A long time coming

Tonight I made Turkey Noodle Soup for the first time in years and it wasn't tasting exactly how I had hoped so I was searching my blog archives to find the amazing Turkey Noodle Soup I had made in 2013. I eventually found it but along the way I saw that I'd written 100-200 posts most years, until kids came along. Through pregnancy with Avie I was steady but then baby came and bam, it cuts way down. Heck this year alone I've written 3 times. It's October. That's pretty terrible. Ironically, I still think about blog posts, still write them in my mind, but between babies and working and having a life I can't seem to sit down and write. I miss it so much though. I miss rereading what has gone on in my life, I miss working through my thoughts and feelings online, I just miss all of it. So here I am. Turkey soup on the stove, a turkey sandwich in my belly and some blog thoughts swirling in my brain. I should be heading to bed, but I feel delighted to carve out a moment to write, to think, for myself. 

- I most recently blogged about Avelynn's closet bed and I'd like to happily report that it's working out super well. We had B in there for a while but now we have moved Avie over and it's perfect. I can easily open the baby gate and let her crawl in and I can also lay next to her easily - this was not so true in the crib :) Also B prefers the crib - she is sleeping better. It's been a win win. 

- I am falling more and more in love with my home with each passing day. Considering I so begrudged our having to move at all, let alone while I was pregnant, with a toddler, and working full time, into a home that cost almost double what we were paying. But I am now officially in love and can see how this house has suited us better in almost every way. It is such a blessing in so many ways and I am so thankful for it. Our bathtub fits our whole family, which makes for fun bath times. The family room and kitchen are attached so the girls can play and I can cook without worrying about them. Doors close strategically so that toddlers can't escape. The kitchen is big and beautiful and functional. The yard is great for kids. Over and over again I am thankful for this space. It fits my big, loud extended family, it separates out living spaces so privacy is possible even in groups. It's beautiful. 

- I am working 17 hours a week at my church and loving it. It's my dream job. I think that's the only reason I'm ok with blogging less - I know that my job is the thing that takes me away the most and I so love it. I never knew I could find a job so fulfilling. People talked about jobs in a certain way but it always alluded me, until now. I'm so thankful for it. I feel capable there, and like I make a difference. That's a pretty great combo. 

- I have been reading the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon once a year since I was 16, long before it was fashionable (or possibly appropriate for me to be reading). When I heard it was being made into a TV series I was excited and a bit nervous. Glad it wasn't a movie, a TV show made the most sense. Then it came out and the first season/book is a bit dark so it's taken me a while to watch it. Thankfully Paul ended up loving it, so we've been watching it together. Normally we binge any Netflix show but we've taken our time and it's been really enjoyable. We're finally into the second season now. But in real time, the third season/book has been coming out and it's one of my favorites. Plus one of my closest friends has been watching it now and I keep wanting to talk with her about it. So I have been watching season 2 with Paul, and also watching season 3 on the sly (with permission). It's been fun, to do both. And I'll say, most of the casting and story telling is spot on for the book, despite the fact that it couldn't be identical, nor should it. I love holding that in tension - that books and movies/tv can't be the same. It wouldn't work. Books, especially Outlander books, are huge. You can't capture it all - but you can capture the spirit of it. They have done that beautifully. 

And now I should go to bed. I work tomorrow and normally have Paul to help me get the kids off to my sisters for the day, but he's got a shift of work that starts early. I need to be on my A game to a toddler and 10 month old fed and out the door by 8:20am. Here's praying that they sleep all night - dear Lord!