STEWART and COMPANY

Moving on Up

2009-10-16T22:10:00.000-07:00

These blogs are so far and few between, so it's hard to even think where to start. But here I go with a little update on us and what God is doing with us lately. I'll just say I am blessed beyond my wildest dreams. We bought and moved into our first home, which we all just love. (Mason has so much space to run and play!) I turned 26 in September, whoohoo! Sam and I are expecting another little one in June. My mom is living here in the beautiful Northwest and we are enjoying having her so close to us. She and Mason are BFF. Mason is growing by leaps and bounds and my fave quote these days is " Moms of boys are busy from son up to son down" Hahaha. It's true. He's going to be a pirate for Halloween and turns 2 in November. Whoa. Life is good and busy. I am learning more and more about God's forgiveness and grace with me, in our marriage and our family. Daily reconciliation is so important, I honestly don't know how people do it without Him. Thank you Jesus that you found me, saved me and continue to walk with me and pick me up as I fall, daily.

This thing called happiness.

2009-08-03T19:46:00.000-07:00

Life is moving fast. I was just talking with my good friend today about how crazy fast our babies have grown and grown and it doesn't look like it's going to stop at this pace anytime soon. But, I'm okay with that because I have to look up and ahead. After my many struggles with thinking a house/car/marriage/baby might make me happy, I am realizing that even though God is blessing me with those things, they are all HIS, not mine, HIS. I graciously have accepted these gifts that I know I am undeserving of anything including grace. You see, there's this thing called happiness and it really has very little to do with where we are at in life but how content we are with our wonderful Father and believe truly that He is enough. I guess, slowly I am learning this and in the meantime, He didn't punish me for not "getting it the first time okay 100th time" but rather as He is teaching me, He is still blessing me. I don't really get that kind of love and know that it isn't always this way, but I'm excited and thankful for this season of our life. And by the way, we get to move into our house in a few weeks. I have so many things I want to do to it already. It's like the biggest art project, ever. Paint, hardware, design, shopping, lighting, furniture, planting and a pool cover, yes I said pool; it has a pool. I have always wanted a pool and I know I live in Seattle, but for those 3 months out of the year we can use it, it'll be worth it. You can come and swim in our pool anytime, after all it's God's pool, not ours:) It's pretty freaking exciting! So I guess I am really happy with God and my life. So, I'm going to go celebrate with my amazing husband. Okay so the pictures are just some randoms of the summer, but I thought I'd throw some in. Trevor's graduation, vacation in the O.C., Sam and my getaway weekend, etc...

I've been thinking

2009-06-04T23:04:00.000-07:00

about how precious life is. I stumbled upon a song that just I couldn't stop singing. Repeat and repeat again, just like I used to do while in high school while trying to fall asleep in my wrought iron bed. I have recently realized that I don't let myself just think all that often anymore. Busyness with life and raising Mason and being obsessed with things like buying a house and our recent car problems have distracted me. While raising Mason is my calling and joy, the house/car idolizing has got to stop and I spent some time repenting to the Lord about that one. I need to trust that God is in control and He is sufficient.

I also stumbled upon some amazing blog writers that inspired me and are really changing lives. One woman writes the names of babies that have gone home to Jesus in the sand and takes beautiful pictures of the name in the sand with sunset in tow. I just kept reading the names and crying and praying and realizing that this is what we are all meant to do. To find something that means everything to someone else and do it. God has called us to serve in ways that are outside ourselves, whether its wiping bottoms, being a missionary in Africa, playing with orphan puppies, writing names in the sand or making music. I just hope it's all for Jesus.

I just kept thinking and I realized I have neglected my creativity so much I don't even know where to start again, hence this blog. I guess the blog is the new pink diary "hidden"under my mattress next to my clove cigarettes. I feel a little stale, a little old, a little like I watch too much tv and don't DO enough. But, I'm not going to spend more time pitying myself and relishing in how cool and creative I USED to be, I just want to incorporate art more into my life again. It's still in me because that is how God made me. I think I just got a little side-tracked in trying to be a "responsible Christian mom" and forgot about just being Ashley whom likes to paint, write, photograph, collage AND make dinner, have a schedule, organize, wipe bottoms, respect my husband, play with Mason, pay the bills on time AND love Jesus with all of my heart. So I've decided I'm going to start being who God has made me to be. I realize that I need to keep priorities in order, but the time I do have to myself is going to be put to better use. It's a process, but one I know is worthy to be given a fighting chance.

Spring is Here!

2009-04-17T13:55:00.000-07:00

The Joy of Being a Stay-at-Home Mom

2009-01-26T13:38:00.000-08:00

On a sunny winter day, when the little monkey is just too cute, I am forced to snap some photos. There is no big story, just a wonderful, normal Monday with my sweet boy at home. I cannot fathom missing moments like these, which happen so often. In the blink of an eye, Mason will be grown up and I'm so thankful to God and Sam that I'm not missing it.

Holidays/Texas/Stewarts Galore and "The Haircut"

2009-01-11T12:12:00.000-08:00

We had an incredible Christmas and New Year in Texas with the fam. It was such a blessing to be there and have so much love poured on us and Mason. Mason warmed up to Grammy and Grandpa immediately and just loved all the time with Uncle Joel and Aunt Jess. We are so fortunate to have such a great family and just wish that we weren't so far away. Christmas was memorable and interesting with 4 out of 7 of us sick in bed for 2 days. Thankfully, the sick ones recovered and we had a good time from there on. Sammy and I got to have a few extra dates with all the built in babysitters. Mom treated us girls to pedicures, The Stewarts had a New Years party, I went to the mall with Jess a few times, we relaxed and ate well. It was such a relaxing and fun trip.

We arrived home, Mason stopped nursing and I gave him a haircut... I guess our baby is growing up, it seems like it happened overnight.

Mason Turns 1!!!!!

2008-11-13T18:45:00.000-08:00

And all that was between...

2008-10-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

We have had quite the eventful life since my last post. Mason and I traveled to the OC to visit some family and friends We had an excellent time swimming at the pool, enjoying the beach, walks around the lake with my mom, movies with my fam, dinner w/my dad, coffee with momma Janey and lots of other fun outings in the 90 degree September weather, which I love. As we arrived home, I was greeted by my 25th birthday and my wonderful husband who took me on a shopping spree and on a date to our fave; Wasabi Bistro for the celebration. We then proceeded to the next night where Sam played a live show with "The Knowledge", hence the hot pink t-shirt in the photo above. I was the rock-star's wife, well at least for the evening.

Upon the end of the weekend, came reality and Autumn in Seattle, which I couldn't have asked God for such a good reality. I am just reveling in this beautiful disaster. I love life some seasons (like this one) and hate it others; either way I am most grateful that Jesus came, died, rose, lives and that my time in heaven will surely be longer than my time here on Earth. Although I do hope God allows me to stay long enough to raise our children and turn gray & wrinkly in Hawaii with Sam. O how, I do love Hawaii, Sam and Mason.

Our little man...

2008-09-11T23:03:00.000-07:00

Praise Jesus for such a delightful little man He has given us! We are so thankful for a healthy and growing not-so-baby boy. Our prayer is that the Lord would guide us as we teach and disciple him and that Mason would come to adore and worship our amazing God. Mace is 10 1/2 months and this year has flown by-they change so fast! This month has been full of walks, "bonking", not sleeping due to intruding teeth, and lots of talking, laughing and playing! We are enjoying these last few days of warm weather and Sam's new X-box 360. I can honestly say that life is soooo good and I am content. We are truly blessed!

Teeth, Walking and Being A Rascal!

2008-08-19T16:37:00.001-07:00

Summer Fun & Siblings Galore!

2008-08-19T16:02:00.000-07:00

I've been thinking...

2008-07-17T14:17:00.000-07:00

Each July I find myself looking over the year and evaluating where I am at with God, remembering things I have learned, repenting of ways I have failed Him and celebrating ways He has changed me. I am so thankful for the life that God has given me. Yet there are so many times I fall short at bringing glory to Him in my heart- outpouring through my words and actions. The truth that I have been thinking about is that no matter what I feel or do....He still loves me and pursues me like crazy. I know that I am a work in progress and I will never feel like I have "arrived" spiritually (as Sam reminded me last night). The amazing thing is that by God's example of pure love and grace I am inspired to be more loving and gracious in my life. And all the glory is for Him!
Here's a little synopsis of what we have been up to besides my recent thinking. Sam's been working diligently at MH and I've been busy at home. The highlights of these two past weeks are: we went to the beach again, Mason got two little cute crowns of teeth, I started playing Wow with Sam (I know..I know... I never saw that one coming either), we visited with Julia & Curtis whom just had their baby girl Lillian!!, I decorated Mason's room a little with black polka dots and guitar paraphernalia on the walls and we went out to dinner at Outback to celebrate Sam's raise, which we are so thankful for! Well, that was one ridiculously long run-on sentence of our recent weeks. Enjoy the pics!

Summer Begins

2008-06-29T11:44:00.000-07:00

I love summer and all my memories from childhood of going to the beach. This was our first trip to the beach with our little Mason man. Boy o boy, was it fun! We discovered Mason's main objective was to get off our blanket so he could eat the sand, which we wouldn't let him do of course. Alas, our juggling act of tossing Mason between Sam, I and the air, we had an incredibly new experience. We managed to have a picnic , play with Mason's favorite yellow shovel, get a little bit of sun to our desperately white skin and receive a lovely memory of our first family day at the beach, before we had to head home for Mason's second nap. O, just another day at the beach!

The Mancub

2008-06-16T22:47:00.000-07:00

UPDATE: Mason is now standing on his own. This is how it goes down: He squats...pushes his legs up to stand...balancing and smiling a gloriously proud grin for up to 10 seconds...he then falls back to the sitting position he once rested in so comfortably.
He was in a wild, happy mood today. He was all over the place & just loving the sun streaming in through our open patio door. We had fun laughing & playing today at home & the park across the street. I wonder when and where he will take his first step, although it seems too soon, I know it is on the horizon. I just love our little mancub.

Growth & Life

2008-06-15T21:15:00.000-07:00

Today marks a new season for our family. My little sister is engaged to the man that she loves & she is wearing a sapphire ring. She is dreaming & scheming her eau d'hippie wedding. I am in shock and awe and I miss her and want to hug her and talk her head off as she is trying to fall asleep in the bed, next to me. This was a shot of them cracking up at our wedding. Congrats, Pookie & Matthew! We love you and are praying for you!
I just love the colors of fresh fruits & veggies. They are just so beautiful to look at. Cooking is so much fun when it not only tastes good but is also pretty. Just a lil' something my mom taught me :) I love it when I actually set the new table for dinner. The other night we had some friends over & cut up those bright & delicious bell peppers for fajitas.
Almost all of my friends are pregnant at the same time... and it's such a wonderful & exciting time but it's also so weird to think that we are actually in that time of life. Where has the time gone? We are young mid-lifers, i suppose. Soon, the rooms will be full of beautiful, sweet smelling babies... perfect little mixtures of our friends, concocted by God. So cool.

A Day in The Life...

2008-05-30T21:55:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite places five minutes from our house is Lincoln Park. It is breathtaking and on a sunny day such as this, it reminds me why I love Seattle. We spent a small part of the afternoon basking in the sun, walking, and relaxing on the grass. It was a simple and joyous day, thanks God! Here's some shots of Sam showing Mace a rock, flying(which he wasn't so sure of at that moment) and up above and in general just being adorable. Also, I threw in a shot of the family, why not. Jesus is so good.

Some Random Thoughts...

2008-05-22T16:24:00.000-07:00

I refinished my first piece of furniture this week. A lovely, black vintage rocking chair... I call it Bebe a Gothique! I am quite happy with the final product and it has already been a soothing addition to our home furnishings. On another note: I have been baking. It's strange b/c I don't bake, but for whatever reason, if only to provide some sweet treats for those that I adore- I made an apple crisp and a chocolate cake with cream cheese frosting. It has actually been fun...maybe I'm getting more domestic, wait, I am pretty domestic already. :) Finally, Sam was playing guitar last weekend and Mason was just enthralled, we hope and pray he appreciates music as much as Sam and I do. As my friend Miranda said, " Life would be very quiet without music".

New PJs

2008-05-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

The Adventures of MZS

2008-05-15T10:15:00.000-07:00

Mason is officially 6 1/2 months old and is crawling with determination to catch that kitty and pulling himself up on all of our "now to our knowledge" non-baby proof furniture. He loves his new firetruck and I can't believe those pjs are 12 months size.Here's some pics of Mace in action.

Beginning of a Blog

2008-05-14T12:13:00.000-07:00

This is our official entrance into the world of blogging. I wanted to have a place for you- our family and friends to see into the life of The Stewarts. We really aren't that exciting right now, so I believe I will post something worth mentioning when it occurs.