todhuntertastic.

ponds.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 08 Oct 2015 23:52:00 +0000

regularly posting....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 13:00:00 +0000

at least that's the goal. :)

Ponds.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 25 Sep 2015 05:20:00 +0000

snuggled baby.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:12:00 +0000

era of change

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 21 Sep 2015 14:10:00 +0000

It seems my life has been in this "change" period for four years now. Three baby girls, a new church, several new jobs for Jake and new community. I feel like we're entering a new portion of our life and I have no idea what's ahead for us.

At church we're talking "RE:" Along with a changes in my life, our church is also undergoing a change, a metamorphosis in a sense. We're also coming upon a change that requires commitment, a focus and a willingness to give all. I feel like that's where we're at. We've got change ahead and we've got to stay steady, willing and ready on what's ahead.

Focus.

Focus on our goals.
Focus on what's important.
Focus on the needs.
Focus on the Lord.
Focus on the Word.
Focus on our family.
Focus on God.

What does that mean exactly? I have no idea. I really don't. Is it a system of rules and schedules we follow? Is it the complete surrender to busy because I don't think that's doable. In fact, my plate is more "filled" than it's ever been.

So, I'm excited. If you're praying for us, pray for renewal and strength. Thank you.

hi.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 12 Sep 2015 03:51:00 +0000

Sometimes I forget how blessed my life is. I think this is something that we can all relate to. I think about my existence daily. Did God make me to do these tasks every day? Are there better things that I can be doing instead of "this?"

I really do think these things.

I want to live a life of gratitude. To live a life where I understand my purpose at all times. That's not me...usually.

I've been praying specifically to God over my gripes and my gratitudes. And it's transforming me. The weird thing is I've been praying these same things for the last four years and possibly longer. But I'm changing.

I'm not going to get into now because I don't have the breadth to do it, but I'm here, grateful.

Papa pics.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Apr 2015 04:32:00 +0000

So.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Apr 2015 21:41:00 +0000

I'm in, what I call, "Mommy Oblivion." It's the state of complete ignorance to normal passage of time and space, mostly having to do with the fact that life becomes a string of tasks and meeting needs. Not that it's negative, but it can become almost like auto-pilot.

I realized that it was April 16th and no longer anywhere near April 9th--the date I actually thought it was.

grateful.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Apr 2015 04:08:00 +0000

I feel like these last three years have been such a strange season. We've gone through everything--just copious amounts of change. We've had three little girls. Left a significant job to go through these other jobs that were great to now be in another job. (Great writing. I know.) We've gained and lost community. We've grown. We've stretched.

Can't wait to see what God has for us.

Christmas (a little belated)

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 05 Apr 2015 12:12:00 +0000

hey.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sat, 04 Apr 2015 03:59:00 +0000

So, I'm back. I locked down my blog for a little bit until I was ready to write and post again.

We've gone through serious life change in the last couple months. A new job for Jake.
I had a baby, Miss Amelia Pond. She's an absolute gem and I heart her. And spring time....a promise that life can go on. :)

Happy to be here again. Let's chat. Let's connect.

out in nashville

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 19:00:00 +0000

Halloween Catch-Up...just a little late...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 23 Jan 2015 03:06:00 +0000

pollo tropical

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 19 Jan 2015 14:19:00 +0000

Have you eaten at Pollo Tropical? I know not everyone has one, but if there's one near you, you have to go. In my opinion, it's up there with Chick-Fil-A as top fast food restaurants. It's good, it can be fairly healthy and it's a great price.

They're not paying me to say this. It's just one of those pregnancy cravings that I have. I've also been craving pretzels like crazy and regular Coke. I wish I could drink regular Coke with ice all the time, but it's so bad for me and this little baby growing inside.

I'm excited to chat with you and connect, message me or email at arabellemarie@gmail.com. Let's hang out.

Hello.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 05 Jan 2015 03:24:00 +0000

Hey everyone!

Welcome to 2015.

No promises.

No commitments.

I just want to talk with you.

Life in our home is blessed and normal and crazy all at once. We're walking the daily, trying and praying to do our best with school, work, church, and life. Isn't that what life is about? Breathing, speaking, living Jesus? It should be. It doesn't always seem like it for various reasons, but I'm praying that 2015 will draw our family closer to God and to what path He wants us to take.

So, to kinda update you on our life, I'll do one-word descriptions. Maybe I'll elaborate in the future, but for now, this what I feel like:

Seahawks

Games

Babies

Pregnancy

Snuggling

Cold

Coffee

Boots

Smoothies

Family.

Thank you for still being here with me. I appreciate you more than you know.

Hi.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 04 Dec 2014 03:20:00 +0000

It's strange to me that people still come to this blog since I regularly forget to post on here. So, I'm honored that you still come to hear my random thoughts. It's been my journal, of sorts, and I don't want to get rid of it, but it's also become kind of obsolete. Mostly because of me, but I'm also at this place of wondering what exactly God is calling me to do.

Blogging, conversing with others and documenting my family's day-to-day was the reason that I often blogged on here. Not that I don't want to do those things anymore. I do.

So. Merry Christmas. :)

We still don't have our tree up, but hopefully tomorrow it will be.

Patience

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Fri, 31 Oct 2014 15:19:00 +0000

It's something people always think I have tons of as if that was the deciding factor in us having seven kids, almost eight. I understand that thought process, that train of thought.

But believing I have complete control over my patience level is a complete deception. As a human being, I wouldn't say I was extremely patient. I'm laidback and easy-going, but I wouldn't necessarily say patient.

Lately, I feel like I've been stretched in this area in ways I never even considered to be a challenge. We've faced the unknown in these last couple weeks, each obstacle bringing us to a new level of patience.

Part of me wants to hold up my hands and say, "I've learned my lesson. I'm done, God." But that's not how one learns patience. The growing comes in the wait, in the trust that has to happen, in the faith that regardless of what happens, God will help me do this.

Patience...

it's fall...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 28 Oct 2014 12:35:00 +0000

So, it's fall and my allergies are killing. It's so weird and opposite here in TN. I never have allergies in WA in the fall, but then I don't have allergies here in the spring. It's all kooky.

What have you been up to? I've been doing life and walking this season that seems to be never ending. I don't know what I expected three years ago. That life would get easier? That life would drastically change? I'm not saying it's negative exactly, but it's not what I expected.

So, my prayer lately has just been one of survival and holding on. That doesn't mean that's what the last three years have been, but lately it has been. I don't know what God wants for me anymore. I'm just persevering through what I know He wanted me to do in the first place. Just trying to be faithful to that until I do otherwise.

I'm not going to lie on here and say that everything's okay and perfect. My heart is heavy with uncertainty and honestly, pessimism. I've never been a pessimistic person...ever. So, praying that God would give me his perspective and his assignment on my daily life.

I heart you whoever reads this.

It's that time again...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 26 Oct 2014 03:17:00 +0000

Trial run!

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Wed, 22 Oct 2014 04:21:00 +0000

Aria just had to have this costume! She used her baby girl charms and got me to buy her another outfit for $4 at goodwill. She loved it.

The mobile app

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 13:53:00 +0000

Drives me crazy....So I'll post later today.

A day....

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Sun, 19 Oct 2014 13:52:00 +0000

surreal.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Thu, 16 Oct 2014 03:05:00 +0000

My Tita Cristy passed away two days ago from cancer. It was aggressive. It was fast. It was quick. My family spent the last month spending time with her since she was still able to speak and function pretty normally at home with some hospice care. The last few days of her life, our family witnessed her slow down and on the last day, she wasn't speaking or responding, her body slowly giving way to the cancer.

In many ways, her death was beautiful. She got to the opportunity to say goodbye and in turn, we got to tell her how much her life meant to us. She is loved. She is cherished. She impacted us. I will miss her so much.

My mom was very close with her and loved her as an older sister. Today she posted on her Facebook a picture of her with my Tita Cris and my other Tita. They looked so happy, posing together, probably after eating dinner out together--something they regularly did to catch up. In that moment, it was hard for me to reconcile with the fact that she is gone. That I won't get to see her again and kiss her cheek or hear her say, "Hi, Arabelle" in the way that she always did.

It makes me wonder how much we've neglected to love those around us, to let them know we actually cherish those things about them that are impactful, but small.

This week my family gets to say goodbye at her viewing and her memorial. I get to celebrate from afar, but I can't help but be grateful for my amazing family and for amazing Tita.

Today...

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Tue, 14 Oct 2014 15:17:00 +0000

Hi.

noreply@blogger.com (Anonymous) — Mon, 13 Oct 2014 01:53:00 +0000

I miss posting. So, I'm going to post everyday. I need it. Even if it's the little thoughts or moments I have or my random thoughts.