My baby!

It was a chilly, windy, VERY sunny day here in Denver. Beautiful, beautiful sky. We had a photo shoot for Frankie's first birthday, my dear friend Shannon took the pictures. One of the outfits is the same one Maggie wore for her first birthday photo shoot. And man, do they look alike!!! Enjoy!

new adventure

so lately, i have been thinking alot about callings and passions and what i want to spend my time doing. in an ideal world, it would be nice to have a nice counseling practice two days a week. i would counsel marriages and women struggling with being a mom of little ones and their identify being absorbed by their kiddos (sound familiar?). but this isnt an ideal world and the cost of making that dream happen just seemed too much. cost in time away from the kids, cost in childcare, cost in getting licensed.
so i made the decision that it just isnt the season for that. mojo and i will counsel plenty of marriages as we continue in ministry and that makes me happy. but for now, that interest will be laid to rest.

so i was left with "do i want to do anything outside of the house?" and the resounding voice was YES! i actually do better with a schedule and something to occupy my thoughts. my house is cleaner, i am not stuck on pinterest spending money in my head, and the kids are happier too.

i did an inventory of my passions. sounds lame, i know. but whatever, it had been a while since i actually thought about what i liked to do, what i was drawn too, what i liked to talk about and read about. and the answer was BIRTH. babies. mamas and natural living.
so i've become a DOULA!
i'm currently working on my certification and am ready to attend births anytime. i'm so excited to support women in this venture. to educate and nurture during the time of major life transition. i really see it as an arm of counseling. in the scheme of things, labor is a tiny fragment of time in a women's journey in motherhood. but its an intense, intense time and stays with you for your life. i've read interviews of women in their 80's that still can tell you their birth stories-sometimes fully. that experience imprints you in a deep, deep way. sometimes so positively, sometimes painfully.
i'm excited to venture into this with them!
if you know of any expectant mamas that need a doula, let me know!

first sugar

the making of the cupcakes

tentative of course, but loved it once she was into it!

mimi and papa joe time!

the sweet grandparents got to come out for Frankie's birthday. it was the last cold week in denver (although i am sure it will snow again soon in no time). we had a full week of visiting new sites in the city and the parents spoiling us with going out to eat and cleaning up the breakfast dishes while i got to stay in bed-yes please!

the very cool downtown aquarium!

frankie amazed at the fish.

we also went to the science museum

this was a very cold day in breckenridge. we took the lift up the mountain to get a view of everything. so fun!

cold.

thanks for coming and share our week, mimi and papa joe!

frankie says relax!

my sweet college friend, shannon, snapped these pictures of frankie's birthday party. fun was had by all!

I made a "time capsule" for the guests to write notes to Frankie to open when she is 30....send her a note if you want me to put it in there!

present time!

Sophie was a hit, Aunt Nikki!

Shannon, the photog

Harriet, asleep in the middle of a party.

sweet baby

this sweet baby turned ONE! i had every intention of sending out her birth announcement to everyone i know. i did one mass mailing and then i never got it together enough to send another one. so if you didnt get one. here it is, one year later!

Sarah-Frances Shalom Morginsky

Long name huh? Well, her name has a lot of heritage and we want to share with you where her name came from.

Sarah is for Sharon’s older sister Sarah. She is dedicated to making people laugh, a truth seeker, a writer and teacher, witty, a lover of Jesus, and comfortable with the messiness of life. We hope Frankie grows into these traits too.

Frances is for Matt’s grandpa Francis (they called him Frank). Frank was married to Grandma Emily for over 60 years. He was loyal, faithful, devout, loved good food and good wine and provided well for his family. He was a great role model for Matt when he was growing up. Frankie will be carrying on a great Italian legacy by carrying his name.

Shalom is Hebrew for peace. But its much more than that. It means ‘wholeness.’ There will be a day when all wrongs will be made right and all sadness will be replaced with joy. In seminary we have seen the brokenness of the world....in ourselves and sickness, friends’ marriages breaking, children with chronic illnesses, friends losing children...all the ugly things of life. But we have also seen glimpses of shalom...the beauty of a new baby, the care of neighbors for one another, people coming to know God, making bread for friends, flowers growing, snow falling, feeling love from each other...this is a glimpse of wholeness...when God will make the earth NEW and relationships will be restored and all the brokenness of this earth will be made un-broken. We hope Frankie, as well as all of you, experience shalom in your life and are givers of peace in all you do.

valentines!

we hosted a fun cocktails and dessert party for a bunch of people in our church. this was my attempt at a fun "photo booth"!