thursday letters.

     

Hubs. Last night you diced, caramelized, and simmered all of the onion goodness for me. Thanks for making me not cry and taking the tears from the onions for me. Pink and Turqoise Wonder. I've missed you and am pretty excited to live life in the bike lane. Get ready for many more trips to coffee shops, the grocery store, and strolls around town. Dearest HEB. We miss you very much. We miss your prices and your huge selection of all things coffee, all things seafood, and all things...well...everything. Alas, California grocers will do for now. Hey Handsome. I love you. I don't say that enough. 

I hope everyone else is having a great Thursday! I enjoyed a run in the rain this morning and am just about to start a day filled with crafty goodness. So excited!

Letters on a Thursday.

Husband, this time next week we will begin a road trip to the west coast. prepare to be dominated in all car trip games known to man. Upset Tum, because of you mark and i will be getting our soup on tonight. please feel better soon. Dearest Reader, mark and i do not wear adult diapers nor do we have a little on the way (see picture). we do have great friends who give us free boxes...and who have littles. you are wonderful, steinbachs. U-Haul, why are your boxes so expensive?! thank you mark's company for reimbursing us for said moving expenses. And other half..even though you can't climb in the gym tomorrow night...i know you're still the strongest, most hard-core, climber there. Please heal fast finger pulley. Midnight Lightning is waiting for you to conquer it.

Letters on a Thursday.

 

Groom, this week after i was lovingly being your helpmate by being a back seat driver, you decided to let me know that you were a professional drive.  my response? you aren't in nascar....and then you made known that indeed, you are not one who only knows how to turn left, but you are a true professional who can turn left, right, reverse, u-turn, brake at the right time, and take care of me. thank you for your wit, charm, and keeping me safe in the car. i think this means you should be the driver all the way to california. agreed?

Dear Amazon, the other half and i are oh so thankful that after 4 months of patiently waiting, you finally sent the first issue of bon appetit to us. thanks to you we have a handful or restaurants to hit in the next several months!

three day weekend, i am so excited for you to get here. first friday, maddens brunch, lake cabin, new life, and seeing good people will make this weekend one to remember. please come soon.

Sweet Husband of Mine, thank you for loving me despite my inability to love you back at times. those times i do love you are only evidences of God's grace in my life... oh, how great is He, to save a sinner such as me!

I hope everyone else has a great three day weekend...or regular ol' two day weekend! 

Check out this rad blog  for the inspiration behind Thursday's letters...

Letters to the Littles

Dear Cade, You are such a stud 6 (almost 7) year old. Not only are you super smart, but you are super witty too. Jokes come out of nowhere for you and I love that. You are an amazing big brother to your little sister and Mr. Coleser. Thank you for always showing enthusiasm about everything and for doing your best work with what you're given - whether it's painting a mural, learning to dive into the pool, or playing basketball.

What is so great is that you continue to strive towards your best even when you've failed prior...like when you were learning to catch that ball while jumping into the pool. You tried and tried and tried and FINALLY YOU GOT IT! But you didn't stop there...you wanted to keep doing it, with your best effort, until you caught it multiple times. Wow. You are a hard worker, Cade. You taught me a bit about persistence this last week and for that, I am thankful.

I pray you grow up desiring to do well in life, but not for the benefit of you, but for the benefit of making Christ known. I pray you are able to realize that we live in darkness and perfection is not attainable except through the saving work of Jesus on the cross. I love you, boy. Thanks for being so darn witty and teaching me to not give up. It reminds me of Paul in Phillipians 3.

Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. {Phillipians 3:12-14}

Press on, boy.

Miss Grace. You are all bits of crazy...in a good way. I had SO much fun with you this last week. I have loved watching your personality evolve over the past few years and can't wait to see how it grows even more as your grow up. I know we have told you this all growing up, but you are such a wonderful balance of girly girl meets play in the mud girl. We used to laugh about how you would be in a tutu playing in the mud. That is definitely you.

I saw it evolve even more this last week.

 I saw you hold your own with your brothers; I saw you make your point known; I saw your ability to keep things ordered and in control. But, then I also saw this gentle way about you...how you would help your little brother on the play ground, how you would share anything and everything given to you, and how you would cuddle oh so well (I can see already what a great nurturer you will be!)

So many people think that a woman of the Lord is one who stands idle, who is gentle and quiet. But looks at Proverbs 31! This woman has strength. She has dignity. She plants vineyards. She is orderly. She speaks (with wisdom). She does not eat the bread of idleness.

Girl. You are beautiful. You taught me this week to not eat the bread of idleness. To stand strong and work hard, but in a gentle way. I have struggled so much lately feeling that I don't have a purpose...as I sit at home without a job tending to the ways of my household...but that is such a lie. I have an opportunity now to work hard and to manage my home well. Thank you for reminding me of that; thank you for reminding me of my calling to be a woman who takes action, yet still submits, honors, and reveres my husband.

And I pray just that for you, miss. I pray you grow into a strong woman who fears the Lord...who manages her household well...but who still submits to her husband as the church submits to Christ. I am definitely still learning much about that.

Keep playing in the mud. Keep painting your nails. Keep eating paleo if you want to (but I know you secretly like the sugar). Keep growing into the woman the Lord has called you to be.

Love you, pretty pretty princess.

Coleser. Cole Beart. Colbert Report. Cheese. That's right. You are such a cheese. You made me want to have kids so much sooner than Uncle Mark and I are planning... like now. Tell your mom that proably won't happen though...even though it would be nice to have a cousin close to your age. Just wait 2 more years :)

I just love your smile. You smile at everything. And then you have this look. This look that I think is kind of flirtacious and mom and dad better watch out for when you grow up....this look of "Yeah, I know I'm cute...and I know you know it." It's pretty cute. It's real cute.

Anyhow. You, sir, are a delight. Thank you for smiling at every possible moment. Thank you for your manners. Thank you for gladly doing what Nana and I asked you to (except with that instance of the grape and the couple times of climbing out of your crib).

Side note: I hope this means that you'll be a stud rock climber. My bet is in and I say yes.

I love that you listen and you obey well. If you do something wrong and you are told no, you stop pretty immediately. You aren't too stubborn and you don't get upset that easily. I'm not saying you're perfect. I'm just saying, by the grace of God, you are often quick to obey and quick to forgive...and quick to smile :)

Thank you for reminding me to rid myself of stubbornness and bitterness that I often hold.

Thank you for reminding me to smile in a cheese kind of way sometimes.

CHEESE!!!

Love ya'll. Come visit me in the San Fran area? MmmK?

Tell mom to just put you on a flight (because you are all pros by now).

We'll go rock climbing, kayaking, build tents, climb trees, play hide and seek, paint, cause mayhem, and I'll even give you some icees and ice cream.

Don't tell Mom though...that's just between us ;)

It's Thursday!

{via}

Hey Merk. This Saturday we are going to go to the zoo....vulture feeding at 11:30. You find enjoyment in such odd things. Trader Joes, in two short months I will be a customer roaming in your aisles. I. can. not. wait. Cade, Face, & Colbert, get ready for tons of fun with Aunt Ashlee and Nana. Endless sonic drinks, ice cream, six flags, swimming, baking, painting, chalking, basketballing, sword fighting, and mayhem. Mama Crake, thanks to you I can sport a really fun looking apron in my kitchen all made by me. Thanks for the sewing lesson :) I know you're ready to have your daughter back from Uganda, but I didn't mean being a substitute one for the day. Love, I can't wait to start this new adventure with you.

Letters on A Thursday!

{get it here}

Sweet Husband. You cleaned up every single dish last night. You clean every single dish pretty much every single night. Thank you for serving and loving me so well. Folks. The Felder's are heading your way in T-Minus one day. I can't wait till we dominate the Malone's in some basketball. Dear Pinterest, I think my never-ending headaches may have to do with my innate obsession of staring into the computer screen at your lovely website...I may be exaggerating a tad there. But really. I like you...you inspired me to make some mean, delicious cinnamon bread today. Cinnamon bread that was so mean and delicious that I had no time to take a picture of it. Thank you. Merk.  The other night you sang everything you had to say to me. Thanks for making my life a musical. Love it and love you.

Letters on a Thursday.

Dear Scrabble Master, while I am so blessed to be married to such a smart guy, sometimes I selfishly would love to just win one scrabble game. It's a good thing I dominate at settlers. Dear IKEA, you just put up a new giant sign for us to see outside our window each morning. I just may come check out your "It only happens twice a year" Sale. Thanks for changing the scenery for us. Sweet Parsley Plant, So sorry I had to let you go yesterday. The little bugs liked you too much, and I just don't like the bugs. Dear Husband, I have gotten to call you that for two months now...and I love it. Soon we will have a license to prove it to be true :) YAY! for 2 months and more YAYS for many months to come!

Letters On A Thursday!

Dear Marktopus, thanks for waiting on me hand and foot this week. I don't deserve it. Hey Amazon, I may have been seen doing a huge jump in the air because I was so excited to get the book above in the mail from you today. Can't wait to start this process of trying to learn how to sew. Joel/Bugsy/Dad/ Papa, Apologies in advance for not simply going with Dad. Tomorrows your BIG (fill in the blank). I'm not sure how old you are turning...but, I hope you have a grand ol' day. I can't put into words how thankful I am for you.  You taught me how to ride a bike, work a saw, give grace to others, cut a bell pepper, think before I act, ski down a black diamond, and even fly an F-16. Maybe that last one is a stretch...Dear Steph King, I just ignored your phone call. Please forgive me. And to my other half...could you teach me that dance move from SYTYCD? You know...the cat daddy. LU!

 {hey pops. i met you around this time. thanks for shaving off that mustache.}

{dad and his other half...way before the littles came}

Another Letter on a Thursday

 Hey Husband. Thanks for coming home from work early yesterday so we could die in spinning class together.

Dear Spinning Bike, Why does your saddle have to be so darn uncomfortable?  

Why hello there Cone-head... 

Thank you for always making me laugh....and for always including others in on the fun.

 Miss and love you big brother.

Dear CStat Folk. Most of you have moved away from Aggieland. But just for old times sake...I say let's repeat this.

Dear Milton Vincent, Thank you for challenging me. I'm sharing a little bit of your book, A Gospel Primer, to my 10 followers because my prayer is that this becomes my prayer and theirs as well. Madre, get out your magnifying glass. The print is tiny.

Preaching the gospel to myself each day nourishes within me a holy brazenness to believe what God says, enjoy what He offers, and do what He commands. Admittedly, I don't deserve to be a child of God and I don't deserve to be free of sin's guilt and power. I don't deserve the staggering privilege of intimacy with God, nor any other blessing that Christ has purchased for me with His blood. I don't even deserve to be useful to God. But by the grace of God I am what I am and I have what I have, and I hereby resolve not to let any portion of God's grace prove vain in me! And to the degree that I fail to live up to this resolve, I will boldly take for myself the forgiveness that God says is mine and continue walking in His grace. This is my manifesto, my daily resolve; and may God be glorified by this confidence that I place in Him (page 52).

A Gospel Primer is an incredible book. I highly encourage each of you to purchase it :) 

And to make it Today's Letters sandwich style again...

Boy Roomie, I love that the first thing you want to do when you get home is lay on the couch and just be for a moment. Thanks for reminding me that it's ok to take a moment and be still. In fact, it's good. Oh, and I love that I'm your roomie. Who knew having a boy roommate would be so fun?!

Letters on a Thursday.

Dear Husband, thanks for not getting upset with me when I steal the sheets. I promise I don't mean to. Perhaps you'll enjoy having the bed all to yourself tonight. Wow. The first night we aren't together. That will be weird! Enjoy the freedom tonight. I'll be back to steal tomorrow :)

Hey Parish People, enjoy this coffee cake I made and give a big thanks to good ol' Ree Drummond, Pioneer Woman who motivates me to always keep my fridge stocked with plenty of butter to whip up such things as that delicious coffee cake. And that little missing corner piece you see - for some reason it just didn't bake there. Weird. I know. Or maybe I just had to have a bite to taste it for you myself (hence the picture above).

Dear College Station, I can not wait to step my feet into your Aggie infested soil. I have missed you so. I'm looking forward to a fun weekend of spending time with my first graders now second graders, eating at a good Mexican Restaurant, staying at the Bacaks, and dancing it up at the future Bowling's wedding! I'm not looking forward to cleaning and moving out of Mark's old house and my classroom. Oh well :) Duties call.

And in honor of Today's Letters, hubby sandwich style..

Dear Mark, thanks for letting me sleep in this morning. I can't wait for you to get to CStat tomorrow. You better get there stat (too much. yes, i think so. i try to be funny. it fails at times). And bring the tent so we can camp out tomorrow night. That will be fun. Kayaking included! We can prepare for our long awaited summit climb to the Grand Tetons. Step back 13,775 feet, that mountain has the Felder name on it.

{photo credit}