the time has come!

Happy September all! 

Click over to my new blog for a warm welcome! See you there!

hannahevazquez.com 

gonna be some changes made

It was a little over a year ago when I changed my blog from “The Yellow Butterfly” to “All These Things.” Also, I had honed in on what I wanted to write about. I admitted I was a writer. One of my goals for this year was to learn more about blogging and writing in general. I have done that to some extent, although there is so, so much more to learn. However, slowly I have read things here and there and listened to podcasts that were helpful.

The more I thought about my writing, and my blog, I felt that something needed to change. With the blog title of “All These Things” referring to seeking the kingdom of God, I felt it odd to write about some things I felt compelled to write about. I felt as if I had to put a twist on each thing to make it spiritual. It is true I do try to honor God with all that I do and write, but the title just felt too serious for “My Favorite Salad Dressing Recipe” or things like that.

And so, after much thinking and discussion with my husband, I decided to make a new blog. Next week, I will reveal it to you! That is where I will be doing the majority of my blogging. The title is simple: my name. I know it’s all in my head, but it feels like coming home. There I can explore my writing style and work to find my “voice.” There are no “rules” (as made up as they are) about what to write. If I want to write it, it works, because the blog is named after me.

I have a vision for “All These Things” that needs some more praying, musing, and planning. Until then, it will be quiet. When the time comes, I’ll be sure to write about it on my main blog.

Come back here on September 1^st and I’ll have a link to my new blog! I’m really excited to share it with you all, and so much more in the future!

exhaling

A sweet  quiet moment.

We returned home from the Vazquez family vacation last week and caught up on sleep over the weekend. I feel I am finally able to exhale and take a deep breath of fresh air. The last thing on our string of big summer events is over. I feel the time for normalcy to take over has come. (I sure hope so at least.) But the normalcy is not “life as it was.” It’s a new way of life.

I have really enjoyed being able to get back into our routines and I look forward to sticking to them. There's no big thing to plan and prepare for, then do or go to. And hopefully no surprises. I have a lot of little projects I have been tackling now that I have my time freed up.

Corn (given by friends) waiting to be blanched and frozen. Ahh, summer. :)

A few exciting things are happening in September.  For one, we’re getting the internet! I’m thrilled! It was nice for a while to be without, but it has become a hassle. I hope to use the internet in moderation and still make time for reading and other important things. Yet, with the internet at home, I won’t have to leave to do some shopping, blogging, or look something up.

Also in September I am starting school with Mia. Nothing too complicated. Some Circle Time (calendar, songs, memorization, reading, etc.) and then learning our phonics! I bought "Spell to Write and Read." We’ll just do a little every day, and maybe a little bit of fun math stuff here and there. I don’t see us spending more than an hour each day. And then there’s seasonal clothes shopping (which I love!) and celebrating our anniversary. 

Oh, and yes, I have a big project to reveal on September 1^st! I will share what that is next week. Until then, take care friends.

The kids love the bikes they got for their birthdays!

a short update

After waiting almost four weeks for my body to naturally miscarry, I took a small dose of medicine on July 20th to give it a nudge. My body kicked right in and it was fast and relatively easy, thank God.

We got to hold our baby and see that we had a little boy. We named him Elijah Matthew. It was only fitting to name him Elijah since it was his feast day. We buried him in our church's cemetery on the 22nd. God continues to hold us.

I plan to write and share much, much more, but that will come in time.

For now, I have a project that has been in the works since before all this happened. So stay tuned for details to come!

In Which I Tell You a Bit of News

I have been trying to think of a creative way to say this, but I haven’t been able to. Probably because of what I’m going to say. And most of you already know anyway… I’m pregnant!

Let’s cut to the chase:

When am I due? Mid-December

How am I feeling? Amazingly well despite being tired all.the.time.

Where will I deliver? (A big question in this town because you can’t deliver at our local hospital.) At home! I just got signed up with a midwife and I’m very excited about it!

Are the kids excited? Yes. Well, my daughter anyway. The little guy doesn't get it yet. He will as it gets closer.

So there you go. And there’s my excuse if I’m not on here a lot. I have a lot I want to say, but not a lot of time or energy to type it up. Hopefully my energy level will increase (and my sleep need will decrease) over time, but I’m not getting my hopes up. But don’t worry. I won’t disappear forever. :)

Homemaking Saturday: Review/Preview

On Homemaking Saturday I share something I'm doing or learning to make my home a better place.


I think I will make it a habit to write my Review/Preview on the last Saturday of the month. It's just simpler and it does make sense. I want to update you on a couple things I've written about on Saturdays this month, so it just seemed natural.

Basil

April
I got almost everything accomplished in April that I had hoped to! I did have to slow down before and after Pascha, but lately I haven't needed naps in the afternoon, which I'm so grateful for! I know the days are limited so I'm trying to make the most of them!

Peas

I finally ordered new glasses for myself, Sweet Girl has an appointment for the dentist this Wednesday, and all the photos I have are organized in photo albums. I have pictures waiting to be ordered (when there's a special!). That last one especially feels good to be done. I hadn't bothered to order pictures (except of Sweet Girl) since we've been married! When you move around so much, you don't have a place for photo albums. However, now we do and it feels good to have that set.

Zinnia and Lettuce

I planted seeds the middle week of April and there are sprouts already in most of them. I think I will need to replant a few things or start them indoors like I did with the basil. I'm so excited to see growth, I just hope I don't kill them somehow! It will be so wonderful to have real plants! Sweet Girl is just as excited. She loves to water them and always talks about them when we see them as we leave the house.

Spinach

And those curtains I mentioned last week? I finished them Sunday afternoon. They really make the room darker. I made them out of coat lining material I found at the thrift store. Four yards for $4! It's lightweight, yet non-transparent. It blocks those security lights too, which helps at night. I had to add some fabric at the top as it wasn't quite long enough. It's still not as long as I'd like, but it will do. It's temporary, really, as we won't be in this house much more than another year. I bought a cheap curtain rod at Dollar General. It's stretched to its maximum length and if we tried to open the curtains, it probably would come apart. So we just won't.

May
Here's my list for May:
1. Get more soil as well as tomato and broccoli plants. Plant.
2. Plan gifts and household needs through October and start shopping.
3. Start buying things for the baby.
4. Move Sweet Girl into her big bed and rearrange her room. Decorate it too.
5. Make dish soap.
6. Make a food plan with Coach. (Meals he feels comfortable cooking once in awhile after the baby's here.)
7. Get a curtain for the front door.
8. Make a cardboard kitchen for Sweet Girl.
9. Reorganize areas of the kitchen.
10. Reorganize storage boxes.

In my mind, it's really getting down the wire. I'm getting big. I'm going to be tired. I don't want to have a lot on my plate after this month. My list for June is small and I hope to keep it that way!

Time for the Little Surprise!

The surprise is... we are having a BOY!!! 

Are you surprised? I was! I thought for sure we were having a girl, but we learned otherwise pretty quickly. As the lady was getting set up she asked us if we wanted to know and we said yes. She commented that she's seen a lot of girls lately and as soon as she put the wand on my belly, she then added, "Oh, not today!"