Deep Thoughts on a Tuesday

The other day I was reading another gal's blog when I stumbled upon this paragraph, "Sure, I walked into marriage knowing that it was not going to be easy and that there would be many hard times…I just did not expect that me, myself, I, and the sin that I carry would be a source of so many hardships. I have quickly realized that when I said “I do” to spend the rest of my life with someone, I willingly accepted to be placed underneath a “microscope” for the rest of my life." Shirlee Fischer

Of course the rest of her post is fully thought provoking, but this got me going. I look back and I know that I thought the same thing, but I was not as quick to pin point it as she did after 2 months of marriage. I had heard that marriage like children, was not something that you can really prepare yourself for. There is no book you can read, no class you can take, that will prepare you for the day after day of putting aside your selfishness.

But I do have to say that I love being married. Mainly because of who I am married to. Just this last Saturday in the middle of cleaning our whole house, Thomas and I took a lunch break on our front porch steps. Normally we would be on our back deck, but we did it a little differently and it will forever stick in my mind now. But as we were sitting there, it struck me as an incredible moment.

So I asked him if he had thought marriage would be like this? I mean we had literately just spend 5 hours cleaning in a little rhythm. Talking at some points, but all in all just doing our work and enjoying each others company. I mean really? Was this really what marriage was? Living every day life and enjoying it with your best friend?

Yes. Yes it is. And I love every second of it. Because even in those moments where I am frustrated and I snap at Thomas, I come back to a few more words that Shirlee wrote, "The process of changing is almost as painful as being under the microscope, because it starts with owning my sin." Marriage allows me to fully be myself and be loved no matter what, but at the same time God is refining me and making me into the person He created me to be.

Thank goodness I married an incredibly patient and loving man and I serve a gracious God.

Attempting a clean house

This weekend Thomas and I did a complete spring cleaning. We literately went from room to room and in each room we went from top to bottom. Naturally the bathroom was the worst. And of course my favorite part of the bathroom is the tile in the shower.

So in all of my pinteresting (yes I just made that a new word), I came across a mixture of baking soda and bleach to clean grout. Well this time the grout definitely needed bleach. But let me tell you what... It worked!

I originally found the recipe here, but I have seen it at at least 5 other places since then. 

The first time around it said to use a tooth brush. So there I sat cleaning the grout line by little line. That was torture! As much as I hate cleaning there had to be a better way! 30 minutes of my time for an 8th of the showerwas not worth it. So I left it on there 10 minutes and then I scrubbed and got a great arm workout. I didnt think it worked that well till I looked at it later that night. It sparkled! In comparison anyway.

And then I got smarter. This time around I put on my handy dandy yellow cleaning gloves... We all know the $1 pair, right? And I just smeared the mixture all over the walls! I was done in about 10 minutes. And I decided to let it sit for 30 minutes this time around. Results? Beauty. I didn't have to scrub. Not one bit. 

Here is the recipe:

3/4 cup baking soda
1/4 cup bleach

Mix until it becomes a paste. Smear in all grout cracks.
Wait 30 minutes and rinse/wipe down the area.

We have an 80's style bathroom with tons of grout, so with my two little walls and one big wall I have to make 4 times the mixture to get it all. But hopefully you have tons less grout and need less of the mixture.

Also next times am thinking of replacing the bleach with vinegar. A little less toxic. If you try out the vinegar and it works can you let me know? 

Happy cleaning!

Malachi Daniel

It is days where after dinner Thomas and I could grab Malachi and walked up to Safeway for a little dessert.

Those days are the ones that I treasure having my sister Alyssa, my brother-in-law Nate, and my favorite (and only) little nephew staying with us.

Kai loves the piano.

LOVES spaghetti.

And the water

And watermelon.

And fishies. :)

That doesn't even start on balloons.

And music.

A treasured few months of shrieks, giggles, smiles, and even a 1st birthday celebration to put away forever.

He has changed from a baby to a little boy so quickly!

Watching him grow up over the past few months will always make my heart smile.

With This Ring I Thee Wed

One day a boy proposed to a girl. She absolutely loved the ring they had designed.

On the day they wed, 2 other rings were then added to make it a complete set.

One day, she hit a wall...

 ....LITERATELY.

Granted it was on accident, but still her ring was bent  :( 

Being that this was the 4th time in 5 years...

... it was redesigned. So now she has 2 rings.

One that is now the 3 simple rings from the wedding.

And the other is a new band, but the same diamond from the last ring.

And they lived happily every after.

Lumberjack Thomas

Thomas and I have wanted to cut down our apple tree that has given us about a dozen apples a year since we moved into the house 3 years ago. Of those dozen apples we have managed to finangle about 1 per year away from the birds who get to then before us.

So when my dad came up last November, he wanted to take the wood home so he could turn some bowls with the wood, because apparently apple wood makes beautiful bowls.

So with a little eye protection, a helmet, a chain saw, and a ladder.... Thomas went after the tree.

A picture for a calendar perhaps?

Minus an arm.

Cut off at the knees.

And defeated!!! Proud and dusty.

Busy Little Bees

Here is a post that I started months ago and never really finished.

My dad came up and we went up to Lynden WA for his Aunt Sis' funeral. This was a beautiful picture of Mt Baker during that time.

Mean while Thomas is still going strong on wearing a tie Monday through Thursday. Naturally Friday is jean day and really, you cannot pass up that opportunity to wear jeans to work.

And finally I ventured out and made a pair of baby shoes. :) So stinking cute, minus the adventure of making 1 shoe with 4 pieces of cloth, instead of 2 shoes with 2 pieces of cloth each. I will claim it as a crafting adventure rather then a blonde moment.

I also made wonderful breakfast sticky buns. I saw this blog another time and needless to say, Thomas and I have had these great sticky buns numerous times.

That is it for this random post that I never finished months ago. (I think March to be exact)