How I Spent My Afternoon

"MOM! Skyler is drawing all over the couch!!!!" 

I'm attempting to get some work done in the office and these are the words I hear being yelled by my four year old daughter.

 I jump up - Preparing myself for what i will see when i round the corner to the living room....

 The culprit:

This cutie wouldn't do such a thing, right!? HA!

The Weapon: An Ink Pen

The Damage! (note: it def looked worse in real life!!)

Ottoman

First step: Have a nice little chat with my 2 year old and put him in his room.

Step two: Freak out a little

Step three: Google

Step four: send husband to the store for rubbing alcohol

Happy to say, after much time I actually got most of it out - not perfect but not noticeable unless you are trying to look for it. 

Life Savers: Rubbing Alcohol, Doterra Essential Oil-Lemon, Cotton Balls, Prayer & Patience. :) 

If this ever happens to you - blot - don't rub.  It may look awful to start- but patience, prayer and perseverance will pay off!

Shameless Plug: I love Doterra products and actually have an online store if you are interested in trying the products! Amazing stuff - from allergies, fevers, stress and apparently to cleaning a couch.. they are great! 

Also, Noteworthy-  I love my white couch and it has been super easy to keep clean with little children - up to this point. Normally, i just wipe it down and my kids are not allowed to eat in the living room .. now we just need to make sure ink pens stay out too! :)

Hope you are enjoying your Friday! 

Lately...

It's been awhile... I won't even try to catch you up on everything, but here are some recent highlights ....more to come!

1. I received a free copy of the book Circle Maker awhile back from something on Twitter. The book has been waiting on my shelf to be read ... I finally cracked it opened and I am really enjoying it! I feel challenged & inspired to up my prayer life - to pray more specific & consistent- to dream BIG God sized dreams! Highly recommend this book! 

"Nothing honors God more than a big dream that is way beyond our ability to accomplish. Why? Because there is no way we can take credit for it. And nothing is better for our spiritual development than a big dream because it keeps us on our knees in raw dependence on God." - Mark Batterson

2. Plane ride to Portland! This was a first for Averi & Skyler. Let's just say that Skyler made some friendenemies on the plane. hahah - I mean not everyone enjoys a high pitched screaming that makes your eardrums bleed... especially not the guy sitting in front of such a noise.  Minus the occasional scream it was a great experience! 

3. Oregon - a major shout out to Shawn's parents for making this trip possible! What a blessing to get out of the triple digits of Phoenix and enjoy the beauty of Oregon & spend time with family! We spent the majority of our time in Sunriver ... what a lovely place to stay! Miles and miles of bike trails, an aquatic center, an adorable downtown area with live music, cute stores,  miniature golf, bumper cars & more, beautiful scenery-- golf courses, rivers and lots of green grass! ( i kept thinking that it reminded me of the summer getaway from the movie Dirty Dancing. haha) This is a place that Shawn grew up going to every summer with his family.. so it was very special for his family to revisit a place with so many great memories and to now experience it with grandkids  too! 

4. White river rafting - need I say more?!

5. Visiting friends who are pastors of Terrebone Assembly of God - It was so fun to just show up for church and surprise our friends! These are friends that we met many years ago in Prescott. Scott was the youth pastor at the church we attended in college. I love that even though years may go by - when God connects your hearts with others those relationships stay intact! 

6. Sadi is our escape artist dog and she was up to her tricks while we were gone! A terrible feeling to find out your dog is missing when you are a vacation & you cannot do much about it...  she was missing for four days... but thank goodness she was found!!!