Easter

Easter is not just "another" holiday in my eyes. It's a celebration of Jesus choosing to DIE so we can live. Not just in a "easy" way either ... Suffering because of love. 

As a mama, to a boy, I can't imagine sending my only son to die on a cross. The reality is... I wouldn't be put in that situation but still thinking about it so crazy to me. This way of crucifying Jesus is very personal for us. He took our sins. He died so we could have eternal life with him. This story is personal. I pray you know the truth of Jesus Christ. If you don't or have concerns or it seems to "out there"... Ask him to become personal to you. I promise you it's worth it!!!!

I love that this bible story is sinking in for our son Jude this year. 

Josh went through the "resurrection" eggs with Jude. He was soaking it all in from the palm branch to the nails... He was processing it all. Saying "owie" when Josh explained the nails in Jesus' hands and feet. Seeing the light click for Jude is one of the greatest gifts as a mom. I pray he always knows the love of Christ in this way!!!

Can't wait to celebrate this day with our families. Today, Saturday we get to go to my parents & tomorrow we are hosting for Josh's family. It is also Josh's dads birthday tomorrow!! So many fun things to celebrate!!!!

HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!! Be blessed this Easter my friends. :)

I miss blogging...

I miss this blog that I love so much. I love to write... so I decided to keep each blog post simple. As we enter springtime in MN... it makes me want to blog & talk about the goodness of this time of year. Seasons are one of my favorite things about Minnesota. So much symbolism!

Springtime, Summertime & Fall are my absolute favorites. 3 out of 4 isn't so bad, right? :)
We are entering a very FULL season of weddings... I want to pause. I want to breath in the fresh spring air. I want to run and chase Jude. I want to remember the hard winter, the cold, cold days... because they brought us to SPRING.

Embracing the fresh air today... And really working on counting my blessings. Minute-by-minute. So very many ways God has blessed each of us! 

Ok...Back to editing a beautiful wedding from this past weekend. Enjoy today, friends. It only happens once. 

Two Thousand Fourteen

2014.

Happy New Year!

Back to my attempt at blogging once a week... going to try really, really hard.
I love new years. I love January. I loved that I was born in January, because my birthday was always right at the beginning of a new year. Always made me so happy.

This year we are believing God for a lot of things.
This year my word is "ABLE". I posted an instagram photo explaining this in more depth.

Ephesians 3:20-21
²⁰ Now to him who is ABLE to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, ²¹ to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.

We spent a week in Florida (just a week ago... hard to believe) and it was so beautiful and lovely coming from a cold Minnesota. I felt so encouraged during this week as we sat by the ocean... It was so good for my heart. I was reminded that God is a giver of GOOD gifts. He gave us the time, the ability to get to florida & the beautiful weather. He is ABLE to.

I'm not sure where you are at ... but I want to encourage you today. When we put our trust in God, he delights in showing us in big OR small ways that he is able to do more than we could imagine. I picture him just beaming with a smile when we suddenly realize it. I'm sure he just loves it.

Now... a few photos from our florida trip. These are my top 10 favorites (out of 450 ;)).... 

Palm trees should be everywhere

Jude's face when first seeing the ocean... he loved it.

So much

Cutest footprints in the sand.

God's beauty. First giving me the word... ABLE....

We  got to go with my fabulous in-laws Mark & Sherrill plus bro-in-law Timmy.

Special moments finding seashells

This silhouette is beautiful to me.

Family silhouette. Happiness

Jude the coolest babe on the beach!

 Love. Tan. Happy. My man!

 Here is to a year of greatness!

Christmas is my favorite!

Hi friends! I love Christmastime! I love Christmas carols... I love seeing Christmas through Jude's eyes. So many wonderful things!

Here is a peek into our home... wish we could have a big Christmas party for all my blog/facebook friends. I love parties & hosting people in our new home. So special!

 This is our downstairs space... I love the fireplace the most!

 

Found these JOY letters at Target! I love them so much! We got two - a set for outside too ;)

Downstairs tree has special ornaments like our wedding one!

 Dining room table decor... I loved this little silver tree I found. Happy. The lanterns are Ikea!

 

I was so happy to find a "flock" tree that looks frosted with white snow. 

I have always wanted two trees. :)

Decorated this year with burlap ruffles and sparkly letters... white ornaments, too.

Our upstairs living room space... snowflake pillows & fun trees.

 I really enjoy wrapping gifts too! Matching our burlap with craft paper (Spritz brand)

 The Natvity displayed upstairs with a burlap runner my mama made me & a few other fun things...

I just love this time of year. Rejoice! Rejoice!

I mentioned the Christmas carols... and I really love Christmastime for that reason as well. Most songs point to our savior, Jesus Christ. We celebrate CHRISTmas because of this amazing gift we have all been given 2,000 years ago. Jesus. He came to earth as a baby - in the most humble of ways.

I would love to tell you more about him and how much he has changed my life. I can live with JOY and share all these things because of what HE has done for us. He is the reason for living. HE is the reason for the season.

Merry Christmas Friends, Family & blog world! Here is our Christmas card...

 

Christmas Cards & New Years Resolution

Christmas Time is Here!

Hello World.
Do you remember me? Ria, Life as a Wife & Mama?

I have been totally MIA this past Spring/Fall and really neglected my blog. I began this blog as a way to journal our life... meet some other bloggers and share my heart for Jesus.

I'm back... I think. :)

One of my New Years Resolutions (a long list..) is to blog at least 1x a week. I really want to document my Life as a Wife and Mama and share our joys/trials in a way that hopefully will encourage someone out there!

With that being said... here is our son Jude & my hunk-of-a-hubby, Josh... The Latest Photo of this munkin who is 20 months old. How did that happen?

 

I absolutely ADORE Christmas time. One of my favorite things is Christmas cards.. Being a photographer and all - I really enjoy seeing everyones family photos and getting in the spirit!

It's so fun to help other people design their cards and see what everyone comes up with. I just actually got an email from a company, Minted.com who has BEAUTIFUL Christmas cards. I had never heard of them. Here is the link: http://www.minted.com/photo-christmas-cards 

I fell in love with every card and wanted to redesign mine ;) (too bad they are already in the mail...) I will definitely keep them in mind for the future. Have you ordered your cards yet? Check Minted out!

I still have a stack of 20 extras if you want one of ours, let me know. I will post the card for all to see on Christmas! Here is a sneaky peek...

 

Merry Christmas (early) Friends! 

I will be back next week sharing a tour of our new home... decorated for Christmastime!