And a Happy New Year!!!!

And just like that, it is 2018! Happy New Year from the Stiers! We have had a week of reflecting and dreaming and praying about the new year, but first here is a little bit about 2017!

All About Us in 2017

Scott started his fifth year working for Rep. Matt Krause and is the best District Director in the State! Scott is also continuing to start-up his leadership business. Amy continues to primarily stay home with the two littles. In addition, she has continued her work with GRACE and started doing some contract TIX work in the university setting. We continue to be actively involved in our local church and love to read, go on family outings, and watch the occasional Netflix series when time allows.  

Abigail has been growing and learning new things everyday. Her favorite things to eat are Chick-fil-A, fruit snacks, and yogurt. She loves to sit and talk, sing, dance, read, play blocks, and play play-doh. She is smart, creative, sweet, compassionate, brave, and thoughtful. She is our in-house helper. We think she's the perfect combination of cautious and independent. She keeps us all in line. 

Ethan has also been growing and learning new things every day. His favorite things to eat are anything and everything, but especially any and all fruit. He loves to climb, play in his car, and do all the things Big Sister does. He is smart, bold, unafraid, silly, and easy-going. He is our in-house comedian. We think he's the perfect combination of sweet and adventure. He keeps us all on our toes.

Special Moments

Abigail started her second year at Mother's Day Out and turned 2: Ethan turned 1: Celebrated 6 years of marriage: Scott's sister got married (bonus: to a Baylor Bear): Our church opened a new building in April: Amy's dad started a new job and her parents moved to Horseshoe Bay. 

Places Traveled

Wilmington, NC: Myrtle Beach: Bald Head Island: Horseshoe Bay: Shreveport

A Few Books Read

Love Lives Here: Best Yes: Bread & Wine: Present over Perfect: Spiritual Leadership: 

Putting Your Dream to the Test: Soul Keeping: Settle for More: EntreLeadership:

and lots and lots of Monkeys Jumping on the Bed

What we are Looking Forward to in 2018

Moving into our new home: Welcoming Baby Stier #3 in May: Dance Lessons for Abigail: Welcoming a new niece or nephew on the Stier side: Making More Family Memories 

2017 was a great year! We are looking forward to all God and 2018 have in store! Wishing you and yours a wonderful start to 2018 and that the new year brings many blessings your way!

Friday Favorites

Well-it's Friday again. How does the time fly like that? And school is out, so I officially feel like it's summertime! That is something I am pumped about! However, it has been raining non-stop here in Texas, so I am ready for some sunshine to get our summer kicked off! Anyway, here are some of my favorites from the past week.

1) Last weekend I was in a wedding in Ohio for one of my law school friends/roommates. It was a really special wedding. It was so neat to see how God wove Karlee and Matt's story together-twelve years in the making, one year of dating, and a beautiful ceremony to celebrate God's goodness! To top it off, I got to bridesmaid with some of the most hilarious, fun, spunky, God-fearing, intelligent, fun, hilarious, beautiful, women. Did I mention hilarious and so much fun?!?! Some of us knew each other, some of us didn't, but it was like we had known each other for years. We all hit it off so well and have already talked about a little reunion. It was such a blast and fun getaway girls weekend for me.

2) This article. I read this today. One thing I have had to learn becoming a first-time mom is to take "advice" from others that I find useful and apply it, and let the other things just roll off my back. I used to take opinions and thoughts on how to do things so personally. I have really had to work on not getting offended and realizing every parent does things differently. I also had to realize that often times, when people express an opinion, it usually comes from a place of love and not judgment (that's what I tell myself anyway to put a positive spin on it and avoid the crazy). However, that took me a while to figure out. I think it is so easy in this social media driven world we live in to always have an opinion and then to critique and wonder if you are doing things right, especially as a first time mom. I have found that being laid back, yet alert to my child's well-being, is what works best for me and our family.  I think she will survive the non-organic cheddar crackers. This article sums that up well.

3) This moisturizer. At said wedding, we got our make-up done at Sephora. The lady used this moisturizer on me, and I got a sample to take home. I have been loving it. My skin has been breaking out lately, and I think it is due to lack of moisturizing. It sounds counter-intuitive, but if you don't moisturize your skin, it tries to overcompensate and thus produces more oil and thus leads to more breakouts. Anyway, this gel moisturizer is so soft and smooth and my make-up goes on really well underneath it. And I have noticed a difference in my skin. Win! I have yet to splurge on the actual product, but I highly recommend it!

4) This dress. This summer I can already tell I am going to be all about the comfy cotton dresses over shorts. They are so comfy and cool. I have a couple that I really like, but I recently came upon this one at Old Navy and snatched it up for a whopping $15. It seems to run true to size and Old Navy is offering 30% off today for National Donut Day, so it should be at a good price point! :) Also, I didn't realize it was National Donut Day, but that explains why I woke up craving donuts.....

5) Fruit Infused Water. I have been trying to drink more water and less diet coke to stay hydrated. Remember about said breakouts occurring over here? I hear drinking more water helps with that. However, just plain water gets boring. Last Christmas, Mom got Scott one of these pitchers. I typically just add lemon and lime, however, I am working on finding a new recipe for an event we are serving infused water at. So, enter Pinterest! So far, I have tried strawberry and orange, which is good, but I am looking forward to trying some of the others. Raspberry, lemon, and mint and strawberry, kiwi, and lime are at the top of my list! I also think I am going to try blueberry, lemon, and lavender or sage. I will keep you posted what my favorite turns out to be! But one thing is for sure: infused water is so much more refreshing than regular old water. You can find some recipes here and here.

I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend! Until next time...be blessed!

Friday Favorites

Hello World! Just wanted to chime in and let you all know of a few of my favorites as of late.

1) This article. So good. So true in many ways. Loved this so much.

2) We took a ten-day trip to Hong Kong to visit Mom and Dad. While it happened a few weeks back, I can definitely say this is still my favorite! We had a blast! We loved the city and the people in it so much! We want to go back!

3) This. I love me some Amy Grant. I am more of an "Amy Grant traditionalist," however, this is a remake I am really enjoying! Plus, I can totally relate with Amy Grant about her daughter and the song's inspiration. Abigail has truly lived up to her name and brought us so much joy. You can listen to the whole remake here.

4) I also grew up listening to Rich Mullins music. Apparently I am into old school music. It's okay; I'm unashamed. Loved this cover of one of Rich's oldies but goodies.

5) This recipe. My sister sent this to me, and we make it pretty often. I typically only use about 1/3 of the amount of thyme the recipe calls for, and I sometimes use ground spices instead of fresh. I also use potatoes, carrots, and green beans, but you can mix up any version of veggies. Also, if you leave out the sugar, it's Whole30 for those of you who do that and it still tastes delish! And win: Abigail ate it up too! 

Have a great weekend and until next time be blessed!

Friday Favorites

The past few weeks have been marked by sickness, packing, moving and crazy busy schedules. Little Miss had RSV and is finally recovering after three long weeks of isolation. For those of you that don't know, this little virus is not for the faint of heart. But I think she is finally out of the woods! As far as busy schedules go, Scott and I had to have a lunch date today just to have some face time. Needless to say, the hectic lifestyle is currently not my favorite. But this year we are working on pairing back, so hopefully things will be slowing down soon.

Here are a few of my favorites from the week!

1) This blog. Great little reminder that we can't do it all and if you think someone is doing it all, chances are they aren't. For some reason, this tired momma trying to juggle it all found that refreshing. 

2) We finally got out of our apartment and into a house!!! That is my favorite of all favorites this week! Now to unpack....

3) This week has been emotionally draining for us. For many reasons, all of which I'll leave for another day. However this video was just what I needed. Great reminder to have fun in your marriage. And in life in general and to not worry what others think of you. And to not take yourselves too seriously because sometimes you just need to live a little. And strum bamboo in the forest. Or do a little jive in front of a river. Or lip sing in the rain. Or play the air flute in front of a gorilla. Or skip through the grass. Or chase wild animals like it's your job.

4) This music video. I am still trying to figure out how they are making all those noises!

5) While we haven't been watching too much TV around here, I am loving the final season of Downton Abbey. And has anyone else been (binge) watching Making a Murderer? We watched almost the whole series in one weekend it was so addicting! And from a legal perspective so fascinating! Can't wait to see what these two news specials have to say this weekend! 

Until next time, be blessed and have a fabulous weekend!!!!! 

A Year in Review

Happy New Year! 2015 will forever be a year that our lives were changed. 2015 was the year of new beginnings. We became parents and welcomed little Abigail into this world. 

             

                                 

2015 was also a year of new beginnings as Scott and I both turned 30!!! We celebrated the beginning of a new decade with a surprise party for Scott and a weekend getaway to Boston and Cape Cod!!!

Not only did Scott and I become parents for the first time, but we also became Aunt and Uncle as we welcomed our first niece, Brooke, in May!!!

Scott continues to work hard as the best District Director in the state for District 93, and he also managed to somehow launch a little leadership consulting business on the side (with all his "free time"). This past year I stayed (mostly) home with Abigail, doing a few legal odd jobs every now and then. We continue to be involved at our local church, which officially broke ground on our new location!!!

2015 was also a year of lots of travel: from North Carolina for the 4th of July to Minneapolis for Labor Day. Then our first cross-country road trip with Abigail back to Wilmington for Thanksgiving and lots of trips to and from Austin, including for Easter and Christmas! Not only did we travel far to see family and friends, but they traveled far to see us some too! 

       

These are the moments we live for! We are thankful for each person in our lives that made 2015 so great! We are grateful to the Lord for His blessings and for our new little addition that made us a family of three. We can't wait to see all God has in store for 2016!!!! 

Happy New Year from our Family to Yours!!!!

Friday Favorites

TGIF! Here are some round-ups of my favorites this week. 

One: This video has become my life. I ate at Chick-fil-a three times this week alone. I am proud to say I don't wear yoga pants to said Chick-fil-a outings....usually. But there may or may not be a conversation about how many times I have eaten there with the Husband coming soon......I'm feeling it....

Two: This article. So true.  Be smart about what you post about your kids online.  

Three: This blog post. Adoption has been on my heart and mind lately. This spoke to me. Maybe it will speak to you too. How great is the love the Father has lavished on us! 

Hope everyone has had a great weekend and finds some time to relax and stay out of this Texas heat this weekend! 

Until next time be blessed........

Up and Goin to Carolina in My Mind

Life lately has consisted mostly of time at home with Abigail, errands, groceries, laundry, and dishes, but mostly time at home. We were able to take a trip to North Carolina over July 4th for a lovely week with the Stier side of the family. It was Abigail's first time to North Carolina and the beach. Needless to say, there were lots of memories made. We took a boat ride and ate lunch on the river, watched fireworks, took several strolls along the beach, ate our weight in snow cones, played plenty of Rummikub, had dinner with some of Scott's lifelong friends and their wives, and just relaxed. Sadly, we stayed out of the water due to the recent shark attacks along the Carolina coast, but that did not deter us from having a great time. It was so nice being in Wilmington. I always return to Texas with Carolina on My Mind. For real. This time, it was hard to get back into the swing of reality. Big time. 

However, the day after we returned Abigail got sick and then Scott and I got sick. I knew it was bound to happen. She is hitting the stage where she puts everything in her mouth and then thinks it is cute to touch our face or put her little fingers in our mouths. While adorable, not so cute when the little virus made its round. To be honest, we are two weeks out and just now getting back to feeling our normal selves again. So, we have been spending a lot of time at home so as to not infest others with the disease. In fact, I think there was a period of five days where I did not leave the house. I keep having to remind myself this is just a season.  

In addition to seeing Scott's family in North Carolina, we also made a trip to one of our favorite places on earth, Chapel Hill, and met up with some beloved friends. I left feeling like I had tasted a little bit of what what Heaven will be like. Or at least what I hope Heaven will be like. Conversations around the living room, or coffee shop, or dinner at the "top of the hill." Laughter. Memories. Deep Conversations. Those are the days I live for. All so life giving. 

Hope everyone is having a great week! Until Next Time Be Blessed....