Well, I guess I don't have a guest posting on here, but rather I AM the guest, posting over here!   Now I can finally feel like a real blogger.  :)  I am a big fan of Jenny's blog.  She is astonishingly creative and talented at decorating gorgeous tablescapes and parties, and I am a huge fan of her home decor/style on Pinterest. She is a sincere, Godly wife/mother, has two adorable girls (with even more adorable names) to call her very own, and you will generally be either inspired, encouraged, or humored after reading one of her posts.  Check it out! You will soon be a follower too.  And so of course I jumped at the chance (and felt quite honored)  to guest post over on her blog. 


Here's a peek:

    Check it out, and tell me what you think!  I deeply appreciate your feedback. Really, truly. 

     "Neglected. What's new?"  That quote was from my blog in response to how she is feeling these days, and her opinion about it.   We have a close relationship, my blog and I.  It is a strange relationship...one in which we care for each other deeply but we don't spend a lot of time together, and our communication is random and sporadic. Yet somehow, in spite of days of no contact that stretch to weeks, we seem to know that everything's still ok, and there are no hurt feelings.  It might be strange, but it works great for both of us.

   I had the privilege of capturing the lovely Kauffmans on camera again this year, and I'm so pleased with how it turned out.  Took Auntie Stephanie along with me to make Madison smile, and let me tell you, if you are taking pictures of small children, that is the WAY TO GO.  That and a pocket full of smarties.











    We were blessed with a gorgeous blue sky, beautiful weather, and a smiley little girl who didn't mind taking pictures all that much.  I refrained from showing the one that will probably be featured on their Christmas card, but lemme tell you, it's gonna be a charming one!  Lucky you if it ends up in your mailbox this year.

   If you're still frantically searching for someone to take your family's pictures before this busy holiday season is upon us, give me a call and I'll work something out. :)

    I think my goal for 2012 should be writing a post that surpasses my all-time reader high.  Because the most read post is far and away the one I did about the royal wedding, and for some reason, that irks me.  Maybe it's because it has nothing to do whatsoever with my own life, and it is my blog, after all. I'll be working on that one.

   Here's a little project I did a while ago, at the start of this wonderful time we know as football season. :)  I love all the little Oregon duck clothes, but they are SO expensive!  I can hardly bring myself to spend $30 on a dress for myself, much less a 10 month old.  So I improvised. 
 
All you need is:

1. Ask him to explain how the game works.  (Preferrably not during an intense match-up, or the national championship or something.:)
2. Learn about some of the players.  Feeling like you know them makes a big difference.
3. Play it yourself!  Football is TONS of fun. 
4. Invite friends over and make cool snacks and watch the game together.  Make a party out of it!
5. Go to a game.  There's just something about that energy-charged stadium, cheering crowd, bundling up in the cold and the $6 coffee that makes a fun date. :) 

 
   In other news, it's only 9:02 am on a Monday and I already received a little inspiration.  I was slicing up some pears for Jocelyn's oatmeal (that she didn't like, surprise surprise) and I was a little appalled at how many were rotten.  Not just rotten, but still nice-looking on the outside, and ten a soon as you slice past the smooth surface, your knife gave way into the slimy mush of a decayed inside.  But they still looked o.k.!  How can something rot from the inside out? 
   Sometimes I feel so much like those pears.  Like the darkest parts of my heart are festering and molding away, while on the outside I paste on a smile and forge ahead.  As long as my outside looks good, no one will know, right?  Yesterday someone told me I had a beautiful smile, and it felt good.  Don't we all love it when someone compliments our outward appearance?  Especially us women.  But how much more meaningful would it be for someone to say, "You have a kind, serving heart."  Or, "You have such a beautiful spirit."  Not that we should develop those qualities for the praise of others, but so that when God looks inside, he sees beauty.  Because when everyone else sees the skin, God sees the core.

    So now I'd love to hear from you....what does this Monday hold for you?  Much of the same old, same old?  Something new and exciting?  Something you dread?  Something you've been putting off for forever and TODAY'S THE DAY?  Please humor me, comments just make my day. 

 Why? Oh, it's about:

•    Having a to-do list for today that has approx. 22 items on it.
•    Feeling dog-tired so I lay down for a morning nap when Joce does, sleep til about noon, and so half-way through the day how many items do I have crossed off the list? A big FAT ZERO.  Too bad drag-self-out-of-bed and drink a cup of tea weren't on the list.
• Throat is scratching with that tell-tale, "I'm about one day away from making you feel really awful" sign.
• Struggling with Jocelyn over every meal.  Is it o.k. for kids to just not eat?  Cuz that's pretty much what she wants to do.  Mmmm-K.
• Hiring an awesome photographer through Groupon, only to have to call/email/text her about 263, 168, 973 times to try and set up a session, and when we FINALLY do, she flakes.  O.k. so she might have been sick, but I'm looking forward to these family pics/Christmas cards a little too much and impatiently, ok?!
• And realizing my awesome idea for our pictures was gotten to first by someone else.  Hmmm, maybe I could still do it.  Care for a little "I think I've seen that before" feeling in your Christmas cards this year? Eh?

   Anyway, all ranting/mumbling aside...I am blessed.  And the greatest blessing of all is that I have a Father Who is there to help me.  I am clinging to these words lately. 
  
    "I raise my eyes toward the mountains.  Where will my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.  He will not allow your foot to slip; your Protector will not slumber.  Indeed, the Protector of Israel does not slumber or sleep.  The LORD protects you; the LORD is a shelter right by your side.  The sun will not strike you by day, or the moon by night.  The LORD will protect you from all harm; He will protect your life.  The LORD will protect your coming and going both now and forever."  -Psalm 121

   Really, what do I ever have to fear?  The One who made the heavens and the earth is the One losing sleep over me.  He's the One gently guiding every step so my dirty, smelly human foot doesn't miss one step.  He's the one protecting me from all harm.  And sometimes that means protecting me from my own thoughts.  Yes, there are mountains in front of me.  But yes, I have a Helper.  And I'm so thankful to Jesus that it's not just for today, or even for "one day at a time".  Sometimes that trite little phrase just feels like it won't cut it!  No.  His help is both now and FOREVER. 

Thank-you Jesus.

   Well, actually, I'm nine months and eleven days, in case you wanted to know.  But Mommy's gotten a little behind in her picture-taking, and so here we are.  Oh well, it's better than never at all!

    My latest skill is fake coughing.  Every once in a while after Mommy or Daddy lets out a loud cough or sneeze I will do it, and they think it's pretty cute. :)  I still love being outside more than in, and enjoy watching some of Daddy's softball games at the park.  I also like going to church, because after sitting in church patiently for what seems like a LONG time,  I get to go to the nursery and play with my friends.
    Mom says it's "fall" now, and I know a little about that.  I fall sometimes, but not very far, just from my bottom to a face-plant on the floor because I'm trying to reach stuff.  I'm not crazy enough to try walking around, because falling from that high would hurt alot more!  I'm also not too interested in crawling, although Mommy and Daddy keep trying to get me to.  Inch around on the dirty floor getting my knees sore and my clothes messy?  No thanks.  I think I'll just go straight to walking someday and surprise the pants off of them.

    I'm still nursing and eating more and more foods now.  I especially like potatoes, fruit and Grandma Bonnie's vegetable soup.  I'm excited for the day when I can eat the same foods Mommy and Daddy are eating, and I think they are too!  Mom gets tired of pureeing all that baby food.  Isn't that impressive? I'm only 9 months and I know what "puree" means.
    I'm making more sounds, and Mommy's favorite is when I say something that sounds like, "Gli-gli-gli-gli."  I'm not sure why, it just makes her grin and say it back to me.  She's trying to teach me signs like "More", "All done", and "Please" but I just mostly think she looks a little funny doing them.  I am starting to wave bye-bye, and they get a big kick out of that!

    I went on a trip with Mommy and Daddy to Phoenix, and it was kinda fun.  Only kinda because I woke up alot at night because things weren't quite familiar and I didn't have my rice cereal. When Mommy FINALLY figured out that I really missed my cereal (it took her a long time!) I slept much better.  It was also pretty hot, but I loved swimming in the pool!  Mommy says I'm a little fish but that's silly because I can't breathe in the water.  I know because sometimes I get my mouth under and I try it out, but it doesn't work so well.  It was fun to meet Mommy's friend Jewel though! She was nice and let me play with her spatula and whisk, so I was happy about that.

    I don't remember the flights there, because I slept the whole time for both of them, but I remember the ones coming home!  I think Mom and Dad liked it a little better when I slept, but I had so much more fun being awake the whole time and getting held by both of them and eating lots of snacks.  I was very happy to be home and was immediately in a better mood.  I'm not sure if I love traveling yet quite as much as Mommy does.  But I'm beginning to think it will always be a part of my life!  I think I'll learn to like it more.

    I have six teeth and I'm fine if that's all I get.  They hurt when they come in and make me pretty grumpy.  Plus they don't do a whole lot, I can swallow all of my food.  I'm afraid I might be getting some more,  because I'm really drooling and biting all the time, and those are usually the signs of incoming chompers.

     Sometimes when I'm around other people, I get really shy, and bury my face into Daddy's chest to hide.  I overheard him telling mommy that he just loves it when I do that, it makes him feel so needed.  And so now sometimes even when I'm not feeling scared, I still do it to make him feel special.  I love my Daddy!
   For these pictures, Mom threw leaves on my head and gave me a pumpkin to play with, so it was actually kind of fun!  Except for when it started to get close to my naptime and I wanted to go home.

   All in all, I'd say it's been an eventful month since my last update. Only two more until my 1st birthday party! Oh boy am I looking forward to that.  I hope it will be a big bash with lots of friends and family and yummy things to eat.  Hopefully Mommy doesn't forget!  She forgot Daddy's once.  And then only 5 days after that is something called Christmas.  Mommy says it is a celebration of Someone else's birthday, and He's a pretty Special Person.  I can't wait to find out what that is all about!

This is Jocelyn Kate, over and out!