Ellen's First Birthday Party

This past weekend we celebrated Ellen's first birthday.  We are so lucky to have so many wonderful friends and family that love Ellen to pieces.  Due to our lack of space we had two parties for sweet Ellen. 

On Saturday our we had our crew of friends come over and celebrate.  We had chick-fil-a and the kiddos played and played.  We were so busy I in fact did not get any pictures.  I am so disappointed with myself!

On Sunday our family all came to town to celebrate.  This time I put my Mom in charge of pictures and I got tons.  However, she was not in one of them.  Almost got it right!  ;)

The kiddos played and we had lots of food.  Ellen got spoiled beyond words!  Be ready for picture overload!

 

Happy Birthday sweet Ellen!

Why we named our baby Ellen.....

As soon as Drew and I found out we were pregnant we began talking about baby names.  We kept a list of names we liked for both girls and boys.  Each time we thought of a name we would add it to our growing list.  When the time came to find out if we were having a boy or a girl we had a good list.  Our boy list had seventeen names and our girl list was much shorter.... Ellen Elizabeth. 

We always knew if we were to have a baby girl we would name her Ellen Elizabeth after my Grandma.  My Grandma Ellen was one amazing women.  She had a strong presence in my life and I feel so blessed that Drew got to know her over the years.  I have a hard time putting into words what she meant to me but I will do my best.  I want my baby Ellen to be able to hear stories of the amazing women she is named after. 

Grandma Ellen was unlike any other Grandma.  She was stylish in the simplest way possible and she had a gift for decorating that impressed anyone that came into her warm and inviting home.  The door to her home was always open for visitors and you were guaranteed to have the best food you had ever eaten.  Even now after she is gone some of her recipes take me right back to her kitchen and the love she would put into her cooking. 

This was her kitchen.  Nothing fancy but filled with so much love!

Most importantly Grandma Ellen had heart for the Lord.  She was a living example of how to be the hands and feet of Jesus to others.  She served others around her with love and grace.  She was always working behind the scenes.  Never taking on service projects that got publicity but rather the jobs that were left over that no one else wanted to do.  That is where you could find her. 

She lived in Gothenburg with us and now as an adult I realize how lucky we were to have her right in town.  She knew all of my friends names and at each event I could find her cheering me on from the stands with her "old lady" friends.  She always referred to her friends as her "old lady friends."  As if to imply she was not one of the old ladies.  It still makes me smile today. 



Grandma and I at my high school graduation party she hosted at her house. 

Most nights of the week Grandma would walk through the back door of our home at 1615 caring pots and pans filled with dinner for our family that night.  At the time I didn't realize what an amazing blessing that was for our family.  Now as an adult I can see how much time and energy she put into each meal for us.  She loved our family so dearly.
 

Grandma Ellen's nightstand with pictures of all her grandkids. 

Grandma's home was filled with love and laughter.  We would gather at her house often all crowded around her dining room table laughing until we cried.  She would tell stories and Mom would read jokes.  My sisters and I grew up around that table.  Now that table is in my kitchen.  The table is worn and has lots of scratches and marks.  Each one is evidence of the love that has been shared while gathered around.  

Grandma's house



I love this simple picture because it was a normal night at Grandma's.  We are setting the table. 

Then we would spend time in her living room together. 

 

I am so thankful that Drew was able to get to know Grandma Ellen.  When he asked permission from my family for my hand in marriage she passed down the diamond from her wedding ring to me.  Drew used the diamond in my engagement ring.  I treasure that ring and I will continue the tradition someday and pass it down to baby Ellen's children. 

I don't have a memory without Grandma Ellen in it.  I talked to her everyday and she would send countless letters to check on me over the years.  She was even known to show up on our doorstep ready to help me learn how to cook for my new husband and take care of my new flowers. 

Grandma took Chelsey, Jackie, Drew and I skiing.  She loved the mountains.

A picture from when she took me to Europe. 

All the Evenson girls. 

So when we found out we were having a baby girl we knew her name would be Ellen Elizabeth.  We wanted to honor a women that impacted my life in more ways then I can measure.  She was the rock of our family and she is forever missed. 

As I look at my baby Ellen's new little life I can't help but be excited about all that is to come for her in the future.  My prayer is that she will love Jesus, serve others humbly, and love her family with all her heart just like the amazing women she was named after. 

Grandma Ellen and me

A Whole New Mother's Day

This year Mother's Day has taken on a whole new meaning for me.  These last ten weeks with Ellen have given me a whole new appreciation for the moms in my life.  I have experienced first hand just a small piece of the sacrifices and selfless love they have given me over the years. 

My mom has always been a source of love and a safe haven when I am in need.  I have always had the kind of relationship where I can tell my mom anything.  I hope that one day Ellen will feel the same way about me.  When Ellen was born my mom dropped everything in her life and even took vacation time to come and help my new little family.  She spent her vacation changing diapers, feeding me and waking up around the clock.  Only my mother could consider that a vacation.  :) 

Thank you mom from the bottom of my heart for modeling how to be an amazing mother.  You have loved me unconditionally for 31 years and counting.  You have showed me Gods love through your love and grace.  I have so enjoyed becoming a mom and beginning to show Ellen the kind of love you have blessed me with each and everyday.  You tell me over and over again that I am an amazing mother and I have come into the role so naturally.  I learned it from you my dear mom!  I wouldn't know what I was doing without learning it first from you.  I love you!

 

 

When I met Drew I knew I had met the man I wanted to marry!  He was perfect for me in every way and I couldn't imagine he could get any better.  Then I met his family and I fell in love all over again.  Drew's mom Marcia has been an amazing blessing from God.  I hold our relationship so close to my heart.  Over the years Marcia has taught me so much about being a mother.  Like my mom, she has blessed me with a selfless love that goes beyond words.  She inspires and challenges me each day to appreciate the little things in life and to not take one day for granted.  She has the softest spirit combined with the strength greater then anyone I know.  She has modeled how to love a family in such an amazing way.  I will forever be grateful to God for putting Marcia in my life.  So many people don't know what to do with their mother-in-law.  I don't know what I would do without mine!  I love you Marcia!

So on this Mother's Day I am reflecting on all my moms have taught me and all that I have learned in the short ten weeks I've been a mom.  It would be easy for me to say that these last ten weeks have been perfect bliss.  I could only include pictures where my hair is done and my house is clean but that isn't my real life.  The truth is my house and hair are dirtier then they have ever been.  I can't remember the last time I have showered for more then three minutes and I know that the milk in the fridge is at least two and half weeks old.  However, I also know that my life now has more love then I ever thought humanly possible.  I don't care about my personal hygiene, clean house or perfectly prepared meals.  In time all those things will return.  For now I am drinking coffee out of dirty mugs and wearing clothes way longer then appropriate and LOVING each and every moment!

Here are a few things I've learned from being a mother the last ten weeks.....

I CAN survive on a lot less sleep.  However, when I fall asleep it's no longer pretty.  I collapse into a sleep I've never experienced.  The proof is below. 

It is possible for it to take four whole days to complete a load of laundry.  I'm serious! 

Naps are better then any dessert in the entire world!  This was not true before Ellen.  :)

3 am can be as magical as a morning sunrise with the right company. 

There is something better then being productive..... Ellen cuddles!

God gave me a greater capacity to love then I could have ever dreamed.

Being a Mom is completely selfless but one look at this face is everything I could ever need!

God blessed me with the most loving and supportive family.  It takes a village to raise a child and I have one amazing village! 

God's plan for my life was SO much better then I could have ever dreamed!

Happy Mother's Day!