Off schedule

Tonight I fell asleep at 7pm. Now it is 1:10am and I am wide awake, ready to start the day. Argh. I think because I spend so much of my brain power trying to be aware of Ainsley's schedule that I've become a schedule junky. When did this happen? Pre-baby life was so much more random and unexpected...spontaneous, even. I imagine that as Ainsley grows and I mature as a mama, that hold I have on our schedule will start to ease up and our lives will look a little less predictable again- at least I hope.
While I am here at 1:14 in the morning, I must share some pretty AWESOME news. In March, my father-in-law was diagnosed with a rare type of cancer. The whole family was shaken, but held fast to the Lord's promises. For months, Psalm 119:71 ran through my mind and prayers. "It is good for me that I was afflicted, that I might learn your statutes." The whole experience pushed me deeper into the Word and challenged me in my faith. Yesterday, the doctor told my father-in-law that he is in COMPLETE remission. No cancer left. God is so merciful. My husband and I are both overwhelmed by the news.
Last night at small group, one of the girls was talking about how she doesn't want to forget the goodness of the Lord but rather to live in a place of constant gratitude. I feel so similarly this morning. Let me not forget a moment of your grace, Lord.
Now, I need to try and sleep some more.

Still...

Shh! Baby napping, 

precious moments of quiet 

must soak each one in

My heart is filled with thankfulness

Keith Getty and Stuart Townsend wrote this beautiful song, My Heart is Filled with Thankfulness, that we had played at our wedding. I've had the words in my head all week.

My heart is filled with thankfulness to him who bore my pain
Who plumbed the depths of my disgrace and gave me life again
Who crushed the curse of sinfulness and clothed me with his light
and wrote his law of righteousness and power upon my heart.

My heart is filled with thankfulness for him who walks beside
Who floods my weaknesses with strength and causes fear to fly
Whose every promise is enough for every step I take 
Sustaining me with arms of love and crowning me with grace.

My heart is filled with thankfulness to Him who reigns above
Whose wisdom is my perfect peace, whose every thought is love
For every day I have on earth is given by the King
So I will give my life, my all to love and follow Him.

This Thanksgiving I am thankful for my Savior. Praise Him for His infinite grace, His resilient love, His far-reaching mercy, and His eternal blessings.

BREAK!

Let the Thanksgiving festivities begin! My last class has finished and I am officially on Thanksgiving break with my two favorites. Four days off with my husband and the lady will be BLISSFUL! Now if Ainsley could just wake up from her nap so we could start celebrating...

Saturday project...

Today I accomplished the daunting task of organizing my bookshelf. I can barely believe it myself. During Ainsley's naptime, I was looking at Pinterest when inspiration struck. I cleaned off the bookshelves, gave them a good dusting, and then came up with an organization plan. I'm pretty excited about the way things turned out and that I managed to give almost a whole shelf just to Agatha Christie.

Books without a home...for now.

Clean slate

My little helper

Finished product!!

Agatha's section

Lately (in pictures)

Movie night

Yes, she is fast asleep in this picture. 

Last week I went to see Mary Poppins with my mother-in-law and sister-in-law. We had an AMAZING time!

No Chicago trip would be complete without cupcakes. 

First snow of the year

Deep conversations

You know you have a toddler when you find "treats" in all of your shoes. So far we've found cards, cherrios, her play necklaces, sippy cups, and blocks. 

Kitchen failure

Last night I cooked easily the worst dinner ever. I've made several tasty meals in a row and I think I let me confidence get the best of me. On the menu for the evening was stroganoff. All would have gone fine if I would have followed my mom's recipe, but of course I thought of myself as a cooking master and got liberal with the ingredient swapping. I didn't have any cream of mushroom soup, so I substituted beef broth. First mistake. I didn't have regular sour cream so I used fat-free. Second mistake. What started as a creative idea ended as a soupy-salty-grayish mess. My husband took one bite and said with a smile, "That's a strong taste. It's interesting." Never what the chef wants to hear. Suffice to say, last night was not my finest showing of cooking skills!
We threw the whole mess out and got take-out. And then we laughed about it. I love being married to that man!

This Reader's Vice

I have this sickness. I love to read and I count myself as somewhat adventurous in my book selection. Every time I go to my bookshelves to pick up a new read, however, I grab the same book over and over. The book I choose changes with seasons. For a while, I was loyal to A Tree Grows in Brooklyn; then I read only Murder on the Orient Express. I had a poetry phase that brought me back to Billy Collin's Nine Horses time and time again. Currently, I cannot part with A Homemade Life by Molly Wizenberg. This book is so lovely. It is made up of all of these small vignettes and recipes, so beautifully written. The best parts, in my opinion, are when she writes about Paris. I have never been to Paris but have always wanted to go. A few years ago, my dear friend and I went on this whirlwind trip to Italy, to visit her brother and sister-in-law. We had an incredible time eating gelato and walking the streets of Venice and Florence. Anytime I think of that trip or read A Homemade Life, I deeply desire to travel abroad again- Paris this time. Or maybe Spain. Or Greece.
Until then, I'll just read the stories from a fellow traveler about the streets of Paris that I someday hope to stroll.

Doughnut Run

This week Ainsley met her first doughnut. They were instant friends.

Thankful Thursday- 11.3.11

Thankful for some extra sleep Tuesday morning thanks to parent/teacher conferences not starting until 9 and the husband who took care of the lady.

Thankful for newly discovered pistachio gelato from Grahams. YUM.

Thankful for my parents who let the lady and me hide out at their place last Saturday when our street was taken over by zombies.

Thankful for music! Coldplay's newest record has been on repeat in the car. Track 7 always causes Ainsley to start dancing in the backseat. I am also thankful for the laughter Ainsley's dance moves bring to our family.

Thankful that Ainsley is finally joining me in my love for books. Yesterday I found her like this in her bedroom:

Good to see you, November!

The weather today is idillic- breezy, sunshine-filled, just cool enough for long sleeves. I must say, you've outdone yourself, November! 

I know so many people believe that spring is the season of romance. Flowers blooming, hummingbirds providing a constant soundtrack. To me, though, I find fall to be the peak of all nature's romance. I love the way the crisp weather inspires soup-cooking and cuddling on the couch. In the Smith household, fall begins a season of movie nights and many pots of risotto. I love fall walks with the tapestry of colorful leaves paving your path. Fall has a comfortable, dependable, nestled-in kind of romance. 

Sitting out on my deck enjoying this gorgeous day is making me feel a bit twitterpated, if you can't tell.