Change is the only constant.

The significance of the name change is that it means so much to me.  There is so much wrapped up in these yellow 'weeds'. They are a very healing plant, yet most just consider them an annoying weed.  For me, they are a symbol of constant rebirth and tenacity.  

There is a song called "Dandelions" by a band named Five Iron Frenzy.

http://www.lyricstime.com/five-iron-frenzy-dandelions-lyrics.html

The lyrics are this:

In a field of yellow flowers,

underneath the sun,

bluest eyes that spark with lightning,

boy with shoes undone.
He is young, so full of hope,

reveling in tiny dreams,
filling up, his arms with flowers,

right for giving any queen.

Running to her beaming bright,

while cradling his prize.

A flickering of yellow light,

within his mother's eyes.

She holds them to her heart,
keeping them where they'll be safe,

clasped within her very marrow,

dandelions in a vase.

She sees love, where anyone else would see weeds.
all hope is found.
Here is everything he needs.

Fathomless your endless mercy,

weight I could not lift.

Where do I fit in this puzzle,

what good are these gifts?
Not a martyr, or a saint,

scarcely can I struggle through.

All that I have ever wanted,
was to give my best to you.

Lord, search my heart,

create in me something clean.
Dandelions
you see flowers in these weeds.

Gently lifting hands to heaven,
softened by the sweetest hush,

a Father sings over his children,

loving them so very much.

More than words could warrant,

deeper than the darkest blue,

more than sacrifice could merit,

Lord, I give my heart to you

I first heard it in High School and thought it was just a fun catchy tune. As I grew, it took on so much more meaning for me.  I saw my future in that song. Love, Marriage, Motherhood, Worship.

Now I have a son with the bluest eyes.

I have a son that calls me Princess.

I have a son, that brings me Dandelions.

I struggle everyday to find out what my gifts are,

 how they can be used,

if I'm doing all that I need to do to Glorify God.

I have a family that I love, and am so thankful for everyday.

Now, I can barely listen to this song without crying.

This blog was started to keep far away family informed, and updated on what's happening in our lives. 

It's turned itno something different for me, and I hope you all don't mind where I might go with this blog.  Maybe it'll be easier for me to maintain if I feel more vested in it. 

Maybe.

Here's your challenge:

Keep me accountable.

Thanks for being you, we love you all!

-Erin

 

Pictures are worth a thousand words......

......or so they say. Here is what happened in October, as told by pictures.

Two Days of Grace, and an update

Yesterday (Day 16)
1. Making Scrambled eggs, I haven't forgotten how to cook completely
2. Owen coming home early because he finished his mid-terms
3. Going to Splash Town with Owen and Emery
4. I got to take a looooooooooooooong shower!
5. Early bedtime for all


Today (Day 17)
1. Early chillax time with Emery cause he was soooo fussy this morning (the molars are almost through!)
2. Getting prettied up cause today...
3. I had an interview!!!!
4. Mother in-law watched E for me while I went to be questioned.
5. Emery napping with Owen so I can blog.


After typing all this out, I realized that I haven't been updating regularly about Emery and what he's been up to lately.

He's a walking machine! He's practically running, and he can climb like nobody's business.
He signs more, eat, flower, dog and bath. He says: hello, no-no, mama, apo(apple), da(dad), guh(grandma), guh-da(grandad), kee(kitty), bah(ball), dah(dog), wah(water), shoe, go, bee-buh(bellybutton), and up. He also blows kisses and waves to anyone he sees when we leave a place, or a room. Very cute, yet unnerving when he's waving and blowing kisses to strangers. I love every minute of it! Wow. 15 words, that's impressive!
He's also showing interest in potty training. He almost never poops in his diaper, and most of the time we catch him before he pees in his diaper. As far as breastfeedign goes..... he nurses a lot in the morning, and when he falls asleep at night. Sometimes he'll wake up to nurse around 4 in the am. His daytime nursing is down to naps, and ouchies. I think he's well on his way to weaning. :(

Owen tried to surprise me today...

...but he's really bad about hiding things from me. Meaning...he can't. His face turns red and he can't quit smiling. It's nearly impossible for him to surprise me.

A few days ago we went into Portland to do some grocery shopping at New Seasons, and we stopped in at a bike shop we'd never seen before. We were browsing really, not looking to buy because well, bikes are expensive. Then I saw it. The bike of my dreams (well not *really*, but pretty darn close). It was a vintage Schwinn, (today Owen said it wasn't) cruiser style bike with three speeds, fenders, a back rack, and a light that came on when you pedaled. It needed a paint job, but it was the right size, and EXPENSIVE. We walked away and I haven't been able to stop thinking about it.

Today Owen came home and said, "Hey babe," (face turning red)"remember that bike you saw the other day? Well, it has internal gears, and it needed a paint job pretty bad. (Huge grin, face turning redder, nervous laughter)"

"Really?" I said. "How do you know that?"

(No eye contact, biggest grin ever) "I just know. Besides, there was this other one that didn't have a price tag. Remember that one? Well, it's out in the car!"

So.

I.

Have.

A.

Bike.

It's red and shiny! It's a Schwinn! It's a cruiser! (and it's a tiny bit too big for me) But, Owen paid like HALF of what the other bike cost, and it looks sooooo much better, and it's a 5 speed, and now we can ride bikes together!

I just need to add a light and an rack and a basket and a bell, attach a baby seat/trailer and we'll be good to go. :)


Happy Valentine's Day/Birthday to me! :)

"I love you like the Ocean through the eyes of the Moon"

This is the lovely Raina Rose. She prides herself on being a folk Goddess. :)

She makes my heart happy, and I love this song. I hope this video stirs emotion in you like it did me. Enjoy!



Check out her website, buy her CDs!

So, I've been terrible about updating lately.....

So this update will be a long one.....sorry.

Our trip was lovely, but not long enough.

It was also challenging. It was difficult to keep up with EC while on the go so much. We resorted to using eco friendly disposables for most of the trip. G-diapers were so useful! Then, while in Houston we found some diapers made out of corn! We still have some of those ledt over and are using them at night time. AP style parenting was the same, maybe even more convenient.

I bet you're just dying to know how the second leg of the journey went huh?
We flew into Tulsa and were met by Nana. Emery slept all the way to West Siloam/Watts/Flint Ridge. We stopped and he met aunt Amy while she was working. We arrived at Nana's just in time for the extended family to start arriving. There was a houseful! We had food and paseed babies around. Barrick (one of the nephews) showed up (from Texas) and had his own little belated Christmas. Finally everyone filtered out and we settled in for the night. The next morning we rushed around trying to get breakfast and have all the little ones ready for pictures. Mass confusion followed with musical carseats (not as fun as musical chairs), and shuffling around of who is riding with who. We all met up at Wal-Mart and orceeded to cram all 10 (yes ten!) of the grandkids into a portrait. (Poor camera man) The rest of the day was a bit more relaxing. Tasha and I tried for hours to get the photo printer to work, only to realize that ...hmmmm. the USB wasn't connected. Sheesh. What a genius am I?!

Sunday night Owen, Emery and I headed over to Fayetteville to spend some time with the Lingelbach's. Owen and I were there when Zoe was born, and then we moved away.....now she's a walking, talking, little sweetie!
It was great to get to spend some time with my best friend! We opted to stay the night which was awesome! :) The next day we went out to breakfast at the Rolling Pin cafe. I had hoped to get some chocolate gravy.....but I was out of luck. After breakfast we headed over to Ozark Natural Foods and made our rounds saying hello to old co-workers and showing off our handsome little dude.
Then, it started to rain, and then it started to freeze. We headed back to Dawn's in hopes of seeing a few more old friends. The weather had other plans so we went back over to my mom's house earlier than expected and started checking on our flight's back home.
The next day we left my mom's hours before we should have just in order to make it in time to catch our flight which was still scheduled to leave.
We arrived safely at the airport, and then the waiting began.
First the flight before ours was cancelled, then our flight was delayed, then, finally we were sitting on the TARMAC waiting for a break in the weather to get us airborn. We waited, and we waited, and we waited.
Then we were taxiig down the runway. Then we were airborn.
We arrived in Houston with 15 minutes before our connecting flight was leaving.
We ran. With Emery strapped to me in the Ergo. I ran.
We made it, and Emery stayed awake for the entire 5 hour flight!!!!! We touched down in Portland. Grabbed our bags, and were in our car headed home by 12:30 am our time.

It was so nice to be sleeping in our own bed.
It's so nice to be back in Gresham, but I still wish we had had more time.

Owen really liked the Culinary school.
We're beginning the transition process right now.
We're looking for an affordable storage unit. Most of our earthly possessions will be placed there. Everything else is coming with us to Spring, TX. Once Owen finishes school and we are confident enough to make the move across country again, we'll be coming back to the Great Northwest. Next time around we'll more than likely be closer to Portland, and closer to Birthingway. Maybe we'll even buy a house. Maybe. :)

I would post some pictures, but I can't seem to find the camera cord. Grrrr.

It's almost my birthday. Usually I have so many ideas of what I want, but his year, I'm void. I can't really think of anything I want, well within reason. I mean who wouldn't want a new Electra Amsterdam bicycle (that's way too expensive and just something else for us to move), or a cabinet table just perfect for sewing on. My needs are met as well, so what do I ask for?

More time with my family? Who can give that to me?

Fun with the Zollner's....

I met Melissa when I attended a La Leche League meeting here in Gresham.

She has two adorable little girls, Karis and Maddy. Melissa is the La Leche League leader. She does a wonderful job, and I feel like we're in the midst of a great friendship.

She brought Karis over the other day. This is a good thing. :) Karis looooves Emery!

She ALWAYS gives him big wet sloppy kisses, of course, these are the best kind!


Emery doesn't ever know what to think at first, but before too long.....
...he's just as enamored with her.


He also loves to watch Karis toddle around. I think he's seceretly trying to figure out her technique.


Here they are sharing Karis' babies. They took turns kissing (well, slobbering and chewing) on them.
Karis is a sweetheart!

We went to the Zollner's for a family friendly New Year's Eve party. Maddy had just got a kitchen for Christmas, and Emery loved it! I think we may have a future chef on our hands. He already wants to be just like Daddy!

Maddy was being quite the tattoo artist. Here she is doing her handiwork on Owen's neck.

The finished product was an upside down squid/octopus thing. Owen loved it!



It's always so much fun being around these lovely folks. I just wanted to share a bit of their magic with you guys!

Happy New Year!

Three years ago today, Owen asked me to marry him! So, in honor of such a special day, let's take a walk down memory lane......

This is us at an 80's themed party. Owen had just recently moved from Texas to Arkansas to be closer to me. Awwwww!

Here we are at Kerrville in 2006 about four months before we got married.

Here is one of the best moments of my life captured on film!

Ocho Rios, Jamaica, July 2006. Our honeymoon! This was taken just outside our hotel in front of the fountain.

Finally, our happy little family! It's been an amazing journey sweetheart, I'm so glad we are in this journey together. You're my best friend and I wouldn't pick anyone else to share this life with. I can't wait to see what this year has in store for us! Mmmmmwa!

In honor of our blizzard-like weather.....

...I've posted a new song. Also, if you scroll all the way to the bottom of the page, you'll see a christmas-y me chasing around a gingerbread boy (Emery). It just captures things so well! ;)

6 Random Facts About Me

Jasmine tagged me.

#1) I found this chair at the thrift store and really wanted to buy it (because I love funky old stuff like this!) so I took a picture of it because I knew Owen would hate it and make me take it back. Now everytime I go to that thrift store I look for other chairs like it.

#2) I love eggnog. I mean really, really love it. I love it so much that while I was pregnant I figured out how to make it at home. It saved us a lot of money, and I was a happy pregnant lady.

#3) When I was nannying Jakob I had to think of creative ways to explain things to him. When I was taking my maternity leave I drew this for Jakob. It's a sequence of events leading up to my return to work. I think it's the most artistic thing I've ever drawn. Seriously.

#4) Daffodils and dandelions are my two favorite flowers. I want a tatoo of a dandelion. This is a picture of Owen's hand and the size of the dandelions in Oregon. (Does this count as three facts?)

#5) My name means Luck or Ireland. My Grandpa named me after the red haired girl on The Waltons, and this is me dressed as a leprechaun.

#6) When I was in High School I was in the Panther Singers. It was an honor choir of sorts. I ate lunch in the choir room everyday which led to many nerdy picture opps. These were taken my Senior year. See? Can you find me?

I tag: whoever wants to share six random facts about themselves.

:)