Babies Make the World Go Round.

It seems that I have been MIA the last few days. Ty's brother and sister-in-law are back in Cali for 2 weeks. They live in Alaska. This time home, however, they brought a little package with them. Baby Jayden! He is adorable in every way and I'm pretty sure he's stolen Uncle Tyson's heart. 

 

^Look's like a natural!

Baby Jayden has never been in water before [except for the bathtub of course] and Nick and Eden haven't been in a pool in years. For obvious reasons, they don't have outdoor pools in Alaska :) So we took them swimming.

We ate Five Guys Burgers and Fries the first night they were here. Walked Old Town, got some Rootbeer, and ate @ Olive Garden last night for dinner [our favorite!]. Gotta indulge with family sometimes ya know.

So I'll be back full throttle tomorrow, after I do a couple loads of laundry, dishes, vacuum and print these pictures of my adorable nephew.

Happy Weekend!

Love, JM

Don't forget to enter the book giveaway! 

Lunch Time Leftovers.

So I made a giant batch of my aunt's amazing tomato soup and froze half of it for such a day as this. I had alot to get done today and knew Ty was coming home for some lunch so I took a round loaf of Panera Bread's sourdough, cut a bowl-size hold in the middle, defrosted that amazing soup and poured. 

Viola!

 

 What did you have for lunch today?

-JM

A Weekend Full of Love.

I love love. I love being in love. I love seeing other people in love. I love it when my friends and family fall in love. I love love. 

This weekend my sister in law {Ty's sis} got married to the love of her life. We set up the wedding @ this amazingly beautiful house in Del Mar. {Don't even want to know what the mortgage is on that puppy.} The weather was impeccable and the bride was flawless. We all wore horizon blue dresses with chic silver heels. After a very sentimental ceremony {with tears and all} we partied into the night with our friends and family. 



Came home Sunday, with just enough time to take a 30 min power nap before heading off to BJ's Brewery where my brother and good friend announced their engagement! I cannot believe my little brother is getting married! They started dating when they were 15 and 16 and now, one bumpy road and six years later, they're gonna tie the knot! 

So excited for them. I could not have picked a better woman for my brother. Jess, you are going to be an amazing wife and we have loved you like our sister for a very long time. Thanks for finally making it official ;)

Now off to school. Happy Monday!

-JM

PS. Panera Bread is finally open!

Oh Whatta Man.

It's here peeps. It's finally here. This is the song we performed for my best friend's wedding. Joanna {Bride} is in the middle, Emily {Matron of Honor} is on the right, and I {Matron of Honor} am on the left. 


Prepare yourself. This is epic. {And I'm sure we'll laugh harder @ this the older we get.} 





Good memories. 


Love you Jo!


-JM

Dear Fear, You Won't Win

Dear Fear, 

You won't win. 

I sometimes get these crazy descriptive nightmares. They come, seemingly, at the most random and inconvenient times. It's been a good while since I last had them {about 7 months} but this time they're back with a vengeance. A while back I had a dream that I woke up as a slave girl in a brothel. Fear overtook my emotions that morning and a better part of that next day. I knew it was a dream and kept reminding myself that it wasn't real. I was me. In Temecula, CA. It was ok. However, that dream spurred me on to get involved in an organization called Love146, realizing that my worst nightmare was another girl's reality. 

The other night, I had the same dream but a different outcome. Again I dreamt that I woke in a brothel with a room full of girls, ages 5-18. The difference between this dream and the last was that I was able to have conversations with the girls. Some of them hated me, others were telling who we were and how we got there. Then something clicked. It was weird. Try to follow this with me. In my dream, I realized I was dreaming. Instantly all fear was gone. Vanished. 

It was like I was free to talk, ask questions, and not fear what I knew what coming. 

It was like God was giving me a window into the reality of these girls lives for just a moment.

I asked alot of questions and got alot of answers. I do not know how many of them are truth and to be honest, I cannot even remember most of them. But what I do remember are the emotions. I remember feeling afraid, but knowing that I didn't have to be. I remember faces. The faces of desperately wounded children. I remember eyes, some begging for freedom, others hardened by the disparity of their circumstances. 

I don't know if I saw real faces of real girls, but I will never forget the urgency I felt as I awoke. I have to do something, I kept saying over and over again that day.

I don't know what it is yet, but I'm working on it. But there is one thing I am certain of: 

Fear has lost its game with me. 

No longer will I be frightened, but rather I will choose to be empowered. And I'd encourage you to do the same. It's hard. It's emotionally exhausting. It's spiritually draining. But it's the greatest investment you'll ever make.

What has been on your heart lately to fight for?

Writing Project- Dear Fall.

{Prompt: Write a short letter to or about one of the four seasons.}

Dear Fall,

I am writing this letter as a girl who loves the Summer. However, as this season begins to close, I cannot express my great anticipation for your soon arrival. Although, I do live in Southern California so that could be a while. 

Anyhow, I am excited to watch the leaves change and fall and crunch under our footsteps.  I long for the air to cool and our flip flops turn to fashion heavy ugg boots.

I'm excited for the Pumpkin Spice Latte from Starbucks and its trusty sidekick, the pumpkin scone. 

 

I'm excited for the pitter patter of rain drops and the crashes of lightening.The pea coats and wool scarves, plaid umbrellas and fall time beanies. 

Oh yes, I am more than excited for you to be here dear fall. But mostly, I am excited for this season to shift. I am ready to be reminded anew and fresh of what is fallen and what is to come. 
 

It was once said, "Winter is an etching, spring a watercolor, summer an oil painting and autumn a mosaic of them all." I concur. 

I can't wait for the mosaic season of them all. 

-JM

Time Warp.

i miss this adorable bald head.

{she's going on 6 years cancer free!}

i miss our trips to mexico.

i miss the days of highschool.

{so little!}

i miss cheering on my college teams.

i miss the first fresh snowfall of Michigan winter.

i miss real food cafe.

{hands down the best breakfast place in town}

i miss leading worship with my husband.

All these things I greatly enjoyed. 

But there is a time for everything.

 {This post was inspired by Angie}