Out in Westfield

I have waited nearly 2 years for this. This woman is one of my absolutely dearest and best friends.  No, this woman is a sister. She is one of the most incredible humans you could possibly know and I am beyond  humbled and completely overwhelmed with gratitude that she is in my inner circle.  She is special y'all.

And so is her crew. Oh how I have missed these little squishes and it was so wonderful to finally get to snuggle her newest team member!  We have known each other since our first babies were in utero. Goodness how life has moved. So much change and yet she and I are very dearly connected at the heart.  The saying is true, there is no distance or time between friends.

Grace and Sebron live on quite possibly the coolest piece of land in Westfield.  It is a little farmhouse with all of these incredible buildings and barns all over it.  It has so much story and history, and its just plain ole fun!

Of course I had to go out to feed the chickens, and goats, and dogs.....oh my!  I nearly froze my  hmmm hmmmm off because it was FA---REEEZING! and sleeting rain. Oy.  We are not in Kansas anymore Toto!

I just have to brag on this kick ass hen.  Grace has all laying hens, but this little lady has determined that some eggs are worth letting have a chance and has single-handedly hatched over 13 chicks.  She literally went around gathering other hens eggs after they were fertilized and put them in this corner. Unlike Miss Maisy (where my Dr. Suess lovers at?) this little lady sat, and sat, and sat on them until they hatched.  All of the little chicks are fully hatched now and trying to stay warm under her in this photo.  She literally has 14 chicks under her body.......we counted.  AMAZING.  Now, what Grace and Sebron are going to do with 14 more chicks in their life?  Who knows, but they are the couple for the job!

In case managing chicks, and dogs, and children weren't enough, my amazing friend also has a herd of goats for her goats milk soap.  Jessup Ranch soap is simply the BEST soap out there......bar none.  Seriously.  You don't believe me?  Try them........ www.jessupranchsoaps.com

When we weren't having amazing, life giving conversation, or raiding her soap stash, or caring for the livestock, we cooked!  These two little ladies loved to help me and take a stab at which one is most like Evie...........You got it?  Grace and I always hope we can get all of our kids together one day because they would have some fun!

I brought my camera all the way out to NC so that I could take all of their pictures.  Oh I love how they turned out and I love each one of these kids.

Miss Lulu, Laughter Grace, her face just smiles.  She is so spicy and absolutely sure of what she wants and what she doesn't want.  She is bold and fun and all Lulu.

Miss Hayva Joy, my Little Evie match.  This girl is the sweetest, most tenderhearted, fiesty little creature that ever did walk around. She is fearless, and helpful, and gives some great hugs.

Lariat Brave, this boy was just a wee little infant when I saw him last.  He has grown into a sweet little tenacious bubbling toddler and his smile and giggle will just melt you. Like into a puddle....

Then there is Winds.  Winslow Trek.  This kid is ALL sunshine.  His joy has joy.  He is the happiest little baby that I have ever met and you just look at him and the world seems like a bright and beautiful place. Happiness shines through him.  

The J-Man, the one and only Jancsi Sebron.  I have known this little boy from the day he entered the world. I spent his first year watching him grown under the same roof as my Lily.  He is growing up into a smart, unbelievably creative, bold, and confident kid.  Like I told his Mom when we moved away from each other, he is a Joshua.  He is brave, he is courageous, and he is going places.

Yes, I took these pictures for Grace, but honestly, I had an entirely selfish motivation for taking them.  I needed a new one for my wall.  

My time in North Carolina was Divinely blessed.  There is no richer joy than sharing a kitchen floor with one beautiful Grace Jessup.  

Our sisterhood is tighter and bonded more strongly than ever and I am grateful for the joy of once again doing life with her.

Thankful

I love this time of year.  I absolutely love Thanksgiving and Christmas time.  So much of the world spends its time locked in arguments and harshness. but during this time love, joy, peace, patience and all of the fruits of the Spirit seem to naturally get amplified. Its wonderful and it brings such joy to my heart.

This year I have so very much to be thankful for and frankly my joy cup is overflowing.  Yes, I'm still injured, yes, I still can't run, yes, my house is still a bit chaotic on the flood fixing, and yes, things look a little different this year, BUT, I am happy.

I have found my joy again and I am content. 

.....and I am blessed!  I had the rich opportunity to host Thanksgiving this year following the passing of our Dear Great Grandma Joyce.  This year looks different for the Kuensters, and I was beyond honored to be able to host this year. I loved every second. From the elaborate dinner plans, to the prep, to the final product, my heart was overflowing this year, and I enjoyed every second of bringing Thanksgiving feasting to the table.

The only worry I had was about my bird.  2 years ago when I hosted I literally blew up a glass baking dish needing a neighbor's oven to finish my cooking.  This year I got the down low on cooking amazing and juicy turkey from a dear friend and let me tell you, IT WORKED like magic.  

On Thanksgiving morning I found myself in the pool for a sweet, quiet, and peaceful 2200 meters. I had the whole pool to myself, Just me and my grateful heart. Then I came home and sent Grandma, Bob, Lily, Evie, and Ellie off to the Mesa Turkey Trot 5k while I stayed home to get my birdie in the oven.  

The race was such a wonderful event for them, and my heart was full.  I wasn't sad. This year my heart was in the kitchen and I love that my girls raced with Grandma and Daddy.  A sweet memory.

I enjoyed peaceful cooking time and the chance to watch the start of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade!  I am usually running on Thanksgiving morning, and this year I relished the required opportunity to watch all of the parade! SO MUCH FUN!

All of the runners got back with medals and tales while I anxiously awaited the beep of my turkey. Oh the anticipation.....

And it was perfect.  Golden, juicy, and perfectly done. Praise Jesus!

You know they say a way to a mans heart is through his stomach. There are many ways to my husband's heart, but there is a lot of truth to that little ditty.

Grandma Jill and Aunt Sue made fruit Turkey's with the girls and played all measure of games, sidewalk chalk, and bicycle riding to occupy the time waiting on dinner.

When dinner was served I felt such a sense of purpose and joy.  From the turkey, to the 6 sides, to the pies, this years dinner was a true labor of love.  To honor those amazing women like my Grandma Fran, and Great Grandma Joyce who have gone before and established the traditions that I now get to carry on.  I feel very purposeful this year.

Our dinner was shared out in the beautiful Arizona Fall with Aunt Sue, Uncle Bill, Aunt Linda, Grandma Jill, Grandpa Steve, my family, and two friends from school, Kayla and Faith. Our table, our hearts, and our bellies were full.

 I am grateful.

I am thankful.

My cup overflows.

There's Power

There's power, so much power in relationships and in community.  If you ever want to feel the spirit of God, find a community of believers seeking hard after him.  I promise, He'll show up.

This group of women is full of Jesus and this year I am tremendously grateful that I count myself one among them.  Cheryl. Rebekah, Merriam, and Ashley have become such tender sisters to me. Between the 5 of us there is cancer, seizures, unemployment, injuries, and lots of hardships, but you can't see that here. Why? 

Jesus, and He is a real and moving force that radiates when we are together. Where there is Jesus, there is power!

We have come together to share 1 day a week in the word and in prayer.  We drink coffee, we pray, we learn, we cry, and we eat.  We commune and its cathartic, and life giving, and powerful.  So much joy here.

Our lives were never promised to be easy or simple or uncomplicated.  In this world we have trouble, and sin, and struggle, but together we have Jesus and joy and hope.

And that is a powerful thing,

Celebrating Lily

Lily Grace is one celebrated little lady.  So many people love this little girl and I am so glad because I think she's really amazing!

I think both of my girls are very spoiled because we usually celebrate them for a week to a month.  With the flow of gifts from Grandmas and Grandpas plus the school celebrations, day of birth festivities, and of course the party!

This year, Lily had some really special treats. The Friday before her party, her good friend Erienne wanted to get all dressed up and take Lily, and Evie out for girls night. It was a seriously planned event and Melissa and I were responsible for driving, paying, and staying out of the way. But really the last part was the most important.

Oh and YES, Evie is wearing wool socks with her Mary Janes. All the fashion this month in Kinder Vogue.

They ordered Sprites, cheesy bread, a pizza and a pazookie of course!  Melissa and I drank and inhaled some amazing Italian nachos.

After our fabulous dinner we attempted some dancing at the Whiskey Row. The dancing didn't really work out because the dance floor had tables set up for dinner (after all most dancing starts well after 6pm) so we played with the giant size connect 4 and then went home to play.

Two days later  we got to party at Bounce U!  Lily has been asking for a party at this place for about 3 years now.

She had a few of her best friends bouncing like crazy for an hour and then we settled in for birthday root beer floats.  Not a shabby way to turn 8 if I do say so myself!

We Still Do

Last year Bob and I, struggling to find peace in our marriage, went to the Weekend to Remember Marriage Retreat and LOVED it.  We immediately bought tickets for this year and gifted our good friends the experience as well!  The Phoenix dates didn't work for us so we decided to road trip it out to San Diego and what fun and renewal we had!

WE ALL STILL DO!

Moving quickly into 15 years of being married is sometimes as surreal as it is exciting.  How have we come so far and yet still feel so young and fresh in so many ways?  Bob and I giggled when we were classified as those "15, 20, or 25 year veterans." A veteran.......US?.......for REAL?  

Bob and I are in a much better place even though we are now dealing with my injury, a chaotic construction zone for living, new chapters in parenting, and a busy work life.  Our life hasn't gotten any easier, but thankfully we both know where our foundation is.

In true marriage weekend fashion there were lots of discussions, some tears, a lots of growth, and one more layer of the proverbial onion being pulled off of each of us. Marriage is hard, and wonderful, and challenging, and amazing. 

And SO WORTH fighting for. 

I think the biggest take away that I have this year from our time together is the reminder and deep conviction that none of this works without the Perfecter of our Faith, Jesus.  All of this stuff that we learn, and live with, and internally wrestle with, and fight externally about. It all finds peace in Him.  

A chord of 3 strands is not easily broken although life's weight can pull and strain and bend it. Investing in the relationship with Jesus is so imperative, so critical.  Not only for the sake of unity and oneness with my lover, but for the sake of my children and their young hearts.  Nothing works right without Him and I have been renewed and revived to fall more in love with Jesus.

Who can only make me fall deeper in love with this man.