The Beach Cottage

This past weekend was a welcome respite with family, gentle breezes, and laughing gulls. My family has owned a beach cottage since 1957 when no one lived there. I can only imagine rustic shanties with weathered wood and sandy grit on the floors. Thankfully, my family's home has been upgraded with better appliances and A/C only a few short years ago, yet its charm and homeyness remain. It is filled with hand-me-down decor creating an ecclectic feel from the family members who once inhabited it.

I guess I should explain that beach cottage is probably misleading. It does not sit on the east coast's sandy shoreline, but rather an intracoastal waterway with its own pier. Many a summer day has been spent walking in mud at low tide looking for oysters, jumping and swimming off the pier with cousins, occasional stinging of jellyfish, fishing or rather giving fish a free all-u-can-eat shrimp meal, and slathering on coconut-scented tanning oil. And oh, the summer nights...a breathtaking sunset in a myriad of hues reflecting off of the rippling water, the cool salty breeze blowing your hair past your neck, and listening to the soft lapping of waves against the pier. It was bliss, and still is.

Back when the property was bought, several other extended family members purchased lots too, all in a row. When I was little, I remember spending time with my cousins Tiffany and Anna, and Gail and Alison. Those were the good ol' days, eating Chilly Willy's all day long, running barefoot, no qualms about makeup or frizzed out hair, swinging, and hearing the endless slam of the screen door shutting.

It is a home that has truly opened its doors to all people. To me, the house almost has a heartbeat of its own. It has seen all ages and generations visit, and it has also seen its original owners pass away with time, my great-grandparents and grandparents. The original wooden sign simply bearing Davis has been relocated indoors to remind us of familiar times. There are so many stories lurking with each nook and cranny in that old place. It is truly the house that love built.



Below are pictures from our time spent down at the beach, enjoy!

Easy Clothing Tip

Something I always seem to have issues with is getting some deodorant residue on sleeveless shirts. It kills me, because inevitably no matter how little I put on, ten minutes later it's rubbed off around the seams, leaving an unsightly mess.


My tip is not how to avoid this, because frankly I don't think you can, even by using clear or spray deodorants (they always flake off). But rather, what to do once it has happened.


This isn't rocket science and you probably already do this. I simply wet a washcloth and rub gently to remove it. The key however is to use a washcloth that is similarly colored!


Nothing is more frustrating than using a white or light colored washcloth to remove the residue only to come away with wet lint deposited on your dark shirt too. Double ick.


So, keep a black washcloth around for just this type of moment. Most of my wardrobe is black, and I'm amazed that I hadn't realized this sooner.


Side note: You will notice in some very high-priced restaurants that black linen napkins are given to patrons to prevent lap lint. :)

Park City, Utah photos as promised!

I have so many pictures that I want to share, and so little time to upload. :( Here are some of the highlights. Most of the time I took advantage of outlet shopping and eating; two of a preggo gal's favorite friends. Our favorite parts were driving through Provo Canyon and visiting the Olympic Park.

Our rental car we affectionately named "Sugar Booger."

Only at a Walmart in Utah...

Driving through Provo Canyon

"The hills are alive...with the sound of muuuuuusic"

Bridal Veil Falls

More Provo Canyon

"Wide open spaces...."

Me, looking pretty big!


Entrance to Olympic Park (Winter Games: 2002) Picture it with snow!

Alpine Long Jump...from this vantage point, you actually are unable to see the landing area. And believe it or not, this is used year-round, only with water during the summertime.

This is the bottom view of the same Alpine Long Jump. The colored lines show where skiers land. Those are people on the left spraying water on the slope.

Note to Self: Pregnant women don't fit well in a bobsled.

There we go!

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JUST KIDDING! Those were professionals training....on concrete.

More ski jumps, only into a pool :) Athletes from all over the world train here year-round.

Note to Self: Pregnant women can't luge either; let alone lay flat on their backs.

But, we can ski!!! Hahaha, I can dream!

Quick update

Sorry I've been absent for awhile. May has really flown by for me. It's been chock full of travel every weekend for the most part. Last week, we were gone to Park City, Utah for business (will post pictures soon), and this weekend, we will be heading to my family's beach cottage for Memorial Day weekend. I cannot tell you how excited I am about going...the last time was 2 summers ago. I've been craving the beach, and I'm not even a beach person!

Next week will mark my final week of work. Brent jokingly calls it my "retirement." In actuality, I know the hardest work of my life will soon begin.

Speaking of hard work....let's just say that the 2nd trimester honeymoon is officially over, and the 3rd trimester aches and pains have reared their ugly heads. I have truly been blessed with an easy pregnancy the first 27 weeks. However, beginning last week, it was as if a switch was turned on and my body just realized that it's blatantly pregnant.

To think I have 11 more weeks of this is an uncomfortable thought. The backaches, waddling, momentous task of bending over or squatting, trying to get out of bed or any chair, peeing constantly, lack of good sleep, and my latest, heartburn. The odd thing about my heartburn is that it isn't food related. Apparently, my uterus has grown enough to begin mashing on my stomach which in turn forces acid upwards into my esophagus. So basically, I'm enduring heartburn without the pleasure of even having eaten delicious food. :-/

Last night at Bible study, while I was praying, I simply asked that God would give me the grace to get through this. And that my pain is nothing compared to what Jesus suffered on the cross. I am leaning on God more than ever now, pleading for physical relief to come soon.

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." Isaiah 40:28-31

As is the case with most people, when in pain, you simply aren't able to feel or act like yourself. That bothers me, because I certainly don't want to be a miserable person in the midst of family and friends. I must remember to give it all to the Lord.

"Three times I pleaded with the Lord to take it away from me. But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:8-10

So there you have it, a glimpse into what's been going on lately. I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend. Please remember our fallen soldiers and the sacrifices they willingly gave.

Soon to Be SAHW/M

A new chapter in my life is about to begin!

My last day of "paid/public" work will officially be May 29th! After working in this position for 3 years, it will be difficult to leave the great coworkers/supervisors I have. They have been my family away from home :)

No more office or staring at my computer screen for hours on end. Consequently, due to our slooooooow internet connection at home, the blog may suffer some.

Now that my pregnancy has gotten more physically uncomfortable, I am looking forward to being at home where I can walk around freely (outdoors too!) and nap as needed. Also, the amount of cleaning needed at home has begun to pile up since I don't have near the energy to do everything after coming home from a day of work.

Some of my fears about coming home: being lonely, bored, glued to the crappy tv, and regretting leaving my job. I do think that some of those can easily be remedied if I apply myself wisely. Based on other bloggers who stay at home, it seems that with or without children, a routine is a must. I realize however that not all days/schedules are created equal, so some days will be much busier, while others will be lighter.

Some of my hopes about coming home: time to get things done!, scheduling in quiet times with the Lord, exercising, better meal planning (less reliance on dining out), more time for reading/researching at library, keeping up with the laundry for a change, preparing everything for our son's arrival in August, ministry opportunities, and helping family during the day.

And, seriously, I guess I could always read Proverbs 31 for some ideas on what to fill my days with! Ha! :)

Any tips/suggestions from SAHWs or SAHMs? Also, any specific baby preparations?