jane's nursery nook featured on brooklyn limestone!

today brings exciting news: part of jane's nursery is featured over at brooklyn limestone! i've been a longtime reader of stefanie's blog, and i am truly honored to be part of her favorite nook series. mrs. limestone's home is lovely, and make sure to check out her travel photography!





if you are new to my blog, welcome! i'm happy you decided to visit.

yesterday was a special one

at church yesterday morning, we dedicated our dear jane before the Lord. a tear escaped my eye as ben, jane, and i stood with other couples and children to acknowledge our little ones as gifts from God. it was a sober moment. a heavy moment. one i won't forget.




God is big. God is good. our pastor put his hand on little jane and said, "jane, together with your parents who love you dearly and this people who care about the outcome of your faith, i dedicate you to God, surrendering together with them all worldly claim upon your life in the hope that you will belong wholly to Jesus Christ, forever."

we said a hearty A-MEN!

afterward, we hosted a lunch for our families. it was cozy, but it worked. in true baby fashion, the guest of honor napped for a good portion of it. :)









later, the three of us had a quiet evening together. the sky was getting darker. ben was making jane laugh. and david crowder band was singing, "oh, happiness! there's grace enough for us and the whole human race." i closed my eyes and gave heartfelt thanks for God's blessings in our lives.

it was a very special day.

it is that day

i'm taking advantage of some solid jane naps to do some long-overdue house cleaning. but i'm also eating chocolate while doing that so HEY! everybody wins.

enjoy your day!

in the kitchen: poor man's mocha

ben and i are pretty lowbrow when it comes to food. this post will prove decisively that i am no foodie. my sister has all the culinary prowess (seriously) and i'm rather a hack in the kitchen. but sometimes a hack in the kitchen stumbles across a gem!

even if i had an unlimited coffee budget, i would have a hard time regularly spending $4+ on a latte, mocha, or other coffee treat. enter the poor man's mocha.



mmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm.

i learned this trick at my old summer job at a golf course. i pass it along in the hopes that it will help you save your pennies when you feel the urge to indulge in a "fancy" coffee but don't want to spend an arm and a leg.






it really is that simple. add your hot chocolate packet to the coffee, stir in some cream, and top with whipped cream and chocolate syrup. of course you could get really fancy with flavored creamers and maybe some crushed candy cane. take that, starbucks!*

*okay not really. i like starbucks too much to send any ill feeling their way. but do yourself a favor and give this a try. your taste buds and wallet will thank you.

jane: six months

this is from last week, even though now she is just a few days away from seven months. better late then never. i spy a tummy!