Life Lately

October was a beautiful month, filled with so many things that brought us so much love & joy.

Friends Visit

It started with a visit from dear friends. Diana is someone who as been a mentor and friend to me for 16 years. I started meeting with her before I had my first child, and have leaned upon her wisdom, grace, kindness and love often in my life.

JP is a missionary, and Diana’s son-in-law. We were so blessed to spend time with him. My kids absolutely adore him, and hearing about his heart for the Lord, mission to spread the Gospel, and trust in God through incredible trials, was so encouraging for all of us.

God graciously gave us the gift of time with these friends who live out their faith in real, grace-filled and inspiring ways – and it touched my heart and healed my soul in ways I didn’t think were possible in this present season.

They reminded me that Jesus can truly identify with those who suffer, because He himself suffered. I have known this, but to witness them walking with Jesus through their own suffering was a tremendous encouragement to me.

We went hiking, spent many hours talking and just sharing in life together. Their visit was truly balm for my soul!

Another year older

Ritch & the kids celebrated my birthday and made me feel so loved. We went on an absolutely breathtaking hike in the mountains and then out to dinner at our favorite Mediterranean restaurant. They spoiled me, like they always do, and I felt blessed far beyond anything I deserved!

The Beach

This year we decided to prioritize rest, so we planned a handful of trips to get away and just be together as a family.

This month we went to Captiva, Florida and it was beautiful. We rented a house on the beach with a pool and relaxed and enjoyed ourselves.

The kids absolutely loved burying Ritch in the sand. He definitely wins the world’s best dad award for that one!

This particular island is known for it’s shelling, and we found hundreds of stunning shells, which the kids found very exciting. We saw dolphins every day on our beach too, and we got so close to them!

I loved this island because it felt very remote. People were few and far between (my kind of vacation haha), and it was really just us and the waves and sand. It was so relaxing.

As always, we played from sunup to sundown and had the best time. Ever since we got home, Keilah will randomly start crying and say “I just miss the beach.” Same girl, same!

Halloween

We had a blast on Halloween with good friends. It was our first time trick-or-treating in our new neighborhood, and it seriously felt so much like home. Our other neighborhood was bonkers on Halloween, and this one was very low key while still being super fun.

Zach was absolutely terrified of my friend’s son’s dinosaur costume (haha) and he literally has not stopped talking about it since – it’s actually adorable the way he talks about “Elijah dinosaur costume.”

This year we had 3 different versions of a spiderman/girl character. Keilah insisted on being a bunny (and what a cute bunny she was) and Bethany was an angel. Ritch and Naomi spent months building her Boca Tan costume which I guess is a character from star wars or something! They talked about how much fun they had for many days after.

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• Agolde Stretch Jeans. I have the hardest time finding jeans I will actually wear. They have to be soft and stretchy, but still look classy. Well, after buying and returning 10 pairs of jeans this fall (at least haha), I found these Agolde Jeans and fell in love. Note that they come in stretch and regular – I did not like the regular jeans but absolutely adore the stretch version!
• Thanksgiving recipes. I already ordered my turkeys and am in planning mode for Thanksgiving! I have to give a nod to my favorite Cranberry Sauce recipe because the post got a makeover this year (don’t worry, no changes to the recipe itself).
• Sezane Fall Jacket: I have been looking for a great fall coat for a few years now (not exaggerating – I’m so picky about my clothes and won’t buy/keep things unless I truly love them). This year I bought this jacket and absolutely love it. I have it in camel (sold out but there are other great colors). I love that it can be dressed up or down. It’s pretty comfy and looks classy. I have a size small because I wanted to be able to layer sweaters and such underneath, but probably could’ve gotten away with an XS.

Life & Faith

This month has brought so much clarity and healing. I’ve been at an impasse for quite some time in my heart and mind when I’d think about Christians who claim their harmful actions are done “in love.” It was like (metaphorically) a person pummeling another person, and as they walk away while the beaten person is bleeding they say, “Oh, but I love you.” Like somehow that makes what they did ok.

However, the bible very clearly tells us what love is, and what it most definitely is not. “Love is not jealous or boastful or proud or rude. It does not demand its own way.‘

So, we don’t have to wonder, “Are those hurtful actions actually loving just because someone claims they are? Do the people who harmed me actually love me?” And we don’t have to just blindly accept or believe those who say they love us when their actions communicate the exact opposite. Because, God, in His goodness gives us His Word full of passages that clearly tell us what love is, and what it most certainly is not.

God used the visit from my friend, who has been a tangible example of gospel love and kindness to me for many years, to remind me of these truths, and it brought great healing to my soul.

Snapshots

Our family photos came back from Brook Stein Photo and they are so great. She has been taking our family photos for 10 years now and we absolutely love her (and she will travel)! Here are a few of my favorites:

Enjoying the beach.

The kids spent hours catching critters on the property where we stayed.

My mini me soaking in the sun and waves.

So grateful for a few perfect sunsets.

These two brothers totally have my heart.

This spoke to me this month 100%!

Life Lately

September was a simple but beautiful month. We transitioned from swimming season to hiking season!

We officially said goodbye to the pool & summer. I was grateful that our neighborhood kept the pool open past labor day, and we did not take a moment for granted. Z still asks to go swimming every day, but he’s starting to understand that the pool is closed.

Our seasons of family fun go from skiing (winter) to hiking (spring) to swimming (summer) back to hiking (fall) then repeat! So now we spend our free time exploring the mountains, watching the trees slowly change colors and enjoying the beautiful fall weather.

We have some great hikes very close to our home, so we have spent a lot of time exploring.

The fall colors are absolutely stunning here – and we can watch them change from our home so we know exactly where to go hiking!

Since it’s hiking season, I have to give a nod to our favorite hiking backpack, the Deuter Kid Comfort Backpack. We bought ours 13 years ago (gasp) and it has been used heavily for 6 kids and it still looks new. We carry kids up to age 3 in this pack and it seriously has held up incredibly well. Look at sweet Z in there!

Homeschool

We’re in full-on school mode now, and so far it’s going great. Two of my kids had a significant increase in difficulty in their math curriculum from last year – one moving from grade 3 to 4/5 and one moving from 7/8 to Algebra 1. I was nervous about this, but both are doing amazing and it’s so encouraging to see how much they really have learned over the years.

Bethany is absolutely thriving in 7th grade. She goes to co-op alone, and it’s the first time I’ve ever just dropped a kid off for school and drove away. She is loving every second of it, and I’ve seen her grow so much in the few short weeks she has been attending the program. I can’t wait to see what’s in store for her this year.

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• Silicone baking mats. As baking season commences – I recommend investing in a handful of these baking mats. They have replaced parchment paper in all my cookie baking.
• Stila Eyeliner. My friend recommend this eyeliner and it is so good. It is the only eyeliner I’ve tried that really does stay on all day!
• Butternut squash mac and cheese. I make this recipe all the time in the fall. Purchasing frozen butternut squash makes it so easy!

Life & Faith

Sharing about faith in an authentic and honest way is something I don’t feel like is done enough in a culture where perfection is expected and anything less is excoriated.

I have been thinking about this a lot – Jesus rose with the wounds of His betrayal. I cannot claim to fully understand this truth, but it does give me hope. Bearing scars from the past doesn’t mean newness and hope have not yet come.

God resurrects in the midst of our humanity and brokenness, not in spite of it. It’s one of the most humbling truths of the life of Christ, and the greatest hope of the suffering soul. It should elicit our humility, grace, and gratitude.

Our souls suffer, but God knows and He sees and is making all things new. He brings darkness into the light and the unjust to perfect justice. God is fighting for us, forging the path of grace.

Because when I stop and let myself think about what people have done to us, I can hardly stand under the weight of it. But when, instead, I focus on what Jesus has done – my soul rejoices and my heart finds rest.

Snapshots

Enjoying the beautiful fall weather & hiking!

Ritch took Keilah on a daddy-daughter date. She has been set on going mini golfing. Look at that little sweetie.

What’s parenting 6 kids without a few scares? This girl gave me a run for my money this month. She tried to cut an apple herself and it did not go well. She probably should have gotten stitches, but thankfully the pediatrician found another way to help the cuts heal on their own without them.

These two little besties are so cute together.

Zach is still the sweetest little bear. He is talking so much and replies to almost everything we say with one of three words: What? Where? Why?

He is still a snuggly little bear, and is just the cutest little squish ever.

He had his first dentist appointment this month and he did amazing. I wasn’t so sure how it would go, but he did everything he was told to do without crying. He held my hand the whole time, but was so sweet and so good!

Life Lately

August was a full month for our family. We started our homeschool year while still playing at the pool every day. Ritch and I celebrated our anniversary, and Ritch & Gabe went on an amazing trip to Glacier.

Anniversary

Ritch and I celebrated our 16th anniversary this month! There is no one else I’d rather have by my side. I am grateful for the husband, father and man that he is. My life would be so different (and not better) if the Lord hadn’t graciously gifted him to me as a partner and friend!

We went to a wedding on our anniversary – but slipped out after the ceremony to celebrate!

Homeschool

As a result of our co-op schedule, we had to start school earlier than I would have preferred this month. Since we wrapped up our year in late April and have enjoyed the best summer break, I was not ready to jump into school (at all).

However, my kids were ready! One morning, when I was planning on only getting my oldest started, all my other kids came to the table with their math and asked to do their first lesson. I even said “I don’t want to start school,” but I was overruled.

Bethany started 7th grade (gasp). She is such a kind and beautiful young woman (inside and out). I am grateful to be her mom, and look forward to seeing how she grows this year as she takes on new challenges in both school and life!

My other kids are in 5th, 3rd, 1st and preschool. Check out this post: Daily Homeschool Schedule for my curriculum recommendations and more.

Last year I was very focused on finishing school early – so we took very little breaks and worked really hard. However, this year I’m going to focus more on grace and fun.

My kids are all doing great academically, so I am going to try to be a little more relaxed this year. Obviously, I hope to keep them on track and we will finish our curriculum (I’m too Type A for it to be any other way) – but with more fun along the way. I already have 3 trips planned from now until April, two of which are pretty significant. So I’m hopeful we can have a good mix of fun and learning and re-balance the scales a little bit this year.

Zach

I’m not sure how it’s possible, but this little nugget gets cuter by the second. Some notable things from this month:

He become a total fish. Swimming without floaties with joy and ease. It is an absolute pleasure to watch and makes my heart so happy.

He learned that my name is Laura. The way he says it melts me into a puddle. At first he didn’t understand. He asked, “Me, Laura?” and I said “No, you are Zach.” Then he said, “Mara, Laura?” So I had to clarify that I have two names – Mommy and Laura. I loved watching him finally understand the concept.

I bought him a learning guitar and he walks around playing it all the time. Specifically “Pharaoh, Pharaoh” and “One Way” which were songs played at our church’s kids camp this year.

Snuggle time is changing a little bit, which I expected but it still makes me a little sad. He will often fall mostly asleep on his own, then roll over and snuggle with me once he’s out. I will take every minute I can before I become obsolete, and I’m grateful I still get these sweet times.

Glacier

Ritch and Gabe went to backcountry camping in Glacier National Park for a week. We started a tradition with Bethany of taking the kids on a trip once they turn 10. I took Bethany to Chicago, and Gabe chose to go camping at Glacier with Ritch.

Ritch and I did this trip before we had kids, and made a photo journal about our experiences. The kids read it often, and have for many years – which is what prompted Gabe to choose Glacier!

They were in the backcountry and hiked almost 10 miles every day. They carried everything they needed on their backs, only brought one pair of clothes, and lived their best lives. It was a little rainy the first day but they ended up having great weather after that. Gabe’s tank was absolutely full when they came home, and I’m so glad they got the chance to do this together.

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• This song – a friend of mine has the most beautiful voice, and is a talented song writer. She sent me this song during a time when God was pressing the exact message it teaches deeply on my heart.
• Chocolate chip cookies – always and forever our favorite.

Life & Faith

Our family is still healing from some pretty difficult ministry trauma (which is something most ministry families have suffered through – your pastor, his wife and his family are humans).

I’ve clung to the Word – which constantly reminds me that we are not alone and so many have gone before us and experienced the same things we have: Friends who turn to enemies. People who claim to love but instead expose and destroy. Pride blinding hearts and minds. Wrong being considered right and everything feeling upside down.

Like the glaze covering an earthen vessel
    are fervent lips with an evil heart.
Whoever hates disguises himself with his lips
    and harbors deceit in his heart;
when he speaks graciously, believe him not,
    for there are seven abominations in his heart;
though his hatred be covered with deception,
    his wickedness will be exposed in the assembly.

Proverbs 24: 23-26

One thing that has been very heavy on my heart (which I mentioned in my July Moments post too), is people doing objectively awful things and claiming they are out of “love.”

So many have such a skewed view of what gospel and biblical love really is. This quote from David Jeremiah spoke to me – What you do determines how (and if) you love – plain and simple. We feel hopeful for better days ahead, but this season will forever leave a scar.

Snapshots

Ritch and I flew out of town for a few days, and my sister-in-law and niece flew in to watch our kids. My kids absolutely adore both of them and it was such a gift to get to see them before they moved out of the country a few weeks later.

I’ve been wanting to go to this balloon festival since we moved to UT. We went two mornings in a row (woke the kids up at 6 AM on both of our days off, haha) but both days the weather prevented the balloons from flying. We will try again next year!

My boys waiting for haircuts.

Date night!

Date night with good friends always fills my soul.

Gabe took golf lessons with friends and really enjoyed learning a new sport!

These sweet beauties on their first day of co-op this year. So grateful they get to be in a class together.

“A friend loves at all times, and a [sister] is born for adversity.” Proverbs 17:17.

While Ritch and Gabe were out of town my friend came over and we had a “stay at home date” while my kids watched a movie in the basement. We ordered takeout and spent hours talking. It was a highlight of my month. I’m so grateful to be fully known and loved by, and fully know and love such a beautiful person inside and out.

We had our swim team banquet and Gabe won the MVP award for the year! He was the boy who scored the most points for the team! Way to go G!

I just love this photo B took of her and Z.

The last two weeks of August have been my absolute favorite. The pool is open but all the other kids are in school. So, we wake up early and finish our school, then go swim and enjoy the warmth and sunshine. One day we were sitting eating lunch and B said, “We have a lucky life.” I agree, B!

Life Lately

It finally started feeling like summer this month. It was sunny and warm every day which meant lots of time at the pool.

4th of July

Our neighborhood puts on a fun parade and party on the 4th – and we enjoyed it together as a family!

Since I’ve been pregnant or nursing for every 4th of July since 2011 (haha) – it has been over 10 years since I’ve actually gone to fireworks. Well, this year all eight of us went with some friends and it was so fun! Ever since, Z keeps saying “more fireworks” then making explosion sounds.

It’s crazy to think that there won’t be another year that we won’t be able to go and see them (as long as everyone is healthy)! Now just to figure out which nearby town puts on the best show!

Swim Team

The kids’ swim team wrapped up this month. They had so much fun and I’m so grateful to have such a great team right in our neighborhood.

I can’t believe summer is already coming to an end, but we sure did enjoy it!

Zach

Oh goodness, Z had a few big changes this month. First, he stopped taking a bottle. I know he’s 2 1/2 – but as long as he wanted it before he went to sleep, I would probably have given it to him! It was so interesting how it happened. Usually, he asked for a bottle every night. Then, one night he just said – “no, no milk. no bottle” and didn’t drink it. He never took another bottle again.

His language has also exploded. He talks all the time and it’s so fun to hear him express himself.

Thankfully he still is the best snuggler. At night, we lay next to each other in his bed. Then, when he’s ready to go to sleep he sits up and says, “mom” and then crawls up on my chest and falls asleep. I’m grateful he still loves snuggling – because I am definitely not ready to give that up yet!

He also made incredible progress in the pool this month! After over a year of him crying during swim lessons and wearing floaties during our playtime, something just clicked and he became a little fish.

One day he just took off his floaties, jumped in and kept saying “more pancake” and jumping again (“pancake” is what the swim school calls the back floats they teach the kids to do). After that day he never put his floaties on again, and started finally swimming on his tummy etc.

One day he was playing with an inflatable inner-tube. He held it around his waist, walked to the deepest part of the shallow end (where he cannot touch) and jumped in. I told him that wasn’t a good choice and he instantly went under the water, pushed the tube off of him, went into his back float and kicked to the wall. He gave me a triumphant face, asked for the tube and swam away – I laughed so hard. So, while I still make sure I am an arm’s length away from him at all times when he’s without his floaties, this progress was absolutely incredible and exactly what I’ve been waiting for!

Look at the little smirk on his face! And he always floats with one tiny hand in the air! Love that little nugget.

Dates

We have a system for taking our kids on dates – we alternate between mom and dad, and go from oldest to youngest, then repeat the cycle. So our oldest would go on a date with Ritch, then I’d take our second oldest out, then it goes down the line and when we cycle back through they switch which parent they go with. I’m sure I could explain this better – haha, but this is so important to our family and something I recommend parents do with their kids.

We love these sweet times with them – they are so different one-on-one than they are when we’re all together. This month, Ritch took Naomi on a date mini golfing then to her favorite coffee shop.

Then I took Mara out to breakfast and then to Scheels to ride the ferris wheel and play a few games. Such simple little outings but they show individual love to the kids in meaningful ways. They are my favorite times we have with them!

Oh – Ritch and I snuck a date in this month too!

Ritch’s Birthday

Ritch’s birthday was this month. Unfortunately he was on jury duty for a week that included his birthday – and it was a really emotionally difficult case. So, we just tried to make the hours at night when he was home really special for him.

We made him steak, mashed potatoes and green beans per his request. And of course – his favorite Eclair cake.

It has been a difficult season for our family – and we have drawn upon the experiences of those who have come before us in history and in ministry to keep pressing on. This gave me the idea to get Ritch an antique bible for his birthday.

I found an absolutely beautiful 1679 King James bible with an original cover that is just stunning (I purchased it from Crawford and Sterling and Benjamin helped me pick out the perfect bible for Ritch)! He loved the gift like I hoped he would. It included a Book of Common Prayer, and he has been playing some of the songs on the piano. He read some passages with the kids, and told them “our country isn’t even as old as this bible!”

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• I posted about these Paige Pants last month – well I found the Paige Brooklyn shorts and I love them. I do not love jean shorts, and I’ve been looking for a cute alternative (that isn’t workout shorts) all summer. Well – these are the winner – I bought them in three colors (pink-ish, green and white) I love them so much – they are soft and stretchy and so comfortable.
• I started taking this natural supplement to help me manage stress for the past two months. It has helped me immensely – to the point that it even helped regulate my cycles which had been a little wonky for over a year. I am pretty “crunchy” when it comes to our health, so I love that this is an all natural product that truly does work.
• Burrata salad. still my favorite summer salad. What’s not to love?! Give me all the burrata!

Life thoughts

Ritch’s sabbatical officially ended July 1st, although practically it ended June 1st. I shared some of what I’ve been feeling in June’s moments post, so if you want to know some more head over there. We missed having him around so much this month it hurts! We’re planning on making a sabbatical (probably 1 month) a regular thing after not taking one for 17 years – because that first month was heaven on earth!

Now our family is working on healing from the trauma we have experienced – and we truly have all experienced it, especially Ritch and I and our oldest daughter.

One way we have started to heal is to be intentional about focusing on the things we are grateful for in our life. We are grateful for our friends in ministry who know and fully understand what we’ve gone through – and have been right where we are. They remind us we will get through this and God is going to use it to bring Him glory and for our good. I’m grateful for good friends and for being fully known and fully loved by them – I’ve learned what an absolute gift that kind of friendship really is. I’m grateful for my family – as long as we have each other, we need nothing else. I’m grateful for the Psalms and it’s reminders that we aren’t alone. And the list goes on and on!

This verse is my life verse – I memorized it when I went through a season of loss between my first two kids – and it’s hanging on the wall as the first thing you see when you enter our home.

A lot of people have claimed their harmful actions were motivated by “love.” But a deep study and reminders from good friends about what love really is – and even more importantly – what it definitely is not has been so helpful in our healing process as well.

My friend who is also a pastor’s wife (and has been through more than I have) wrote this to me and I have cherished her words: ” When you are talking to people, hold in the back of your mind, “love always protects.” if people are saying they love you and they have not protected you in this. They need to understand that pain.”

Snapshots

We went to a fair this month and it was hot – but so fun!

Our deck was finally finished this month – so we hung this swing underneath it and the kids love it.

Mara lost her first tooth this month! She was so excited and got a whopping $5 from the daddy tooth fairy! haha

Love this little squishy swimmer.

It rained a lot this month in the evenings – and my kids never missed an opportunity to go outside and play in the storms.

My sweet snuggle bug. <3

Life Lately

June was a beautiful month here. The weather was a little cooler than average but we still enjoyed hiking, visiting with family, and swimming almost every day!

Swim Team

I can’t remember if I’ve shared this, but I grew up swimming. My entire life revolved around the pool from age 8 up until college. I swam on a team, taught swim lessons, and worked at the snack bar when I was young. Then I became a lifeguard, pool manager and swim coach.

The pool I grew up at – called Maple Hill – was the only place in my childhood where I had only positive memories. It was so special and unique and I am certain it was unlike anywhere else on earth. It was the source of so much joy for so many years.

All that being said – I want that same joy and fun and community for my children. Again, I don’t believe anywhere will be anything close to the tight-knit family feel of Maple Hill, but I figure why not (in a small way) re-live the absolute best parts of my young life vicariously through my children! haha! I’m just being honest – we all do it to some extent or another right?

Anyway – our new neighborhood has a swim team and my kids have been enjoying it this summer. It’s similar to the league I swam in during the summer, and it has been so much fun to be part of. I’m hoping I can contribute more to the team next year now that I know the ropes a little bit!

It has also helped the kids make a few friends in our new neighborhood – which has been much needed and so great.

Summer Fun!

We have just been enjoying having Ritch home this summer. I cannot believe his 2 month sabbatical flew right by. I am definitely not ready (not at all) to have him go back to work July 1. I could cry just thinking about it.

We went to our town’s fair with some friends and had a blast. Z was very unnerved by all the lights and noise at first. But after (gently) making him go on a few rides with his siblings he was all about it and had so much fun.

We got our annual funnel cake (which was like the best funnel cake we’ve ever had in our lives haha). And just enjoyed a beautiful night making memories. This is Naomi and her sweet bestie riding a ride at the fair!

We basically spend every (nice – not stormy) day at the pool. It was such a treat to have Ritch home to go together.

Z is my little water baby. He just loves the pool and makes everything so much fun.

Ritch took the kids camping with friends Father’s Day weekend. They had a blast, even though they didn’t sleep much!

A new season

I said goodbye to my nursery this month, which has been my most favorite place in the whole world for 13 years.

Ritch built this crib while I was pregnant with my first child, and it has been in constant use since the day she was born. The sadness over taking it down was overwhelming. I felt literally heavy under the weight of it.

I absolutely adore the newborn/baby phase. I have spent countless hours over the years snuggling my babies to sleep, nursing them and soaking in every moment of motherhood.

I don’t feel whole without a baby on my hip – and I know it will take time for that to subside. I received 6 good and perfect gifts from the Lord and I can honestly say I have not taken one second for granted.

Now I’m focusing on enjoying the joys of this new season. We’ve stayed up late and gone on long trips and so many other things that were challenging with babies.

Zach moved out of the nursery into a room with Keilah, and Bethany (our oldest) got her own room. I think this will be a positive change for everyone, but it will take some getting used to.

Ritch built these bunk beds when Naomi was born and it was time for Bethany and Gabe to share a room when they were ages 4 and 2. This photo reminds me so much of them.

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• These pants are my absolute favorite thing I’ve purchased in a while. I wear them all the time – they are so comfy and cute! Paige Brooklyn High Waist Crop Wide Leg Pants.
• Organic Sheets. I had to buy a few sets of new sheets in the room shuffle, and these are affordable, organic and so soft!

Life thoughts

I wanted to share this article: When Words are Wind by John Piper. While we have enjoyed having Ritch home – our sabbatical has not been the restful break from ministry we so desperately needed.

It has been challenging in some regards – but in others it has been so, so good. Our family has clarity from God about the future of our ministry and focus of the next season.

I have so much I want to say here, however I’ll keep it brief and admonish my fellow Christians to read this article.

The last year has been a difficult one – and we have been met with judgement, graceless legalism, hurt and rejection from people we trusted. However, we wholeheartedly believe that God has been sanctifying us for more effective future ministry and life – and we are ready.

Our senior pastor at the church we served in IL taught us many things. One piece of wisdom he shared with us was “You won’t be surprised that attacks come, but you will be surprised from who they come.” We feel like we finally understand what he was teaching us. We have also been blown away by the Psalms – reading them in a new light. It’s incredible how God’s word speaks directly into our lives.

“My companion stretched out his hand against his friends… His speech was smooth as butter, yet war was in his heart; his words were softer than oil, yet they were drawn swords. Cast your burden on the Lord and He will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Psalm 55:20-21

I have been reflecting on the life of Joseph and Genesis 50:20 when he said to his brothers – “As for you, you meant evil against me, but God meant it for good.” It struck me that many people recall this verse and replace the word “meant” with “uses.” God “uses” evil for our good. But that’s not what it says. It says that God meant the evil brought on by others for our good.

I believe god meant or intended the evil aimed at us in this season. It didn’t just happen to us and then God did what he could with a bad situation. He ordained it to be so for His glory and his good purposes.

I’ve also been struck with the absolute peace of the Lord. I’m looking forward to sharing more in the future. But for now I am grateful to the Lord for the gift of my family, my close friends and His word!

“When my enemies come to see me,
they speak falsely, while their hearts gather slander;
then they go out and spread it around.
They whisper together against me;
they imagine the worst for me…

Even my close friend, someone I trusted,
one who shared my bread, has turned against me.

But may you have mercy on me, Lord…
I know that you are pleased with me,
for my enemy does not triumph over me.
Because of my integrity you uphold me
and set me in your presence forever.

Psalm 41

Snapshots

Here are some extra snapshots from June!

Our family came to visit for a few days in the beginning of the month. It truly was so wonderful spending time with them!

We swam at the pool, hiked and just enjoyed being together. I am blessed to have in-laws like them that I just love being with!

Z is 2, and I still give him bottles and rock him to sleep at night and I am not sorry for it. I just am so grateful that he still needs his momma. The end of my baby years has not been an easy thing for me to come to terms with. So I am just trying to enjoy it as much as possible.

More camping pics…

I went on a date with my sister from another mister to The Copper Onion. I had only eaten there one other time when I was pregnant (and all I remember from that night was how much I loved the pickles LOL)! But it’s safe to say I will be back – everything was just so delicious!

Just so grateful for friends in ministry. <3

Another plug for a local business – Alpha coffee! My friend came to swim and brought me an iced coffee – totally made my day!

We discovered we have a mulberry tree in our yard and the kids LOVE it!

Living their best life. This is what most days look like for us!

Our friends made up this super fun volleyball game and one night we played for 2+ hours – I think I laughed the entire time. Summer, please never end!

]]> https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-06-2023/feed/ 1 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-05-2023/ https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-05-2023/#respond Thu, 01 Jun 2023 21:15:00 +0000 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/?p=66223 We spent most of the month at the beach! We also enjoyed the beginning of summer and the end of spring.

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a recap of our family’s favorite moments! So here it is for May 2023.

In order to view this exclusive content you will need to subscribe in the form below or sign into your account.

Life Lately

We had a wonderful month. We spent most of it at the beach and enjoying the start of summer!

End of the School Year

As I mentioned last month, Ritch has 2 months off of work in May and June. So I made sure to finish school by May 1st!

The last school related task I had to complete was to throw an end of the year party for our homeschool co op. I opted to rent two bounce houses and let the kids run wild outdoors. Another mom planned some fun games, and it was just a great way to end the year, letting the kids enjoy each other’s company!

After a very long and cold winter, I’m glad to have an extra-long summer this year. These are my girls with their friends at the end of the year party!

Florida

A few days after the party we packed up and left for a 2 week beach vacation in Florida. We rented a house directly on the beach with its own pool. Get ready for lots of beach pics in this post!

I actually received many questions about flying with so many kids! Our kids travel really well honestly and always have. We let each of them pack a backpack with toys for the flights. I always pack lots of snacks and a lunch in each kids’ bag, so we don’t have to rely on airport food while we travel.

We hold off on any devices for as long as possible on a flight. Instead, the kids color, read, play with the toys they brought, etc. And Ritch and I expect to be fully “on” the entire time, although I did get to read a little bit on each flight this time around, which was a treat!

To get to where we were going was a 10 hour travel day, so we did let them each watch a movie at some point during the travel. Let me know in the comments if you have any questions about travel with kids!

It was truly paradise. We stayed on an island (the name of which the kind locals I met asked me to keep a secret) just outside of Tampa. It was so beautiful and in two weeks we didn’t have even one day of bad weather.

Every day we just woke up and went straight to the beach. We came back to the house for lunch and pool time, then went out to the ocean again. It was exactly what a vacation should be (in my opinion).

We all read a ton – I finished 8 books in the two weeks and it felt so good to have time to rediscover my love for reading fun books! Ritch, Bethany, Gabe and I passed around a few books – and it was really fun to read together as a family! I hope to implement this more during the school year this year!

Every day I woke up and walked on the beach while the sun rose. Since we were on the northernmost point of an island, I had the privilege of watching the sun rise and set every single day over the ocean.

We also walked out and watched the sunset every night, which is always a highlight for me. I love that time in the evening, soaking up the last bit of sunshine and beach for the day.

All the kids totally thrived on the trip, but it was most fun to watch Zach discover the ocean. I loved taking him out on an inner tube and floating in the water with him. Whenever a wave (really a swell) came he said, “Big Wave” and when it went away he said, “More Wave!”

He also loved running after the seagulls and learned how to make a squawking sound that almost exactly mimicked the birds!

One day we took a boat tour around the island, and saw dolphins, found lots of critters on a sandbar and saw a bird nesting island.

On our beach we saw dolphins and manatees every day. One day Bethany and Gabe even swam up and touched a manatee. We found tons of seashells and sand dollars.

We set up a tent in the early morning and enjoyed the shade all day long. This was our setup every single day! We opted to just buy a tent and have it shipped to the place we were staying. We gave it to a local when we left instead of taking it back with us.

We got lots of fun floats for the kids to play with in the ocean and pool. Zach was absolutely terrified of the float pictured below. He would say “Orca, night night” over and over until we took it out of the pool!

Mara was my ocean girl. She played in the waves for hours and never got tired of it. She is the most like me in many ways, and now I can add her love for the beach to that list!

On one of our first days Gabe swam back in from snorkeling with an ornate item in his hand that looked like a vase. Quickly, based on the shape and contents of the item, we realized it was not a vase – but an urn.

Even though he wanted to keep it I explained why it was much better to throw it back into the ocean – and after a little convincing he agreed! haha!

I really did not want to come home – but it was nice to come back to warm weather and the pool opening a few days later.

Mother’s Day on the Beach

Spending mother’s day on the beach was an extra-special treat for me. Whenever anyone asked what I wanted as a gift, I would just say, “a great day on the beach!” I truly didn’t want or need anything else but to enjoy time with my family in my favorite place (and not have to get 6 kids ready for church solo was also a bonus, haha)!

Ritch did an amazing job making me feel seen and loved on Mother’s Day (even though I didn’t need anything but the beach)! He somehow managed to have Garrett’s popcorn with him on the trip (he had it shipped from Chicago to our house and then packed it in his suitcase all without me knowing).

If you’re from IL then you know nothing beats their cheddar/caramel popcorn, and getting to share a big tub of it with my family on the beach was absolutely the best thing ever.

He also got me a beautiful ring with 9 stones, representing my 9 babes (6 in my arms, 3 in heaven). It was so unexpected and I love it so much!

This truly was my favorite Mother’s Day ever.

Summer is here!

The week we got back from Florida the kids started the neighborhood swim team and the pool opened. I’m so ready for summer and plan on enjoying every second of it.

We kicked it off by spending Memorial Day with our friends. We had a blast swimming and eating and enjoying each other’s company!

Naomi turns 8

Somehow it seems impossible that Naomi is 8 years old. She is such a sweet, tender-hearted little girl and we had the best time celebrating her.

She wanted Ritch’s famous homemade waffles for breakfast, and then Shake Shack for dinner. For her activity she chose to go swimming at the pool, and then watch a movie at night after her cake and presents.

She asked for a “surprise animal cake.” So we came up with this lizard cake (her favorite animal). She loved it and was so happy on her special day that she cried at the end because she didn’t want it to be over.

Her siblings also made her feel so loved that day! It was a perfect day for our sweet girl!

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• This swim suit cover up – I lived in this linen shirt at the beach – both as a swimsuit coverup and just as a shirt to wear to watch the sunset (it got a little chilly with the wind at night). I got the flax color because white is just too hard to keep clean for me. I love that it’s shorter than most linen shirt coverups I’ve seen. I just wish it had a pocket!
• Origins tinted SPF Moisture. I have been using this on my face forever, especially in the summer. I’ve tried other brands and always come back to this one!

Snapshots

Here are some extra snapshots from May!

We enjoyed the tulip festival before we went to Florida!

I took my sweet little guy on a mommy son date!

Sunday selfie with the whole fam. We visited our friends’ church because Ritch is on sabbatical!

More Florida pics!

]]> https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-05-2023/feed/ 0 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-02-2023/ https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-02-2023/#comments Thu, 02 Mar 2023 23:02:00 +0000 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/?p=63210 This month we celebrated another birthday, played in the snow, and enjoyed the outdoors despite the cold!

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a recap of our family’s favorite moments! So here it is for February 2023.

Remember, in order to view this exclusive content you will need to subscribe in the form below.

K turns 4

We had another golden birthday this month – and so many people asked me, “what is a golden birthday?” It has me wondering if “golden birthdays” are a midwest thing?

Anyway, a golden birthday is when you turn the same age as the day of the month you are born. So, last month Bethany turned 12 on January 12th. This month, Keilah turned 4 on February 4th.

K milked her birthday for all it was worth. All day long she just kept asking for things and saying, “because it’s my birthday.” That sweet girl got basically whatever she wanted that day – no regrets.

She chose scones for breakfast, her favorite restaurant for lunch, and mac and cheese for dinner. She wanted an “Isabella unicorn cake” so I did my best using this chocolate cake recipe and vanilla frosting.

She changed her outfit at least 4 times that day – which was so adorable. (It was extra special because usually I make the kids pick an outfit and stick with it all day to save myself from having to do an insane amount of laundry haha).

My in-laws knocked the gifts out of the park this year and gave her her favorite presents – a doctor’s kit and a fairy garden that she plays with every day. Look at that little squishy M.D.

Baby Z

Well, I think it might be time to sunset my “baby Z” section because he really isn’t a baby anymore (::::: sound of my heart shattering into a million pieces ::::::). He is just the sweetest little guy ever. Some of my new favorite things he says are “No,” “No way” (the cutest), “Momma, Watch” (whenever he is doing something cute) and still calling dessert “go-go.”

He loves the snow and asks to go “Out” all day long. This month he learned how much he loves wrestling/fighting with his big brother. It is the cutest thing to watch them.

Things I’m loving

Here are some things I’ve been loving lately…

• Lululemon RIBBED ALIGNS. I ordered a pair and immediately ordered two more (two in black and one in army green). They are so, so good. I wear my aligns every single day, and these are amazing. I am 5′ 5″ and ordered the 25″ option.
• Tissue box covers – I bought a handful of these and absolutely love them. I put them over every tissue box in our house (bathrooms, living room, etc.) They really make the tissues blend in with the decor and they’re so affordable.
• I made this egg salad after craving it for a long time – it’s so good.

Snapshots

Here are some more snapshots of our life in February!

Since K loved the tea set I got her for Christmas so much, I decided to take her on a date for afternoon tea. You know, a real life tea party.

She was just a little young for the experience (with lots of new foods, etc.) but we had a great time still. Afterwords she asked me if we could go somewhere else. I asked her where she wanted to go and her answer was, “Chick-Fil-A!” hahaha!

Just another pic of this cutie on her birthday.

The kids got to ski with friends this month. Gabe was in heaven skiing with his best friend.

Gabe finished his school early on a Friday, and he’s grown a ton so I took him clothes shopping before his scheduled haircut appointment. In the car ride on the way to the store he looked at me, touched my arm and said, “I love you mom, thanks for taking me out.”

He is truly such a special little guy and I feel so blessed to be his mom. I loved seeing what he chose at the store and listening to his feedback on clothes he liked and didn’t like.

I’m so grateful God brought these friends into my life. We try to go out to dinner once a month together. This month we went to my favorite Utah restaurant – Communal. The food was just as excellent as it has always been.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

]]> https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-02-2023/feed/ 1 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-11-2022/ https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-11-2022/#respond Thu, 01 Dec 2022 22:26:00 +0000 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/?p=60375 This month we focused on what we are thankful for and celebrated Thanksgiving with friends.

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a recap of our family’s favorite moments!  Here’s a snapshot of our life from November 2022!

Thanksgiving

After a crazy busy month in October, our November was a little more chill. We just hunkered down and did homeschool and spent time with friends.

The highlight of our month was Thanksgiving! We started the day running a 5K, which I have done on Thanksgiving every year since I was a teenager.

I love that our family has kept the tradition alive – no matter how many kids we’ve had or how pregnant I’ve been on Thanksgiving! haha! This was the first year I wasn’t pregnant or nursing during the 5K in 12 years! It was a gorgeous (albeit, cold) morning and we had a blast.

We always stop and get coffee on the way home and then drink it while we watch the parade and start cooking!

We celebrated the holiday with some friends and had the best day. I am so grateful for our friends who are like family!

Things I’m Loving

Here a few things I’ve loved this month!

• This free people fleece jacket is the answer to all my fall/winter prayers. I’ve been searching for a great fleece jacket I can wear with leggings and this Hit the Trails jacket is it!
• Silicone baking mats. These are the best and a must-have for all the December baking coming up (like this giant list of the best Christmas cookies).
• The best measuring cups. also for baking. They are engraved (so the measurement cannot wear off) and are so solid. A great gift or to buy for yourself!
• This pumpkin pie recipe is the best!

Posts to check out in December!

• Check out my Kitchen Gift Guide to help you buy a gift for the foodie in your life!
• Don’t forget to check out my post with all of the best Christmas Cookie Recipes!
• These Cut Out Sugar Cookies and Peanut Butter Blossoms are my favorite Christams cookies!
• Make some homemade hot chocolate or crockpot hot chocolate! Yum!
• Our tradition of making a birthday cake for Jesus with this Nativity Cake topper!

Recipes

This month I made all of my favorites from this list of the Best Thanksgiving Recipes, including sweet potato casserole, mashed potatoes, etc.

We made a quadruple batch of this homemade cranberry sauce (to go along with our roast turkey and turkey gravy of course).

Then on Friday I made these turkey cranberry sandwiches for dinner – so good.

Snapshots

Here are a few more snapshots from our month.

B and I went on a Mommy Daughter date (I love that she still calls it that). We went and got her some winter clothes and then out to eat together.

Ritch and I went on a double date with some dear friends and had the best time.

These three queens are just the best.

Baby Z is just the sweetest, and the happiest when being read to.

Sunday selfie from the month.

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

]]> https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-11-2022/feed/ 0 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-10-2022/ https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-10-2022/#comments Thu, 03 Nov 2022 08:43:00 +0000 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/?p=58156 October is my favorite month of the year. The kids ran cross country, we went hiking, I turned another year older and traveled without the kids for the first time, and we celebrated Halloween.

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a recap of our family’s favorite moments!  Here’s a snapshot of our life from October 2022!

Life lately

This was the best month, so much great family time enjoying the outdoors. We went on walks al most every night, hiked in the mountains, and just enjoyed the beauty of fall.

Baby Z

I guess I should be calling him “toddler Z” and this point but I just can’t bring myself to do that.

He is getting so big and is such a little trouble maker. He is always busy doing something and keeps me on my toes 100%.

He has the sweetest little smile and personality. He is a class clown and always tries to make everyone laugh. He loves his “Dada” and finally started saying “Mama” after my trip to Miami (more on that below).

My Birthday

I turned another year older and was showered with love. My closest friends plotted with Ritch and surprised me with a dinner out at Sundance resort. We enjoyed delicious food, beautiful fall colors and sweet fellowship. I felt so loved and I am so grateful God has blessed me with the best friends.

On my birthday it was a gorgeous day AND we didn’t have co op – so we took the day off of school and work and went hiking. We’ve done the same hike every year since living in UT, and this year it was by far the most beautiful. The fall colors were breathtaking and the kids all hiked like champs.

Bethany skipped cross country practice to make my birthday dinner – which included burrata salad and my favorite flourless brownies. Ritch smoked salmon to go along with it. It was so delicious! It was a fun and relaxing birthday and I was grateful for all the love my family and friends showed me.

Cross Country

The kids ran their 6th season of cross country. This was Mara’s first year and she crushed it, placing 8th and 6th in her age group during the meets. The other kids ran their best and had so much fun.

Miami

I traveled by myself (without kids) for 4 nights for the first time ever this month. My ad company invited some of its publishers to Miami and I am so glad that I decided to go (which I wouldn’t have done without my friend Melissa from Modern Honey pictured below).

Honestly, I’ve wrestled with the fact that I can travel alone now. That I’m no longer “wholly needed” at home. I know that’s not totally true, and I’m needed in different ways – not just for nursing/baby care. However, it has been a reality I’ve really been struggling with. I miss having a sweet baby so much but am trying to embrace this new season of life.

I’ve basically put the website on “maintenance mode” since I got pregnant with Keilah in 2018. Meaning I create delicious recipes for all of you to enjoy but don’t really focus on much else.

And, it ended up being really great having some time away to just be without so many tiny people needing me. I met some amazing women who also run their own websites/businesses and it was just so wonderful. We talked business, life and just laughed and had a great time. This kind of trip is 1000% out of my comfort zone, but I’m so glad I went.

If you’re looking for additional sites to find delicious recipes, please consider supporting these blogging friends I got to know and love on my trip to Miami!

• The Recipe Repel
• Maebell’s Kitchen
• Live Well Bake Often
• Baking A Moment
• Sugar Spun Run

Plus, I got to wake up every morning and walk on the beach for an hour and watch the sunrise, which was enough to make the trip worth it in and of itself.

Halloween

If I had my choice, I would not celebrate Halloween. Call me a scrooge I don’t care! Haha! But, since my kids get excited and my husband thinks Halloween is a fine holiday – I try to get into it and make it fun for everyone.

This year the kids picked out HUGE pumpkins – which were a blast to gut and carve.

We also realized a dream I’ve had since becoming a mom – themed family costumes! I usually don’t care enough about halloween to coordinate and just let the kids pick costumes from our dress up clothes. But this year there was a very obvious choice for our family – Encanto!

The 3 little girls already had the dresses, so I just bought the remaining costumes and we were set.

We had some of our closest friends over and had pizza then went trick or treating. I’m grateful for the community God has given me and the people I love like family!

Things I’m Loving

Here a few things I’ve loved this month.

• Black loafers – If you have wide feed you must buy these loafers. They are so comfortable I traveled in them and my feet felt great: loafers.
• This body wash has been amazing. I’ve been using it for months and love that it’s made with essential oils and no artificial fragrances or ingredients.
• This long sleeve top is my favorite. I bought the white one and wore it so much that I also ordered the black one. It’s great to wear on its own or layer under a blazer or sweater.
• This Deuter Backpack has been used and abused for 12 years through 6 kids and still looks brand new. I highly recommend this pack to everyone!

Recipes

Here are the recipes I made this month:

• Cut out sugar cookies shaped like pumpkins.
• Ground beef tacos with homemade taco seasoning on repeat.
• Our favorite Beef Stew – my whole family loves this recipe.

Snapshots

Weekly Sunday Selfie – even Z is getting the hang of it.

Hiking!

So grateful to live where we can hike all season long.

Ritch took K on a daddy-daughter date.

We sold our house in the mountains (it went under contract in 2 weeks – a total miracle in this market at that price point). So we went up there one last time. We actually found our dream home down here near the mountains where we live – more on that in months to come!

Dressing a boy is just as fun as dressing girls! look at that little guy!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

]]> https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-10-2022/feed/ 2 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-09-2022/ https://joyfoodsunshine.com/moments-09-2022/#respond Sun, 02 Oct 2022 13:30:00 +0000 https://joyfoodsunshine.com/?p=56956 This month we got into our homeschool routine, started cross country and enjoyed the cooler weather by taking lots of walks outside!

“I can’t remember all the times I tried to tell myself to hold on to these moments as they pass.”

Welcome to “Moments” here on JoyFoodSunshine. At the end of every month I share a recap of our family’s favorite moments!  Here’s a snapshot of our life from September 2022!

Life lately

We officially said “goodbye” to the pool and “hello” to fall! We enjoyed some time in the mountains, took lots of walks, and settled into our homeschool routine.

Z hasn’t changed too much since last month. He’s still his sweet, goofy little self and I can’t believe how big he is.

I took Mara on a mommy daughter date and had the best time, she is just the sweetest.

During our neighborhood yard sale our kids decided to do a sale of their own. They made tons of money selling cookies, homemade rope bracelets, and painted rocks (no joke). Now they have the entrepreneurial itch!

We got family photos taken – can’t wait to get them back but here’s a sneak peak of Ritch and I! 15 years & 6 babies and we’re still smiling (most of the time!)

We went to our town’s farmer’s market every Saturday this month. One week the kids got balloon animals! So fun!

We are loving co-op so much, the spirit day this month was crazy hair day. They all woke up early just to do their own hair!

Chemistry puns + cute babies is an unstoppable combination.

Brother love.

Sunday selfie with the remnant of our summer tan before it fades away!

Things I’m Loving

Here a few things I’ve loved this month. I went fall shopping with Casey and it was so great. Check out her post on creating a fall capsule wardrobe! I feel ready for the season! Here are a few pieces I love:

• Rails sweater dress. I love this dress. It’s soft, comfortable and I love the color.
• Basic black long-sleeve ribbed tee. a great layering piece, high quality, comfy!
• Black loafers – Casey convinced me to jump on the loafer train and I’m so glad I did. Perfect for dressy or casual. I love these loafers.

Recipes

I took zero photos of the meals we ate this month (again), because life is busy and I am in a season where my motivation in waining and I’m just wanting to focus less on certain things (taking pictures of food) and more on family, friends, life, etc. But Bethany made about 500 chocolate chip cookies to sell and share this month.

If you make and love our recipes, it would mean so much to me if you would leave a comment and rating! And don’t forget to follow along with us on Instagram, Pinterest, Facebook, and Youtube – be sure to tag @joyfoodsunshine and use the hashtag #joyfoodsunshine so we can your creations!

This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you purchase a product through a link you clicked on here, I receive a portion of the sale. Thank you for supporting JoyFoodSunshine! 

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