Photo Party: My little Edel

Never got around to sharing the few photos I took over the weekend while at Edel. I wish I took more pictures with people and moments, but this photo party shares a bit of my little story. 

My Crazy shoes that I wore for Cocktail and Crazy shoe night.

Leaving DFW. Oh, how I really dislike HWY 35. There are no words for how horrid it can be.

This cutie was excited Lily was along for our travels.

And, Lily is always excited to have someone to snuggle up to.

This boy hates to travel. I mean, he really really really dislikes it. Two hours and forty-five minutes in and he called it quits. The last forty-five minutes were rough. No thank you, Austin traffic. No thank you very much!

I took a selfie because I really was so excited to finally be out of the car and in Austin!

Love downtown Austin. Such a sight!

My weekend really was filled with way more relaxation time than I'm used to. This was definitely a major favorite of mine. My little introvert heart basked in the alone time. And, the part of me that loves to linger and do things slowly and diligently, absolutely loved not being rushed to do anything.

All dolled up for Friday night. Red nails. They make me feel fancy.

Ahhhh. *happy sigh* Ordered room service on Saturday morning after my husband and in-laws took the boys to a park and off for a train ride. I loved Saturday morning. I mean, really loved it.

After registration and Marion's beautiful talk I bought this beautiful bracelet from On This Day Designs. I love it! And loved shopping around at all the vendors mixed with a massage and getting my make-up done. I'm telling you, Edel was uh-mazing!

Everything about this evening was wonderful. Dinner was delicious! Margaritas were just right. Words were oh-so-encouraging for my mama heart. And, the music and dancing and smiling faces were good for my soul.

I love Cassie, and absolutely loved getting to catch up with her and spend time with her. Such a gift! You are missed up here in the DFW, Cass!

Sunday morning could not have been more wonderful. I loved Mass at the cathedral. I wish I could go here daily! How amazing? Such a beautiful gem Austin city has! Even though Linus was not having the easiest of times (Mass time meet Linuses' lunch/naptime.) I loved everything about Mass that morning. The readings. The hymns. Just perfect!

And, back home. We made it back in one piece - mostly. My little cathedrals got straight to work, as you can see, and I couldn't help but laugh. What we do is tough, but I'm so glad to know that there are so many wonderful women I am walking alongside with through this journey called motherhood.

Venerable Edel Quinn, pray for us.

Edel: How Wonderful and Beautiful!

This past weekend I was blessed to attend the Edel Gathering. I still feel like I'm a stumbling ball of nerves even as I try to put together all that I experienced throughout the weekend. So, bear with me and know that this may get a little jumbled.

Let us throw ourselves into the ocean of His goodness, where every failing will be canceled and anxiety turned into love. 

-St. Paul of the Cross

You see, my incredibly amazing blessing of a husband surprised me with tickets to Edel. When I first heard about the conference, I made it a point to tell him about how much I would love to go, but a big part of me never really thought I would attend. Little old me? Baby blogger. Commenter to all the wonderful Rockstar bloggers that would make up the majority of this wonderful event? What was I thinking to begin with??!! Attend an event where I had yet to meet anyone in person? Haha. Silly, Amanda! Trying to play an extrovert when your little introvert heart would prefer to continue to share on your baby blog the tidbits of your life from the safety of your sweet home. But, at the end of it all, I'm so glad that His Will is so much greater than mine ever will be. This gathering truly was my ocean of goodness where all my anxieties were met with a beautiful love.

From the start, I was met with warm smiles and open hearts. The dancing, the drinks, the hugs, and all the fun on Friday were filled with a love that I could never have anticipated. A love that seamlessly continued throughout the weekend.

Everything comes from love,
all is ordained for the salvation of man,
God does nothing without this goal in mind. 

-St. Catherine of Siena

To start off our amazing time together, the incredibly sweet and wonderful Hallie said that when she prayed she felt God calling her to share: It is good you are here. Through her prayerful mama heart, God hugged and loved each one of us women there. He wanted to make sure that we knew that not only is it good that we were all at Edel, but that it is good that we are where we are in our vocation. How affirming, beautiful, and needed. Because, at the end of every day, it is so very good we are where we are! This phrase, I will now forever keep with me as a little prayer. When I feel overwhelmed or tired, cranky or happy: It is good that I am are here. Come Holy Spirit. Amen.  (Because we all know that if it's the tired and cranky me, that extra request for help from Our Advocate will be needed!).

Beautiful Marion continued the amazing tone of warmth and goodness when she shared a beautiful part of herself with all of us. In encouraging us to embrace the gift we have in His Truth and the amazing Freedom that comes with His Perfect Will for us and where we are in our vocation could not have spoken more to my little mama heart. It is good that I am me. Wife and mother to my little family. And, not only is this truth good, but that there are so many other wonderful Catholic women living out their vocation too. I am not alone. It's so easy to feel lost in today's culture, especially being a mama trying to build up our own little cathedrals in our domestic monastery.

We ourselves feel that what we are doing is just a drop in the ocean. But the ocean would be less because of that missing drop. 

-Blessed Mother Teresa

I thought of this quote during Marion's talk. Her message and this weekend truly brought together the hugest of huge messages that we are not alone. Not only are we not alone, but we are filled to the brim with the Body of Christ that is alive and well and oh-so-good! I love what Blessed Mother Teresa says above. She's so right! It is so easy to feel like just a drop in the ocean, but God knows that our work is good and matters so very much. And, the beauty of our faith is that we find Him on the Cross and we find Him in His Glory. In our struggle or in our joy, we have each other, we have Him who holds us, and the ocean would be less if any one of us were missing.

Then there was Haley. Amazing Haley! Let motherhood change me. Do not be afraid! Oh, goodness! How many times have I wondered where the me pre-marriage and baby has gone! Listening to her share how incredibly good it is that we are embracing our path to sanctity just filled me. It filled me with the peace that Yes, being a wife and mama has changed me and this is exactly what He wants for me. Which is not only good, but absolutely amazing! Because at the end of it, I am no longer a practicing therapist. Nor am I an interpreter. My licences have been put to rest because I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit calling me to mother my family from home. These nudges are good. They are beautiful. And, they are guiding me in His Will for me. Do not be afraid.

And last, there was Jen. Wonderful, wonderful Jen! Not only are we not doing this alone, but we have the amazing Body of Christ well and alive ready to joyfully walk along with us. We are building small cathedrals in the quiet (or the crazy) of our little homes. But, the doors to our domestic monastery do not have to be closed. Edel, for many of us, is where the doors burst open. We, women and mothers, welcomed each other into our little spaces to say that we can do this together through sharing, fellowship, and prayers. And, I pray that I have the grace to share the amazing joy that I experienced this weekend enjoying, embracing, and partying along side the beautiful Body of Christ with women I know at home.

Now that I'm here. The Monday after this glorious conference. I can say, the ocean of goodness that I experienced this past weekend at the Edel Gathering truly did cancel so much anxiety and convert it to amazing love, peace, and goodness. Holy Spirit was truly kind and sweet, nourishing and loving little me the entire weekend through so many faithful and beautiful women. Beautiful women who met me with smiles and warm hearts. There was an openness here that I've never seen before. I met so many wonderful women, and I'm so very grateful for that. Not only am I grateful for meeting all of you, but I'm also grateful for the Fiat that you all had to say for this conference to truly transpire.

We know that all things work for good for those who love God, who are called according to his purpose. 

-Romans 8:28 

Now, here's where I go off on a little tangent. While at Edel, I started thinking about sweet Sister Kathleen who I have mentioned time and time again on this blog. All I could think of was her beautiful presence and what made her so incredibly beautiful and Christ-like (which makes sense that I would start thinking of sweet Sister because there was such a presence of Christ throughout the conference.).The verse above is one that she would often bring me back to. Along with Romans 8:28, (which I had actually hashtaged on an instagram photo prior to seeing that Romans 8:28 was part of Mass Readings on Sunday! Hello, Holy Spirit! Again! Thank ya very much!), gratitude, wonder, and awe were always focused on during our time together.

While I was at Edel, gratitude, wonder, and awe were all permeating in the eyes, souls, and sweet smiles of all the wonderful women embracing each other in love all weekend. The gratitude we all were feeling gave way for Our Lord to allow the greatness of wonder and awe to work in us. The tears of someone opening their heart to listen to the Holy Spirit work through all the amazing speakers and encounters that we had with each other were just the beginning. All the tears, for me, represented the goodness of wonder and awe. But, not only wonder and awe for the event and all that transpired, but wonder and awe for the One who loves us more than we'll ever know. Wonder and awe for how He pursues us with such a strength! Us mothers. Us women. In our homes. In our families. In our work. And, in our play. How could we not cry in all those moments that He was seeking to love us? Through every talk, through every comfort, through every new friend, He was yelling from the rooftops that He loves us. And it was overwhelming in such a good and amazing way.

Continuing on my Sister Kathleen tangent, every time I went to meet with her for spiritual direction, wonder and awe, mixed with a lot of joyful gasps is usually whet I was met with. And, I'll always remember when I spoke to her of spiritual dryness or the distance I felt with my Lord. She responded with a *joyful gasp* and followed it with, "How wonderful it is to be loved by Him so much that he would give you the grace to see the distance!", and how in that mere grace, "You should behold how much he truly loves you and is fiercely pursuing you in your dryness. How wonderful and beautiful!"

Oh, sweet Sister. Only you would see the goodness of my dryness! But, I guess my point in sharing this is that in my attending Edel this past weekend, through the Holy Spirit working through so many amazing women open to His Goodness, I was able to see my God not only see little me, but also to see how incredibly true it is that He is always pursuing me with a love that I will only truly be able to fathom when in Heaven.

With that, I say, thank you. Thank you so very much, to all the women I met and did not meet (I really am much more shy and introverted than I realize! Ha.). Thank you to Jen and Hallie for your amazing courage and goodness! You said Yes to Him. And, even if it felt overwhelming. You said your Fiat in a way that built Edel on a foundation of amazing love! That foundation opened the doors for us all. So, thank you! And to all the women present (all who helped from behind the scenes, with emceeing, attended, and who did not attend but were with us in spirit), thank you for your openness to His love for you! Because of your courage to say Yes to Him and the Holy Spirit, I have been able to see my sweet Lord love little me in such a sweet way. A love that said He sees me still and that He will never stop pursuing little old me with a great great love. That it is wonderful that I am me. It is wonderful that I am here. In my vocation. In my motherhood. And, that I should not be afraid, but that I should continue to boldly walk where He takes me. Because where ever that will be, it will be good that I am there.

I also want to say thank you to my husband. Through your desire to help me know the love of Christ and because of your obedience to the nudge you got from the Holy Spirit to purchase me a ticket to Edel, I was able to experience an overwhelming amount of love and goodness. My heart and soul were beautifully filled. Thank you for being such a vessel of His love for me. xoxo!

So with all of that, FORWARD and ONWARD to building our little cathedrals! And, again, Thank you for blessing me so abundantly and helping my Savior to let my little mama heart know that it is good that I am here. Here in my marriage. Here in my motherhood. Here in my vocation that He has called me to. It is good.

We should realize that those things which run counter to our own plans and likings are graces one and all. The Will of God permits them for us; they represent His persistent following of us. We should embrace them, make the most of them, pay the little price that they entail. His Will must always over-ride ours. Little sacrifices are all we are able to bear; let us be faithful in accepting them gladly with our Mother's help. We have only this life, and perhaps only a short one, in which to prove our love. If we make the effort, Jesus and Mary will help us to carry it through. If one saw things truly, how one should be grateful and rejoice at every physical weakness, tiredness... These are our slight share of Christ's sufferings and graces.

-Venerable Edel Quinn 

Venerable Edel Quinn, pray for us. 

(Also, seeing how I am not the extrovert I wish I could be in big crowds, I failed to take any selfies with any of the wonderful women I had never met before. I am now kicking myself for this! But, I guess this just means I have to make sure to attend Edel 15 so I can have a do-over in this little hiccup. *wink-wink*, husband. <3 i="">

the present moment // sweet silence

Thinking about// Naptime and how sweet it is being to me today! Both boys have been napping, simultaneously, for 45 minutes! I just finished sneaking in a 30 minute workout which makes me happy! I'm really trying to shed a little weight and get some tone on this mama-body of mine. Nothing major. Just enough to feel a bit more comfy in my own clothes!

It's crazy to think of all the changes my body has gone through these past three years. I've stretched in ways I never knew possible and have found some squishy like I never knew could be. At the end of the day, it's all incredibly amazing. To think that my two baby boys grew and formed in my womb. But, also at the end of the day, I'd like for my womb to be home to more new life (God-willingly). Leaving me with the desire to do what I can to make it as cozy a home as possible. 

So, with that, onward with whatever workouts I can squeeze in during my days filled with my life.

Reading// OK. I know I said last week I was going to start The Hobbit, but now I'm feeling a bit torn. You see, a few months ago I downloaded the Anne of Green Gables series to my Kindle. Fast-forward to last week when I went to check-out The Hobbit, and found myself opening up Anne of Green Gables. I was swept away into all the loveliness that words can conjure! So, for now, I'm saying I'm reading Anne of Green Gables and may still take up The Hobbit, because that's just how I do sometimes. 

Watching// My husband and I have these little after-bedtime-dates watching different TV series. We've watched 24, Dexter, Game of Thrones, and now we're in a strange limbo trying to find a good series we can enjoy together. We thought we'd give The Leftovers (new HBO series) a try but I am pretty over it. I think right now we've only continued watching it because we want to finish it, but gee-whiz it's incredibly pointless! I know it's a new series and they may be trying to establish some groundwork/introductions, but it has my head spinning and spinning for some...any direction as to where this all may be going. I know that there may be some artistic value that I am majorly missing, but if it's this exhausting to find it, I'm okay with saying I'm done. Or at least, done enough I am not interested in watching a second season of it.

Any suggestions for good series out there? I'm anxiously awaiting Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones! But, am all ears for anything in the meantime.

Listening to// Sweet sweet silence.

Thankful for// The sweet silence, a workout, a good night's rest, friends, family, life, love, Christ, the saints, moments, naptime, and the fact that I'm going to Edel this weekend. 

Speaking of Edel, it's all still pretty surreal. It hasn't hit me that I'm actually attending. My husband completely had me convinced that this was a no-go this year only to surprise me in April with tickets. I have a slew of different emotions that run through me when I think about the weekend. But, the what I most experience is gratitude. Gratitude for my husband for going above and beyond to love me in this way and for all that will help make this weekend incredibly special (family and all the wonderful women that are putting it on and attending!).

This little heart of mine has lots to be thankful for. Times are good. 

Remembering// To close, I'll share a sweet photo of Linus who fell asleep on me this past Saturday during Family Movie Night. We're all ready for this boys teeth to cut through and let him/us rest! So, this is me trying to find the sweetness in the sleepiness.

Linking up with Jenna.

7QT: Banana suit entry, Edel, Mass, & Sleep

--- 1 ---

First off, there are so many exciting things happening this year! Pope St. John Paul II!!! Amazing! Pope St. John XXII!!! Double Pope Amazing! And, Jen's new book release for Something Other Than God! YAY!

If you've never heard of the book, check out the book trailer below! Yes, a book trailer! The book is so wonderful it has it's own trailer! Nuff said!

And, if you've never heard of Jen Fulweiler or her blog Conversion Diary, I encourage you to get to her site and click around! Her blog was the very first blog I ever followed and I'm so very grateful that I did! 

This blog journey has been such a gift! Not only to keep family and friends up to date with all our to-do's but also in letting me find this beautiful community of mama bloggers that have been so encouraging and wonderful!

St. Catherine of Sienna, ora pro nobis!

-- 3 ---

Speaking of the wonderful Catholic mama blogger community, I'm going to EDEL!!!!!!! AHHHHHH! YAYYYYY!!!!!!!!

I still can't believe I get to meet so many wonderful people and share in fellowship, fun, and margaritas! If you missed how I came about finding out about my Edel tickets so late in the game, I wrote about it here. It's kind of epic. For me, anyways. Let's just say I have a very sneaky and wonderful man in my life. True story.

--- 4 ---

And, speaking of blogging, I have been so random! My toddler has regressed in the sleep department which does not make it easy when my newly toddling toddler has never been great in the sleep department to begin with. These past two weeks have been pretty tough. The kind that I hope no one remembers years down the way especially the toddlers. As much as I try to get us out and about enjoying the sun and all that goodness, when they fight naps and bedtime I crumble. I crumble quick. Which is why I could relate so much with Christy's at Fountains of Home's recent post.

--- 5 ---

On the happy side of this week, the boys and I made it out to daily Mass on Tuesday. It was such a gift and so refreshing. The boys did pretty well too! I was completely impressed and grateful for the Graces from Above!

Hoping to make it to Mass twice next week. With all the sleep problems and my potential to crumble, I'm in need for more nourishment.

--- 6 ---

Another goal for next week is to write my birthday post for Linus, share some fun photos from Easter, hopefully join the fun G.K. Chesterton link-up I've been enjoying, keep up with WIWS, and share some more fun photos from our visit from Uncle A and Rebekah. Phew! Okay, written out that sounds like a lot. Praying the boys have some nice afternoon sleepy time next week so I can try and have some fun blog time. It really is refreshing and fun!

--- 7 ---

Okay, I made it to 7! Here's a sneak peak of a sweet birthday post that is yet to come!

Linus is our Champion Pick-A-Boo-er. He's also a lover of celery and all things spaghetti!

For more Quick Takes, visit Conversion Diary!

5 + 4 Birthday Favorites

I mentioned a few weeks ago about how I felt I had the best birthday ever. Ever. EVER! this year. And, I definitely stand by it. The weekend was filled with sweetness starting from the day prior to my birthday and ending the night after my birthday, making for a full weekend of goodness.

At the end of my actual birthday, my husband told me he thought it'd be a fun idea to write down on paper what I was thinking during various events on my birthday. I nodded and thought it a sweet gesture, but then come Sunday he became a bit more persistent.

At the end of it, we ended up taking the pictures. It took me awhile to get it down on writing. For one, it's hard to capture everything I was feeling because of me being me - wordy, can't find the words, spaghetti thought process, etc. etc. etc. But, I did it! Messy handwriting and funny strange pictures and all. For the sake of remembering, I'm really glad we did it. For the sake of organizing this post, I'm really really glad we did it. And, for the sake of the amazing surprise he had planned out for me that included me taking these pictures, I'm definitely glad we did them!

Onward to the birthday fun that started on Friday and continued on to Sunday!

--1--
Family and Friends. Sweetness & Love.

I was so blessed in this department throughout the weekend. For one, my parents and in-laws were so generous in gifting me with gift cards and some shopping fun along with really sweet cards. They love me and I couldn't be more grateful for all the different ways they share that love with me.

And, not only am I blessed with some amazing family, I am blessed to know some of the sweetest and most thoughtful people. For example, a dear friend sent me these cookies from Tiff's Treats on Friday in hopes to kick-start my birthday weekend. Her gesture was such a gift and blessing that definitely contributed to my birthday weight gain (If you've never heard of Tiff's Treats, they deliver cookies fresh from the oven! Yes, fresh! Delicious! And, still warm!!!)

See, last year, my birthday was spent mourning the loss of a cousin who I loved very much. So having my friend send these cookies to help the fun begin was just what I needed this year (Something I know she was aware of.). It's things like this that make my heart swell with goodness.

Also, I'm happy to report all cookies were devoured by myself, my husband, and the boys by Sunday night. Yes, all two dozen of the 4 glorious types of cookies. All. of. them.

Onto Birthday morning!

--2--

Cronuts and Time

I had cronuts for the first time ever and they were a happy dance in my mouth! Amazing! Exciting! Nutella! Strawberries! Maple Bacon and sprinkled sugaaaa! Yes, Happy Birthday to moi.

And, tack on some more birthday pounds. Worth every bite!

I am always saying the way to my heart is food. It's true. It is very true. And, for the most part, I have no shame.

These sweet friends found their way over to enjoy the amazing taste bud dance party. They thought all was pretty fantastic too.

Funny story: The sweet ladies that were incredibly sweet. Yes, double sweet they were! The kind you want to take home with you so that maybe their sweetness will rub off on you...or something like that. Anyhow, they made the awesome Happy Birthday donut below for the birthday person. The reason the story is funny is because I'm 85% sure they thought we were celebrating a little person's birthday and not my 31 year-old person. The birthday was for this donut (now, cronut.) loving adult.

Ha, they then asked if they could take a picture to post to Facebook since this was the first time someone had a "birthday party" at their place. I'll take that for my 10-seconds of fame.

If you are in the Dallas area get thyself to Jaram's Donuts! You won't regret it!

The time that my friends shared with me was special. I'm grateful they came out. I felt very loved, again, and hope they know that I love them a whole ton too!

That love goes to all the ones that spent time with me and the ones that couldn't but called or wished me a happy birthday. There was so much love had throughout the day! Love tank was FULL!

--3--

SLEEP

Pretty sure my face says it all. Who are we kidding. Napping, for me, is tough! I used to be a champion napper, but then came the little ones and life. Now, I nap with one eye open awaiting to hear a cry or "Mamaaaa, I awakkkee nowww!!!....I neeed to go potteeeee!!!"

Birthday nap did not happen. But play time with my beautiful family did!

--4--

Play & a Flower

My oldest has gotten into picking flowers for me every time we go outside (which is daily). My heart overflows! I love receiving flowers and his gesture is just the sweetest. I hope he never stops loving me in these little ways. 

 

Playtime was filled with smiles. slides, and fun.

Just look at that face!!!

My oldest is getting so big! I can't believe he'll be 3 in a couple months!

I loved having some play time with my boys. They were happy. Their happiness makes me happy. It fills me too. In ways I never knew possible. The weather was perfect and being outside makes me happy. Plus, I got to swing on the huge bench swing outside our patio. Bench swings also have a special place in my heart.

--5--

Girl Time & Uninterrupted Conversation

You read that right. I had uninterrupted conversation on my birthday. My husband was amazing and watched the boys while I met up with two friends to get our nails did. It was fun. Nourishing. And, relaxing.

If you know anything about me, relaxation and down time are key for me. I love it. I can sit and read all day long inside and out if I have a cozy corner and tea or coffee with me. Doing nothing is productive for me. If that makes any sense to anyone. 

Point being, it was nice to sit and talk while drinking a warm cup o' joe.

--6--

NOM NOM

That's right, more food! And, not just any food, SUSHI! I love sushi and we found our new go-to place. Everything was wonderful. Delicious! Amazing! And, Happy!

The boys loved the chopsticks, potstickers, cucumber salad, and teriyaki chicken.  I take that as a major win.

Sushi, not so much. Just couldn't get past the seaweed.

But, that's okay, because that just means more for mama.

Sake is another major favorite of mine and it was yummmm!

Unfortunately, after dinner I ended up with a migraine. The legit kind that leaves you in the dark only being able to get a whisper out of your mouth. It was tough! 

It had been pretty windy that day and I had had a small headache throughout the day that I kept ignoring forcing myself to be present and happy. Little headaches. No biggie. Big migraine. No bueno. 

However, we ended up talking to my parents that evening (whisper tone for me, volume on low) and my mom suggested taking a zyrtec. I did, after I had taken two tylenol which did nothing for me. Within an hour after taking the zyrtec my migraine had passed and I was feeling alright. That was my Saturday birthday miracle.

Onto Sunday!

--7--

Champagne & Relaxation.

Sunday was filled with relaxing, family time, and Mass. It was a good day. It always is a good day. But a day with Mass and a massage are extra good days!

My amazing brother got me a gift card to a nearby spa for a massage over Christmas (He's amazing, huh?). So, because life happens and we are now in April, I was able to use it for my birthday!

I say it was perfect timing. Give me a massage on my birthday for the rest of my life and I will be quite the happy woman. Massages are my friend and I hope we keep it in the lifelong category.

--8--

Ladybug kisses and Blessings.

After the massage a little ladybug decided to land on my arm. As I was walking out of the spa all I was thinking about was how wonderful God is to have loved me so abundantly throughout this weekend.

I took the ladybug kiss as a sweet kiss from Above giving me a, "Yes, I do Love you more than you will ever know."

Okay, so you would think that the birhtday awesomeness would have ended at 8. I sure did. I was happy. I mean the kind of happy where you start doing random happy sighs often because you keep getting lost in the I'm-so-happy-thoughts. But, there's more!

--9--

Surprise.

Remember when  I said the amazing guy below had an additional surprise that shocked me into tears and absolutely zzzzzzzzero words? Yes, the incredibly handsome one below. 

Well he had one more picture for me to see on Sunday evening when he wanted us to go through all my birthday pictures taken throughout the weekend. He was insistant that it'd be a nice way to finish off my birthday weekend. He wanted us to look through all of them, even the ridiculous pictures of me holding up silly thought signage.

See, while I was putting Linus to sleep, the wonderful man I am married to was busy editing a photo. He wanted to surprise me. He wanted it to be the last piece of birthday goodness I saw because he knew it'd be the ultimate cherry on top my already amazing birthday.

It's the surprise I've been dying to share! So, without furthado...

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CAN YOU BELIEVE IT????? I couldn't either. At first. At. All. I was choked up and teary and huffy and all kinds of I-don't-believe-this contorted face. Sitting there, with him, playing back all the conversations we had back when the conference was first announced by Jen and Hallie. Thinking back to the conversations we had leading up to the ticket sales. Remembering all the conversations we had sprinkled throughout the mere 24-hours of ticket sale. All. That. Time. He had a plan. A plan to love me. A plan to surprise me!

Surprised I was! I had so many emotions happening at once, but I immediately started to feel slightly guilty because of the cost and we just bought a house and...and...and...

I started thinking that I didn't deserve to go. I mean, little old me. I just stay home. I don't even "work". How have I earned such a treat? All these society-derived mean thoughts started flooding me. Then my husband just looked at me, after I had been crying, quiet, and obviously processing and said, "You deserve this." Open tear flood gates, uh-gain.

I told him what I was thinking and he told me how much he valued me. How glad he was that I get to go to this conference to be with other women who are striving to live out their vocations of motherhood and marriage according to His Will the best they all can. He's excited for me to meet and mingle with so many wonderful women of faith that I've met over the web through blogging and that I get a chance to be nourished through all the wonderful speakers and amazing fellowship. 

He's right. And, I'm grateful. Grateful for all of it. And so much more!

And, I'M SO STINKIN' EXCITED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

(Linking up with Hallie over at Moxie Wife today for Five Favorites. Hallie, I know I stretched it but I've been dying to share and there were just so many favorites! PS Can't wait to meet you and everyone else going! Yay!)