Quads Shower

This past weekend I was able to help host my best friends shower in Little Rock. This was a fun first for me for helping host a quads shower! Never thought I would get to do that. The theme was elephants and the number 4 of course!

party favor table... peanuts for the little peanuts

food table: chick-fil-a nuggetts, elephant cookies, fruit kabobs, cupcakes, animal crackers

 4 cute elephant onesies

I made this banner from a cricut machine! I love those things!

door wreath with all the girls names on them! 4 girls!

4 "I'm special plates w/ their names on them! So precious. this is from the "Sincerely Yours" etsy shop.

Besties for a very long time! I called her mother Mare for a reason!

So many cute, girly clothes

Another fun detail that I missed a picture of was that we did a basket of bedrest survival supplies since she will have to be on hospital bedrest for several weeks. I think that would be fun to have little presents to open while in the hospital and hopefully it can brighten her day and stay!

Happy shower Mare! Love you.

 

If you didn't see my post about her story, you can read it HERE!

Enagagement Anniversary

7 years ago on this day was one of the most thrilling, surprising days of my life!
Marc popped the question to me! During our 1 1/2 years of dating, Marc liked for things to be on his time and for us not to spend too much time together. He liked lots of balance with us, friends and such, so I went with it, even though I would have rather spent every waking moment with him. Obviously that would not have been healthy.
A couple of weeks before he proposed he told me he loved me, which made me go mute for several minutes. I was in complete shock. I thought he wouldn't tell me that til we got married. Seriously, he was very hard to read and very mysterious. He always kept me guessing for some reason...! My mom was very afraid he was going to break my heart someday, which would have been tragic because I fell deeply in love with him from the moment I first laid eyes on him {side note: that was my freshmen year in the library while studying for a final, I'll never forget how "dreamy" he looked}. I know, I won't be mad if you roll your eyes, I'm just a hopeless romantic.
So all of that to say, I definitely did not expect a proposal for a very long time, and was very shocked when it did happen. It was one of the most memorable days of my life, along with my wedding and getting saved :).
It is still by far one of my favorite stories to tell. If you haven't heard it or would like to read about it, I
wrote it all out 2 years ago on this blog here: http://www.theyounthappenings.blogspot.com/2010/02/i-said-yes.html

 engagement present
2-25-05

engagement pictures

I think we look so young in those pics. Man, infertility sure ages you and makes you fat. Boo.
I seriously can't believe we are coming up on our 7 year wedding anniversary. Time has FLOWN by over these past few years.
I know I say this a lot, but I'm so thankful for Marc. He puts up with me and all my crap and loves me unconditionally. He is calming, a voice of reason, discerning, and such a servant. Over the past 2 years our love has grown more than I could have ever imagined. Our relationship is stronger, more grounded and connected. We always say we may not want to have to go through what all we've been through, but we are sure grateful for how close we have become through it all.

For those of you that are still waiting for a man, do not lose hope. I know I felt like there would never be a perfect guy for me out there, but I think that there is. Just wait on God's timing {I know exactly what that statement means and feels like, and I know it gets old} but faithfully pray for your mate that you may or may not know. Infertility has given me a sensitivity for anyone that is waiting on something and no matter how you look at it, it's just not easy being patient.

1 Corinthians 13:4-8 (NIV)

 ⁴ Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. ⁵ It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. ⁶ Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. ⁷ It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. 

Big Cedar Weekend

We had a blast this past weekend with our friends Marc's dad and step mom and with our good friends/neighbors,  the Hartnesses. We had this planned for several months and then it jut so happened that Marc's dad would be there at the same time to celebrate their anniversary.
We ate tons of yummy food, did a little shopping, played lots Nertz (card game), and got to take a nap! It was so nice to get away from all the hustle and bustle. And Big Cedar is such a beautiful place to get away to.

the best brunch ever

 2 of my faves right here. :)

Thanks honey for a wonderful trip away!

another year

On February 9th, 2011 is when I finally "came out" and began talking about or struggle through infertility. I wrote a long post about it here about a year ago :http://www.theyounthappenings.blogspot.com/2011/02/whats-really-going-on.html
I can't believe a year has gone by. A lot of times I think to myself how full circle things have come. Like how when I wrote that post during a great big snow storm, I was secretly hoping by the next snow storm I would be snuggled up with a sweet baby during the next winters storm. Well it snowed yesterday, and obviously there is no baby to snuggle with, but I do have my Louie {Kidding for those of you that know my dog}.
All I know is that I can say I thought I had learned a lot then, but wow I have learned so much more from going through this experience.
God has revealed more of Him to me, He has shown me what Peace truly feels like, He has brought me closer to Him and my husband. He has shown me what prayer is, what ultimate Faith looks like, what friendships are made of and what I'm made of {which is ugly by the way}.
I have been broken, lifted up, felt abandoned at times,but also stronger than ever. For that I'm grateful. I can honestly thank Him for what we have already gone through and what is still to come.
I will say giving up my control had been one of the most liberating things, being the planner I am. I seriously can't control anything on this journey and it feels so great to know that and understand that concept finally.
So for now I choose to trust him and no to worry.
Marc so kindly quoted this verse to me in a moment of panic and worry...he always knows how to calm me down.

Philippians 4:6-7  do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Thanks for continuing on this journey with us...another year

Happy Valentines

My sweetie got me an early Valentine.
He sure knows the way to my heart and I sure do love him!

Pinterest Cooking

I know I posted a couple of weeks ago some pinterest recipes, but I have tried a few more out there and thought I would share some. They have all been pretty delicious. My new favorite thing is when I go to the store and pull up my "recipe" pinterest board and then just buy stuff right then and there to make it. Thanks pinterest for making grocery shopping easier!

Balsamic Glazed Carrots

Recipe Found: Here via Pinterest

 White Pizza Dip!

I made this for a community group get together and it really seemed to be a hit! I thought it was delicious.

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

 Crispy Cheddar Chicken

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

Sugar Cookie Bars

My dad made these for me and they were so yummy! I prefer sugar over chocolate.

Recipe found HERE via Pinterest

 7-Up Cupcakes

 Less than 100 calories each. Replace all ingredients on package with 12oz Diet 7-up and bake as directed.

Found on Pinterest.

Are you hungry yet? I am. Let me know if you have any questions about any of this deliciousness!

Insta-Faves

I'm loving the app instagram right now, as most of us do! Here are some of my Faves from the past few weeks! I absolutely love taking pictures so I can capture the sweet moments of life.

Bautiful sky on my way home one day

Fun in OKC w/ my besties at a Mat Kearney concert

Sis' b-day dinner.

My sweet dad made me a yummy pinterest cookie bar recipe!

Marc and Lou spending some time in the word.

You can follow all my Instagram Pics by following me @mlyount!

FlatLining

flatline:
— vb
1.	to die or be so near death that the display of one's vital signs on medical monitoring equipment shows a flat line rather than peaks and troughs
2.	to remain at a continuous low level  I was explaining to someone the other day about how I had felt following our BFN {big fat negative} news and how I feel now. The best word I could come up with was that I felt like I had flatlined. There was no other way to describe it. It was a horrible feeling. I felt the lowest of lows I had felt in a long time or had ever felt. It is not a fun feeling to die inside. I know it partly had to do with all the meds in my system and the constant roller coaster of emotions that go along with it. The worst part of all of it was that my relationship w/ God flatlined as well. I hate even typing those words. But it did. I didn't want to pray, read my Bible or have any type of spiritual convo with anyone. I was numb, I was cold, and I was angry. I felt like I had spent so much time investing in all things "good" and I got nothing but "bad" back, so I wanted to be DONE. I didn't want to do what was right anymore. It was probably the most rebellious I have ever felt. Which reading that I'm sure sounds ridiculous, but I hate conflict and love to please people so I try to do all the "right" things. I think I had this mindset for a couple of months but it wasn't really working out too well. I felt empty and guilty constantly. I felt like I was letting lots of people down, including the Big guy upstairs! All of this to say it was just a very low place to be at. I finally came to a place where I had to confess and surrender it all. And when I say surrender, I mean EVERYTHING. I surrendered my control, my hope, my struggles, etc. I'm soo very thankful for a God that gives me grace when I rebel like that.  Since then I have been at such peace. I don't sit and worry about he next steps in our journey, I refuse to be fearful about the next transfer, and I'm in awe of a God who will love me through my yuckiness.  I'm not saying I'm back to where I was, but taking baby steps each day makes me crave Him more and more.  2 Cor 1:5  "For just as the sufferings of Christ flow over into our lives, so also through Christ are comfort overflows."