A New Car

On Monday, Ivy fell in love with all of the toy cars at her babysitter's house. I had to pry her little fingers off of the steering wheel the same way we peel each little hand off of me in the mornings. I am so thankful that she was having a great time, but it would put it mildly to say that she was overly "passionate" (right, Diana??) about these cars. So we got home, still sad about leaving the cars behind and Nana came over. She immediately started rattling off all the details about these cars and saying "Ivy car, Ivy car, Ivy car!"- implying that she wanted her own car. Well, Nana thought this was a must so yesterday Ivy and I got home to a toy car.... well kind of.

You see, the toy cars don't come assembled and Daddy wasn't home just yet. Ivy was satisfied looking at the box, not really realizing that the pictures told what was inside. She even pointed out to Daddy that Nana's box was outside when he got home. Upon opening the box she realized that the insides contained all the parts- lights, eyes, steering wheel, etc- that are used to build a car. After many fits (sorry no photos!!) Ivy was able to sit inside the car while Daddy put it together. This made it a little difficult but definitely easier on the ears and on the neighbors than the shrieking cries that took place as she waited for the car. We took walks, played babies, read books, but no distraction could take away from the fact that she was going to have her own car!

Daddy putting on the roof.

Daddy screwing everything in place

(You love the orange monster truck in the background-don't you!!)


Ivy is off and very happy :)

So excited to be cruising around in her new car!

Thanks Nana for some fun times last night and many more to come!!

The Little Things

When you have a little one you really start to appreciate the little things. Everything is new to them and they are always ready for exploration. With the spring like (even summer like...) days we have been outside a lot. I think Ivy would be happy to live outside! Here are some little things that we have been appreciating lately!

The beauty of new flowers blooming....

Picnics and popsicles with Daddy....

Taking a stroll (in a sundress... at that)...

A break from the sun in a shady spot!

A Day at the Zoo

Ivy took her first trip to the Louisville Zoo yesterday. Lindsey, Rantz, Whitney, and Cam invited us to join and we had such a blast. It was a gorgeous day- maybe even a little too hot for the animals! We all packed into one car and headed out, arriving at the zoo in good time. We saw all the animals from Ivy's books. She looked in amazement that these things were actually real! Every time I see things like giraffe's and their sleek long necks, perfect for eating leaves at the top of tall trees- I am always so impressed with God's creativity and perfect planning for each animal!

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Here are some funny things Ivy said at the zoo:

* Rhino- big booty! (Haha- true statement!)

*Big monkey in time out. (This is when the gorilla sat in the corner with his back to us.)

*Mommy, Daddy, and Baby elephant (They were so cute!)

* Lots of birds.... (over and over and over, every time we saw a bird!)

* Cows, mommy??? (She wanted to see the cows so bad, unfortunately there are NO cows at the zoo! She is truly a KY girl at heart :) - loving those farm animals!)
*I climbing. (Greg taught her to always tell us when she is going to climb so we can help her. He thinks she is going to go rock climbing with him someday! So Ivy insisted that she was climbing into almost every animal cage.)

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A couple pictures of the day~ I do apologize that there are not many pics, actually none with any animals... oops! It was hard enough to keep up with Ivy with the one million field trippers at the zoo so I lacked in the picture department!

Rantz and Ivy plotting out where to go first!

Looking at the giraffes in amazement!

Wanting to go in and hang out with the flamingos!

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On a side note, thank you so much for all the encouragement on the job front! I really really appreciate it and I must say I have read the comments 2 million times. As far as news, my principal told me that she put me in as a pinkslip rather than a resignation which is a huge blessing but she did not confirm my job because our school is losing 2 positions. Keep praying! Thanks, friends!

Job 42:2

"I know that you can do all things, NO plan of yours can be thwarted." Job 42:2

Friends, I learned a very hard lesson this week. I am not in charge of my life. I am a child of God and He knows the plans for my life and for my family. And God's plans can not be thwarted.... but Sarah's plans most certainly can. I have had a week full of convictions in my heart and through grace I have felt God's comfort and peace. I am a sinner and I wrongly, stepped in front of God and tried to lead my life without letting him fully guide me. I was not patient in waiting to see what was in store.

When Greg found out about his job, we quickly made several decisions without waiting. We told my principal I wouldn't return and started planning for other major decisions like buying a house and me being stay at home mommy. Well, in Greg's "official" meeting we found that as his company promised- they had excellent insurance for Greg, but we failed to know the details regarding carrying Ivy and I on that plan. All in all, it was going to be totally unaffordable to carry our family on his insurance. As we crunched numbers, and instinct kicked in that I didn't know I had- an instinct to provide where I know I can. Teachers have excellent benefits, and this is what we wrongly assumed all jobs had. I am confident in my ability as a teacher and I am confident that this is a very real calling in my life. And I know, in order to move forward I am going to have to go back to work- full time- next year.

I was so sure that God had given me a heart that lacked being able to pull this off.... but in the past 48 hours God is already preparing me. I have fallen into His arms for rest and assurance that I can be an excellent Mommy and teacher. I have several people to look to as role models as I walk this road next year, and probably for many years to come. Through many meaningful conversations, I know that this is what is best for our family. I am so thankful for the revelation that I had after this post. I was counting down the days until the end of school and chose to be joyful for those 30 days... in that joy I started to feel very bittersweet about leaving my job, I had realistic fears about being home, and I longed to have my own classroom for that next 30 days just to regain that teacher ownership that only us teachers really understand :). And those feelings all began to make sense on Tuesday evening. I am able to look at our future and be positive.

I am still asking for prayers and I would love for you to join in- my principal has not yet confirmed that I will have a job. She had moved forward with paperwork after I told her I wouldn't return and I have to wait to hear the status of my job. Other teachers have built my confidence in this but until I hear her confirmation I cannot fully rest. Wilmore is my comfort zone and that is where I would want to teach- hands down. That is a place I would want to send my own children. So I am asking for your prayers for my job security. Once we are assured that I will return to WES we are going to start looking for houses much closer to where I work. This will alleviate some of the travel time and stress that come along with that. I will be able to be close to Ivy while she is at the babysitters and close to my home. I will be able to live in the community where I work. So I would love for you to join me in this prayer.

Here are some scriptures that I have been resting in the past few days:

Be joyful always, pray continually, give thanks in ALL circumstances, for this is God's will for you in Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 5:16

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Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

Philippians 4:6

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Cast all your anxiety on Hm because He cares for you.

1 Peter 5:7

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Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:24

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Many, O Lord, are the wonders you have done. The things you plan for us no one can recount to you; were I to tell of them there are too many.

Psalm 40:5

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Be still and know that I am God.

Psalm 46:10

*I will update as soon as I hear anything from my principal. Thanks for your prayers!

New Routine...

Ivy has a new morning routine.

1. Wake Up

2. Change Diaper

3. Cup of Milk

4. "Nommies off"

*She sheds her clothes a enjoys playing in just her diaper. This has been part of the routine for a while and it's never been a problem. I love seeing her little diaper butt run around. (or big booty according to Unc and Esie!)

But today she added a next step as she ran in the kitchen yelling "Nakeee girl" this is what I saw:
5. Nakeee Girl!

She now thinks she can run around naked as a jay bird. Which wouldn't be a problem if I wasn't scared she was going to pee all over the place!!! But with that little problem, her booty must be diapered at all times.

Re-diapering followed after this picture. It was not pretty!

ps- As I took her picture she held up her imaginary camera and said "Cheese, Mommy!" She is such a silly girl!

Smorstad News Update

Well, I have been quite the neglectful blogger this past week. Truth be told- I have had houses on the brain and been pretty non-functioning in all other departments. But we have had some exciting news in the Smorstad family that I must share.

A. Greg will officially graduate from UK in 21 days!!!

B. Even more importantly, he has been offered a job at Clotfelter Samokar, an architecture firm in Lexington when he currently interns. Yay to my outstanding hubby!

We are still waiting for some "official" things to take place but he has been assured that he will be employed full time come graduation. We feel so blessed for him to have found a job in such terrible economic times and even better it is in Lexington!!!! For those of you that don't know- Greg has talked about moving me to places like Oregon, Washington, and even Canada so you can imagine that I am thrilled to be right here in the bluegrass!


C. I told my principal that I will not be returning to teach next year. Now, this was not as easy as I thought it would be. I have shared with you before that I was scared that I no longer had a passion for teaching. Through, lots of prayer God revealed something even more shocking. I simply do not have a passion for teaching part time. In other words, I don't like to share- haha, typical first child syndrome!! Part of the love that I had for my job was MY classroom and MY students. In the jobshare situation I lost a lot of ownership. I am so thankful that I have rekindled my love for the classroom and overjoyed to confidently say I will be back one day. But when I am back, I will be the only teacher in my classroom. In the meantime, I am going to be a teacher to my own children and fully serve my husband. I am going to complete my master's during my time off. And I will go back when God so willingly sends me. I know that I am called to be 3 things: a wife, a mother, and a teacher and I will answer to all of those things in my lifetime.

D. All of the above brings us to our current topic: HOUSES!

This was our first love of house hunting!

I have been doing the house hunting thing since November. I have scoped out what we want, don't want, and what our family absolutely needs. I have looked in Nicholasville, Wilmore, and Lexington. I have looked at a range of houses in age, price, and size. And we have come to a couple of conclusions. Here they are (I am in a list making sort of mood... can you tell??):

* We love an old house with amazing wood floors. We love the character. We love the trees. We love that it is the polar opposite of what he live in now!

*We don't like that old houses need more fixing up than we can afford.

*We don't like that old houses usually mean old neighbors... we love old people but would like the have a kid friendly neighborhood!

*We don't like that old houses typically come with 1 bathroom- a downsize from what we have now.

*We don't like that old houses have gas heat. THIS IS EXPENSIVE! We got a quote on the house above that we are so in love with that they pay on average $190/month on gas and electric. This is $120 more than we pay a month for electric. So even though this house is on the lower end of the price range we would make up for it with this one hefty bill.

*We have now decided we are open to newer homes.

*This house hunting process makes me a little crazy. Friends, I mentally move my family into several houses a week. I place my furniture, paint the walls, and birth a few more kiddos. I do any fixing up needed and I grow older in these houses. I lose sleep. Then one little problem comes- and snap I am mentally homeless! It is a whirlwind of emotions but in the end it will be worth it!

*We have zero desire to build a house unless we are headed for a divorce. haha- seriously, I don't believe I could handle the stress of building from scratch.... even with my calm counterpart.

*We are now looking back in all the regions- Nicholasville, Wilmore, Lexington.

*House hunting has come full circle.

So I hope you feel a little more up to date on our life! (As if you, my 3 blog readers care or you haven't already heard the details 10 times over, sorry mom!!!) I will continue to let you know how house hunting is coming along. And hopefully, my next post will be full of mommy musings and cute snap shots of Ivy!

ps- I have just mentally moved into an adorable ranch in the sweet subdivision of Lou Carlton! It has the country feel of Jessamine County... and is really out in the county not in the heart of Nich-vegas! Kayla, do you want to be neighbors? haha, I hope I am not moving out tomorrow!

Going to bed tonight... I will be dreaming of this little number! Hopefully really dreaming, not painting walls and building swingsets :)

Easter Day

Ivy woke up.... out of her bed she followed a trail of eggs to her Easter basket.

She tested out one pink peep and was ready to have fun with green play dough pre-breakfast.

After taking a walk, and singing and dancing our praises to our Lord Jesus, we sat down to read the real story of Easter. Ivy sang her own rendition of "Jesus Loves Me".

Then we had a wonderful Easter meal at Nana and Pops' house. It was wonderful for both families to come together to celebrate Jesus.
Here is Ivy and her Memaw and Pawpaw- very distracted by their camera.

Ivy and her Nana and Popsh. (she enunciates the "sh" on the end of Pops)

She was declaring that it was time for the festivities to come to an end by yelling "Nap, nap, nap!" over and over again until a major melt down took place.

(I suppose we should have listened to the signs sooner!)

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We want Ivy to know that Easter is not about:

egg hunts,

big bunnies,

peeps,

"belly jeans",

colored eggs,

goodie baskets,

or even

fancy dresses....

Easter is not about any of that.

Easter is about the death of our Lord Jesus.

He died for us.

Our sins, mine and yours and Ivy's too, are nailed to His cross.

And He rose again, up from the grave He arose.

He offers us grace.

He offers us forgiveness.

We are given the gift of eternal life.

We will not die.

But we will LIVE... with Him... in Heaven... with all that He promises in His paradise.

And what do we have to do?

What do you have to do?

Believe in Him.

Believe His promise.

Accept Him to be your Lord and Savior.

Have faith in Jesus Christ and you don't have to die but instead live in Heaven, in paradise, with Him forever and ever and ever.

I am so thankful in His promises this Easter and every day. I am so thankful that a father sent his son to die for me so that I can be free from the guilt of my sins. I am a sinner but because of Him I am free and cleansed. Thank you, Jesus, for your grace.