Owen Daniel

I would like to introduce you to my son,

Owen Daniel Horning.

Born on March 17, 2013 at 12:52am. He was 8lbs 8oz and 20.5" long. 

Owen is such a dream. He is a wonderful addition to our family. Ava & Olive are so in love with their new little brother, They run to his side whenever he cries and shower him with hugs and kisses all day long. My delivery of Owen was a whole new experience for me. Even though he is my third child, he is my first one to be delivered with no medication to induce labor. Both of the girls were induced and I had an epidural. I labored for 12 hours with Ava and for 6 With Olive. My prayer throughout this third pregnancy was that God would let me experience labor on my own and I wouldn't have to be induced. I wanted to know that my body could do it on its own. And here is how the story goes...

The two weeks leading up to Owen's birth were spent cleaning, organizing, gardening, cooking, and doing anything else that would keep me busy. As my due date began to creep closer my mind would wonder to places of defeat and frustration, I had already given into the idea that I was going to be induced. My hearts cry to God was that I would go into labor on my own and I would pray every day that He would let it happen. Every night when Daniel would rub my feet I would pour my heart out to him and try my hardest to better explain my desire. I felt silly wanting labor so badly. I knew that either way I would end up with a sweet new baby and that I would labor for hours whether with Pitocin or without. 

There was a particular verse that I would say in my mind whenever I would pray about it. " For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11) I would meditate on that verse and try to remind myself that God knew exactly how he wanted Owen to come into this world. 

On Saturday March 16, (One week and one day before my due date) my parents came over to help us get some house projects done. Daniel built a fence in the front yard, my dad did some electrical work, I organized in the house, and my mom gardened. At one point in the early afternoon I went out front to see how everyone was doing and sat down on our walk way. As I talked with my mom I began weeding in between some of the Paver Stones lining our walk way. It was really awkward and uncomfortable to lean over my giant belly and get down to those weeds, and I remember looking up at my mom and sarcastically saying, "Well, if this doesn't put me into labor than nothing will!" Little did I know, I was only hours away from the beginnings of labor. 

As late afternoon came around and we had all showered and cleaned up from the days work I was beginning to notice that I was "cramping". They would come and go and were getting stronger each time. I thought it might be labor, so I quietly packed mine and Daniel's bag for the hospital. We went to my parents house for dinner at 5:30pm and I had a good friend who was visiting from out of town stop by to say Hi. As time went on at my parents and the "cramping" continued and intensified I began to wonder if I was indeed in labor. Around 6:30pm I was contracting every 10 minutes. I told my mom what I was feeling and asked if she thought I was in labor. Her response, "Maybe?" Gee, thanks Ma! I was hoping for a little more affirmation. But in the next 45 minutes sitting outside it was evident that the time had come! Daniel and I took our girls home and did their normal bedtime routine, with occasional breaks for me leaning against a wall or dresser trying to breath. We got the girls in bed and I began to gather last minute things and clean the house. Although, looking back I wasn't really cleaning, I was just carrying things around and setting them down somewhere else. My contractions were about 7 minutes apart and getting more intense. Even during contractions I was trying to talk myself out of labor. I was so worried that it was just a false alarm and my contractions would stop. I didn't want to get my hopes up. Around 9:15pm as I was laying down I had a contraction that made me realize it was "go time". I looked at Daniel and told him it was time to go. We excitedly scrambled to get stuff together, my parents came to stay with the girls, and off we went to have our son.

Once arriving at the hospital they took me to what they call the "Prove It" room, where they check to see if you're actually in labor. I was at 7cm. Go time!!!! They put in an IV and rushed me off to a labor and delivery room. After getting situated in our room and finishing all our paperwork around 10:30pm my nurse came in and asked if I wanted an epidural. And there it was, the million dollar question! I hadn't decided if I wanted one or not. I knew I wanted one if I had to be induced, but to my surprise I went into labor on my own. I turned to Daniel and asked him what I should do and he lovingly said that it was up to me. I looked at my nurse and told her I wanted to wait and see how far I could make it on my own.... Little did I know there was no turning back!

My contractions intensified quickly. In between contraction my nurse repeatedly complimented Daniel on his glorious beard and reminded me while in pain more than once that I had a hot husband... It was funny, but very true! By 11:15 I was doing the crazy lady moaning with each contraction. I remember looking up at Daniel and the nurse Jewel and apologizing for being one of those weird ladies you see in the birthing videos. They both laughed. By 12am I thought the world was going to end. My contractions were so intense and so close together I felt like I couldn't catch my breath. They lasted for over a minute but were only 45 seconds apart. It got real crazy real fast. In those last 52 minutes of labor, when I was at my weakest, in the most pain of my life, I leaned on Daniel for physical and emotional support. He was incredibly kind and reassuring in the moments when I felt like I couldn't go on. He reminded me that if I could just keep going I would get to hold my son. He was right, and it was so worth it. At 12:52am Owen Daniel was born. He was perfect. 

Daniel and I don't name our children until after they are born because we want to see them first. Naming our son was the most difficult of our three children, but so special for me. I knew I wanted him to have Daniel's name, because of how wonderful he was to me during my labor and delivery. 

Owen means "Well Born" and Daniel means "God is my judge".

I didn't plan on it and I don't know if I could do it again, but having a natural delivery was an incredible experience. Being that aware of what is going on is both excruciating and invigorating. Owen's birth story is unique and new to me and I wouldn't change it.

Grace & Peace

Thankful

This morning started out a bit crazy. Our girls are early risers. Like, 6am early risers. So today, when they slept in until 7:11am Daniel and I were both blessed and crazy confused. Up we went to greet the morning. Our Olive Grace wakes up every day asking for breakfast, she is ready to get down to business! Daniel made her three, yes I said three, scrambled eggs. (Girl can eat!) Ava then decided she was ready for breakfast, cereal and milk for her. Daniel made coffee. Thank you Lord! After Olive ate most of her eggs she asked for more, she wanted what sissy had. She ate a small bowl of cereal as well. All the while the clock is ticking, Daniel had 6 minutes until he needed to be at work and we haven't even poured our coffee yet. A perk to waking up early is that we don't have to hustle through our morning. We can enjoy each other, eating breakfast together, asking each other how we slept, but most importantly I share coffee with my Beloved. As Daniel ran to get dressed I poured his coffee into a to go cup and mine into my favorite mug. Kisses for all and off Daddy ran to work. Within the first 35 minutes of Daniel being at work I accumulated a pile of laundry larger then any basket could contain, a messy kitchen, a pile of cloth diapers that needed washing, an insane dog that was trying to eat his tail, and my sweet Olive had dumped my coffee all over the floor...

Needless to say, I felt defeated by today at 9am. But then, the Lord did something. He reminded me of something greater then coffee. More pressing than the pile of laundry needing to be folded. I am Blessed. I looked at my sweet girls and was overwhelmed by there beauty and joy. And my precious husband came home to give me his coffee. I didn't take it... because I love him more. ;) 

So today, even though we had a rough start, I am blessed and Thankful for the gorgeousness that is my life. My ridiculously handsome husband. And my precious daughters. Thanks Lord. 

Grace & Peace

Life Lately

   Our little Oli Boli has a very fun new trick. She is starting to sit up on her own! Yay Olive! Daniel and I were trying to remember when Ava started doing this, but couldn't remember. There are a lot of milestones! Haha! I think Olive just wants to play with her sissy. And Ava LOVES that Oli is starting to sit up, she also loves to cheer Oli on when she does it. It's pretty funny to watch.

I mean, come on... Look at that cute chunky baby! I just want to squeeze her! I am so in love with Olive's joy. She is the happiest girl in the world. I just took her to the Doctor yesterday because she has been sick and seemed to be getting worse, and the Doctor told me she had a double ear infection! So sad! But even though she is sick, she still loves life. She is full of joy. 

   Ava is learning new things at the speed of light! I feel like I can't keep up with all the new things she is absorbing! She remembers things from months ago and brings them up in conversation. For instance, when we were down in San Diego last November my sister in law Jen gave Ava and her daughter Zoe a little princess lip gloss/make-up thing. And yesterday as I was getting ready for Church Ava wanted to wear some of my make-up, but I said she was too little. She looked up at me and said, " But I can wear my princess make-up at Zoe's house." Say what?!?!? It took me a minute to figure out what she was talking about since I had forgotten all about it. She is so smart. I love my little one. 

   I took this picture of Ava when we were enjoying a gorgeous spring-ish day in our back yard. It makes me swoon every time I see it. I can't believe how big she is! Tear..... Ok, Ok, enough sappy Mom stuff!  

   I have been itching to do some fun new stuff to our house, So i painted out dining room table. I like how it came out, but I still have more to do.

   We also painted our bedroom a Burgandy, red-sh, purple-ish color. Just one wall. We're going for a morrocan eclectic feel in our bedroom. I'll share pictures when it's all done. 

   We also started our garden. Daniel built me 2 of my 4 raised beds this weekend and I am going to start planting this week! 

So far I have, Scallions, Butterleaf lettuce, Spinach, Tomatoes, Strawberries, Carrots (from seeds), and Artichoke. When I get the other boxes I want to have Zucchini as well. I can't wait! We're planning a whole garden retreat area that I will show more in detail in the next post! But until then,

Grace & Peace

Anxiously Awaiting

   We are down in San Diego this weekend for my dear friend Lacey's wedding. I am so excited for her and her fiance Zac... They are quite the power couple! The weeks leading up to this trip I started counting down days because I was so excited to be here. After moving away 4 months ago I haven't been able to be a part of a lot of the things my friends and family who live here do. Especially this wedding. The thing you must understand about said wedding is this... It is going to be the Party of the Century. Every detail is perfect, they have crazy unique ideas for stuff, and they are just rad people which means there will be rad fun! So back to my point... I have been counting down days to get here so I could attend the biggest day of one of the closest friends life! (Side note- I just yelled that last sentence out in my head. Just as if I were a 5 year old explaining something) 
   So today is the day. We have reached the end of the glorious wedding belled countdown. And how might I be feeling you ask? Anxious!!!! I am so excited to go to the wedding, that I am convinced time has slowed down. This day will just not move along. So here's the deal, Philippians 4:6 says " Do not be anxious in anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, present your requests to God." True. Very good point. But I feel like there is a good anxiousness. Excitedly awaiting the arrival of something. Like the expression, "Anxiously awaiting the arrival of..."
   What's my point? Well here it is. Maybe there is value in having good Anxiousness. Anxiously await on God to do something crazy in your life. Or just anxiously await on Him. Be excited about what is happening in your life. I know I am. And as for the wedding this evening, I still can't wait!




Grace and Peace

All the joy that one soul can handle.

  My life seems to get more hectic every day. With the recent addition of a kitten, it seems nearly impossible to get ordinarily simple things completed. I have had a load of laundry in my washing machine for the past 12 hours... I should probably tend to that, shouldn't I?
  And even though life seems to be a little out of hand, I still find myself wanting more. How is that possible you ask? Well, I'm not sure even I know the answer to that. I know some things are not important. Like when I look around at the peripheral people in my life, those are the people you know and are Facebook friends with but never talk to, I find myself wishing that I had the things they had. Or did the things that they do. Even though they are meaningless to most of the world, I still find myself wishing I could have what they have.
  Then there are the true desires of my heart. The things I lay awake at night wishing and praying for. Some of them are great things that could help people, some are just silly self pleasing dreams I carry around in my head. I am now finding myself plagued with those dreams all the time. It is no longer a late night thought, but a daily desire to be more, see more, and achieve more. As I walk out what these dreams are and how to make them into a potential reality, I am thinking more and more about the verse in Phillipians 4 that talks about being content in all things...
   So am i being content? Am I happy with where I am and thankful for what I have.. Or am I just selfishly longing for things that could bring more money or fame? I think They balance is still pursing the dreams that God has placed inside of you, without placing all your self worth in them. Still be thankful for what you have, but continue to live a life striving for more. Never be lackluster. Pursue the greatness that God has put inside you and do that with the comfort and joy of knowing that no matter what comes of it, you have already won. You already have all that you could ever need. All the joy that one soul can handle. Because you will know how to find it in the smallest things.
  

Sitting on the Curb

This morning I got a text from my niece saying she was sick and needing a hot chocolate. So being the sucker of an Aunt i am, i immediately went to Starbucks to get her one. Since she was sick i didn't want to bring Ava inside, so Daniel drove around the block while i dropped off the goods. I was inside for maybe 5 minutes and when Daniel came back to get me there was something sticking outside of the trunk. Daniel is known for loving free things. People used to make fun of him and say that he would even take a bloody mattress on the side of the road. So as I walk to the car with a " What is in our trunk?" look on my face, Daniel quickly began explaining himself. As he was circling the block He saw a baby bike trailer next to a trash can sitting on the curb. So he pulled over and asked the woman cleaning out her garage if he could have it. She said it was broken, but Daniel wanted it any way. This thing looked so nasty! Covered in cob webs and leaves, brown from dirt, and a rip on one of the sides.

Once we got home Daniel started trying to get it all together. There were a few times where we thought it was unfix-able, but in the end he got it put together! I couldn't believe it, he got it all together. So i washed it (a few times), and then he hooked it up to the bike and tried it out. It is like new! He is on his way to fill up the tires with air and then off we go on a family bike ride!

Watching Daniel work on it, trying to figure out how it all fit, and trying things different ways made me realize something. That at some point, we are all left sitting on the curb. That our souls get so beat up and dirty that someone, or we ourselves, just sit by the trash can and wait to be thrown away. But the incredible thing is that with patience and a little elbow grease, God makes us brand new. He sees past the cob webs and tears to the deepest parts of us. And if we let him take us, he can get us back on the road again.

Ephesians 2:10

"For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them."

Discipline, or lack there of

Discipline. Something I am terrible at. My goal for life is to have it. I come up with ideas or things I want to do and I never follow though. I think it is because I have a lack of discipline in my life. So, today is the day that I have decided to stop that train of lazy I have been riding on... Follow through, here I come.
First order of business, share great things I have heard of. Today is a day without shoes. Toms.com is asking people to so without shoes today to bring awareness to those who don't have the luxury of shoes. I think It's an awesome idea, if you agree, please participate.
Next... Music. The joy of my soul. My husband introduced me to the greatest website ever. TheSixtyOne.com It is a website for Indie music. The only way you can post your music is if you are unsigned. There are awesome ways to filter what you listen to, quests you can go on, and incredible music to be heard. Take a listen.
That is all for me this time, but in my efforts to have more discipline, I will be posting regularly. Every Thursday morning. We will see how it goes.


*** Photo courtesy of Toms.com

Jose Luis

This is Jose Luis. I met him a few years ago on a Missions Trip to La Mission Mexico. He changed my life.
I took this picture the first time I saw him. We were walking around the small Village and inviting people to a party we were having, and while walking through a back alley we heard laughter from under a blue tarp. We lifted up the tarp to find 4 young buys playing with a broken down Arcade Game that was kept under there. It looked like it was 20 or so years old, and there was no power running to it. When we lifted up the tarp and saw them, two of the boys bolted and the other two stayed. Jose Luis was one of the boys who stayed. He looked up at me with these beautiful brown eyes, and my heart melted. One of the translators was talking with him and asking what he was doing, he said that they were just playing games because they were bored. Eventually while we were talking everyone in my group surrounded him, at first he seemed to enjoy the attention. Then there was a moment when he looked around and realized he was encircled by people who he did not recognize and who didn't speak his language. He got very nervous and ran away.
A few days later I saw him again at the Party we were throwing. We gave away some soccer balls and he managed to get one. I walked towards him to see if he remembered me, and he did. I asked him if he was having fun, actually it was more like i mouthed it too him and made gestures. He understood and responded, but i could only understand every few words. I spent a few hours with him that day. He wanted to show me around. When he got candy after a pinata broke open, he brought it back to me as if he was trying to make me proud. I was very proud.
I couldn't understand how he could trust me without even knowing me, or without even being able to understand me. We bonded without words, only smiles and actions. It made me think of my relationship with Jesus. There usually isn't a lot of words, but I trust Him. He is there for us, waiting to see the candy we bring back to Him. The funny thing is that the candy isn't important to Him, It's seeing our joy in life that makes Him proud. It's watching us do something selfless that makes Him smile at us the biggest.
I went back to the Church we were staying at later that night and couldn't stop thinking about my day with Jose Luis. I wished so desperately that I could just take him home with me. I wondered if i would ever get to see him again. As all these questions ran through my head I felt a joy unlike any other. I think God was letting me feel just for a minute, a small portion of how He feels when we connect with Him. When we want to show God around and spend the day with Him. I appreciate Him letting me feel that.