The best Book Club EVER!

I don't have many things that I insist on doing on a monthly basis, but one thing I try never to miss is my wonderful Book Club! We call ourselves B.A.B.E.S and for almost 4 years now, we have met every month to discuss a book one of the members picks out. There are 12 of us, so we each host a month, and we each get to pick a book each year. There is quite an age-range (25- *ahem* 50-something) and quite a range of book tastes as well! I look forward to this each and every month and have so enjoyed getting to know these fabulous ladies and reading lots of great (and some not so great!) books!
This past month the pick was Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen and Corrie hosted. Kathy, who just can't help it, brought the circus to town (the theme of the book) by decorating Corrie's house. We were welcomed by this:

 And ate our yummy alfredo pasta with capers, grilled chicken, garlic bread, salad, and brownies on plates that look like this:

Which Kathy made and decorated herself! So clever. Here are some shots of our fun group:

The "elderesses" table (I feel the need to point out that that empty chair actually belonged to me who was an elderess this evening apparently!)

The younger gals, still of breeding age! haha. 

Jenna and Corrie fixing their coffee (assuming Jenna still calls her coffee flavored creamer coffee!)

Kathy brought "Rosie" and "Marlena" from the book as decor. Hilarious!

Jessica was holding our special guest Stone, who won't be attending anymore since he is not our kind of "BABE:" but he was a good guest tonight!

Anna has our "microphone" and its her turn to tell what she thought of the book. Stone is asleep until the next time we all burst into laughter! It happens a lot!


Looking forward to next month at Carol's home where we will discuss The Reliable Wife by Robert Goolrick, can't wait!

Warming the House

We are loving our new home and have already received our first "housewarming" gifts! I just LOVE this funky owl stepping stone from my sister Jessica and have found it a fun home in the flower beds by the back patio:

 Jessica also gave us a Willow Creek figure with a pineapple that is the symbol of "welcome" which is what I want my home to exude to our guests! I hope that our family and friends will always feel welcome here and that our home is a welcome safe-haven for my children:

Our realtor gave us this super fun piece of EttaB pottery from the Square Cupboard (LOVE that store!) and I am searching for the perfect spot for it in my kitchen, which my mom and sis helped me unpack and decorate:

Aren't presents fun???

We have been in our new house almost one week and I just fall more and more in love with this place each day...but not in a superficial way, more in a sentimental way. Its strange, but I can already envision my children opening their gifts in the living room on Christmas morning...riding their bikes in the long driveway...climbing the trees in the front yard....swimming with their friends in the pool...
I can see Micah reading a book curled up on one of her (two!) window seats and I can envision her room changing with her style as she grows into her pre-teen and then (eek!) teen years. I can see Haven running in our gloriously large back yard and twirling under the trees in her princess dress-ups--complete with tiara and "high shoes" of course. I can almost envision Stone climbing to the tops of the trees and riding his skateboard off the brick steps on the wrap-around front porch (one of my top 3 FAVORITE parts of this home!) and playing pirates in the playset out back. This is the home I want my children to grow up in, that we create memories in, that I grow older with my husband in. I want to watch college football on our couch with Gary, entertain my entire family on Thanksgiving in the dining room, read the story of the Nativity on Christmas Eve with my girls and son, and sit on my porch in rocking chairs with my close friends...In other words, I want "LIFE" to happen in this home...

I feel so blessed and I mean it when I lean back and sigh and say..."Home SWEET Home!"

Is this really happening?

When I was younger I distinctly remember my mom singing "Count your blessings name them one by one/Count your blessings see what God has done/Count your blessings/Name them one by one....Count your many blessings see what God. Has. Done!" and that is the tune I am humming today for so many reasons!
1) I have a darn good man.
I am sometimes baffled at how lucky I got to meet Gary Barker and that he chose ME to be his wife! We've definitely had a few "worse" moments, but Gary makes me better and together we are a great team. He works so hard for us so that I don't have to work at all and yet supports me because I choose to have my own business. He is the spiritual leader of our family and he is the most loyal man I've ever met! He's disciplined and self-motivated (he works out at 5 am almost every day except when he goes to his discipleship group which is also at like, 5:30 am! And you should hear this man quote Scripture--amazing!) Plus he's just a total hottie!

2) My children are awesome!
Though there are days (especially lately) that I wonder how on earth I am going to make it through the day without leaving my kids on the curb (just kidding. sort of.), I still recognize that I am extremely blessed to have been given the gift of my 3 kids! Micah is so unique and sensitive and when we are happy with her, all is right in her little world. She yearns for our approval yet pushes herself to be the best--and she's so smart and hard-working! I never have to make her do her homework or read a book or anything! Haven is our little spitfire but makes me laugh every single day. When she wants to be, she is the sweetest most precious thing ("Mom?" "yes, Haven" "Oh, I just love you." "I love you too, Haven!") and yet has a developing spirit that is as strong-willed as a mountain. I pray she uses it to the glory of our Father and every day I pray over her "Lord break her will but not her spirit!" so that He can use her dynamo personality for His kingdom!
And now our precious new addition, Stone. I am so in love! Everything they say about boys and their mamas is already true! He is such a good baby and I value this time with him as we get acquainted and get to know our new little man!

3.) God answers prayers specifically: We are moving into our new home!
I can't wait to get settled in and use this wonderful gift to entertain and welcome people into our home. I truly believe that God has given me the same gift He gave my mom: the gift of hostessing! (Yes its a gift, look it up. Maybe not "hostessing" but the equivalent! Ha.) I hope we will always be humble and thankful about what God has given us and look forward to using these gifts for whatever He asks of us!

And now the weather is turning almost-maybe-hopefully cooler so I can almost feel fall coming! And let's just face it, fall is a blessing in and of itself! I pray it gets here fast and stays a while!