creating.

happy summer! :)

i've just begun my second summer as a teacher, and would LOVE to keep up with my blog more. i've pretty much had to cut any "extra-curricular activities" out of my life during the school year so far... but i'd love to instill some balance on that front. i'd love to figure out how to continue to do the things i love & enjoy... the things that refresh me.

things like crafting. and printing. and designing. and expressive writing (i.e. this blog). :)

we shall see.

so in an effort to do just that, i updated my blog that features my little paper design "business." emma kate designs has been barely up and running for most of its existence. basically, i design and create digital & paper elements for my own family's parties... :) but, once in a blue moon, i get the chance to do something for a friend, or maybe even a stranger who just happened across my work via "the internets." :)

i added some projects that hadn't been featured yet, and also changed the layout, background, colors, etc. of the blog itself. AND... i made-over the logo! it's quite a possibility that it's a work in progress at the moment, but i like the new look... it's fresh, whimsical & modern. not so stuffy and formal.

here's the new logo:

what do you think??

you are more than welcome to show yourself on over to ekd's site. feel free to peruse the pretties that i've posted in the past, and treat yourself to a little sneak peek of a certain "baby" girl's 2nd birthday celebration. :)

here's to a crafty summer vacation! {hopefully.}

missing.

i know, i know... its been nearly two months since i've posted! i must say that i have excuses... good ones, too! i mean, finishing school, graduation, being pregnant and exhausted, having a 3-year-old, thanksgiving and christmas, a trip to destin, a new year's trip to ohio for a funeral... whew... its been one crazy 2-months!

but they are over now. and i am done with school.

and currently, i am home. in a quiet house. with my daughter at mother's day out.

and no homework to do! :)

so, i promise... i will be catching you up on all of our adventures from november and december... this week!

promise.

right now, i have to finish some plans for lindsey's 21st birthday. fun stuff.

there will be posts about that too, i'm sure of it. :)

what a gift.

"who can know motherhood but a mother? how could anyone explain the quickening of a child in the womb, the ache of sorely taxed hips or the waves of labor pains to anyone who hasn't given physical life to another? on the other hand, what person can fathom the depths of joy that attend motherhood in its glories? can anyone who is not a mother imagine the delights that come from the very existence of one's children?

what a gift."

- GK


i found this quote today, and i loved it. maybe because i am a mother, or maybe simply because i am pregnant & emotional...it brought tears to my eyes.

i have no idea who "gk" is, but obviously "she" must be a mother...

four.

we are so excited to announce that around june 22nd of 2010, our little family of three will become a family of four! : )

we are beyond thrilled and thankful to our God for creating the precious life growing inside me.

emma is constantly talking about the baby she has started calling "baby jacob," and how she will be a "big sister princess."

we covet your prayers during the next 8 months, and i'm excited to share our little journey with you! (you can follow along with the little ticker i added on the sidebar ----->)

lolli dolls.

i have officially found the cutest little creations ever.

ever.

a little etsy shop called lollipop workshop, where these precious "lolli dolls" come from, has just taken a few whistful moments of my life.

a birthday girl lolli doll
(she is completely customizable for your favorite bday girl!)


another sweet lolli doll as a cake topper


would you not have LOVED this as a little girl?
i am pretty certain that i would have stared at her endlessly...


...and what about this wedding cake topper?
also customizable - and i think as cute as can be!


i think these cupcake toppers are adorable.


they can hold candles, too!


and the gift wrapping? genius. love it. precious.

i follow a blog called bakerella. if you haven't read it, you should. she is too cute, and always whipping up some amazing baked treats! the creator of lolli dolls sent bakerella some custom goodies the other day, and she posted her surprises on her blog:

bakerella's very own lolli doll, made to look just like her!
(notice the "bakerella" sign!)


here's the little lovley holding a tray of her famous cake balls


the teeny-tiny dessert table.
i am in awe of the detail in this precious work of art!
(also featuring the cake balls & her even cuter cake pops)

a lolli doll b.f.f. for bakerella's little niece & assistant chef :)


the lolli's and their dessert buffet, together.

i mean, really... does it get much cuter?

i would like to be completely irrational and order one for emma's birthday. :) however, i am restraining, simply because i can hear the shock & border-line-rage in jason's voice as he asks exactly how much i spent on that little cake topper for our 3-year-old. :)

i wish i had thought of these cutie-patootie gifts, i bet they're SO fun to create!

lolli dolls? yes, please.

what a man.

mmm. just look at him. what girl wouldn't swoon over that slightly-toussled, bad-boy vibin' hunk-ova man?!

and really, the more america got to know mr. wes hayden from austin, texas, as he dabbled in lovin' on jillian, it was just by chance that he gained some publicity for his album comin' up, right? i mean... he only told us about his new song and new album once ever 5 minutes througout his time on abc's "the bachelorette."

it's not his fault that such a beautiful (and probably pre-written & ready-to-go) song needed to be played on tv about 10 times within the first 3 episodes. and who woulda thunk that his entire band would just happen to be available to give jillian a little mini-concert during the home-town date?

and the whole girlfriend thing?? maybe noone told wes that not only should he not be on a dating show on national tv while he's dating/in love with laurel from back home, but that it's probably not something he should share with all the guys that are also pining for jillian. and maybe no one told him that when he's trying to lie... ahem, i mean... explain the whole girlfriend-misunderstanding to jillian, that he should refrain from using the term "girlfriend" to describe said "laurel." and maybe noone explained that jillian would indeed view this little tv show one day, and that his true colors would eventually be visible to her and to all of america.

you can't blame him really. i mean, what an honor to be named "the first man in bachelorette history to make it all the way to the top 4 with a girlfriend."

and i don't think there's ever been a man more excited at the rose ceremony, knowing he's going home, because as he told us all, when he got home, he's "havin' a LOT of {insert 3-letter-word that rhymes with /x/ here}!" what a gentleman. really.

what girl wouldn't want him?

here is one of wes' shining moments from last night's episode:

"i don't know much about the music scene in barcelona, but uh, i had a song on my 2nd album that was actually #1 in chihuahua, mexico, so i feel at home, ya know, livin' around spanish people."

i mean, he's right. the market in chihuahua, mexico is very competetive... or so i hear. and it is only natural that he would feel "at home" with an entire race of people, simply by having a popular song in one of its descreet citites. and what better time to plug your album, yet again, than when you are supposed to be discussing all the reasons you love the girl that 3 other guys are vying for?

hmm.

maybe miss laurel from austin knows something we don't.

because i sure don't see any redeeming qualities in this guy...

thank you, jillian, for sending him home.

i will be enjoying the remainder of this season's "the bachelorette," sans-wes!

glorious.

last week, when i got into my car at around 3pm after school, this is what my poor little jetta read the temperature as being:

106 degrees.
i mean... i knew it was hot. i burned my bum through my jeans on my charcoal gray leather seats... but oh. my. goodness. 106 degrees? that should be illegal.

so, imagine my delight when, on monday of this week, the weather had changed dramatically after some much-needed rain on sunday! as i walked around campus at TWU, there was a beautiful breeze... the air was almost "soft" it was so comfortable. this is what "miss etta" the jetta told me the temperature was at 3pm on monday:

86 degrees!
20 whole degrees cooler than it was only a few days before!
isn't that crazy? and man... those 20 degrees make a HUGE difference!

it was a MUCH needed break from the endless weeks of over-100-degree weather we've had so far this summer.

and it was glorious.

i could live days like that everyday... but it probably won't happen in texas. :)

...and she's off.

jason's sister, lindsey (emma's "aunt lulu") left for new zealand today. she will be gone for 7 weeks on a summer project with campus crusade for christ, international. she will be part of a team of 10 college-aged believers ministering to the students at the university of victoria in wellington, new zealand, and also helping with the new zealand campus crusade national winter conference.

of course, we will miss her very much! lindsey and i have grown so close over the years, and especially over the last year, since she's been back in texas. she and jason are SO close... he loves his little sister so much. and emma... well... she just adores her "lulu." she'll miss her tons, that's for sure. however, we are so excited for this journey she will be taking, and to see how God will work in and through her during her time away from the busy-ness of life here in "dallas."

please be praying for our sister, as she grows in the Lord and serves Him overseas. pray that she has the time of her life, and comes back renewed, refreshed, and excited about the work He has called her to do!

to follow lindsey and her teammates on this adventure, click here.

i've placed a link on my blog-list to lead you to the blog she and her team will be updating throughout their journey. i'm sure she would love to know you followed her trip and prayed for her while she is gone.

we love you lindsey! we know you will have a blast! soak up every moment... it'll be gone before you know it. :0)

my nightstand.

on the right column of this little blog page, i have a feature that lists the books that jason and i are currently reading. jason's nightstand is filled, with like, a million books. (and yes, he is reading them all.)

my nightstand, on the other hand, holds 3 books right now - figuratively.

since i just finished "call me hope," i decided i would finally finish the last one-third of "the shack," which i have been reading since sometime in the fall! it's a really great book, and i really was enjoying it, i simply got too busy with school and mommyhood to finish it. so... i was really excited to snuggle in bed with the last few chapters of this story... and i can't find it! i think the last time i saw it was when we went to visit the reyes family in san antonio. that was in november. i've looked everywhere. but no "shack." (naomi, is it at your house?)

and since i couldn't find "the shack," but was in such a reading mood, i picked up a book i've been wanting to read for awhile: "change of heart" by jodi picoult. she is my favorite author right now. such a great story teller, and all of her books make me think. i can tell this one is already going to be tough (emotionally) for me to read. it's about a woman whose husband and daughter was killed by their contractor while she was pregnant with her 2nd daughter, claire. the man is now on deathrow, and claire ends up having some problem with her heart and needs a transplant. as payment for what he has done, the killer wants to give his heart to the little girl when he is executed. apparently, while he is in prison, he begins performing some sort of miracles... and people start calling him a messiah or savior. sounds kinda "green mile"-ish. i don't know... you have to read a jodi picoult novel. then you won't even second guess this plot-line! i've read "my sister's keeper" and "the tenth circle" so far. both are amazing!

the other book on my nightstand is "your money or your life" by joe dominguez & vicki robin. i am participating in a "book club" called "sound mind. sound mom." we will be reading 6 books over the next 12 months. the topics include finances, parenting, relationships, keeping a clean/organized home, living green, etc. the first topic is getting control of your finances. i think jason and i are going to read this together. i've read the prologue so far, and i'm excited. it's not necessarily a book i 'won't be able to put down,' but i have until march to read it. i hope this is something i stick with all year, and don't just get the first book, not finish it, and do away with the whole idea all together. so ask me in march. :)

so, when i say there are 3 books on my nightstand, that's just the one on my blog. :) there would be 3, except that "the shack" is lost... so it can't be on my nightstand... but it's still on my mind to be read. there are, however, 2 books sitting on my actual nightstand right now. i put my glasses on them last night, when i was ready-for-bed enough to stop reading. :)

i know, i know. this blog was riveting. i know you're all just sitting on the edge of your seats until my next rant about the books i'm reading.

but now you can hold me accountable to finish what i've started. yes, that was my point in writing this all along...

call me hope.

i have decided to "review" books here after i've read them... and this is the first installment! :)

i read "call me hope" on friday... that's right - in one day. i couldn't put it down. donna lent it to me. a sweet little book that was even signed by the author, gretchen olson. "wishing you hope!" was inscribed on the inside of the cover. i felt like she was speaking straight to me... throughout the entire book.

this novel was actually written for young adults, but it is very well written and an incredible story. it centers around an 11-year-old girl, hope marie elliott, and her struggle to feel loved and accepted by her verbally abusive mother.

this story explores the relationship between mother and daughter, and the challenges that come with it. it explores the confusion and pain of a little girl fighting for her mother's love, and believing that she can't do anything 'good enough' to win that love. it explores a mother's undying love for her child, even when she is so emotionally battered, herself, that she is unable to show it in the most healthy of ways.

hope finds refuge in secret places she creates for herself... drawing inspiration from anne frank's "diary" and the little boy from "it's a beautiful life." their courage and survival skills spurs her on to become not just "another victim."

i loved this book. it was sweet and powerful all at the same time, and it really hit home for me. i was reminded of several struggles from my past, and reminded of the importance of pursuing the ability to love others fully - both as a daughter and as a mother.

this simple story gave me a new outlook on the challenges that my mother faced as i was growing up, and opened my eyes to how easy it could be for me to face the same challenges with my own daughter.

this story allowed me to see beyond my own hurts, and realize that my story's outcome is my "choice." i can choose not to be a victim...

this story gave me hope.

stocking stuffers.

i am having so much fun shopping for gifts this year! my favorite part is actually deciding what to give my loved ones. i love thinking about things they may have mentioned that they want, or thinking about what they could really really use. i also love looking for fun, random, they-wouldn't-buy-it-for-themselves stocking stuffers!

i found this list today of great stocking stuffer ideas. i think i see many items on this list that i may add to MY christmas shopping list. : )

so, in the spirit of the season, i thought i would share it with you.


stocking stuffer ideas for adults:

• Address/date book
• Bath salts and spa items
• Book embosser
• Bookmark
• Camera
• Candles
• Card games
• CDs/DVDs
• Cell phone or accessories
• Chocolates and candy
• Cookies
• Memberships to a zoo or museum
• Gift certificates
• Golf balls or other hobby goodies
• Hand warmers
• Jewelry
• Magazine subscription
• Organizer
• Ornaments
• Picture frame/photos
• Puzzles
• Scarves and gloves
• Snow globes
• Soaps
• Socks/slippers
• Stationery or note cards
• Tickets to a concert or sports event

stocking stuffer ideas for kids:

• Coloring books or game books
• Crayons, colored pencils, or markers
• Diary or journal
• Dolls or tiny teddy bears
• Camera
• Card games
• Certificates to paint ceramics or make a bear
• CDs/DVDs
• Cookies/candy
• Gift certificates
• Handheld games
• Jewelry
• Miniatures (such as tea sets, doll furniture)
• Mittens or gloves
• Movie tickets
• Puppets
• Puzzles
• Slippers
• Snow globes
• Sport cards
• Stickers
• Stationery or note cards
• Theme park admission

so there you go. be inspired. may it assist you in making someone you love very happy... and their stocking very full!

stocking stuffer list from here

disappointed.

in light of the recent "decision 2008" results, i have been pondering a lot! and i have come to the conclusion that i am very, sincerely disappointed in the reaction of the american people... sadly, and most specifically, conservative-christian-rep

ublicans.

i have always considered myself to be a republican, a conservative, and obviously a christian. and although i have only been able to vote in one other presidential election (i missed the 2000 vote by 3 months!), i was very strongly aligned with the republican candidate in the past. this year was different. i wasn't sure who to pick. i wasn't sure who was best. mainly because i didn't want to fall prey to all the ridiculousness that was constantly being made up about each candidate. but also because they both seem like really decent men.

so, even though i knew that this election would be heated, and even though i knew that if obama won that there would be an outcry (honestly, there would have been either way), i was already sure that obama would come out on top. it just seemed obvious to me. because america has been griping about president bush for at least 4 years, because obama basically became a celebrity overnight (like 2 years ago!), because america is wanting a change... be it good or bad, they just want a change.

and, i have been horrified and saddened by the response to his win.

i have not heard so many horribly hateful, cruel, ignorant statements at one time in my life. things like, "the first thing obama should do as president is shoot himself." things like, "may God have mercy on our country." things like, "i'm giving up my citizenship." then there was the horrible event that happened on baylor university's campus this week, when some students thought it would be funny, i guess, to hang a noose on a tree to symbolize the "lynching" of obama, and then proceeded to burn his picture by it. do these people not realize that this man is a human being with a family, not to mention 2 young daughters???

i'm tired of the whining. i'm tired of the panic that has come from the apparent feeling that God has forsaken our country, and we're now going to self-destruct because of one man coming into power. it's ridiculous!

here's my take:
whether or not you feel that obama is the best man for the job, he's got it now. he WILL BE our new president. that demands some respect. how many republicans/christians were offended and whined and cried when the media, celebrities, SNL, late night talk shows, etc. degraded president bush every freakin' chance they got? we were so tired of the "liberals" being cruel and critical and condescending, just because they didn't agree with him. it was awful. for 8 years, it was awful. and now, obama hasn't even been SWORN INTO OFFICE yet, and already we're defaming his name, ridiculing him, slinging hateful words, begging for his death... and, here's the kicker... all in the name of our Lord and Savior!

as americans, we have the right to choose our leaders. and as americans, so does everyone else. our leader was chosen. we now have the responsiblity to respect him and submit to his leadership. this does not mean we cannot have opinions or a voice. but it means that he our president. it is what it is.

and i could be wrong, i guess. barrack obama could turn out to be a muslim. he could turn out to be friends with horrible terrorists. he could turn out to refuse to be sworn in on the bible. he could turn out to remove the american flag from airforce one and throw away all the flag pins he can get his hands on. he could turn out to be a liar, a thief, a horrible man.

but what if i'm not wrong?

WHAT IF he actually is a great man, who loves this country, and has every intention to do something positive, so that we can leave this nation to our children in a better state than it's in now? WHAT IF (gasp!) he actually does believe in the God that i serve and desires to submit to His will as he attempts to lead this country? what then?

i'm not, by any means, a huge obama supporter... it just saddens me that the people leading this hate rally towards the man who just made history in our nation are all people who claim to be "lights in the world" for Jesus.

so, maybe, instead of throwing a temper tantrum because the guy you chose didn't win... maybe you should start praying that this man hears the voice of God throughout the next 4 years. maybe you should start praying that you're wrong about everything you've feared, because if you're wrong, that means that this will end up being a positive, maybe even incredible change for our country.

"the [president's] heart is in the hand of the Lord." proverbs 1:21

this did not surprise God. He's known this outcome all along. and i don't know whether or not He is pleased with the man that america has voted into office.

but i DO know, that He loves barrack hussein obama NO LESS than He loves you, or me, or any other child of His.

and i also know that the hate spewing from the mouths and hearts of His children right now can most certainly NOT be pleasing to Him.

take it or leave it.
that's all i have to say.

99 balloons.

i just saw this beautiful story on oprah.

what an amazing picture of how God is glorified in every situation.

here is baby eliot's story:

in His hands.

jason and i are going through a very trying time right now, in every way. we are being stretched, tested and challenged individually, in our marriage, financially, as parents, with our jobs, decisions, everything. we are stressed and overwhelmed and weary.

today, as i was shopping at sam's with my mother-in-law, i pushed my sweet daughter along in the cart, and we sang to help pass the time (i.e. to keep her entertained).

as i leaned over the cart's handle, my face so close to emma's, we sang a few verses of "He's got the whole world in His hands"...quietly to each other.

it's such a simple song, with simple words, a simple melody. i've sung it a million times since i was a little girl. but in this quiet, almost intimate moment with my daughter, my heart was overwhelmed and my eyes welled with tears.

i was struck by the words to this childhood song:

"He's got Mommy & Daddy in His hands,
He's got Mommy & Daddy in His hands,
He's got Mommy & Daddy in His hands,
He's got the whole world in His hands."

to say it to emma made it sound like more than a simple song. it was like i was promising her. and in that promise, i was hit by the song's great truth: He's got mommy and daddy in His hands. He's got sara and jason in His hands.

why do i always doubt this?

we'll be fine.

and i pray that emma can grow up seeing faith like this in the lives of her parents: to be able to tell her that it's ok. that we're in God's hands. to be able to tell her that and really, truly believe it. that's my heart's desire.

so, yes, we'll be fine. because, after all, He's got the whole world in His hands.

baby fever

so, this post is really all about me... more of a peek inside my heart. :-)

in our circle of friends/family, there are 6 babies due within the next few months. SIX!

and, even though i am very happy for all of them, and very excited to meet their little ones, i am a bit sad for me... because i really have baby fever right now. emma's at the perfect age... i would love for our kids to be around 2-and-a-half years apart. and we're far enough away from those difficult newborn days, that i can actually imagine having another baby right now.

the thing is - it's not in "the plan" right now. i just quit my job to go to school full-time. i need to finish... i can see the light at the end of the tunnel now... i know it will be over before i know it. but it's just not the way i pictured my life being right now.

i thought at the age of 25 that i'd already be married and have a baby... so that part has come true. but i also thought i'd be done with school, and enjoying my days as a stay-at-home mommy, maybe of 2. and i wouldn't have to be worried about getting pregnant as a 25-year-old, married-for-4-years, mommy/student!

i know that i have an amazing life. i am very blessed. my husband is my best friend. our daughter is perfect. we have a beautiful house, a cute doggie, two great cars, amazing friends and family... i know all that.

i just hate feeling like we're stuck in this part of our life. like we can't move on. it's hard seeing all of our friends progress, and knowing that if we were to announce the very same news, we wouldn't get an excited reaction, but instead worried faces and questions of concern.

i think, mainly, it's just the fact that i'm having to "give up" the plans that I had made. i'm having to let go of the way i thought it would be and surrender to what God has for our family.

and right now... it's not a baby.

and i know that's best... i just want one so bad...

...sigh.

anyway, just thought i'd share. and maybe the next time you hear me whining about it, you can remind me of all the reasons i know that it's ok the way it is. :-)

soon to come...

i haven't been super great at keeping up with the blog, lately, i know.

HOWEVER...

i'm in the process of uploading a bunch of pictures from our camera, and some pictures that donna has taken when emma's over there. SO, there will be some updates soon... to catch you up on some fun from this summer.

here's what you can look forward to:

1) random silliness

2) "The Wiggles: LIVE!" (yes... we took emma to a wiggles concert... don't hate... we're parents of a toddler!)

3) potty training... only tasteful pictures, i promise! but these are important moments to document!

4) chasing bubbles

5) shaking booty

6) a new tu-tu and princess shoes

7) the dallas arboretum in 109 degree weather... who gets the smartest-mom-of-the-year award? anyone?

...just to name a few...

so stay tuned... i'll keep you "posted." (hehe, i'm a dork!)

a new house for the rains family?

ok, so not really a new house... but we can dream, right? :-) jason and i recently drove through a new-build community in McKinney called Tucker Hill. they are all colonial-architecture homes with front porches, large front yards and tons of old trees. it was beautiful to say the least! the fun thing was, all the homes are available to walk through, so we were able to dream completely beyond our means!!! but these two houses are the ones we fell in love with. i have the pictures, and the floorplans of each house. they were both 5 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, media room, game room, 3 car garage, huge closets and laundry rooms, and porches all over the place! the second house even has a carriage house over the garage... our guests would be so well taken care of!:-) they are incredible! needless to say, these homes are something we would LOVE to dream towards, one day. we would never have to buy another house! but right now, we are completely content and happy to have the perfect house we do. we just thought you could admire our dreams for the moment! :-)

(the website is: http://www.tuckerhilltx.com if you want to take a peek!)

be still, and know...

I've heard this verse too many times to count, yet I don't think I truly believe it... at least... I don't live like I believe it.

"I know the plans I have for you...plans for good and not for disaster...to give you hope and a bright future."
- Jeremiah 29:11

If the almighty God of this universe has good plans for me... if He already knows what's best... why do I continue to think I know better? Why do I stress and worry when things aren't going my way, when I feel out of control? Because isn't it best that I'm out of control?

One would think, given a choice between my own plans for my life, and those handcrafted especially for me from the beginning of time by the Lord Most High, that I would find my plans insignificant every time.

One would think...

Funny, how that's not how I live. Funny, how I seem to think I know better. Funny, how every time God provides for me and shows me how He knows best, I am awestruck. And then, funny, how quickly I forget, and again think I know it all.

Oh Lord, grant me the ability to see your sovereignty and perfection in all Your ways.

Lord, help me to BE STILL... and KNOW You are God.