First Ever New Years Resolution

For the first time I want to make a New Years resolution. Normally I just don't care. Partially because I know myself and nothing I can think of will possibly be so important that I will focus on it for a whole year. But that is just me. But like everything in life... You have to try it once right? I mean I did lent once. That was good. So now it is time for a New Years resolution...

Make 52 things from pinterest.
And no my goal is not to make something once a week. Or even 4 in a month.
I am giving myself an out.

I know life will get crazy and I don't want to make this stressful. I might even do 10 items in a weekend because I have the time. Really though the whole point is that I have (8916 at the moment) pins and I have not even made a dent in it.

So here is my attempt at denting my pinning addiction. And showing you how easy some things are, or how completely I failed! Because yes, I have both a Yes, I made it! and a Pinterest Fail board. So here is my attempt! See you, both through out the year and then as a final at the end of the year! And I am off!

We Said "I Do" Not Once But Twice

When I said, "I will marry you!" to Thomas in August of 2006 I had no idea the adventure we were about to enjoy. I definitely did not expect to get to marry him twice.

Although I may forever be ruining one of my answers for the game 2 truths and a lie, here is the story of why we said "I do" not once but twice. 

When I was in high school during a different time of my life, God promised that the man I married and how I got married would be both different, special, and an adventure. So fast forward 4 years and here I am in the middle of a street (Lundy lane to be exact) in Los Altos, CA on a beautiful starry night saying yes to a man on benden knee. I was thrilled, excited and 3 days later we said good bye as he took off for bootcamp. Over the course of the next months as I tried to plan a wedding all by myself (although let's be realistic that was a dream come true for my planning self) we had a few unknowns.

The 2 biggest obstacles for us, were settling on a date, due to the unknown of when Thomas would graduate his medic training and where we would live after we said "I do". When we found out that Thomaswould graduate on April 13th, we quickly set a date for April 15th. there was no postponing this shindig if I had anything to say about it. 

i cannot tell you where the idea came from, but when we started talking about where the army would send us after the wedding we realized that the army wouldn't be sending "us" any where. According to their eyes, there was only Thomas. So we decided to get married in the courthouse so that I would be on Thomas's orders and move as it turns out, to the great state of WA.

So on Dec 20th 2006 Thomas got off the plane at 11 am and by 2 pm, we were at our appointment in the courthouse. my sister Alyssa flew up to San Jose, and Thomas's brother Christian took a few hours off of work, and they stood by us and witnesses our first round of "I do's". 

So now we have the joy of celebrating not 1 but 2 anniversaries every year. So today is the first of our 2 sixth anniversaries. 

Here's to twice as many anniversaries over the next 51 years Thomas Allen!

All In God's Perfect Timing

As each month passes by and it is still just Thomas and I, I am amazed by the process of bringing a little one into this world. When you embark on the adventure of trying to have kids, there are so many different stories from everyone who has gone through this adventure. One friend was pregnant 2 months after they started trying. Another friend decided to adopt and they had a baby the same weekend they filled out paper work. One friend tried for 3 years and went through multiple miscarriages and finally had a little one. And yet another friend was not even trying and they found out they were pregnant. And another friend went through in vitro with little hope and walked away with 2 precious little ones. Another friend tried for more years then I can count to adopt and was unsuccessful and still childless. Each one of these stories continue to have hope.

This is what I have discovered. It is all in God’s precious timing. I know I wrote a post on my birthday this year and touched on this, but at that time only 6 months of trying for a kid had passed. It has now been well over a year and I love how much God has changed our hearts. I am not sad each month when I realize that there is not yet a little one growing inside of me, I am thankful for another month that Thomas and I get to go on uncomplicated adventures with full nights of sleep (every parent can remember those times). I love that I have a complete understanding that we will have a kid all in God’s timing. But during this time I have recognized 2 things. There is so much to learn, and there are so many people who go through so much to join the elite parenthood club.

I have learned more about trying to get pregnant then I thought possible. I mean we all know how the birds and the bees work, but what most people don’t know is that in reality there is a perfect 4-6 hour window once a month. And there is no possible way to pin point that window. Folks that is only 48-72 hours a year. That is really so little time. When I think about it that way and I see so many babies conceived accidentally, I see God wanting every single one of those babies here on earth. It is a miracle.

You also learn a ton about your body. I have become one of those women. I have literately taken my temperature every day for the past 8 months. I have peed on more sticks then I ever thought I would. I can actually pinpoint with my temperature drop each day that I know I am not pregnant each month. And this is what I have learned. There is nothing I can do to create the miracle of a child living inside of me. It is all God. But I am not alone.

There are so many women out there who have walked this road. And so many of them want to talk about their experiences. It is a way to connect and unless you have walked that road, it is not easy to understand. I love that I have happened upon this group of people. And no, it is not only the women. I know men who are in Thomas’ shoes. And yet we walk together. Knowing more about our bodies, and more about the miracle of just relaxing and letting go. Little baby Kucera will come in God’s time.

So as I press forward, I realize that my time is precious and I get to love on those around me with time I will not have when I have a little one running around. I get to connect with people in a way I never thought possible about what road to take next. And we get to decide what is right for us. Do we try naturally for a few more years and allow nature to take its course? Do we research every possible avenue and set a game plan in stone? The joy is the ability to change our minds and go with what we feel God is leading us to do.

I love the stories so many of you responded with my last post. You truly touched my heart. Although I love getting my thoughts out there, all of your responses are what make it worth it.

Book Club Books

I joined a book club in Apr 2011 no long after they started. After being persuaded by a friend, I realized just how much fun it is. I mean I love to read (I am trying to hit 100 books by the end of the year and I am only 8 away! And if I read 12 more that will mean I have read 2 books a week on average!), but in our book club we have been reading books that I wouldn't necessarily pick up on my own. And when a book is not as fun to read, I have a reason to push through and finish the book. Out of all of these books, there is only 1 book I just couldn't force myself to read. Les Miserable in the summer? Just couldn't force myself :) And on top of that I have managed to read 2 of the 3 books they read before me. And that 1 I haven't is on hold at the library as we speak!

Jan 11 - The Help by Kathryn Stockett
Feb 11 - Sarah's Key by Tatiana de Rosnay
Mar 11 - Hotel on the Corner of Bitter and Sweet by Jamie Ford
Apr 11 - The Boy in the Stripped Pajamas by John Boyne
May 11 - The Book Seller of Kabul by Asne Seiersta

Jun 11 - The Boy Who Harnessed the Wind" By William Kamkwamba
Jul 11 - Mornings on Horseback by David McCullough
Aug 11 - Mennonite in a Little Black Dress : a memoir of going home by Rhoda Janzen
Sep 11 - Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
Oct 11 - The Other Boleyn Girl by Philippa Gregory
Nov 11 - Heaven is for Real: A Little Boy's Astounding Story of His Trip to Heaven and Back by Todd Burpo
Dec 11 - Byzantium by Steven Lawhead

Jan 12 - Molokai by Alan Brennert

Feb 12 - Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Mar 12 - Killing Lincoln by Bill O'Reilly

Apr 12 - The Chosen by Chaim Potok

May 12 - The Sweetness of Tears by Nafisa Haji

Jun 12 - Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close by Jonathan Safran Foer

Jul 12 - Les Miserables by Victor Hugo

Aug 12 - Portuguese Irregular Verbs by Alexander McCall Smith

Sep 12 - Shanghai Girls by Lisa See

Oct 12 - Dreams of Joy by Lisa See

Nov 12 - The Color of Rain by Gina and Michael Spehn

Dec 12 - Cutting for Stone by Abraham Verghese

Our next book is:

Jan 13 - Racing In the Rain by Garth Stein

 If any of you in Tacoma want to join, we would love to have you!
And we always would love new books to read. Any books you have loved that you think we should read?

Updated August 2014
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Books since then...
Feb 13 - Unbroken by Laura Hildebrand
Mar 13 - The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society
Apr 13 - The Kitchen House by Kathleen Grissom
May 13 - There's No Me Without You by Melissa Fay Greene
Jun 13 - The Memory Keeper's Daughter by Kim Edwards
Jul 13 - The Thirteenth Tale by Diane Setterfield
Aug 13 - The Midwife's Confession by Diane Chamberlain
Sep 13 - Still Alice by Lisa Genova
Oct 13 - Things We Couldn't Say by Eman Deit
Nov 13 - The Guardian by Jane Hamilton
Dec 13 - The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls
Jan 14 - Honolulu by Alan Brennert
Feb 14 - Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers
Mar 14 - The Light Between Oceans by ML Stedman
Apr 14 - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
May 14 - The Songs of Willow Frost by Jamie Ford
Jun 14 - The Orchardist by Amanda Coplin
Jul 14 - The Lost Summer of Louisa May Alcott by Kelly O'Conner
Aug 14 - The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd
Sep 14 - Delicious by Rita Reichl
Oct 14 - Orphan Train by Christina Baker Cline
Nov 14 - The Immortal Life od Hentrietta Lacks - Rebecca Skloot
Dec 14 - Wild by Cheryl Strayed
Jan 15 - Boys in the Boat by Daniel James Brown
Feb 15 - All the Light You Cannot See by Anthony Doerr
Mar 15 -  The Name of the Rose by Umberto Eco
Apr 15 - Ordinary Grace by Kent Kruger
May 15 - The Storied Life of AJ Fikry by Gabriel Zevin
Jun 15 - Defending Jacob by William Landay
Jul 15 - Where Do You Go Bernedette by Maria Semple
Aug 15 - The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion
Sep 15 - Half the Sky by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn
Oct 15 - The Rent Collector, a novel by Camron Wright
Nov 15 - Everything I Never Told You, Celeste Ng
Dec 15 -  Longborn by Jo Baker
Jan 16 -  Nickel and Dimed by Barbara Ehrenreich
Feb 16 - Those Who Save Us by Jenna Blum
Mar 16 - Rebecca by Daphne Du Maurier
Apr 16  - Brain on Fire by Susannah Cahalan
May 16  - Captive in Iran by Mryam Rostampur


Up Next:

Jun 16 - Cinder by Marissa Meyer

Jul 16 - Happy People Read and Drink Coffee by  Lugand

Aug 16 - Me Before You by Jojo Mayes

Sept 16 - The House on the End of Hope Street by Meena Vanpraag

Oct 16 - The Nightingale by Kristen Hannah

Nov 16 - Avenue of the Spies by Alex Kershaw

Dec 16 - The Dove Keepers by Alice Hoffman

Jan 17 - The Japanese Lover by Allende

Feb 17 - Circling the Sun by Paula McLain

 

Reusable Snack Bag Give Away!! Ends Dec 8, 2012

I am having my first give away for Calia's Cottage.
Follow the link and leave a comment and I will enter you to win 1 of 2 sets of these 3 reusable baggies!

Enter here, here, here, or here!

Here are the rules:
 Comment on any one of these pictures or the post and you will be entered to win! There are 2 sets of 3 reusable baggies each up for grabs. 1 sandwich and 2 snack size in each. The giveaway ends on Sat Dec 8, 2012. Just in time for a Christmas present perhaps? My husband and I have been using them for the past 4 months and we love them!

And you can buy them on etsy too!  

Set of 3 reusable baggies give away. Ends Sat Dec 8th 2012

Month of Thankful's reflections

If I have learned anything  over the past weeks of November leading up to Thanksgiving, it is this. I have so much more to be thankful then just what I wrote down. Although there are so many big things, it is the little things that make me the happiest. The little moments in life where you stop to watch a sunrise, smell a flower, or just spend time with friends. Those are my favorite moments that are hard to capture. I also learned how hard it is to blog every day. I definitely forgot 2 of the 3 Saturdays, which thrills me because it means that I am living life, not spending time on the computer! All in all, I love how much I have to be thankful for in life.

Thankful's (in a nutshell)

1.       Thomas

2.       Parents

3.       Siblings

4.       Children

5.       A beautiful home 
6.    Colored Leaves

7.       Physical health

8.       Good food and Cooking 
9.    Laughter - Healing Joy

10.   Marriage

11.   My Country

12.   A wonderful job/Co-workers

13.   Friends

14.   Technology

15.   Sunrises and sunsets

16.   Creativity

17.   Joy

18.   Photography

19.   Traveling

20.   Flowers

21.   My Business – Calia’s Cottage

22.   My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith

Day 22 - My Faith – last but not least, I love who I am created to be because of who I believe in. Although I can be a crappy person at times, my Jesus is not. He has created me in His perfect sweet image and although I fail on an hourly basis, I am thankful for the forgiveness to start over and over again.

And with my final thankful's post...

Day 21 - Calia's Cottage

Day 21 - My Business – Calia’s Cottage has checked so many different things off of my bucket list. So awesome to create something that others can enjoy. Every time is get a little message that something else was purchased, it makes me grin inside (outside too most of the time). I love that I get to bless so many people with useful crafts.Visit me!

Day 20 - Flowers

Day 20 - Flowers – I love everything about them. The colors. The beauty. The smell. I love them in every color shape and size. They make me happy. So thankful for the beauty all around.

Day 19 - Traveling

Germany 2011

Day 19 - Traveling – I love that I can get to any place in the world in a matter of days. I love to see and experience new places and people. I love the adventure of exploring new cultures and foods. I love going back to places I have been to explore the little cafes and places you did not necessarily find the first time around, but my favorite things is to go explore new places I have never been. And I love exploring with people who have been living or visiting for an extended period so they can show you the best little places. I love travel. Everything about it.

Switzerland 2010

Germany 2010

Ireland 2012

The Blarney Stone Ireland 2012

Day 18 - Photography

Day 18 - Photography – I love the beauty that is created all around me that I can capture on film. Not only the memories, but also the simple beauty that I can portray throughout life. I love how many people love and appreciate photography. On top of that is the memories, family, friends, beauty, and the simple process of capturing the moment. Because life is the memories you make on a daily basis. Beauty and memories through photography. So thankful.

Day 17 - Joy

Day 17 - Joy – the deep deep presence of joy in my life that takes in all the negative and turns it into something to smile about. For that I am thankful.

Day 16 - Creativity

Day 16 - Creativity – I love that I can make so many different things. Some of them are necessary and some of them are not. Through pinterest, life has become so much more creative. And I have even been able to create a business out of it. I love that I can see something and go out and make it. I love being creative and crafty and able to make 95% of what I see out there on my own. Don't get me wrong, I m by no means someone to attempt to come up with my own ideas. I am the queen of copy and paste. I put my little flair into everything I make, but I am always copying the idea from some where. And I am 100% ok with that. 

I mean really? REALLY? I made baby shoes! How cool is that? So thankful for the creative gene.

Day 15 - Sunrises and sunsets

Day 15 - I absolutely love the beauty of sunrises and sunsets. Every time I catch a glimpse of one, it makes me smile. I mean what is not to love about these?

 

I have seen (and taken everyone of these pictures) every one of these sunrises and sunsets and they still make my heart happy looking at the pictures. God really out did himself when He created them.

I am thankful for the eyes to see and the heart to enjoy every sunrise and sunset.