A Dream Come True...

Five years ago, Steve and I drove through our small town, watching all the little trick-or-treaters out our car window. It is a moment I will never forget. Neither one of us said anything. I silently wiped away the tears that were streaming down my face, and Steve held my hand a little tighter than normal. I had just had my second miscarriage that August and we had officially been trying to have a baby for over two years at that point. Even though there was no known reason why we couldn't get pregnant (or stay pregnant), our doctor had suggested just weeks before that we try Invitro (IVF). Anyone who has ever struggled with infertility knows how difficult it is to believe that you actually need to do IVF. It feels like a last resort...the end of the line. We were overwhelmed and scared. And watching those sweet little trick-or-treaters skip and twirl and run down the street just reminded us of what we didn't have...what we feared we may never have. And I can't tell you how desperately we wanted to walk down those streets with a little princess or batman, firefighter or fairy. I wanted it so much. I remember pleading with God that night, begging for the chance to trick-or-treat with my own sweet children someday.

This week, on a beautiful fall evening exactly five years after that sad night, I watched again, as two sweet little girls skipped and twirled and ran down the street, their wings flapping in the breeze. But this time, they were my girls - the children I had prayed for and pleaded God to send me. I know that five years ago when I was crying and sad, God already saw this day...this perfect day. He already knew how happy I would be. He already knew the blessings that were in store for Steve and I. And they are truly the most amazing blessings.


I have a lot more photos to share, but these are just two of my favorites. They seem kind of "dream like" and they remind me of my dreams from five years ago. But to be honest, even in my dreams I never thought I would be so happy to be their mother!

Fire Safety at its Finest...

Kate's daycare was visited recently by the local fire department.

They got to tour the fire trucks and wear fire hats.
I assumed that they also talked about fire safety.

So I decided to quiz her a little today, and I said,

"Kate, what do you do if you catch on fire?"

Of course, I was expecting to hear "Stop, Drop, and Roll."

Isn't that the basics of fire education at age three?

Apparently not, because Kate smiled and said "Roast a Marshmallow!"

Note to Self: Must work on Kate's fire safety skills!

Beauty in the Dead Trees...

Three days ago, I was feeling kind of sad and lonely...sounds like the start of a country music song, doesn't it? You know how I love country music (seriously, I do). Anyway, I think that sometimes we focus on the negative things in life, things that are really nothing and don't matter at all (like the ugly dead tree in our neighbor's yard - why don't they just cut that thing down? Or, come to think of it, the half dead tree in my own yard - why doesn't my husband just cut that thing down?) instead of focusing on the many, many blessings that God has given us. Well...you know what? I think God wanted me to shape up and see what a beautiful place He has provided for me...dead trees and all.

Isn't that sky amazing? I didn't go outside looking for these shots...I just went outside to spend some time on the swingset with Ellie. And I didn't expect this beautiful sunset (it hasn't happened since...believe me, I've been anxiously waiting for it every night since then). But when my spirits were low and I was focused on all the wrong things, God sent me a sunset. He made me smile on a sad and lonely day. He subtly told me to shape up and experience the joy and peace that He provides. I pray that God is real to you today...showing you that even the dead, ugly trees in your life can be beautiful.

DIY: A Swingin' Good Time

Have I told you yet how talented and awesome my husband is? Really...there's no sarcasm in my voice when I say that. He always surprises me with his creativity and his mad building skills, but this summer he stepped up his game. And all I can say is "WOW!" Seriously...check this out and then we can all say "WOW" in unison.

First, he drew this amazing plan...

And then he got to work... Note: he built the entire thing by himself. Did you catch that? BY-HIM-SELF (well, Kate did help to hold some boards and hand him some nails - does that count as help?). I nagged a little and sent the kids out to bother (I mean help) him. That was my role.

And here it is (almost finished). Okay, everyone together now..."WOW!" It's awesome, isn't it? And yes, he did the excavating, built the retaining wall, and weaved the cargo net. He did all of it. Here are a few small details (special thanks to Ellie for showing how fun the swingset really is).

Amazing, huh? Let's take one more look...

I know...WOW!

I'm linking to Kimba's DIY Party at A Soft Place to Land. Check it out for more great DIY projects and creative ideas!

Recipe for Fun Family Portraits...

I finally found the recipe for a fun family portrait session:

1 best friend with a nice camera and some photography classes under her belt
1 old wicker couch that's been sitting in the basement for years
2 strong guys to carry the couch
1 11-year-old boy to make funny faces
1 hour without rain
2 cookies to bribe children to sit still

Stir it all together and this is what you get...


We had so much fun, I think we'll do it again soon (I'm sure Sheila is cringing as she reads this, but I'm kind of thinking of this as the dress rehearsal - next time I'll get it right). Really, next time I'll try to match Kate's socks to her shirt (seriously...pink socks with a red coat?), remove the ugly cushion from the wicker loveseat, reassess the location of the tree in the background, go easy on the black coats (don't we look like we're at a funeral?), and save the cookies for later in the photo session (have you ever tried taking a cookie from a happy 22-month-old.. yeah, not a good idea).

I must say, though, that Sheila is truly a full-service photographer. She showed up early, got the girls dressed, did their hair, and brought her husband and son to serve as "assistants." And all of that for FREE! It was definitely a fun time...thanks a million McFly!

Look Who is a Pretty, Pretty Princess

You gotta love a man who is secure enough in his masculinity to play "Pretty, Pretty Princess." It is Kate's favorite game and it cracks me up every time I see Steve wearing the earrings!

Now that's a good dad, don't you think?

Flying South...

The trees are turning red and gold. The air smells like burning leaves. The evenings feel a little crisper...all the mugginess of summer is gone. It is a beautiful time of year and it seems that it has snuck up on me. I never realized how quickly summer turns to fall, but I do love this time of year. It brings to mind bonfires and trick-or-treating and jumping in the leaves. It makes me want to borrow some good books from the library, curl up next to a fireplace (which, unfortunately, we do not have) with some hot chocolate and a cozy blanket. It makes me think of football games and marching bands and beautiful sunsets on the hill behind our house.

For Kate, one of the best signs of the season is the honking geese that fly over our house. They can often be heard before they're seen and she loves to search for them and watch them on their trek to warmer climates. Lately we've been able to see them flying overhead while we're eating in our morning room (which is basically a room with a million windows). I never paid much attention to the geese, but Kate has shown me that they are a beautiful sign of the season.

"Hunting" for a good deal...

Today was one of my favorite annual events...something that I like to call the female version of 'hunting.' It goes something like this:

4:45 a.m. - Wake up, throw on blue jeans, T-shirt, sweatshirt, brush hair (or throw on hat), brush teeth and get ready to go.

5:15 a.m. - Check to make sure you have money, flashlight (or head lamp) and double-stroller, necessary for transporting the spoils of the "hunt."

5:45 a.m. - Meet your friend in nearby parking lot, laugh at each other's early morning appearance (see photo below), decide which car to take (always the biggest one), double check that you have money, flashlights, and stroller; hit the road.

Sara, sporting a head lamp

6 a.m. - Arrive at "hunting" grounds, laugh at your inability to park your husband's ginormous truck (needed to carry home spoils of the hunt), get stroller ready, turn on flash light (or head lamp) and start walking to hunting grounds.

6:05 a.m. -8:30 a.m. Hunt, Hunt, Hunt for the perfect dress, toy, game, book, jackets, shoes. Mingle with friends from church, high school, the YMCA. Lose your friend and start to wonder if you'll ever find her among the masses of "hunters" on the parking lot.

8:30 a.m. - Finally find your friend, share the good deals, discuss things you should have gotten, compare bargains and decide where to go to breakfast.

10 a.m. - Arrive home with spoils of hunt, proudly display them for husband and children (unless, of course, they are Christmas gifts and then hide them immediately), take pictures and blog about it.

It was a good morning. I love the thrill of the hunt. I love the bargains. I love kid's yard sale day. Check out these good deals.

I got all this (and more) for less than $80!

Auction Week...

So it was auction week again and I was so excited. After my bargain buys last month, I couldn't wait to get my number and start waving it wildly in the air (I mean, nodding discreetly and bidding like a pro). I convinced my friend Sheila to come with me...we were women on a mission.

What mission, you ask? Well...let me tell you, we were looking for a classy (and cheap) couch to sit out in the woods next Sunday when we take family photos. Sheila and I have big dreams of being photographers when we grow up and so we've decided to practice by taking each other's family photos this fall. I know exactly what I want and it involves a couch, some tall grass, wheat (or even some weeds) and some beautiful setting sunlight...check out http://www.kathywolfephotography.com/blog/ and see the family photo on the red couch...that's what I want.

So we decided that we could get a nice, cheap couch at the auction, store it in my garage, and lug it up on the hill next weekend for family photos. Here's Sheila trying out one of the options:

Unfortunately, it wasn't meant to be, as that couch (and every other one like it) sold for between $150 and $300...definitely out of my budget for a one-time couch sitting, photo taking event. But we didn't let that keep us from having some fun, taking some pictures, and getting some strange looks while we were there!

Aren't these the cutest stools ever? I'm wishing I would have stayed to bid on them...they would have been perfect for my island. Unfortunately, they did not come home with me, and we did not snag the perfect couch at the auction this week. At least we saved enough money to buy queso dip, chips, and desserts at Applebee's afterwards. Not a bad deal, I'd say!

You Might Be a Redneck...

If your daughters are practicing for their Miss America debut in 2026...

While riding down Main Street...

In a blue plastic keg.

P.S. That second shot looks like they're about to get run over by a huge pick-up truck. Oh...the perils of practicing for Miss America!

It's Black and White...

Did you know that Steve wasn't the only love I discovered during my college days? After three years of history and philosophy and lots of communication classes, I signed up for Black and White Photography. My parents bought me a used camera, I learned all about black and white film, and spent hours in the dark room. I loved the red glow of the room, with all the little bins of liquid and the lines of hanging, crisp, black and white photos. It was thrilling to see those images appear on the paper. I loved it - definitely true love. Steve promised me that we could set up a dark room as soon as we built a house, but by then, the world of digitial photography was picking up, and I forgot all about my darkroom days. My love of black and white photography, however, remains.

I've been working on a little project at my house featuring black and white photos. They make me happy just looking at them.