in a nutshell . . .

this week has been long. the mr. was away on business until this morning at approximately 1:30am. we have missed him.  it hit record high's for heat this summer in the midwest and being without rain for what seems like a year, crispy grass and not living on water, i tend to get a little crabby . . .  but all in all, the week is ending perfectly: 

:: the mr. is home! *wahoo! I can touch him, hug him and look at him all i want! :) 

:: i was invited last minute yesterday to a friend's house who has a pool.  it's official, i now want a pool.

:: we celebrate my baby brother's golden (30th) birthday tomorrow.  gosh i love that kid

:: the hubs gets to golf all day tomorrow in honor of a very special friend in heaven

:: we are alive!!  

everything is breaking in our home. seriously. first my car needs to be replaced badly with a new one before she craps out completely. the mr's work car needed 4 new tires, a new hose/pump etc and $1500 later, viola!  our washing machine (just fixed last feb) has gone kaputz again, so now we just need to buy a new one and yes, the above was my genius way to end the night last night after using this beauty. 

tell me that is not THE CUTEST lemonade stand you ever did see?  yes, i have brilliantly creative friends & i get to reap the rewards of their brilliance.  still in love. 

when the weather is so hot, these two black dogs don't get to spend too much time outdoors. so what do i do? i take them for car rides, and let them smell the air with their windows open, watch squirrels while we drive by and all the while blast the AC in the front of the car for my over-heating baby incubator. *please don't judge

do you know about she reads truth? umm, you should join! seriously. best. online group. EVER.  my days are brighter, smoother, more peaceful and filled with a gazillion times LESS anxiety since I started them with this beautiful daily discipline. ><>

besides knowing the mr. was coming home last night, yesterday had to be my favorite day of the week.  despite being the hottest day of the year, i tucked myself into one of my non-maternity swimsuits (won't be doing that again) and floated on this bad boy without once sinking it!  my friend spoiled me with sharing her time and pool. i may just be inviting myself over to her house more frequently. ;) 

how was your week? do anything fun? make any memories? learn anything new? ><>

chocolate chip cookies

as i was meal planning for the week ahead, i stumbled upon this recipe on one of my favorite blogs. i haven't ever been much of a cookie gal, though i absolutely love to make them and give them away. 

the hubs always whines a little when he sees me making cookies and usually in his kind and gentle way asks with an innocent tone:  you're not gonna give all those away this time, are you? 

because that's my problem: i have him taste the finished product and then i scoop them up onto the necessary plates and ship them off to their final destination. 

whoops. 

these might have a different ending though. 

they are that good.  for real. 

i did make them smaller, bite size cookies (we prefer smaller ones to avoid stuffing our cheeks) but the recipe called for ice cream scoop size.  

it's your choice. :) 

but, do try them. they're for real that good. for real.  crispy edges, with chewy centers.  just the right amount of chocolate chips. just the right amount of sugar.  just the right amount of every ingredient to be frank. just the right cookie. 

I live in Wisconsin and if you've been following the newspapers, television, daily show, what have you, you may have heard about the recall campaign going on in our midwest state.  

it is a pretty big deal i have to say.  and from what some of the news sources claim; this particular election may indeed foreshadow what will happen in the up coming presidential election. 

needless to say: it's a nail biter.  and i pray and hope and wish upon a star that if we witness anything today -- it's that the number of voters will be record setting.  and that people will be voicing their opinions the way they were given the right to.  and that we will be making our ancestors' proud by their fight to allow us this privilege in this country of ours. 

it's amazing i have to say.  amazing to be able to have a voice.  to be apart of a nation that allows its people to determine how our governments shall be run.  it's freedom in the grandest form. 

and today, after i voted, i found myself proud to be one of these Americans.  not because we don't have a lot to still figure out.  and not because our country is perfect.  but because we still fight for each other. 

and no matter what side one stands on today, it is pretty profound that we live in a country that allows us to voice our opinion and help make the decision for who we want to be 'in charge.' 

amen to that, hey? 

now, if you're in Wisconsin --- please go vote.  And if you're not, will you say a little prayer for our state?  we are in a bit of a civil divide and i pray that peace will prevail and all will be made right again. 

so cheers to voting -- and to being a part of "one nation, under God, with liberty and justice for all!" 

please excuse the dirty window. i sometimes forget to clean it...until i see a picture like this and realize how dirty it looks. whoops. 

these are my days as of late.  i haven't been feeling very motivated, enthusiastic or able to do as much as i'd like.  and i would have never guessed that pregnancy would wipe my energy slate dry.  

but it did.  and though i struggled immensely with feeling like a failure, a little worthless to my hubster and home and just plain lazy...i have recently started to embrace the stillness.  

quiet.

serene moments with the one who calls me to not only speak and pray . . . but listen. 

and He knows that i don't always listen, unless i'm forced to. 

and though i'm viewing these two little lives growing in my belly as the ultimate gift from the creator of the earth . . . i am also paralleling these gifts with significance in the work He is continuing to do in my own heart and soul. 

so be still it is. 

listen. 

watch. 

and have a heart that is ready to be taught.  for "In God I will praise his Word, in God I have put my trust; I will not fear what flesh can do unto me." Psalm 56:4 

p.s. have you heard about:  She Reads Truth?  You must check it out. 

Aaaaaammmmaaaazzzziiiinnnnggggg!  (yes, that is me singing the word amazing). 

For reals. Go visit.  Like now. 

You won't regret it. 

and you'll enjoy having a circle of women reading, believing, struggling, celebrating and encouraging one another through this ordinary life we live every day.  it's fabuloso people...absolutely fabulous! 

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