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lots o’ love.

Published by Aubrey

a little mothers day recap for you…

our plans to go to ohio to be with my family, specifically my momma changed last minute due to me being sick. normally i’m all in for traveling, even for a quick 24 hour trip like this would have been. but when my body gave me a loud and clear STOP i had to listen. thankfully my family was more than understanding, even though it still was a tough one not to go.

i was feeling a little better by sunday and was able to thoroughly enjoy this special day with those that i love most and make me feel oh so special! i was greeted all day long with “happy mothers day”. (“happy holidays” from kaia but whatever) lots of hugs and kisses, beautiful sunflowers and special cards and drawings. we went to a new to us breakfast place called bub’s cafe. a-maz-ing! the mr. and i split a delicious omelet and white chocolate macadamian pancakes. so good. after we stuffed ourselves with goodness we went to lowes for a little mothers day shopping….flowers for our yard! specifically what i asked for. being first time home owners it was very fun to pick and choose what we wanted to do with our house. good feeling. the rest of the afternoon we worked out in the yard, which also ministers to my heart. love family work days. here are a couple pictures of what we did. more to come.

i’m such a thankful mom. i have the perfect for me kids to be a mom to and husband to partner with to do this crazy, satisfying job. and i’m blessed to be a daughter to one awesome mom whom i love dearly and a wonderful mother-in-law who i love so much too. lots to be thankful for on this mothers day…and always!

theia refused to be photographed…what’s mom to do? we rolled with it.

thankful thurdsay.

Published by Aubrey

these pretty little violets that cover our front yard

2 little girls that love to pick them

friends coming over for dinner

opportunities to serve at our new church

to be able to spend mothers day with my mom

a husband that is willing to make a quick trip to ohio to make that happen

sunshine

coffee

unexpected ways God provides for us

family time eating cookies together

a moment in real life.

Published by Aubrey

building a lego tower with a neighbor friend in bathing suits.

sounds good to me.

we are in it together.

Published by Aubrey

last week brian was out of town. i’m pleased to say that overall my week went really well with the kids. but that doesn’t mean we ALL weren’t ready to see daddy when he came home. even though the week went well we seemed to have had more than usual talks about obedience. you know why we obey the first time, what obedience is, why we don’t disobey, how disobedience makes God sad and shows mommy disrespect. you get the point, any possible way i could explain it, we covered it all… multiple times throughout the day. even though it didn’t seemed to be really making a difference i knew the kids were hearing me. theia so nicely pointed out that when i was gone a couple of days and they were with daddy they didn’t disobey at all, we listen to daddy but we don’t listen to you. i know! i so honestly exclaimed. why not?!? (it was at the end of the day and i was a little tired, can you tell?)

they next morning mason quietly came up to me and apologized for not listening the previous day. such a sweet guy, he is always good about making amends. he then went on to explain that he wants the “Jesus” part of him to come out more but “himself’ just keeps coming out. “it’s hard mommy to choose Jesus over me.” oh, wow! did he just get it or what? the daily struggle we all face. how i wanted to assure his concerned heart that it would get easier. and i guess in some ways it does as you walk daily with Jesus. but really it’s what i struggle with too, “wanting the Jesus part of me to come out more”. it was a moment that i will be remember for a long time, hopefully always. i told him i have a hard time with the same thing and we are fighting the same battle and thankfully Jesus loves us just the same. He understands and wants to help us. i think hearing that i have a hard time with the same thing was a relief to him. because it’s always good to hear that you’re not the only one who doesn’t have it all together…no matter what age you are.

i’m so thankful for opportunities like this one when i get to learn alongside my kids. when i get to help them through their struggles and share my own. when i can point them to Jesus who really does get it. i’m thankful that we are in it together.

i’m loving…

Published by Aubrey

some things i’m loving right now…

matching tooties

my toms

the color green every where…it’s my fave:)

added some color to our mantel

watching mase play baseball

new friends

yummy homemade snacks

new music to me: matt & kim…awesome family dance music

my 5:30am cross training class… gets me going every morning

watching survivor online as a fam

fresh berries

What simple things are you enjoying right now?

some friday love from the barelas

Published by Aubrey

Create your own video slideshow at animoto.com.

thankful thursday.

Published by Aubrey

green stuff on trees and bushes…oh yes, i remember what they are called…leaves!

new, fun songs i’m finding on rdio.com

pinterest.com my latest addiction

my yellow and grey cardigans. i wear them all year around. i love them.

new friends for our family

my brother

a renewed passion for the cross and what He did for me. what a gift.

a baseball team for mase

text messaging. there isn’t a day that goes by that i don’t talk to a long distance friend and share my everyday happenings via short texts

my thoughtful husband

a son who at times is wise beyond is 5 years of age

3 kids who challenge me daily to be the example that pushes them to HIM

easter goodness.

Published by Aubrey

easter

early morning rise to praise and thank God for the wonderful gift he has given us. cinnamon rolls in the oven. food preparation for easter lunch with neighbors who have become new friends. easter baskets found. way too much sugar consumption before 9 am. pretty girls, handsome boys. amazing church service. awesome worship. some failed attempts to get decent easter pics. melt downs coming off of sugar high. yummy lunch. getting to know new friends. egg hunt in the rain. clean up a disasterous house. relax. carry tired kids to bed. time alone with hubby after a very full day.

that was our easter. my heart is full.

yes!

HE HAS RISEN.

praying i live out the victory of the resurrection every day.

stud.

beautiful.

not her favorite easter. still beautiful.

3 amigos.

where are you?

Published by Aubrey

have you been wondering where we are? what has been going on?

well…a little of this and a little of that. but really not a lot. more resting and downtime than anything. it was needed.

the high of moving and being in a new place is over. and we are starting to come down. like coming down the hill of a roller coaster. it’s not bad. it’s just gotta happen.

maybe the reason for not blogging and filling you in on our daily happenings and musings of life.

i needed rest. i needed space. i am giving myself grace.

time to think. to process. to listen. to let go a bit…ok a lot.

and for me that means a break from the internet world. some times it just all gets to be too much.

you know?

i’ve been enjoying some downtime of resting, sleeping in a bit, crafting, preparing for Easter celebration with neighbors.

so that is it for now. more to come soon i’m sure. but for now…that is it.

5 on friday.

Published by Aubrey

1. miss theia gives me a run for my money each and everyday with her choice of wardrobe. it doesn’t matter what i suggest she will choose the exact opposite. most days she wants to be dressed to a “T” by 7:30 am with dress/skirt, tights, shirt and sparkly shoes. doesn’t matter that we spend most days at home. she doesn’t believe in what we affectionately call and live in most days “comfy clothes”. Today though it was a bathing suit. It actually was fairly warm so she got away with it. If she just didn’t have that smile that melts my heart…

2. i’ve been creating a certain “look” in my head for the girls room and i finally had some time to put it into action. i LOVED how it turned out. i did some painting and embroidering last night to finish things up and here is what i came up with. i love the look of fabric of in embroidery hoops. what is really special is that 2 of these are my great grandmas hankies. she passed away when i was 14 but i still can see her face in my head and remember her smell and the feel of her big, squishy hugs. you know, exactly how a great grandma’s hug is supposed to feel. it is special to me to have some of her things in my daughters room.

3. i had the opportunity to go home to ohio this week to be with my dad after his shoulder surgery. i am so thankful to be close to family that i can be a part of things like this and not wish from a long distance that i was there. the surgery went great and he is on the road of a successful recovery. i so enjoyed hanging out with my parents, seeing my brother and his family, visiting with grandparents and enjoying some “me” time. yes, all in about 36 hours.

4. next week as a family we are taking part in a 6 week program at our church called northview university. the class that brian and i will be taking is called worldview 101. we will be learning how to develop and consistently live out our christian worldview. it sounds good to me, interesting and all. i’m looking forward to actually use my head in an intellectual way. that doesn’t happen too much these days. more than anything i am excited about the opportunity to meet more people. the kids will be in their own little program as well where they will be learning about sharing…hmmmm i think we might be able to use this a bit:)

5. and last but not least…one more piece of our former california life is changed…we have indiana license plates. we are officially official.