My Heart, My Home

Caleb is 2!

2011-08-18T21:54:00.006-04:00

As of a few weeks ago, Caleb is now officially two years old. I can't believe it! This year has gone faster than his first year did. How is that possible? This year has definitely been filled with "big boy" milestones and adventures. What did July 2010 through July 2011 bring?

In no particular order:

running

jumping, off of anything!

sliding down big kid slides all by himself

being able to let him play by himself on playgrounds(!)

mimicking everything

obeying simple commands

his first haircut, on his second birthday

finding out he'd be a big brother

moving in with his grandparents

climbing stairs all by himself

making sentences; his longest so far, "Mickey Mouse Clubhouse is coming right back!"

identifying letters and phonemes

sitting in a booster seat

using fork and spoon

first airplane rides

tubing with Daddy

making jokes and entertaining those around him

saying "please" and "thank you"

giving hugs while saying "awww"

praying with hands together and head bowed

potty training

Oh how I wish I could remember everything he's accomplished this year, but these are some of the highlights..i.e. what my pregnant brain can recollect. I know every mom says this, but I am just over the moon proud of my son. He lights up my life, and has brought us more joy than we could have ever imagined. I have enjoyed this past year with him, so much more than his first; simply because his personality is now shining through.

It brings me such happiness seeing him discover new things and being challenged. Moreover, I am grateful to God for allowing us to parent him. All of his little quirks and mannerisms fit our family so well. From his love of food to being a cuddly boy and rough and tumble self, he is ours. And I wouldn't have it any other way.

God has helped me greatly this year by increasing my patience with Caleb, and I'd say children in general. I pray it will only continue to improve with each day. He has also instilled in me the sacred calling of being a mother to Caleb. The intentionality with raising a godly child is such an immense and essential task. I can't leave it up to our church, or his Sunday school teachers, or books. One of my prayers when I was pregnant with him was that he would obey God's Word and tell others about Him. Faith is no different than other life lessons when it comes to being "caught, not taught." Even though we teach him Biblical truths, we know as parents that modeling it does far more for him than anything. I want him to know that Mommy and Daddy's God is real, and that our faith is too.

He amazes me with his simple, but profound ways of learning about faith. A few months ago, he picked up a Bible and said matter of factly, "Bible. God. Love." A few weeks ago when I asked him to obey a command, he said, "No." I then asked him, "What would Jesus want you to do?" He replied, "Obey." Just this morning, he picked up his toy cell phone and began talking away. "Caleb," I asked, "Who are you talking to?" He said, "God!" then continued on his way. Tonight we did a sing-along of "Jesus loves me." Let me tell you, it is a precious thing to hear your little boy sing, "He is strong!"

We try our best to use those everyday, teachable moments to help him see God more clearly. And as a parent, I see my desperate need for grace now more than ever. I remember hearing a friend praying over her little girl a few years ago..."Lord, let her see You and know You, despite my sins and failures." She was crying while praying this, and I will never forget that moment. Because I too, can now understand that plea.

Proverbs 7:1-3 ESV, "My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you; keep my commandments and live; keep my teaching as the apple of your eye; bind them on your fingers; write them on the tablet of your heart."

The Specky post

2011-07-07T09:10:00.010-04:00

I have totally succumbed to the 'second-child' syndrome already. It's happening, folks. And the poor kid isn't even born yet! It certainly isn't because I don't care or I'm not excited. Oh, I am, I really can't wait to meet this little one. It's just that the big brother in the house keeps me conveniently distracted. So without further postponement, let's talk about Speck, baby....

Who is "Specky?" As with our 2 other little babes in utero, we had nicknames from the beginning with them. Before we knew Caleb was a boy, his nicknames were his corresponding size in fruit by week...i.e. poppy seed, blueberry, raspberry, plum. And with our second child, its nickname was and always will be "little seed." So, when #3 blissfully came along, I began thinking of tiny things...and thus little "Speck" or "Specky" was named. The complete nickname is "Specky McSpeckerson." I often create fake last names with Mc-?-er-son. Don't ask :)

When is the due date? Somewhere between late November and early December, Lord willing. Caleb was born 5 days before his EDD.

Is it a boy or a girl? We don't know! We (meaning me) really desired a surprise delivery this time. This whole pregnancy has been more laidback than my first, so it just felt like it would be fun to have this awesome surprise in 9 months.

I can't believe you don't wanna know! I know; me either.

Do you have names picked out? Yes, both first and middles for either boy or girl. At this point, I think we're waiting to reveal them until the birth.

How are you feeling? Awesome, really. In the first trimester, I experienced nausea for the first time (never had it with Caleb), and was extremely fatigued. The latter probably due to chasing around a rambunctious toddler this time.

Have you felt the baby move? Yes, and I was able to recognize the sensation sooner this time from experience. I felt little "bubbles" around week 15, but wasn't truly certain. Around week 16, I was positive that they were indeed little jabs and left hooks. Brent has been able to feel Specky move too. Very cool! Specky seems to be just as active as big brother was.

Does Caleb know about Specky? Yes, to the degree that an almost 2 year old can. It's the most precious thing when he asks to "Kiss baby?" We are learning to be gentle with a babydoll, and showing kindness to it. He is learning to entertain himself and play independently.

Anything else to share? Well, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity actually...my sister is also pregnant and we are due 10 days apart! My parents are really excited about gaining two grandchildren within days of each other. It's amazing to think they will have 5 grandkids at Christmastime!

Goodbye, old Friend

2011-06-16T16:01:00.005-04:00

I can't believe it's been over 14 years since the day I met you. You were the shyest little thing, but had such a cute innocence about you. It was love at first sight, and I knew you would be my dog.

When we asked the shelter manager if we could visit with you, he walked ahead of us, loudly unlocking the chain-link door to your pen. You were the dog who cowered in the corner, trusting no one and fearing everything. When he pulled your reluctant self out, instincts kicked in and you immediately ran away! My mom and I were shocked, but the manager reassured us there was a fence on around the property, so you wouldn't be able to get far.

I think we paid $25 for you; a bargain for love. My dad was surprised to see a furball of a puppy arrive home in his garage. This wouldn't be the first time a dog had lived in this house. You were #3, and you had some big paws to fill. I remember the first few days and weeks, you mostly hid in corners, under tables and beds, anywhere you felt safe and protected. Your chocolate brown puppy eyes were framed by the softest, long fur. You looked like a bear cub. It took years before you outgrew your mistrust of people, especially men. But once you did, you were a friendly dog that enjoyed lots of bacon treats, runs on the leash, and unexpected runs off the leash. No matter how many times you enjoyed a joyrun, we always managed to catch you and haul you home.

Christmas mornings were a special day for you. Yes, you did have your very own stocking, filled with a random smattering of pigs' ears, balls, and other chewy things. But that was not your most coveted item. Of all the morsels of human food you've ever laid mouth on, it still and will always be that a lovefeast bun is your favorite taste. You behaved like a rabid dog once your nose caught the sweet, yeasty aroma of a bun that all of us traditionally ate around the Christmas tree. You'd leap onto the couch, and attempt stealing it, yes, even from our very lips!
Every year, you get to enjoy an entire lovefeast bun. And we love seeing you scarf it down as fast as you can.

You've done a lot more putting up with me, than I with you. You watched my tears fall and heart ache through high school at times, and were the perfect small shoulders to cry upon. You just listened and gave me a reassuring lick at times. We sat on the stairs many a time together, just being. There came a day in late summer 2001, when I had to leave you for an extended time. While I was away studying and making new friends at college, you kept Mom and Dad company while they learned to handle the empty nest. I'd call home and ask how you were doing. And Dad's constant response was, "We find her at your door, pawing to get in. So we open it, and she enjoys lying on the floor or your bed." I'm sorry you couldn't understand, Girl. I always loved coming home from college and being quickly greeted by you. I missed having a dog in my daily life.

Four years later, I moved back home to you. We had a new human to love, you and I. He was going to be your new Master and Friend. On September 3, 2006, I married him, and even you played a role in the wedding reception. Due to the constraints of the day, there was no way to have you physically present there, but Dad brought a stuffed animal proxy to remind me of you.

In the weeks and months that followed, we enjoyed being a new family together, taking walks down our neighborhood together. You never met a human who didn't like you. Elderly people took to your gentle and docile nature. And you are quite tolerant with the the little folks too, the ones who really can't seem to get enough of you.

Fast forward to summer 2009, and both of our worlds were turned radically upside down. There was yet another new human to love, this time, a Playmate. At the beginning, you were the calm in the chaos...lying down near my feet as your new playmate would wail and wail. I couldn't understand...why does she choose to endure this loud crying when she could leave the room and hide somewhere (as I desperately desired to do)? But you were choosing us. You've developed a very strong need to generally be with us. Not necessarily interacting with us, but you've just gotta be in the same room.

As the Playmate grew, my one on one time with you seemed to be quickly diminishing. He's not as chill as you are, and he requires a lot of attention. But you seemed to be okay with it, in your old age. Sleeping most of the day and enjoying short walks outside. The Playmate started getting mobile and thinking of you as his new favorite toy. I was never concerned that you would ever hurt him, mostly because at your old age, you no longer had teeth! But also because you're just a sweet dog.

He picked up on your name soon after his first words were said. And even now, tries to call you with commands. But, sadly, your ears no longer hear his playful calls. He wants to wrestle and tumble with you, but your hips can't handle that anymore. He's finally learned to be gentle with you, stroking your soft fur. And just yesterday crawled under your belly through his own tunnel. These are the memories I'll miss. He loves you so much. He talks about you, asks about you, and it will hurt me to hear him say all those sweet words in his speech.

There comes a time in life, when old age takes over, when the daily things that took no thought or effort, seem to begin to take a toll. I want you to know, that you are loved. Tomorrow will be one of the hardest days of my life. I have to say goodbye. And I won't hear your collar jingling anymore or get to call you "Fishbreath" any longer. We've had a good run together, you and I. But I rather not wait until the bitter end when you're no longer yourself completely. I know you can't possibly understand what's going on. You're so trusting now, not the dog I met 14 years ago. But I promise, I'm not trying to betray you or give up on you. You're a sweet dog who will never leave my heart. You will always be the dog with a million nicknames...Beana, Bean, Quigley, Cubbina, Cub, JaBeana, Nina... but in my mind, you're just Cubbie.

I love you, old girl.

Much to catch up...since it's been almost 4 months since I last posted

2011-06-04T10:48:00.006-04:00

Ahh, neglecting the blog. Not sure why it's taken me this long to actually log into Blogger and type something. Here's what been's happening:

End of March- found out we're pregnant again! Yay! Truly an answered prayer, since we lost a little one back in the Fall. I've had my fill of worry, especially anticipating the first ultrasound at 8 weeks, which is when we discovered there were problems with our 2nd baby. Praise the Lord, this time, we saw a steady heart beat of 162 bpm. The growth looked fine, and a huge weight was lifted off of our shoulders. I know there are no guarantees, and every day, it's a matter of trusting the Lord and HIS plan, not ours.

We also spent a wonderful week visiting Brent's mom and stepdad in Florida. Thankfully the temps weren't too hot yet. Caleb loved all of the extra attention from Nana and Grandpapa. We do not get to see them as often as we'd like, so it was equally special to inform them of the baby in person. I had a rough time (and that's putting it gently) flying solo with Caleb down and back from FL. Motion sickness got to me both times, and Caleb wasn't having it on our return flight. Yes, I was that mom crying in her seat, praying that the flight would. just. be. over.

April: We celebrated my 28th birthday with a very special weekend of seeing Cirque du Soleil's Alegria, dinner at Olive Garden, and shopping at nearby outlets. Did I mention Caleb was happily at home with his grandparents? :)

Speaking of grandparents, Caleb just got a whole lot closer to my parents, since we moved in with them! Due to our condo still up for sale, we thought it would be easier to live with them than deal with urgent house showings, and to help during the pregnancy.

May: Finally feeling settled in at my parents' house. Things are unpacked, and Caleb seemed to adjust to having extra people and new things around. He loves being outside most of the time nowadays; a luxury compared to living in the condo. Mid-May, we enjoyed a fun day at the Greek Festival with Brent's parents. Caleb loved the loud music, food, and yelling, "Opa!" It's an annual tradition that we love. For Memorial Day weekend, we spent the entire time with Brent's parents and celebrated his sister's birthday. Caleb sure enjoyed all the chasing and playtime with Grandpa and Grandma.

June: We've already enjoyed some pool time with friends and a visit to the science museum.

More fun to come, I'm sure.

Simple requests

2011-02-16T11:07:00.001-05:00

All day long, between toddler-talk and whines, sweet Bubster is making requests to me. "Muck! Muck!" (milk). "nack! nack!" (snack). "tv! tv!" (I'm rather embarassed at that one). The other day, while restraining him on his changing table with one hand, grabbing a wipe and diaper with the other, he made another request.

"Book! Book!" I quickly grabbed a book from his shelf and said, "Thank you for such a simple request, Caleb." While wiping his tush, I began to think about requests. More specifically, what involves honoring a request. The person who is asked of, either has the power to honor a request or not. Some are simple, some are complex.

I had this awesome realization that there are no difficult requests for God. Everything is simple for Him. Hallelujah! It doesn't matter if your request would require Him to move Heaven and Earth or make it stop raining for three and a half years....He is more than able.

What does God's Word have to say about requests?

Luke 18:27, "But he [Jesus] said, "What is impossible with men is possible with God."

James 5:16-18, "Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective. Elijah was a human being, even as we are. He prayed earnestly that it would not rain, and it did not rain on the land for three and a half years. Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain, and the earth produced its crops."

Philippians 4:6-7, "Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus."

Let's get real here though, just because you may ask God of something, and it doesn't happen necessarily as you would expect...that does not mean that He is unable. Rather He has the best plan in mind. Also, be sure to examine your motives, as James explains.

James 4:2-3, "You desire but do not have, so you kill. You covet but you cannot get what you want, so you quarrel and fight. You do not have because you do not ask God. When you ask, you do not receive, because you ask with wrong motives, that you may spend what you get on your pleasures."

Just bask/savor/enjoy/delight in the truth that God is able. When your loved one is dying, when you get called into your boss's office, when no money is leftover after paying the bills, when your kids have left you running ragged and bruised....when you're a sinner, in need of a loving Savior. He is able.

Hebrews 7:23-26, "Now there have been many of those priests, since death prevented them from continuing in office; but because Jesus lives forever, he has a permanent priesthood. Therefore he is able to save completely those who come to God through him, because he always lives to intercede for them. Such a high priest truly meets our need—one who is holy, blameless, pure, set apart from sinners, exalted above the heavens." (emphasis mine)

Love-ly food

2011-02-14T10:23:00.002-05:00

Caleb's Valentine breakfast

Cupcakes with pink fluffy buttercream frosting

Addictive rolled sugar cookies

Hi from Caleb

2011-01-14T10:40:00.004-05:00

Hey everyone,

It's Caleb here, and I thought you may wanna hear from me since it's been awhile. Last time when Mama updated, I'd recently taken to walking. Now I love to run! And jump! And gallop! Mama and Babbie (one of my grandmas) had to chase me around Borders the other day to get me. I thought it was really fun, but their faces didn't look so happy.

Mama calls me "Taz" some days, she says I'm a "master of disaster." What does that mean? I mean, usually I just dump all my bins of toys around, dump my ball pit, and drag clothes and other random things I find. She is teaching me how to clean up my toys before bathtime at night now. I like to help! I help in other ways too, like using my hammer alongside Dada while working on the hardwood floors. And I like to take tissues and help "cwean." Mama loves it when I help. She says I'm a big boy now.

Making my "cheeser" face on my new trike

I've been learning so many new words now: colors like "puh-ple" and "yah-low", (s)"nack", Bible, "seepy" (sleepy), "bok" (box). Mama thinks it's so cute when I open a hymnal and sing "la la la!" Three of my favorite books right now are "Pat the Bunny," (which I call it "Paul" after one of the characters), "The Telephone Book," (which I call it "Phone"), and one my Nana got me, "My Big Truck book." I love twucks and cars. I make vroom vroom noises too. I am so good at being LOUD! Mama and Dada are teaching me "Shhh" and whispering. I also love learning my ABCs on www.starfall.com. I call it "fall."

I have also learned what a hug is. Mama asks for a hug, and I run over and crash into her. I like how warm she is. We have a lot of fun during the day together. But I love it when Dada comes home from work. I like to run into him when he calls for me. I ride on his shoulders around the house, and I like to dance when he plays the guitar. Speaking of dancing, I like to find Mama and Dada's stereo remote and turn it on. They've found me dancing to Michael Jackson twice now! :)

Well, I'm all out of goldfish now...it's time for more 'nack!

DIY: Indoor snowflakes

2011-01-10T19:23:00.004-05:00

In anticipation of the forthcoming snow, Caleb and I made some easy and fun snowflakes. These are probably the very same ones that you made back in preschool too. No matter, the fun in making these this time around was having my son join in on making some art.

Here's what you'll need: wax paper or plate, food coloring or markers, coffee filters, squirt bottle/dropper, and scissors. (Bonus points if you recognize the squirt bottle :).

1) Lay a pile of coffee filters on top of each other. I used three. 2) Squirt food coloring or decorate with markers. Caleb proudly squirted the blue dye, and declared "Red!" 3) Use your squirt bottle or dropper with water and watch the colors bleed through the filter.

4) Separate each coffee filter so they can dry. Since they are so thin, they don't take long at all to dry.

5) Be sure to snap adorable photo of adorable son making adorable snowflakes.

6) Fold filters in half at least 3 times. 7) Snip away on any side of your triangle.

8)Unfold & behold!

You can't tell from this picture, but it is actually snowing outdoors at the same time. :)

Turning to the North

2011-01-04T13:09:00.004-05:00

“Then at last the Lord said to me, ‘You have been wandering around in this hill country long enough; turn to the north.'" Deuteronomy 2:2-3

Hearing this verse this morning has been the wake-up call I've desperately needed. I realize I've been pretty quiet on the blog as of late, and there are a few reasons for this. Without going into specifics, let's just say the last 3 months of my life have been riddled with disappointment after disappointment.

This has been a huge test of faith for me. I vacillate daily between blatant doubt and weak hope. It's not a pretty place to be. Ask my husband who is fleshing out the definition of long-suffering by loving and living with me.

Currently, those disappointments have not yet been resolved or overturned. They still are what they are. But back to the verse at the top...yes, all I've been mentally doing has been going around in circles, over and over and over. I'm tired of wallowing in self-pity. I'm yearning for God to do something big. Something that actually comes to fruition. Or perhaps for clarity and discernment to see the hidden blessings of these things??

So here I am...waving my white flag; and attempting to turn to the North.

Merry Christmas from the Wells!

2010-12-14T19:24:00.002-05:00

In His Name Religious Christmas Card

Shop Shutterfly.com for elegant Christmas photo cards.

View the entire collection of cards.

Stolen kisses

2010-11-22T08:30:00.000-05:00

"The only thing worth stealing, is a kiss from a sleeping baby." ~ unknown

Christmas cards from Shutterfly

2010-11-20T19:47:00.007-05:00

'Tis the season for all things festive, fun, and family! I love Thanksgiving, I love Christmas! Traditionally, I really don’t stress too much about holiday preparations. But there is one small detail that does draw out my perfectionistic tendencies….the family Christmas card.

Growing up, some twenty-odd years ago, Christmas cards typically had a painted wreath on the front with some gold-foil lettering. And that was the crème de la crème, some even included a wallet-sized photo of the kids.

Gone are those days (mostly), and enter the modern Christmas card, ala Shutterfly. Where you can use templates to customize designs to your heart’s desire. The sample photos are amazing, which only forces me to emulate that look. Here are some of the gorgeous designs from Shutterfly that I am loving!

I have not used Shutterfly for Christmas cards before, but have used them for greeting cards. The recipients loved seeing familiar faces on them, and noticed the professional appearance and quality cardstock. Shutterfly has oodles of designs and price points for anyone interested in sending out unique and memorable cards. So, what are you waiting for? Go check them out!

Pumpkin Patch: Now & Then

2010-10-30T23:02:00.000-04:00

What a precious boy that he's grown into! Last year, he couldn't even sit up by himself, so he remained propped up between pumpkins. This year, he was running like a maniac between the rows of pumpkins, and we barely snapped a photo of him looking directly at the camera. I do see a common theme here: his oral fixation and my love of bulky sweaters. We love you little guy! This Fall has definitely been a lot more fun, watching him discover the colors, leaf piles, and cooler weather.

A New Family Tradition

2010-10-16T19:42:00.005-04:00

DIY Fall Wreath

2010-10-01T22:42:00.000-04:00

To celebrate Fall's arrival, I decided to do something I've never done before: make a wreath. As with most projects, I began my quest at Dollar Tree. They had a nice selection of wire ribbons, leaf garlands, mums, sunflowers, etc. I ended up buying two 5-foot leaf garlands. The wreaths they had were too small for a front door, but thankfully Michaels was right next door. I found an 18" grapevine wreath with a gorgeous orange sunflower pick with berry accents. After using a 40% off coupon and getting a 50% off sale, the total to make this simple wreath was $6. Not too shabby!

When creating the wreath, I first tried two ways with the garland. The first time, I wrapped it around the wreath, like a running stitch. But that didn't look so great. Next thing I tried was just laying the garland in a circle on top of the wreath. That added the fullness it needed. Enter floral wire and hot glue gun, and tada! About 30 minutes later, my little $6 wreath had blossomed into autumnal beauty.

Fabric Fancy & Fleece

2010-09-17T13:55:00.004-04:00

It's never a good thing when I just happen to wander into a fabric store. Mainly because I get so inspired by the colors, textures, and patterns, but really have no clue where to begin. Earlier this week I happened into Hancock Fabrics and began instantly drooling. See the problem here though, is that I am not a master seamstress. I am extremely limited in my sewing ability. So you can understand my creativity pangs when I see all of those gorgeous fabrics, but don't know how to physically manipulate them. It's not that I don't have ideas for oodles of things involving fabric, it's just that I don't have the time to sit down and learn sewing with a cute toddler around. I know, I know, that's such a convenient excuse for, well...everything.

In my mind, I would love to be Amy Butler... a girl can dream, can't she? So here's a very short list of a couple of things that I have been able to sew: pillow cover/case, knitting needle roll-up case, wipes, dog bed, dog poncho, annnnnd I think that's all. Well for a complete novice like me, I really appreciate no-sew projects. You get the best of both worlds (thanks Hannah Montana) by using fun fabrics, with none of the expertise required! :-D

Which brings me back to standing in Hancock Fabrics on Tuesday, eyeing all of the whimsical fleece prints. I love fleece for a plethora of reasons, but mostly because it's extremely easy to make stuff with. I saw this print in the clearance section called "Bugs & Worms," and knew instantly that this was perfect for my little Bubster. He loves all types of creepy-crawlies, alive or dead. I envisioned a cute reversible blanket for him, a larger size for the big boy he is becoming. I then grabbed a solid turquoise bolt to pair with the print. Folks, I gotta tell you, one of the only drawbacks to fleece is the price at times. But right now at Hancock, they're having an anniversary sale where most of their store is 53% off. It runs through the end of the month, so stock up now for Christmas projects :)

After 1.5 yards each of the fabrics and roughly $12 later, I had a cozy blanket to create. Instead of retyping directions for this, I'm posting the link that will give you the lowdown. Easy peasy, lemon squeezy. I kid you not, all you need is a pair of scissors to do this. I'm seriously considering making two more for my niece and nephew with other fabrics. Have fun, y'all.

Consignment Sale Debriefing & Tips

2010-09-11T13:02:00.008-04:00

It's been a busy and fun weekend so far. Hubs and the DS went to go visit his family, and therefore I'm getting some fun girly stuff done! I've been waiting for today, for several weeks now, knowing that two major consignment sales would be open for business. I couldn't sleep, I tell you. It was like Christmas Eve or something. Plus, I had to get up before the sun to be ready for the first sale.

6:50 am: roll up to a church parking lot and see small line of frugalistas waiting for the gym doors to open.

7:00 am: mad dash inside. people falling down. screaming. something caught fire. well, not really, but you get the idea.

7:01 am: overwhelmed.

7:02 am: My confidence increasing, I weasel my way over to the 18-24 month boys' rack and begin quickly skimming. Hello, stripes. Hello, Ralph Lauren. Meet...my shopping bag.

8:00 am: Checking out and glory Hallelujah, I only spent $22 for several nice pants and shirts. Not to mention a cute puzzle depicting how to set the table. Gotta start 'em young.

8:20 am: roll up to a church parking lot and see a cop directing parking traffic. oy.

8:22 am: overwhelmed. again.

8:24 am: go straight to shoes and see lots of cute styles, but not in his size. shimmy my way over to the 18-24 month boys' rack and begin skimming: Nothing...nothing...nothing...ehhh....hmm...maybe?... I wasn't as impressed with the selection at this particular sale, saw several stained items. Ventured out to the books/puzzle area and toys.

9:15 am: Checking out in the "express" lane, and my total was $18.75.

9:30 am: Visiting the final sale of the weekend, and the one I hadn't planned to visit. After combing the racks, found a pair of jeans for $2.

10:30 am: Leaving with my sanity in tact, and only a minor dent in the budget DH and I had agreed upon after 3 sales!

And here is the final stash of clothes bought for Fall/Winter:

Not too shabby for roughly $44, tax-free too! I love all of the pieces, and they average $2 a piece.

So here are some of my tips that I've heard from others, and that I've learned through experience:

Try to leave your kids and DH at home. I don't say this to be mean, but simply that space is extremely limited at this type of sale, and most shoppers are on a mission. Plus, you won't have to worry about someone getting bored or whiny.

Go first thing at opening if you can. The early bird gets the worm, or rather the early shopper gets the best selection.

Bring a bag or laundry basket, something. I am constantly amazed at how many people have nowhere to place their items. The IKEA bag was made for this.

If there are windows available, take your clothes over there and inspect them for stains, tears, missing buttons, broken zippers, grease stains in natural light.

Take cash or check with you. Most sales are not debit/credit equipped.

To stretch your dollar further, visit sales hosted by non-profits since there will be no tax included!

Volunteer at your favorite sale and shop the preview sale for even better selection (before the public gets their grubby hands all over it).

Take some measurements of clothing that currently fit your child well. I used a string of yarn to measure some jeans from waist to bottom cuff. Holding it up against other pants will show you how it compares. For shoes, I simply trace a foot, then take out the insole of a prospective shoe to compare for size and width.

Know prices of brands. This will help you in the long run. For instance, I really don't like the idea of paying more than $3.50 for a shirt because I know I can buy a new one for the same price at Walmart (Garanimals brand) or Kohl's (Jumping Beans). Some consignors price items too high for the brand, i.e. GenuineKids by Oshkosh for Target, $8 sweater...not a deal.

Keep a towel with you in case you need to sit on the floor and sort your clothes before buying. I did this at a sale and many buyers wished they had one too. A lot of the venues that sell do not have seating or a table to do this. Plus, this will keep your clothes clean too.

Some buyers/sellers frown upon this ("stockpiling"), but I call it smart shopping. If you even think for a second that you like a particular item, shove it in your bag. I may start with a bag overflowing with clothes, but after sorting, pondering, etc. I may decide it's not worth it. Please put the items back where you found them. I have 'lost' several items to other shoppers because I hesitated.

This should be an obvious one: know what you need to buy. I'm sure lots of poor souls fall prey to impulse buying at these sales since everything is so cheap. But it's not much of a deal if your kid already has more of the same.

Have fun :)

Adventures in Parenting: It's the little things

2010-09-07T10:47:00.000-04:00

Before I became a parent, I never knew:

I'd spend so much time chopping/dicing/mashing/tearing food bits.
That the moment my husband's key would unlock our door around 5:20 pm, I would have immediate relief wash over me.
how important changing tables are when you're out in public.
I would end up consuming just as many Cheerios as my child does.
how glorious naps were; for both of us.
that God could use a little child to teach me the hardest lessons.
how wonderful and sanity-saving, grandparents could be.
the slight differences between Pampers, Huggies, and Luvs. Not to mention, the beauty of pop-up wipes.
what a challenging calling that motherhood truly is.
that "snack traps" don't really trap all of the snack!
that cloth bibs work best for bottles and liquidy stuff, but slick pelican bibs are better for table food.
how pitiful your child looks when he's sick.
the beauty and fun of consignment sales.
that some days, your child will get on your last nerve.
that other days, you can't get enough of him.
how much I would desperately need God's forgivness and grace in raising a child.

I have learned so much in this small little space of time that my son has been around. And I can't imagine my life without him now. He grew in me a little over a year ago, and now he's grown on me. God give me the grace that despite all of my failings and quirks, he will ultimately see You.

"La-LA-La-LA....Bubster's World"

2010-09-04T22:03:00.007-04:00

....sung to the tune of, none other than "Elmo's World!"

It's been awhile since I've posted some about Bub's current world. And man, do I love his little piece of the world.

Frenemies

Ever since he took his first steps almost two months ago, he is amazing us with his speed all of a sudden. I usedtacould open a door and quickly grab something, and shut the door all without him noticing or being able to intervene. Nowadays, that no longer happens, and he is quick as a whip, right there at your feet, ready and all too willing to get involved with whatever I am doing. Right now, his most favorite activities are opening and shutting doors, dancing, reading, chasing Cubbie, and getting into the fridge or dishwasher. The latter have become problems of their own...basically when I shut either door, he throws a fit. Screaming at the top of his lungs, all because I shut the fridge door. Bless his heart.

The dancing bit is so cute to watch. He'll do it to about anything, whether it's a song on his favorite show, Raggs, or a song in one of his musical books. He bobs up and down with the most serious of looks on his little face. It really looks as if he's thinking, "Up...now down...Up...now down." :) We've gotten it on video quite a few times, so hopefully (fingers crossed), I'll remember to post one.

Bub's vocab is growing as well. He can now say: Mama, Dada, ball, Bobo (his fave monkey), bye bye, uh-oh, and light. I know "light" is a strange first word, but he is obsessed with lights. It all started when I began pointing to any and every light in a room. Soon, his arm and finger began imitating mine, and he would smile and say "_igh_."

Another cute thing he does (and there are too many to count!) is raise his arms above his head. We taught him to raise them when we say, "Praise God!" He did it at our church one day, much to everyone's delight. And just the other day, as we were riding down in an elevator, it made a weird clunking noise with a small bounce. Bub said, "Uh-Oh!" :-D I have no idea how or why he knew to say that in context! But I told him, "Please don't say 'uh-oh' in an elevator!" Ironically, as we were waiting for the same elevator awhile later, a maintenace man told us it was acting up. ::blushing:: My son is already getting smarter than his old mom!

He is still very much in love with his precious blankie, and now enjoys dragging it around the house with him. He strews everything around the house nowadays. I find the most random things in the most random of places. I do love finding a wooden block or puzzle piece intermingled with his dirty clothes. Truly his presence makes itself known.

He is such a gift. I am so thankful to God for such an energetic and wild little boy. (These words may come to bite me in the future, but for now, they're all true).

Happy 4th Anniversary!

2010-09-03T08:46:00.000-04:00

To my sweet husband,

I love you more than the day you asked me to marry you....

I love you more than the day we said, "I do."

I love you more than the day we found out we were pregnant.

I love you more than the day we met our firstborn son.

I love you more than you will ever know...

Daydreaming of Fall

2010-08-23T22:04:00.002-04:00

Stowe, Vermont (Fall 2008)

On Wednesday, September 22, 2010, I'll be doing a little happy dance. You see, that's the first day of Fall. The debut of my favorite season bursting onto the scene. I'm so thankful that I live in a place where I can experience the full range of seasons; some milder than previous years. But Fall is just always beautiful, and never disappoints, regardless of how the rest of the seasons have played out.

The crisp air, "jacket weather," the smell of smoke billowing from chimneys and bonfires, bumpy hayrides, gooey s'mores, turtlenecks, warm scarves, appley-anything, crunchy leaves, dazzling colors, coziness. What's not to love?

In anticipation of Autumn, I excitedly announced to B, "I just painted my toenails 'Brown-a-licious!'" To which he wryly responded, "You do know that it's about a month away, right?"

Yes, but who's counting?

....30 days....

What are some of your favorite things about Fall?

GQ bay-bay

2010-08-14T22:45:00.001-04:00

Caleb is modeling Huggies Jeans and Snug & Dry diapers. Cup by Tommee Tippee. Robot pj top by BabyGap.

Who does he favor?

2010-08-08T23:02:00.002-04:00

Brent (left) & Bubster (right)

Me (left) & Bubster (right)

We get asked often by friends (and family) who we think Bub looks more like. What do you think?

Adventures in Parenting: Buying a minivan?!

2010-08-06T21:12:00.006-04:00

I can't even believe I just typed the word minivan. It connotes soccer mom, unhip, scattered and broken Cheerios, and the sound of a slamming sliding door (in my mind). Growing up, just my sister and I, we never rode in a minivan unless it was a friend's. We rode around in a grey Chevrolet Cavalier station wagon for most of our younger years, then upgraded to a brand spankin' new '91 Toyota Camry; with moonroof. Eat. your. heart. out.

The Cavalier is looong gone, but the Camry, affectionately known as Ol' Girl, is still being driven around town by the husband. A couple of years ago, I was able to pick out a new-to-me '03 Honda Accord which is nicknamed Annie. (Backstory on the name: we found out during the buying process that the car had been repossessed; thus she was a bit of an orphan).

Amazingly, it seems like Annie has shrunken ever since Bubster entered our life. The mega-sized gear, bulging diaper bag, and variety of car toys has usurped the former backseat section. A minivan just makes sense to us. I'm as practical as they come, and even I can't deny the beauty of stow-n-go seating, dual sliding doors, and a butt load more of storage space. Did I mention our stroller takes up the entire trunk of the Accord? Lord willing, we would like to expand our family in the future, and it's difficult for me to imagine adding more to Annie's current load.

So, as I swallow my pride, since I previously vowed I would never, ever, ever, in a million bajillion years drive or own a minivan, we are poring over used Honda Odyssey ads specifically. And boy am I grateful for the internet at this time. What did people do without it before?! Oh yeah, read newspaper classifieds and pick up a copy of AutoTrader outside of the grocery store.

We found a perfect match for what we were looking for off of Craigslist, but discovered it had been sold and the ad was left behind. But just as in big things or little things, we are trusting God that He will bring it about in His will and time. Lord, give me patience!

In the meantime, my sister (also avowed anti-minivanist, who drives a big honkin' SUV) and I recently discussed our wanting to buy a minivan. She had a mischievous grin and chuckled knowingly. I don't know, it's like all your cool points go completely out the window when you drive a minivan. Like an official mom mobile. But what I am realizing, is that it is totally okay to be stereotyped as a mom :) It's a beautiful thing, really. See below.

And here are a few other mini-van funnies....

The Swagger Wagon

Another mom's take on saying, "I'll never drive a van."

What was I doing almost a year ago?

2010-07-26T19:17:00.004-04:00

In short, waiting and hoping that Caleb Sheridan would arrive any day...

July 25, 2009--eager to meet my son (and be done with it already!)

The hospital bag was mostly packed albeit those things you always throw in at the last moment: contact solution, toothbrush, razor, etc. I'd been working on my nightly pelvic exercises and stretches. Also continuing to slather on the cocoa butter lotion (which didn't really help me prevent stretch marks). I remember sitting in the glider in his finished nursery often, rocking back and forth ever so slowly, telling him how we couldn't wait to meet him. It was surreal, having everything ready to go, just no baby yet. I wondered what motherhood would be like. Could it really be as challenging and yet so amazingly wonderful at the same time as other moms had led me to believe?

What about labor and birth? Would I end up having to be induced? Would I be able to handle it? His due date was August 5th, 2009. I kept imagining having to call Brent at work and saying, "Honey, I think I'm in labor!" Which is funny to me in of itself, because I don't refer to Brent as "honey." :) Would I be out in public and have my water break?

At the end of my pregnancy, I really enjoyed speculating and imagining everything. I wasn't anxious about it really, just wondering how it'd all go down. And I'm sure God had fun listening to and watching me pose "What if?" scenarios.

He knew all along. He knew the moment that Caleb Sheridan would make his grand entrance. He knew the joyful tears I would shed at his birth, and the heartrending tears that would come during the following weeks. He knew that He would give me strength in my weakness and carry me through. He heard my cries along with Caleb's, begging for mercy and that most precious gift, sleep. He knew that things would get better, it would just take awhile. He knew that I would grow to appreciate the new normal. He knew that I would become more dependent upon Him.

But I did not know of these things yet. Little did I know that I would be meeting my son very soon, just a handful of days later on July 31st, 2009.

My "bowling ball"

2010-07-16T14:44:00.004-04:00

Sorry for the blurriness and darkness in the first two pics. That's what happens when you're shooting with no flash and a baby comes toddling towards you with the momentum of a freight train. Caleb is officially walking up a storm. He took his first ever steps while we were on vacation at the beach. My sister and I were the witnesses of his unexpected steps into a new frontier. Since Monday at around 4:30 pm, it's as if his feet have taken on a life of their own, willing his body to move along whether it wants to or not.

Other parents have mentioned to me stories of their own childrens' first steps. More often than not, it's more of an omen, as in "You're really going to be busy now..." But others have commented more on the milestone itself in the grand scheme of things. I'll admit when he did his longest walk of 10 steps on Monday afternoon, I was crying and cheering and clapping at the same time. He deserved the shiniest gold medal that has ever been forged from the earth. I was the proudest mom you could find at 4:40 pm on July 12th, 2010.

But at 4:41 pm, on July 12th, another feeling also welled up: recognizing that now I had an official toddler, and his babyhood is quickly dwindling by the day. How do these memories come and go so flittingly? And pardon the cliche', but "they grow up so fast." And every time I hear that, I find myself nodding and giving a soft smile. But it really hits home when it's your precious babe that's doing all of the alleged fast growing. And the other cliche', "growing like a weed," that's true too.

Okay, I'm getting way too mushy for my own good right now, ahem. So as my toddler, is making his way through the house now, with increasing progress by the day (dear Lord!), I hear frequent thuds. At first, I thought I was hearing the typical house-settling sounds, or other quasi-legit reasons for random noises. But I soon discovered that those random thuds were none other than my toddler's head hitting the floor. Before you label me a complete moron for not thinking or knowing that this could be a possibility, blessed me has a son who doesn't cry when his head hits the floor. So he falls, thuds!, rolls over, and keeps moving on. Kinda like a bowling ball. :) And if I wasn't with him directly, I wouldn't have known he even fell.

So for anyone keeping track, Caleb officially began walking in his 49th week. You go, big guy!

~~~

To my beloved "bowling ball," Mommy is so proud of you. I've only caught my breath twice since you've been walking, and you were just fine. Keep up the awesome work! And if you ever need a hand to hold, I'll be here...

blankie lub

2010-06-14T20:14:00.005-04:00

Caleb at 5 months

As a young girl, I was inseparable from my blankie and pilly. They were magical. I felt safe with them, they were close friends, and my imagination could soar while they were my faithful sidekicks. While the majority of blankets spend a great deal of time crumpled in a heap, I used to enjoy spreading my blankie out and admiring its 'bigness.' It's the little things that are mind-blowing to a kid.

I am proud to say that Caleb has inherited the blankie lub gene. I'll admit, I kinda set him up at first; think: arranged marriage. Seeing that precious hand crocheted baby blue blankie wrapped around a wee bebe was perfection. Still is. Their relationship has progressed to full blown lub. And this time, it's on Caleb's terms.

Cute baby trick #51: Every morning during our playtime in his room, I ask, "Where's Blankie?" And he dutifully and excitedly crawls over and stands at his crib until he locates it. He then bounces up and down, half squealing/grunting, and pulls Blankie out inch by glorious inch. Satisfied, he thrusts Blankie in the air with a fist pump then bodyslams it down for a nuzzle. I could watch this scene unfold on loop.

Inevitably, Blankie has inherited Caleb's scent. I love it. I'm not ashamed to admit this, but I nuzzle C's blankie a couple of times a day too. Ridiculous? A little. :) I am so darn nostalgic when it comes to blankies. I think of my own and the pleasure it brought. Mine is threadbare in places, and the lace border is quite frayed. I'm hoping Caleb's blankie will last just as long and be just as endearing.

The photo below is pretty much miraculous that it was captured at all. He is such a light sleeper and woke up seconds after I took this. Enjoy :)

Caleb at 10 months

Floating into Summer

2010-05-27T22:05:00.002-04:00

We had a great impromptu time at the pool this evening. It was so humid and hot, that the cool water felt heavenly. Bub didn't seem to mind the temperature, but was rather quiet most of the time in the pool. I guess there was a lot to take in on his inaugural swim! He enjoyed splashing and watching Daddy blow bubbles while sitting on his shoulders.

Side note: Doesn't that crab float look incredible? Whoever blew that up needs a medal. And, no swim diapers were loaded during this delightful event.

A little bit of this, a little bit of that

2010-05-24T21:59:00.006-04:00

So, unfortunately, my last post about having a 'splashtastic' time at the pool was a bit premature. We have yet to get Caleb in the water due to the weirdish rainsunstormcloudssun weather. Not to mention, we tested the water and it's quite cool given we've had mild temps. Thankfully though, the forecast is about to heat up. Frankly, I'm not a fan of NC-piedmont region summer heat. I wish 80 was as hot as it'd get. A girl can dream...

Oh, and here's a recent random photo of the Bub:

I told you it was random. This goes out to all the babies that have slow-growing hair, and who are, in actuality, not bald. My kid has hair, lots of baby fine, blonde strands, and one large downy, tuft on the back. I'm hoping this mini-skullet phase (I dare you to google-image search it) will grow out quickly. But darn it, it is sooo cute when Bub gets sweaty, it begins to curl and flip out like Bozo's 'do. As much as I look forward to his hair growing longer, I don't want his first haircut to be anytime soon.

In economic news, I'm becoming slightly addicted to couponing. There is nothing quite like paying next to nothing for something you need/love/want. I don't receive any newspapers, so I rely mostly on internet coupons or ones via mail. I've also gotten lots of full-sized samples of products which is even more awesome. It basically comes down to me searching for any coupons before I leave the house to go buy it. I kinda playfully berated Brent the other day when he bought full-priced Clif bars. "I just ordered a sample 6-pack of them! I'm sure they'll come with a coupon!" "I had a $1 off coupon for that..." and on it goes. But it's fun to me, like a game. And speaking of freebies...Chick-fil-A is giving away free spicy chicken sandwiches...reserve one (I know it's a little ridiculous sounding) here.

And lastly, I am getting psyched for this week's North Carolinians for Home Education (NCHE) conference. Hubs and I are only going to the free session (you know it) and walking through the book fair section. I don't think I've brought up homeschooling on the blog before, but it's something that has been one of those 180-degree things for me. I used to balk at the idea several years ago, but now it's something I'm interested in. It's not a definite, but we're looking forward to learning more about it. And obviously, we have several years before decisions will have to be made.

Okay....it's going on eleven o'clock....off to bed. Night, world.

Adventures in Parenting: Summer edition

2010-05-21T10:23:00.002-04:00

Today is the big day, or so we plan. Caleb will be entering the splashy world of aquatics in our pool. This has been a day with months of preparation. Swim lessons? No. But rounding up the usual suspects of swim trunks, swim shirt, baby sunblock, sunglasses, swim diaper, and ginormous inflatable crab float. I'm just grateful we won't have to load up the car and transport everything to enjoy ohhh...about 10 minutes in the tepid water.

I felt like I had crossed some invisible threshold this morning as I blew that crab float until I was blue. I think I was channeling Dizzy Gillespie at one point. No matter, my precious Bub was chewing all the while...on the float. But as parents, we do those big-little things for our babes and if it gives them a second of joy, it's worth it. Yes, the 45 minutes (I kid you not) it took for me to do CPR on a happy crustacean was worth it. Now, where the heck am I supposed to store that thing when not in use?

The swim diaper. I kinda shudder as I type that. Being that I'm exploring unknown territory here, I really don't know what to expect. Currently, we're planning on trying the reusable swim diaper today. If only I knew when to anticipate Bub's inevitable poop. Maybe the water will be cool enough that everything internally will slow to a grinding halt. One can only hope. I will be mortified, to say the least, if a Baby Ruth incident occurs, ala Caddyshack.

One other key part of preparing for today that I almost forgot...the worst part...that most moms cringe at...swimsuit shopping. I used to think my pre-mom bod had some work to do....but now, oh pre-mom bod, how I miss you! I had it good, and didn't even know it. So also on today's agenda, finding a new swimsuit for me. Goodbye bikinis, hello tankinis! There's just something about three-way mirrors, a dingy and cramped fitting room, that removeable sanitary strip, and fluorescent lighting that make you want to...barf. I'm dreading the paleness, dimples (not on my face), and new merit badges of mommyhood: stretch marks. The only redeeming factor? At the pool, eyes will be on my incredibly cute son, and not me. :)

With that said, I cannot wait to have tons of splashtastic photos and video of our big event. Watch out poolgoers, there's a new kid in town!

With love from Caleb

2010-04-03T20:27:00.000-04:00

Spring Shopping Fever or Get Your Frugal On

2010-02-23T13:42:00.004-05:00

Just got back from the mall today with Mom and saw some really cute kid clothes at Old Navy and The Children's Place ($5 Spring polos!). I feel so conflicted though, attempting to plan ahead and buy for future seasons, but not knowing how big Caleb will be then. I exchanged many baby clothes when I was pregnant with him for larger sizes and the appropriate season, but he has been unable to wear them due to his larger size. What's a girl to do? Well, I still don't know...but spending money on full-priced clothes is not part of the solution.

I'm thinking.....SpRiNg CoNsIgNmEnT SaLeS!

What I just stumbled upon...(and man, I have a knack for doing that) was this:

Consignment Mommies which is a searchable, rateable, and highly organized site on all the consignment sales in your area. Score!

After having now discovered that there are 33 sales scheduled within the next few months in my area....this could be ~~disastrous~~ amazing.

Bye Bye Big Rex!

2010-02-18T07:38:00.002-05:00

After reading and reflecting on my last blog post, and having a scary dream about Big Rex eating us....I hate to bid adieu, but it is time.

Goodbye Big Rex, Spinosaurus, Triceratops, Pleezie the Plesiosaurus, Nody the Nodosaurus, Steggy the Stegosaurus, baby Iguanodon, Pterodactyl, and the now infamous spotted Diplodocus.

One of the cutest pages read, "His back and tail are very spiny, but Steggy's brain is really tiny." :-D And my personal fave, "Swimming through Jurassic seas, Pleezie catches fish with ease."

Big Rex and friends, you were a well cherished book and I will never forget you!

Recalls of Child Products and Toys

2010-02-17T20:33:00.006-05:00

Ok, it may seem strange off the bat that the title says 'child products and toys,' as if toys aren't child products?? Well, those are just the two technical terms provided by our lovely government on its recall database. So how on earth did I get on this topic? As most things go, it started off innocent enough.

There I was, exploring a cool website Healthychild.org which you can easily lose yourself in (and btw, it's not all about children). When lo and behold, I came across an article on toy recalls. To my horror and disbelief, I immediately recognized the friendly face of "Big Rex," who just so happens to be one of my son's favorite book characters. Ok, so maybe it's really one of my favorite books to read to him. It is the cutest dinosaur book, EVAH! And unfortunately, for children (and parents) everywhere, "the lab determined that a red dot appliqué on one of the pages had a lead content of 1900 parts per million - nearly twenty times the content allowed for paint in the 2008 Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act; six times the total lead content allowed by the law."

Oh you stupid red spot....I knew instantly that it meant the spotted Diplodocus was the accursed. So I read the recall details and basically you get a refund. Our copy was a gift, but I don't want the money! I. just. want. a. safe. copy. Is that too much to ask? And I'm sure I'll get some flack for this, but because it's a cloth book and I have been known to pick up a needle and thread before.... I'm going to perform a spotectomy with my trusty seam ripper. Aka removing the blasted spot. And praying that Diplodocus can live again. And if you owned the book, you'd understand.

So truly on a more serious note, I then proceeded to go to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission's website. I began reading thousands (literally) of entries in the Child Products and Toys categories. I won't lie, it's rather sad reading the blurb, "Curious George Plush Dolls Recalled By Marvel Toys Due to Risk of Lead Exposure." Some even make the toy sound malicious: "Hasbro Inc. Recalls to Repair Nerf Blasters; Child’s Skin Can Get Caught in Plunger of the Toy." And no surprise here, I'm sure you can guess correctly where the majority of these toys are manufactured.

And for parents who believe that wooden toys are the pinnacle of safety or eco-chic, you have been misled my friend. Dozens upon dozens of wooden toys still had traces of lead paint or choking hazards associated with them. So my point here is that I think we're under a delusion of safety. I'm not one to be a zealot either, but I do think we owe it to ourselves and our children to be in the know.

Please add the USCPSC's recall lists to your feed reader. It is easy and simple and it won't clog your inbox either. You can do so by going to their main page and scrolling to the bottom. I only subscribed to the childrens' ones, but they have other categories too: Household, Outdoor, Sports & Recreation, and Specialty.

Fitting in housework with a little one

2010-02-13T13:16:00.002-05:00

Being a SAHM, you'd think my house would constantly be spick-and-span. Not so. In fact I believe our home has the more fashionable "lived in" look. ;) And while moms who work outside the home may think SAHMs have all the time in the world to clean, cook, and organize, that isn't the case either. It's challenging for me to balance playing with my son and being hands-on with him, but also keeping the house in running order as its primary manager.

There are definitely days where I am full of energy and in a cleaning mood. But more often than not, I feel as if I'm in survival of the present mode. It dawned on me the other day that I ought to make a list. I am a list-maker and a list-lover. And I have even been known to create a whole new list when I have crossed something off...just so it would look neater. Quirky or neurotic? You decide.

But my epiphany, if you will, was to make a list of household tasks that were divided either A) by noise level or B) personal energy level. The noise level idea came to me because although I don't keep everything silent in our house as my son sleeps, I'm certainly not going to test him by doing crazy loud stuff either. Your noisy tasks could be different from somebody else's as well, depending on how your child sleeps or even how large your home is. Since we live in a two-bedroom flat, thinking of the noise factor is a must.

Some of my quiet tasks are:

Changing the bed linens/making the bed

Dusting (like I dust!)

Folding clothes

Organizing/straightening the bedroom or den

Cleaning sink vanities

Some of the noisemakers:

Vacuuming (obviously)

Unloading dishwasher (we have heavy stoneware plates)

Blending baby food

Or maybe if you're like me, there are some days when you really don't care if the baby wakes up, you just need to get stuff done regardless. But often times I discourage myself because I don't have the energy to do anything. So try making an energy-based household task list instead. Remember, this is based on your energy level not Super Mom's. (And if she really exists, I'd be in line to string her up by her toes since I find I tend to compare myself to her).

Low-energy tasks:

Loading/unloading dishwasher

Dusting

Laundry

Making baby food

Ironing (which I never do)

Writing letters/Web surfing (I realize "web surfing" is negligible)

High-energy tasks:

Vacuuming

Steam-mopping

Grocery shopping (all that it entails)

Cooking meals

Cleaning tubs

Handwashing caked-on-baked-on pots & pans

So, there you have it. Don't forget to take time and smell the Pine-Sol.

DIY Baby Food: Part Two

2010-02-11T14:40:00.000-05:00

Continuing from DIY Baby Food: Part One, I read somewhere on the internet an interesting theory behind commercial baby foods. Like any marketable item, companies obviously desire consumers to buy and continue to buy more of their product. Believe it or not, this even applies to baby food, and some might argue that the target demographic is indeed the pickiest of consumers. To help combat this, commercial baby foods intentionally produce bland tasting fruits and vegetables in order to help a baby like it. How so? Think of the various flavor nuances that abound in a piece of broccoli. Admittedly, it was only a few years ago that I would cheerfully enjoy the taste of broccoli. But nonetheless, most babies' palates would not take to broccoli immediately. The blander something is, the less chance of rejection. Baby enjoys it, mom buys more of it. More of it = more money for company. Now, all of this to say, I am not certain that execs at Gerber do actually think this way. (You can't believe everything on the internet, ya know)? But it makes sense to me anyway.

So in conjunction with that theory, I am enjoying the fact that my son is able to taste carrots, peas, green beans, even cauliflower as God intended them. And surprisingly he hasn't turned up his nose at any of them. He still gives me that doubtful face with the first spoonful, but he'll gobble it all down. It's pretty cool that his palate is learning the subtleties and complexities of flavor.

Okay, okay, enough of my babbling, on to the steps of making your own baby food.

DIY Baby Food at home:

Buy it! Choose your preferred foods. Fresh or frozen works great. Never do the canned!
Prepare it! Rinse, peel, and chop/slice if needed.
Cook it! I use my pressure-cooker which gives precise times for cooking specific foods. Alternatively, you may use any other traditional form of cooking; steaming, roasting, stove-top, even microwave maybe?
Blend it! Cooked food is dumped into the blender or food processor and pureed. If you are doing steps 3 & 4 back to back as I do, make sure you simply place a paper towel over the blender's lid hole to allow steam to escape. If not, you may end up with a kitchen messier than your infant's face.
Freeze it! Pour into any pop-able container or trays to freeze overnight.
Store it! Keep in labeled bags in your freezer.
Thaw it! I simply place desired amount in the microwave to defrost, but you could also use your fridge and simply allow more time for the process.
Eat it!

So, oh wait, 8 steps? 8 steps?! I can already hear you balking in your head. But really, the only hands-on time you're actually investing deals with buying it (which you'd be doing anyway), cooking, and blending. The rest is essentially storage time.

I hope this post will encourage you to simply try it. Don't forget that this food has love cooked in it too ;) Feel free to ask or suggest anything!

DIY Baby Food: Part One

2010-02-10T14:03:00.004-05:00

There are a whole lot of reasons why you might be interested in making your own baby food. For some, it's the ability to make any food you want to without being tied to whatever commercial foods offer. Or it might be that with all the various food recalls that happen frequently, you'd feel safer knowing you made it yourself. Someone else might be doing it for the pure savings of it. And I'm doing it for all those reasons, but especially because it's fun! If you enjoy cooking, you'll most likely enjoy making baby food as well.

The cookbook I use is Blender Baby Food by Nicole Young. I love it because it's co-authored by a dietitian and therefore has all the nutritional information for each food. And knowing that it can be confusing or a daunting task attempting to figure out which foods are suggested for which age group, this book has foods in particular sections by age in months. Meal plans and lots of other great tips are included as well. Personally, one of my criteria for a "good" cookbook are recipes that are realistic. I'm sure you've perused or own a cookbook that has more gourmet ingredients than standard staples which incidentally, those recipes would never leave the page in my kitchen. This cookbook is not like that. Simple language, steps, and ingredients.

Here's what I've learned:

Making your own baby food does not take as much time as you'd think. There may be more steps involved obviously, but it's still doable.
Pressure-cooking is the best way, not to mention extremely fast way to cook the food. I have done steaming, roasting, and regular stovetop cooking, but pressure-cooking is supreme. I'm not sure how many young women even possess a pressure-cooker nowadays, but believe it, you can have most veggies cooked in less than 4 minutes!
I'm buying all organic produce, and yet I'm still saving money over commercial foods including the organic varieties, i.e. Earth's Best, Gerber. Based on the servings from a bag of carrots I prepared, it equated to 17 cents a serving (2 oz.).
Less waste and containers to deal with. Yes, you could easily recycle all the glass jars or plastic tubs, or you could not even have to deal with it at all. After cooking and blending the food, it is poured into a specially made food tray to be frozen. Regular ice cube trays work fine too. After an overnight freeze, I pop out the portions into a labeled bag and place them in a freezer bin. There, the food can hang out for up to 2-3 months.
It tastes as it should. Personally, I have yet to taste commercial baby food, but have heard stories from other parents remarking on it's not-so-yumminess. But the beauty of making it yourself with no additives or preservatives is that it tastes like real food; because it is. And hopefully there will be less opposition to eating veggies in their non-pureed form as the child grows.

Now that you know more about it, check out DIY Baby Food: Part Two where I'll go into step-wise detail.

My half-birthday!

2010-02-01T12:11:00.006-05:00

My first big kid swing ride

It's hard to believe that I'm now S-I-X months old now! Mommy and Daddy can't believe it either. I have been exploring and discovering things daily. I am just about to crawl....mommy makes it look soo easy when she models it for me. All I know to do though is get up on my hands and knees and rock back and forth; then I fling myself forward. It works okay, but I still love rolling around to get where I need to go. Mommy thinks it's funny when I try to chase Cubbie. That pup don't know what's comin for her once I start crawling. I have already goosed her twice and Mommy died laughing. Speaking of pets, I got to meet my first ever cat. Her name is Katie and she belongs to our friends, the Riccis. I really like animals and love looking at their pictures in books and on tv too.

Another thing I love: FOOD. When mommy gets my bottle ready and I happen to see it, I will start grabbing for it and quickly put it into my mouth. I am quite content afterwards. Now though I am discovering other types of food besides my milk. My favorites so far are sweet potatoes, corn, and bananas. Although I have wolfed down peas and green beans too. Mommy has fun making all the food for me. She gave me a special cup called "Sippy" and I am learning how to drink from that too. Just the other day, I sat in a restaurant high chair for the first time. Mommy says I'm looking too old.

I still love to bounce and stand. Maybe I'll just skip crawling and start walking? If I get grumpy the surest way for me to smile is to let me bounce, bounce, bounce. And I love to laugh. I used to only laugh if I was being tickled. But now I laugh at silly sounds and faces. Mommy is teaching me little games to play since I'm more interested in them now. I have also learned how to shake my rattle. I like to babble and do my dinosaur 'RAWR' too. It means 'I love you,' but no one knows that but me! Daddy calls me "Bub-zilla" when I 'RAWR' at him. Mommy is also teaching 'signs' to me, but what do they mean? I have no idea....

I am growing so quickly too. Mommy and Daddy bought a new car seat for me since I'm about to outgrow my infant car seat. Bye bye carrier. I wear 9-month clothing nowadays, so Mommy has been buying 12-month clothing lately. We'll see how long that lasts, heh heh heh. And this month I had my first teeth come in! Two sharp white things on the bottom of my mouth. Mommy and I were both miserable for about two weeks. I'd like to say thank you to her for giving me Motrin and Orajel though. And I hope that next time, maybe I won't be in so much pain.

Yesterday, I got to play in the snow for the second time in my short life, but this time I got to go sledding! All the big kids were doing it, so I wanted to try too. I went down first with Daddy and held on tight. I liked the wind rushing past my face. The second time I went down with Mommy and ended up crying because the sun was sooo bright and I was lying on my back. Mommy was relieved we didn't fall over. Oh, and did I mention that I was overdue for my nap then? Sheesh, but I had fun with my cousins, grandparents, and aunt and uncle while sledding. I guess giving up a nap every so often isn't so bad.

This Thursday we will go visit my doctor for my six-month checkup. Everyone wonders what I now weigh. I will be sure to let you know. Oh, gotta go, I hear Mommy!

~~Update: Caleb wanted everyone to know that he officially weighs 19 lbs. 6 oz. now. :)

It's a Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood

2010-01-15T13:53:00.003-05:00

Knowing that the weather was going to be sunny, high 50s, and just plain gorgeous, I decided Caleb and I must take advantage of it. I made a quick lunch of Pb&J, raisins, and some yummy Little Debbie Valentine snack cakes. We headed to the Lewisville park and enjoyed the heavenly day. I brought my awesome gorillapod with me for picture taking of the two of us. Wouldn't you know, another SAHM with her brood offered to take a photo of us. As she astutely pointed out, "It's hard to get photos of the mom with the child." Indeed, it is; which is exactly why I love my gorillapod.

Later on, I overheard her oldest son at a nearby picnic table remarking, "Oww, the sun's in my eyes! But I should be thankful that the sun's even out. It's mid-January, you know? It's amazing. And nothing is too amazing for God."

Be still my heart. Beautiful, and I confess that I need more of that boy's attitude.

"Mary did you know?"

2009-12-25T21:10:00.003-05:00

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day walk on water?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would save our sons and daughters?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has come to make you new?
This Child that you delivered will soon deliver you.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will give sight to a blind man?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy will calm the storm with His hand?
Did you know that your Baby Boy has walked where angels trod?
When you kiss your little Baby you kissed the face of God?

Mary did you know..

The blind will see.
The deaf will hear.
The dead will live again.
The lame will leap.
The dumb will speak.
The praises of The Lamb.

Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy is Lord of all creation?
Mary, did you know that your Baby Boy would one day rule the nations?
Did you know that your Baby Boy is heaven's perfect Lamb?
The sleeping Child you're holding is the Great I Am.

~~~~~Merry Christmas and may you experience Christ in the fullness of His glory~~~~~

25 Christmas Memories

2009-12-22T14:13:00.000-05:00

Helping my mom wrap our extended families' gifts. Our pool table became the wrapping station, and I remember tearing off tape strips and lining them along the edge. No more of that, thanks to this.

When I was about 4, I pulled our tree down on top of myself! I remember lying on the carpet, being speechless with the branches in my face. Then I remember screaming and Mom coming in to rescue me. :)

Going bargain shopping the day after Christmas with my mom, sister, and grandmother. Their goal was scooping up 50% Hallmark gift wrap and greeting cards for the following year.

Pulling up to our house and Dad having decorated the exterior with colorful lights, I yelled, "It's a miracle!" (I was four years old).

Visiting the Biltmore house at Christmastime and smelling their gingerbread mansion yards away down the hall.

The follow-up to #5, coming home after our trip to Biltmore and running upstairs to see our pet gerbils. Both looked strange. I called for my dad, and he quickly covered the cage and asked me to look away. Apparently, my sister's gerbil, Chestnut, had devoured mine, Charity. Chestnut was as big as a softball, and Charity's hide was the only thing remaining. This isn't a Christmas memory worthy of a Hallmark card, but a memory nonetheless.

Always being the first to wake up on Christmas morning, I'd run into the den to scope out the gifts. I'd then run upstairs, wake my sister and tell her everything she got. :-D What are little sisters for?

Singing one of the verses of "Morning Star" as a solo for the Christmas Eve lovefeast as a child.

While decorating the tree each year, remembering each ornament's story.

Crying my eyes out while watching "It's A Wonderful Life," and every sappy holiday commercial. This year's for me, is from Kay Jewelers about the baby's first Christmas. Sigh...

Watching and reciting "Christmas Vacation," "A Christmas Story," "Home Alone," and "A Christmas Carol."

The first weekend of December was when our church would decorate for Christmas. Back then, they used gorgeous real garlands, wreaths, and trees. While the adults worked, the kids would run and play around the church. We had a chicken stew for lunch afterwards.

Seeing the Festival of Lights and waiting for hours to do so. One year, we took our dog along for the ride and gave her a Greenie. Big mistake! We thought the stables were nearby due to the smell, but we finally figured out that it was simply Cubbie's horrible gas. Though they do freshen your pet's breath.

Making gingerbread houses with my mom and sister. One year, my childhood dog, Scruffy, pulled it off the dining room table and gobbled it up. Red icing in the white carpet was an added touch.

Eating lovefeast buns for breakfast on Christmas morning.

Going to my grandparents' home on Christmas Eve around 9:30 pm and not leaving until after midnight. All of the extended family piled into that small house, but it was bursting at the seams with love and laughter.

Buying Christmas gifts for my son!!! I didn't realize how much fun and tempting it would be to buy him everything!

My first married Christmas...waking up in our own home, with just us. :)

Surprising our families last year with news of our pregnancy.

Requiring and watching significant others do an embarrassing "present dance" in front of all our family. My sister's then fiance/now husband, misinterpreted it to mean "lap dance." :-D We all had a big laugh! :-D And an awkward one at that too...

Having been told where our honeymoon would be, I got so excited that I fell backwards into my future in-laws fireplace that was aflame! Thank God for firescreens...and it was St. Lucia.

Always choosing the tree. There are perks of being the baby of the family :)

Totally getting busted singing Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" at the top of my lungs on video. Thanks Dad!

Last year, instead of gifts we gave a donation to Transform India Movement. Our donation helped build a well for people living in Bihar, India. Just a few weeks ago, we received a letter and lots of pictures of the well being dedicated to God who gives us living water through Christ. Humbling to say the least, to see children clapping and jumping at the sight of water coming from a pump. And here's a reality check: these people had never heard of the name "Jesus." The sweetest Name I know...

Raising our candles on the last verse of "Joy to the World" with the entire congregation and orchestra. I'm sure it's only a mere glimpse of how Heaven is.

My sister and I, Christmas 1983

Christmas 2009

2009-12-21T09:43:00.002-05:00

Snow place like home

2009-12-18T12:55:00.004-05:00

As I type, and I can't believe I'm about to type this, it's snowing. Glorious snow. It made me start to think about reasons why I love it when it snows:

There is excitement everywhere. Especially here, since most folks don't know how to drive in it or deal with it. It's rare in these parts. Usually we get ice instead of snow. The local meteorologists probably drink 4 espressos in order to deal with round the clock severe weather updates. Not to mention the absurd run on grocery stores for milk and bread.

The soft silence that envelops everything. It's as if the world is sleeping away, enjoying the respite.

Watching for cardinals. They are my utmost favorite bird, and we are fortunate to be able to see them daily. I really don't think anything can compete with the stark contrast of a fire-cracker red bird perched amid the white snow. Simply breathtaking.

Making snow cream. If you've never tasted it before, I liken it to manna from heaven. Quite literally ;) All you need is 1) snow 2) sugar 3) vanilla 4) milk/cream. Mmmm so good.

Nesting. I love how families get together and stay indoors for the day. Board games, hot cocoa, slow cooked meal, and movies are my perfect snow day. And throw in a couple of blankets too.

Contrary to #5, but...enjoying the outdoors. For every hour spent indoors, there's a healthy balance of being outdoors in the snow too. I love piling on the dusty snow gear and getting wet, cold, and hot all at the same time! Building snowmen, making snow angels, throwing snowballs, taking a walk.

Watching my dog play in it. She knows she doesn't get to see or feel the cold, white stuff that often, and consequently gets hyper. I love seeing her tracks in the snow.

Feeling as if you're in a snow globe. I like to picture my home in a snowglobe :)

Legitimately singing "Winter Wonderland." Frolicking and playing, "the Eskimo way." ;) Though I still would love to be able to hear sleigh bells ringing!

Making comfort foods. My mom's tradition is baking chocolate chip cookies, but I might start one of my own: baking bread.

A Cure for Chaos

2009-12-05T12:18:00.003-05:00

We interrupt your hectic day to bring you 50 seconds of peace...

Encouragement from the Duggars

2009-11-30T16:12:00.003-05:00

One of my favorite books is The Duggars: 20 and Counting. Currently, Michelle Duggar is pregnant with #19. It details the long, unexpected road that they're currently on (and loving). I was re-reading the chapter on "Training and Correcting Little Ones," and I found such a timely gem. I hope this encourages any fellow moms:

"If you are a parent of little ones, we know what you're going through. We know how hard it is, how tired you get. You're constantly changing diapers, cleaning up messes, and correcting and training. Sometimes you feel like you could pull your hair out! We know all about those long, exhausting days. But, having gone through them seventeen-going-on-eighteen times, we urge you to take time to enjoy these days, despite your frustrations and exhaustion. Leave the house a mess now and then, and simply spend the day playing with and enjoying your children. Because here's the truth we've learned by heart: each day may pass slowly when you're tired and weary, but the years pass quickly. Today your children are totally dependent babies; tomorrow they will be grown and gone.
One day we were driving down the road when all of our children were small and buckled in their car seats. Jim Bob looked back at all those little faces and said to Michelle, "These are the best days of our lives, and we don't even know it!" (emphasis mine)

Avocado, get in mah belly!

2009-11-28T21:44:00.009-05:00

On Friday, the 27th, Caleb tried his first ever food. I skipped the rice cereal, because I thought he just might enjoy the flavor of avocado better than that. Plus, I've read some interesting information regarding the need for rice cereal versus whole foods. All I did was place some avocado in a mesh feeder and Caleb did the rest. His first look was one of confusion, but a few seconds later he gummed away happily at the feeder. I am so proud of how well he did with real food for the first time :) I hope Caleb will love guacamole as much as his momma does!

Easy and Cute Thanksgiving Craft

2009-11-21T20:16:00.001-05:00

This year for Thanksgiving, I thought it would be fun for Caleb to make a craft and share with his grandparents. We decided to make a baby hand turkey. Instead of tracing his hand, we did it the fun, messy way; with paint! I also added a topical Bible verse on thanks.

What you will need:

Cardstock

Craft paint (I used "burnt umber," think terracotta)

Baby wipes

Fine point markers (red, yellow or orange, and black)

Paper plate

Small sponge

How you do it:

1) If you want to add a Bible verse or other Thanksgiving sentiment, open a Word document, type it out, and print on your cardstock.

2) Wrangle baby completely out of their clothes, in nothing but a diaper, and sit in Bumbo seat. Make sure you're wearing an old shirt yourself.

3) Squirt out about a silver dollar amount of paint onto paper plate. Attempt to sponge paint onto tight-fisted baby palm. Repeat. Again. Pry once more, this time with an enthusiastic, coaxing message: "Juuuust oooopen!"

4) Get more paint on you instead of baby. Leave fingerprints all over your countertop for later cleanup.

5) Squash baby's half open fist onto cardstock. Sweetly coo, "Hold still!"

6) Grab baby wipes immediately and wipe everything down. Ironically, baby obediently opens palm for cleanup.

7) Admire your baby's cute, unidentifiable hand turkeys. Not to mention, those turkeys are missing a few feathers if you know what I mean.

8) After drying, draw eyes, beak, wattle (that red thing that hangs under their neck, and yes, I had to google it), and legs with colored markers.

9) Pat yourself on the back. You just earned a "Creative Mommy" badge :) And the grands will surely love you for it.

Becoming Aware: Choking Hazard Test

2009-11-19T19:02:00.005-05:00

I learned of a simple, free, and possibly life-saving tip the other day. To check on choking hazards for your baby, simply test the object with an empty toilet paper roll. If it easily slides or fits through the tube, then it's definitely a choking hazard.

Hitting a 15 week milestone

2009-11-09T08:16:00.003-05:00

Sushi roll

Egg roll

Swiss Cake roll

Tootsie roll

Cinnamon roll

Jelly roll

Yeast roll

Pumpkin roll

Caleb rolls!

Adventures in Parenting: Nail Clipping or "We've got a bleeder!"

2009-11-06T12:45:00.005-05:00

Some of the most apprehensive moments in being a parent involve basic care for your child. As a new mom, freshly discharged from the hospital, I had two major concerns for my son: 1) Avoid touching the umbilical cord at all costs and 2) Praying his circumcision would heal properly. Those were nothing...

Fast forward a month and Caleb was extremely fussy, so I decided to be brave and get his temperature....rectally. Praise the Lord for a "flex-tip" thermometer that has an indentation as if to say, "no trespassing beyond this point." And I am even more thankful for the disposable covers and KY jelly for my son's sake. Yes, that was easy too when I think back on it.

But so far, the worst of it has been attempting to trim his microscopic nails. This is intimidation at its finest: Placing a mini guillotine on top of an itty bitty nail covering thin skin. I tried the avoidance tactic by choosing to file his nails instead. It worked overall, but I began to notice that his nails needed more taken off, instead of just filing the edges.

The saga continued at around 10:30 this morning. After a yummy bottle with a content belly, I thought it would be a good time to try using the aforementioned mini guillotine. I did my best, but ultimately it was not so. After a tiny clip, the boy began to cry. "Oh sweetie, it's not that bad," I reassured him. "Hang on, it won't take long."

Until I glanced down at his teeny thumb, and noticed that I had not clipped the nail, I had instead clipped his thumb. Immediately, blood began to bead up and I rushed to grab some kleenex and neosporin. Normally, I am pretty calm when it comes to first aid. Unfortunately, when you throw my precious son into the mix, I have learned I become anything but. I was crying, thinking "you horrible mother!", snotting all over my face, while my ponytail was conveniently loosening at this inopportune moment. Meanwhile, my sweet son was staring at me, smiling. Yes, smiling. It was then that I was truly grateful for a gentle smile. To top it off, he left me a "just because" gift in his diaper.

Since his thumb was not clotting after applying pressure for almost half an hour, I called his doctor's office and we made a quick trip over there to get a professional opinion. His teeny thumb left an itsy bitsy trail of blood on his pjs, my jacket, and a sock I was using on his hand to keep it covered. Dr. L. wrapped his thimble-sized thumb with some gauze and advised that it stay wrapped for several days. As we left the doctor's office, I thought, "Great, I've turned into that mom who freaks out and rushes to the doctor."

But ya know what, that's okay. I am doing something that millions of women have gone through before: an adventure in parenting.

Hand Sanitizer a No-No for Babies

2009-10-25T20:17:00.004-04:00

I found this interesting tidbit from the November issue of Parenting: Early Years in their "Outsmart the Flu" article.

"Doctors agree that when you're on the go, the gentlest and most effective way to wash your child's hands is simply with a baby wipe. Since infant skin is more permeable, steer clear of alcohol-based santizers until he is at least 2 years old, suggests Benjamin Lee, MD, an associate professor of pediatrics at the University of Texas Southwestern in Dallas. They're too easily absorbed before then, which puts him at risk of alcohol toxicity."

Who knew? Just thought some fellow moms might be interested too.

"Appalachian Lullaby"

2009-10-08T10:22:00.005-04:00

"Well I love my baby, sweet and fair

You've got the sky in your eyes, the sun in your hair

I rock you to sleep most every night

and sing you this song

while I hold you tight

Sleep my baby, the angels keep you from harm

and your Father above

cradles you in His love, safe and warm

Sleep my baby, nestled in your momma’s arms

Sleep my baby, the angels keep you from harm

My baby you'll be sleepin' soon

kissed by the golden stars and moon

I have just one wish for you

may your every dream come true

Sleep my baby, nestled in your momma’s arms

Sleep my baby, the angels keep you from harm"

Song and lyrics featured on "A Child's Gift of Lullabyes"

A Day in My Life, by Caleb

2009-09-28T13:47:00.016-04:00

Trying to lift my head

Talking sports with Daddy

Posing for Mommy

Watching tv with Poppie

Sitting up

Falling asleep after eating

Birdwatching off the balcony

Practicing to be a big boy one day

Cuddling with Daddy

Acting silly at bathtime

Being cute all the time

Thoughts on Motherhood, 7.5 weeks in

2009-09-23T11:55:00.004-04:00

Random stuff I'm currently learning:

Moms don't get to punch the clock, it really is a 24/7 job. Holidays and vacations take on a whole new meaning as well.
Who knew such a small human being could fill up a sedan with baby gear?
I analyze poop on a daily basis. His, not mine. ;)
Sleep deprivation makes me somewhat evil.
I love sitting in the glider, rocking Caleb to sleep.
Finding his precious baby hair on his sheets makes me sad.
Clothing sizes do not match Caleb's chronological age...he easily wears 3-6 month clothing, and he'll be 8 weeks in a couple of days.
A basket full of dirty baby clothes only equates to a small load in the washer. :)
I am married to an amazing husband who is an equally amazing father. He even does nighttime feedings on the weekends to allow me much needed sleep.
I could squeeze a pudgy baby face all day long :)
I have way more respect for moms of multiples. I really don't know how I'd be able to cope with more than one infant at a time.
Soy formula makes for smelly baby burps
I love watching him explore the world. Staring outside from his bouncy seat, taking it all in.
I really had no clue what I was in for when I was pregnant. That was the easy part!
Having family live in the same city is a major blessing.
Because I talk mostly to a baby all day, I am a little too eager to have adult conversation, and desperately stretch out dialogue.
I find it hard to believe that the same pair of baby eyes I stare into, will be the very same eyes I look into when he's thirty years old.
Breastfeeding was not only a physical challenge, but an emotional one as well.
No one knows my baby like I do :)
Babies 'R Us is not as romantic as it used to be, back in my single days. It's now the equivalent of going to the grocery store, necessary but a pain.
My heartstrings have been tugged as I have already packed away some baby clothes. Will another future son get to use them? Who knows?
Finding new fat folds each week is a new hobby of mine.
I kinda get why 'only children' exist....
I'm sorry I ever thought mean things in my head to moms with crying babies in stores.
I love how angelic he looks while he sleeps.
Strangers do not respect the "canopy down" position on his carrier. If it's down, it's down for a reason, usually because my poor kid gets easily overstimulated, so please...don't lift it!
I regret not having taken more photos thus far.
I love hearing him make new sounds for the first time.
He is my son and I hope he knows how much I truly love him.

Reading like a Fiend

2009-09-12T19:11:00.004-04:00

In what little time I do have to do whatever, aside from getting dressed and washing bottles, I have been reading up a storm. No surprise here, they're all parenting books. Perhaps you've heard of them, swear by them, or think they're a load of bologna.

On Becoming Babywise by Gary Ezzo: Details an "infant management plan to help babies synchronize their feeding, waketime, and nighttime sleep cycles."

The Happiest Baby on the Block by Harvey Karp, MD: "The new way to calm crying and help your newborn baby sleep longer." Explores the 5 S's: Swaddling, Side/Stomach, Shushing, Swinging, and Sucking.

Healthy Sleep Habits, Happy Child by Marc Weissbluth, MD: Helping to shape sleep habits from infant to teen. Explores a scientific approach behind the need for sleep.

The Baby Whisperer solves all your problems by Tracy Hogg: Teaching parents the right questions to ask concerning feeding, sleeping, and behavior to diagnose your child's issues.

Having read these four books, I've learned a few things. Mainly, there is no one, right way to raise your child. Seemingly, most of the information contradicts each other. Two of the books use the "cry it out" or "extinction" method, while the other two advocate soothing your baby upon first cry. I guess I'm kinda using the middle of the road approach. Do I think I will somehow damage or destroy Caleb's trust in me by letting him cry it out every now and then? No. Do I think I'm being manipulated by Caleb if I cuddle him when he cries? No. All I know is that I'm doing my best with what I know.

Pretty much all the books deplore the idea of rocking your child to sleep, as it will inevitably cause a dependence upon it to fall asleep. While I do think this could be a problem with an older baby, for a six week old, I don't think that's an issue quite yet. I find it strange that almost every nursery has a glider or rocker in it, and yet "experts" tell you not to use it that much.

Swaddling works like a charm however, and doesn't have the same "ill effects" of rocking. When Caleb is a little fussbucket, swaddling helps him calm down almost immediately. That, and he loves his Binky :) Not to worry, he won't be one of those poor three year olds that is still sucking away on it.

Thank the Lord he does really well at night. We're still not yet sleeping through the night, but after he feeds, he goes right back to bed. I only wish the poor kid could nap decently during the day. As it is, the world must be way too exciting for him, because he'll stay awake and observe everything. I am amazed to watch his eyes soak everything in, studying things meticulously. By the way he looks at me, I think he could mold my face out of clay pretty easily.

This afternoon, we shared one of those moments that you will forever cherish, and wish that you could freeze it and it would last indefinitely. As I held him, our cheeks were touching together, and I could feel his baby breath upon my face. It was so intimate, and my heart simply overflowed with love.

I cannot believe that my little boy is already six weeks old. It is going by so incredibly fast. I have to be intentional in savoring the little moments between all of the mundane tasks like changing diapers, burping, bathing, washing bottles, and folding his baby clothes. How is it that someone so small and so dependent can steal your heart away?

I've been thinking of a passage lately that has even more meaning now, since I am a mother.

Isaiah 49:14-16 "But Zion said, 'The LORD has forsaken me, the Lord has forgotten me.' 'Can a mother forget the baby at her breast and have no compassion on the child she has borne? Though she may forget, I will not forget you! See, I have engraved you on the palms of my hands; your walls are ever before me.'"

How could it be that a mother could ever forget her child? It seems impossible, doesn't it? A love so strong...yet weak in comparison to God's love for us. May we remember how special we truly are to God every day.

Caleb's Birth Story

2009-08-28T09:42:00.006-04:00

Preface: A week prior to his arrival my OB had informed me I was already effaced 70% and dilated 3 cm. I was ecstatic and couldn't wait to hear additional good news the following week (assuming progress obviously had to have been made). On Thursday, July 30th, I went to my appointment and eagerly had my internal exam. To my extreme disappointment, no changes had reportedly occurred. After all of the walking I had been doing daily, as well as feeling like I had something like the flu, I was upset to say the least. It was 5:30 pm by the time I left my OB's office and I sobbed the entire way home. When I got home, I told Brent how upset I was...I was physically miserable and couldn't bear the thought of going much longer (at this point I was 5 days away from my due date). To help cheer me up, we ordered a pizza and rented a movie to relax that evening. I chatted with my friend Michelle around 9:00 pm, retelling the whole doctor visit while she attempted to encourage me. A little later, Brent and I finally settled into bed, totally unaware that in less than a few hours, our son would be born!

At midnight I awoke with major cramping and contractions. I hadn't felt anything like that sensation before. It was nothing like the Braxton-Hicks contractions I had been experiencing all week. I began using the relaxation techniques that we had been trained with, attempting to relax all my muscles, allowing my body to let go, and breathe slow, deep abdominal breaths. I remember thinking to myself, "If these are not real contractions, I'm afraid to find out what real ones feel like..." I didn't want to wake Brent unnecessarily, so I laid in bed a little while longer, watching the clock to see the spacing between contractions. At about 12:30 am, I left our bedroom and headed into the den. I grabbed a piece of paper and a pencil and began tracking the time each contraction began. Each one seemed to grow in intensity and come faster than before.

It was getting quite rough at this point...I began trying all of the laboring positions we had learned: side-lying, kneeling, all fours, etc. The pain was so intense. I had desired to labor at home as long as possible for comfort reasons, as well as to confirm that I was indeed in active labor. I was not about to be turned away from the hospital for false labor. At 2:00 am, I waddled my way back into the bedroom and sat on the edge of Brent's side of the bed. It was still dark in the room, and I nudged his arm some to awaken him. He slowly turned over and all I could do at the time was breathe heavily and hold my belly. I told him, "I think I'm in labor..." After a few minutes of catching him up on the past two hours, we began to get things ready.

Thankfully, we had already packed our bags, but there were things like toiletries that still needed to be packed. My contractions at this point were coming every minute, and I could barely walk, move, do anything in between them. I remember attempting to go to the bathroom before leaving, and the whole process probably took five minutes, simply trying to lift my underwear back up, flush, and get up. Meanwhile, Brent was scurrying around, packing, but also wanting to confirm that I was in true labor. He was carrying a timer for the contractions and asked me to let him know when I was having one. I began moaning and groaning at this point. He asked, "Are you having one now?" (This is the first time I snapped at him) I said, "IF I'M MOANING, THEN I'M HAVING A CONTRACTION!!!!" LOL! Poor sweet Brent....

The next step was literally getting me to the car. Since we live in a condominium complex, this a little easier said than done...especially when you're having contractions a minute apart, live on the second floor, and have the furthest away assigned parking space. To be honest, I don't remember getting to the car. Brent was already there packing the trunk and placing a towel in my seat in case my water broke on the way to the hospital. Before we got in the car, Brent suggested we try to walk some around the parking lot. Our birthing instructor had suggested this, because if you're in true labor, walking only intensifies the pain, but if false, then usually it will subside. We're alone in the dark parking lot at 2:30 am, and I begin to walk. I got about fifteen feet and grabbed onto Brent's neck and held on for dear life. I believe it was then, that Brent realized, this was the real deal.

As with walking to the car, I don't remember the ride to the hospital. It was simply a blur, and my eyes were closed most of the time dealing with the pain. At that time of morning, it literally would take five minutes to get there. I could've sworn it took thirty. Every bump in the pavement felt magnified times ten.

We wheeled up to the hospital, Brent grabbed a wheelchair and we began the trek inside. (When we had gone on the maternity tour, we were instructed to go to Admissions first which was on the ground floor, then we were told to proceed to the fourth floor, Labor & Delivery). Brent wheeled me over to the Admissions office which was completely dark and locked and said, "But we're supposed to go here first..." (This was the second and last time I snapped at him) I said, "GO TO THE 4TH FLOOR!!!"

We get to the desk and a game of 20 Questions begins and I'm required to answer. Yes, the woman who can't open her eyes because of pain is getting asked, "What's your Social?" Okay, this is exactly why we did the pre-registration; where did all that information go? I think the woman got my drift and I was whisked away to Triage where I was to be checked for dilation. Here, my personal equivalent of an Olympic event was asked of me. The nurse told me to move from the wheelchair to the bed, and to put on a gown...all without her assistance. This is that point in the movies where a patient yells at the top of their lungs, "NURSE!!!!!" I swear angels got me undressed in that moment...there's really no other way to explain it. I somehow managed the nurse's requests in the now thirty seconds of rest between my contractions. After checking me, she informed me I was now 100% effaced and 6 cm dilated. Holy moley....I was going to have a baby. And soon.

I was wheeled to a labor & delivery room where consent forms, monitors, and a nurse were busily getting me ready for Caleb's debut. Meanwhile, I'm still having monstrous contractions, and as I previously blogged about, we were planning for a natural childbirth. Due to the speed of my contractions and the fact that I was having barely any rest or time to "get on top of" the contractions, we made the decision to opt for the epidural. I am thankful that in that moment, I did not feel like a failure or any less of a woman because I chose the epidural. I also didn't want Brent to be disappointed in me (and he wasn't). After receiving the epidural, the normal Megan returned. It was actually quite comical, because up until that moment, I had had several women (nurses and anesthesiologist) working quite ahem personally on me, and I hadn't even introduced myself! Imagine, what self-respecting southern woman would do such a thing? I literally began introducing myself to the staff, thanking them for their help, and apologizing for my uncouth behavior prior to the epidural. LOL!

Shortly thereafter as I was lying in bed peacefully, I felt a gush of really warm water. Naturally, I thought, "Did I just pee on myself?" And then I realized, "No, that was definitely not pee...and oh great, I just created a big mess on the bed..." I tell ya what, the whole labor & delivery process gets a girl beyond the ick factor concerning bodily fluids. Have mercy! And God bless those nurses....they see and do it all for complete strangers. Brent got a little woozy after accidentally witnessing my water break and sat down on the couch nearby. This is the man who looks away and shivers during medical reality shows. Poor sweet Brent...

Meanwhile, my labor was progressing quickly still and Brent liked watching the monitors while my contractions spiked and peaked, each one doing its intended work, bringing me one step closer to meeting my precious boy. I was still able to feel them by pressure, but it was certainly a relief to not feel the overwhelming pain I had been experiencing before. By 7:30 am, I was at 10 cm. Like a lot of OB/GYN practices, you don't know which OB will be delivering you, until the appropriate time comes. I was so happy that my favorite OB was going to be delivering me. :) God had indeed worked everything out. Dr. B. visited and checked me, said he could feel Caleb's head and based on palpating my tummy, guesstimated that Caleb would be less than 8 pounds. I must've had a surge of the epidural, because I outright laughed in his face and said, "Yeah right! He'll be more than that!" I then asked him, "You wanna make a bet?!" He laughed and smiled and continued the exam. He informed me another woman was about to deliver, so I would most likely see him again after that.

From about 7:30 to 8:30, I took a quick nap, knowing the hardest but most rewarding work of my life was about to begin. I wasn't sure what to expect concerning the coaching portion of pushing, but I was really surprised that only a nurse was with us. It felt so intimate, just the three of us. From 8:30-9:00 she coached me with pushing. This was the hardest part, because I was trying to get Caleb's head wedged beyond my pelvis. She brought a mirror in to help me see and understand what we were trying to accomplish with each forceful push. It was the strangest thing to witness...my son's head getting closer and closer to crowning. Brent was an amazing husband throughout all of it, holding my leg, encouraging me, and simply loving me. He had told me previously that he was just going to be looking at my face during the delivery, but then he realized that he had the awesome chance to witness a miracle in real-time.

After thirty minutes, I had finally gotten his head wedged beyond my pelvis, and this was the fun part. Yes, I said fun. I knew I was only minutes away from holding my son in my arms, and this gave me the most determination in my life. Meanwhile, Dr. B. still had yet to make it back into my room, but the sensation that you're experiencing then, is that "It's time to push, and push I will!" Suddenly, my nurse had stopped saying "Push, Push, Push!" and was now saying, "Don't push! Don't push!" since Dr. B wasn't back yet. He finally came in, and could barely get gloved, gowned, and masked in time for the delivery.

I was grunting and pushing like my life depended on it. These pushes felt different than the other ones, because it felt good to push, and I felt relief...much like a bowel movement.

At 9:33 am on Friday, July 31st, 2009, with a loud wail Caleb Sheridan came into the world. I was a blubbering fool, bawling tears of joy and relief. The moment was surreal. Brent was laughing and crying at the same time. Holding Caleb in my arms for the first time was just amazing. I remember saying, "My lil pudge..." After some cuddling and Brent cutting the umbilical cord, the nurses began working away, taking measurements and such.

So what did my precious little boy weigh? He weighed 8 pounds, 11 ounces! When we heard that news, I laughed and told Dr. B., "You owe me an ice cream!" He was 21 inches long too. To watch video of the birth, click here...

We are so blessed to have a healthy little boy who is teaching us so much about patience, dependence on God, humility, and God's sovereignty. Today marks Caleb's 1 month birthday! :) Happy 1 month, little one!!!

Still here! Just playing the waiting game...

2009-07-26T06:10:00.004-04:00

"Any day now..." those are words I've repeated to curious strangers and friends, as well as reassuring myself on a moment by moment basis. I have been 'nesting;' it finally kicked in and revealed itself through reorganizing several kitchen cabinets, cleaning both bathrooms, and also by scrubbing down the door frames. :) As I was cleaning the door frames, I said aloud, "I can't believe I never noticed this dirt before!" Indeed, as if anyone goes around noticing the grime on door frames, especially the lower third.

The bags have been (mostly) packed, the laundry done, the carseat installed, and the stockings hung by the chimney with care. Basically, we're in need of the little human that accompanies all of those things :)

I promised photos of his completed nursery, but I'll do you one better. Visit my husband's recent blog post, and you can actually watch a before & after video he recorded of it. The room really came out well, I just want Caleb to see it for himself!

So here's where my self-centeredness comes in. I need your prayers. If you can imagine any random type of petition that arises during the waiting period, labor, delivery, and post-partum...then I will happily accept your prayers. I was blessed to have a dear friend pray for me via phone yesterday and it's just amazing to know that God does hear our prayers and always answers them according to His divine best for us. Prayer isn't the last resort, it's the first!

2009-07-11T08:25:00.004-04:00

This post will be highly random...I'm having lots of little mundane thoughts with no real depth to them, but just feel the need to dish them out. :) Call it 'pregnancy brain' if you wish...

Caleb received his first Appalachian State onesie and I cannot tell you how happy that makes me. I have been meaning/wanting to buy one but they are next to impossible to find off the mountain. Consequently, I really want to go to Homecoming this year and let him hear tens of thousands fans chanting, "Gooooo Appalachian! Gooooo Appalachian!"

Yet another note on certain onesies...it really bugs me to see some say things like, "Mommy's new man" or "It's all about the attitude" or "Tax Deduction." These are all very degrading in my opinion...especially the ones that connote that daddy is now completely off the radar and now yesterday's leftovers.

Earlier this week I completely lost my navigational skills while driving. (Now if you would ask my husband, he might have a differing opinion on when that actually happened, lol). For the first time during the pregnancy, I realized "so this is what people are referring to!" I ended up taking the completely wrong exit.

And have I officially joined the ranks of hmmm, how do I say it...."white trash?" Because my husband and I royally fail at growing anything that is supposed to be green while it's alive, we have now planted fake flowers on our balcony. And because I am one frugal lady, my only stipulation was that he buy them from Dollar Tree. Dollar Tree!!! Yes....we is hiiigh class!

The nursery is pretty much complete. I will post pictures once I get everything in its place. I was so glad to be able to finish the glider's slipcover with my sister this week. Thanks, Mere! The last baby task that I am attempting to delay until as late as possible (but how do you do that when you have no idea when you'll go into labor?!) is all the blessed laundry. All of the clothes, bedding, and cloth diapers must be washed, dried, folded, and stored.

Now that I am a few days into my 36th week, I am getting antsy. Thankfully, not neurotically so...yet....but it's just so hard to believe that Caleb will certainly be here very soon. I find myself sitting in his room peering around imagining him using the crib, changing table, swing, etc. And I look at all the little clothes, just waiting to see him in them. I think I remember my sister saying that one of the fun parts with a baby is getting to pick out what they'll wear for the day :) This makes me happy :-D

Obviously, because the birth is imminent, like all moms-to-be, I'm curious to see what labor/delivery will truly be like. All the birth stories in the world are as unique as the individuals themselves. Part of me thinks it will be the most horrendous pain in the world, while the other part thinks that I can do it, because billions of women have. And for whatever reason, I think of Mary going through labor in a stable with only Joseph by her side and how she got through it. I've heard women remark that their faith became much more real to them on delivery day...and I trust God will take care of me then too.

My precious nephew turns the big 2 today! Happy Birthday little buddy! I can't wait to see him and Caleb grow up together and do cousin-y boy things.

Don't you just love his messy little face?

Okay, I just thought of yet one more rather important baby task....packing my hospital bag. Once again....delaying that until as late as possible. Am I in denial or something?

I finally cleaned out a box of random stuff that's been occupying my trunk for who knows how long. It was stuff I knew I wanted to keep that I just hadn't bothered organizing. One of the little gems I unpacked was a tablecloth that my grandmother used once upon a time. It's bright, cheerful, and summery and it fits our small table perfectly. There are red and yellow flowers on it with a blue gingham print around it. I like looking at it, knowing that she used to use it too :) Plus, it's amazing how much homier a tablecloth makes a place look.

We went and ate at a soda shoppe last night which is entirely too cute. The waitresses wear poodle skirts, it has black and white flooring, a free jukebox, red vinyl booths, etc. Both Brent and I said we wished we could've lived in the '50s. Everything seemed simpler then and at least somewhat more wholesome. And the cars were much cooler :) So if you could choose, what decade would you like to live in?

Okay, that's all for now....sigh.....I wish Caleb were here!! :-D

Week 35 Pregnancy Update

2009-07-03T07:19:00.005-04:00

Holy moly, I can't believe there are roughly five weeks left until Caleb's arrival! This post will be small but chock full, kinda like a multivitamin.

Last week after some issues like high blood pressure and proteinuria came about, I had to complete some additional labwork. Praise the Lord everything came back normal and negative. We were able to see Caleb again on the ultrasound and he has really changed since we last saw him at 20 weeks old. The kid has very visible chubby cheeks!

Apparently, the chubbiness is not only limited to his cheeks, but his overall development. After taking measurements of his skull, abdomen, femur, and arm, he is already averaging the size of a 37 week old....two weeks larger than average! Thinking of this makes my woman parts hurt..lol. They guesstimate his weight at already 7 pounds, so he very well could be 9 pounds at birth if he keeps up this rate of growth. His feet are measuring at 3 inches, kinda large...but then again, his daddy wears a size 13 shoe.

Due to some additional fluid in the amniotic sac (which is not necessarily a bad thing), I'll now be going twice a week (instead of once) to have non-stress tests (NSTs) done on Caleb. Basically, all that consists of is strapping a monitor to my belly for 20-30 minutes and recording fetal activity. This kid seems to be always moving, so I don't think it will be much of an issue.

Thank you for your continued prayers! He will be here before you or I know it! :)

The Ripple Effects of Sin

2009-06-27T06:36:00.002-04:00

This week, there have been lots of major news headlines: deaths of celebrities, sentencing of a thief, and indiscretions of a governor. The one that has stuck with me the most was South Carolina's Governor, Mark Sanford admitting his unfaithfulness to the world.

Every time I hear of adultery, it breaks my heart. At one point, both the husband and wife were madly in love with each other, took vows and pledged their lives to one another. And somewhere between "I do" and "I don't" another lover has taken a spouse's rightful place. How can someone carelessly toss away everything so dear to them, and not count the cost of doing so?

As my mom and I watched the press conference (boy am I glad I've never had to do a public confession before!), we were at times ensconced in disbelief, anger, and sadness. Mark Sanford is not the first person to have ever committed adultery, especially not in political office, but for some reason, this particular incident has left me appalled more than usual.

A self-professed Christian leaving his wife and four young sons drowning in the wake of his transgressions...over Father's Day weekend of all times. Lying to his own staff of his whereabouts...from the Appalachian Trail to Argentina. And from an "innocent" friendship of eight years with a woman to a national press conference admitting secret rendezvous with a now lover.

One of Satan's greatest lies to us is that our sin is just that, ours. False! Sin always has far greater reaching ramifications than we can ever know. On this side of Heaven and the other side too. And even if your sin goes with you to the grave in secret, God still knows...and grieves. Randy Alcorn has written a post that covers Sanford's affair, but more importantly he shares a list of "Anticipated Consequences of Immorality." I highly encourage you to read it. It is sobering and demands I cling with all that I have to my wedding vows.

I will say that during the press conference, he truly seemed sincere and contrite. He even mentioned that he "had violated God's Law" and this public confession was "a consequence of my sin." He also recalled several spiritual mentors by name and asked for their forgiveness. What I saw in this man, was someone who had been highly regarded and esteemed become reduced to a weak, humbled lump of clay. Time will tell how all of this plays out, but I truly hope he and his wife will be able to reconcile and move beyond his affair.

Psalm 32:1-5

"Blessed is he whose transgressions are forgiven, whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man whose sin the LORD does not count against him and in whose spirit is no deceit.
When I kept silent, my bones wasted away through my groaning all day long.
For day and night your hand was heavy upon me; my strength was sapped as in the heat of summer.
Then I acknowledged my sin to you and did not cover up my iniquity. I said, "I will confess my transgressions to the LORD "— and you forgave the guilt of my sin."

What the heck is a "mezuzah?"

2009-06-24T11:12:00.007-04:00

Pop Quiz!

A mezuzah is....

A) an Italian sportscar made in the 80's

B) a Jewish doorpost box holding Scripture

C) a silly instrument made famous in Dr. Seuss books

D) an African headpiece worn in tribal rituals

The correct answer would be....

B! A Jewish doorpost box holding Scripture

Now why exactly am I writing about a mezuzah of all things? Well partly because it all started out with a favorite passage of Scripture, and also because I gave one to Brent as his first Father's Day gift.

Starting with the aforementioned Scripture passage, taken from Deuteronomy 6:4-9:

"Hear, O Israel: The LORD our God, the LORD is one. You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your might. And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. You shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. You shall write them on the doorposts of your house and on your gates."

Not only does it remind us of the First Commandment, but this passage also reveals God's daily design for passing down our faith through generations. Learning about God is not something that only happens on Sundays or in a church building. It is to be a daily occurence that pervades everything we do and say while at home or away. If we are leaving the responsibility of teaching children about God up to the church alone, we are failing as godly parents.

And here is where the mezuzah begins to come into play... the word mezuzah in Hebrew translates to "doorposts." The latter part of the passage mentions "binding them on your hands...writing them on the doorposts and gates of your home." While some may read that symbolically, others have interpreted it literally; hence the physical mezuzah was born.

Mezuzahs come in all colors and all materials. The above picture looks the closest to the one I bought. It's around four inches tall and about an inch across. Often times the Hebrew letter shin (sheen) will be inscribed on the outside. From what I've read, that may be interpreted as Shaddai, meaning "God Almighty." But here's the cool part about mezuzahs...it's not the box itself that is ultimately special, but what hides on the inside!

On the inside of every mezuzah is a mini scroll with Scripture written in Hebrew aptly named the Shema (shih-mah'). Shema in Hebrew means "hear." If you look back at the Scripture above, it begins with "Hear, O Israel..." The Shema contains the same Deuteronomy passage from above (6:4-9), along with Deuteronomy 11:13-21. Later versions have added Numbers 15:37-41 as well. Mezuzahs are affixed to the doorposts of homes; depending on your practices, they may be placed on one doorpost or every doorpost in your home.

It was interesting to google mezuzah and read lots of requirements that have been established by rabbis. This includes the placement and angle of the mezuzah, along with having it inspected by a rabbi twice within seven years for any damage, to even kissing it as you walk past. Being that my husband and I are not Jewish, the mezuzah to us is a tangible and symbolic way of gently reminding us to keep God first in our lives and to pass our faith down to our children intentionally. We are thankful that we are no longer bound to the law, since Christ has fulfilled it and is our salvation! (Please read Galatians 3:10-29 for a clear explanation of this).

When I presented the small gift-wrapped box to Brent for Father's Day, I had already warned him, "I don't think you'll know what it is when you see it." Talk about curiosity! It's not every day you could say something to that effect. He said upon first seeing it, he thought it was a whistle :) Good guess, but notsomuch. He truly enjoyed hearing all about the meaning and significance behind it. It was definitely a special and timeless Father's Day gift, and we look forward to teaching little Caleb about it in the future. More importantly, we desire for Caleb to learn about a wonderful Heavenly Father who loves him infinitely more than we ever could.

33 weeks and counting

2009-06-19T08:48:00.006-04:00

It seems like I feel bigger and bigger than the week before, which I'm sure is truly the case. It is hard to believe that we only have 7ish weeks until Caleb arrives. Some friends have said, "You've been pregnant forever!" while others have said, "Wow, only 7 more weeks?!" I feel the same way, my mind agreeing with both ends of the spectrum. More and more I just look forward to meeting him and seeing his little face.

This past weekend my Bible Fellowship class threw me a baby shower along with another pregnant gal, Kristie. We are due about a week and a half apart. I am in awe of everyone's generosity when it comes to welcoming babies with gifts! Truly, every bit helps a mom-to-be and her baby.

Holding the "Wee Block" which was made precisely for little boys during changing. It says "Lil Squirt" on it :)

Evidence of my very practical nature: a Space-Saver high chair

A group shot of all currently pregnant mommas

I have been super busy this week, baking, cooking, and errand running. Wears a girl out, especially now that my feet are becoming easily swollen if I'm not careful or paying attention. It's been dreadfully hot here, today the high is 97. Thank you Lord for air conditioning!

On a serious note, as much as a mom-to-be daydreams and tries to prepare for this momentous life-changing event, one never truly can. Last night I experienced my first panic attack, and my poor husband was witness to it all. I'm not sure who it freaked out more. It was a culmination of thoughts about being a good mother, a good wife, and a good Christian. Combine that with the realization that our lives will never be the same again, and it became a nicely wrapped up package of anxiety. It was surreal, feeling myself get to a breaking point. There I was, feeling extremely overwhelmed before our little boy has even arrived. Poor Brent thought I might start going into labor at any second. I can only imagine how Caleb was feeling at the time! I calmed down after about fifteen minutes and tried to compose myself. I know that God's Word tells us to be anxious for nothing, but through prayer and petition and with thankful hearts, to let our requests be known to God (Philippians 4:6).

It is moments like those that force me to realize how small, weak, and fragile that I truly am. More importantly, I see God more clearly for who He is: immense, mighty, unbreakable.

I am beyond grateful that the God I serve has conquered all, and can never be conquered by anything or anyone. He is. And when I am weak, He is strong.

Make your own Freezer Jam

2009-06-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

It's really actually quite simple. Don't be intimidated, it only took about 30 minutes to go from fresh strawberries to strawberry jam ready to be frozen (no canning required). This jam is best kept refrigerated and used within 30 days or frozen for up to 1 year. I chose smaller jars to accommodate the 30 day usage.

All you need:

4 lbs. of fresh strawberries
1 1/2 c. sugar or Splenda
a packet of no-cook fruit pectin
plastic or glass jars

Jars, tons of strawberries, and the pectin packet

I used the Ball-brand No Cook Freezer Jam Fruit Pectin (purchased at KMart). Easy instructions on the back for making your jam.

Mixing the sugar and pectin

Hulling all those sweet-smelling strawberries

Pureeing them just until crushed

Mixing the strawberries, sugar, and pectin together for 3 minutes

The fruit of my labor: 64 oz. worth of fresh strawberry freezer jam!

My middle name could very well be Helga

2009-06-05T14:39:00.005-04:00

Okay, so the most random thing happened mere minutes ago. While I was sitting in this very spot, perusing blogs and such, I heard a loud Craaackk followed by crashing. WHAT THA?!

Strangely enough, it happened right near my head...and no, my brain did not fall out and break.

Instead, one of my beautiful china plates just up and decided, "Today is the day I want to break in two." The poor plate is now lying pitifully in two very large pieces. Thank goodness in its failed attempt to run away with the spoon that it didn't take a precious teacup and saucer down with it too. I am glad my china sits on shelves behind closed glass doors, else that thing could've pushed several pieces on top of me!

Okay, so here's where the story really gets interesting. The Sherlock Holmes in me begins to use inductive, or is it deductive reasoning, to try and figure out why this happened:

So, we've had lots of rain, could the china somehow become affected by high humidity?? But we blast our frigid A/C nonstop, so I'm not sure that's it. Plus, this Waterford china is allegedly dishwasher safe. Temperature variances should not have broken this plate.
Perhaps a manufacturing flaw...a hairline fracture of sorts that finally gave way? It is bone china after all, maybe it had osteoporosis?...tee hee hee

And then I remembered something highly, and I do mean highly ironic that took place a few hours prior.

You see...I sing. I loooove to sing. Especially when no one is around, which is perfect for this now SAHW.

I was singing "How Great Thou Art" and got to the part at the end of the chorus where the pitch gets a bit high...."How great thou art, how great thou art!" As I hit that particular note, I heard something that could best be described as being startled. I jumped up thinking Cubbie had knocked something over or had gotten surprised by her own gas (which happens quite frequently!). When I found her, she looked comatose as usual, napping in our bedroom.

What I am now pondering is, is that when my precious china plate began to involuntarily crack?! Perhaps that was the surprising sound I heard. Am I somehow responsible for this?!

And then it dawned on me...that familiar quote that conjures up the image of a woman with a viking hat on...

"It ain't over 'til the fat (pregnant) lady sings."

Ladies and gentlemen, I rest my case!

Week One of Being a SAHW

2009-06-05T09:49:00.007-04:00

It has been a whirlwind of a week around here. It's been raining cats and dogs in our region (don't step in a poodle!) and my husband has been away on business all week. Needless to say, Cubbie and I are becoming quite close. My fears of becoming bored have been unfounded. I am learning to love my little world within the bigger world. These four walls have not felt like a prison cell by any means, but instead, freedom to do whatever I'd like to do.

I have noticed that certain mental habits have shown themselves this week, and primarily they are habits of 9-5 working girl. For instance, I've always meal planned, but as I was doing it this week, I began to plan "quick meals" for those nights when we have routine events. About thirty seconds later, I laughed at myself and realized, "Wait a minute, I'll be home so I can have the meal prepared before 5:30."

Another lesson this self-titled efficiency expert has been learning is that because of no real time schedule, I have the freedom to pace myself and if something doesn't get done completely, I'll always have time the next day to complete it. I really don't know how I was doing it all before, mainly on Saturdays in one fell swoop. Frankly, what I've also come to realize is that I wasn't doing it all before. Sure, I was able to keep a decently clean house and prepare meals and such, but I wasn't able to enjoy or spend ample time on anything. Everything seemed like just another task, and I was working through my to-do list as quickly as possible to simply sit down and exhale. Anyone else ever feel like that?

I still have a to-do list, in fact I have three now (Master, Weekly, and Daily), but the difference is that I'm enjoying them and there's no pressure to complete them immediately. It's interesting to see that this time at home now is training me in flexibility. It is also training me to listen to my 31-week pregnant body. I'm not able to do everything at one time like I used to before, and that's okay, because I have time to do it later in the afternoon or even the next day.

So what exactly has been filling up my time? Aside from the usual things like laundry, dishes, cleaning, and cooking, I've been able to do some things that I hadn't before. So far, I've tried my hand at baking some Honey-Wheat yeast bread (all by myself!), organized all of the generous baby gifts I received from coworkers, made Banana bread, reorganized the linen closet to suit my shorty self, and tried some new recipes from Deceptively Delicious (Jessica Seinfeld), and enjoyed lunch poolside with my sister and her children.

Can I just tell you how utterly cool it was to eat a lunch yesterday that was entirely made from scratch? Chicken Salad on warm from the oven Honey-Wheat bread. It was the best I'd ever eaten. Although making bread is a relatively long process, especially by today's standards, the flavor is unbelievable, and worth every knead.

Speaking of bread, I have finally become disciplined in reading my Bible every day as well as spending time in prayer. I find it easiest to do it after I've had breakfast and before the day truly gets started. One of my problems in the past was that I never had any real direction, I was simply choosing a passage at random (via Holy Spirit, perhaps?) and that was that. But now I am going through the Book of Acts a chapter a day. I've never read it straight through before, so it's nice to have a continuing storyline for a change.

Some of the verses I've underlined this week:

"Now turn from your sins and turn to God, so you can be cleansed of your sins. Then wonderful times of refreshment will come from the presence of the Lord, and he will send Jesus your Messiah to you again." Acts 3:19-20

"The members of the council were amazed when they saw the boldness of Peter and John, for they could see that they were ordinary men who had had no special training." Acts 4:13

"But Peter and John replied, 'Do you think God wants us to obey you rather than him? We cannot stop telling about the wonderful things we have seen and heard.'" Acts 4:19-20

And due to a cross-reference, I read the short (three chapters in all) book of Joel and found this jewel:

"That is why the Lord says, 'Turn to me now, while there is time! Give me your hearts. Come with fasting, weeping, and mourning. Don't tear your clothing in your grief; instead, tear your hearts.'" Joel 2:12-13a

Okay, so this post has become monstrous! Sorry for that! I'll leave you with a photo of my gorgeous Honey-Wheat bread :) Strangely enough, one of the two loaves came out to roughly the size of an NFL-regulation football. I have no idea how I'll be slicing that beast.

The Beach Cottage

2009-05-29T10:51:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-27T10:27:00.004-04:00

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!

2009-05-26T10:44:00.019-04:00

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!

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

2009-05-20T08:57:00.002-04:00

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

2009-05-01T11:19:00.003-04:00

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?

Stuff floating around in my head

2009-04-24T10:13:00.009-04:00

Even though I haven't posted in awhile, my mind has been full of all types of information overload. Forgive me while I feel the need to unload it! Most of these thoughts surround pregnancy/birth, so feel free to skip this if you're not interested.

Bradley Method classes: Before I was pregnant, or even seriously considering trying to get pregnant, I heard much ado about the Bradley Method of childbirthing. At the risk of sounding crazy or just plain ridiculous, it advocates natural birthing without the use of medications. Why have I chosen this route? Much of my birthing philosophy changed after watching The Business of Being Born, a documentary detailing the U.S. maternal healthcare system as well as homebirths and midwifery. For the first time, I truly saw the difference between respecting birth as a natural event versus an emergent disease. Thus began my exploration into birth physiology and the ways that women can work with their bodies (which God designed to do this) and not against them. And yes, I do realize that there is always the possibility of a necessary medical intervention, however I do believe most could have been avoided in the first place.

Anyways, my husband and I have been attending the classes so far and have enjoyed the camaraderie and information shared along the way. It helps knowing that there are like-minded couples who have also chosen this unusual route. I must take the time to say that God has truly blessed us in unexpected ways with this class. When I called the instructor to get information, we found out it was taught on the only available weeknight in our schedule, and that we would be saving over $230 because a local hospital was subsidizing the cost. Praise the Lord! I love how God is involved with even the tiniest details in our lives; not just the crises!

Labor Scriptures: This week as I have been mentally preparing for the upcoming labor in a few months, I thought, "I need to have some Scripture around for that." So using BibleGateway, I looked up several encouraging verses. While the context of these verses does not revolve around labor specifically, I think they are powerful enough to go beyond that and give me strength nonetheless. A few I've jotted down on 3"x5" note cards:

"For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline." 2 Timothy 1:7

"I focus on this one thing: forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race..." Philippians 3:13-14

"Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me." Psalm 23:4

Pregnancy Exercises: Based on our Bradley Method workbook as well as other books I'm reading, I have been instructed to work on pelvic rocking, squatting, kegels, tailor sitting ("Indian style"), and relaxation techniques. I have come to really appreciate these, since I've been sleeping much better and I am being proactive for the birth. It's giving me some much needed confidence in the process.

Red Raspberry Leaf tea: It is a well-known and commonly used herbal tea that promotes uterine tone, relaxation, and healing. Consequently, it is purported that labors can be easier or faster. I just bought some yesterday but have yet to try it. The brand I ended up purchasing was Traditional Medicinals Organic Pregnancy Tea. Read more about the benefits of Red Raspberry Leaf tea here, here, and here.

Sitting Long & Reading Much: Taking a much needed cue from my blog's blinkie, I am in the process of reading The Birth Book by Dr. William Sears and Bringing Up Boys by Dr. James Dobson. The first is much like a Birth 101 class that covers all the different options and choices surrounding birth, as well as comprehensive chapters on Relaxation, Exercises, and Birth Stories. I am loving and devouring it! I highly recommend this book.

The second book, Bringing Up Boys is just that. Dr. Dobson aims to show that yes, boys and girls are not only anatomically different, but also psychologically. Can you believe that people would argue otherwise?? (In fact, they do!) After being only a few chapters into this book, I had to put it down for a few days because frankly it was just depressing. Not in the sense that "Oh great, I'm about to have a boy!" But rather, "There is so much at stake!" To clarify, Dr. Dobson spends a great deal of time giving statistics on crime, divorce, education, etc. showing that men are the majority affected. Hence, a lot is at stake with culture wars revolving around manhood. This read is fueling my love of sociology :)

So, any experience with any of these things? Birthing classes? Labor aids? Exercises? Herbal helps? Good books?

Easter Pics

2009-04-14T10:49:00.006-04:00

23 weeks along...

As my friend Amanda rightly pointed out, Cubbie won't be the baby much longer!

White as Snow

2009-04-12T05:00:00.000-04:00

There was a point in my life, several years ago, when I gave up practically everything simply to feel like someone. It is a road that many women have traveled on, seeking fulfillment but ending up scarred. No one ever told me the road would end that way. At least, never did I listen and heed their warnings.

I grew up "churched" and knew basic truths and teachings about God and Jesus. I sang solos of praise and worship songs. Went to youth group faithfully. Somewhere in the midst of being somewhat surrounded by Christianity, it was not until late high school that I finally and personally encountered Christ. I can't remember if it was a single conversation that led to my conversion, but rather the Holy Spirit lifting the gauze from my eyes that had prevented me from connecting truths to personal reality.

By the time that my conversion happened, I was already in a pit of sexual sin. It's difficult for me to type that, since I know that personal friends and family of mine may just now be discovering that. That's okay, because it's not really my story that I'm wanting to tell, but God's, and how His grace is more than enough to cover our sin. He is not ashamed of me, because now I am clothed with the righteousness of Christ. Several years ago, my former self could have never believed that statement to be true. I was riddled with guilt and shame, feeling as if I had been branded with my own scarlet letter. Part of that guilt was warranted, but then well-meaning Christians can sometimes heap unnecessary pain on top of that.

I attended a youth conference once where one of the assemblies was on sexual sin. A skit played out with a girl using an apple as a symbol of one's purity. Everyone thought it was so shiny, so red, so enticing, and so the girl eventually gave her apple away to a young man. After eating part of it, he handed it back to her, chewed on and partially consumed. She kept the apple and would meet other young men, and they too, would take some bites. More and more the apple became discolored over time until only the core was left. Later, people were disgusted when she offered her apple. The message, pure and simple was this: "Who wants that? After it's been chewed up and used?"

There was no follow-up message of grace or of Christ's forgiveness to cover that. There I sat, crying, wanting desperately to feel Christ's love, but now feeling that I was unable to be loved by Him because of my horrible mistakes. Like I had ruined my one and only chance of purity, and I was cheap goods. No one would want me now...

The reason I wrote this post was because I watched this video earlier today that recalls an account eerily similar to the apple skit that has haunted me. After watching this video, I began crying, remembering the shame I felt hearing a similar grace-less message. Only then, how I wished I could have heard that "JESUS WANTS THE ROSE!"

So as one sister to another, can I just take the time and remind you that Jesus wants you, even if you are broken, bruised, ugly, and dirty. He came for you. Remember this truth: “Come now, let’s settle this,” says the Lord. “Though your sins are like scarlet, I will make them as white as snow. Though they are red like crimson, I will make them as white as wool." (Isaiah 1:18)

Post conversion, I wish I could say that I was able to turn my life a full 180 degrees lickety-split, but old habits die hard along with old friendships tied to this world. I was now battling against knowing the truth and still sinning anyway. God didn't let go of me even though I struggled for years; He instead placed people and events along my path to draw me to Him. Granted, His discipline lovingly wounded me, yet I am incredibly grateful for it. Without that, I just as well could still be plodding along a broken road.

And now my heart sings, "Grace, grace, God's grace, grace that will pardon and cleanse within; grace, grace, God's grace, grace that is greater than all our sin!"

And what about those old, fearful questions of "Who will want me now?" The answer is not only Christ, but also a godly man He brought into my life that cares more for me than of my past: my husband. God can redeem anyone regardless of the circumstances.

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation. The old has passed away; behold, the new has come." (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Another cake creation

2009-04-10T08:00:00.000-04:00

I believe it was over a year ago when my mom and I decided to take a Wilton's cake decorating class through Michael's. We took Course 1, the introduction to all things cake decorating. Classes were once a week for a month, lasting about 3 hours per class. I highly recommend it, especially because you can learn a lot even if you've never filled a decorating bag in your life. I hadn't practiced or made a cake really until "The Big Reveal" a couple of weeks ago. Go figure the following week I volunteered to make my mom's birthday cake. Here's what I created! Looks very Mary Englebreit-ish, I think :)

Two of my Faves

2009-04-08T08:00:00.000-04:00

My first bloggy award :)

2009-04-07T08:56:00.005-04:00

My beautiful cousin Tiffany over at Reagan Marie gifted me with a "Kreativ Blogger" award!

I will accept and display this bloggy award with pride :) Here are the rules once you have received the award:

1. Post the award on your blog, and link to the person who gave you the award.

2. List seven things you love.

3. List seven blogs you love.

4. E-mail or comment on those blogs to let the people know you've given them the award.

Seven things I love:

~ hearing the ocean waves lap and roar while digging my toes in the sand ~ having all the windows open on a breezy, mild day ~ listening to children laugh and recite Scripture ~ being the wife of a wonderful, loving man ~ sitting in a rocking chair while windchimes play ~ food; specifically anything made of chocolate, bread, and cheese :) ~ learning and accomplishing something new

Seven blogs I love:

~ Clothesline Alley - Amy shares a wealth of information on various topics related to natural living, being an Army wife, and loving her sweet daughter.

~Making Home - Jess's blog is much like an encylopedia. It is random, thought provoking, and has a dose of fresh perspective thrown into the mix. Her "Show and Tell" feature is one you won't want to miss.

~Passionate Homemaking - Lindsay covers natural living topics as well, especially posts on 'soaking' your grains and healthful nutrition. Nuggets of Biblical living are strewn throughout, along with book recommendations.

~Money Saving Mom - Just one of Crystal's blogs that aims to share CVS, Walgreens, Walmart, Target, and other stores' deals to help lower your cost. Articles on frugal living are regular as well, along with giveaways, which I've actually won! I recommend putting this one on your feed list (if you don't have one) since there could be up to 12 quick posts a day with deals.

~The Story of Us - Deanna shares her journey with homeschooling, her love for all things Ukraine, and interesting ponderings.

~Walk Slowly, Live Wildly - Sara chronicles a simple life having now settled down in Bozeman, Montana after a stint of living in an RV traveling the U.S. Funky, crafty, alternative lifestyle-living...it's a mixed bag, and I like it that way!

~Amy's Humble Musings - Amy always includes very informative links to DIY projects, economic and political articles, and everything including the kitchen sink. Since moving to a farm, she shares the highs and lows of living with stubborn cows, all things chicken, and having Amish neighbors nearby. She's a mom of six and posts candid photos of their homespun life.

I would add that all of these ladies love Jesus and I am constantly challenged by their thoughts and ways of living. I love blogland since it has opened up a whole new world of knowledge from ladies who are really living it. Case in point, I don't think I'd ever even think of using cloth diapers if it hadn't been for several of my favorite bloggers. Believe it or not, there are people that live very differently than you do (sometimes contrary to your ways), and they are thriving. The list could go on with what I've discovered with the help of some very cool ladies.

DIY: Cloth Wipes

2009-04-06T16:17:00.010-04:00

In a previous post on cloth diapers, I mentioned that I was going to try my hand at making cloth wipes. I did it! And I have the photos to prove it. :)

I decided to make 8"x 8"two-ply wipes, one side flannel, the other side waffle/thermal knit. I spent about $16 on fabric from JoAnn's, and ended up being able to produce 37 wipes. So each wipe cost roughly 43 cents; not too shabby of an investment.

Improvising a sewing nook in the future nursery

Starting with the two pieces of fabric

ZigZagging away...

Prior to trimming the border

Finished sample of "Saturday Mornings"

Finished sample of "Goin' Bananas"

The final stash...37 wipes in total..whew!

Would I make them again? Yes. It does take time, especially cutting out the individual squares of fabric, but it could've been a lot easier if I had a rotary cutter to use. I have pre-washed the fabric, but have yet to see how these babies hold up through washer and dryer cycles. Only time will tell :)

Idols, Veggie Pizza, & Mules

2009-03-31T11:04:00.008-04:00

Last week in my group's Bible study we discussed idolatry and its effects on our lives. When I hear the word idolatry, the first image that emerges from my mind is one of manmade figurines of wood, clay, or metal. I also envision a shrine and people bowing down to worship the idol. While this depiction of idolatry happened countless times in the Old Testament, as well as the New Testament, it is not what typically occurs in modern day America. And it still breaks my heart to see images of other people groups/religions bowing down to false gods and goddesses still today.

To be clear, idolatry is defined as "1. the religious worship of idols. 2. excessive or blind adoration, reverence, devotion, etc. Synonyms: obsession, madness, mania." John Piper gives a concise definition, "Treasuring anyone or anything more than Christ is idolatry."

Idolatry can be very easy to spot...a vast collection of sports cars, crying + screaming tweens (and moms!) at a Jonas Bros. concert, or it can be very subtle...like stubbornness. Yes, you read that right. I discovered a convicting gem of a passage in 1 Samuel 15:22-23,

But Samuel replied, “What is more pleasing to the Lord: your burnt offerings and sacrifices or your obedience to his voice? Listen! Obedience is better than sacrifice, and submission is better than offering the fat of rams. Rebellion is as sinful as witchcraft, and stubbornness as bad as worshiping idols. So because you have rejected the command of the Lord, he has rejected you as king.”

I cannot tell you how many times these verses have been brought to my mind in the past week, especially over two slices of veggie pizza. Who knew conviction was an available topping? My husband and I ordered a pizza with half veggie, half BBQ chicken. This was a treat for both of us since normally we order plain ol' pepperoni. I ate my two slices, he ate his four, and I saved my two other slices for the next day's lunch. The next day, my mom picked me up and we went out for lunch. While scarfing down a ginormous Philly cheesesteak, my poor husband calls from home asking if he could have my last two slices of veggie pizza for his lunch. How did the sweet, loving wife respond? [Cue the violins] She said (in her most pathetic, whiny voice), "but those are my slices, and I never get veggie..." My poor husband said, "okay" and that was the end of the phonecall. The following day, while eating my beloved veggie pizza....the oddest thing happened. It no longer tasted good, in fact it felt more like gravel in my mouth (Proverbs 20:17). I suddenly had a clear example of how I had failed to serve him and insist on my own stubborn behalf. How foolish I was! I apologized to my husband and asked his forgiveness for my crummy attitude of selfishness.

Back to the passage, it all begins with our heart and the motives within. Beyond verse 22, we see two similes that compare the sinfulness of rebellion and stubbornness. Frankly, it's the subtle sins within that seem more difficult to identify, control, and conquer. And sometimes, because we can't see them in the way we can like drunkeness or adultery, it is easy to gloss over them and attempt to rationalize them away (veggie pizza, anyone?).

But from these verses, it is clear that rebellion and stubbornness are major offenses to God! By having witchcraft and worshiping idols thrown into that same mix, it really ruffles my feathers. How many times do we excuse rebellious attitudes with "oh, she's just being a teenager!" or "boys will be boys?" Often times, the phrase "stubborn as a mule" comes with a knowing smirk or a frustrated sigh, but never to the equivalent degree of hearing "oh, he's just worshiping idols!" :) That puts some perspective on it!

At least to me, it is a little too ironic that within the verses of 1 Samuel 15:22-23 both submission and stubbornness are juxtaposed. I know I wasn't the best example of submission as a child, and yes, I'm still a work in progress when it comes to my marriage. Come to think of it, submission and stubbornness are really on the same continuum:

Submission (Serving others) <--------Your will--------> Stubbornness (Serving self)

On the far left, you willingly (and hopefully not begrudingly) put your will aside for someone else. But on the far right, you choose not to yield, thereby demanding your will.

Scripture is clear that the appropriate choice is submission (Ephesians 5:21, Colossians 3:18, Hebrews 13:17, 1 Peter 2:13-14, James 4:6-8). As seen in the passage from 1 Samuel, anytime we disobey God, we reap the consequences of disobedience; in this case, Saul was rejected as king.

It's time to remember that obedience and submission have blessings attached. Sometimes immediate, sometimes tangible, most importantly, the smiling approval from God.

Details of the Big Reveal

2009-03-27T09:49:00.005-04:00

Several people have asked how we exactly told our families about the sex and name. So, here's my summary:

For out-of-staters, we simply gave them a celebratory phonecall. We wished they could've made it to our party, but c'est la vie!

On Saturday, March 21st, we held a cookout at my parents' house with hotdogs, hamburgers, and the usual yummy faire. Everyone invited knew that we were going to announce the big news, so in that sense, it wasn't completely a surprise as to the reason for our gathering.

I decided to bake and decorate a cake with boyish colors and the name on top to give the big reveal to everyone. I had so much fun decorating the cake with blue and green dots and circles :)
We got everyone together in the dining room and I still had the cake cover over it, even with a handtowel draped on top to prevent overly curious eyes from trying to peep :)

We gave a 3-2-1 countdown and I lifted the cake cover lid off.

Here's what our families saw:

The cake turned out beautifully (if I do say so myself) and delicious. After everyone got a view of the cake, Brent gave a speech about how we decided on the name and our prayers for our new son.

Caleb was one of the 12 scouts who was asked to see what the Promised Land looked like. What they saw there were men who were as large as giants along with fortifed walls. Only Caleb and Joshua of the twelve scouts gave the go-ahead based on faith and believing God's promise to take the land. Imagine, God clearly gave them insight on where the Promised Land was, yet ten men refused to accept that message in faith. We are hoping that our Caleb will take God at His word in everything he does, and remain faithful to God, no matter what. For the entire account, read about it here in Numbers.

We are still working on the middle name, and I think we're getting closer to a final choice. But rest assured, it will be special just like his first name.

We are proud to announce...

2009-03-22T19:56:00.005-04:00

It's a BOY!

The ultrasound went very well on Friday morning and the first image that appeared on screen was a baby with its legs spread wide, and thus, our baby boy was immediately discovered. :) Not only was that prayer answered (that we would be able to see the sex), but more importantly, all the organs look healthy and well-formed. I loved seeing his face, beating heart and aorta, diaphragm, bladder already collecting urine, and a detailed view of his spine.

The entire time he was looking right at us :) We were able to watch him open his mouth, and also practice sucking. He seems like a chill little dude; his pose was laidback with an arm behind his head and legs spread. I guess right now, my womb is a comfy hammock for him.

I had really been looking forward to looking at 3D pictures, but because he kept looking straight at us, and not giving us a profile view, we were unable to get 3D ones. But, I think this was a blessing in disguise, because the sonographer offered us a visit in another week for them to practice their 3D skills. So, we get a free hour extra viewing our little boy :)

We are so blessed to have a healthy little boy on the way. We don't deserve such a great gift! With that said, the name we have chosen for him is Caleb. It means "faithful," and indeed God has been faithful to us unconditionally.

"Sons are a heritage from the LORD, children a reward from him." ~Psalm 127:3

Make your vote! Boy or Girl?

2009-03-13T13:15:00.006-04:00

So we are exactly a week away from hopefully discovering what little Baby Wells is. I put up a poll at the top left of the blog. Please vote!!!

And since so many ask, no I don't have a feeling or knowing what this baby is. :) I can't wait until Friday!!! Also, we will be revealing the sex to our families first, so unfortunately, I can't promise that you will know immediately. But, I'd say within a week :)

What's a laid-off mom to do? Be a stay-at-home mom!

2009-03-10T16:12:00.004-04:00

I came across this article a few minutes ago,

"New job for laid-off moms: stay-at-home motherhood"

Several interesting observations collected from these new SAHMs (emphasis mine):

"Lucas and other laid-off women like her are involuntarily experiencing the life of a stay-at-home mom, and they are getting to know a lot more about the details of their children's daily existence. They are also discovering some of the things they have been missing."

"After years in which her husband was the main caregiver, she is finding the time off with her children to be an unexpected blessing."

"Before, I felt like the manager or director of a family. Now I get to do the Mom things --making the lunches, taking my daughter to school. It's been fabulous."

"As for Quinn, her younger daughter recently delighted her by announcing she had decided to forgo any summer activities --she just wants to hang with Mom."

I am amazed at how surprised some of the moms seem to be of the fact that children are a blessing. Imagine, parents having fun with their kids, laughing, playing, enjoying them! The part that broke my heart was the daughter who desires just to spend time with her mom than do all the summer stuff.

Is it possible that parents make "proper" parenting harder and more complex than it needs to be? Moms and dads alike easily bemoan carting their children from soccer to piano to math club. But sometimes, a kid just wants to be a kid with their parents. Do humans just really want to love and be loved? Is it that simple?

Just as parents who work full-time may never know the ins and outs of their kids, the same is true of the children; they may grow up never feeling like they ever knew their mom and dad. I also wonder about the blessings that have been forfeited due to lack of time and deepened relationships. There just can't be a pricetag on being able to love on your kids full-time.

Getting ready for the Baby: Cloth Diapers

2009-03-06T10:23:00.005-05:00

Before I was pregnant, several of the bloggers I read had mentioned cloth diapers (CD). Naturally, I balked at the idea, because "eww, that's gross" and thinking they were ineffective at absorbing leaks and such. But the benefits (I believe) more than make up for the ick factor (which is present either way!). The cost savings, environmental concerns, baby's health, and cute fabrics rank on my list. Note: while the cost savings are worth it, if you choose to do cloth, you will ultimately be spending some money (however much is up to you) up front; these are an investment after all.

Today's cloth diapers are nothing what parents used 30 years ago. Diaper Services still exist, so even if you aren't keen on the idea of laundering them yourself, there are companies which will do it for you.

If you Google "Cloth diapers," you will certainly receive millions of pages on the subject. I felt so confused as someone who had only had experience with disposable diapers, and no knowledge of cloth. Because there are so many types nowadays: All-in-Ones, Pocket, One Size, Prefolds, Fitteds, etc. I needed a glossary for such terms (with pictures please!). It took awhile to understand this new vocabulary, but I feel quite comfortable now with it. An encouraging word to ladies without children is to go ahead and research your options now. I am already feeling the time crunch at 18 weeks along, but am so glad that I was well-versed in CD-ing, now that decision time is approaching. And for me personally, it takes awhile for a new idea to really settle into my mind and feel comfortable with it.

Last night my husband and I headed out to a local organic baby store for a CD workshop. It was my first time seeing and touching the varieties of CD in person! I was glad to see that we were not alone, we were one of about 12 couples. It made me feel like I wasn't the only weirdo in town. :) Let alone I have several close friends in my Bible Fellowship group that are using, or will be using cloth.

After hours of research and reading lots of reviews from DiaperPin.com, we decided to start off our new adventures in CDing by using Bummis brand organic cotton prefolds with Thirsties brand covers. For newbies to the CD scene, the prefold is what the baby will be primarily messing on, and the waterproof cover (which goes over/on top of the prefold) will make sure it is contained, and doesn't get transferred onto your lap.

Our initial investment is a mere $120! Not too shabby, considering that some estimate using disposable diapers (DD) from birth to potty training can add up to $2500. Here's a quick breakdown courtesy of Motherease brand CD:

"Disposable diapers get more expensive as they get larger, but the average cost is about $.35/diaper. Based on 6,500 changes (average 7 - 8/day), cost would be $2,275 for 2 ½ years. However, babies diapered in disposables tend to be changed less often than babies diapered in cloth. Based on an average of 5 - 6 changes/day, cost for 5,019 diapers would be $1,757. Cost of 1,500 disposable wipes would be about $100., making the totals $1,857 to $2,375. (average .37/change)"

I'd like to interject something about the statement, "However, babies diapered in disposables tend to be changed less often than babies diapered in cloth." At first glance, the reader might believe that cloth must hold less or be less effective in containing the mess. But the real meaning behind this is that caretakers of babies in cloth know relatively soon that the baby needs changing. Disposable diapers and their mysterious gels are designed to create a "stay-dry" feeling and soak up everything, thereby only postponing a needed change. What does this mean for the baby? Well, first, no regular consumer truly has an idea of what chemicals are in a DD...what your baby is wearing/sitting in for hours at a time. Second, babies in DDs are subject to diaper rash due to infrequent diaper changes where moisture abounds, growth of bacteria, friction, and allergies to chemicals to name a few. An extensive list of diaper rash culprits is here.

Have I sold you on it yet? :) While I still don't hold all the answers to issues that I know will arise once I start using them, it is never too early to learn, learn, learn. One of my latest homemaking endeavors is making my own cloth wipes. I made my first one Wednesday night, and I'm embarrassed to show the picture, so I'll spare you until I get it down pat. :) I am a beginner at sewing, so needless to say, I need much practice.

I'll leave with one last thought. Being the logical-minded person I am, I have noticed on ads for toilet paper, diapers, kleenex, paper towels, etc. that boast "cottony feel" and "soft and quilted for your comfort." Methinks paper products are simply trying to be like cotton! Why wouldn't I go to the real source if that's simply what paper is trying to emulate?

I'd love to hear your thoughts on any of this...questions, suggestions, anecdotes, etc. What worked? What didn't?

Thoughts on "The Shack"

2009-02-26T08:50:00.003-05:00

I remember when "The Shack," by William P. Young had not been released yet, but it had already received many accolades and endorsements by familiar Christian names. Fast forward several months, and it seemed that several of my friends were really talking it up. Claiming it was "the best book I've ever read..." When I heard that, because I've read quite a lot myself, I figured, this book has to be good.

I managed to borrow a copy from a coworker and took it along on our cruise back in January, figuring it'd be a quick beach read. (Aren't those great?) Well, at one point while reading it very early on, a fellow cruiser asked me, "How do you like it?" I explained I had just started it, but it was okay. She said, "I thought it was challenging..." While she didn't go into detail, as to whether challenging was connoting either positively or negatively, I began to understand her observation. In fact, my summation is, "I felt uneasy..."

Several concepts in the book sent up red flags. Since the book focuses on the Holy Trinity, I'd say as an author, you're already treading into some perilous waters. Anyway, one of the first things that alarmed me was the author depicting God the Father as an overweight African-American woman. (!!!) Jesus was depicted as a young man of Middle Eastern descent, while the Holy Spirit was a wispy Asian woman named Sarayu. Okay, if you can stomach that, several conversations occur between the three of them that seem a little too humanistic for me. These include, "Papa (God) was fully human in Jesus" and "we all submit to each other." Really? Show me some Scripture to back that up, please.

Confession time: I have yet to finish "The Shack," and I know it's practically a cardinal sin to write something off before you've even given it a full chance to redeem itself. It is still lying on my nightstand beneath other books, but I am now fully convinced that I don't need to waste any more time than I already have by completing the last few chapters. I admit, most of my reason by even trying to finish it was because several good friends have praised it so. Now I'm learning to trust and obey when the Holy Spirit sends us red flags. It is to alert us, be on guard, and check everything against Scripture. Discernment is a believer's best friend.

Mark Driscoll of Mars Hill Church does a great job of explaining some of the major heresies of "The Shack." (link courtesy of Voddie Baucham) Please take the time to listen, he truly clarified my thoughts and articulated my uneasiness. What scares me most is how many Christians are fully buying into Young's views about the Trinity. Worse yet, there are seekers and non-believers whose doctrinal understanding will be horribly flawed.

In the book's foreward, Young serving as a conduit for "Mack" the protagonist, writes something to the effect of, "if you don't understand the story, then sorry, it wasn't meant for you."

Agreed; it wasn't meant for me.

Bygones of a different era

2009-02-18T13:53:00.004-05:00

Picture your grandmother's kitchen.

Do you remember any familiar scents? Bread baking in the oven, fresh picked cucumbers, or maybe a chocolate cake waiting for a passerby.

How about utensils? Worn wooden spoons, a dainty pickle fork or two...

It's hard to imagine that a place as universal and timeless as a kitchen could be witness to so many cultural changes. Don't believe me? Kitchen staples wax and wane with the times.

Aprons, once unthinkable to not wear one while preparing pie crusts and mopping the floors, are now coming back in vogue. Newer generations have traded the practicality of some items for sheer fashion or trendiness instead. Aprons have always signified work. I have a vintage apron from the '50s that I still haven't gotten in the practice of always tying it on every time. When you put one on, I think a message is relayed to your brain, "She's serious." This reminds me of Proverbs 31:17, "She girds her loins with strength, and strengthens her arms." The phrase "girding your loins" means to tie up loose fabric or clothes so that you make work more easily, similar to "rolling up your sleeves." Yet again that blessed model of a godly woman found in Proverbs 31 shows she's not afraid to get dirty.

If aprons signify work, then a tray signifies serving. My whole idea for this post came about over the weekend because of a tray I own. I received it as a wedding shower gift from a dear friend, and 99.9% of the time, it rests out of sight on top of our fridge collecting dust. This past weekend however, I used that tray three different times. All three times were carrying some delicious foods to some families from our church. The thought dawned on me that the only time I really use that tray is to transport food to a different place. It suddenly became a powerful symbol of hospitality for me. That simple wooden tray convicted me due to the amount of dust and that I almost forgot that I owned it. I need to serve more. I need to offer hospitality more. Not only that, but a tray can be lovingly used within your own home to serve your husband or children breakfast in bed. That's always a lovely treat :)

Aprons, trays, rolling pins, hostess trollies, tea services, they're all a part of old-fashioned kitchens and hospitality. We could take a lesson from these forgotten treasures, to labor diligently in our kitchens for our families and for those outside our home.

Valentine's Dinner with Dr. Gary Chapman

2009-02-13T09:59:00.007-05:00

If you have ever heard of or read the book, "The Five Love Languages" you are familiar with Dr. Gary Chapman's work. He has written a plethora of other marriage/counseling books on different topics. Two other books he's written that I'm interested in are, "The Five Languages of Apology" and "The other side of love" which is based on anger.

Well, I'm a little more than familiar with Dr. Chapman than some since he's a pastor at my church. I've gotten to meet him several times and chat with his lovely wife, Carolyn. Basically, he is the real deal. If you want to hear a godly man preach on a Sunday, he can bring it like no other. I really enjoy him speaking about theology as well as communication needs. And in case his counseling demands dwindled, he'd make a great stand-up comedian as well.

Last night, our church held its annual Valentine's Day dinner, but this time Dr. Chapman was the guest speaker. Not surprising, his theme was on love. But it was not primarily on love in the context of marriage or parenting, but simply living as a loving Christian.

I am ashamed to admit this, but as we left I told my husband, "that whole message was convicting for me."

Based on one of his latest books, "Love as a Way of Life," he went over the seven different facets of love: kindness, courtesy, humility, forgiveness, patience, generosity, and honesty.

Some of those traits are easier to come by than others, but I personally struggle with courtesy (being "friendly-minded"), patience ("forgetting is not a sin"), and generosity ("making time for others").

Last time I heard Dr. Chapman speak, I fortunately had paper and pen to jot down my thoughts. Last night, however I didn't, so I'm going off memory here! Perhaps the things I remembered, were the things the Holy Spirit wanted me to cling to.

Courtesy: Chapman explained that the word courtesy in Greek comes from two words "friendly" and "mind." Thus we treat others like we would our own friends. His examples included allowing someone else to go in front of you at the checkout line, giving up a parking space for someone, offering your seat to an elderly person, etc. I realize that several of these traits are interdependent upon one another....i.e. if I am impatient by nature, I probably will not have a penchant for being courteous...because after all, it's all about me!

Patience: Oooo, how I struggle with this, and how I know our baby will teach me in short order! The way Chapman described it in context of examples almost described grace. Once again, you gotta give someone grace in order to be patient! He gave the example of a husband losing the car keys for the third time in a week, and the wife huffing, "Why can't you just hang it on the key hook?!" And this point he made hit me like a load of bricks: "Forgetting is not a sin." Whoaaa Nelly! Back that thang up... Okay, so I never realized until last night that I practically equate forgetfulness as a sin. Hmmm, where is that Scripture verse anyway? (Oh riiight, there isn't one). Not only should we be patient with others, but patient with ourselves. We are only human after all. And only one perfect Person has ever walked the earth before.

Generosity: I know I could do more for people, so why don't I? It's not merely a financial issue, it's one of time, service, and words. There are people in my life who I love devoting time to like Brent. But there are others which, let's face it, I've been holding back on. (Cue the music "Let your love flow...") Do they not deserve it? If we argue points of merit, then Christ's death for each one of us gives more emphasis on how great His love truly must be. As Christians, we can't settle for doling love out only to those who are kind to us, instead of those who are unkind. We must be generous with everyone.

Dr. Chapman tied all of the seven facets of love into Jesus' words, "'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. A second is equally important: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’" (Matthew 22:37-39) And also, "By this all men will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another." (John 13:35) If you asked someone, "What's your idea of a 'Christian?'" What do you think they would say? Love?

Maybe perhaps now you can tell why his talk was convicting for me. May we love others as Christ has truly loved us.

Some highlights of my first cruise

2009-02-11T16:05:00.010-05:00

Back in January, my family blessed Brent and I by paying for us to go on a cruise with them and my sister and her husband. The idea of the 6 of us going was exciting, since the niece and nephew are usually present; but this was an adults only trip. :) I've always wanted to go on a cruise, and I'd never been to the Bahamas, so it was a trip of "firsts."

We left historic Charleston, SC on January 17th and boarded Norwegian Cruise Line's "Norwegian Majesty." As a first-time cruiser, I really had no expectations (which I think is a great thing) because I simply enjoyed it for what it was having nothing to compare it to.

After locating our compact room and trying out the vacuum toilets (!), the boat eventually set sail and that's when the trouble began....

I honestly thought I'd be a-okay on a ginormous boat. I have always been a sailing/boating/jetskiing lover, and have never had motion sickness on water. Boy, was it a shock to my system. I was completely incapacitated for the first two days as we sailed for the entire duration. Being pregnant, I began wearing Sea-Bands which have helped me with airplane motion sickness in the past. Thankfully, we randomly ran into a childhood best friend and her family on board. Her mom gave me ginger supplements which seemed to help.

Nevertheless, I cannot tell you how many times I was constantly asked, "Have you taken the ginger pills?" "How do you feel now?" "Maybe if you look out the window...." "How about some fresh air?" Really, I know my family was only concerned, but I was rather content to sleep since that was the only time I had a reprieve. I guess since I hadn't had any morning sickness with the baby, this was some sick joke to make up for it. I tell you, I really feel sympathy for those moms who suffer with it. My trashcan and I became fast friends...literally. :)

The good news was that as soon as we would anchor or dock, I was my normal self again. I got to eat after day two and finally begin enjoying the trip. Our first stop was Great Stirrup Cay. It was gorgeous....

Great Stirrup Cay was quite windy and cool, therefore I never got into the water. What a bummer! But I simply soaked up the view and the amazing teal color of the water. After only a few hours at GSC, everyone was evacuated (!) due to the high winds. The captain was concerned about the tender boats being able to safely get passengers back on board the cruise ship. We left reluctantly, and my time on land was all too fleeting.

We later ended up in Nassau which was much nicer than I had thought it would be. (When we honeymooned in St. Lucia, we quickly became aware of the extreme poverty). Nassau reminded me of Charleston with its pastel buildings paying homage to flamingoes. We walked around the area and went through the famous straw market (which was exactly like St. Lucia). Brent and my father left to go on a snorkeling excursion while I stayed back with my mom. Later that night, we went to a colorful Bahamian restaurant, Cafe Kalik. We feasted on yummy conch fritters (my first time) and coconut shrimp. The place was decorated with lots of Junkanoo (Bahamian Mardi Gras) costumes and masks. Here is one that our waiter created by hand...

We boarded the cruise ship and set sail for Freeport at Grand Bahama Island. There we met Audley, the nicest tour guide ever. He drove us around for 3 hours everywhere on that island. I was amazed at how simple the houses and shops looked. Some were rundown, but most just looked very plain compared to American homes. After getting off of the van and getting ready to board the cruise ship again, Brent noticed that his wedding ring was missing. Believe it or not, it wasn't the first time. And because of that, I honestly had a nonchalant attitude. (I gave up the sentimentality when the original wedding band was swallowed by the Atlantic Ocean a year ago).

Naturally, when we returned to our room, Brent just felt awful about the ring. I suggested we pray about it and ask God to bring it back to us. Now here is the weird/miraculous part... flashback to the day before when Brent went snorkeling...he jokingly told me he'd lost the ring then, and said "Just kidding!" and slipped it back on his finger. Flash forward to after we had prayed... Brent decided to look in his backpack as a last resort, and there it was. Some might say that he never put it back on to begin with, and that's where the ring had been the whole time. But Brent and I say that God brought it back to us, because nothing is impossible with God.

The next day we docked at Cape Canaveral, Florida and took a day-long expedition to the Kennedy Space Center. It was such a great experience, I'd go back there again and give more time to it. We were unable to do everything on a single-day pass. I've never been immersed in space stuff all that much, so it was a real treat learning the science behind everything. Here are some fun pictures... and I betcha didn't know that shuttles zoom around at 17,500 mph!

Those were the happenings off the ship, but we had lots of fun onboard too. There were nightly trivia games which asked absurd questions, song and dance shows, a comedy team that was hilarious. The comedy team, "Blackstreet Boyz," is made up of two guys, Alfred and Seymour. Their show is a mix of hip hop, physical humor, dance, and audience participation. The best part was when my dear mom was chosen from the audience! She got pulled up on stage and they started doing funny pictures with her. At one point, they were using her camera to take the pictures, and Seymour tripped and the camera went flying across the stage, breaking open. I think my whole family's jaws were dropped and in shock. Thankfully, it was a gag because he had switched the cameras...good grief. I especially enjoyed watching audience members get heckled, and some of them weren't even aware of it!

I think one of my favorite parts of the cruise was truly the staff. Yes, the staff. I have never met friendlier or more helpful people anywhere. Most are internationals and do not get to see their families for several months on end. They honestly seemed pleased and satisfied to help you, how often do you come across that attitude? One sweet server even brought me out a plate of crackers and green apple slices to help me feel better. Not only that, she brought me a barf bag. :)

I apologize for the few photos to post (I have more on facebook), but because I wasn't feeling all that well, my camera was the furthest thing on my mind. Thankfully, my family took lots more pictures and even caught me sleeping while seasick on the top deck :-p

The only travel plans for the future as far as I can tell will be to our family's beach house in the summer prior to the baby's arrival.

Me looking slightly pregnant

2009-02-09T09:59:00.004-05:00

Might I add these photos were not anticipated! I had been delaying, procrastinating, postponing what have you (for no real reason), for several weeks now, and Brent caught me off guard after we got home from church yesterday.

But, alas, the first pictures have been taken! :-D

How many children is too many?

2009-02-02T10:23:00.011-05:00

Last week, the news media was all over the incredible story of a mom giving birth to octuplets! Imagine, all at one time. And apparently, the mom and doctors were only expecting seven. The media loved this story until the revelation came that the mom already had six children.

Immediately, responses from the media and water-cooler talk hailed the now family of 14 children as "stupid," "irresponsible," and "insane." This was my first time through personal conversations that I've heard coworkers reveal their large family bias. I am not unwise to the fact that American society seems to deplore large families, and I'm not referring to families with 3 or 4 children (although to most that is what constitutes a large family). Several of my favorite bloggers have several children...i.e. 8 or more. I guess I've kinda gotten used to that being a large family.

My problem with the majority of criticisms surrounding mega-families is that people don't realize that these children are seen as blessings, not burdens to the parents. Honestly, why does it matter if a family chooses to have God decide their number of children if they desire it so? Most of the time, these families are not living off of the bloated welfare system; their parents are providing for them in a responsible manner. One of my favorite mega-families is the Duggars. I recently read their new book, "The Duggars: 20 and Counting!" Truly inspirational in so many ways.

Big families certainly attract intrigue, considering the average American family has 2.1 kids. It's no wonder that the Duggars' tv show as well as Jon & Kate Plus 8 are getting mainstream attention. Most people, especially parents cannot fathom taking care of a literal classroom of children. Might I add that most parents cannot fathom having well-behaved children.

The title of this post, "How many children is too many?" will not be answered here. It's a rhetorical question that requires serious thought and introspection. I just thought it'd be interesting to weave implications regarding families into the mix.

Here are a couple of links related to families...

Some people believe 2 children should be the maximum.... yet "Worldwide, birthrates have declined by 50% in the past half-century," the groups say. "There are now 59 nations, with 44% of the world's population, with below replacement birthrates." A birthrate of 2.1 is needed to replace current population, but the European Union has a birthrate of just 1.3. By 2030, the group's estimate, Europe is expected to have a shortfall of 20 million workers.

Al Mohler examines the impact of children

One of my favorite bloggers, Jess, looks at the implications of living in a birth-control infatuated society... explains very common stereotypes and misconceptions.

A compilation of large family comebacks :) Q."Do you know what causes that?!" A. "Yes, I do...cold winter nights..."

Another post from Jess on what Scripture reveals about children, moms, and dads.

And this mom of 8 challenges my thinking in "Is eight enough?"....

"To look in each of the faces around our dinner table, to know that we thought we were probably done with the baby thing after 1, then after 2, then after 3...sometimes my heart is in my throat as I think, "What if I had called it quits? You wouldn't be here! I would have missed the amazing miracle of you..."

Tiny tidbits involving my tiny tidbit :)

2009-01-30T15:47:00.004-05:00

13 weeks now and still goin' strong :)
Weight gain: 2 lbs.
Regular pants have not fit me for some time now, but there's a wonderful wardrobe accessory called a BellaBand, which I use with pants. Highly recommended! It helps convert your non-maternity pants into maternity...pure magic. You can get one at Target for $16.99.
Bump rubs from someone other than Brent: 2, a coworker and a friend from church. Not as awkward as I thought it'd be, lol. Is this what my dog feels like at times?
What upsets my stomach? Plain ol' orange juice....I'm now avoiding it like the plague.
Hormonal? Earlier on, I could cry extremely easily. When I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" back in December, I had never bawled at a movie before until then. I was hysterical, and Brent actually thought I was laughing and/or faking. Go figure. :)
Doctor visits: 2
My sweet tooth has gone on hiatus. If you know me, somewhere a pig must be flying overhead. Now, if only this would resume after the birth!
My favorite food (group) thus far has been carbs. Bring on the fettucine alfredo with garlic bread, and I'm a happy girl.
We will definitely be finding out the sex of the baby, sometime in March.
Some call it "peanut" or "bean," we just call it "plum." :) Actually, there's more to it than that...every week we've had the pleasure of calling our baby a different food (ha!) based on its relative size. At one point, it was a mere poppy seed! We've noted its progress as it grew from sesame seed to blueberry to raspberry to prune. :) I think "peach" is up next! Although one of these days, "watermelon" will be more like it.
Several friends have noted that they questioned if I was pregnant (before I'd announced) based on my face. The radiant glow of a mama?....no, mine was a pale, ashen face. :-p
Piggybacking on #11, others noticed I was ahem more bosomy.
I am excited that several of my friends are having babies all within months of each other. Insta-friends for our kids :) Plus, I get to learn from them along the way.
Our baby will be the first grandchild for Brent's parents and the third grandchild for my parents.
Lastly, August 5th can't come sooner!

Please pray for Michelle & Jeff...

2009-01-15T15:08:00.002-05:00

For anyone that may read this, I ask as a sister in Christ that you please lift up two of my friends, Michelle & Jeff, who learned only this morning that they lost their 11 week old baby.

This especially hits close to home for me, because Michelle's due date was only a few days after mine.

Please pray for God's grace, comfort, and peace to be around them during this time.

Food for Thought

2009-01-12T13:57:00.003-05:00

"A bowl of vegetables with someone you love is better than steak with someone you hate."

Proverbs 15:17

Insert dreamy sigh...

2009-01-08T12:50:00.003-05:00

I came home yesterday from work and found these....

Along with this note....

I love my husband!!!

Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009

2009-01-05T09:51:00.006-05:00

Sorry that I inadvertently took a random hiatus the past couple of weeks. It's been busy, whose life hasn't?

After dealing with a fun stomach virus for several days, then getting a blessed head cold the day after I could finally eat again, the middle of December wasn't the best.

However, the husband and I traveled to Gatlinburg, TN and met up with his mom and stepdad whom I hadn't seen since our wedding(!). Needless to say, it was great catching up with his parents that I've only met 3 other times. We hunkered down in a gorgeous log cabin that overlooked the Smokies. The first couple of days were frigid. Silly me forgot to pack real outdoor winter gear, aka hat, scarves, heavy coat, etc. The Lord kept me well thankfully :) We had a blast at the Ripley's Aquarium, Dixie Stampede, and DollyWood. A note about DollyWood, don't go during the winter. Why? Because all the rides shut down if it's below 36 degrees, which it was when we went. A full-priced ticket with no ride access does not a happy customer make. Despite the chilly weather, I had fun preparing homemade meals at the cabin and impressing the inlaws :)

It was a low-key Christmas for sure since this year we bypassed physical gifts and instead gave a donation to a project that I truly care about, Adopt-a-village Bihar, India. India is very near to my heart for reasons not entirely known, and Bihar is one of the poorest places with limited access to drinking water. Our gift will build a well for Bihar and allow numerous people to have better health. Not only that, but our well will enable missionaries to give a tangible example to the people that Jesus is our source of Living Water. We are looking forward to receiving a photo of the finished well along with some of the villagers. It's amazing what a little money can do...

As for what 2009 will bring, Lord-willing, Brent and I will become parents to a precious little babe in August :)

Last week we saw our little baby for the first time...lifting its head, wiggling a bit, and hearing that amazing heartbeat. Honestly, pregnancy hasn't felt all that real until seeing a tiny being in the dark of my womb. I'm already filling out a bit despite not having gained any weight. Yesterday, by a stroke of Providence, I randomly went on Craigslist and found just what I'd been looking for, an Arm's Reach CoSleeper for a steal. We were able to bring it home yesterday, so I happily went to work washing the sheets and cleaning it a bit. Needless to say, more and more it's getting real.

Since we've been traveling a lot the past few months, we're about to slow down considerably to save as much money as possible for the months/years ahead. Our "babymoon" will be a bit early than most couples', but we couldn't pass it up. My parents graciously paid for us as well as my sister and her husband to go on a Bahamas cruise in less than 2 weeks! This will be my first cruise and first trip to the Bahamas :) So those are the two major events predicted for 2009.

What have you been up to?

Let the Christmas Parties Begin!

2008-12-11T11:11:00.001-05:00

I received this via email and thought it was too funny :)

HOLIDAY EATING TIPS

1. Avoid carrot sticks. Anyone who puts carrots on a holiday buffet
table knows nothing of the Christmas spirit. In fact, if you see
carrots, leave immediately. Go next door, where they're serving rum
balls.

2. Drink as much eggnog as you can. And quickly. It's rare.. You cannot
find it any other time of year but now. So drink up! Who cares that it
has 10,000 calories in every sip? It's not as if you're going to turn
into an eggnog-alcoholic or something. It's a treat. Enjoy it. Have one
for me. Have two. It's later than you think. It's Christmas!

3. If something comes with gravy, use it. That's the whole point of
gravy. Gravy does not stand alone. Pour it on. Make a volcano out of
your mashed potatoes. Fill it with gravy. Eat the volcano. Repeat.

4. As for mashed potatoes, always ask if they're made with skim milk or
whole milk. If it's skim, pass. Why bother? It's like buying a sports
car with an automatic transmission.

5. Do not have a snack before going to a party in an effort to control
your eating. The whole point of going to a Christmas party is to eat
other people's food for free. Lots of it. Hello?

6. Under no circumstances should you exercise between now and New
Year's. You can do that in January when you have nothing else to do.
This is the time for long naps, which you'll need after circling the
buffet table while carrying a 10-pound plate of food and that vat of
eggnog.

7. If you come across something really good at a buffet table, like
frosted Christmas cookies in the shape and size of Santa, position
yourself near them and don't budge. Have as many as you can before
becoming the center of attention. They're like a beautiful pair of
shoes. If you leave them behind, you're never going to see them again.

8. Same for pies. Apple, Pumpkin, Mincemeat. Have a slice of each. Or if
you don't like mincemeat, have two apples and one pumpkin. Always have
three. When else do you get to have more than one dessert? Labor Day?

9. Did someone mention fruitcake? Granted, it's loaded with the
mandatory celebratory calories, but avoid it at all cost. I mean, have
some standards.

10. One final tip: If you don't feel terrible when you leave the party
or get up from the table, you haven't been paying attention. Re-read
these tips; start over, but hurry, January is just around the corner.
Remember this motto to live by:

"Life should NOT be a journey to the grave with the intention of
arriving safely in an attractive and well preserved body, but rather to
skid in sideways, chocolate in one hand, body thoroughly used up,
totally worn out and screaming "WOO HOO what a ride!"

Have a wonderful Christmas season!!

An Advent Conspiracy

2008-12-03T08:00:00.000-05:00

I love this video...

The Vegas Recap!

2008-12-01T13:07:00.016-05:00

Sorry for the slow update with my pictures and commentary from the Vegas trip. If I could sum it up in a simple phrase, it'd be..."total sensory experience." Some of it dazzling, some of it foul.

Day 1: Traveling to Vegas...our flights had some unexpected delays but we did finally get there. The SeaBands did their job effectively :) and we flew into Vegas at night. What a beautiful view! We made our way over to Bally's hotel and immediately your ears and eyes are overwhelmed. From the constant beeping, music, flashing lights of the casino to the marbled floors and brass fixtures everywhere. It's a tad garish.

Our hotel at night (Paris Las Vegas was right next door...more about that later!)

Day 2: The time change threw us for a loop, albeit the sunrise was beautiful! While Brent began his first day of meetings, I went on the Backstage tour of the Jubilee! show. The Jubilee! show is one of the last remaining traditional showgirls show, hence why I took the backstage tour, and didn't see the real deal! It was so fun to see these giant feathered headdresses and sequined costumes. Unfortunately, pictures weren't allowed, but if it was big, fluffy, and bright, it was backstage! :) We saw the girls' dressing rooms, wig repair room, and seamstress area. Huge productions have always thrilled me, even seeing behind the scenes concepts.

The rest of the afternoon prior to dinner, I walked the huge "Strip" down to the Luxor hotel (Egyptian-themed) to visit the Bodies exhibit. Once again, I wasn't able to take pictures while inside, but visit the site and you'll learn what I'm speaking of. Unbeknownst to me, the Bodies exhibit was more than an educational experience, it became one of worship too! I was constantly in awe of how God has so intricately and perfectly designed our bodies. I have always been fascinated with biology and especially anatomy, so this was just a little piece of paradise. And because Brent was in a meeting, it was quite liberating to go at my very own pace and read every single placard! :)

Afterwards, Brent and I had a buffet dinner organized by his company, so it was nice meeting new colleagues and catching up with ones I had met in Vermont.

Day 3: The first couple of hours were quite boring, because I was out walking on the Strip at 8 am, and I was unaware that all of the shops/malls open at 10. Bummer! Once again, I enjoyed the fact that I could go at a leisurely pace and look at all of the beautiful windows of stores. Vegas has lots of shopping available, but most of it is definitely high-end. I spent most of my time at the Venetian hotel where there are gondolas available to ride, indoors or out! It was beautiful, and since I've yet to see genuine European architecture, I enjoyed it for what it was.

I made my way to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, and had so much fun looking at all of the famous figures. My only regret was that I didn't have Brent with me to take more pictures while there. Unlike other museums, this one really encourages visitors to have fun with the fake celebs. I had to get one with my girl Lucy!

After my fun there, I met up with Brent for lunch at the Eiffel Tower Restaurant. It was divine! As soon as we were whisked off of the elevator into the kitchen, we were given delicate phyllo dough cups with crab dip inside. Amazing! We were taken to our seats where the views were amazing, since we overlooked the Bellagio hotel's fountains. Our waiter was actually from the south of France and had immigrated to the US only four years ago. His accent was to die for...I truly felt like I was in Paris. We ordered some succulent dishes that were no doubt 3,000 calories each. Before we left, our waiter brought over a complimentary dessert, chocolate ganache dusted with powdered sugar. I kid you not, it was the best dark chocolate I've ever tasted. I jokingly told the waiter, "This isn't Hershey's, is it?"

We left lunch and headed up to the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower and saw some great views of the whole city, including the gorgeous mountains that surround the desert terrain.

We made our way down the Strip since Brent had yet to see it...he had been stuck in meetings the whole time, all the while my feet were dying from the miles I'd walked. He took a ride on the roller coaster at New York, New York and we made our way over to MGM Grand and had fun watching the lions play in their habitat.

Later that evening, I had two wishes come true....

We dined at Wolfgang Puck's Bar & Grill and we had front-row seats at Cirque du Soleil's Ka!

First, the food. Ever since I saw Puck's "Chefography" on Food Network, I've been hooked. His vision and philosophy of cooking truly ignites me, and I just knew his food would be out of this world. Ladies and gentlemen, it did not disappoint in the least! It was hands down, the best food I've ever eaten. So savory, flavors bursting like fireworks in my mouth, unusual, yet delicious flavor pairings....this was edible art my friends! I have never tasted anything like it. I had the pan-seared scallops with capers, almonds, raisins, parsley, and a cream sauce. And I could've cared less that I was snapping pictures of our food....why the heck not?!

Brent ordered the salmon filet which was equally superb. We had to go out with a bang, eating at one of Puck's restaurants and all, so we opted for two separate desserts! Heaven!!! I ordered the chocolate souffle with vanilla gelato and cream sauce, while Brent had the brownie bar (much more gourmet than it sounds).

After spending much too much on dinner, but let's face it, it was worth every single penny, we walked across to Ka. The lobby itself was magical, resembling the hull of a ship, and the staff wore medieval/vagabond-looking costumes.

As we entered the theatre, huge balls of fire would explode from the stage area, instantly warming our faces. All around the stage area was scaffolding, which performers did acrobatic flips and soared overhead before the real show began.

For the first time in a very long time, I felt like a child. It's an exhilarating feeling to be in awe and wonderment...truly not an everyday feeling in the life of an adult! I cannot do justice in attempting to describe what we saw, but in summary, it's as if I were in a living dream. Our front-row seats paid off big time since we were only feet away from characters, watching their facial expressions up close and their choreographed movements. I had a blast, and didn't want the show to end. I have a new goal now, to see as many Cirque shows as I can!

Day 4: Brent and I rented a car and drove out to Boulder City where the Hoover Dam is. We decided to take the insiders' tour and it was very cool! Amazing to see what vision the architects and engineers had in building the dam. Lake Mead, the largest U.S. man made lake was also gorgeous and right by the dam. After several hours there, we headed west of Vegas to see Red Rock Canyon. Even though the desert has a stark beauty about it, it has such depth of texture and color.

Day 5: A journey back to reality...we made our way home leaving sunny low-70s to meet frosty high-20s! Quite the shock to the system.

We had a fabulous time, and if you'd like to hear more about a specific attraction, feel free to leave a comment!

Blessings to you on Thanksgiving!

2008-11-27T16:52:00.000-05:00

May you be reminded of all the good things that God has blessed you with; remembering that even during our bad times, that God is able to and will bring good out of it. He is the ultimate Giver; of life, love, and grace.

No matter what, praise Him for who He is, for He alone is worthy of our praise.

"The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ." 1 Corinthians 15:56-57

"Cuz I'm leavin' on a jet plane...."

2008-11-17T14:45:00.006-05:00

Tomorrow, Brent and I will be jetting off to....

Clue #1

Clue #2:

Clue #3:

Clue #4:

VIVA Las Vegas! We'll be there as part of a business trip, but I will definitely be taking advantage of some fun things there. I cannot tell you how much I'm looking forward to seeing Ka. Better yet, we have front-row seats! Yeah! I have lots written down to go check out, but don't want to post them all here quite yet. I figured pictures of our trip would be better :)

Have a great week...and pray I don't need to use my barf bag on the plane....