Growing At Home

New Normal

I realize that I probably don't have any readers anymore.  That's ok.  We had so many problems with our old computer and it was a huge task to blog.  We now have a refurbished laptop that I'm loving and it's making my time on the computer faster and easier.  I am going to be back to blogging regularly.  My posts will be mostly for my family to document these days with our little ones.  I will also post about some of my interests from time to time including, hair, fashion, shopping, decorating, recipes, etc.  Right now, I am trying to adjust my schedule and find balance with two kids, and find time to do some of those fun things. 

Charlie

Charlie Russell Butler arrived on May 9, 2013 at 7:34 AM.  He weighed 8 pounds and was 20 inches long.  The delivery went well and we love him so much!  He looks so much like Jack did as a newborn.  He has more of Craig's coloring and his hair is a little darker.  Welcome to our family Charlie!

I Will Make Time

It has been a LONG time since I last blogged. I really want to get back in the swing and try to do at least 2-3 times a week. With a baby coming, this child will look at all the posts about Jack and wonder why I didn't blog his journey. I love to read blogs and want to document what we're doing too. I think if I try to set a time each day to blog, I will do a better job.

We are doing well. We have 12 weeks left until we meet our little guy. It's gone fast and slow all at the same time. Right now, we are trying to decide on a name. I like names, and Craig likes names, but we don't like the same names. I am making my "to-do" list of all the things I would like to accomplish before the baby arrives.

We've had a little bump in the road that we were kind of anticipating, but hoping might not happen. After Friday, Craig won't have a job. We are just waiting and trusting God to see what is next. The timing definitely isn't my choosing, but it never would be. I know He wants us to trust.

I will post several pictures soon.

And so it is BACK TO BLOGGING for me!

The Long and The Short Of It

I've been growing out my hair for quite a while now. I had visions of long hair past my shoulders. It is now officially at the point where I am so sick of it. I just don't feel like it looks nice any way that I style it. I'm starting to think that it's just not my style anymore to have long hair. I haven't cut it yet. I don't want to do anything hasty and regret it. I'm wondering if I will like the ponytail advantage on hot days this summer. I just can't decide. What do you think?

Longer a hair a few years right before I cut it chin length.

Chin Length

I really like it styled this way.

This is a couple months ago, so it's even a little longer now. It just takes a lot of time, and doesn't feel all that polished when I'm done.

What To Wear

I have spent hours the last few weeks working on something I love. I'm finding a new passion in an old interest. I'm going to be teaching the women's Bible Study at my church this coming Tuesday. The title of my teaching time is "True Beauty." I'm going to talk about what the Bible says about beauty, how every woman is beautiful just the way she is right now because God created her, and also how to reflect that beauty on the outside. I'm using information I learned from my mom, 4-H, workshops I attended at National "Make It With Wool Contest" in Los Angeles when I was in High School and National 4-H fashion revue in Chicago (also when I was in high school.) I do remember those things I learned years ago. I think even then, God was preparing me for something in this area.

While preparing, some REALLY exciting things have happened. To make a long story short, I have talked on the phone this week with a woman I've admired for a long time. I first learned of her and met her at a "Hearts At Home" conference. Her name is Shari Braendel. She is part of Proverbs 31 Ministries. She has the most amazing ministry. We visited on the phone last night for quite a while and I was so amazed, excited, and blessed. I still have a lot to do to get ready for Tuesday morning, but I am so excited!!!

Here's Shari at work:

Mammoth Post

I am making time to blog today. I feel like I have been running 90 miles and hour with my hair on fire lately. I know everyone is busy. It seems like it is the norm for most people. I don't like it. Yesterday I had kind of a meltdown and Craig and I were talking about what I might be able to cut out. Right now, there really isn't anything I can cut out. I will continue, and try to take it one day at a time. I have begun praying that God would use everyday to mold me to be more like him - in all the things I have going on. Blogging has just fallen to the bottom of my list, and doesn't get done often.

I currently have 39 piano students. Before we moved here, I thought it would be so great to build my business and have my schedule completely full of students. I am rethinking that between now and next fall for many reasons. I am trying to fit in Mary Kay when I can because it is so fun, is my creative outlet, and Craig and I had decided to give the money I make from it to missions. I am getting ready to teach a Bible study at our church, that I attend each week. My topic is "Beauty." I'm going to be talking about beauty from a biblical perspective but then also work in modesty and dressing your body type, spring trends, hair and makeup. It's rewarding but also takes a lot of time. I'm homeschooling Jack which is going well. He loves it. He sent out several valentines and carefully signed his name on each one. There is a lot more going on as well, but I won't bore you with all the details.

I decided to do one post with some highlights from the last month and a half or so.

Craig went back to Guatemala this year. He loved it, of course. He is fortunate to have found a God-given passion. He feels like he wasted so much valuable time in his life, but this is one of the things he can do, and loves to do, that matters for eternity.

Craig is in the middle with the black hat on, with his back to the camera. I went to Guatemala 3 years ago and I hope to get to go with him sometime. Jack keeps saying, "When I get big, I'm going to Guatemala with dad!"

I had a Mary Kay conference and awards luncheon in the Quad Cities. I have met so many beautiful, neat women. That has by far, been one of my favorite things about Mary Kay so far.

I recently had a baby shower for three friends from the Tuesday morning Bible Study I attend. It was a lot of work, but so much fun.

One of the beautiful moms, Katie, and my friend from Liberia, Jamima.

(This picture is out of order :) After the Mary Kay conference during the day, there was an awards Gala in the evening. It was formal! I love stuff like this - Craig not so much. I spent weeks thinking about what I would wear. Craig said he would pull out his sport coat that he wears for "marryin' and buryin'." He also told me he would wear a tie or a coat but not both. I had been a star consultant for the last quarter, so my director bought our dinner. It was so much fun - for me anyway. I told Craig to think of it as going to prom with a girl since he went to prom in high school with his friend Squib (Mike.)

Jack's newest favorite activity with dad is wrestling. He begs to wrestle. He is all boy.

Here, Jack is winning :)

It's funny how one minute he is wrestling and toting guns and the next he is asking to bake cookies.

Jack figured out how to print Transformer masks on the computer. We're working hard to find fun, indoor activities to pass the time. Come on Spring!!!

We had the Blizzard of 2011 in February. It took Craig almost all of the next day to dig out his truck and our driveway. Jack loved helping - as long as he had "earmuffs" to help with the loud noise of the snow blower.

February was a whirlwind, but it seems like lots of great, fun things happened in the whirlwind. We have been treated to a little hint of the arrival of spring in the last few weeks. We are so ready to be outside! Can't wait!