Celebrate Absolutely Everything

My 29th Birthday: Part 1, RSVPs, Phonebook, Cigarettes, Disappointment, and a Surprise

July 6, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

29. I turned 29 yesterday.

When I was in 5th grade I invited every girl in my grade to my birthday party. I hand wrote invitations and my mom drove me all around town to stick the cards in each girl’s mailbox. Back then RSVP’ing was practically legally binding, and everyone did it. Guess how many RSVPs I got back??? 0. ZERO. Nada. NONE.

Still, I held out hope that some of the girls would come.

My mom said if I had gotten back any RSVPs she’d stay and help me throw a party. But since no one was coming, she was headed off to a motorcycle rally with my dad. This was their yearly get-away for just the two of them, they’d been
attending this for years.

Sometimes it fell directly on my birthday, sometimes my birthday was their recovery day.

Either way, I felt screwed.

Just to be sure I covered all my bases- I got out the big heavy black and yellow phone book, looked up the phone numbers of each girl, and called them myself.

Dial tone… The beep of each number being pressed.. The ringing… Oh the anxiety.. Then the “Hello?”

I got the same answer each time. They were sorry, but they couldn’t attend. Some even felt like they needed
to let me know it was 4th of July weekend, so they would be spending it with their family.

Bastards.

I wanted to spend the day with my family. Or their family, I didn’t really care. I just hated being alone.

When party day came my parents were out of town. I have no idea where my older brothers were, but they weren’t home. I’m guessing with friends.

I cleaned up the house, tried to gather snacks from the cupboards, and penned birthday signs out of notebook paper and taped them to the door. I did all I could to make it seem like a real PARTY.

Two girls showed up, hours after the official party time had ended, and not even because they knew it was my
birthday. They were at my house for a total of about 15 minutes. The first girl was a classmate who came because she was out wandering the town on her own (uninvolved parents?), and the second was the little neighbor girl who just came over to play. The first girl tried teaching us how to roll our own cigarettes, which was pencil shavings and that
same notebook paper that I had made into my birthday sign.

I still get flashbacks to that day when I use our electric pencil sharpener.

Although the skill seemed interesting, I knew it was wrong, wrong, wrong. I knew my parents would beat my butt (really, and it was legal back then) if they found out, so I kicked her out. She said I was stuck up, and she never liked me after that. To this day I have a strict no drugs of any kind policy.

You know what though? Now at 29, looking back, she never liked me before that, so I suppose it’s no biggie. Ugh,
why did I waste tears on that?

I’m pretty sure she’s still rolling her own cigs today, although from what I know (thanks Facebook) she’s upgraded from pencil shavings to the hard stuff. Poor girl. I really do wish I could’ve helped her.

The point is, even though that “party” sucked, I tried my best using what my 10 year old self had available. That’s important in all areas of life. Parties are not excluded. They don’t need to be big and fancy; they just need to be real.

I did get one surprise that birthday… I actually still have it. Stay tuned, I’ll take a picture and share it with you in my next blog post.

The Scare; Finding Peace

May 6, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

It rained all day yesterday.
My hubby took the day off of work to take me to my doctor appointment, the one for the breast exam. I told him I could’ve went on my own, but he knew better. I needed him there with me.

My mom watched the kids, and for that I’m so thankful, since it ended up being a whole day ordeal.

As we left for the doctor and made it about half a mile down the road, I remarked that it rained just like this, the morning of our wedding day.
That made me begin reminiscing all of our days together. We married young.

While I’ve been waiting to get my test and results and just embrace whatever stage I’m in, I questioned one thing.

Was I satisfied with our days together? Was he? Was I a worthy wife to this man who loves me so deeply?

I felt at peace knowing that yes, I was very satisfied with our relationship. Even though the toughest of tough days, horrible days, hopefully unlike many of you have ever had to face, I was satisfied knowing he was on my team.
I use the “leave it better than you found it rule” everywhere, even in my relationships. I don’t always succeed, but I do give it an honest effort and pray through the ones I’m struggling with.

I decided over the weekend that yes, I could leave my family now, knowing they were better than when I found them.

I heard my oldest daughter singing hymns and worship music multiple times last week. I saw my youngest (2) praying for her meals and shouting “GOD MADE ME!” to anyone who would listen. I witnessed my son, our middle child, practicing communion and mentioning that he was the man of the house when dad was at work. He prayed for selfless things that most kids his age would never think of. I felt as if they were each mature for their age and stage, and that they were doing things that would glorify God.

I was at peace.

Then I learned that my breast tissue was healthy, and that I needn’t worry.

Which means I get to keep teaching my children, my husband, myself, and everyone else about God’s good news.

I am still waiting for the results from one more test. I’m hopeful that will turn out just fine also. The doc didn’t seem concerned, so unless the test comes in and tells me otherwise, I’m claiming I’m healed, in Jesus’ holy and life giving name!

All Are Welcome

April 22, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Last weekend we hosted a birthday party celebrating another year of Mr. Awesome’s life. We closed off the bedrooms, and opened up every other door in our 1500 sq. ft home. We swept the garage, moved a few things, and welcomed in over 90 of our friends, neighbors, co-workers, and family. There were even a few people we hadn’t yet met, but were delighted to serve anyway.
Yes, truly delighted.

You see we prayed for this party for weeks. We prayed hard for clear skies, so we could use our spacious backyard. That wasn’t in God’s plan. Early in the afternoon there were massive sheets of rain rolling in, and we learned we’d be hosting this party indoors. We were away at a volleyball tournament that morning and couldn’t prepare our home fully, but we trusted it would be okay. Above all we prayed for our home to be a safe gathering place for everyone to come and make connections.

This party wasn’t about us. This party was about God. It was about connecting His people.

It’s so cool to sit back and watch people from all different walks of life, and different social groups come together and converse. Some of these people we’ve known our entire lives, others we have known far less, not known extremely well, or not known at all. Regardless, they were all so kind to us, and to each other.

At one point during the party I took a breather in the bathroom, I fell to the floor and thanked God for His marvelous works in orchestrating what was happening.

As I walked around our home Saturday night listening to bits and pieces of the conversations that were happening, I was humbled and my heart was bursting with Joy. There were so many smiles, and so much laughter. There were so many good, helpful, deep conversations happening within the walls of our small ranch home, basement, and our garage. I felt a sense of Pure Joy.

I hadn’t stressed over cleaning for the party (which was evident this morning {4 days later}, as I realized the amount of things I spaced off cleaning- the piles on top of the fridge, the smears on the windows, toys & mail laying around etc.) It’s not that I’m a bad housekeeper, or a great housekeeper, it’s just that those things didn’t seem important to me at the time.

I didn’t stress over the food. We did a simple menu of Sub Sandwiches, Chips, and Cake. Our drink menu was 2
liters of soda, bottled water, and a keg of beer. All served from simple disposable dinnerware. I wasn’t sure how many
people we’d have (my ball park guess was about 30 short), but somehow the 24 feet of subs that we ordered were almost entirely devoured and we had minimal leftovers, which we were able to disperse and still have enough to enjoy two extra meals from.

From the time we decided this party needed to happen, until the time we closed the last folding table and put a clip on the final bag of chips, everything just worked out. I trusted that God would provide, and He did.

I serve a faithful, loving God who delights in seeing us open our homes to everyone, not just those who will invite us to theirs, or pay us back in some way.

What would hold you back from hosting a
gathering where All Are Truly Welcome?

My Friend, Amy.

March 2, 2015 by Quin Leave a Comment

Amy Elizabeth Hild.

September 9th, 1987 – February 25th, 2015

Amy Elizabeth Hild

I’ve known Amy’s full name for well over 10 years, and I’ve never forgotten it. She used to doodle it in her math notebook all.the.time. She’d put fancy designs around her name and play around with different lettering. She’d occasionally get called out for drawing, rather than looking at the board. Amy later became a graphic designer.
It was apparent that this was her passion and gift, even as a kid. How cool is that?

Amy was a year younger than me in high school, but we were in the same math class. I’ve never been more grateful for my lack of math skills and dependence on a calculator. It meant I got to spend an entire school year sitting next to Amy in Mr. Perry’s class at Clear Lake High School.

She was fun, she was honest, and she was beautiful. She explained math to me in a way I could understand. If I was stuck, she helped me, without judgment. She did everything without judgment.

I never had any reason to be upset with her. I can remember one particular day when she gave me a picture of
herself. Rather than the normal crappy school pictures this was a beautiful portrait that her parents took her to have
done. She talked about singing in church and I remember thinking “Is there anything you DON’T do?” I may have even said that out loud. It didn’t make me jealous, but made me admire her even more. She had so much talent, and she inspired me.

Last Wednesday was much like any other snowy day in Iowa. We slacked a little on our traditional schooling and instead made tags to attach to a stack of sleds we bought to give away.

The kids were making their Random Act of Kindness tags as I supervised, taking pictures to blog about the experience.

They made a list of who they wanted to give them to, prayed over the list and for the people, and then went out delivering. Before I knew it they were having a little sledding party on the hill across the street.

Afterwards the kids and a neighbor mom ended up here, for treats and hot chocolate. I silently praised God for our neighborhood, and all the love and community we’ve found here.

I was distracted doing real life, and not checking my phone. I love those moments.

We were living our day like a perfect tribute to Amy, before we even knew she was gone. Amy was a good deeds do-er. Yes, I made that phrase up, but it really does describe her.

After everyone left here I cleaned up and took a seat on the couch to “veg out” with my phone (it happens). One of the first things I read on Facebook was this:

I yelled out a big “NO, NO, NO, NOT AMY!”

I worried that this was a mistake and felt bad about how it must have worried her family before they found out she was fine. I sat like this for quite a while, before I realized how NOT FINE I was. I was in absolute denial. And I stayed that way, until this morning, when my husband and I attended Amy’s Celebration of Life.

I needed the closure, I needed the community. I am so thankful for all the people who were there, banned together in support for Amy’s family.

My heart ached for her fiancé, but by the end of the service, it just rejoiced. He found Jesus through Amy. How lucky he was to be so close to her and to spend all the days together that they did. I think of all the experiences they had, and I just smile. Amy was an advocate for Jesus. Her life was lived on purpose, with purpose.

Her funeral was so large that, I kid you not, there were parking attendants directing traffic in the parking lot!
There was a room for overflow because the sanctuary was full, despite the staff/volunteers bringing in extra chairs, multiple times. I mean WOW! I can only hope to have a funeral where so many people come together to show support to my family, after I’ve passed.

Today as I sat down to start writing this I looked back at Amy and I’s Facebook messages to each other, dating way back to 2008. I had forgotten all we’d been through and all we had talked about. Now that she’s gone I can clearly see why we had some of those conversations when we did, even though at the time they didn’t seem like they would be so life changing. They were. For her and I both. Amy didn’t use social media as a mask, it was a tool to her. She was just as genuine online as she was in person. She was a one of a kind.

I am forever grateful for getting to meet Amy Elizabeth Hild while she was on this Earth. I’m grateful I was able to call her a friend, and I am grateful I was touched by her passionate spirit. She taught me so much more than just some
silly math facts (sorry, Mr. Perry!).

Amy’s Obituary

Amy’s Blog

{Sneak Peak} DIY Hot Cocoa Stand for Family Pictures

December 2, 2014 by Quin Leave a Comment

This post contains affiliate links that you can read about HERE.

{Sneak Peak} I’m crazy excited about this hot cocoa stand my hubby built, for our family photo shoot. The best part is that when I asked him to make it, he.didn’t.even.try.to.talk.me.out.of.it!

Folks, he’s learning! haha

I pulled the idea off of Pinterest. There were so many cute ones to choose from, but this is what we came up with. We sort of used this design {click here} from Ana White to get us started. Really you could make this just about any way you’d like.

We had a majority of this lumber leftover from other projects, so the cost was minimal. I picked up most of the accessories from the dollar store or used things we had on hand already. We spent a grand total of about $30 to pull this off.

Now, that’s not including the new coats I picked up. But hey, I had coupons at one store and used Cartwheel at the other! Honestly us 3 girls really needed nice dress coats anyway.

On Thanksgiving we got the stand out to give it a trial run. All the cousins loved playing with it. My super styling SIL & my momma helped me finalize our coordinating warm outfits. Outdoor family photos in Iowa are pretty rare during the winter, but us crazies gave it a try anyway!

The actual photo-shoot day was super fun! We had a young photographer and her mom (my friend) pose us, laugh with {and probably at us}, and capture some great memories that we’ll have for a lifetime!

Here are my tips for pulling off an outdoor family photo session like this in the coooold winter:

1. DRESS WARM. Hats and gloves kind of warm, okay?

2. Let the kids play. Relax mama, the shots of them playing were the best.

3. Ask the kids how they want to pose. You’ll be surprised -or not- but their personality really comes out when they are free to move how they wish.

4. Bribe them with cookies…. then take more pictures!

I’ve been so excited to share some of these with you! I’m glad I finally had a minute to sit down and compile these scribbles! I hope you enjoyed the pictures, I know I sure did!

Behind the Scenes Photos:

You can accessorize this stand how ever you’d like. We filled our beverage dispenser with hot (actually cold) cocoa.

If you don’t have a Beverage Dispenser yet, I suggest you get one! We love ours for when we are hosting company, either big groups or small. We usually just put water in it with lemon and mint leaves. The presentation is beautiful! I bought one, and we received one as a gift; which was perfect because now we have one for upstairs and downstairs during parties! Little kids LOVE them; keep a towel handy!

28 Random truths about ME

July 17, 2014 by Quin Leave a Comment

1. I was proposed to and broke up with, on my
18th birthday. It was symbolic to me of how I always get my hopes up and get crapped on every birthday. I’m not bitter about that or anything… :/ I suppose it just comes with having a birthday so close to a holiday.

2. I know my “bad” birthdays are still not as bad as what others are facing, and for that I’m grateful to God.

3. I left college & my amazing job to be a stay at home mom, out of necessity. It’s a long painful story with a redeeming end where I got to adopt my sweet “little girl”, who is now the big girl in our family picture.

4. Friendship has always been and I’m assuming always will be a struggle for me, because of my own self confidence issues that were formed throughout grade school.

5. My ideal day is one where I’m able to
take naps, eat out for every meal, walk to anything I want to see, and do
it all with my little loves.

6. I dreamt of being a traveling nurse, eventually a doctor, and that I’d cure Alzheimer’s. That didn’t
happen. But it’s okay, because I just learned that right now, being a wife and mom is “enough”.

7. I didn’t attend church while I was in middle and high school. I wanted so badly to be invited by someone, to learn about God, to learn how to find true happiness in Him, not others. If only I had the
courage to go alone. I know now, God had a different plan for how I’d meet him.

8. This year we forfeited a big vacation for a top of the line washer and dryer set. That’s when I knew I was
maturing.

9. I was the self proclaimed (later I convinced everyone else too) “Head Master Chef” in a pizza place for
4 yrs.

10. Pizza and watermelon are my favorite foods.

11. I spend too much time researching and not enough time just “going with it”.

12. My greatest fear is being forgotten after my time on earth is through.

13. Sometimes I wear my husband’s socks. Like even now… I’m wearing them right now…

14. Adoption holds a special place in my heart and I’d love to have the chance to give a little one (or two.. or more..) a forever family, if it’s God’s will.

15. I greatly enjoy thrift stores, department stores, warehouse stores, online stores, and shopping in
general!

16. I find joy in giving, but have a hard time accepting/receiving.

17. I married my first serious boyfriend (what does that say about the proposal I got at 18.. yeah, it must not have been as big of a deal as I made it to be at the time). A decision I’ll never {again} regret. We had some rough times, but without the struggle, we wouldn’t have found our strength. And there’s a whole lot of strength there now. 🙂

18. I pretty much always paint my toenails pink. “LOLA” by ZOYA it’s my fav. I prefer to keep my
fingernails clear since I cannot for the life of me paint them perfectly.

19. I admire beautifully decorated pristine homes, but the energy in so many of them just bring me down.

20. The most visually appealing place I’ve ever experienced was Alaska. There I saw breathtaking beauty like I had never seen anywhere else in the world. The scenery, oh the scenery, it’s just magical.

21. I love all things music. Listening, creating, singing. Unfortunately I have a life long incurable case of
stage fright. I could kick the boy that told me I sounded like a frog in 3rd grade. I’d probably be wiser to kick myself for believing him.

22. Even when I fail at something I feel like I can try it again and get different results. I’m not sure if this is
courageous, or just dumb.

23. I unexplainedly (is that even a word?) lost my memory a few years back. Frustrated by what I was going through, I rehabilitated myself through diet and mind exercises. I now try to fill my kids lives with memories and take plenty of pictures to help them jog their memories, in case they are ever to forget all the fun we’ve had together.

24. I have a slight obsession with white boards.

25. I love repainting old furniture. I’m not great at it, but I take much joy in the process.

26. My favorite place in the world is in my husband’s arms. Cheesy, yeah, but so true.

27. I recharge my momma batteries by laying on the deck and reading a good book or listening to a gentle tune on the radio.

28. My favorite bible verse is: Proverbs 12:26 “The righteous should choose his friends carefully,
For the way of the wicked leads them astray”.

Reflections from my 10 yr class reunion

July 6, 2014 by Quin Leave a Comment

Thoughts the day before my class reunion:
I’m not going! But just in case I do, in the next 24hrs:
Drink water
Avoid carbs
Whiten teeth
Shave legs
Thoughts just hours before the reunion:
Crap, I ate carbs!
Could I buy one of those girdle things?
I really wasn’t cute in high school, so I’m sure no one is expecting much from me.
Thoughts minutes before waking in the door:
Suck in the tummy.
Smile. Be Happy. Do not show fear.
What if no one remembers me?
I walked by a classmate outside who completely ignored me, but in the ugly-obvious way. Like I saw you, made eye contact, and now I’m going to pretend like I don’t know you so you don’t bother me… I wanted to leave right then. I begged…My husband wouldn’t let me. Who invited him anyway? 😉 jk, I’m so glad he coaches me in awkward social situations.
Thoughts post reunion:
To the guys that were jerks in high school, and made no attempt to talk to me tonight, despite me smiling your way or actually saying hi; I hope you are sweet to your wives, instill confidence in your daughters and someday soften your hearts to the whole world.
There were a few people who went out of their way to say hi to me. I was surprised and genuinely grateful for their kindness.
My “group” from high school was there. They cracked me up all night. I’m thankful for their friendship, even after not seeing each other hardly at all for the last 10 yrs.
I’m glad I skipped the $60 girdle, because the people I would’ve worn it to impress didn’t talk to me anyway.
It’s the end of the night, my head is resting on my pillow as I finish up this post. I’m glad I went because I won’t have to wonder what it would’ve been like, or be filled with regret for staying home. But honestly, real true honesty here.. It was just okay. Good night world.

A Letter to my Children… & You

May 17, 2014 by Quin Leave a Comment

Written for my children, for when they are older and will understand it more. But maybe you {my dear readers} could use this right now, too? I know I would benefit from these words being spoken to me daily.

My Dear Children,
I pray you are clinging tightly to Jesus. Be ready. Be ready for whatever comes your way, whether you think it to be good or worry it may cause strife.
I want you to be BOLD in your conversations and in your actions. You can be bold, kindly.
Act as Jesus would.

Soften your hearts. Drop your guard, & be genuine. Yes, please, please be genuine. And forgiving.
Don’t be afraid of a disappointment. Do and say the things God lays on your heart so you have no regret over the things you left undone.
Time will run out. You don’t have forever to do it all. Your life on Earth will end. Make the time for the things that matter. Quit hiding behind excuses that are inflicted by your insecurities.
They say people will forget what you’ve said but remember how you made them feel. I hope you never forget the feeling of being absolutely positively loved by me, your momma.
I want you to be aware that in this life some people will work to twist your words and hurt you. Please, when you can, stray from them. Just stray.
Make your mark on the world & shine brightly.
Take time to heal your soul. It needs refreshing more often than you’d think.
Take time to address any internal problems you feel arise.
Always be ready to move on.
It isn’t guaranteed that you will get a warning for when your time comes to meet our Heavenly Father, so just be ready.
Never forget to work in face to face conversations. I don’t care how easy social media is when you are older, it’s not the same as human contact. Use it as a tool, do not let it distract you.
I want you to know how to play at least one tune on either guitar or piano. Never turn down an opportunity to perform.
Smile, please?
When you meet “the one” never forget that they are the ONE. I believe we each only get one shot at marriage. Pray often for your spouse. Don’t be afraid to ask them to pray for you, be specific. Love them fully and passionately.
Wherever there is bad, there is also GOOD. Seek it out.
Regularly step out of your comfort zone and see how much you’ll grow.
Make time for fun!
When you need spiritual help, get it. If you need counseling, get it. Never be ashamed to ask for help.
Don’t go this life alone. Keep Jesus in your heart and goodness on your mind.
I.Love.You.
Momma

On Mother’s Day

May 11, 2014 by Quin Leave a Comment

Hey, can we talk? I know it’s Mother’s Day. How are you feeling about that? Be honest.
I hope no matter what your answer comes out like, I pray you are content. I know that may not be the case though.
Being a mom looks different to each of us. Some of us came by it young, others later in life. Some are going it alone, others with help. Some through pregnancy and birth, some by adoption, others may have a more painful story to tell. Even more may still waiting and wishing to become a mother. {To you I say, be faithful to the Lord. Your strength will rise as you wait for His perfect timing}.

No matter your story, own it. It’s yours.

If you aren’t feeling so great about this day, for a materialistic reason, like:

The gifts weren’t your first choice, or maybe never arrived. Despite your obvious hints!
The kids keep fighting.
You’re spending the day with your in-laws & that was the one thing you requested NOT to do.
No one is helping with anything.
You’re cooking for yourself and everyone else when YOU want to be the one to be waited on.
Fill in the blank_______________________.

Whatever, okay. I get it, I do. It stinks to not get your way. I just ask that you’d actively choose joy in this day. To me it’s not a day so much to be honored by my husband and kids, but a day to honor myself in positive thoughts and spreading good cheer. A day to feel blessed to be a blessing to my blessings (did you follow that one??)

If you’re struggling, repeat after me:
“I will not whine today…I will not whine today… For crying outloud I’m the mom here and I said I will not whine today!”

Alright, do whatever works for you.

Now if this day is tough because you’ve got emotional hurt. That’s another story. There is some very real pain in miscarriage, having your child removed from your care, or waiting for a child to enter your life. To that I want to encourage you to turn to God. He is the only one who can fully heal your pain. It’s worth the work of unpacking how you feel. You’re worth it. I can’t blog something on this that would be worthy of your reading. It’s too deep. You need Him. And He’s there for you, ready to purify your heavy heart and heal you so you can move on, once and for all.

Ps. One last request, which will probably go unanswered, but I will not whine… 😉 Could you keep the social media to a minimum? Relish in the day, not the # of likes and comments a picture of your gift gets you or whatev. Be fully engaged with the real-life activities you are doing, not what is happening in the virtual world.

HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY!

One last thing. It’s almost 1am & I’m sure this is full of typos. If you’re new here, I’ll let you in on a secret. I write quick and from the heart. Days later I reread & find the mistakes. Sometimes I fix them…sometimes I don’t.

Christmas Cheer: Simple Gift

December 19, 2013 by Quin Leave a Comment

Here’s a very simple gift for anyone on your list.

We won big at our town Christmas Celebration (I’m talkin’ grand prize kind of big. It blessed our socks off, folks!). It was such a great surprise that we chose to turn some of that money back into blessing others.

I purchased some $5 gift cards from the local coffee shop. I also asked for a cup for each card, because I think it makes cute packaging.

We stopped at another local store to buy some candy for filling.

The basics

Put the envelope in first.

Fill with candy and snap the lid on.

Some of the cups have ornaments or other things in them. After looking at these I wish I would’ve bought more candy for filling (or eaten less while we were filling them). I also wish I would’ve bought candy canes to stick in the straw holes. That’s what I did a few years ago, and it really adds a nice touch.

As a bonus, the kids got to help with this project. What kid doesn’t love playing with candy, right? We did color sorting, patterning, adding, multiplication and division. Oh, and a little taste testing. For quality control, ya know?