Violet Marie Raney: A Birth Story

Our little Violet is already 6 days old. I can't believe she's been with us for almost an entire week! Her arrival couldn't have been more perfect and I wanted to get it down while I still remember everything clearly.

Monday, December 23rd was my last day of work in the office. It was a really busy day (as they all are), but especially busy because I knew I wouldn't be coming into the office for quite a while. I felt totally normal that day, nothing was out of the ordinary. I left work about 6:30pm and called Tim to see what we were going to do for dinner (I hadn't made anything in advance). He suggested my picking up a pizza on the way home, so that's what I did. When I got home, we ate it and relaxed a little. When we went upstairs for bed, I layed down and just could not get comfortable. It wasn't a "I'm almost 40 weeks pregnant" discomfort, it was a "something is happening" discomfort. So I started having pains (contractions). I told Tim that I was pretty sure that something was going to happen that night, so I suggested he get some sleep while I went downstairs to time things and watch some TV. He also hadn't packed anything for himself for the hospital, so he threw some things together quickly. I still wasn't sure if these were real contractions because I never experienced Braxton Hicks or any type of false labor. So when I started timing the contractions and they were 3 minutes apart, I knew that I'd probably better call my doctor.  I reached the after hours line, explained to the nurse what was going on, and she said she'd give me a call back after she touched base with the on-call doctor at the hospital. After I didn't receive a call back for 45 minutes, I called back and asked what to do. She apologized profusely for not calling back and told me to come into the hospital to be evaluated.

I went upstairs to wake up Tim and told him that we needed to go to the hospital. He popped up and off we went! Meanwhile, I am cringing in pain every 3 minutes and ready to get this show on the road. I knew it was time. We left the house about 12:50am and reached the hospital about 1am.  When we arrived, they took us to triage where I was to be evaluated. At that point I was 4 cm (I had been 2 cm for two weeks). 4cm isn't enough to be admitted, so I was disappointed because I knew I was in real labor! They put the belt around me that measures contractions, and the nurse told me she'd be back to check on my progress in 30 minutes. She checked again, and I was still 4cm. Ugh! I was very hot, thirsty, and in a lot of pain. Tim was by my side the whole time, he was my calm in the storm. At one point during a contraction I told him I couldn't do this. I just knew the pain was going to get worse and I didn't think I could handle it. The nurse again left with the promise that she'd be back later. Tim got me some ice chips that I chomped on in between contractions. Then...my water broke right there in the triage bed. The nurse had just walked back in and I said "Umm..my water just broke." She replied "You just earned yourself a room!" So off we went into the room in which I would meet my daughter!

When we got to the room, they hooked me up on IVs and called in the anesthesiologist for my epidural. Boy was I ready for some relief. The epidural was something I was the most nervous about. I've heard horror stories about the size of the needle. So in he comes and I had to sit up to receive the shot. The same nurse from triage was with me the whole time, and held me and told me how to breathe as he gave me the epidural. At one point I heard "Ok, it's done." and I was like "oh, you're done?!" I hadn't felt anything and very quickly started feeling better. The doctor came in and I was at 7cm, so things were moving quickly. Before I knew it, it was time to push. The nurse had to tell me when I was having a contraction (I couldn't feel them anymore!), and I pushed. Three pushes later, at 4:16am out came my little girl! Suddenly I look up and see the nurses scurrying to clean a tiny little body and I said, "She's out?!?" and they said "Yes!" and I said "Is she perfect?" and they said "Yes, she is beautiful!" After they cleaned her off a bit, they put her on my chest and I knew my life was changed forever. Suddenly I was holding a little person that needed me, a personality that I would learn, a tiny face I would memorize, and the start to a beautiful chapter in my life. I was overwhelmed with the realization that this little soul exists because of God's grace is my life and His arranging every single detail in the most perfect way. It was like everything  that I had ever been through in my life culminated into this perfect little person.

Meeting our daughter for the first time

We hadn't decided on a name before she was born, but had a couple top options. When we saw her we knew she was a Violet. Given my history of growing up in a greenhouse and working in the horticulture industry, Violet was a natural choice for me. I still remember visiting my Dad at work and running through the violet houses and loving the smell. My middle name is Marie, as was my grandmother's, and so is Tim's older sister's. It was perfect for her. I love how delicate her name sounds and hope that she will love it too.

The next day was a whirlwind as I didn't get much if any sleep, I was running on adrenaline since I hadn't slept since Sunday night! My parents drive down first thing in the morning, My sister and her family, then we had a string of visitors including our close friends Megan, Jenni, Ryan, and Mike. Then Tim's family came that evening. We got to Face Time with all of my out-of-town (and country) siblings, too! It was such a special time and we are grateful for all of the people who came to celebrate Violet's arrival.

They discharged us on Christmas morning, which was the best gift we could have asked for! It was indeed a Christmas we will never forget. Thank you all for your prayers! We are so thankful to the Lord for an easy labor, having each other, and most of all our beautiful, healthy daughter.

Daddy was tired, too

Already alert in the middle of the night!

Perfect little face

Time to go home!

Ready to start our life together as a family

Baby Girl's Nursery is Finished!

It is hard to believe that today marks 39 weeks of pregnancy. It has flown by and we are so thankful that it has been uneventful and healthy! We are quite anxious to meet our little darling, even though the thought of labor and delivery makes me extremely nervous. At times like this I am thankful for a grounded and calm husband, who is the perfect balance to my natural instinct of freaking out.

My doctor decided to get me scheduled in for an induction on the evening of 12/26 if I don't go into labor naturally before that. All signs point to being ready, so I am anxiously anticipating a crazy upcoming week! I would really like to go into labor myself, so we are praying that she will come on her own next week before Thursday.

I had a lot of fun doing the nursery and am completely satisfied with it! My two requirements were that the decor was both calming and sweet. We were blessed to have been given a lot (bookshelf, chair, little rocking chair, and changing table) and were able to get everything else very inexpensively!  I had the prints done myself and spray painted the frames pink. My sister made the little pinwheels on the wall, and the hanging lanterns are clearance Target and Michael's. My Mom made the pink teething guard on the crib, and the bedding is from Babies r us and Target. I think we're ready for baby Raney to join us!

Pink and Grey with a little grey chevron thrown in

Adorable vintage ABC print from my sister (used at my baby shower) is hung as you walk into the room.

39 weeks!

This will likely be my last post before she arrives - can't wait to introduce her to you all! <3

One Month?!?

I have really been slacking in the update department! During the hustle and bustle of life whizzing by, somehow I am 36 weeks! Today is officially one month until my due date, and I can hardly believe that.
We get more excited to meet our little girl as each day passes. I have very little to complain about physically, the Lord has blessed me with a very smooth and uneventful pregnancy, for which I am very grateful! If I had to list "complaints," I would probably have to say the fact that I have to sleep on my side and I really miss sleeping on my back, the ever-growing belly that makes me feel a little awkward and frustrated at times (finding flattering clothing), my little girl likes to practice tae kwon do in the middle of the night, and becoming out of breath very quickly, even from walking up a flight of stairs! I really miss my hard workouts and I'm actually looking forward to getting back to them when I get the green light from my doctor.

I've had such wonderful celebrations with family and friends to shower my little one with gifts. My close friend Jenni hosted a beautiful shower a couple weeks ago at her home. All of my girlfriends who helped with the shower did such an amazing job. Everything was just perfect. I am so blessed to have such caring and thoughtful women in my life. I was so touched by everyone's generosity and love. My Mom gave a lovely devotional and it made me so grateful to have her wisdom and guidance as I attempt full-time parenting!

Mom's devotional

Present time!

Super soft blanket made by my dear friend, Meg!

Yummy cake to welcome Baby Raney

Here I am at 36 weeks on the dot!

Last week, I was surprised at work with another shower. They catered lunch, brought in gourmet cupcakes, decorated with banners and balloons, and tons of presents! It was so awesome to have all my coworkers show their support in this way. I will definitely miss them all while I'm on maternity leave, but I'm so looking forward to the time of getting acquainted with my new daughter and our "new normal."

Another struggle that I've encountered is the fact that I can't plan out Christmas! I usually have my decor up or at least started by now (it's all still in the garage) and my Christmas cards addressed and ready to mail on Black Friday. I decided early on that we would send New Years/birth announcement cards this year, so those of you who usually get my card Monday after Thanksgiving, don't be alarmed! ;)

Tim and I did our hospital tour last week and it really made all of this real. We now know where to go when I'm in labor, what the rooms look like, the equipment they will use, and the layout of the floor. I have always done better with life events when I know what to expect, so this really was helpful to ease my mind just a little bit. I know that most of it will be flying by the seat of my pants, so knowing a few things is helpful.  

I will do my best to update again before she arrives!

Tiny Dancer

Life has been crazy the past few months in particular. Mostly at work, but of course lots of exciting things happening in other areas, too! It's hard to believe I am 27 weeks pregnant and nearing the third trimester. I continue to be grateful for such a smooth pregnancy! I have been feeling our little lady move for several weeks now, I still remember the first time I felt it. I was in bed lying still and felt a strange flutter in my belly. I had been waiting to feel her move, so I immediately thought "oh, this could be it!" but brushed it off until I knew for sure. The next morning at work, I felt the same flutter and knew I was finally feeling my daughter moving. It was pretty awesome!

I didn't think anything would top that until today, when, sitting at my desk, I looked down and saw my stomach moving! A little poke here, a little nudge there. Talk about strange! I sat there mesmerized for a while until it stopped and I continued working. When the poking started again, my eyes filled with tears and I was just so thankful that our little one is getting stronger and bigger. What a cool experience. It's hard to describe!

Everyone has asked if we have a name picked out, and no, we do not! We've taken a break from talking about it and hope the perfect one will hit us. Surprisingly, I am not stressed at all about it. I'm already prepared for not naming her until after we see her little face!

I have my glucose test on Wednesday, and already have a bag of gummi worms waiting to celebrate with upon the news of my passing (fingers crossed)! :)

Here I am at 27 weeks, finally starting to look pregnant!

Gender Reveal!

I scheduled our anatomy ultrasound on my Mom and Dad's wedding anniversary (August 7) just because I think it's fun to receive news on an already-important day (I found out I was pregnant on my birthday). The past few weeks, Tim and I both had an overwhelming feeling that our baby is a little girl. We went into the ultrasound expecting that news, but of course prepared for whatever. It was so weird to go to bed the night before, knowing that the next day I was going to have another daughter or a son. Not that I didn't already have him/her, but I would know. From the moment we found out, the most important thing was that our baby is healthy and developing normally.

We went into the appointment and the ultrasound tech wasn't particularly chatty. She found the little one quickly and started taking measurements and clicking away. She wasn't talking. This was slightly concerning and went on for several minutes until I finally said "Ok, at what point are you going to tell me that something is weird??" She immediately replied, "OH! I'm sorry! Everything is totally normal!" Then she started explaining more as she continued, which I appreciated. She had asked us prior to starting if we wanted to know the gender and we said yes, and I added "But only if you are 100% sure!" So during the ultrasound, she nonchalantly said "ah we have a girl." I'm not sure what I felt. Tim squeezed my arm and tears started gushing out of my eyes. It's one thing to know you have a baby inside you, it's a whole different experience to know what the baby is! It was so much more emotional than I had expected and I was just so amazed that God has entrusted another little girl to us. What an experience!

The news is slowly sinking in. I now get to start adding light pink accents to the nursery and actually call her "she" and "her." I am so excited to have a little helper, friend, and sidekick! :) Although Tim is way outnumbered, he is happy and so excited. We both know that the Lord has given us the exact little person we are supposed to have in our family. What a comforting thought!

Below is a video of Corynne revealing the baby's gender to Tim's family. I wrapped up the soda so no one would know the gender until she poured it into the glass. Corynne is thrilled and later added, "I got what I wanted!" and "Now I don't have to pretend my doll is my sister because I have a real one!" :)

La Petite's little profile. Beautiful already! <3

The Moment I Knew...

The moment I saw those two pink lines, I knew my life was changed forever.  Suddenly I had a thousand different thoughts going through my head, all ranging from the color of my child's hair, to what their voice would sound like, to what kind of person he/she would be.  When I found out, it was way too early in the morning. 1:45am to be exact. On my 31st birthday. Tim was half awake when I got back into bed. I snuggled up to him, sobbing rather softly. He said "well, did you take the test?" and I said "yes. It's happening. We are having a baby!" He replied, "are you serious??" and hugged me tight. We sort of reeled together for a few moments and then our first instinct was to pray for this child that God decided to entrust to us. We prayed that the Lord would equip us to be the best parents we can possibly be and that this child would grow up to know and love the Lord above all else. We prayed for health and safety for all of us. That prayer mimics what we already pray for our Corynne, but this time, instead of directed at one child, it is now two. As I laid awake between the hours of 1:45-6am, I couldn't help but be amazed that the creator of the universe has written a different story for each one of us. A story that is beautiful, amazing, and suited specifically to us. We had just been given a priceless gift!

As we enter the week that we will finally know the gender of our child, it all still feels surreal. Instead of an ambiguous "the baby," we will be able to say "him" or "her." Stay tuned for the news! :)

Fiesta!

This weekend I had the privilege of throwing a personal bridal shower for a close friend. I had such fun planning it with her requested menu of "make-your-own-quesadilla." The menu was quesadillas, guacamole, taco dip, queso dip, southwest dip, corn salsa, regular salsa, lots of chips, and a big veggie tray. Dessert was brightly colored cupcakes and assorted candy. The beverages included punch, margarita, and sangria.

The best part about the shower was the fellowship with fun ladies and celebrating such an awesome time in Jenni's life.

Unfortunately, I didn't get very many photos, but here are a few!

Decorated mantle with white hydrangea and bright gerbera daisies

Mini orchids for favors

Drink station before I filled the dispensers. Finally got to use my blue mason jars!

In baby news, we got to hear the heartbeat again this morning. All is well! I will enter my 18th week on Wednesday. I am feeling good and sometimes forget the little person is in there, except when my pants won't button... However, my doctor referred to me as "thin" today and I wanted to give her a massive hug since that is the opposite of what I am feeling! We have scheduled our anatomy ultrasound for August 7th, and I am excited to get to see the baby again!

DIY: Spray Painting a Dresser

I get so excited whenever I have a reason to decorate a room. So of course I started brainstorming almost immediately about how I would decorate the nursery. I wanted to get a "head start" while I'm feeling good and can maneuver well. 

I decided (I say I because Tim really doesn't care about decorating) on light grey walls, black furniture, and then an accent color when we find out the gender of the baby (light pink for girl and either yellow or turquoise for a boy). 

I knew I wanted to use a dresser as a changing table, so I got to looking on Craigslist and found a solid wood, well-kept dresser for $40. It belonged to a lady who was about to get married and they were combining households. I was very nervous about attempting to paint furniture, but felt a little bit less stressed since the investment wasn't huge. 

I read tons of tutorials on Pinterest, and finally went to purchase my supplies. There are many tutorials that did not include sanding, but there were a couple flaws on the top of the dresser, so I decided to go ahead with the sanding. I took off all the hardware, then I sanded each piece first with a 150 sand block, then a 220 (finer) sand block. It was easy and didn't take that much time. Next I wiped everything down with a mixture of water and white vinegar. After it dried, I started spraying! When all was said and done, I think I had 6 coats on this baby. I think it was 6 cans of spray paint! I lined the drawers with black/white damask Contact paper (similar to this).

I used Krylon Fusion because it has a good reputation of covering well. (only $3.24/can at Walmart!)

For the hardware, I used Krylon Brushed Nickel (also inexpensive at Walmart)

Here are the results! I am pretty pleased with my first attempt at spray painting a large piece of furniture!

Before:

After: 

Yay for baby's first project being complete :)

Hope

Recently I had the opportunity to stitch a piece for a very special person. I chose the pattern because it spoke to me, but I also hoped it would encourage the recipient. The word, "hope" and what it means to me and to all believers has been my theme in my adult life.

I was encouraged as I stitched each word of scripture!

"Be strong and take heart all you who hope in the Lord." Psalm 51:24

"I wait for the Lord; my soul waits, and in His word I put my hope." Psalm 130:5

"...but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:31

"Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." Hebrews 10:23

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in Him so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit." Romans 15:13

""For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." Jeremiah 29:11

How We Told Our Parents

Telling our parents that we are expecting was so much fun! I didn't just want to come out and say "I'm pregnant!" I wanted a little more pizzazz.

Since my parents have 20 grandchildren, I knew that I had to come up with a creative way to tell them, something they've never seen before. So in an effort to honor their heritage and all of their current little blessings, I decided to make a card for them that displayed every grandchild with a color-coded heart by gender and in birth order. At the very end, I put a green heart with the words "Coming Soon." They loved it and I hope this is a keepsake they will cherish!

Tim and I went up north to visit my parents for an already-planned visit. We went out to breakfast and I knew I couldn't stand it any longer and presented them with the card (no occasion, but it's not completely abnormal for me to do that).

Mom and Dad's reaction upon realization.

Tim's parents were a little bit easier as this is their second grandchild. We had just found out our due date a few days before we told them, so I thought it might be fun to do a Christmas theme. I had purchased this little hat and socks set at Target last January on clearance to use as a gift. Little did I know I would be using them for an announcement of such greatness!

We took Tim's parents out for his Mom's birthday, and I wrapped up this little box and gave it to her as her "birthday gift."

It took Mom a minute to realize, Dad was still in the dark at this point :)

All in all, these were my favorite two announcements! Both sets of parents are thrilled. :)

Public Service Announcement from the Raney Family

It's true! Our due date is Christmas Day. I could hardly believe it when the doctor told me. She said, "don't worry, you can do fun half-birthday parties." Too funny! I am fine with whatever date God gives us.

I am 14 weeks and feeling off and on ok. Overall I feel blessed to be able to function normally! Tim has been a huge help at home and very understanding of my modified and sometimes unreasonable needs.

We have seen baby in an ultrasound at 5 weeks and heard the heartbeat at 12 weeks. Baby is now the size of a lemon! I do feel like a busted can of biscuits most days, but part of that is the result of my love affair with saltine crackers. I have cut my workouts down to 5 days a week and use lighter weights if I feel especially fatigued that morning. Contrary to the photo above, in which we used Tim's ice cream for humor purposes only, I am not interested in sweet things as much as the salty!

Corynne's reaction to the news was so special. She was on my lap and looked at me for a few seconds with very wide eyes, as if she was unable to speak. Then she threw her arms around my neck and squeezed tight. When she let go, she said, "This is what I've always wanted!" It was such a sweet moment that I will always cherish.

People have asked me if I have a gut feeling on what the gender is. I have NO idea and wouldn't even venture to guess. We will be perfectly happy with whatever the Lord gives us, because He knows what is best for our family!

Praying it continues to be a smooth pregnancy.

Things I Learned from Watching my Mom

It is no secret that my mom is very special to me. I used to think that she and I couldn't by more opposite in personality, but as I grow older, I see much more of my mom in myself (which makes me happy!). I am the last of six children, so our house growing up was never lacking noise. Somehow, my mom had dinner on the table every night, time to help with our school projects and homework, sew clothing, teach Bible study, volunteer at our school cafeteria, act as chief chauffeur, keep a clean home, cultivate and maintain relationships, oh the list could go on and on. As an adult, I watched her grandmother 20 little darlings, hold an integral role in several ministries, endure two separate battles with breast cancer with the utmost grace, and best of all, I've watched our relationship as mother and daughter evolve into friendship, respect, admiration, and an even deeper love and need for her wisdom in my life.

Here are a few things I have been blessed to take away from watching my mom that impressed on me growing up, and encourage me now:

1. Stay busy. It was rare that I saw my mom lounging. She would sit to do paperwork, prepare Bible studies, write checks, chat on the phone (before the days of cordless and mobile phones), but rarely did we find her sitting idly.

2. Stay calm. I don't think I've ever witnessed my mom truly "lose it." She would have her moments of being frazzled (usually quiet tears of frustration), but never a full-blown melt down of which I know I am capable! She taught me to pray in the moment, and that is still something that I do many times a day.

3. Stay focused. As you can see by my incomplete list of tasks above, mom had a lot on her plate during our younger years. I believe she completed them by remaining focused on one task until it was completed.

4. Stay faithful. As a Christ-follower, a wife, and a mother, my mom has always been loyal. She spent appropriate amounts of time studying scripture, keeping house, spending time with Dad, and giving each of her kids attention and love.

5. Stay joyful. My Mom has a great sense of humor. She will be the first one to laugh at herself to lighten the mood or mention a funny memory or fact about the situation. This taught me to enjoy and appreciate the everyday moments and remember that joy comes from the heart, not necessarily the circumstances that surround us.

I am so thankful to have been placed in this world as the daughter of the woman I described above. Her life is an inspiration and points others to the source of her blessings - Jesus Christ.

Mom with first son, Jonathan

Our Second Wedding Anniversary

Today marks the second anniversary of the most magical day of my life, my wedding. It truly feels like I've been through a lifetime with this man already. God has been so good to us and has provided grace and provision for each day. Tim is my unexpected soul mate, best friend, true love, and partner. He encourages me and inspires me every day.

photo by Julie Anne Photography

Tim surprised me with a trip to Niagara Falls to celebrate our anniversary. He made all the arrangements and  told me to request the day off work. He knows I love the falls and have been wanting to go back with him since I haven't visited since I was a kid. There were many favorite moments of the trip, but one of them was entering our hotel room and seeing our first glimpse of the majestic view:

...seriously??? Awesome.

There is something to be said for spending every single moment of 72 hours with your husband. I love being with him each moment and consider it such a gift! We walked a lot. We ate a lot. We laughed a lot. We talked a lot. It was such a wonderful time of getaway and celebration. 

I am so blessed to call this man my husband and I'm looking forward to the adventures that await us!

Repurposing a Tea Tin

I love the fancy teas that come in pretty packages and cute tins. But when I'm done with the tea, I have a hard time throwing away the container if it's something other than cardboard. I had a tea tin set aside that I wanted to "craft" with, but never really knew what. Chalkboard paint is still going strong in the decor world, so I pulled out my spray can and got to work. 

I really like the selection of Republic of Tea varieties, and when it goes on sale, it's reasonably priced. Here is an example of one of their tea tins. Roughly a 6" tall cyclider tin with lid.

This little DIY really couldn't be easier. Soak the tin in hot water to remove the label. I let mine soak overnight because I forgot about it, oops. I had to use some Goo Gone to remove remnants of glue. Let it dry completely, then turn it upside down and spray paint. I use this chalkboard paint. I allowed it to dry completely and did another coat the next day. Some bright blooms and a cheery message, and this project is done! Super easy and a cute little addition to our spring mantel. I can change out the message and flowers or use it later as a pen or hair tie holder. 

Recipe: Asian Veal Meatballs

Veal isn't something that I buy frequently. However, when it was on sale last week, I decided to branch out a little. When I got home, I turned the package over to verify the date, and noticed a recipe was included for Asian Veal Meatballs. It sounded really good, but I didn't have all the ingredients, so I started improvising. The final result was easy, super delicious, and husband-approved!

Asian Veal Meatballs

Ingredients:
1 lb. ground veal
1 C panko bread crumbs
1 egg
4 T dried chives
2 T soy sauce
1.5 tsp ground ginger
1.5 tsp sesame oil
A few grinds of salt/pepper

Directions:
Heat oven to 350 degrees. Combine all ingredients in a large bowl, mixing lightly. Shape into 12 meatballs. For easy cleanup, line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil and place meatballs on a cooling rack on top of it. Bake for 20 minutes, until lightly browned and not pink in the center.

I decided I wanted a little sauce to serve with them, but they would be perfectly fine and delicious served straight from the oven with a little soy sauce.  I placed the meatballs in a sauce pan, poured a bit of prepared General Tsao's sauce on top of them, and stirred them up to warm. You could also easily make your own teriyaki sauce. Serve with white rice or glass noodles.

Let me know if you try these out and how you liked them!

Love Conquers All

Villa Carlotta source

Lake Como, Italy will forever be a very special place to me. In October of 2007, my parents were kind enough to invite me to tag along on their yearly trip. It was my second time to the homeland, and I was so excited to go back. Obviously, it is a beautiful country bursting with history, romance, and color. It seems that every corner literally drips with inspiration. There were some things going on in my life at that point that made me more than happy to "check out" for a while and explore a new place that was far, far away.

My Dad is quite possibly the world's best traveler. He has been just about everywhere there is to go, and somehow, always knows what he is doing and which direction to go. That is something I very much admire about my Dad. He has always taught his children to be curious and explorative, but to keep composure and respectful confidence in every situation. All that to say, he is the best travel guide and companion. I will never forget the day we visited Villa Carlotta on the shore of Lake Como. The villa was built in 1690 and the structure and all of the gardens total about 17 acres of land. I always enjoy gardens since my line of work is in horticulture, and the gardens at Villa Carlotta were mesmerizing.

We set off on our tour of the villa, wearing the headphones with accompanying player clipped to our waistbands that just scream "tourist." As we wandered through the mansion, learning fact after fact about this beautiful place, I stopped in one of the rooms and looked up. The thing about buildings in Italy is that every inch of a structure is decorated, embellished, enhanced. The ceiling in this room was absolutely magnificent. Gilded trim, hand-painted florals, calligraphy that puts even the most beautiful font to shame. As my eyes scanned the high ceiling, they stopped on one of the decorated squares. It was a phrase that looked to be Latin and read, Omnia vincit Amor. I'm no scholar, but I did take Italian and I know that Amore means love. I stood there admiring it for what seemed like minutes. When I snapped out of my little trance, I dug for my handy little notebook that I keep in my purse and wrote down the phrase to research later. I wish I could have taken a photo, but the security guard was giving me the eye (probably for standing there so long, eerily staring at the ceiling).

When I got back to the states, I sent an email to the villa curator. She knew exactly which section of the ceiling I was talking about and was lovely enough to give me more information. The phrase is indeed original Latin. It was later revised to: Amor vincit omnia. The phrase had originally appeared in Eclogue X by the famous Latin Poet Virgil (70 BC-19 BC). When Virgil wrote this phrase, it was about the story of a poet, Gaius Cornelius Gallo, who after some love troubles, decided to leave love and poetry in order to compose pastoral odes. Finally, he was forced to recognize the supremacy and the power of love.

Although Virgil wrote the phrase, it meant something totally different to me than it probably did to him. At the time I read it, my heart was shattered.

To me, the phrase means two things:
1. Love in it's truest form is Jesus Christ. He has paid it all, conquered all through His sacrifice on the cross. He will reign the victor against darkness for all of eternity.
2. Love on this earth, the one I longed for in a companion at the time, would overcome all obstacles. It would persevere, it would never give up, and in the end; it would win.(Little did I know at the time that this would be a painfully accurate description of the journey my husband and I endured to get where we are.)

Looking back, the phrase means more to me now than it did then. I am completely safe in my salvation, and I am married to an amazing man. Neither of these things came easily for me. I had to (and continue to) fight for both.On my wedding day, I carried a handkerchief embroidered with the phrase I discovered when my heart was broken. As I walked down the aisle, holding onto my Dad's arm and clutching that piece of fabric, I was overcome with thanksgiving that it was in fact true. Love really did conquer all.

Photo by JulieAnne Photography

Imaginary Apologies

I came across this quote on Pinterest the other day (no source), and it made me stop for a few minutes to let the simple words soak in. I immediately thought about several situations and people in my life that have hurt me in some way or another. Then I realized, I'm really not entitled to an apology. Dwelling on my own hurt feelings and indignant thoughts is thinking only of me. That isn't how I want to live. How true is it that forgiving someone before they apologize (or if they never do) really frees your own heart from malice and anger?

Personally, I would rather live life with a smile instead of a scowl. Perhaps this is one way to promote that goal.

Recipe: Lemon Pound Cake

I love hosting dinner parties and celebrations. Since I hosted Easter this year, I got to choose the menu! When it comes to dessert, I prefer something light, appropriate, and delicious. Our family loves lemon, so I landed on a recipe for Lemon Pound Cake published in the spring catalog from Penzey's, my favorite spice store. The flavor was rich but not overwhelming, it cut beautifully, and had a great texture! This dessert would be fitting for any spring or summer occasion.

Lemon Pound Cake Recipe
Cake:

2 C flour (I used cake flour)

1 tsp baking powder

2 sticks (1/2 lb.) butter, softened

1/2 tsp salt (omit if using salted butter)

2 C granulated sugar

1/4 C finely grated lemon peel

6 large eggs

11/2 tsp pure vanilla extract

1/4 C whole milk

1/4 C fresh lemon juice

Glaze:

1 C + 1 T powdered sugar

2 T  fresh lemon juice

Directions:

Move a rack to the middle of the oven. Preheat oven to 325°. Grease and flour a 2-quart plain or fluted tube pan and set aside. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt (if using) in a medium bowl and set aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the butter, sugar and lemon peel at medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 2-3 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add the VANILLA and beat well. Reduce the mixing speed to low. In 3 batches beginning and ending with the flour mixture, add the flour alternately with milk and lemon juice and beat just until combined. Spoon the batter into the pan and smooth the top. Bake until the cake is golden brown and springs back when touched and/or a toothpick inserted in several places comes out clean, about 45-55 minutes. Cool the cake in the pan on a rack for 15 minutes and then remove from pan onto a rack to cool completely. To prepare the glaze, stir the powdered sugar into the lemon juice and keep stirring until smooth and thick. When the cake is completely cool, set the rack over a baking sheet or waxed paper. Drizzle the glaze over the cake, letting it drip down the sides. 

A few of my side notes:

• If you don't want to buy an entire bag of cake flour, make your own like I did! 
• Make sure you use fresh lemons. I had a couple that I had purchased almost two weeks ago and started using them first, and the peel didn't grate well at all. I changed to a freshly purchased lemon and it grated like a dream!
• I used salted butter and omitted the salt in the recipe.
• I made a fresh whipped cream to accompany, and it was the perfect touch!
• I garnished with fanned strawberries, but raspberries, blueberries, or even blackberry would be tasty.

original recipe found here

The Best Homemade Eye Makeup Remover

Like most women, I love trying new beauty products! Growing up, I loved going along on trips to run errands because I knew we would be stopping at the drug store. I also knew that I could sneak a new shampoo or lip gloss into the cart without Mom noticing (sorry, Mom!).

Now that I'm an adult and buying my own beauty products, I try to find the best and highest quality items for the lowest price. I'm not a beauty product brand snob, but when I find something I like, I will spend more for it.

Eye makeup remover is one of those items I use daily, but not something on which I'm willing to spend a lot of money. I've tried tons of them - my personal favorite brands are Lancome and Almay. However, I couldn't believe how much money I was wasting on liquid. I decided to try making my own, and I'm so glad I did! A batch of this makeup remover literally takes about 60 seconds to make, and uses ingredients you probably already have in your home. It smells great and works wonderfully! I love that I know the ingredients and what I'm putting on my eyes.

The Best Homemade Eye Makeup Remover

Ingredients:
1 C water
1.5 T baby shampoo
1/8 tsp olive oil (I use vanilla olive oil from a local oil shop)

Directions:
Add all ingredients into a jar and shake well until combined. Normally I pour it into a used eye makeup remover bottle for easier dispensing.

I hope you enjoy this simple recipe as much as I do!

Hope Defined

Because He Lives - Hymn Typographic Poster {by designer Thomas Ramey} 

  

Because He lives, I can face tomorrow.

Because He lives, All fear is gone!

Because I know He holds the future

And life is worth the living just because He lives!
words: Bill & Gloria Gaither

Wishing you and your families a very blessed Resurrection Day tomorrow!