If you give a girl a Clawfoot Tub....

...She might act a little CRAZY.....

{Via}

So, I have shared many times how I've 

managed to put my foot in my mouth at the wrong time,

Or get myself in weird predicaments.....

Oh, you're new here? 

Click on the Story of Me to the right--------------------------->

And you may want to get a drink of water, it way take you awhile!

It happens A LOT.

Pinterest

Last weekend we were invited over to my husbands cousins house.

A long lost cousin who we just met a few years ago.

And, amazingly, only lives 35 minutes from us!

I'd love to tell the incredible story of how God put it together,

but it's not my story to tell.

Just trust me when I say God is always at work around us!!

Pinterest

They recently downsized from a huge, HUGE, house to

a much cozier house. 

An adorable house with breathtaking views of the water.

{Via}

After enjoying some pre-dinner appetizers, great conversation,

 and a glass of wine

I needed to use the restroom.

Here's the thing about wine...

it relaxes your tongue a little...and increases the enthusiasm.

I already have a loose tongue and too much enthusiasm.

Here's another thing...

I have a long standing love affair with claw foot tubs!

I have wanted one since I can remember.

{via}

So, I walked into the bathroom and there it was.

A gorgeous, clawfoot tub. Gorgeous.

I ran my hands along the smooth white rim.

And I must have squealed.

Loudly.

Claudia came around the corner to check on me.

"I LOVE YOUR TUB!!" I said... in very breathy tone.

"One day when we return to our Whidbey* house I'm going to get one!!"

I continued.

(We own a house on Whidbey Island that we rent out, we will retire there in a "few" years)

{via}

Then she said it.

"You can have this one, its not our style....We have another one

that we will be using when we remodel..."

YOU.CAN.HAVE.IT.

"WHAT!? OMG, REALLLLLYYYYY!!!!!??????"

And with that,  

I proceeded to climb into their/my tub with my boots on.

I laid my head back and had a "moment".

My heart swelled three times its size.

I could've laid there daydreaming for a very long time

 about how it will look and feel in my own house.

Daydreamers, you know what I mean!

{via}

BUT,

at the risk of looking like a total nut job

 in front of Claudia and my husband. 

(He had come in exclaiming "She has wanted a tub like this FOREVER" 

after hearing all my excitement.)

AND,

realizing I just climbed into their tub with my boots on...

I got out and toned down the enthusiasm.

(only on the outside!!)

{via}

We had a wonderful dinner, laughter and a fun game with their 10 year old daughter.

I can't wait to get together again!

Before we left, I had to see her one more time go to the restroom again.

I was tempted to lock myself in and rip all my clothes off...

but I restrained myself.

***

When we got home and my husband went to bed...

I went on Pinterest and continued my daydreaming!

Seriously, I am still so excited, and thankful!

(I'll post about it in a few years when we get moved back to Whidbey

but we have a big adventure in between now and then)

xoxo

Jodi

Celebrating...{ Seven }

Change....

(*This is the final post of the Celebrating series. To read from the beginning, you can start here.)

Change comes with every decision we make.

For example, this is our new grand-puppy Spieler.

When Janelle and Justin brought him home just 9 short months

ago I'm sure they didn't expect how much their life would change!

He has grown about 10 pounds a month, but still thinks he is a lap dog.

He is well behaved, but at 90 pounds, this bundle of love & licks can pin you down in no time flat. (The more I screamed, the more he licked!)

They knew a puppy would require much work and discipline, 

but they underestimated the fun and love they would know owning a dog like Spieler.

CHANGE...

After a long and cold snowy season, Janelle was ready for a change around her house too.  She has done an amazing job creating a cozy and organized home

for she and Justin. She has a real knack for putting things together!
(I didn't get many good pictures of their cute little house)

One day, she asked me to help her create a Spring mantle. 

As if creating Spring inside would melt the snow outside.
But after a LONG Winter Season, she needed to FEEL Spring was close.

So, while visiting Amish Country, we found this faux birdcage and

the sweet little blue bird.

The next day, while she was working on her wedding quilt,

I went to work on the mantle.  I "shopped" her house 

to find just the right things.

It didn't take me long to find the perfect pieces.

A framed chalkboard and a blue vase that was used at their Wedding.

She had already written the verse on the chalk board.

While Janelle was sewing and I was playing with the mantle, Jeff

and Justin found some time to relax on the sofa.

When I was done, I stood back, content with what I had created by bringing Spring to the mantle...

But I thought I heard some snickering.... it seems

Winter FUN still lingered in the corner, 

mocking me...

Sometimes it takes us a little time to accept that change is coming.  That a NEW season is approaching.

***

And boy, do we know about that!

We are preparing for big changes too!

That verse will prove to be one I want to memorize as we navigate the upcoming months.

And of course,

You will be with us each step of the way!

xoxox

Jodi

(If you don't want to miss a post, please add your email address to the box in the right hand corner. You will receive the latest post in your email. )

Celebrating... { Six }

Family Tradition

Great Grandma's Swedish Rye Bread

One of our special family traditions is making Great Grandma Brasks

"Swedish Rye Bread" at Christmas.  This long standing Swedish tradition

is a favorite for us. Jeff makes it every year and we share it

with our family and friends. 

It is delicious toasted with butter on a cold winters day. 

 Our kids have the recipe in their

 Green Family Heirloom Cookbook 

that I made for them as a gift over a year ago.

(psst...kids.... Mom made a typo on this recipe! Change the salt to 1 TABLESPOON, oops)

As the kids were growing up, Jeff and Janelle would often make this bread together.

Janelle now lives with her husband in PA, so she and dad

didn't have that opportunity during the Holidays.

But, since we were visiting, dad decided it would be so fun to make another memory with his sweet girl.

This recipe takes a few hours and I guess I got distracted because

I didn't get any pictures of the finished bread!  

I did find, however, this old picture 

of the bread when they made it together several years ago at our home.

(BEFORE we remodeled our kitchen and I painted the corner cabinets white!)

(Sorry, Janelle, I know you aren't fixed up in this picture, but you are still adorable!
Unlike that awful old kitchen!! ew)

Moms, isn't there something so sweet about watching your husband

cook with your daughter? Heart swelling!

*sigh*

xoxox 

Jodi

Celebrating... { Five }

.... Intercourse in the Winter
(Intercourse, Pennsylvania,  People!! Geesh...)

A beautiful day for a car ride to Amish Country!

xoxo
Jodi

Celebrating... { Four }

The making of a Quilt....

Not just any Quilt. 
When Janelle and Justin were married, all the guests gave them

fabric swatches. Pieces of material that had personal meaning. Those pieces

of fabric also represent the gifts of friendship, family and love.

Pieces that will be with them as they create a lifetime of memories together.

Janelle was so excited

 to take those pieces of fabric and create something beautiful and lasting. 

 Justin (and Spieler, their dog) watched her with loving anticipation. 

When she got stuck along the way, 

her husband stepped in and helped her solve the problem.

Each, with their own way of problem solving, worked together to figure it out.

They laid out the pieces of fabric together and created a plan.

She stitched and he ironed out the seams.

Piece by piece, until all those little unmatched swatches,

became the start of a beautiful keepsake.

Life is much like a patchwork quilt.

Little swatches of time, people, and experiences lovingly

laid out together. 

The pieces don't always line up perfectly, 

but once stitched together, 

they are strong enough to endure some wear and tear.

A large, warm memory 

to be wrapped around us and cherished.

Especially during the chilly seasons.

I am looking forward to watching them create this quilt together.

It will be beautiful!

xoxox

Jodi