Morning Ramble

I was laying in bed last night with my one and half year old wrapped around me, head on my shoulder with her little hand curled up laying over my heart and I had one of those wonderful Hark! The Harold Angels sing moments where peace and serenity and grace fall on me all at once and I just lay there and feel….

I tried not to stir and move her at all but I snuggled in a little deeper with her and started to think of all the other things that bring me joy…

I love the feel of my husband standing close behind me, when I lean back and sink into his chest and he puts his hands on my big pregnant belly and his lips on the back of my head. I feel safe and warm.

I love my God. I love how obvious He makes himself to me. I love the promises He has for my future. For my children's futures. I pray that they fall in love with their Creator... I pray they marvel at all He does.

I love a hot shower after a long run. I feel proud and tired and relaxed. I really miss running and can't wait to get started again after I pop this baby out.

I love the way Banner runs to me when I turn my key in the lock on the door when I come home after running some errands. I love the way she crashes into me with her whole body and yells “MAMA!” I feel missed, loved and appreciated. Pretty soon I'll have 2 little running body's crashing into me when I come back from my "mom-time"... just thinking about that warms my heart.

I love my wedding rings on my finger, both the fact that they are still there after almost 4 years together and and the fact that every day I appreciate them more. I feel blessed. I feel persistent and resilient in my marriage. I feel committed and determined and completely in love.

I love organics. I love the holistic living lifestyle. I love being a "crunchy" mama. I love feeling educated and proud of the choices that I am actively choosing to make for my family's well being. I take joy in sharing that passion with others.

I love my girlfriends. I love how much we all contribute to each others' well being. I love how the people I hang out with now -- I never would have expected. I love that whenever we go through something tough -- we all go through it together. It blows me away.

I love being happy. I have come to understand that happiness, real true happiness, isn’t a state that you can exist in for very long. There’s content. There’s satisfied. You can be that every day, and I am those things everyday, mixed in with frustrated, rushed, irritated and sad... which is what makes me human.

HAPPY? Happy happens in moments. Little glimpses of God during the day. Little bursts of euphoria that you have to learn to recognize. Once you figure out how to stop and say “Right now, this moment right here; I am happy. God is so ever-present in this moment.”... life gets so much more beautiful. Life is full of blessings... you just have to recognize them.

Puppy dog kisses and baby snuggles,
Liz

Motherhood

Sometimes I wonder what my children will remember of their childhood. I wonder if they will remember the little rituals we have created -- goofy and serious. I hope that the things we do will carry on into their adolescence and adulthood and then spill over into their life as parents.

That's what happened for me. My parents gave me a great childhood. My dad and I had a rocky relationship in spurts -- especially in the teen years, but I'll never forget the silly little things we did that made life feel so exciting. For instance, my mom is a little bit hippie-ish and I remember her pulling my sister and I out of school early to go to rock shows. The other kids in my class were always so jealous. They'd ask us what rock show we were going to and I'd always respond "The Rolling Stones!", hahaha. Little did they know that we were actually going to ACTUAL rock shows... more along the lines of metamorphic, sedimentary and igneous -- and since there were actual rock tumblers at these events -- saying "The Rolling Stones" didn't seem much like lying!

We were weird kids. Happy, free and weird. We used to do interpretive dance in the middle of our court on roller-blades to mix-tapes we recorded and blasted out my bedroom window. My friend and I would "heal" the "sick" trees by stuffing leaves in the knot holes of their trunks every recess instead of playing kickball like the other kids. Strange I know, but life felt so perfect.

I think about how my daughter Banner and how I play the “I love you as much as” game with her where I name the biggest thing I can imagine. I hope she always remembers that she loves me as “big as a T-Rex dinosaur”. Sure she can't quite say that yet... but when I say "dinosaur" she throws her arms up in the air and yells "RAWRRR!". These are such precious moments! I hope that when Banner and AJ are older that they look back they see the love I have in my eyes while I watched them play together. I hope they never question my pride in them. I hope they always know how beautiful I find them, how smart and imaginative. How brave and strong I know they are. I hope that when one of them turns into a teenager they still will play the "I love you game" with me from time to time.

Anyway, that's where my heart is at this morning.

May sunshine and love follow you today!
-Liz

Happy Valentine's Day!!

I am beyond thankful for my husband. He adores our family, is selfless with his time, and works incredibly hard to provide for our family. Everyday, I am HONORED to be Mrs. Haugen. Everyday he tells me how much he loves me. Everyday he tell me that I'm the most beautiful woman in the world. Everyday he praises our God for the life we've been blessed with. I am so grateful go to sleep every night next to a man that I feel so privileged to married to. He is an incredible father -- nothing gives him more joy than loving on his girls. He's a talented musician. An artist. A great listener and the best advice giver. Did I mention he's a a total hottie-biscotti!?!?! I love him.
Happy Valentine's Day! ♥ ♥ ♥

I found this idea on Pinterest (I'm obsessed!) and modified it a little. My little budget gift to the love of my life! I attached a love letter to each balloon... ♥ One is written to him as the role of husband. Another as the father of our babies. Another as a spiritual leader. Another as my lover. And another as my best friend. ♥ Fun, fun! If they weren't so personal I'd share. Hope all of you have a beautiful and blessed Valentine's Day... no matter what you are doing!

Maybe this will get you smiling!

Just thought I'd post a cute picture of Miss Banner today, haha. I said to her...

"Sunshine... do you love your Mac-n-cheese?"

She answered with "Oh yaaaaaaaa!"

Our house loves Annie's Organic macaroni and cheese... and no they did not pay me to endorse their product. We're just that big of fans!

Hope you have a happy day filled with sunshine and noodles!
- Liz