from humbled hands

While we were sitting in a coffee shop in Shingle Springs, CA working on mail chimp, reading church planting books and taking notes, we met Barry and Jerri. They'd been up and down, on the phone and in intense conversations when Barry popped over to our table to see what we were working on.  "We love Jesus and He's called us to Utah to tell people about Him," I shared. "Do you know Jesus?" I asked.  "Yes! Oh, do we!" He resounded.  They had grown up in Southern California during the Jesus Movement and had followed Him closely ever since. As a gardener, he knows a thing or two about cultivating and climates, not so different from a relationship with Jesus and navigating these days. Currently, they are working on a solution for her mom's living situation as age and medical concerns have caused a need for change.  We prayed for each other and encouraged each other and thanked God for being with us through all of life's ups and downs. As they l...

I've recently started making and selling chalkboards and signs and have thoroughly enjoyed being able to add a bit of personality to the chalkboards while honing my hand lettering skills.  I take custom orders. They make great birthday or wedding gifts. I've started a collection of my creations for people to get an idea of what I can do.   Below are some of my items:

Easter. We celebrate our risen Savior! Cora's second and Thea's first Easter. I so want them to know the significance of today and for them to celebrate their salvation alongside me and Vince someday. Today Thea is one week old and yesterday Cora turned 13 months! I don't want to forget these days with my girls. I need a place to share the happenings and memories. So, this is that place. At least for today. Cora can't get enough of her baby sister. The way she kisses and snuggles her is enough to burst my heart. Her voice gets high pitched and she slows down around her. Cora slows down. That's huge. How does she know what a special bond they share?   Thea is up past her birth weight! She went in on Friday and was already at 6 lbs 11 oz. Her birth weight was 6 lbs 8 oz. I am so thankful for how she is nursing so well. It makes me sad looking back that Cora did the best she could and battled delayed gastric emptying and GERD from the beginning. ...

Cora's Birth Story 3/4/2014 I dropped Vince off at work on Monday March 3rd at 1:30, 2.5 weeks before our baby's due date, and came home to a list of things to do. First on the list was my weekly checkup. Still no more progress from the previous week, just a half a centimeter dilated. After I got home I went on a nice long walk with Jack. It was so nice out, we took some pictures together... Me and Jack's shadow. Cold, but nice.  I didn't say they were good pictures.. I put together a frame with a few of our sonogram pictures and put the rest in an album. At about 5:45pm I had to leave to pick Vince up from work. I knew I would have to battle traffic. Vince had dinner for me at work-a leftover chicken sandwich from his boss's 50th birthday party the previous Friday. It wasn't much but I didn't feel like cooking. I dropped him off at campus and I went to bible study until about 10:00 pm. After bible study I had a conversation with my friend about t...

It has been one week since Hugh Oser D.D.S diagnosed Cora with a class 3 lip and tongue tie and performed the laser surgery.  It was a very quick procedure, just 10 minutes in the waiting room for us.  The first two days were extremely difficult and I worried it had made things worse.  Turns out she's in pain, go figure, and she has to relearn how to use the muscles in her mouth and jaw properly.  Poor girl.  Sunday we started seeing some improvement.  She was no longer clicking when she nursed which means she wasn't taking in as much air. Since then we have only been getting better.  Nursing is actually enjoyable.  I can't believe I said that, up until now it has been very difficult and something I have had to work so hard for.  She isn't crying as often, throwing up as much, and is all around a much more pleasant baby.  Her latch is so much better and I am feeling zero discomfort. She has had extended periods where she is awake, alert,...

So humbled by everyone's response and prayers. All of you can help spread the word about lip and tongue tie to those you know. Two days ago I went to the Lactation Care Center and my suspicions about both Cora's weight gain and her lip tie were confirmed. She had only gained under 6 oz in 15 days. Not good. And she is hungry, but my milk supply was withering. My lactation consultant said that she does, in fact, have at least a lip tie, if not both lip and tongue as well as a moderately high palette. See, when a baby latches improperly and doesn't empty the breast completely you stop producing as much milk. At this point a good latch and transfer of milk is difficult because of her anatomy. We got set up with an electric double pump yesterday and we are both trying to build up my supply and get her what she needs. This is the process: I offer both breasts, then pump both breasts and then give her the expressed milk in a bottle. My supply is already increasing and I have even...