Our State Fair is a Great State Fair

Last week Ben traveled for work and we missed him terribly.  It was quite a shock to my system to have had him by my side since June and to suddenly have him in an entirely different time zone.  I'm thankful for his job and thankful for FaceTime and I couldn't be more thankful for my mom.  She left work and her own husband (that would be my dad) to come be with me while Ben is away.  Not only is she incredibly helpful (she cooks! cleans! and holds my baby!), but she is a great deal of fun.  I would do just about anything for her.  I've always said that - and have always meant it - but during her visit the rubber met the road, as they say.

My mom has never been to the state fair.  And neither have I.  But I have never had the desire to go.  The crowds, the lines, the cost, the smell.  But my mom wanted to go.  And how could I say no?  I really would do anything for her.  So we devised a plan, tickets were procured and off we went.

I'm so, so, so glad we took the plunge.  Despite getting lost, never finding the enormous vegetables, and being slightly overwhelmed by the crowds, we had a good time because we were together.  We ate sweet potato chip, people watched, enjoy Elijah enjoying the sights and sounds and yes, smells.  Now we can say that we have been to the fair!

A New Season

I feel like today is the start of a new season for our little family of three.  Ben has traveled since starting work and thankfully, thankfully my mom graciously agreed to come keep me company during that time.  Ben returned, my mom left, and that takes us to today.  Ben goes to work and Elijah and I will be at home.  Together.  By ourselves.  All day long.  All week long.

I am equal parts terrified and excited.  It feels as though we've been working towards this all summer and now we are finally here.  I'm entirely grateful for the opportunity to stay home and mother Elijah.  I am aware that this isn't something that is available to most and I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be at home.  I am also sure that this will be far, far harder than any job I've held prior to this.  Loving and caring for my boy requires me to sacrifice in a deeper, harder, more beautiful way than I've ever done.  But I'm thankful for that.  I'm hopeful that the Lord will use this season to shape and grow me.  I battle daily with selfishness and laziness and I know that the only way that I will be able to combat those desires will be to rely on the strength of the Lord.  I will need His strength to lay down my life for my son.  I am confident that He will provide me with the strength and ability to love to do so because He did not hesitate to lay down His own Son that we might know and love Him.  When I focus on that, I have a feeling that we will be just fine. 

Oh me oh my oh

Well. 

I said I would be back to tell you the story of how I met Ben.  And here I am, nearly a week later, without a single word of the story.  My most sincere apologies.  I wish I could tell you the story over tea.  Although we are year-round tea drinkers at our house, it is finally tea weather.  I am so thankful and so excited about chilly mornings, sweaters and scarves, hot beverages of all sorts and pumpkins.  And mums.  And my husband in flannel shirts.  And my clogs.  Oh fall, you are my favorite.

So about that tea...I would tell you the story of how my mandolin lessons turned into a fun summer fling that turned into a long distance relationship that turned into a marriage.  And now we have a baby.  And that baby is the very reason I haven't had time to sit down and tell you this story properly.  Hopefully, I will find the time to do so soon, but I have now learned my lesson: do not make post promises.  Not when there is a sweet baby to cuddle with and enjoy. 

For now, I leave you with a picture of said sweet baby and a very loosey goosey promise to be in this space again someday and to tell you that story sometime. 

I will definitely be adding babies in cute hats to my fall favorites list. 

An interview

Good morning.

We are home.  We've actually been here more than a week, but it only just now feels like we might be hitting our stride.  Last week was hard.  Thankfully we were able to escape for a few days of pure enjoyment with friends.  I'll be telling you more about that later this week.

Ben starts work tomorrow.  Our summer together is drawing to a close.  So it is with him (and that sweet boy of ours) that I'll spend my moments today.  I'll be back here tomorrow with a story of how I met this man, this man of my dreams.

I'm over at my dear friend's blog today, sharing a little bit about our life.  You can find my full interview here.  Stay awhile and poke around.  L*Joy is one of the nicest people on the internet and in the day-to-day life.  You simply will not find better recipes or conversation.

Enjoy.