic markers, daddy's deodorant and... of course... every cupboard.

I'm learning to find joy in my every day life. I'm learning to value and appreciate my husband and my daughter more fully. Though, every day is a choice...and some days I fail miserably.

Lastnight as I was changing Ava's diaper and getting her ready for her bedtime bath - I let her run around naked as a jay bird. She loves that. And Brad and I just love to sit together on our couch and laugh out loud about how funny she is - she runs around like a crazy person, singing and dancing and flipping. As if her clothes were holding in this new little girl. Anyway, long story short - in the middle of all of this fun - she squatted and... a-hem, well, you know what... on our carpet!!! Right in the middle of the room... in front of us! We were both a little too shell shocked to do anything at first. So we just burst out laughing. And Ava just stood there looking at us, wide eyed and confused. After a good laugh I cleaned it up - thankfully it wasn't too messy - and we continued on with the bedtime routine. Needless to say, we may be rethinking the naked running around thing.

This morning we all slept until about 8:15. It was lovely and refreshing and we are so thankful for those Monday mornings that we actually make it to 8:15! I woke up a few minutes before everyone else and just lay there thinking of how blessed I am. How blessed the 3 of us are for having each other! These are such special days and I just want to save every one in my heart. We had such a precious family weekend...
-Redbox movie date night @ home, two nights in a row! Just me and the hubs.
-Babysitting a friends little boy who also happens to be one of Ava's favorite play friends.
-International Coffee's Mocha mix when Starbucks is just a leeetle too far away.
-Farmers market on saturday, strolling around and looking at the crowds and produce
-Pizza Hut dinner Sunday night

This IS my life. I'm a blessed woman trying to enjoy the every day moments. There is joy in every single one.

For laughs...

Buhahahaha! I could not stop laughing when I saw this video today... especially as our 99' Olds Cutlas continues to lose parts, shake on the highway and only have 2 heat settings: Too hot or freezing. :) It's good to not take life so seriously sometimes!

Iowa State Fair

( @ the mist fountain)

Brad and I saw a shirt a few weeks back that read, "I went to the Iowa State fair and all I got was type 2 diabetes". I'll admit - I laughed, out loud. Not because diabetes is funny...because obviously its not, but, because seriously that fair is all about the food! And after our funnel cake, root beer & beef sundae (don't ask) it was pretty much time to call it a day.
(coming out of the vine tunnel with momma)

(the garden spot play thingy)

I felt like we didn't get to make it all the way around the fair this year - life is just so very different with this precious Ava girl. She was phenomenal in behavior, but, the hours just flew by and before we knew it bedtime was fast approaching. She did have a blast with the things we did do - tho!

(first time touching a cow AND riding a pony!)


Until next year! Happy State Fair season!