Weekly Update - Half Marathon, Thanksgiving, Gratitude

CANNOT BELIEVE IT’S ALMOST DECEMBER!!!! This past week was one of my favorite weeks of my life.

Kisses for baby! Running errands with Charley.

Is this not the cutest hat?! Thanks, GRAMMY!!


I DID IT! Next up...a full marathon! Anyone reading wanna train with me?!

Made a quick trip to Grammy's to visit Riley for a couple of hours (in town for Thanksgiving), and Marli LOVED the frozen blueberries in the food masher thing.

AAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand THEN! We were OFF bright and early Wednesday morning for Coleville!

So many new people and toys...

Thanksgiving feasting! After dinner, Bridgette arranged for us to play Telephone Pictionary. SO FUNNY!


French silk pie (my first time making it!!), apple pie, pumpkin pie, pecan pie, pumpkin cheesecake, and apple cider ice cream! SO YUMMY!


Getting more acquainted with Heidi and Grandpa King...


Marli immediately went to Wesley several times during this trip, which is NOT her style...think he looks a little like her daddy?!

She sure makes waiting in Walmart more fun!

Such a magical, grounding, peaceful place. Spending time outside with family is one of my very favorite things.

Would it really be a holiday without games?! Uno, Rook, and a new game using face cards called Garbage.

Got to take some family pictures with Grandpa King's fancy camera, and naturally had a snap a few with my phone. These two fill my heart with more love than I knew existed.

Impromptu naps snuggled up with Mom...

Christmas tree hunting! 

Being her mom brings me true joy.

Is this not one of the most beautiful places you've ever seen?!

Back home we go! Reading books aloud, podcasts, and LOTS OF TOYS ON ROTATION. Whyyyyyyy does the way home from vacation always seem 12084578349 times longer than the way there?!!!!



Stopped at Cousin's in The Dalles and met up with Tama and Wesley for dinner. SO GOOD.

Besides birthdays and my own wedding anniversary, I’m not one to remember dates. I have several friends that remember and celebrate the anniversary of their first kiss, first date, engagement, etc...but MAN OH MAN the past few days my thoughts have been FILLED with where I was exactly a year ago...to the day...when my life was filled with throwing up and doctor’s appointments and trying new medications... this year especially, I am SO FULL OF GRATITUDE. For my Heavenly Father and His Son. For my testimony. For my family. For my Evan. For my Marli. For my health. For the extraordinary ordinary moments that make up my life as Marli’s Mama. For the joy that follows hard times. This year has brought such immeasurable joy to my heart that I didn’t even know existed. My heart is so so full. And now....so are my eyes... WHAT A LIFE. 

Weekly Update - Whipped Cream, Charley Date, Kindness of Strangers

With the busy-ness of Thanksgiving this week, I don't have much time. But I thought I'd "photo dump" some of my favorites so they don't get lost...

In my quest to do "shelf cooking" to use up what we have before moving, I discovered some heavy whipping cream in my fridge that was still good. So we googled how to make whipped cream! It TOTALLY WIRED MARLI! She LOVED IT!!!! Ate with pancakes, strawberries (Marli's FAVORITE), bananas, oranges, and sausages!

My bread friend has given me courage...

Sweet potatoes, black beans, quinoa, brown rice, red onion, corn, lime juice....mmmmm

Steak and veggies at Grammy and Grandpa's

Christmas is LIVE AT GRAMMY'S! Boy oh, boy...Marli's FIRST CHRISTMAS!!!!

Taking advantage of the nicer weather.

Bread friend brought me more magic bread...this one made with red rice! SO SO GOOD.

Made it to the library

This little one is pulling herself up on EVERYTHING LATELY

Spent some time with our dear neighbor friends Mica and Avalie.

And our treat of the week! Charley got to spend the night with us Saturday night while Grammy and Grandpa went to a concert with the Gordons and Grandpa Moore. Had our bowling date...

Shared our routine "ice cream and chill" with Charley. Watched the show Monk - we all loved it!

Tricky to see...but her staticky hair is sure getting some air!

NOT PICTURED:

• Children's Museum with Avalie, Mica, and our Winco friend and her baby. It's amazing how much more grounded I feel when I can get out and converse with other mamas.
• Had some long days this week. Marli is teething, and Evan's been gone several days for work. Prayed for some relief. It was still hard, but there were a few HUGE tender mercies that I want to remember:
• Tried to fill up at gas station with cash and a fussy Marli. Was informed by the BIG burly, bearded, tatted, pierced gas attendant that I would have to pay inside. After taking a big breath, I unbuckled my seatbelt and told him it would be a minute since I had to unbuckle my baby. He immediately stopped me, told me he didn't realize I had a baby, and offered to take my money inside for me. With how the day had been going, it was a HUGE blessing to not have to get out of the car again just to pay.
• Picture this: I'm pushing a small Micheal's cart (anyone else think they should be Costco sized carts?!) piled OVERFLOWING with yarn. Marli strapped to me in the carrier. I'm holed away in an isle where there's no one else so that I could really think about what I was doing... wanting to make a Christmas something. I'm TIRED. And this lady comes up to me, puts her hand on my arm and says, "You do realize you are rocking your cart when your baby isn't in it, right?!" HAHAHA! I laughed, told her half-heartedly that it's been a long day, and she GIVES ME A HUG. Like a big, lingering hug. And while it caught me off-guard, it was so...comforting. She asked what in the world I thought I was doing with all the yarn in my cart because there's "NO WAY I have time for that with the little one strapped to my chest." I told her I was thinking the same thing...and was considering just going to get something remade at Target. We laughed and talked for a minute...and before we parted ways she squeezed my hand and promised me that "it gets easier." As I continued to meander my way around Micheal's, I couldn't stop thinking about her. I tried to find her again to thank her for her encouraging words and kind heart, but I couldn't find her. I'm pretty sure it was one of the warmest interactions I've ever had with a stranger. I want to be more like her.