growth.

Around the neighborhood.

this was 36 weeks.

Happy {late} Mother's Day.
love to you all.
-a.

(excuse the goofy grin)

loving Christ.

I love my husband.
I married the best man. I truly did. Every moment with him is a wonder. God is such a good gift giver. There is such peace in marriage. Nathan and I were talking about different moments during our courtship last night. All of them seemed so funny and special. We laugh at the two people that we were before. We were so silly. Those memories are gold though.

I've been learning more and more about being a better wife. During this pregnancy, my husband and I have both grown up so much. He especially has developed into this wonderful inspiring man. Every morning is better. He is an encouragement and complete joy to be around. His embrace is comforting, and his words profound. He makes me want to be a better wife. As my belly grows, so does our love for one another. Life is not perfect, but it is blissful. The house still needs to be cleaned and bills need to be paid, but having someone to help makes these things so much more enjoyable. I am beyond excited about our little family. We still have so much to learn about life, and I wouldn't want to do it with anyone else. The excitement of being a mother is overwhelming and joy-filled. God has been so good to our little family.

The verse in Proverbs 31...the one about 'she does him good, and not evil all the days of her life' has been running through my head over and over. I am for the good of my husband. I am to love him in all of his shortcomings and all of his learnings. I am to love him like Christ loves me. Marriage is the most beautiful poem in life. Loving my husband feels so right. It fits. After years and years of searching for something that fit, I have found it. Being a wife and mother. With this calling I have never felt more at peace in my life. The joy that God has given me in these things is unspeakable. I cannot explain the depth of heart in being a wife...and I can hardly fathom the happiness that comes from this impending motherhood. The calling of my life is to serve Christ. To love and adore Him, and draw closer to him day by day. This is how it happens...when I love my husband...when I serve him, I am loving Christ. When I touch my child, and she moves in the womb, this is loving Christ. When I forgive and continue to love despite the circumstance, I love Christ. It is our actions during the day, how we treat one another, how we speak to each other, how we hold each other up above ourselves...this is loving Christ.

If you are looking for the secret to growing close to Jesus, you are in the midst of it.
Life and how you live it.
This will bring you closer to Jesus.



-a.

readiness.

Saturday I went flower picking with my Natalie.
We had a fabulous time. I felt like a little child wandering about the vast forest looking for fairies and such. O the beauty of life. I feel like a child, and yet I have a child growing inside my womb. Will I ever be ready for anything? Is there such a thing? What drives us to readiness?

The baby inside of me will come into this world sometime in the next few weeks. The doctor told me to pack my bags and be ready for the baby to come. 'Be ready.' said the nurse. Then the doctor happily instructed me on how to page her and who to call when I begin labor. Nathan and I went home and I started to get frustrated with myself because I didn't feel ready and there is still so much to be done before baby n. comes into the world. I told my husband that I don't feel ready to be a mother yet, and he quickly assured me that I am perfectly capable to take care of our little daughter. I am blessed to have such a patient husband. Every morning is hopeful. Some are darker than others, but my God's mercies are new every morning and I believe this with all my heart and soul. There has been such peace in our house in the morning. Sometimes it feels like the Holy Spirit is hovering over us. I am thankful for peace.

After we climb out of bed I wander into the kitchen and we usually start the morning with smoothies and eggs or something of the sort. The sunrise reflects into my kitchen from the neighbors window. I love those sunrises. We start every morning. Just like we start life. A child is born into the brightness. He must adjust to the newness of everything. How he breaths and eats and moves. In the same way my husband and I will be thrown into parenthood. No matter how ready we feel, we will become parents.

I was reading in 1 Thess. during my quiet time this week. I was convicted when I made it the section that spoke about not quenching the Spirit. The Lord showed me that I quench the Spirit all the time. When I am anxious. I sat starring at my closet thinking about all the things that I worry about daily. My heart opened a bit to His tender care.

I am no longer worried about giving birth. God has made my body to complete this miraculous task. Why should I be afraid of the outcome of it? Nathan and I embrace the fact that our daughter is going to come into this world, whether we are ready for it or not. God's grace is so good. I feel like it is filling me to the brim. A constant reminder that my dependency is hooked to the one that made me. We cannot do it without Him.

Wonderful life. Wonderful love. Wonder of it all.

-a.

this:

Morning kisses&prayer.raisin bran.grocery shopping with the husband.possibly the most delicious ciabatta sandwiches for lunch.millions of quarts of goats milk(i'm exaggerating of course).grape juice.baby dancing.Braxton-Hicks.preparing for labor.house cleaning.homemade pasta.homemade goats cheese.yellow apron.my life is real.

-a

it is well with my soul.

Yesterday I had my 36 week check up. Looks like baby should be here really soon. I am beyond excited. Meeting this little dove is going to be blissful. I walked to the river yesterday after work. Sitting on a huge bridge I thought about my life. All the changes, all the struggles, all of it. Life is so overwhelming. I asked God what to get ready for. Who is this baby going to be? One man told us that having children is like watching your heart walking around outside your body. What will we do with our little heart? We will love her.

Every little piece of her.

The blessings of the Lord are never ending. His peace is all surpassing. His word is enduring.
The Saviour is coming.

Wonder of wonders. What are we going to do with ourselves?

Enjoy your day. I shall mine.
-ria.

joy.

i love this man.

-a.

Fruitful fields.

This morning is dreary. Dreary but beautiful. It reminds me of a weeping woman. It is cool and peaceful outside. I think I shall enjoy some gardening later. My husband is at school. When he comes home we'll have breakfast. We have an abundance of strawberries from Costco that I am really excited about. Maybe a breakfast cake is order.

Life has been challenging. So many new things are happening. All the good comes with a lot of hard moments. This morning I sat in our wooden chair thinking about all of these things. In my heart I would like it if nothing ever changed. I don't like change, it makes me uncomfortable. Me and my sentimental self longs for yesteryear all the time. It does not help that I still have the heart of a three year old. I was thinking about a passage in Isaiah.

"For the palace is forsaken,

    the populous city deserted;the hill and the watchtower    will become dens forever,a joy of wild donkeys,    a pasture of flocks; until the Spirit is poured upon us from on high,    and the wilderness becomes a fruitful field,    and the fruitful field is deemed a forest. Then justice will dwell in the wilderness,    and righteousness abide in the fruitful field. And the effect of righteousness will be peace,    and the result of righteousness, quietness and trust forever. My people will abide in a peaceful habitation,    in secure dwellings, and in quiet resting places."

Isaiah 32:14-18

Then God spoke to me. When I dwell constantly in past and how things once were it is like I am dwelling in the wilderness. It is not wrong to reminisce about your past. To sit and wish that things today were like yesterday is wrong. God moves us constantly through different seasons. He is moving us into lush forest grounds. Don't refuse to take the journey though the fruitful field. I desire growth. I do not want to sit forever in the wilderness. The beauty of life is so complex. Our finite minds have such a hard time grasping the fact that change is good. Even when it hurts so much. Do not be afraid to get up and walk through the desert into the field. Embrace the change.

Daisies are not as scary as they might seem.

ria.

new

It is an over sized navy blue sweater & beer waffles kind of morning.
It is a throw in the towel and eat breakfast before I do the dishes kind of morning.
It is a this is why i love my husband morning.

I love my husband, because his default is to always make me laugh. No matter what mood I am in. This might seem like it could be detrimental to our relationship, but really, it has been the best thing for me. I am reminded every day that the trying circumstance I may be in at the time, will always pass. It is best to laugh at a good joke, we are after all, supposed to be anxious for nothing. My husband helps me to see this. Also, laughter grows two together.
I love my husband because he is inspired, and that inspires me. When I was single, I would always start projects and rarely finish them. Now, projects are completed. I am inspired by my husbands work ethic and his ability to complete the hardest assignments I've ever seen in my life.
I love my husband because he buys&picks me flowers regularly.
I love my husband because he can cook me dinner by himself, and he makes better salad & dressing than I do.
I love my husband because right now, as I write, he is on a run. Ode to health.
I love my husband, because of the little things he says. He never preaches at me, is always slow to speak, and always has profound things coming out of his mouth. God speaks to him in such a special way. Nuggets of wisdom worth gold. Plus, I remember the things he tells me. My husband can write a wonderful sermon, but he can encourage me with minimal words. It is a very special gift he has.
I love my husband because he works hard.
I love my husband because he appreciates me. Some mornings I make my way to the kitchen while he is still sleeping and make us breakfast. He always lavishes me with words of love and praise.
I love my husband because of how he loves God. Passion is present, even when I can't see it. Growth is abundant in his life. I love that we can grow together, and even though we are at different stages of walking with God, we can always enjoy the Father together. There is a special intimacy in knowing Christ together.
But most of all..
I love my husband, because I love him.

ria.

home

'yes' said i
             to the strong spring wind.

-a

loving this.

'We belong to Jesus. God calls us to be his daughters as the core identity of our womanhood. For some, he will call to become wife in addition, but never in competition, to that identity. Being a godly wife flows from being a committed daughter. '

saltwater sandals&ricotta

found these for bebe today.
so blessed. i've been looking all over the place for saltwaters for her. now we can be matching. i am so excited. this little girl is going to be such a doll.

i'm making goats milk ricotta right now. it's curdling and cooling as i write this. i'm pretty excited about this new found ability i have...to make cheese. it actually smells like cheese. i am ecstatic.

the Lord is good. i wrote a song today. it has been months since a song has come to me. this one did in a few minutes. the Word of the Lord is so inspiring. i've been prompted to read more. nat & i both have. i am so blessed to have such an amazing husband. his kind words are like a calm ocean in this scattered brain of mine. when he reads Scripture to me, my heart is at rest. he is going to be a wonderful father, because his Father in heaven is the truest Father of all. Isaiah has been moving my heart this week. bits and pieces of it have been coming back to memory. yesterday morning during fellowship, the Lord kept bringing things to my heart that i thought i had forgotten. i felt like i was lacking in my walk with Him, and i was being lazy. so of course, i thought i was forgetting what He had taught me in the years of walking with Him. on the contrary! the Spirit showed me yesterday, that i had not forgotten a thing, and that i have access to all the goodness that God has for me and for my family. i have no lack. i have no want. i have no need. Christ satisfies.

ria.

cookies.

I'm feeling like making some cookies.
Comment here and you can be the lucky person to win 1 dozen homemade cookies.
You know you want to.

Winner will be drawn at random tomorrow evening. <3

Loves,
ria.

p.s. if they need be gluten free cookies, i can do that.

rest.

Sorry for such a long season of "unposting". It seems there is barely time in this busy schedule of life. Then I am reminded that I have all the time in the world. Maybe the house doesn't need to be picked up right this minute, or the dishes done at 10:00 p.m. Maybe I just need to rest. So that is what I have been doing. We often forget how to rest. It is the business and perfection of life that smashes us to a pulp. As a result, I am trying to rest more, which hasn't included much writing. I promise to catch up.

I am 32 weeks and 1 day today. Baby n. moves and squirms just like she should, and apparently I am supposed to gain 1 1/2 lbs. every week for the next 8 weeks. So crazy that she is almost here.

I'm going to have a morning grapefruit now. My husband is shouting from the bedroom for me. It is 6:51 in the morning, and he is just making sure I am ok. <3
 Loves,
ria.

free love & granola

I made granola the other day. I'm trying to turn it into a weekly habit. Every Saturday should be my granola day. This batch was full of golden&dark raisins, cashews, and sunflower seeds. I have some dried blueberries and almonds in the pantry for the coming week's batch. 

If anyone is wanting to buy some granola from my weekly batches, you can write me on facebook or text me at: (541)357-8673

Also. I've been practicing my free lensing. 

ria.

beach.

my love and i had a marvelous sunday at the beach a few weekends ago. i was tired from a long week, and nathan decided it would be best for us to get away. i love day trips, but being pregnant i got a bit car sick on the windy road there...i quickly recovered after a small rest in safeway and some artichoke hummus. we made it to a little trailhead and decided to hike into hobbit beach. .5 miles of fun and cold feet(my husband lent me his sock though) we made it through the overgrown walls and out into a small cove with a view of the vast ocean. we laid on the beach and wrote in our journals despite the somewhat rainy weather. it was so refreshing.
ria.

shelves.

My husband is putting shelves up in our kitchen with his father. I think it is adorable. I am am pretty freaking excited about these shelves. O my goodness. O my goodness. This is wonderful. Now our kitchen counter will be clutter free. Too many bulk food jars and a juicer makes it look super small. This is one step closer to suspending a pot hanger. I cannot wait. I really love my house. It is my favorite place to be. Before I got married I had my favorite coffee shops and stores to hang out in, but  now I just love to be home. In my home. With my gorgeous husband, and all my little plants, and my nice dishes. I like being home.

Tomorrow I have to go grocery shopping. I like Mondays. Probably because I get them off.

This morning in church I saw baby kick from the outside. My neon yellow dress kept popping up. Needless to say, I didn't hear very many words that the pastor was sharing with us. I was fascinated with my dancing belly.

During my stretching session last night I realized I couldn't pull my knees into my chest anymore. Quite the discovery. My belly is big.

Goodnight.
Enjoy life.

love.
ria.

morning clouds

granola. cleaning. walking. squats. stretches. running errands. giving my husband a haircut. he shaved his beard and looks o so handsome. dishes. ukulele. goats milk. reading ; Bringing Up Bebe & Natural Childbirth in the Hospital. enjoying every morning.

i hope you enjoy your day as much as i am going to enjoy mine.

love.

ria.

follow.

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<3
-ria

22 weeks

This was 22 weeks.
I'm 23 weeks this week. Nathan took these. He did such a fabulous job. Baby n. is getting so big! I can't wait to meet her.
-ria