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  1. summer days

    May 21, 2012 by louissa

    It’s a lovely Monday morning. After weeks of waking to dreary, wet, grey days, these last few sunny mornings have felt like a gift from heaven to me. All the sunny, warm wonderfulness was made a bit better with Blueberry Banana Baked Oatmeal. I’m happy.

    This past weekend we adventured into the woods. We packed some food, hopped in a rowboat, and set out. And it was everything perfect.

    still figuring out various settings on the new camera.

    beauty.

    fishing succes.


    That was the second little guy I managed to hook. Apparently I’m good at getting bites but not good at bringing in a decent sized fish. Maybe next time.


  2. Folks, that beauty is a cold sore.

    May 15, 2012 by louissa

    For as long as I can remember I’ve been getting them. The entire process is awkward, it hurts, and when I was little they were simply another reason for others to tease me.

    I’ve gotten over that last part. Promise.

    But I haven’t gotten over the awkward and hurt parts. And how much I dislike the whole thing.

    There’s not much I hate as much as I hate this:

    Hello deformed lip.


  3. the start

    May 14, 2012 by louissa

    Hi. My name is Louissa. I have a paunch of a stomach that some may think is bigger than it should be already. I have some serious love handles taking over my lower back. The number on the scale is starting to go up week after week. One out of every three meals seems to find it’s way back up out of my stomach. I live feeling a bit nauseous most of the time. And I’m exhausted. All the time exhausted.

    And I couldn’t care less about all that. Oh, none of it is fun and I wish it was all much easier. And sometimes I’ve even wished my own Mums was here taking care of me (spoiled middle child syndrome). But the fact that it’s not been easy or fun yet doesn’t really matter.

    I’m 12 weeks pregnant. I’m still carrying and nourishing a growing, healthy baby.

    Keep being strong, little one. Keep growing and please, just keep being. I’ll take the weight, the stretching, the sickness, the aches and pains. For you it’s all worth it.

    Because really, it’s not about me. It’s now about you.


  4. today felt like summertime

    May 5, 2012 by louissa

    It felt like summertime because I woke to the noise of a fan (our upstairs gets incredibly warm incredibly fast) and I only grew up with fans in the bedroom on hot, sticky nights when they were most needed.

    It felt like summertime because The Husband and I rode bikes down to the park here in town to watch a nephew in his little league game. Starting pitcher and youngest on the team. That’s how we roll. Well, okay, more so them and obviously not me at all since sports don’t come very… naturally to this here girl.

    It felt like summertime because I spent most of the day in a downtown storefront property that this new church of mine has turned into a youth center. Coolest part? I got to pick out the paint colors (oh yes, perk to being the youth leader’s wife). Hello apple green accents everywhere! Tomorrow we open. So yes, today was much work. And it made me think of a different downtown storefront property up north and the many summertime events held there.

    It felt like summertime because the late afternoon found me kneeling on earth while removing sod to start my very first flowerbed. Don’t you think of pioneers braving it in sod houses whenever you do anything with sod? I do.

    And it feels like summertime because I’m freshly showered, in clean pajamas, and eating sherbet.

    I like the way summertime feels.


  5. untitled

    May 3, 2012 by louissa

    a month ago i had 14 vials of blood drawn in the space of about 24 hours. when they drew the second batch of 7 vials i handled it quite maturely by bursting into tears. i did feel like i was going to lose my breakfast and the room would never stop spinning — but really? full-blown crying that i couldn’t stop even when they were done and i was leaving the hospital? seriously?

    seriously.

    tonight more blood is being taken from my person. let’s hope the process goes a bit more smoothly.

    and while we’re on this topic — i’m never donating blood simply to be a good person. nope, never.

     


  6. baby news

    April 16, 2012 by louissa

    I don’t have any creative way of telling other than just coming out and spewing the news at you from excitement, hope, nervousness, anxiousness, joy — I’m pregnant! When your very first pregnancy ends in a miscarriage, there’s a level of uncertainty when you discover you’re expecting again. But more than uncertainty is the joy that comes from the amazing gift you’ve been given.

    Thank You, Jesus, for another day of health for this baby.


  7. sunday drive

    March 26, 2012 by louissa

    After a mini emotional breakdown over nothing really — just the fact that there was a horrible night sleep followed by a day of pressure, responsibility, and energy draining activities, The wonderful Husband suggested something to cheer my tear-stained face: A Sunday Evening Drive.

    I’ve recently discovered that I love driving around this area. I think it’s partly due to the fact that in five and a half months I’ve only been on three main highways and a few side streets. THAT’S ALL. I feel like there must be so much more to see.

    And there is — if you’re like me and count dirt roads through the woods as something to see.

    He brought me on trails that are really meant for snowmobiles during the winter and 4-wheelers during the summer and not really meant for our little car. Somewhere along the way we climbed up something because suddenly we were passing beautiful farms with rolling hills, displaying the Valley that we live in below. This really is a very pretty place. Our windows were rolled down and I could smell earth and hear birds and had no idea of where we were, and I was perfectly content like that.

    Sometimes I’m surprised when I realize that it’s going to be six months soon. Six months of easy-ness. They all said that the first year was going to be the hardest. There are exceptions to every rule and I’m guessing we’re that — because not much about this married business has been difficult. We love being together.

    And that’s something I asked God for long before I knew this Josiah Tabolt. And I got it. God’s good like that.


  8. boy meets girl

    March 23, 2012 by louissa

    Hi there. I’ve decided that summertime weather and blogging don’t go hand-in-hand. And that’s what we’ve had recently — summertime weather. And really, to be more specific, summertime weather and computers don’t coexist well — in my world at least. I would much rather be outside walking miles (like I have this week) or plop myself on one of my front porch steps with a book than be on the computer when the sun is shining and I can soak up warmth.

    But this morning is grey. And not as hot. So, the computer is my friend again.

    The happiness in my life lately? The Husband and I have almost hit the one year mark of knowing each other. One year since I sat at an evening session of a Christian conference while he sat in an overstuffed living room chair trying to compose an email to a girl he had never met. One year since I drove home from the conference, completely unaware that this email waited for me in my inbox, and confidently said that I needed no change in my life; I was content where God had me. One year since I sat in bed with a sister trying to sleep beside me and I opened that email (if I remember correctly, sister did not fall asleep so quickly when a loud outburst of, “WHAT IS THIS?!” came from me).

    And it’s almost been one year since I kept telling myself to let you, dear reader, in on all the private inner workings of how this boy-meets-girl thing played out.

    His email was given to the world here and now I give you my first response to him:

    Josiah!

    Sorry I’m just getting back; I was away at a conference for the weekend and the “ritzy” Hyatt Regency I was staying at didn’t have free wi-fi (WHAT?!).  It was fun to come home and in the midst of lots of work related emails, see this in the mix.  New friends, even made online, are awesome.

    And I’m not sure I’m altogether as cool as you think, but I won’t burst your bubble of disillusioned thinking.  Ha!  I’m currently working for my church (yuppers, I work for my Dad and he’s the best boss ever) and have a full-time position in the office.  It’s a busy place but I’m well taken care of, work alongside a best friend, and I’m able to invest in a local church full of my favorite people.  My life is good.

    I must admit that although your parents names were familiar to me, I don’t know much about the Tabolt family.  I mentioned your note to my Dad and he only said great things about your parents and the work they’ve done for the Lord.  He gave me the go ahead to respond to your email — tell me more about yourself!

    Look forward to hearing from you!

    I should mention that I made him wait two and a half days before he received this response. Pure torture. And I have to point out the subtle “my Dad knows all about this emailing business” I made sure was present at the end. I remember wondering at the time if he would get it. Yes, I think I made it obvious enough.

    What a fun year we’ve had together! Daily I think about the crazy whirlwind adventure I’ve been on since last April 2 when it all began. Life is fun. It really is.


  9. birthday love

    March 12, 2012 by louissa

    Saturday Afternoon at My House.

    My family (old name & new name family) gave me the best birthday present this year. They came to my house — my green home — and we had dinner together (and so much conversation and laughter and little ones playing). The photo shows it all — the many nieces and nephews, my curtainless windows (which would be my fault since I can’t make decisions), the energy, the stuffed-in-like-sardines feeling, the fun, and the reason i spent all morning today picking up and cleaning floors.

    It was everything I needed and I didn’t even know. I almost cried as I finally laid my head down on my pillow which could be due to the fact that it wasn’t until late into the night and we lost an hour, but I say it’s because I was thinking about what an amazing family I was born into and what an amazing family I’ve been given this past year.

    Everyone’s always said that I’m spoiled. I guess it’s still true.


  10. house work

    March 9, 2012 by louissa

    I knew it — you’ve been wondering where I’ve been and what I’ve been up to. Actually, you haven’t. We’re probably friends on Facebook and you probably keep tabs on my comings and goings through that particular time-sucking social media outlet.

    I love facebook.

    Anyway. It’s been almost two whole weeks since I’ve written and although I would like to say that I’ve been keeping busy being the best wife that anyone can be, the fact that The Husband specifically requested that I continue blogging regularly months ago would prove that I’ve got some work to do. But really, I have been busy trying to be the best wife that I can be.

    This has recently shown itself by the great revelation I had that I am now the House Project Assistant. The Husband has mentioned various things around the house that need to be worked on and a few weeks ago I realized that as the person who is home 80% of the time (that’s a random number that I just decided sounded good and reasonable), I should be making some of these things happen.

    So, I was taught how to use a caulking gun and took on an unfinished room. Last night we made some of the final touches to one of our guest rooms.

    It might not have stuck out to you as you glanced at that photo, but all the trim is white. It used to be stained wood. And now it’s white. I made the genius decision back when the diamonds I wear on my hand were quite new that we would paint all the trim in the house. 7 months, 2 coats of primer, and 2 coats of finish later we have one room with transformed trim.

    And I love it. It was worth the two days of painting it required.

    I’m just not sure how quickly the rest of the house will become white.