Have a happy weekend.

Happy Friday, friends! + here are some links for your weekend...

We made artichoke-stuffed, prosciutto-wrapped chicken this week and it was amazing. Sounds so difficult, but was actually really easy (and pretty!). Recipe found here, at the bottom of the page.
Do your eyes need to see a hint of spring? Laura Jones should do the trick.
The prettiest calling cards. (Printed by MOO!)
I made an inspiration board for my co-worker's first house, and now I kind of want to live in it.
An easy DIY scrub that's sure to wake up your skin from this long winter. Praise!

Photo of the fluke snow we got in Dallas last week. Crazy!

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The Sifting

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It’s currently 4am and I’m up feeding my four week old. This time last year, I told anyone who asked that Grace would be in kindergarten before we had another baby. I assume God laughed, knowing what was ahead. She wasn’t my plan. But she was never a mistake.
If you haven’t heard about it yet, the state of New York passed a new abortion law yesterday. It says that “an abortion may be performed by a licensed, certified, or authorized practitioner within 24 weeks from the commencement of pregnancy, or there is an absence of fetal viability, or at any time when necessary to protect a patient's life or health.” This allows a variety of medical professionals the ability to lethally inject a baby up until birth for incredibly loosely termed reasons. There is not a specific description in the law of what “protecting a patients life or health” means, and because of that, it can mean what you like. It also addresses fetal viability.
There are many, many babies that are labeled “not viable” and, if given a chance at life, go on to live not just hours after birth, but weeks or days or years. There are “non viable” babies that are born with, miraculously, none of the issues that were assumed or previously found.

There are a lot of accompanying pieces to supporting life. Choosing to keep a baby is no small decision. Birth moms need an incredible amount of support and care. Single parenting is insanely difficult. And adoption is chosen in less than 2% of unplanned pregnancies.
In the state of New York, you can terminate a full-term baby. A life. Literally the most vulnerable of all human beings.
Raising my voice here at 4am because I hope you’ll talk to your friends about what this new law means. That you’ll research for yourself. That you’ll ask “why” and genuinely listen to people who disagree with you. That you’ll raise your voice in elections.
But mostly, raise your voice to God in prayer. Talking to the One who is sovereign over ALL, who sent His Son as a newborn baby when the local ruler was having babies killed, did it to save you. Oh, how He loves. Talking to Him is never, not ever, “doing nothing.”

Oh my WORD 😍😍😍 got pictures of this squishy little lady back this weekend... @tarafryphotography knocked it out of the park and managed to make this hot mess of a mama look decent, too! These pictures mean so much to us. I didn’t want pictures with me in them after Grace was born because I was sinking quickly into depression. This time around, I knew I wanted to have pictures of US, whether I felt like it or not. I am incredibly grateful to say I haven’t felt depression creeping in whatsoever in these first few weeks (🙌🏼💗💃🏼), but even if I had, having pictures of this fleeting time would have been worth it. Babies don’t keep! And I’m thankful to look at these and see a healthy mama and healthy marriage. Thank you, Tara!!

Whenever I think “What should I be doing right now? Am I doing enough? Is my life purposeful?”, God answers me with these two faces. 💕 My word for this year is “simplicity.” I am choosing to intentionally embrace the chaos of a two year old and newborn, knowing God has good gifts for me in my limitations, that I can find peace by being grateful for my circumstances, that He knew I could only handle 24 hours in a day 😉 I don’t get nearly as much done as I did before having kids, my life is nowhere near as put together or as “pretty,” but it is FULL and it is so incredibly good. This season of little ones won’t last forever and my first priority is to slow down and soak it up!

Our two weeks with daddy are coming to a close, and we are all going to miss him so much when he goes back to work tomorrow! We are so insanely lucky that he’s been able to be home with us as we begin this new chapter.
This guy has been our super hero 🦸‍♂️ Lifting Grace when I couldn’t, caring for all three of us girls when I got really sick last week, giving bottles, changing diapers, handling tantrums, reading stories, and playing in “the princess closet” (Grace’s playroom under the stairs). He has cooked meals, kissed bumped heads, stayed up with a hungry baby and forgiven me every morning when I’d forget (again) to prep coffee the night before. He’s checked on me countless times a day to make sure I’m doing well and that we are communicating effectively. I cannot put into words how thankful I am for this man that God gave me. Chris, you continue to be everything I never knew I needed.
Last time we had a baby, our world was upside down. This time, this surprise, has been our redemption song. We’ve said it since the moment we found out about Julie. God has given us the sweet opportunity to try again, with experience and so much growth behind us, and to ENJOY this chaotic season together.
Tomorrow morning, us three girls get to find a new rhythm together... but today, our world is all about this sweet husband and daddy!