Vacation? Something like that?

So I guess you could say I "vacated" the blog world for awhile. I must say, it was quite lovely. Of course, I was still slightly in love with perusing Instagram and pinterest so my attempt at removing myself from media was not that valiant by any stretch.

Nonetheless, I am back!  I ran out of picture space after my last post-and let's be honest, what are posts without pictures??? Especially without pictures of our little girl?  But somehow, after finally logging back on after over three months, I have discovered that somehow more picture space became available in the blogging land (which I understand nothing about).

I have had so many things on my heart, most of which come out a year that to say the least, wasn't that easy on me. Not because of circumstances per se, but because of my drab ability to see a glass half full and stop being so selfish (yuck-I for certain thought I would arrive someday with this self-I-me thing!).

And I know I want to share so many things. So many things that haven't been put on my heart just to stay in my head and then die a slow synaptic death (or maybe it's fast...axons/dendrites/who knows).  I have had a real year with faith: one that has truly tested what I believe, what I choose to believe, and made me realize how much I am not good at faithfulness when things aren't easy-peasy. Another "yuck-I am really 32" moment.

And in news...we are expecting another little bundle of sheer joy in September!!! Seriously. I know.  Not exactly what we were thinking but last I checked, my plans for my life weren't that excellent and God's plans so far have blown my itty bitty ones out of the water. Look at my husband...and our daughter named Ruth. Way better than my dreams.

Please let me know if there is anything you would love for me to write about and I will do my best.  This will be a slow start back up but hopefully it will be all for Jesus and all for His glory.  I know I am not supposed to stop writing-it wasn't good for me to stop and thus, my heart is answering the call to what God has so clearly placed in my life.

Blabbering done.  Here are two pictures of Ruth.  There aren't enough words to describe her. She is pure joy: I have never seen anything like it. She says "hi" to EVERYONE and smiles with everything in her (and her ELEVEN teeth).  I hope she brings joy to your soul today.

And it's blurry, because she never, ever stops moving (except when asleep). And yes, we did purchase a super-duper nice professional camera but at the rate this bean moves, it is nigh impossible to bust that camera out and get a pic of her.

If you really knew me...

I saw this on this blog today and thought what a fun little ditty to do whilst my wee one takes her power nap :)

We were this happy coming home from Bali to have Starbucks again :)

If you really knew me, you would know:


-I love (LOVE) mocha frappucinos: double blended, affogado shot on top, no whip


-that I invited "my" entire Starbucks to our wedding


-I LOVE my Uggs and tend to like winter more than summer


-why our little girl is named Ruth


-I feel called to be an encourager and one who speaks truth


-I rarely finish books and I rarely read anything other than non-fiction


-we don't have a TV and don't really ever want one


-I love Anne of Green Gables and cried when I found out it wasn't true


-I LOVE Disneyland.  Obsessed. 


-I cry over seeing people with disabilities as well as hearing someones' story about being fatherless


-I really didn't like the birth process. Sorry-not to pop any happy balloons but it wasn't all peaches and cream (and they don't let you eat-could someone please put that very important bit of info on a billboard?!?!?). And I was induced-yuck. I believe it will be different next time. Again: no food.


-I wasn't dying to get married or have kids (needed the right person before it made sense to even desire it)


-my walk with God is not perfect and sometimes it down right lacks faith and obedience


-my desire is to know God and be ALWAYS captivated by His beauty, not my own definition (Or InStyles, Glamour, etc.)


-I cry a lot when I don't sleep much (recent discovery)


-my friends are my comfort zone.  Truly-my heart goes to complete peace when my besties and sister are around


-I have the most amazing parents in the world. And the most amazing in-laws.


-my husband has seven tattoos (and my grandpa Earl told me never to marry a man with tattoos :) He had quite a few and said men like him were trouble)


-my dream place to live is out in the country with sprawling lawns and a view of the sunset


-I love making cookies for people


-I am obsessed with clouds, spinning in circles, and the teacups at Disneyland


-I love spinning in circles and I love clouds that do something


-I never thought I would have a daughter.


-I love Red Robin french fries. LOVE.


-I am not a health nut (hence the frappucinos)


-my husband is way too good for me (in all the best ways)


There you have it.  And yes, if you just say "Anna's drink" at my Starbucks, they will make it for you, too!  They even gave me mine for free today because our little girl is captivating peoples' hearts by the dozens... Good girl.  Good, good girl.


Now if we could just get her to ever sleep. Hmmm.


Love, Anna N

Big things and birthdays.

I was listening to the radio this morning (while going to Home Depot. Naturally.) and the gal on KLOVE was asking why we don't ask for bigger things from God.  It sounds like such a selfish, "God is a cosmic genie" mentality but then I got to thinking...I asked God for an amazing man: I mean seriously AMAZING...and rarely wasted time dating because God had put a dream so big in my heart that I just knew was there for a reason.

Low and behold, sheesh, look at my husband?!?!  In case you can't tell, I adore him. In all ways possible. Mainly because he is so much like Jesus to me: compassionate, slow to anger, abounding in love, etc.  I am still twitterpated by him-every second of every day. All because I dreamed something Huge and God saw the desires of my heart and made something mystical become a reality.

All that to be said, please ask God for beautiful, big things.  There is a verse that says "You have not because you ask not" and how true that is! I am not saying we ask for a million dollars or a porsche (most of us are girls and that likely would not be) but I am saying that He LOVES the desires of our hearts that He has placed there and there is nothing more beautiful to our Father then seeing beauty and dreams manifested and made real in His daughters.

This is going to change the way I pray and more importantly, the way I pray for others.

And...it is my sister's birthday!!!!  She truly is the most joyful, funny, loving, kind, tender lady I know (hence the reason children flock to her).  I always said I had to marry someone who made me laugh as much as you did (Matt does pretty well...just ask him about his European joke).

I love you, sister. Thank you for being such a beautiful example of a godly woman.  Can't wait to celebrate you!!!