now for something completely different

Dear little modern day diary,

I am way overdue for a catch up. So many life changes have happened in the last month alone I'm not sure where to begin.

Let's start here--->

Yep, surprise!  After many discussions of let's just wait awhile longer, we found out God had a different plan. It's still early on but I'm really bad at keeping this stuff hidden, so we decided to just spill the news. Not to mention I've realized that the whole body remembering muscle mass thing works for baby bumps too. ha! It's such a different excitement by #3.  I just feel such a quiet curiosity about who this little person is going to be and how much life is going to change when he or she gets here. So here we go!

Turns out that wasn't the only blessed interruption of our 

plans.

One of my favorite quotes is by Sir Francis Drake that says, {"Disturb us, Lord, when we are too well pleased with ourselves. When our dreams come true because we dreamed too little. When we arrive safely because we have sailed too close to the shore. Disturb us, Lord."} That's secretly been my heart's prayer so it should be no surprise that He knows it and answers.  

At the end of summer I jumped into helping out in the women's ministry at my church. I wanted to get out of my comfort zone and really stretch myself. I had never had a passion for women's ministry until recently. And the perfect opportunity came up to be used to encourage, help disciple, walk side by side with other women that I really care about.  I'm right in the middle of my commitment and it has been wonderful. I'm so happy that I listened to the tug to step out.

Ok now for that something completely different part...

A couple of months ago my husband felt like God was pulling our family into a new direction and it turned out to be leading a youth ministry at a new church. Stephen has such a passion and heart for youth I know that he will be such a blessing to the teenagers God places him with. Me on the other hand, ha! I would be lying if I didn't say that this unexpected surprise didn't scare me.  I may be shocked by all these new events, but God isn't. I would be crazy to run from change at this point.  His plans are always better than mine. Priscilla Shirer says, "The word of the Lord is designed to reshape your purposes, putting you in a position for Him to do through you what you cannot do on your own." And I guess that's the thing I love about all of this, that even if I'm feeling uncertain about my abilities I never have to second guess His. Its the uncomfortable changes that cause me to run and hold on tighter to Him. 

All in all I'm excited to see where this journey is going to lead. I'm still amazed at the fact that He wants to use me in the first place! Thanks in advance for all your prayers and support in this adventure.  

what's really going on

Yep it’s me. New look for a new season.

So those of you who have been reading my blog for awhile now, I realize I kind of left you hanging with this post. And this one too. I guess it’s finally time to share what’s been going on with us.

About six months ago I sat down one morning to pray and I admit I’m really bad at just being still and listening to what He wants to tell me. The few times that I can remember actually just being quiet and waiting on Him to speak some pretty spectacular things have happened. This particular morning God goes on to tell me something pretty huge. I know its God speaking because this is not something I would have ever dreamed up myself, considering this thing has not once crossed my mind. This thing not even being close to my list of life plans. After the conversation I’m left kind of shocked, scared and dare I say intrigued.
So for a month I stay quiet. I don’t say a word to anyone. I just ask the Lord for a little confirmation please. A little heart repair because what He is inviting me to is something that is going to completely transform my world. Finally I can’t hold it in any longer; I go to Stephen and spill it. As I’m recapping the morning conversation, the confirmations, everything that’s happened in the past month he starts to get emotional. Come to find out he had the same conversation with God 4 weeks before too. He had been praying about how to approach me about it.

The thing being- total trust in Jesus, abandonment of everything we know. Counting the cost and letting go of all our plans for something so much better. A transformation can’t happen unless believers become followers and respond to the gospel. We have decided to say, “Yes Lord, your will not ours.” God has something planned for us overseas and we are now just waiting for the how, when and where.

Life was pretty nice and comfy until we actually started to read the Bible with the intentions of living it out. Now comfortable is becoming very uncomfortable for us.

It’s been such an amazing time for us. Everywhere we look we run into people who are in the same boat- hungry for something more. Lives are being changed all around us and every day we are growing deeper in love with Jesus. I wish I could sit down with each of you and talk to you in person. This post is getting long so I’ll try and sum this up. I’m so glad that I’ve finally shared my heart with you and can now start to write about what’s really going on with me.

I really appreciate all of your prayers. I understand that this season ahead of us is going to demand an extra degree of consecration and preparation so to have you interceding with us is such a blessing. I’m trying to get in contact with missionaries (especially missionaries with children) if you know of any contacts please send me an email.

Love you guys!

image via

a confession for you

Last week I saw this fun little post so I thought I would play.

{one} I snuck and ate half of a candy bar with my coffee this morning.
{two} I hide bags of skittles from my kids and sneak them when they are napping.

{three} I can make my voice sound like its full of helium when its not.

{four} I passed out at the dentist once. While I was interviewing for a job. ha! Glad I can laugh at it now.

{five}  I can say all 66 books of the bible in order in less than a minute. Thank you sunday school!

{six}  I just may cry when Michael Scott leaves the Office.

Your turn!

Who am I

It still amazes me that people come here and read the things I write. It really is so cool to have you here. I hope you will find something that inspires you. But at the same time I want everything I write to be genuinely from my heart. Not something I write because I think it’s what people want to read. So if you are new here and wondering just who I am...

...I wrote a little about me

Every day I look at my husband and my boys and think, “Really Lord?” I will never understand just how I ever deserved a gift so great.

No matter what, before I go to bed I HAVE to look at the clock and calculate exactly how many hours of sleep I’m going to get before I can fall asleep. If I go to bed now I’ll get 7 hours…if I go to bed now I’ll get 6 hours of sleep. It’s a little weird I know.

You will never see me write a fashion post. Occasionally I will surprise myself by putting together something cute but really I’m a plain jane. I stick with the basics and try to throw in a bright accessory. And when I do manage to put on something pretty I end up wishing I was in sweats and one of Stephen’s big shirts.

I secretly want to tattoo the rest of my arm from the middle forearm up. I have a dove on my forearm and wish I could just keep going but once you commit its FOREVER. So it’s a secret wish, we will see if it ever happens. Plus I really don’t think I’m cool enough to pull it off.

{I love to write about fun, happy, encouraging things, but ultimately I want to be shameless of my admiration and love for Jesus. I don’t want to feel like I'm obligated to throw in a religious post here and there. I want to freely write from my heart about how amazing my savior is and how seeking Him is better than anything else I can experience on this planet.

I want to talk about how much joy I feel every day because I have a God that has pursued me from day 1. He’s not just sitting up above keeping track of my wrongs. I cannot even begin to fathom how great He is and how undeserving I am, yet every day He pours out nothing but grace, mercy and love.

If I believed that there were a million different ways to find peace, joy, and salvation than I probably wouldn’t say anything. But I believe with all my heart that without knowing Jesus you will never find them and so that’s why I keep writing about it. It’s just so easy to write about the comfortable stuff. I can't tip toe and keep things safe because eternity is just way too long a time to be wrong. And this life is tough and it hurts sometimes, and I can’t  imagine what it must be like living it without Him, and without the certainty of knowing that if it was to end tomorrow it would be ok. I would just be going home. Eternal Life- bought at such a costly price and given so freely. How could you pass it up?}

So that's me. That's my heart. If there's anything else you want to know please ask.  You can find my email by clicking on my picture above. I'm glad you are here and I hope to get to know you more. Send me a message so that we can be friends.

photo via

Who am I

Hi. I was doing so good about posting something every day and then this weekend my mind just went blank. So I decided to link some of my favorite old posts that will let all of you new friends know a bit more about who I am. Enjoy!

About me

29 before 30

Happy ending

Things I've learned along the way
Let's start at the beginning

about me

 interesting facts about moi...  

• Nicknames include- Cole, Coco, Cocopuff, Colie, Coley-Moley but please never Nikki.

• Middle name is Athena, which is pretty different I think

• There is only one color lipstick I will wear. I can never make myself try another shade. r.i.p :(

• My absolute most favorite thing to eat is a really good grilled cheese sandwich.

• Most beautiful place I have ever been in my life would have to be either Road to Hana in Maui, or Na Pali Coast in Kauai.

• I cannot drive at night. I mean I can, but it’s not recommended.

• I think I am as equally extroverted as I am introverted. I can lead and follow.

• I worked in a haunted house once which is surprising because I am terrified of scary movies.

• First heard the name Micah at camp when I was 15 and knew instantly it was my favorite name in the world and that I would name my son that someday(which I did).  Heard the name Skylar (spelled schuyler) years before he came and new there was something special about that name too.

• I’ve done 6 different types of schooling in a matter of 7 years and I think it taught me how to adapt to change and make friends pretty easily.

• Was the class speaker for my graduating class of I think 20. Haha! Yay for small towns.

• I am the Know all of f.r.i.e.n.d.s trivia. just a little bragging there. ;)

• Grew up watching my grandma read all the time. She always had a book in her hands. I never enjoyed reading before but one year while staying with her, I picked a  book off her shelf  and I have been obsessed with reading ever since.

• Two biggest fears: Fish & Math. 
• My favorite number is 8.
• Can say all the books of the Bible in order in less than a minute...thank you Sunday School.  

• Named the blog letters to you because that’s the title of mine & Stephens first song. Later changed it to letters from coco to add a little more of a personal touch.

Consider yourself tagged!
I want to know some interesting facts about you.

29 before 30

I'm turning 25 in a few months. And I know so many people would slap me if I said that was old so I won't say it's old, its just so mid-twentish. ha! Not sure I like that just yet. I feel like from the second I turned 21 (the same year I became a mommy) the years really started to fly by. Before I know it 30 will be here. So I thought this would be fun- here are 29 things I would like to accomplish before I turn 30. It will be interesting to look back on this in five years and see how many things I can cross off.
Here we go...

1. Buy an old school Polaroid camera.
2. Learn how to cook, really cook
3. Finish our family with baby #3.
4. Go on more missions trips out of the country.
5. Print all the million photos I have stored on my computer and scrapbook them.
6. Actually put money in my savings account and pay off my credit cards.
7. Go on a real road trip.
8. Try something artsy, like paint something for my house.
9. Write a letter to everyone special in my life telling them exactly what they mean to me.
10. Volunteer more.
11. Find more time to be quiet.
12. Go back to Hawaii.
13. Learn to sew.
14. Travel places I’ve never been before.
15. Take a risk. Do something scary & dangerous.
16. Change someone’s mind about something I care deeply about.
17. Have a professional family photo shoot.
18. Have more frequent date nights and romantic getaways with Stephen.
19. Go on a sail boat. I don't know why I've just always wanted to do this.
20. Spend New Years dressed up somewhere spectacular.
21. Read the classics.
22. Play a sport and actually be kind of good at it.
23. Overcome a fear.
24. Go tail gating with friends.
25. Re-learn how to drive a stick shift and remember this time.
26. Be happy with my body after all done having babies.
27. Start an etsy shop.
28. Learn to play an instrument with my boys.
29. Be more eternally minded.