narrow

I was reading a few of my favorite blogs last night when I came across a link to this post. I didn't realize until after I read the post and read about the author that my mother-in-law gave me her book for Christmas. God thing? I think so.



At church Sunday morning the speaker said be careful not to become an analyst. Strive to become a catalyst. He was referring to politics, but this statement struck a chord with me. I am so prone to being led. To wanting someone else to be the catalyst. Don't worry, I'm a great follower. If someone else in my life would just be radical, I would follow suit so quickly God; I promise.



So back to this post that I read by Ann Voskamp. She didn't wait for someone else in her life to be radical. She listened to her four year old son who sincerely asked her what Jesus gets for his birthday and despite her own fear of change, she created a tradition in her family that has instilled gratefulness in her children and has changed lives each Christmas for almost 10 years. I was moved to tears when I read about her father watching her family for the past 10 years and deciding to forgo family gifts this Christmas in order to provide water for an entire village in Africa. What does it teach a young child who has everything they need and more to decide between giving a mosquito net to prevent malaria or seed to feed a family? I didn't even know what malaria was until I was in college.




I could go on and on about the conviction I felt reading this family's story. Because more than one Christmas, especially in the last few years, I have asked myself "What does Jesus get for his birthday?" Why do I receive so much on a day that celebrates the one who sacrificed everything for me?



And going beyond Christmas, why have I waited so long for someone else to show me how to live when God speaks to me constantly through His word, through prayer, through teaching, through dreams, through friends, through the experiences of others?



And right now God is saying that even when I feel alone, I am not. He gives me everything I need to parent my child, navigate friendships, nurture my marriage. And He's telling me that it is okay if my way looks different than the mainstream. Because it is supposed to. Because small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only few find it.(matt.7:13) God please let my family be the few and not the many...

I'm Back

And we are expecting! Baby Staats #2 is coming in early July...We are so thankful. This pregnancy has been a little more difficult than my first, but I know this baby is a blessing so every moment of sickness has been worth it.

I've missed sharing my heart here on this blog and there have been moments in my days and nights over the past few months where something falls on my heart that I long to share. I really took this little time off to decide whether or not I wanted to continue blogging since I have another baby on the way and I know I'll need every spare second of time once that little one gets here.

I go through seasons of life where I have it a little more "together" than others...right now I'm in a season where I'm not really feeling together at all! I thought to myself, what would I blog about if I can barely find energy to do my laundry and clean my house? Then I realized that there are probably other people who feel a little disheveled as well. And maybe they need to know they are not alone. And maybe I need to know I am not alone as well.

So I decided to keep on blogging and sharing and trying the best I can to be genuine and real...even when it might be a little raw. I've pretty much worn the same jeans five days in a row and don't really remember the last time I blow-dried my hair. We've watched Toy Story about 5 times in the past week and Noah hasn't taken a nap in 7 days (he is in his crib; he just talks to himself for an hour and a half!). I didn't send a Christmas card out this year for the first time since Nelson and I have been married. Cooking? What's that?

But I did decorate our home. We were blessed beyond measure by friends and family this Christmas. I was reminded that God always cares about the details of our lives. And my heart is so full of love for this little life inside of me. Whether it's a he or a she, I can't help but feel more emotion for this baby than I did when I was pregnant with Noah. Because now I look at Noah and see his personality, his humor, his sweet spirit...and I realize that he is a person. And when he was a screaming baby I couldn't see past the screaming baby. But with this little one, I know now that the little baby becomes a little person, far too quickly.

And I don't want to take any moment with this one for granted. Because I know now more than ever that each life is a gift from God. So even through the countless sleepless nights and days where I forget that I have clothes other than my pajamas, I know now that it passes. I know that I'll eventually get a good night of sleep. I'll eventually get to hear "I love you, mommy." I'll eventually get back into my pre-pregnancy clothes and feel somewhat normal again...somewhat ;o)...

So I'm happy to be back to blogging again. I hope you'll remember that I'm back and feel encouraged wherever you are in your journey. I hope you had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! I'm excited to share everything that's in store for this new year with you!


Here are a few more photos from our home this Christmas!

a lil' break

hi friends, i am so sad to say i will be taking a break from blogging for a short while! i have some things to tend to at home and feel a little spread thin with some commitments i made for the Fall. i'm looking forward to all God is going to do during this little break! i may do a holiday decor post in december and plan to kick back up again in january. i hope you'll check back in with me at that time! i'll miss you and can't wait to share spring together;o)...
lauren

fall delight

i love it when my parents visit!

noah got his first pair of toms...:o)

these are my new favorite shoes...kohl's...sale rack...$10 (don't look too closely at my toenails!)

this is how i've been wearing my hair lately...my trick for not having to blowdry...;o)

and here's my little guy...just a bundle of joy! isn't he getting so big? tonight he said "mommy, i had fun today. it's a beautiful day"...those moments bring so much joy to my heart!

Wreath

i had so much fun making a new wreath for my door...i've had a yarn wreath up for about a year (i don't do well with changing things for each season!) so i thought i'd change it up a bit this time!

i used a hot glue gun to attach the scrabble tiles to the mini felt pennants and bunched several different types of fabric and felt flowers together. i mixed some burlap in and sewed a few buttons on the flowers for a change as well...

i came up with the idea of using the wooden stick wreath here and saw a photo on pinterest that inspired me to use the scrabble tiles!

i'm in waco right now with my family and was able to see my friends bree and robin last night and today! it's so nice to be here. i was driving out to their parents house last night and was just soaking in the sunset across empty fields on a country road. we currently live in fort worth and it is very rare to drive long distances without seeing shopping centers, restaurants, houses, grocery stores, etc...last night i realized how nice it was to just see nothing but nature. it's so good for the soul to be detached from the regular busy pace of life. makes me long a little for heaven...i went to a switchfoot concert on monday night (favorite band ever) and i downloaded one of my favorite songs on their new album to my blog playlist...click on "restless" on my music player at the bottom of the screen to listen if you have a moment. have a blessed day...and maybe take a moment to look up at the sky.

yellow and gray baby shower

my sweet friend jillian is having a baby! i was so honored to host her shower in my home. she is not going to find out whether or not it's a boy or girl so we did a gender neutral color scheme...yellow and gray! this is the most fun i've had planning a party in quite awhile!

i ordered the straws from candochefs.com...you may remember them from noah's party. i have a little yellow obsession going on right now if you can't tell. i saw something similar to the little straw flags on etsy and thought i'd try my hand at making them...they were SO EASY! i'll do a DIY post in the next few days.

i made these paper fans to hang over the mantle and in my breakfast nook and cut fabric into strips to create the fabric streamers. i used my cricut to cut out "baby mcgee"!


i love mini chalkboards!!! i wish i had several to label all the food but i had to reign myself in a bit;o). oh, and i'm in love with white pumpkins!


i always love to have baby photos of the mommy and daddy so people can take a gander at what the new little one may look like.

my gift to jillian was a tie onesie, the pillowcase dress i made in my sewing class, and a burp cloth...for the record, i think she's having a girl!

okay so i went a little crazy with the bunting...but i did send some home with jillian and i'm going to package all this decor up in a box and maybe rent it out for showers and parties! i also love the idea of gray and yellow for a girl nursery so who knows...maybe one day?

we served lemonade instead of punch because, well, it's yellow! and i found that drink dispenser at Ross for $13.99...pretty good deal! i decided to do mini banana puddings instead of cupcakes thanks to lindsey from outofalabaster(if you haven't checked her blog in awhile, go look at her newest post of her master bedroom...i died)... the banana pudding was perfect because, well, it's yellow!!!! and did you know they make mini nilla wafers?!

i spent quite awhile trying to decide what to do behind the table (bunting, paper fans, fabric streamers?) but when it came down to it, balloons were the easiest and cleanest option and really captured the modern look i was hoping for. the sister of the mommy-to-be had the greatest idea to do book dedications for the new baby! i pulled out the scrabble tiles and created a little book signing station.



ummm...the voting wouldn't be complete without gray and yellow chalk! and i already had some in my box of chalk from ikea!!!

the shower was super fun and i hope jillian felt as loved and special as she is!!! i can't wait to meet that baby girl...or boy:o)!

Sewing

wow, a whole week without blogging! i don't know what has gotten into me;o)...i was a lil' busy this week preparing for helping with mini sessions with Selah Photography (perfectly charming day at the farm!) and hosting a baby shower in my home (cannot wait to share photos!)...the mini sessions and shower are over and i am a tired girl! but not too tired to see all of you first thing monday morning!



i started sewing about a year ago when my friend kara came over and taught my friend tara and i how to thread our sewing machines and sew a straight line! i've really enjoyed trying new things and the hum of the machine really relaxes me...we just had our second sewing lesson last week and learned to make pillowcase dresses! here they are...kind of...i hadn't made my strap yet but i promise once i added the little yellow strap and gathered it at the top it was pretty sweet...



and this one's for you brianna:o)...have a happy monday!