Thanks-Living August

Do you know Leslie?

No? You really should read her blog Top of the Page. 

It's one of my favorites!

Leslie, is starting a little linky to add your post about thankfulness!

Love this idea!

I'm so excited to jump in with her today!

There is so much that I am thankful for in this season...

in this month!!

But, this is what I'm most thankful for...

in August, we were able to take a trip with Chris' family to Colorado.

We LOVE Colorado.

For both Chris and I, it is a place of real refreshing.

And this hike we took up to a waterfall and mountain lake

was perfection.

Chris comes alive outdoors and I love going on new

adventures with this man.

It is one of the biggest joys of our marriage!

I'm so thankful we had this experience together.

Before we left for Colorado,

it was the one thing I asked the Lord for...

that we would have an adventure together in His creation!

So very thankful!

School has begun...

So, school has started for our little family!

We now have a  half-day kindergartener and a first grader (crazy!)

The boys did great!

Micah's teacher called him "a joy to have in class"!! YAY!

Gavin is making lots of new friends and is proving to be a great little learner!

I've heard numerous people say that they have been so emotional

with their kids starting school this past week.

Me? I didn't shed a tear...is that wrong?! HA!

My boys NEED school right now,

and this mama NEEDS them 

to go to school right now.

And let me not forget to mention that we do still have a 

two and a half year old around the house all day.

I am by no means an empty nester during the days.

But, I've enjoyed them being at school for a few hours this past week!

I've enjoyed the alone time I get with Gavin after he gets 

home at lunch time.

I put Sawyer to bed and we get some time to sit together and play.

I'm thankful for what this year looks like!

God knew exactly what I needed!

Now, if I can just get the morning schedule down so things are

a bit more peaceful!

Part of school starting...a trip to the dentist!! 

They did awesome! And got a Sonic treat as a reward!

Brave boys!

How has your first week of school been???!!

My favorite little spots

I love reading blogs...my husband looked at my Google Reader 

the other day and was 

amazed by how many blogs I subscribe to! HA!

I like mostly blogs with lots of pictures, something I can read quickly...

so, my hope is that my own blog will be a good mix of

"wordy" and "easy to skim through."

This is a skimmer post...

I spend a lot of time in my home, A LOT!

It's so important that when I come home or simply walk into a room 

that I feel happy there and at rest.

I so want my home to be a place of color and life and happiness.

So, with that said, these are some pics of my

favorite little spots around the house!

It's constantly evolving, but I love our little blue house...

I'm so very thankful for it!

The spot by the stairs. It's been a recent little project.

All of it is thrifted or flea market finds. The table will get painted eventually,

but it was $15 at Goodwill and is a perfect fit.

I'm in love with Megan's printable at Contented Sparrow, perfect for

coming into fall!

My friend Shelby painted this thrift store owl hot pink,

I love it!!

And an Anthro candle always makes a spot better, right?!

(Thanks again, Shelby!)

This picture has been passed down from my great-grandma.

It hung over my grandmother's bed as we were circled around her

in her final hours here on earth.

I think of her every time I look at it and it is so special to me!

I'm a sucker for cute buttons and this chair has lots of them

(and was a gift from my in-laws)!

You can see our little family Instagram wall in the background.

I have a thing for "O"s since our last name starts with it!

I also love these pretty nesting dolls my mom brought back from Russia...

some of my favorite little things.

Ahhhh....the porch.

We LOVE our porch. I recently moved a day bed onto the porch

and now we love it even more!

This is my spot in the mornings, especially since 

it's started to cool off!

It's a sad day when it gets too cold to venture out there.

This is a good spot!! Next to my "lovey" while he watches a movie.

He gets a little extra lovin' on since the older two are now in school every morning.

Did you know you can print off Instagram 4x4 photos at Walgreens??

I got 18 of them for $3 and got them in about an hour.

I love them randomly placed all over my chicken wire door that is

propped up in the living room.

I've got a thing for old doors...

A favorite sunny spot in the kitchen...I feel like a spend a good bit 

of my day in front of the sink! HA!

I'm so thankful for our little home!

It's such a place of rest and refuge for us.

God is so good to provide a place that brings joy to our souls.

With a little creativity and very little money and house

really can become

a home.

Happy Tuesday, friends!

Coming back to it...

I've left this little blog unattended to for quite some time! It has crossed my mind many times to grab my laptop and write something down...a thought, post a quick picture, or do a little update on our lives. But, to be honest, our lives have been in such transition these past few months that I didn't even know where to start.

So, I'll start here...and try to keep it simple.

Credit: Aaron Mason on Instagram

We have lived in Wheaton, IL for almost one year exactly and I am more certain then ever that this is exactly where we're supposed to be. It has not been an easy journey. We have struggled financially since we made the move last August. But, in the midst of that...we have felt more loved by the Father, by family, and by community then ever before. We have travelled this road together and have only concluded that God is good, the Church is the answer, and His timing is perfect.

We moved up here to simply obey what God called us to and to be a part of Antioch Community Church here in Wheaton. Little did we know that God would call forth the deeper dreams of our hearts...to serve Him in full-time ministry. In February, we were asked to come on staff at our church here. I can't even put into words what it means to me to have the honor of serving this amazing Church and amazing staff. We are truly living our dreams!

To see my husband come alive has been the greatest blessing of all. To see the gifts in him used to their fullest potential. To see others call out the gold that I have treasured in him always. It fulfills places in my own heart that I never knew were even there.

Women, are your husbands living their fullest life? Or are they simply going through the motions? 

When was the last time you saw his heart ablaze with something? I'm telling you...there is no greater joy then to see your man walk into the destiny God has for him. It's not always the easy road, sometimes it involves risk, but it is so wonderfully worth it.

Chris would say that this is my "soap box." I am unapologetically passionate about seeing the men of our world step into the true roles and gifting that have been placed upon them since the beginning of time. They are each uniquely marked by their Creator to live passionate lives full of purpose. To lead others, to lead wives, to lead children, to lead nations. When they are not tapping into this calling on their lives, when they simply "do life" out of compulsion and duty...we lose something. We ALL lose something. When a man is in the center of God's purpose for his life, no matter how challenging that calling might be...he will rise up. A man who seeks God, who leads well, who does not settle for the things of the world...he is to be treasured.

Chris,
Thank you for saying "yes" over and over again this past year. Thank you for leading us well. Thank you for not giving up on the "best" that God had for you. I have found no greater joy in my life then seeing you come alive this past year. To see the wrestling of your heart to fight for finding out what you are truly made for. To see you find clarity on your giftings and roles. It has not been an easy ride, but I would do it a hundred times over just to have come to this place with you. It was all so very worth it! You are going to change the world, my friend. You will disciple the nations. You will equip the future leaders of our movement. You are a father to many.

I'm honored to have followed you this far...and I look forward to the years of blazing trails with you ahead. 

Your faithful cheerleader,
Christie


There is no greater thing for a wife, then to walk with a man whom she trusts completely.

Because I would say....that a man who fears the Lord is also to be praised.