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miscellany monday on memorial day

2012-05-28T06:00:00.000-04:00

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1. since i grew up in california, our family vacations often included trips to Cabo San Lucas, fish taco central. i have a special fondness for them, in a way where i could eat one (or five!) every day. i've made fish tacos on a few occasions, but these ones, these ones were to die for. i adapted a recipe and made it my own. talk about fancy for this girl who doesn't love to cook.

baja california fish tacos, adapted from here
for the creamy sweet red pepper sauce:1/4 cup mayonnaise1/4 cup plain yogurt1/2 cup red pepper jellyjuice from a lime (appx. 2 tbsp)1 tsp pepper1/2 tsp salt1/8 tsp garlic powderdirections: combine all ingredients in a small bowl and refrigerate for 30 minutes.
for the fish:1 lb fresh cod (i used frozen wild cod from Trader Joe's - great prices!) cut into strips of 2-3 oz portions1/4 cup all-purpose flour1/4 cup cornmeal1/2 tsp salt1/4 tsp pepper1/4 tsp garlic powder1/2 cup milkcanola oilcabbagetortillasdirections: in a dish, combine all the dry ingredients. in a separate dish, add the milk. dip fish into the milk and then coat with the dry ingredient mixture. pour enough canola oil into a large skillet to reach a depth of 1/4 inch. fry fish until golden brown on all sides, appx. 4-6 minutes. to serve, fill tortillas with fish and shredded cabbage. drizzle with creamy sweet red pepper sauce. take one bite and get swept off to the coast of Baja California.

2. after spending nearly ten hours on delta.com, some serious finagling, the gift of skymiles, and the generosity from family members, we are going home to california this summer! it was no small miracle either - i had to book all our tickets separately and prayed that our kids wouldn't end up on random flights all alone. oh please come quickly, july. cool breezes, mosquito-less days, foggy nights, and gobs of family time could not arrive soon enough.

3. i got to take pictures of this pretty girl yesterday. we stayed in our backyard, used our neighbor's weeping willow tree and somehow it looks like we're smack dab in a jungle somewhere. fun!

4. i do declare we went to the most gorgeous wedding on saturday - it was our Pastor's daughter's big day. my honey played the music and i just sat. it's been a long time since i've just sat at a wedding and didn't have to take pictures. it was so easy. the bride and groom even left the aisle in a horse-drawn carriage. sometimes i want kelly and i to get married all over again just to create a dreamy day once more. but then i remember the price tag and the stress and praise God it's all over with. : )

5. i wore my ages old elephant necklace this weekend and have decided that everyone should own one. mine is from target (think 5 years ago). i bought it then for Republican pride, i do confess. don't hold it against me. ; )

6. HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY to everyone. freedom costs many americans just that - and not only that, but their life, too. let's remember them today with highest honor.

>>miscellany monday<<

our insta-graham life.

2012-05-25T07:00:00.000-04:00

you can find me on instagram here ~

killed by cuteness. slayed, really.

chipotle came to town. salsa, chips, and everything mexican has never been so tasty. if you don't have one nearby, i'm really very sorry.

soon, i am actually going to edit all of my wedding pictures and share them with you. careful! don't fall off the edge of your seats. ; )

why is she so cute? just why?? (for the record, Hunter, if you read this one day, i have twice as many pictures of your sister because you run from the camera or camera phone on most occasions.)

point to the ones you love.

i told her never to grow up. she doesn't listen though... she will be two in a few days. i can barely handle it.

my man left me a love note engraved on our patio in chalk letters. he so knows the way to my heart.

this is one of the books from my book exchange. every once in a while i'm game for a little mystery. so good!

would you believe me if i told you some dear souls bought us a new air conditioning?? ours broke and in the south it's nearly impossible to live without it, but they kind of cost as much as a small car. i'm telling you, God is never slow to meet our needs and proves to be a God of provision time after time.

my mom told me she didn't "ebay" so instead, she gave me some moolah to buy sage's birthday present for her. i didn't buy this, but i am kinda wishing i did. i mean. i can barely handle the vintage cuteness. and why aren't toys these days just as fabulous?

(there is always one picture in each post that refuses to be like all the rest. i'm trying to forgive it.) our puppy dog has some eye troubles. the kids are tenderly loving on her every minute. presh to the max!

these are tiny little moments of our week. how was yours? happy Memorial Day weekend, my dears!

linking with these fine ladies:

determined steps

2012-05-22T07:00:00.000-04:00

it was five minutes to 5 pm, i just pulled in from the grocery store, and got the kids ready to go on our afternoon run. the sky looked threatening, but after consulting with the trusted weatherman, and a hearty "the rain will hold off until tomorrow," i continued on. in the smack dab middle of our run, at the farthest point from our house, we hit a torrential downpour. let me set the scene: woman running like mad to get her two kids in the stroller out of the storm... people drove by probably thinking i was such a lame mom or if they were nice, maybe felt sorry for me. i ran a mile as fast as i possibly could, while pushing 90 pounds of precious cargo plus a stroller, to get to our neighborhood pool, to seek a covering under the pavilion.

in the meantime, i was trying not to curse the weatherman. only in their profession can they be wrong all the time and it hardly matter. the other day there was a 60% chance of rain, but instead no rain came. then, the day when there is supposed to be none, it's a torrential downpour. funny! kind of.

we reached the locked gate at the pool, but a woman was there, letting her older kids enjoy a swim in the rain. she opened the gate and our eyes met in a familiar stare. in a neighborhood of some 800 homes, people tend to look familiar every now and then. her warm smile made me feel comfortable. we small talked under the shelter as the rain pounded down harder and harder. come to find out, she was one of the nurses that was with us at the hospital when Sage was born. we talked then about living in the same neighborhood, but had not run into each other until now, almost exactly two years later.

she told me about how tired she was. i could see a sadness in her soul. for whatever reason, she quickly confided in me, said her marriage was not good and had been in shambles for years. this day was the hardest day in a long time because she ended up sleeping at a hotel the night before. she had read Psalm 57 that morning and begged the Lord for His mercy in the midst of this trial. i told her i read James 1 that very morning, and talked about considering trials with pure joy. we exchanged numbers, i told her to call me for anything and that i would pray for her. the rain stopped. hope sat before our very eyes as we saw the end of big and bright rainbow smack dab in the pool parking lot.

i'm kind of certain that our meeting was a God-thing; the rainbow sealed the deal. i had been to the pool that morning and met no one... and i normally pray that i will meet moms, to build relationships, to know them, to meet people that don't know Jesus, so that i can share with them His name. i consider it my mission field. since there weren't any moms there that morning, i was bummed and felt like the day wasn't all that i intended it to be. but lo and behold, in the midst of a rain storm, forcing me back to the pool, at a time that i normally would have never been there, i met a woman in need. in need of knowing that someone would pray for her and that she now has help close by. i came home after that encounter reminded full on of how i often plan a path for myself but the Lord always determines my steps. detours aren't really accidents, of course. they certainly are destined.

may i always see the beauty in living with determined steps.

miscellany monday

2012-05-21T06:00:00.000-04:00

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ONE. swoon. the end.

TWO. that terrible moment when you realize you were giving your daughter only 1/2 a teaspoon of antibiotics instead of 1 and a 1/2 teaspoons... especially since it was five days into it... i'm guilty as charged. she promised to forgive me.

THREE. kelly plays music at weddings. i take pictures at weddings. between last month, this month, and next month, we will have had 15 weddings between the two of us. maybe this is why we are exhausted??

FOUR. i made fresh salsa yesterday from here. this would happen more often except for the fact that our grocery store sells some fancy salsa that tastes so fresh it transports you to a garden. after crying over onions, dicing like there was no tomorrow, all i kept thinking was, why didn't a dear soul buy us a food processor off our registry eight years ago? and, since they didn't, why haven't i bought one in the meantime? i don't know. one thing i do know, though, is that Kelly's ban on me ingesting onions still stands. this morning i woke up with onion breath hangover, resembling the stench of death. even so, it was worth it. the salsa was so good, it made me not regret buying the healthy flax veggie chips because i could hardly taste them beyond the onions (normally i wish i would've gone for the sinful kind of tortilla chips, if there is such a thing). because i'm not interested in seeing just how long i can ramble over salsa, let's move on. sorry to disappoint you.

FIVE. i have to savor this moment once more. i present to you: my kids eating vegetables without a fight. courtesy of none other than salsa. salsa is my new hero.

our insta-graham life

2012-05-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

you can find me here:

what i really want to know is how i ever managed to do meal planning before pinterest?? up next week:

ultimate clean and lean lettuce wraps

baja fish tacos

quinoa salad

corn and tomato pie

AND! ice cream made from frozen bananas, peanut butter and cocoa (not pictured)

ps. normally, we have chicken, rice (or cous cous) and beans. because recipes are ridiculously pricey. so many ingredients! but every now and then, i have to make some really good things for sanity and taste buds sake.

doing their school work. it ends up looking a lot like coloring.

why have i not visited this site sooner? veganbaking.net :: be still my heart. trying this brownie recipe soon. Hunter will never be sad over missing out on desserts ever again. ; )

saving this one for her wedding.

scenes from last weekend's beach wedding.

a swanky southern wedding. it was a fairy-tale. most gorgeous wedding i have ever seen. real pictures coming soon.

baby girl eyelashes. with her "must" - pink flower in hair. she will only stand to have pink hair accessories. purple? no. she cries. green? even worse. only PINK.

they are besties, for sure.

my grandma and aunt left this week. SAD. i cried. why does California have to be so far??

i'm off to second shoot another wedding this weekend! better start drinking my caffeine now. : )

rejoice over real marriage

2012-05-15T07:00:00.000-04:00

i was 19, the day i walked down the aisle, all i had to my name was $80 in my bank account, an outstanding balance of $90 on my American Eagle credit card, and a decrepit Volkswagon Jetta. it's safe to say Kelly didn't marry me for my money. oh yeah! he even bought his own wedding ring. i did pick it out though, let the record show. (if you have nothing at all whatsoever to do with your time, you can read more here)

as a sophomore in college that year, with a new last name, a fancy band on my ring finger, feeling warm and happy with every fiber of my being, this marriage thing felt really good. the honeymoon didn't end on the sunny hawaiian island of maui. it's safe to say it lasted a whole year. and then the surreal faded and the real set in. it was still good, just not as fairy tale like.

seven and a half years later, by God's sweet grace, we are without an itch and as committed as we were on day one. but the thing is, this marriage gift, it goes deeper and farther and wider beyond all the sweet sentimental feelings. because if that's all it was, this love thing may not stand the test of time.

the greatest goal of it all, is to conform us to someone Greater, to chip away the rotten, rid our hearts of it's selfishness and to serve. we have this opportunity, laid out right before us every single day, to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our spouses. it's simple and hard all at once, thank the Lord there is a Helper for us.

you see, the beauty of going through a pretty and messy life with someone is that you get to help each other, give lots of grace, receive lots of grace, and in the end, with a heap of prayer, hope to be a mirror of Christ and His church. and what an honor that is. let's rejoice over it and give God glory for this gift. amen and amen.

also? i do declare, Kelly Graham, that i'm happy you took a chance on marrying a teenager. i love being your wife.

miscellany monday

2012-05-14T06:00:00.000-04:00

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1. i have been a prime lenser for as long as i've had a dslr camera. this weekend, i borroed a zoom lens from my super-kind friends and was never happier. oh the versatility. i'm ruined for life. my nifty fifty will always have a special spot in my heart, but not having to run 100 meter sprints to get a shot is somewhat dreamy. i spent 14 hours this weekend taking pictures as the second shooter for two weddings. i am not used to working this hard and/or much! i had a blast with this fancy photog. it's safe to say that i want to take pictures for life. : )

2. my mom and step-dad live on a pretty little lake, it's perfect for fishing, and pictures of course. and fishing pictures.

3. this is the one where Hunter told me he was fishing. with binoculars.

4. today my little sister, Melanie is 12! happy birthday, pretty girl. xoxo.

5. i do think i love sunset shots. the end.

6. hey girls, the 80's called and they want their neon net gloves(?) back.

7. kelly pretty much had the kids all to himself this weekend while i worked. i missed them so! thanks babe for being the best.

8. this is Sage licking frosting off of a decoration from my sister's birthday cake. do you see all that delight?! i'm raising a girl after my own heart. : )

{miscellany monday}

life through instagraham, version 5.0

2012-05-11T07:00:00.000-04:00

you can find me on instagram here:

i've shared this story a year ago, but it's worth repeating often and always. these are my in-laws. kelly's mom had been sick for most of his life. (that's almost 30 years, folks) until last summer - june - God truly touched her frail body and helped her walk again. and talk. and eat. and live. i confess, after praying for decades for her healing, we all got weary and sometimes faith-less. we figured her healing would come in Heaven. but God! He had different plans. this week we celebrated her birthday. it was the first birthday, since she got sick, that she could open her cards, eat, and enjoy herself. praise Jesus! seeing her stand by her man in this picture makes me teary. this man has been the hands and feet of Christ - serving and caring for her every need the whole way through. that is some kind of love. it's the Jesus kind!

warning: object in jar is much bigger than it appears. i.e.- it will make your thighs wider, your booty bigger and your tummy flabby. be warned.

Sage-y girl has her daddy wrapped around her finger. i'm convinced she thinks her daddy is a heart-throb. i can't blame her. it will be a sad day when we tell her he's taken.

give this kid something to climb and he's on it. in the meantime, mama is lucky not to have a heart attack. #lifewithaboy

Jesus saved me, He is saving me, and will continue to save me. that is Grace. it IS amazing.

this is the one in which i announced on instagram, "her first pair of breads!"

the one where it was 10pm, she was complaining of ear pain and was up for three hours straight. SAD. we have all since bit the dust with an infection or five.

everyday my hair is in a pony tail and neglected (i have had one haircut in over 2 years. for reals.). except for sundays. and on sundays i pull out the bad boys: hot rollers. they are so easy it shouldn't be fair. step 1: plug them in, wait until they get hot. step 2: roll your hair up in any messy fashion you choose. step 3: after 15ish minutes, unroll. (i've been doing this since high school; it is well curated)

and then you have hair that blows in the wind and makes you feel perdy. also, since your hair has been up all week, it will even feel longer. bonus!

Happy Mother's Day, on Sunday, to all the lovely Mother's. my mom has been the best walking example of what it means to forgive others and serve others. praise Jesus for Godly women who are worthy of being someone to look up to. i leave you with my favorite lyrics, from Andrew Peterson, about what the job of a mom is really all about ~

"She rises up as morning breaks
She moves among these rooms alone
Before we wake
And her heart is so full; it overflows
She waters us with love and the children grow

So many years from now
Long after we are gone
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless the dawn
These trees will spread their branches out
And bless someone"

linking with my girl, Rach.

slap on some lipstick?

2012-05-09T07:00:00.000-04:00

my nose has been a waterfall and is turning raw. my eyes are watery mixed with a bloodshot vibe, and my head is so clogged up it feels like i could use some draino. oh also! i did some ridiculous ab exercises, courtesy of my little brother and his training for sail boat racing, and three days later it still feels like i have broken ribs on both sides. take that jillian.

the problem with being sick, is that when you go to try on your first lipstick purchase ever, it totally bombs. i'm convinced that maybeline's cherry bomb would have a better chance if i did my hair, wore make-up and non-work out clothes to go with it.

i thought i could put my sunglasses on, fool you into thinking i could pull it off, but then realized my sunglasses are in the glovebox of our car, that happens to be in the shop, getting an insanely expensive repair. probably shouldn't have bought the lipstick...

but when your hubby tells you he thinks you'd look good in red lipstick, you go with it. and then you tell him you think it costs around $5 (you don't really know because the closest thing you've ever used to lipstick is chapstick - the brand). when you get to target and find out that it is indeed only $5.29, you kind of can't say no. and considering it's growing on me already, i can't wait to try it on a good face day. maybe covergirl is on to something.

the other thing is that i wear make-up once or, if i'm really feeling motivated, twice a week. which means i have to buy it once a year or less. well right now is when i need to buy some. and right now, because of the car repair and the lipstick, my make-up budget is like $0.12. of course when i see on pinterest a make your own mineral veil for $1.29 i'm going to pin it. and make it.

only it cost me more like $3.00. it may bust the budget but at least it won't break the bank.

mineral veil, by Chisel Beauty
1 1/2 tbsp cornstarch
1 tsp baby powder
1/8 tsp powder foundation (i ended up using more - 1/4 tsp. use this only if you want color in your veil. otherwise it will go on translucent.)

i slabbed some on my cheek and it seems promising. however, my friend told me that it's not really a foundation. and i was like, what? shoot. and then she said she tried mineral veil before from the store and it made her break out. now, my skin is like 13 ish about break outs; i'm terrified of using this stuff. especially since it takes at least 99 days for the zit to go away. also? my hubby said this was the worst idea in history. he said, do you really want to put cornstarch and baby powder on your face? the stuff that goes in soups and on baby's butts? i said it's probably better than what real make-up is made of. maybe ignorance really is bliss.

that's all.

i think i need bangs and glasses before i look this good in red lipstick. do you lipstick?

miscellany monday

2012-05-07T06:00:00.000-04:00

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1. four years ago, we dropped off an eighteen year old boy, who had just worked his very butt off all summer, losing 80 pounds, preparing to become a man as he entered the Military College of the South, where tradition often trumps reason. he clumsily signed his life over to The Citadel with nervous sweat dripping off his face and we knew it would be months before we could talk to him again. it's safe to say, his big sister was nervous, too. through many trials, and a constant desire to just leave and go to a normal college, he endured lots of ridicule, a ridiculous amount of sit-ups and push-ups, lousy cafeteria food, and challenging academics, HE.DID.IT. it is finished. and this once nervous big sister could not be any prouder. you see, i knew he could do it all along. i am glad he finally realized that, too. congratulations Chad! love you!!!

receiving his diploma

my bro and mom

2. Hunter says he is a "trained dog." he really means a "dog trainer." he holds a treat above our dog for like 30 minutes (exaggerating a little), making her sit, lie down, roll over the whole time. all for one treat - that's only a single pretzel goldfish. this kid is serious strict business.

3. if you feel like you're life is in a constant juggling battle, read this. it will change your perspective, give you freedom, and help you focus on what's most important - wholehearted obedience to HIM. Jami's words were good for my soul.

4. first trip to the beach happened this weekend. two things: 1) i do love living on the coast. 2) phone photos are vying for my heart's dslr sweet spot.

5. book exchanges speak my language. my aunt brought me four books and i gave her four books. reading for free?? yes, yes please. what are you reading lately? i'm reading The Meaning of Marriage and am going to start Sarah's Key. because i always need some fiction in my life. also, ignore the extra piece of tape you see... still learning how to use free apps over here.

{miscellany monday}

our instagraham life, version 4.0 + a winner!

2012-05-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

hello blogland. it's nice to be back. we are in full swing busy mode this week. but i'm discovering that the best thing about phone photos is that they jive really well with the fast-paced times in life. love that. oh! find me on instagram here:

my aunt is the craftiest creative mind i know. with some scrapbook paper, a tiny brad and a clothespin she made this adorable radness...

...to be used as a photo holder. you can make a bunch of them for a dollar or so. i am going to use them as favors for Sage's 2nd birthday (we go so low-key for birthday's around here, but there's no refusing this.)

my grandma and aunt came all the way from Cali to see me! well, they really came to see my brother graduate college this weekend, but still. i love them. they are my favorite people, aside from my other favorite people. my grandma is the most wide open armed person. she welcomes everyone into the family. i hope i have at least an ounce of her hospitality.

if you have $20 to burn on lotion, buy this stuff. i don't spend $20 on lotion, so i "borrow" my mom's each time i visit her. : )

Sage has a crush on her kid-uncle, it's true.

my mom has a pretty green thumb. my step-dad does too. i'm wondering where mine went? one day i'll have flowers. until then, i'll enjoy theirs.

we kind of enjoy going to our neighborhood pool. reasons: #1- it's free. #2-the kids get so tired out they take great naps. #3- (best for last) it's the greatest place to meet people not like me, people that don't know Jesus. i really do pray for the people i will meet and have met. i hope this summer will bring forth some new relationships with women outside my usual bubble.

talk about shock factor: i go from never wearing nail polish to wearing hot neon neon neon pink, the kind that hurts your eyes. Sagey babe matches me, too.

great grandma giving sage her first pair of braids. swoon-worthy moment.

i ran without the kids so i took full advantage. bam! 3 miles in 20 min. i think i'll take the weekend off.

hipster in training.

seriously people, can you even begin to conceive how awesome this is? i have no idea what it would cost to get your instas printed, but come on, a wall full of instagram shots?? why yes, please and thank you.

Source: daffodildesign.com via Carissa on Pinterest

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the winner of The Farmer's Wife {ON A MISSION} giveaway is comment #26: Summer! congrats sweet gal. thank you for Lara for sharing your jewelry shop with us and we wish you many blessings on your mission trip.

linking our little joys of this week with Rach!

miscellany monday + win jewelry.

2012-04-30T06:00:00.000-04:00

THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED.

write random, grab the button, and join in below.

1. business matters: if you are having trouble pasting the button code in your post, click on the "HTML" view in the upper left-hand corner and then paste it into your post. you can click "Compose" right after, the button will then pop up, and you can write your post as normal.

2. if i gain five pounds it is because you people (thanks Emily!) keep sending me baking recipes without eggs (you're kind like that to think of my egg-allergy-Hunter-boy) that end up being tasty. like this one. take a box of cake mix, it's suggested you use Devil's Food, but i used regular from Trader Joe's, along with a can of plain pumpkin, mix it together and bake in a muffin pan according to box directions. it's low cal and high fiber, for the win!

3. i photographed my second wedding as a second shooter this weekend. weddings are wonderful and exciting and draining. i think i mostly love them. it's amazing to me how God took this little hobby of mine and just threw stuff in my lap whether i was ready or not. : ) here are shots from my very first wedding:

4. i have pictures pouring out of my ears right now. case in point:

when my nieces and sister-in-law were in town, you know we HAD to have a photoshoot. these cute faces must be documented as much as possible.

this dear family are good friends of ours and their girl was born ten days after our Hunter. we have pictures of the two together now that we are saving for the rehearsal dinner slideshow. i mean, how cute of a story would that be??

5. i think it's safe to say that we all like helping other's out. and when that helping other's out means wearing cute jewelry, too, i kinda wonder how much better it could get. here's how:

Lara, at the Farmer's Wife, opened up a gorgeous jewelry shop to raise money for a missions trip. she is now offering you a chance to win a $30 gift card to her shop.

~~two chances to win:~~
~~1. visit The Farmer's Wife on a Mission shop and tell us which item is your favorite.~~
~~2. share an item on facebook and tell us you did.~~

~~giveaway will close Thursday, 5/3, at 9pm EST. open to US residents only. winner will be announced Friday, 5/4. i have received no compensation for this giveaway. all opinions are my own.~~

{miscellany monday}

it's an instagraham life :: version 3.0

2012-04-27T07:00:00.000-04:00

my only question is, why didn't i sign up for instagram, especially since it costs all of $0.00, before two months ago?? it's a shame, really. find me here:

Hunter asked if he could take his Little Bear to the moon. i told him he could at least try.

playing in a tunnel never looked so pretty.

i bribe him and say that if he wants to have crazy fast running power, he has to eat all his dinner. sometimes he believes me (those are the best kind of days). and tells me he is as fast as buzz lightyear, for the win!

she's a big girl now and insists on eating a whole apple. apple slices are for babies.

is it weird that i want this for my house? all of it... the chandelier and the beams. yes please.

i never knew how cool my shoes were until two days ago... these kids think my kicks are awesome.

if you want to sucker punch your lousy worldy mind, read this. i beg you. it's beautiful, Biblical Truth and it's changing me to the very core. i finished it yesterday and should probably read it often and always.

this picture refuses to be the same size as all the rest. for the record, i don't like spending time on my hair. solution? high pony headband. it's so easy, it feels like cheating.

she says she's daddy's princess. he clearly agrees.

life's little joys, indeed! linking with Rach~

keeping my loves in line

2012-04-26T07:00:00.000-04:00

so here's the deal. i was rubbing Hunter's head, stringing my fingers through his hair, when Kelly tells me he wishes i would show him that same kind of affection more often.

confession: it's super easy to let my kids rule my life. i mean, look how cute they are! it's entirely possible for them to be my source of joy, fulfillment, and happiness. the little people in my life can turn into idols and take the place of God. also? putting my husband on the back burner happens more often than i would ever care to admit.

it's so easy to busy ourselves with taking care of children that we forget about our husbands. they turn into men that help us raise kids rather than our most important earthly relationships. it happens.

i really believe, if we look to Jesus for our happiness, our joy, our encouragement, our fulfillment, then He will equip us to love our husbands more than ourselves, so that we will be eager to be their help-meet. to meet their needs for respect, encouragement, support, a well ordered house, meals, and taking care of their (our) children.

it sounds so ideal, right? it can really be a reality, i'm sure of it. this happens by being rooted in the Word. repeating Truth to ourselves. God is our source, so in order to do the work that He has asked of us, the work of being wives and mothers, we have to go to Him to fill us up, to be poured out.

All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work. 2 Timothy 3:16-17

there are more ways, too. instead of doing that laundry or vacuuming or whatever that "has" to be done after the kids are in bed, sit on the couch and talk with your husband. catch up on the day. read Scripture together. pray together. or just do what he wants to do. even if that means watching a documentary on swamp animals. ignore your agenda and opt for his.

another thing. when he gets home from work, whenever that may be, meet him at the door, if possible. plant a big wet kiss on his handsome self, give him a hug, greet him and thank him. thank him for working hard for his family. make him be glad to be home. and then there will be no other place he would rather be.

when we keep God first, our husbands next, and kids third, life falls into place. keeping my loves in line matters.

ALSO! i did a guest post over at Annalea's pretty place today. i NEVER do guest posts. and, it scares me. but, i did! so you should read it. forgive me for being bossy??

ps. remember how i celebrated last wednesday over Sage's sleeping through the night? well that very night she woke up twice. she has been up every night since then. you win some, you lose some. ha!

miscellany monday

2012-04-23T06:00:00.000-04:00

write random, grab the button, and join in below.

1. yesterday at 7:08 am, Hunter burst into our room announcing: "mom! i need to wear my cowboy boots so i can look awesome!!!" his cowboy boots are really mine and they are twenty-seven sizes too big. Texas would be real proud.

2. in a perfect world, i would eat couscous, artichokes and chocolate every day. thought you should know.

3. they're smart, they are, those guys at Trader Joes. in the sample kitchen was a Couscous Feta Salad begging for my attention. i tasted it and saw... it was good. AND, all of the ingredients were lined up, right there, staring me in the face. one stop shopping in it's finest form. FYI: if you're like me and have the stomach of a 115 year old, take some beano first.

COUSCOUS FETA SALAD, by Trader Joes

serves 3-4

1 cup Whole Wheat Couscous

1 cup Vegetable Broth

1 can Garbanzo Beans

1/2 cup Green Onion, chopped

1/2 cup Mediterranean Feta Cheese

1/2 cup Kalamata Olives, diced (i left these out, i am not that Greek)

1 Red Pepper, chopped

Greek Feta Dressing, to taste

Cook the Couscous in vegetable broth according to directions on Couscous package. Then add beans, onions, cheese, and olives. Dress the mixture and toss lightly.

4. i told you friday that i got to meet a dear blog reader. now i'm going to tell you more. Lea and her honey were in Charleston last week, soaking up the Southern sights, and happened to make time to meet our family. how sweet is that?! we enjoyed dinner at a seafood restaurant and enjoyed the conversation even more. we made new friends that felt more like family. it was a joy! Lea is every bit of wonderful as i thought she would be.

Hunter enjoyed Mr. Tommy!

5. have i told you lately how much fun i have taking pictures? oh, i have already said that 183 times? well, then, here's an occasion for the 184th. saturday i got to take pictures of our cool friends and then we all ate tacos together at the best taco joint in Charleston. i dig this gig.

6. the fun doesn't stop there. we even got a triple date night in this weekend with these gals and all our guys. double dates are nice and all, but triple ones are where it's at. and we may or may not have had two desserts.

julie, joy, me

-now it's your turn-

miscellany monday:

our instagraham life :: version 2.0

2012-04-20T07:00:00.000-04:00

continuing on with my phone photos obsession... you can find me here:

i move at a snail pace when it comes to happening tv series, but i'm going to re-engage with woman-kind thanks to netflix and watch Downton Abbey. CONFESSION: for weeks i called it "Downtown Abbey." my hubby is the one that corrected me. also, us cable-less peeps are proud to be netflix newbies. for $8/month i almost feel like i'm stealing.

so! i met Lea, a dear blog friend on thursday. we decided that we should be more like family and we adopted them as our 2nd parents. (pictures coming soon) they gave Hunter this book. it is so darn cute. especially when Hunter says, "i wanna wead chawweee!"

he sat down right there and told me to take a picture. he is a good student.

even though cars park on the sidewalk and i see tampons in the bushes on my runs, our neighborhood always wins me over with it's pool.

right about this time of year i'm exceptionally thankful to live in the south where the pool season starts in april. come august? not so much.

content to basque in the dreamy sunshine any day. every day works, too.

yesterday it rained all the live long day. since we couldn't go on our afternoon run, we did the exact opposite. and baked cookies. a sweet gal sent me an egg-less cookie recipe... egg-less baking recipes are gold to me. thanks, maura, for thinking of my Hunter. these were delicious and just might become my go-to cookie recipe.

introducing my new favorite sandwich: wheat bread, pepper jelly, goat cheese, strawberries, and spinach. made like a grilled cheese. do yourself a favor and make one.

she gets her dimples from daddy. fact: dimples are dreamy and make me melt.

pretty dress, blonde whispy hair, an owl backpack. come on!

anytime Hunter sees the clouds he is concerned about Jesus not being in them. he almost cried once because he couldn't see Him (he learned about the ascension last week). it is the CUTEST plight ever.

so many sweet little happy's from our week; linking with Rach.

a letter for my little lady

2012-04-18T07:00:00.000-04:00

Sagey dearest,

you have given us three straight nights of pure, uninterrupted sleep for the first time in six months. this occasion calls for a post all of it's own. i did not realize the toll it was taking on me until i woke up Sunday morning realizing you never cried for me. i missed you, it's true. come to find out, i subconsciously looked forward to midnight snuggles, sometimes 4 am ones, too, since it meant getting to love on you, my girl. and that i'm certain, is only something a mother could say.

your brother first taught me what a mother's love is about. the moment i saw him, after that emergency c-section, is forever ingrained in my mind as a "so this is what it feels like to love a baby. well then, i really really like this feeling a whole lot." and then you came sixteen months later for another round. i wondered if my heart had room for two babies. it surely did. you first showed my mama heart how to grow. and now it's grown so big, it's almost scary. two pieces of my heart, you and Hunter, are walking, talking, sleeping, breathing, eating, little beings that get boo boos and scars. but the ouchiwawas (defined: ouchies, said like the chiuaua dog, only you say ouchibaba's) are worth the joys... the soak-up moments of life that are filled with sunshine, flowy dresses, blond snarly curls, and are always good to the last drop. i love you for it.

xoxo forever and always,

your mom

ps. why did you never call me mama?? or at least mommy? i'm not bitter, just please promise not to grow up too terribly fast after that?

pps. let the record show that when you are away from Hunter you tell me you miss him and that he is coot (cute). i'll remind you of this when you are thirteen.

for those of you that asked, Sage is wearing Matilda Jane's Swiss Miss dress. my dear friend bought it for her.... i made sure it was two sizes too big so it would last for at least a year. hopefully two. cuteness this good has to stick around awhile.

miscellany monday

2012-04-16T06:00:00.000-04:00

write your randoms, grab the button, and join in below.

1. family. for the last seven days we were immersed in hubby's side of the family and enjoyed every bit of it. each day was full of on-the-go excitement and spring break was as fun as it was back in high school. i will miss these precious gems.

my nieces, libby and gracie

their mama, my sister-in-law, cindy. don't hate her cause she's beautiful.

sisters

2. this never gets old:

me: "hunter, you don't want to watch the movie, or do you?"

hunter: "do you."

-or-

me: "are you tired or what?"

hunter: "or what."

confession: i'm known to purposefully phrase questions just so i can hear these types of answers.

3. Sage and i had a dreamy time getting pictures in her new matilda jane dress that she got from our super sweet friend. the dirt was calling her name, she told me so; there we were, in the dirt, in the fancy dress, soaking up the sunshine and flowy fabric with my lens. can't say i minded much.

4. this weekend was the first time i got to help shoot a wedding. my awesome wedding photographer friend asked me to be a 2nd shooter. i'll admit, it's a really nice place to be... there's not a ton of pressure (aside from the 50 pascals i put on myself. and i was never good at science, so if that isn't a lot, pretend like it is.) and i was able to learn, learn, learn. oh, and weddings are super rad when there's a photo booth.

amy and me

5. i'm chalking up yesterday as a monument in Hunter's understanding of the Gospel. we talk about the Gospel on a daily basis, yet the lesson from sunday school left such a lasting impression on his blooming mind. he learned about the ascension of Jesus. all day he said, "Jesus went to heaven." i explained that we can go to heaven, too, because Jesus did, after he died on the cross and rose again. i could see the wheels turning as he asked question after question. he asked if he could see Jesus. i told him about faith... seeds are being planted. it's going to be beautiful to watch them grow.

{miscellany monday}

our instagraham life

2012-04-13T07:25:00.000-04:00

even though my honey man urged me strongly not to share my second grade sense of humor with the interweb, i couldn't help myself. if instagram was made for anyone, then it would be especially for the GRAHAM family, thankyouverymuch. my instagram name is carissaleeann. which also happens to be my real name.

we are busy around these parts. but for good reason. my sister-in-law is in town with her two girls for the week. my nieces melt every last piece of my heart. love this Gracie girl.

look at this puffy, pitiful sight of a lip. he ate nothing with eggs and we have no clue what caused such a fright.

strange things are happening around here. i wore lipstick and painted my nails all in the same week.

i think they like each other.

when our family comes to town we get to pretend we're tourists! this means a carriage ride through the downtown Charleston streets. #charming

this is what 101 free prints look like. it's a treat to see my pictures in print.

i ran this week in real running shoes. i have been running since middle school and never once wore anything nicer than outlet nikes. so these mizunos are cushy and swooshy and there's no going back.

we escape to the grandparent's house to enjoy wide open spaces.

turkey + cranberry + chipotle + brie. i must reinvent at home immediately.

i present to you the cheapest flash i could find... it was $30 with free shipping and i really hope it is as halfway decent as the reviews. my wedding photographer friend asked me to come along on a few weddings this month to shoot with her. i am thrilled over this huge opportunity to have a tiny part time thing. nervous, because my equipment is super basic. mostly though, it feels like i'm on cloud nine. : )

joining in with my sweet friend, Rachel.

miscellany monday + book winners

2012-04-09T06:00:00.000-04:00

write your randoms, grab the button below, and join in!

1. one word: freelensing. we are kind of obsessed with it around here.

2. Sage and i spend some time with my pre-teen sister and we come out of the deal with pretty painted nails. it was Sage's first time with polish. she questioned it at first, but quickly became a fan.

would you look at all those BRIGHT colors. my sis tried getting me to go with purple or orange. or yellow.

instead we settled on a compromise: Robin's Egg blue. this is the first time i have painted my nails in years. like since i've had kids. i do feel pretty fancy, but both pointer fingers have already chipped reminding me why it's been so long since i've polished.

3. these funky capris are so swoony. last year she wore them as pants. i'm hoping next year they will work as bermuda shorts. Sage sure is going to get the $5 out of them.

4. we don't do Easter baskets for our kids. mostly because i don't feel like spending the money on them. but, the grandparent's sure do make up for our shortcomings.

i hope you noticed our high class recycled bag baskets.

and that was just round one!

round two with the cousins at Papa and Gigi's house~

cousin taylor wrote out every egg she hid, what color it was, and how many there were. what a girl! totally a first born.

it's also a good thing we did this Saturday. Hunter was sick all night before Easter, with ear problems, a fever and then threw up Easter morning. so everyone but daddy missed church. i almost cried over it. i only hope he will be well soon. he has been sick on and half for four weeks. my poor boy.

5. Hunter will wear Converse for life. the end.

6. my sister purposefully dressed just like me. how adorable is that?

7. it's been a few years since i've shared this ooey delicacy with you... if you want the best dip for fruit, open up a can of sweetened condensed milk. you cannot go wrong. i discovered this while on a Mission Trip to Brazil and will never forget it.

8. THE WINNERS! of Lynette Kraft's new book, He Heard Hannah, are:

Hannah Gaz and Small Town Joy. Congrats, gals! email me your mailing addresses and Comfort Publishing will get them right out. for the rest of you, don't miss out! you can get your copy here.

{miscellany monday}

he heard hannah :: win a copy!

2012-04-06T06:30:00.000-04:00

-THIS GIVEAWAY IS NOW CLOSED-

today is Good Friday. the day i remember the darkness that Jesus bore in my very place. yours too. three days later there was Easter. and yes, Easter is for everyday. but still, we remember the dark especially today because of the light and joy that comes Sunday morning.

our gracious, good God is so faithful to take what's dark, black, and mournful to turn it into light, beauty and even dancing.

i've seen this time and again in my own life and the lives of others. Lynnette Kraft is such a life like that.

-the Kraft family-

Lynnette has been a precious blog friend to me for a few years now. hers was one of the first blogs i ever read. after reading her testimony, the one of losing three children, i was hooked. this gal knew what it meant to find strength and hope and joy and life in Jesus only. her wisdom breathed life into my very own.

when Comfort Publishing contacted me about reviewing Lynnette's new book, He Heard Hannah, i said yes like it was going out of style. the book was released this week so you get to enjoy it now as well!

i read the book in a few sittings and cried both kinds of tears - sweet and sad. Lynnette's daughter, Anna was born with Heterotaxy Syndrome. Anna's exuberant life would end at such a young age, six to be exact, but her death, miraculously meant life for someone else. when the 9-1-1 dispatcher, Courtney Becker, answered the phone call from the Kraft house, about their daughter Anna, his heart would be forever changed. through Anna's death, and the Kraft family's faith in the midst of tragedy, Courtney came to Jesus. two families, whose lives would never be the same after that heartbreaking November day, are interwoven in a way that can only be credited to our God.

Lynnette's and Courtney's story was a pressing reminder that the Lord does not just bring heartache into our lives to make us better. He wants to make us holy, He wants people to know Him, and most of all, He wants to heal us and mend our brokenness. only our God could cause Lynnette to say that "Anna's life was blessed, but so was her death."

you too, can be blessed by these two stories, beautifully merged into one. the words will grip your very heart. you can see for yourself how the Lord is faithful to bring beauty from ashes, dancing from mourning, light from darkness.

Comfort Publishing is giving away two copies to my readers! here's how to enter:

1. leave a comment telling us you want to win.
2. like Lynnette's Author page on facebook and tell us.
3. tweet and/or facebook about the giveaway and tell us.

may your Easter celebration this weekend be full of gladness as we rejoice in our Savior, for by His wounds our own wounds are healed.

the views and opinions expressed in this review are soley my own. i was provided a copy of He Heard Hannah to review. i received no compensation. giveaway is open to us residents only. the giveaway will end Sunday, 4/8/12, at 9 pm EST. winners will be announced Monday morning.

Easter is for everyday.

2012-04-04T07:00:00.000-04:00

this Gospel, it's the string my heart holds on to like my life depends on it. because it does.

this Gospel, the true story of a King making a way for me to be clean in order to be in His very presence.

this Gospel, the one that tells me to forgive, because He first forgave me, is strung through every earthly relationship. allowing me to pour out grace on others just as He did for me.

this Gospel makes it possible to bless and not curse, to love the unlovely's because He said father forgive them they know not what they do.

this Gospel that tells me to endure in the fiercest of trials because he endured the lashings, the thorny crown, the humiliation, the sting of the Cross and death - once and for all.

this Gospel that tells me i can submit to my husband just like Jesus submitted to the Father when he asked for the cup to pass from him.

this Gospel that tells me to be patient with my children because God was patient with His children, the Israelites, and especially me.

you see, this Gospel, it's not just the first parts of the New Testament. nor just a spring Sunday called Easter. it's for every minute of every day. every interaction, every relationship, every word spoken, every thought which is thought. all of life.

this Gospel, it's for me. it's for you. all because of the Cross.

this Gospel, this Jesus, He brought forth life from death. He brought a sacrifice, once and for all. it is finished.

He lives so i can live. the Gospel is my very being. and Easter is for everyday.

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through him. John 3:16-17 ESV

miscellany monday

2012-04-02T06:00:00.000-04:00

grab the button, write random, and join in below.

1. i catch myself running through the years when i write out the date. 2010? no. that was when Sage was born. 2011? i'm pretty sure that was last year. 2012? what.the.heck. how did that happen? because i really want to know. a quarter of the year is already but a memory. time flies at the speed of light once you have kids. it's funny, because now is when i want time to stand still. for the sake of remembering, i'm doing a month in photos each month to recap our happenings. otherwise each day in the months will be mere days gone by.

2. i had a big laugh when i realized the kind of shampoo i use versus conditioner. i buy shampoo for dry hair and conditioner for oily hair. i'm pretty much a walking, talking, dry yet oily haired conundrum. let it be known that yesterday i actually "did" my hair (which means i spent a whole 15 minutes on it) for the second time this year. and yeah, you've probably seen that very shirt before, because if i'm going anywhere other than the grocery store or target or a playdate, it's my go-to.

3. for the record, (i get asked what i do with my kids while i run, or how do i find the time to run with kids in a lot of comments and don't always get a chance to reply) i usually run while pushing my kids in the double stroller. in the last four months i have maybe run three times by myself with a lightened load. i confess, it does make me chuckle when i hear things like, it must be nice to get a break from the kids and go on a run. : ) for the record again, they seriously enjoy it. a post-nap afternoon run is the best way to fight the little's pre-dinner crankiness.

4. i present to you, freelensing. it's where you actually remove the lens from your camera and hold it out in front of it to snap your shot. it creates a unique plane of focus. hannah introduced me to it and since she is cool in it's finest form, i had to try this for myself ~

my attempt is okay but not that freelensing-ish. this is kelly's try at it below. it's kind of annoying because i take gobs of pictures and get a few good shots. he picks up the camera, (granted, i am the one who has already done the settings and then i also edit it... i get a smidgen of credit, ha!) and instantly gets something amazing staring back at him. i'm proud and jealous all at once. ; )

5. people, i am addicted to the Jesus Storybook Bible by Sally Lloyd Jones. i read it to myself even after the kids have gone to bed. somehow i end up in tears through it all, because the Bible stories are portrayed in such a beautiful, child-like way yet completely profound, just as they are. in honor of this Holy Week, i had to share these words with you ~

"My body is like this bread. It will break," Jesus told them. "This cup of wine is like my blood. It will pour out. But this is how God will rescue the whole world. My life will break and God's broken world will mend. My heart will tear apart - and yours will heal. Just as the passover lamb died, so now I will die instead of you. My blood will wash away all of your sins. And you'll be clean on the inside - in your hearts. So whenever you eat and drink, remember," Jesus said, "I've rescued you!" page 292, The Jesus Storybook Bible, by Sally Lloyd Jones

{miscellany monday}

bits and pieces + a winner

2012-03-30T07:25:00.000-04:00

my mom asked me what an instagram was and how i do it and if i enter it(?). i told her it was just a photo app on my phone. she said she didn't get it. i told her it was okay and that i love her anyway. : )

and to those who follow me on instagram, thanks. you sweeties, you! i follow no one. i promise to remedy that. (especially you, bethpriest!) i am carissaleeann. who are you?!

yesterday, for a march day, it was hot as blazes. it's safe to say i'm scared of August. because if it's 88 degrees in March that means it will be 188 degrees then. see what i mean?!

we live near a real life monestary and it happens to have the most exquisite gardens in town. i don't think the monks have it all right, but they do know how to grow a garden. and since i am fun and want to be suspenseful, you will have to wait for our monk-ish photoshoot!

when you get a package in the mail (from one of your sweetest friends!) containing polka-dotted tissue paper, you know it's going to be good.

told ya so! look at those tapes. they aren't just digital anymore!

inside was my very own fancy tape...

...and this Bible which happens to be the BEST EVER for teaching the little ones about Jesus. inside, "every story whispers his name" and you won't want to ever stop reading. your kids won't have to stall at bedtime anymore. because you will keep turning the pages!

this is what i call a runner's tan. look at my ghastly white feet from being hidden in tennis shoes (and yeah, i TOEtally know my toes are more like fingers).

wouldn't you know it. i bought the jibbitz brand crocs from target and then the next day the real deal crocs were on zulily and 6pm. timing has never been my thing.

my opinion: i finished The Hunger Games and i am not reading the rest. too depressing. i don't have to read a book to know how sinful and ugly humanity is. i can look in the mirror. thank God for redemption through Jesus.

it's a fly boat! please notice the yellow "lights" Hunter included.

this was the day Hunter convinced me he could get the both of them a snack all by himself.

now, think of this as a bonus. an edited, clear picture! : )

this has become my favorite lunch. it's completely filling and almost milkshake-ish. you could also use almond milk instead of soy. enjoy!

the winner of the adoption book giveaway and a $25 gift card is:

hannah! comment #7. thank you, amy, for a chance to win your book!

linking with my favorite gals~

fyi: blogger and it's ever so awesome self, seems to be having problems today. : ( so if you have trouble commenting, that is why. (update: i think it works again!)

rolls and what's right.

2012-03-28T06:30:00.001-04:00

it's no secret that my girl makes me gawk. i could soak up what's left of her little rolls all the live long day. when she straightens her legs i see her year old tan lines and think, when do rolls get to be un-cute? and why?

which reminds me of my rolls when i was a kid. my pudge peaked in my later years of elementary school. when i hit middle school, with all the mean girls, suddenly the numbers on the scale mattered. the numbers made me bring an apple with pretzels along with sugar free jell-o everyday for lunch in the cafeteria. my skinny friends ate cookies while my chubby hands held an apple. i was eleven (11!) then. my mom was diligent and taught me about inward beauty, but unfortunately, i didn't listen very well.

i think about my little sister who is eleven now. thinking of her doing the same thing makes my stomach hurt and my heart ache. she was gifted with a high metabolism and resembles a rail so it doesn't quite bother her. although she did tell me that if she lost some weight she was going to get a two piece bathing suit. say what?! lose some weight? i told her she didn't need to. that she looked healthy and lovely. and that outside appearance is not what is most important.

but then later that same day, i looked in the mirror and thought, "i could stand to lose a few pounds from those extra cookies at christmas." us girls! we're so into the way we look, aren't we? either we feel really good about ourselves and turn an ugly shade of pride or are down and depressed because the number on the scale isn't ideal.

isn't this kind of disgusting? i certainly don't want my daughter worried about wearing a bathing suit at the age of eleven. and i know there is only one way to change that and it starts with changing the way i think and replacing it with what is really right.

charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised. Proverbs 31:30

it's a heart thing, i want my girl to know that beauty comes from a heart that looks like Jesus. not from a chiseled stomach, tight thighs or a nice pair of biceps. as pretty as she is now, i can only hope and pray she will be as pretty on the inside later. : )