Welcome Jubilee Rain

Three weeks ago today we welcomed our sweet daughter, Jubilee Rain, earth side. 9 pounds 7 ounces and 21.5 inches of adorable little girl.

The labor and delivery went smoothly and mommy is feeling great. (Maybe more on this later.)

She has completely captured our hearts with her sweet dimple chin, fuzzy light brown hair and sleepy grunts and coos. She fits wonderfully in our family and is such an easy baby so far. Nursing like a champ from the get go, sleeping good stretches (4-5 hrs at a time at night) and loving mama, daddy and brother snuggles.

Now to figure out what it means to gently love, nurture and raise TWO little ones... :)

Routine

I feel like I am finally catching my breath this week. Since late March we have had visitors and travel non stop. It has been wonderful and draining. This week will be our first full "normal" week at home without someone staying here or us leaving mid week to travel in over a month. I feel like I'll finally be able to catch my breath and get my house, health, and relationships back in order. Routine is soothing for my soul. When I'm not in a good rhythm everything in my life suffers and I become lazy....thus the blog absence and my expanding waist line.

Anyway...

The biggest news that has come about in the last three weeks is my little sister Emily had her precious son. I was honored to be present for a big part of my sisters labor and delivery to take photos. I can honestly say I have found my new passion in birth photography. I've always enjoyed all types of photo shoots, but the intimacy and spontaneity and miracle of capturing a woman as she becomes a mother in all its beauty makes my heart beat fast and my eyes well up with tears. Granted, this was my little sister in labor, but even so, I know I would feel similarly for anyone going through this process. I'm drawn to the love that surrounds and exudes from a pregnant women as she opens her body to bring new life into the world.

I was hoping to get the very first moments of my nephew's arrival, but alas, after 3 days of exhausting labor Emily ended up with a c-section and I wasn't allowed in the delivery room. However, I snapped a few photos of Gabriel with his new son right afterward and then the next day I took some of the whole family and a few newborn portraits of the little man.

Welcome Theodore Eldon Duane Myrin. Here are a couple of those photos. To see more, check out my photography blog here.

P.S. If you live in the Nashville area and are pregnant and interested in maternity, birth, newborn or family photos contact me at kat@voyagecreatives.com. I would love to buy you coffee to talk about what I can offer!

Intentional.

The house is still. Felix is down for the night, Willow is snuggled up next to me and Josh is spending some time out with friends.

Life has been exquisite. There is a predictable rise and fall of our mornings, afternoons and evenings. Our little family of three gracefully dancing together with comfort and familiarity. Serving one another. Loving one another. Even studying one another and learning how each one of us tick. What our individual, likes, desires and passions are. Watching and learning to see how the calling that God placed on each of us emerges in our daily choices, emotions and fascinations.

Josh, for instance, really loves it when I give him my full attention during conversations. No phones, no dishes, no folding laundry. I'm working on that, and can already see a difference in our relationship. Felix really loves to be held and involved in our work in the kitchen. Whenever possible I pull up a chair and let him hold a few plastic cups under the running water while I do the dishes, or that 22 lb boy is balanced on my hip trying to see what i'm pulling out of the fridge or what the cream looks like going into the coffee.

I've even been learning about myself. I feel my best when I get a shower, some alone time to create AND some time with friends. So going out of my way to meet up for coffee, working out, strumming my guitar, or play dates are vital water to my soul. I also really love the moments when all three of us are together. In the morning laying side by side with Felix leaning back on his Daddy resting for a few minutes before we rise into the bustle of a new day. In the evenings when we eat a meal together and then play on the living room floor before bath and nighttime prayers. And even sometimes a special afternoon get together, like we had today. 

We took advantage of the warmer temperature and had a snack at a park near Josh's work. Felix was so happy. He laughed and screamed as he explored the outdoors with fresh eyes after weeks cooped up inside. No one else was at the park, so we let him wander pretty far from us, but still within eye sight. Every now and then he would stop and pick a little stick up off the ground, or smack the side of the slide just to see what would happen. A child's discovery of life is a wonder to behold.

And then Josh called for him and our little man shrieked happily and ran to us in these tiny baby steps that almost made it seem like he was running in place. Laughing and squealing the whole way back to our bench swing. I honestly couldn't help but tear up a little at the beauty that is our little family.

Anyway, I know that's sappy, but life has been good and purposefully taking time to learn about each other has been fruitful. I have found that unless I willfully pour into Josh and Felix then those relationships end up just floating by aimlessly. I will go through the motions and not truly find the joy in the special bond I have with each of them. And these are THE most important relationships I have.

I guess the moral of the story is rhythm is good. Predictability is good. There is an intimacy that comes with the simple steady flow of the everyday. But, the comforting cadence of daily life shines best when paired with a melody of intentionality.

Back to Three

This afternoon Felix and I ran errands in the rain. He was particularly cranky and needy. Wanted me to hold him during our entire Target visit and really panicked when I put him back in his car seat to run to the grocery for a couple of things I needed for dinner. I think he has two top teeth coming in and just wanted me to hold him so he could bite my sweater and feel close to comfort. But, we made it through our errands and I juggled him and 4 bags of groceries into the house. I nursed him and snuggled him a bit and then I put on some fun music and distracted him with boxes of surprise toys (read: random things from around the house) to discover. Balancing him on my hip off and on while making dinner.

I browned some quality organic beef we got from Whole Foods, added rosemary, sage, garlic, and a chopped onion then a jar of marinara sauce to simmer. Diced a tomato and sliced some romaine lettuce with a sprinkle of feta cheese on top and lightly tossed in Italian dressing. When Josh said he was on his way home from work I turned on the already filled pot of water to boil and a few minutes later added spaghetti. A spanish red was opened when Josh came in the house and he sliced, oiled, peppered and salted to perfection a baguette.

Our little family of three gathered around our table in our rickety falling apart chairs and feasted. It was Felix's first time eating spaghetti and he really seemed to love it (in spite of him gagging on some of the longer noodles that I missed cutting). I even gave him some berries with whipped cream for dessert. What a special treat for my little guy.

Last week Emily and Gabriel moved out. While we really miss having them around for company and a helping hand with Felix, getting back to just our little family in our regular rhythm of life has been refreshing. Plus, I know they have moved on to greener pastures in their own place to set up a home for their upcoming babe. (Due in March!!)

Before Felix went to bed the Josh and I laid on the floor in the living room and Felix ran around us showing us toys, throwing himself on us, we would grab him and tickle him till he couldn't handle it anymore and then he would sit up breathless and throw himself back at us for more.

It has been a long time since I've been able to say this and really mean it, but even on bad days, when it rains, and I'm sleepy and the house is a disaster, I truly feel so much of God's goodness. So much of His blessing. So much of His favor. So much of his closeness and daily weaving in and out of my life. And I am content and more than that, overflowing with Joy. Praise Him.

Ewing Sisters

Today was the first real COLD day of the season. Some even say they saw flurries around our area this morning. I hummed Christmas tunes all day. At the supermarket a lady even wished me a Merry Christmas.  During lunch and Felix's afternoon nap I popped in Little Women - one of the classic movies I watch every year when the temperature drops. Since the whole movie is about a family with four girls I inevitably thought about my family and especially my sisters.

It is hard to not compare each of the Ewing girls to the March girls. My sisters may disagree, but I am obviously Jo - funny, writer, a bit impulsive and clumsy at times. Rebecca - though she is healthy as a horse - has a compassion and sweetness about her just as Beth does. Cynthia - more practical and hard working - just like Meg. And Emily - whether she accepts it or not will always be Amy in my head. A bit bothersome to my teenage self but blossoming into an incredibly beautiful and creative young woman. The one thing we all have in common with the March girls is a fierce loyalty to family.

Any one of us would go to hell and back for our other sisters. No matter how many proverbial manuscripts we may throw in the fire. No matter the twists and turns of life. No matter the political differences. No matter the miles that separate us and no matter long stretches between phone calls because life got busy. And if anyone ever hurt one of our cherished sisters we would do whatever we could to protect, stand up for and support and love her.

Which is part of why there has been such a silence here on my blog. I'm not making excuses, but honestly it has been hard to be honest here because so much of what is affecting my life right now, wasn't my story to share.

In July my little sister was attacked and raped at a bus stop on her way to work at a bakery in the wee hours of the morning. It tore at the seems of our family and we were all completely wrecked by the attack. I touched on it here and here, but then I diverted my attention to mundane posts because I wanted to honor the process for my dear sister to share and heal in a way she felt best. Even though she and her new husband are finding refuge in our house as they start baby stepping their way toward wholeness again. Them being under our roof has pulled my heart and daily activities far from where they were before the incident and made it confusing to find what to write.

Today she started a blog called The New Normal and her first post brought tears to my eyes. I'm so amazingly proud of her for beginning to share her story and for her courage to invite others into her healing process, allowing other victims to find her words as medicine for their aching souls.

So here is to story telling. To writing. To honesty. To finally letting the wound get air so it can heal even faster. And here is to my sisters, but especially, here is to the brave, brilliant, and beautiful, youngest Ewing girl -- Emily.

Happy Fall!

I have been swallowed whole by motherhood, fall activities, travel, and sheer exhaustion. Until a week ago I was still going to sleep each night dreading the inevitable 4-6 wakings before 7AM. And I would barely make it through each day because I was unsure if I would even get a nap out of my little buddy. At 3, 4, 5, 6, and even the beginning of 7 months I could hack it, but when we were rolling into 8 and nine months with nothing changing I couldn't put my fingers to a keyboard to write ANYTHING because I feared only negativity and complaining would spill out as I was rapidly approaching the line of insanity.

However, something in the last week has clicked with Felix and he is now only waking 2 times max and oftentimes can get himself settled and back to sleep rather quickly. Could have been he hit some large mile stones lately (steps, crazy crusing, feeding himself) or that as long as he wasn't really upset and was just sort of shouting and not really crying we would give him 5 minutes to settle and he oftentimes could do so in 2 mins or less or maybe it was that we had him adjusted at the chiropractor.

Either way, sanity is being restored to the Michael household and I may start to make a few more appearances here on this little blog instead of spacing out because that's all i could muster during my free time.

Here are a few things that have happened the last month while I was absent.

My blog turned 5. (Crazy)

My littlest sister got married!

Felix has taken a few steps.

Fall continued being awesome and my favorite of all the seasons.

We went to a wedding in Bloomington, IL

Felix and I visited the Cahills for 3 days

Felix is learning to master the art of sleeping

We attended a super encouraging conference in Campbellsville, KY

I have already started listening to Christmas music

We have a family themed costume planned for tonight. 

Yup. Pilgrim, Indian and Turkey. Even though it's raining and most of the trick-or-treating is canceled, Josh and I still are still planning to go to Publix for their candy passing out and then dinner as a family to Carrabba's for $5 pizza night.

That's all for now! Happy Thursday that happens to also be Halloween.

Another Farewell for Now

Chips, salsa, queso and two cold beers sat on the table in front of us. There is not much in life that the Ewing family loves more than mexican food and it seemed right for me and my older sister to celebrate our last hurrah together in Franklin at our favorite little mexican restaurant - Pueblo Real.

The little hole-in-the-wall is half way between out two houses and it has become a tradition for us to meet there for much needed sister-friend time. The salsa ran out 4 times over the course of the meal, but it was so nice to sit together and linger chatting like it wasn't the last time we would eat there together in a long time.

This weekend the Cahills move to Byrdstown, TN. They have lived in Franklin for 3 years now and we have been through a lot together. Two jobs and stay-at-home-momdom for me. Two jobs for josh. Grueling residency for Cynthia. Early mornings and late nights at the farm for JP. Two precious Cahill babies and one much-longed for Michael baby. Countless belly laughs and late nights out and many stressful phone calls to vent or cry together and celebrations galore. We have fully lived life together letting each other into the ugliest and most beautiful parts of each others lives. They are not only family, but they have become our closest and dearest friends.

Spontaneous cookouts with sweet corn, roasted veggies and burgers in their back yard while the kids chase fireflies and splash in a baby pool. Football games on the big screen with spicy chili, cornbread and cookies. Movie nights. Game nights. Wine nights. Just-come-over-for-the-heck-of-it-nights. I'm going to miss them dearly.

Luckily they are only 2 hours away so instead of spontaneous nights together around their back yard, our new MO will be weekends at their cabin. Renting boats on the lake. Watching our kids sled down hills in the forrest, farmer's market saturday mornings in Franklin and Let's-meet-half-way dinners in Lebanon. I cherish the time we have had together and I know there are still many memories and good times that lie ahead in our future.

I know it's lame, but this was one of three photos that contained JUST the 4 of us and even though it's old and at a mini golf course it was the best one.

A Visit with Framily and some Maternity Pics

Yes...you read that right. Framily. We like to make up words here in the Michael household and Framily is one I just now came up with. It applies to 99% of the people I'm related to who also happen to be my friends. (I'll let all your ewing/michaels fret about whether or not your fall into that 99% or if you are the 1% that I consider a Fameney - family/enemy - jk)

This past weekend we visited some of our favorite framily members...Josh's older sister Andrea and her husband Mike and sweet almost 2 year old son North.

We had a nice time staying up way to late drinking wine eating cheese, trisects, chocolates, frozen pizza, and gigantic cookies. Saturday we went into Mike's new place of work - Brothers. It's a fabulously awesome restaurant in the heart of downtown Campbellsville, KY. The menu features down home cooking with an upscale vibe. Half chicken, pulled pork, beef brisket served on a toasted bun with sharp cheddar and an onion ring, hand cut french fries, spicy gumbo washed down with a coca-cola classic all in a rustic modern vibe dining room with hardwood tables and stainless steel accents. Delicious.

After Mike got home from work I snapped a few maternity shots of my sister in law who is due in 9 days with baby #2. I really enjoy maternity shoots. I haven't done many photo shoots in general, but of the ones I have done I think maternity are my favorite. Expectant women are a beauty to behold. The way their bodies expand and make room for new life is nothing short of miraculous. And even at 39 weeks pregnant Andrea is gorgeous. Here are a few highlights.

My Friday

You guys...i'm going to be honest...today has been rough. Felix still isn't sleeping well (up last night at 10:30, 12:30, 2:30, 3:30, 4:30, 5:30 and then up for the day at 6:30) and I have been throwing a massive pity party all day about it. I tend to lash out at those closest to me that are capable of being lashed at - including but not limited to my husband and my dog willow. My poor family.

Don't get me wrong. I LOVE being Felix's mom. And if that means I need to deal with sleepless nights, I can handle it because he really is such a joy to be around from the hours of 7 AM - 8 PM. Super happy. Easily entertained for the most part. Smart. Smiley and Sweet Sweet Sweet. I know I am SUPER Blessed. I have a list of things I'm thankful for that I keep on an app on my phone and I'm pretty sure Felix is on there in some fashion or another every day. But this no sleeping thing is making me depressed.

I cried last night before bed. Thinking about the fact that I was going to have to wake up in an hour or less and every minute that ticked by when I wasn't snoozing caused further anxiety. I cried this afternoon when it took 40 minutes to get the rambunctious little dude down for a 30 minute nap. I cried into my pillow when Josh came home for lunch - hoping for some miracle of miracles and a break from the madness. Which worked - he took the kid for a walk and I just spaced out. Looked at pinterest in peace. Played a bit of words with friends. Peed by myself...you know...the things people without young kids do.

And honestly. That 20 minute break of no responsibilities was amazing. Got me through the afternoon. I was a bit of a super mom after lunch. We played out side in the grass and took some pictures. We banged a few metal bowls with spoons and made a ruckus. Played a few rounds of peekaboo and did some side nursing snuggles with lots of smiles back and forth with my sweet baldy boy.

And tonight Josh took me to Whole Foods (happy place) and the Bottle Shop (happy place) and then he headed out to a guys night and I spent an hour chit chatting with my sister at her house, eating chocolate and drinking wine while Felix played on the floor. Now I'm home. It's 9:00 and Felix is down for his first stretch of sleep. (please God let it be more than 2 hours) and I'm in my PJs with the remaining bottle of wine beside me and plans to catch up on some blog reading. A fairly mundane night, but the bit of free time this afternoon and right now has refreshed my bones.

Cheers and fingers crossed for a decent night's rest.

The Fresh 20

Food is important around here. In the past Josh and I would end up eating out for dinner probably 3 times a week and even though we are wanna-be foodies, we don't have the budget to hit-up every fusion, french or fancy restaurant in town. So we often times would resort to pizza, chipotle, chick-fil-a, or subs from somewhere quick.

We decided recently that this was NOT a good plan for our waist line or our budget and we wanted Felix to grow up in a home that had meals around the table together, so we committed to eating at home more often.

Now, this was a good idea in theory, but I lacked imagination in the meal planning department and had no knowledge about how to do this in a cost effective way. Often times I would plan a meal the day it was to be eaten and then go out and buy all the ingredients for said meal. Ending up in about 30 bucks spent at the grocery store. We would have left overs, but in my head if I was spending that much on one meal for 2 at home and still dealing with clean up afterwards, we may as well be eating out.

Enter a few weeks of feeble attempts and frustration that led to a random discussion on Sunday afternoon about meal plans, a quick Facebook post asking for some advice and my friend Amanda suggesting The Fresh 20. It was down hill from there.

Being food lovers, busy and on a budget the Fresh 20 was perfect. It compiles a weekly menu (5 nights a week - not the overwhelming 7 like other meal planners) then gives you an itemized grocery list of 20  ingredients to purchase for ALL your meals that week. That's it. 20 items. Some ingredients are in multiple dishes, others are used up on one night. And because the list includes in-season items that you use multiple times throughout the week (so you can buy in bulk) it helps save money  So far our weekly dinner costs on the Fresh 20 has been about 70 dollars or less and many times the meals have leftovers to carry our lunches as well.

Meals like garlic chicken with massaged kale and avacado salad, Grilled sausage pizza with homemade pesto sauce and cantaloupe, or grilled chicken tacos with pineapple salsa are a few of our favorites. I'm loving it. I'm trying new dishes that I would never come up with on my own. And they are WAY healthier than my regular go-to dishes but these are still packed with flavor. I'm hoping to document some of our meals and share them here on the blog. Stay tuned!

How do you meal plan for the week? What are some of your go-to dishes?

Because I Need to Write About Something Less Heavy - Breakfast Quinoa

It's been heavy around here. That's the season of life I'm in, but there are also a lot of really great things happening. Like Felix is napping better. (two 1.5 hour naps today!) Like my husband works his butt off at his 9-6 job and comes home and continues to work his butt of on side projects. Hoping for one day more time with his family. (I'm so grateful for him) Like fresh baked cookies, skpye prayer meetings, homemade pizza, spontaneous late nights with good friends and wine, afternoon housewarming parties, baked oatmeal, and coffee with other mamas.

Like a fun trip to Barnes and Noble last week when Felix played with toys on the ground and I read Bread and Wine with a stack of other hopeful books beside me.  And one of my favorite moments recently was last Saturday morning when I decided I was going to make the breakfast quinoa from the above mentioned book. So on Friday afternoon I sought out the ingredients at Whole Foods.

Whole foods is one of my happy places. I needed out of the house so in between naps Felix and I ventured out. I strapped him into the shopping cart with a blanket tucked around him. Taking note how tiny he looked holding himself up in the front of the cart. His baby hands gripping the metal in front of him and his ear to ear grin of excitement to be sitting in the cart. Free to twist and turn all about to see whatever his little heart desires. I loaded up on 2 lbs of Whole Grain quinoa, chicken apple sausage, and bought a new pack of brown eggs.

The next morning was Saturday. While I was sautéing the onion in a bit of olive oil Josh realized we were out of coffee and headed out to Whole Foods for a pound of breakfast blend. I chopped sausage. boiled and simmered the quinoa and then fried 3 eggs. Two for Josh, 1 for me. A pinch of salt. A dash of red pepper flakes for Josh and our eggs and toast routine was turned gourmet and healthy. I plan to buy Bread and Wine sometime soon so I don't have to compulsively come up with excuses to go to Barnes and Noble just to read it. What I've read so far is amazing.

This was such a special morning. Felix was happy. Watching me cook, playing with toys on a blanket laid on the floor. Josh grinding beans and pouring us both a steaming cup. Me grating sharp cheddar, and chopping ingredients around the kitchen. It had been weeks since we were able to spend a laid back Saturday morning like this together and it brought about a sense of togetherness and restored a bit of peace to our home. Quinoa lightened our heavy load.

Worship Leading While Lactating: Being a Mom in Ministry

I'm supposed to be at the church for worship practice in 15 minutes. The night before I was up no less than 5 times calming a fussy baby. I'm exhausted and praying "give me strength Lord" on repeat in my head while I put on my eye liner. I still haven't finished my hair, put on shoes, brushed my teeth or, most importantly, nursed my 4 month old son. One of these items will need to go on the back burner. Frizzy hair it is. 

I know some women choose to take a season out of service in the church to focus their efforts at home after having kids, and that is awesome.  In fact, I was told a few times while I was pregnant that worship leading wouldn't be as important to me after my little bébé arrived. Hearing this made me sad. It ended up being one of my main worries during my pregnancy. Was I going to have to step down from my role as a worship leader? I didn't want it to be less important. I still felt a magnetic pull to pour myself out leading others in worship. I so desperately wanted to be a mom, but at the same time still wanted to walk in this part of my calling. So while I understood the notion of others stepping down for a season after children came along, I always knew that wasn't for me. I wanted to stay involved as much as possible post-baby. 

I serve as one of the main worship leaders at my church here in Franklin, TN. So far being a mom and serving in church ministry has posed some interesting obstacles, resulted in some deep revelations and brought about some hilarious stories. I only have one kid right now, so things could get even more challenging when our family grows further. So, I've decided to share it all here. The funny and the not so funny. The hard and the not so hard. Tips, tricks, and ways it has made me grow as a leader, a mom, and a disciple of Jesus in a new series called "Worship Leading While Lactating"

Raw

Today my heart is raw. I've been crying off and on for days now and Felix has decided to completely revolt against sleeping. Up literally every hour or more. Yesterday my body and mind shut down. I couldn't take it anymore. The pain from recent events, exhaustion and other life demands took it's final blow and then shoved me into a 2 hour nap that couldn't have come at a better time.

I'm still processing through all that is happening along with my family, but at this point it feels like my heart - the muscle that drives my emotions - has been pulverized all that it can take and is ready for some healing. I know it will be a slow process and I still have quite a bit of grieving - along with all it's glorious stages - to go through and honestly the place I want to go right now is distraction.

I want to dive into books, blogs, movies, TV Shows, mothering, projects, relationships etc. but the truth of the matter is, that what I really need is some soap, water, and thick ointment slathered all over these open wounds.

I need time to march on to give me space to process. I need the sand paper that's been grating against me to ease up a bit and allow me to get used to the new roughed up shape. I need to sorting through my questions, my anger, my attitude  and my theology.  I need to figure out how to let Jesus in for healing. And try to reconcile what His role was/is in this tragedy.

And in the midst of all of this, 6 month dr. appointments will be made. Obligations will be met. I'll lead worship. coffee will be consumed. walks will be taken. poopy diapers changed. hands held. Babies soothed. dinners cooked. and sisters hugged. But I'm holding onto the truth that God will press in. He is close to the broken hearted, you know.

Familiar

So much has happened. A lot that I can't and don't feel comfortable sharing. A family crisis bringing all the Ewing sisters and our mom and dad together in one place. At my parents new home in Baltimore. Hugs wrapped around one another finding comfort in warm, familiar and steady arms. Spinach lasagna, garlic bread,  coffee and chocolate chip cookies filling our tummies. Giving us a sense of oneness in an strange and confusing place and situation.

When tragedy strikes coming back to home base sometimes feels like the only thing that will keep your insides from falling right out of you. The only thing that will keep you from curling up into a ball on the floor and screaming is having your sister next to you and your moms hand stroking your hair. Familiar jokes. Familiar faces. Familiar snuggles. Clinging to each other with a strength we didn't even know existed

I wrote earlier this month that home for me is Nashville and Franklin now. And it for sure is. Especially with my parents recent move to Baltimore, the house I grew up in in Ohio is no longer ours.

But this week our family truly proved that home has little to do with a location. It's in dad's stellar breakfast omelets  In loading a dishwasher together - you wash I dry. In backseat driving and teasing. In recipe tug-of-war and in curled up reading on the couch next to each other. In talking loudly at the dinner table, hands laid and prayers lifted. In backs scratched and hymns sung in harmony. We found that home is in fact, with each other.

Your thoughts and prayers for us are appreciated.

Another Goodbye

Conversations over pesto pizza, salad and cold beer at Whole foods with mamas holding fussy, overtired babies on our hips wishing we had more time. The plans were to meet up the next day for a cookout, a sleep over, and some final moments together before Nate and Joanna (my brother-in-law and sister-in-law) would depart for another stretch in the mission field in Africa, but the night was sweet, the air was cool and none of us wanted to part ways.

We talked about health, we talked about travel plans, we talked about babies, and future babies, and holidays, and reminisced about being housemates. As usual, the conversation eventually turned toward the Brewery. The one the boys will start up when they finally return from Afica for good. Thirteen Foot Brewery. (13 feet is the collective height of the boys - 6' 7" and 6' 5"). Dreaming of menus, and marketing plans, and beer names and distribution possibilities.

When we finally peeled away from each other for the evening, Josh and I got in the dark car and looked at each other knowing we were both thinking the same thing. We are really going to miss them.

We are blessed with a great many close friends. People we trust and have lots of great times with. However, then there is the inner circle of friends. People we bare our souls to. People who know our dirt. who will pray for us, check in on us, watch our kid for free and we can be 100% real around. These people have seen me on multiple times unshowered and without makeup. (this is a big deal...) This is a small group. I can almost count them on one hand and most of them are family members. Nate and Jo are in that group.

It's really hard having to spend this season of life so far away from one another and even disconnected from typical means of communication (cell phones are limited and internet access is very spotty where they live in Cameroon.) I'm glad they are walking in their calling. and I support them and what they are doing 100% And I'm SO glad the word of God is being spread. But selfishly (very selfishly) I wish it could be spread through someone else.

That is bad.

I repeat...That is SO bad....

But It's true. I love these people so much, that having to see them come and go so often tears a bit of my heart away every time they leave and I'm not even blood related to them, so I can only imagine how much Josh's heart breaks when they go. I'm so glad we were able to spend a few precious nights lingering and sucking out every last drop of time together to sustain us till they come back. We will miss them like crazy.

A Quick Update and iPhone Dump

Oh my word! The last two weeks have flown by! We spent two weekends ago celebrating our good friend Brendan's birthday, me leading worship on Saturday night and Sunday morning, then Sunday afternoon grilling out and sunday night making s'mores around a campfire in our friend's backyard! It was jam packed of memories, good food, and sweet times with some of those we care most about. Friends fill life to the brim.

Then last weekend Felix took his first big road trip up to Bloomington, IL for Josh's dad's 60th birthday. We did the 6 hour trip in 8 hours on the way up and just under 7 hours on the way back. Most of the trip went well and Felix slept a good amount leaving lots of time for me to read Catching Fire out loud to Josh (So excited for the movie in November!). The last hour both ways on the trip were the worst. Lots of "overly-happy mommy voice" and a few hang-over-the-car-seat-nurse-sessions to keep Felix satisfied and we got through the drive relatively unscathed.

A few extra side projects and a horrifying bout of food poisoning due to a broken fridge and me trying to "save" the expensive deli meat I just bought (bad bad choice) have kept all of us busy here in the Michael household this week.

All that to say, I'm just coming up for air and hope to get back into regular blogging again next week. For now a few favorite iPhone photos from the last couple weeks.

Cheers!

Row 1: Maddie at Play, Pensive Willow, Zoo Outing

Row 2: My men, finger chewing, 60 candles

Row 3: Cousins, a girl loves pink, toe exploration

Row 4: little stud, car entertainment, Cahill's egg maker

Promises Pilgrimage

"Don't make any plans this Saturday, Ok?" He said to me while we both shuffled around our tiny kitchen me putting away clean dishes and him making dinner . "Ok, why? Do you have something you want to do?" I reply.

"Promise not to shoot it down, even though it might sound stupid?"

"OK"

"I want to drive around town and visit all the places where the Lord has been faithful to us and provided for our family since being in Nashville." He states his well thought out plan

So on Saturday morning we loaded our son into the car, filled our bellies with coffee and pastries from Whole Foods and headed toward Williamson County Hospital where God protected me during a Gallbladder surgery in 2008.

We passed the old building for the Franklin Vineyard where we both came to this church community we have come to call family.

We thanked God for Real Food Farms where our Brother in Law works and where we have received countless free veggies that led to healthy bodies paving the way for a healthy pregnancy.

We drove by Grace Center church, where God first revealed the moving of his Holy Spirit in powerful ways at a Bill Johnson conference in 2007.

We made our way downtown to Green Hills by Josh's old job and the starbucks where he told me he was laid off from a position that made him unhappy.

Past Vanderbilt hospital where we welcomed our beautiful son into the world and both of us cried as we praised Him for a beautiful delivery and healthy child.

To the Country Music Hall of Fame and the job that brought us down south in the first place. Where I cut my teeth in marketing and had an amazing business mentor and friends.

Out by the airport where Josh learned code at Acxiom and was able to lay ground work for building ESL Basics and developed skills that landed him his job at Magazines.

Past our old apartment, where we first lived. Where we made pasta or egg sandwiches for dinner most nights. Lived on a shoestring budget. Had our first big fight. Had our first big reconciliation. Made it through a cold winter. And into a warm spring. And where we realized just how much work and fun it is being married.

The day was topped off at Brixx for salad and pizza. Where Felix continued to act like a dream after 2.5 hours in the car, sleeping in my arms while we prayed one final time, giving thanks to God for never letting us down. For never faltering. For being a good and faithful Father. For hemming us in behind and before and paving the way for our future full of His blessing and goodness.

The Littlest Ewing

Emily, the littlest of the 4 Ewing sisters, is outstanding.

She's gorgeous, talented, smart, passionate, funny, fun, witty, and has a fierce heart for the Lord.

Emily is 8 years younger than me and was a tiny 10 year old when I moved away from home and headed to college. It's hard for me to picture her as an adult/grown-up person because I constantly remember her like she was the first day of kindergarten.

But alas, she is all grown up and in her final semester at the good old WKHS embarking on a Senior Project journey.   From what I can remember the Senior project is something a student can decide to do in their final few months of high school rather than attend usual classes every day. During the time normally spent in class the student will put together a large project that will then be graded by a panel of teachers at the end of the year. Usually the project has something to do with the career you want to head into after college.

My older sister, Cynthia, chose to go to Honduras to observe and assist in medical missions.

Rebecca, my other little sister and fellow middle child, put together a fundraiser for Invisible Children and raised gobs of money (over $6,000!) to support the cause.

Emily is wearing the same dress every day till graduation to raise awareness for sex trafficking in America. (Follow her journey documented on her blog)

And I...well...I...um...sang or something? How freaking unheroic is that?! The rest of my family is changing the world and I rounded out my Senior year by singing classic Italian love songs and show tunes. Epic FAIL!

Anyway! stop by Emily's blog and read a bit. She's a great writer. It will be worth it. Trust me.

Discoveries

I discovered a new way to accessorize/wear my hair! Scarf headband! I stole this idea from the lovely Jess at Boho Baby Bump. Check it out.

I also discovered that one of my eyes is bigger than the other. What is up with that?!

I mean...seriously. look at how small my left eye is compared to my right eye in the above picture?! Is this a common thing or am I just a freak...uh i mean special? 

Enough narcissism, Katherine. 

Moving on... 

This weekend my awesome in-laws are coming for a visit. We are going to spend some quality time with them chilling, drinkin wine, eating delicious food and hopefully popping over to Goodwill tomorrow morning for their first-weekend-of-the-month-50-percent-off sale. We have rain all weekend here, but hopefully you all can get out and enjoy some nice weather. Spring is almost here!

France - Days 7 & 8

After a very long hiatus from my these posts, I'm continuing on with days 7 and 8 of our France trip from last October. (If you are new here you can find the rest of the France Journey through out my blog: Days 1 & 2, Days 3 & 4, Days 5 & 6) I'm determined to finish these posts by the end of February!

Day 7 - Wednesday, October 6, 2010

We rolled out of our slumber back in Chambery at about 10 am, Wednesday morning. Nathan and Joanna's apartment had such heavy blinds we could barley even tell it was daylight out when we finally forced ourselves to rise. We spent the morning putzing around eating yogurt, cereal and enjoying each other's company. By noon we decided it was about time to do get out and about. Even though we were warned that French clothing wouldn't fit our *ahem* Large/Tall frames, we hit up a local store called Kabi.

After a short walk from Nate and Jo's apt. we got to the store and immediately realized they were having a MASSIVE sweater sale AND they had clothes in our size! After about 2.5 hours of trying things on we walked away with basically an entire new wardrobe for Josh. You have no idea what kind of feat this is...it is impossible to find clothing to fit him that is also fashionable and that day he left with like 3 sweaters, and 3 jackets. A.maze.ing

The only un-amazing part was a very embarrassing situation at the cash register where the woman checking us out didn't speak any english. She wasn't like most french people who say they don't speak english, but really do. She ended up having to page someone to come to the front and translate what was going on. (apparently we didn't have the right amount of sweaters to get the buy one, get one deal they had going on). Eventually, things worked out and we walked out with only a slightly bruised ego from having .01 French speaking skills.

After shopping, Nate, Josh and I went to the velo station (bike rental shop) to pick up some bikes for the rest of our trip. We had a little bit of trouble finding bikes tall enough for Nate and Josh considering they are the one's pushing up the national height average, but in the end we all pedeled away on super cute and matching light blue cycles. Mine with a special little basket on the front.

These bikes opened up an entirely new France for me. We decided to pick up some bread on the way home and Nate took us the scenic route. We zigged and zagged across traffic to a little car-less area where old, brightly colored buildings stood tall on either side of us. French women strolled in pairs eating ice cream in high heels, vendors stood outside by their shops beckoning passerbys into try their wares, Old men walked their dogs along cobblestone streets and fountains provided background music to the scene. And the best part of it all, I got to carry the baguette in my basket on the way home. I felt like i was living in a dream land. It was perfect. This first bike ride is still one of my strongest memories from the entire trip.

That night Josh and I went on a special dinner date at a crêperie, so josh got ready and Nate took some pictures of him.

So handsome!

Headed out to dinner!

Hey there handsome. :)

I was really excited about my crepe.

The place was packed and Josh and I discovered that it is strange for someone to wait for a table at a restaurant if there isn't immediate seating. I guess this is due to the fact that there are so many food choices within walking distance and also because most French dinners last several hours, but we waited anyway! Awkwardly in the alley outside the restaurant right by the windows where people were eating because there was no entry area. 


We got a table within 20 minutes and I enjoyed crepes filled with hamburger, egg, onion and mushrooms, while josh ordered one with goat cheese and Lardon (the same stuff that was in tartiflette). He asked to add tomato but, some how it ended up coming out with ham in it instead. The BEST part of 
the meal though was dessert which consisted of delicious nuttella, banana and whipped cream. Yumm!


After dinner we headed back to N&J's apartment for a little hang out time and a late night Pirates of the Caribbean viewing. Life was good.


Day 8 - Thursday, October 7, 2010.


Thursday, October 7, 2010 is a very special day. For Thursday, October 7, 2010 was Joanna's 27th birthday! We woke up to the smell of Nate making french toast...out of a french baguette...in a french kitchen...with a french mustache...OK I may have made up that last part about the mustache...but either way it was an awesomely french way to make french toast with a french baguette. FRENCH!

At breakfast I gave Jo her present I carted over from the US - Real Simple magazines and a pair of earrings - only to find out that my Mother-in-Law had brought her all the same Real Simple magazines a few weeks prior, and that Jo already had a very similar pair of earrings...sigh. Great minds think alike i guess. :)

After breakfast we all got ready and headed out for a quick bike ride around Chambery. Again - amazingness abounds and I have no pictures of it all because I was so worried about not being hit by traffic while aggressively riding my bike around the busy streets. Also, i didn't want to look TOO much like a tourist with a rented bike and a giant camera around my neck all the time.

After our fun bike ride on matching bikes we grabbed a quick lunch at a sandwich shop. As usual we ended up getting duped into buying more than we realized because we couldn't read the French signs.

Taking our lunch to a nearby park I had me and Josh's sandwiches in my awesome bike basket. While trying to keep up with Nate and Jo I carelessly ran my bike through a huge pot-hole and watched in slow motion as my awesome sandwich came flying out of the bag, then out of the box, landed on the ground in front of me and i swiftly ran over it with my bike. I may or may not have cursed like an American sailor at that point...so much for blending in.

me right before I ran over my sandwich.

Lunch was beautiful. We parked our tooshies right next to a fountain in the middle of a busy park. Little Ayla ran around picking up leaves and showing us then throwing them into the fountain. (haha!) The whole lunch was very peaceful and the weather couldn't have been more perfect in early fall.

Once lunch was over we continued to ride our bikes around time and did a bit of shopping. I found a good deal on a pair of shoes and we found some good christmas presents for our family around the Old Town area of Chambery.

The happy family in the old-town area of Chambry. 

Later, I went back to Kabi while the rest of the crew went home for a quick nap. Looking back - I wish I wouldn't have done as much shopping (surprise!) I wish we would have spend more time riding our bikes, walking, hiking, doing cliche toursity things like going to museums, or taking tours, or even just sitting and reading outside in a park.

After sufficiently doing some damage to our shopping fund, we went back to Nate and Jo's apartment for Taco Night with some of their friends to celebrate Jo Jo's birthday.

Their friends brought Settlers of Catan over for us to borrow later that evening and play just Nate, Jo, Josh, and me. Apparently this was a HUGE deal because the guy who lent the game to us is very particular about his game. So particular that all the pieces were packaged in color coordinated Altoid boxes and pill bottles. Exhibit A.

We may or may not have taken this picture so we could remember how the game was supposed to go back in the box.

After the shock/amazement of his Catan packaging set in we had an epic battle till late in the evening with yours truly taking home the big win. (are you even remotely surprised?!)

We finally crashed around 2:30 am and set our alarms for a 5:45 am wake up call for Josh and I to make it to the 7:00 am train to Annecy the next morning.