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35 Comments» Continue ReadingApril 27, 2011 8:30 am Uncomfortable contractions timed at 3 minutes apart, 45 seconds long. 9:00 am Friends pick up boys; we head to hospital. 9:15 am Admitted to triage, give consent for pain assistance if labor goes long. 9:30 am Triage nurse determines I’m at 9 cm.; I cry in relief. 10:25 am Beautiful baby boy born; The Preacher catches with teary eyes, for the fifth time. Baby and mama just fine. No obscenities, hyperbole, or wailing was used in the delivery of this baby; I am just amazed as the next person. 8 lbs. 14 oz. 21 inches And Asa did what was right in the eyes of the Lord, as David his father had done…the heart of Asa was wholly true to the Lord all his days. 1 Kings 15:11, 14b
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» Continue ReadingAs promised, I’ve put together a simple little tutorial for the hanging yarn ball mobile you saw in Cinco’s Nursery Reveal. There are several ways to go about this look, including simply hanging actual balls of yarn. The downside to this would be that the balls of yarn would be quite heavy, and it would require the use of more yarn… …You can also find tutorials on how to make hanging yarn balls that are light and airy, which I think are also pretty, but really capture a different feel than the ones I’ve made here. The light and airy version requires cotton yarn, which tends to be a bit more expensive than acrylic. I personally would go for light and airy if using decorating for a wedding or perhaps for use in a little girl’s room… …In my case, I wanted a very homespun, “chunky,” playfully childish look for the […]
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» Continue ReadingThis little 2 yr. old will become a big brother for the first time sometime this week. I think he’s finally realizing it, too. We couldn’t ask for a sweeter, funnier, gentler, or more helpful big brother to Cinco. Of course, he’s had some pretty amazing role models. Some of Number 4′s insights as of late: “Cinco’s getting chunky in they-o!” “Sometime…can I go in your belly too?” “I’m a big bwoth-o.” “Hi Cinco…I love loo.” (as he speaks to my belly in the same voice as the others have used…)
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» Continue ReadingI didn’t make my Spring Salad for Easter Sunday. In fact, this weekend really didn’t go as planned at all. As I write, I continue to feel weak and achy all over, trying to get my body on the mend before Cinco signals his arrival any day now. On Saturday, our family came down with the most terrible stomach virus I think we’ve ever experienced. We ruled out food poisoning as we and another family were both exposed at the same function a day earlier, with the same repercussions. Though clearly unintentional, it was a preventable disaster, making it all the harder to bear. At 39 1/2 weeks, dehydration and vomiting is not to be desired, not to mention, completely debilitating with the usual aches, pains, and contractions that come with this stage of pregnancy. Unlike many other times of illness and duress at our home, my dear Preacher could […]
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» Continue ReadingEverything beautiful about Easter, everything alive and fresh…everything joyous and cheery about the celebration on Sunday…is on account of the pain, the suffering, and the price paid on Friday. In anticipation for what Sunday brings for family and festivities, let us not fill today with mere cooking and cleaning preparations. May we be mindful of what the great mercy and sovereignty of God accomplished on the cross, that we may call this day–indeed–Good Friday. A Spring Salad for Easter Sunday -organic spring mix -organic baby spinach -fresh strawberries, hulled and sliced -trimmed fresh asparagus, steamed until tender but crisp (about 8-10 minutes), then sliced diagonally -red onions, thinly sliced -cucumbers, thinly sliced -crumbled feta cheese -sliced almonds -Raspberry Vinaigrette, Balsamic Vinegar + Oil, or my fave: Ken’s Lite Raspberry Walnut Vinaigrette Toss altogether. Everything beautiful, everything fresh, everything cheery…because we’ve been given the gift through which all things can be […]
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» Continue Reading“In adoption we find ourselves–in Jesus. We see something that we cannot perceive with our eyes.” -Russell Moore, Adopted for Life I had the opportunity to capture a few shots of a dear friend’s freshly adopted baby girl. I never tire of being part of the community of family and friends that welcomes each new little one into our midst, committing ourselves to loving and showing the Gospel to these children we’ve been entrusted with. It’s the second time I’ve attempted to photograph an infant, and I must say…it is harder than it looks!! Kudos to baby photographers who can capture stunning images of newborns. Here are two pics that were sweet enough to frame. Welcome, sweet girl…Cinco’s excited to be your pal!
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» Continue ReadingMy “Man vs. Wild” husband has been making E-kits (emergency kits) with the boys. Half the adventure for them (dad included) is putting these packs together, and imaging the scenarios in which they’d need to use them. Oh to be a boy… Contents: -a knife -fire steel -flashlight -compass -MREs (Meals Ready To Eat) -First Aid -gaiters So as to not cause me to feel left out, The Preacher came home with a lovely surprise for me today. “Ruthie’s E-kit…for the hospital,” he called it. Contents: -Tazo “Calm” herbal tea -Dried Pitted Tart Montmorency Cherries from Trader Joe’s -Trader Joe’s Dark Chocolate Truffle Bar -a bottle of Aloe Pulp Juice -lovely mug from Anthropologie -Rosewater & Glycerine Hand Creme from Anthropologie Seeing that The Preacher has caught every boy I’ve birthed, and delivered Number 2 on his own, he knows that more than chocolate and heavenly hand creme will be […]
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» Continue ReadingAn old friend said that Cinco would appreciate being “first,” and not fifth at something. She’s right. He will be the first of the five that has ever been photographed professionally in utero. Just like we were slow in getting family photos done, I’d never had any maternity photos taken either. I knew that I didn’t want any bare-bellied, husband-cuddling, children-kissing, marker-writing, cutesy photos…nothing wrong with those…it’s just not me. I simply want record of this miraculous thing I’ve gotten to participate in five times. My super talented photographer friend, Amy Grebe, was just the right gal to get the job done…and help me have fun doing it.
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» Continue Reading“In friendship’s fragrant garden, There are flowers of every hue. Each with its own fair beauty And its gift of joy for you.” Flowers can be special friends…that grow and bloom year after year. New friends come along… …and are unique and different in their own way. And, most recently, a glorious new member of the circle was given as a parting gift from a true friend who will be residing oceans away for a time. But when it comes to a flower as loyal as a phalaenopsis, good friends can be remembered for a long, long time. PHALAENOPSIS CARE BASICS Light Phalaenopsis love bright, indirect sunlight. Water Water a phalaenopsis thoroughly, soaking all surrounding planting medium. Drain completely, and don’t water again until nearly dry…about every 2-3 weeks. Flowering After the phalaenopsis has finished blooming, cut off stem right about the node where the first flower bloomed. A new […]
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» Continue ReadingMy house is almost perfectly clean…about 15 minutes of every week, total. I’m never caught up on laundry. I’m always missing a sock or three in every load. I sometimes act like cleanliness IS next to godliness. I shared on Monday that I am keenly aware that an organized and de-cluttered home is not my highest calling in nesting. In fact, I can have simplified, highly organized spaces throughout my house, yet be void of the joy that is found in a home that is occupied with the worship of Christ. I truly believe that we honor the Lord with stewardship of our homes, with diligence in our house-cleaning, and dedication to simplification. But, that can’t be the end. It can’t be our ultimate goal, or our sense of daily satisfaction. So, in response to my own challenge this week to de-clutter in a deeper sense, I’ve focused on one […]
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» Continue ReadingI say I’m blessed, and am full of thankfulness. But sometimes I don’t act like it. Or speak like it. I need to be reminded regularly, to cultivate gratitude, that I might guard my heart from self-righteous grumblings and the sinful root of discontentment. I can truly say that I’m grateful for a husband who cares enough to send me the following…which I share with you with humility and love: Gratitude arises from a contemplation of the goodness of God. It is bred by serious meditation on what God has done for us… Gratitude and thanksgiving forever stand opposed to all murmurings at God’s dealings with us, and all complaining at our lot. Gratitude and murmuring never abide in the same heart at the same time. An unappreciative spirit has no standing beside gratitude and praise. And true prayer corrects complaining and promotes gratitude and thanksgiving. Dissatisfaction at one’s lot, […]
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» Continue ReadingI’m so excited to finally be DONE with the nursery. You may recall that the idea to put together an owl-themed baby room came together only a few weeks ago, when I came to the realization that the process of creating a nursery might very well help me embrace the upcoming arrival with a little less exhaustion, and a little more enthusiasm. I’m not sure if I was successful at the exhaustion part, but we are definitely excited to bring the little guy home to his new room. I knew my budget was under $100, if that, so I got to work recycling and making art for the new room. I started by making a simple applique quilt, which I decided to use for a wall hanging. The quilt determined that the colors for the room would be teal, orange, brown, and off-white. An old friend from college saw that […]
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Hello, friend...I'm Ruth. Welcome to GraceLaced, where you will find my imperfect, but grace-filled musings on the Gospel, motherhood, crafting, art, domesticity, cooking, and the often-times overlooked joys of finding grace in the everyday of life. Read my full profile here.
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