Ten on Tuesday

1. Yes, I do know it's Thursday, but doesn't Ten on Tuesday just sound better?

2. We have been sick, sick, sick. Sore throats, fevers, stuffy/runny noses and lots o' hacking. In the attempt to make the best of our spring break we have been having a week long pajama party.

3. Things have been pretty quiet here on this blog but I have been a busy little bee working away on the computer and I am finally ready to show you what I've been working on...

YIPPEE!!!
Check out my new photography site.
{click on image}

4. This guy is the reason it looks so fancy.

Chris, YOU are the best husband EVER.
Thanks for loving me the way you do:)
Mwah!
xoxo

5. This weekend our big boy spent his first night away from home with friends (he's slept over with family lots, but this was his first time staying with one of his friends.)
His school hockey team had a tournament out of town and he was invited to go up with one of his friend's family. He did awesome. I, on the other hand was a complete wreck. Poor Chris had to reassure me every 5 minutes that he was fine. When did he get so big?! Wasn't it just yesterday that I was up rocking him through the night?

6. This was my facebook status on tuesday. Joy.

7. I'm probably the last person on earth to know about "Annie Eats" but in case I'm not I thought I'd share her with you. Oh my yumminess.

8. Ellie has slept 8 hours straight the last two nights. I think we should buy her a pony.

9. It's official. Our little family has decided that Romona & Beezus is the best movie ever:)

10. Ok friends, I need your help..... what should I throw in the oven for dinner tonight?

Winner!

Oh how I wish I could give every single one of you this book.
It's that awesome.

If you didn't win you need to get your hands on a copy somehow.
It will truly change the way you live.

Ok, now who's the lucky lady who will soon be getting a lovely package from me in the mail?....

Well, if you saw this pretty face in the mirror this morning you are the winner!!!
:)

Congrats Lynn!
Send me an email {simplysarablog@gmail.com} with your address and I'll get your new book to you.

Thanks everyone for playing along!

One Thousand Gifts- GIVEAWAY!!!

Today, because I love you guys, I'm giving away a copy of this beautiful book.
I promise you'll be completely changed after reading it.
I promise it'll wake you up.
To live life.
Fully.


Eeeeeeeee!
I am SO excited!

To enter simply leave a comment telling me you'd like to win :)

For additional entries you can do one or more of the following:

1. Leave me a comment telling me one of your "ordinary moments" that could be counted as a gift today.
2. Become a follower on my blog {if you already follow leave a comment telling me you do}
3. Blog about this giveaway.
4. Tweet or Facebook about this giveaway.

Please leave a separate comment {for a total of 5} for every entry so that they will all count when the random generator does it's thing.
Giveaway will be open until Monday March 28th at Midnight MST.
I'll announce the winner Tuesday morning.

Good Luck!

One Thousand Gifts

Eucharisteo.

A word that now lives on my lips and pounds hard on my heart.
It's a word that I didn't even know existed until a couple of weeks ago,
when I got my hands on a copy of Ann Voskamp's beautiful book "One Thousand Gifts"


Friends, this book is changing me.

It's teaching me how to live.
Fully.
In Eucharisteo.

So, what is eucharisteo?
It means thanksgiving.
It's a greek word that is used to describe what Jesus did on the night he shared his last meal.

And he took bread, gave thanks {eucharisteo} and broke it, and gave it to them, saying, "This is my body given for you; do this in remembrance of me." Luke 22:19 NIV

In her book, Ann digs a little deeper and teaches that the root word for eucharisteo is charis- grace and also comes from the greek word chara- joy.

Grace. Thanksgiving. Joy.
Eucharisteo.

Is the secret to finding joy truly found in thanksgiving?

Is it that simple?
or perhaps,
Is it that hard?

To receive every moment as grace. As a gift from him. To give thanks and then find joy. True joy. Lasting joy.


Can I learn to be thankful?
Can I learn to see Him in the everyday?
See His beauty.
Receive it as grace.
And find fullness of life?

If ever there was a book that had the potential to change my life this would be it.
And it is.


Back in January I wrote about living a better story.
About being a better character.
And at the time I had no idea how I was practically going to make that happen.
I had the desire.
But I wasn't sure how to move from having the desire to change my story to truly changing it.

This book is the practical road map I needed.
It's written like poetry.
It's packed with God's truth.
It's teaching me how to give thanks.
In all things.
To physically write out gifts.
To tangibly see what He has given me.
To take notice.

And I am learning.

Through practice.
Practice.
And more practice....

I am learning to see Joy.

#4. Newborn hunger cries.
#7. Little toes in the shower.
#8. Big fluffy snowflakes.
#11. Girls in party dresses.
#15. Encouragement from a friend, telling me I'm doing a good job as a mama.
#18. Midnight feedings.


1000 gifts.
That's the challenge.
To record 1000 gifts from the Father. The big and little.
To learn how to live in His presence.
How to enter His courts.
Daily.
With thanksgiving.
1000 everyday moments that I can receive as grace. Give thanks. And breath in Joy.

Grace. Thanksgiving. Joy.
Eucharisteo.

Can I really train myself to be thankful for everything, in every circumstance?
Will finding joy in the everyday teach me to find Him in those hard moments?
Will it bring me into deeper intimacy with the One who truly is Joy?
Will I be able to see through this lense of thanksgiving and see Him?

I am uncovering that Yes.
Yes.
Yes.
And YES!

Eucharisteo.
Grace. Thanksgiving. Joy.

I want to live fully.

To find the beauty that is all around me.

And to see Him in all my moments.

#2o. Pigtails bouncing down the hall
#22. Mommy & Daddy sneaking kisses
#30. Bath time in the kitchen sink
#33. New socks.
#36. Hide and seek at school pick-up.
#40. Hot showers...

And my list will go on....

1000 gifts.
1000 thank yous.
1000 joys.

{BEST EVER} Broccoli Cheese Soup

Well friends, apparently it's still winter 'round these here parts. Tonight they are calling for MORE snow. Boo!
So, with the cold weather still dragggggggggging on I thought I'd share our family's favorite soup recipe.

When I make this for dinner there are never any leftovers. The kids devour it and Chris always has a smile on his face when he comes home smelling it simmering on the stove.

Not only does it taste amazing, but it is super easy. It's one of those meals that can be whipped up when you realize it's a 1/2 hour before dinnertime and you haven't even started yet...

Please tell me I'm not the only dinner procrastinator....
;)

Enjoy friends!

{BEST EVER} Broccoli Cheese Soup

4 cups chicken broth
2 cups milk
1/2 cup flour
3-5 cups broccoli {cut up}
2-3 cups grated cheese
bacon to garnish {optional}

Mix broth and milk on medium heat. Slowly add flour with a whisk to thicken. Continue to stir until boiling.

Add broccoli. Place lid on and cook for 10 minutes.

Add cheese and heat to combine.

Garnish with cheese or bacon.

Sunshine

You are my sunshine.
My only sunshine.


You make me happy
{oh, so happy!}


When skies are grey.


You'll never know, dear,


How much I love you....


Please don't take my sunshine away.

Ten on Tuesday

1. I finally blew the dust off my sewing machine last week and made this blanket for our littlest.
Super easy and the fabric is oh so wonderfully soft.

2. Speaking of handmade, check out these ADORABLE booties my dear friend knit for our girl. Oh.my.cuteness. I can hardly wait until she grows into them!
Eeeee!

3. This weekend I broke down and bought a couple new tops at the mall. I'm in that fun in-between stage where my maternity clothes feel too big but I can't quite fit back into my regular clothes. This is my least favorite stage of pregnancy/postpartum. I get that I just had a baby a month ago, but why can't I be one of those women who's weight just falls off them due to nursing. I'm one of the lucky ones who holds onto the pounds :(

4. So, Chris and I have debated starting up an exercise program together. He is pushing for "Power 90" but it kinda makes me want to run in the opposite direction. Has anyone ever done that program? Or is there another one you would recommend doing?

5. Dare I say it........that spring is FINALLY at our fingertips?! The snow is melting and the temperatures are getting warmer. Today I wore just a sweater when we went out grocery shopping. Yippee!

6. I adore cooking shows and more specifically baking shows. I have a HUGE weakness for the Food Network & TLC. Food Network Challenge, Fabulous Cakes, Cake Boss, DC Cupcakes, Ace of Cakes. I love 'em all. It is so amazing to me to see what these bakers/artists can do with cake. Most recently I discovered the show "Cupcake Wars." Love it. Have you seen it? I secretly want to go on... ;0

7. Tomorrow is our 7 year old's sharing day at school. Every month he faces the same dilemma..... will it be something Star Wars or Lego that he brings in to show his class. This month he didn't have a hard time deciding at all. He wants to bring in his new baby sister. Awww :)

8. This post is a must read for any and all mamas. Amen.

9. Back in December I shared how we started reading "The Jesus Storybook Bible" with the kids. They all absolutely adore it. I love how excited they get when we read it and how involved they become as they listen to it on CD. It is a phenomenal children's bible. My friend Sarah from Short Stop is giving away 10 copies of the new "Large Trim Jesus Storybook Bible" today. Sweet! Now go enter to win :)

10. Ta-da! Her first {half} smile caught on camera :)

Blessed beyond measure...

This weekend we celebrated our little Ellie with the most wonderful baby shower.
My sister Tammy and good friend Wendy completely spoiled us with a relaxed and super fun baby shower.

The house was decorated so beautifully and the food was SO amazing. And since Miss E is our fourth baby and third girl they decided on a diaper/meal shower and asked guests to bring either a package of diapers or a freezer meal for us.

OH HAPPY DAY!!!

AMEN and AMEN!!!

How awesome it that?!
Seriously?!
Diapers and meals... what more could new parents want?
Oh how we are blessed beyond measure!

We visited, played a few fun games and of course gushed over newborn sweetness.

One of the best parts of the shower were these birthday cards that Wendy had made.
They were numbered 1 to 18 and during the shower our guests took the time to fill in their hopes/dreams/prayers for our little Ellie. She will then get to open one up every year on her birthday until her 18th birthday. Isn't that the sweetest thing EVER?!

Our little one was so good. She slept almost the entire time and did wonderfully being passed around like a hot potato :)

And our older girls were so excited to be able to stay and celebrate their sister. Although our almost four year old had a hard time understanding why we kept calling it a "shower." She even corrected her grandma by saying "No Elliot has baths, she's too little to have a shower!"
;)

Daddy and our boy escaped to a movie before all the ladies arrived. When they came home they surprised us with a little gift for Ellie too. Big brother made us all close our eyes and then presented them proudly telling us that he had picked them out himself....

Isn't that sweet?

Yes indeed. We are crazy blessed.
Thank you to all our wonderful friends and family. We are so overwhelmed by your love for our little family.

And in the interest of keepin' it real around here...
Shortly after everyone had gone home my sweet Ellie decided to give me a gift of her own.
Any guesses as to what {oh so ironically} she gave?

Mmmhmmm.
That's right.

Sweet baby girl had the BIGGEST diaper blowout ever.
EVER.
Friends, I have changed my fair share of blowouts but this one definitely took it to the next level.

She had poo in her armpits.
'Nuff said.

And for the shower I had dressed her in the cutest little onesie that had to {sadly} slip over her head to come off.
Awesome.

So I gave her a nice bath (which she screamed through the entire time.}
Sigh.

Ah well.
No time like the present to put those diapers to good use. Right?!

It's a good thing she's so darn cute...

Tap.Tap.Tap...Is this thing still on??

Yup.

We're still here....

Still soaking up her sweetness...

Still subjecting her to mini photo shoots....


Still lovin' on her.

I'll try to muster up some blogging energy soon and post something more than once a week...
but for now I am just happy to spend my day soaking her up.
Can you blame me?
:)
Love to you all!
xoxo