Michigan 2009

These are for you Mom. It has been way too long, but I finally got some pictures together from the trip to Michigan. We had a great time hanging out, laughing, taking a walk, and opening shower gifts. Jewelly and I want to give a huge thanks to you and to Ann for putting the shower together for us. Also a big thanks to Tara for making the cake and thanks to everyone else who came to spend the day with us and to shower us with baby gifts. We look forward to Kaiden's arrival. He should be here in a little under 8 weeks. Praise God from whom all blessings flow.

The craziness of life has slowed up for about a week so I had a little time to finally update the blog. Over Memorial weekend the family went up the the mountains for a great time of camping. It was beautiful. We sang around the campfire, cooked smores, relaxed, hiked around Lake Gregory, and just had a great time. The following are a few pics. Enjoy!

Living Life

That's what we've been doing...just living life. Last week we had the blessing of visiting with Brian's family in Michigan. It was great to be able to see everyone! Even his sister Kristy and her husband Greg came from South Carolina!

Mixed in with the visiting was a trip to our house out there...yeah, let's just say that was not so fun...We really need wisdom to know what to do with that place. To rent it we would have to put a bit of money into it and selling it in the market back there is not a possibility at the rate we would need to. That said, we're looking at our options, praying for wisdom, and seeking godly counsel. It is in the Lord's hands and He knows what is best for us.

On a lighter note, our precious little boy continues to grow and develop day by day. I can feel him moving off and on throughout the day and as a result can not help but smile! Just 100 more days (or so) until we meet him! What a blessing and a joy this pregnancy has been so far! :-)

Life is busy, but sweet. Brian is in the home stretch of the school year, both in teaching at WCHS and in his classes at Biola. He has a weekend class starting tonight and going through Saturday and then just a few more meetings of his semester long class. He is completely swamped with reading and paper writing! While he is focused on all of this work, I am trying to keep myself busy preparing for the baby and my friend Kim's wedding.

We have a ton of pictures to share, just need to take the time to put them on the computer...I'll try to post something this weekend.

It's a....

Our little adventurer continues to grow big and strong. We found out little guy's gender on March 17th - so glad our little leprechaun didn't avoid the ultrasound tech's skilled hand. Growing up with three brothers, I always said I was going to have all boys! Brian and I are thrilled to be venturing into the world of toy trucks, Lego sets, dinosaurs, and every kind of ball (or puck) you can think of!

The Pregnant Girl's Dilema

I think I saw this comic on a friend's blog when she was pregnant and today I got it in one of the pregnancy emails that come each week. So true!!!

Hello, Hello

Well hello there friend! It's been some time since the last update, so I thought I would stop in to say "Hi". I am 18 weeks pregnant today. Can you believe it!?!? Time moves right on by. In some ways everything is going so quickly, but in others we can't get to August fast enough. I continue to have a delightfully easy pregnancy - thank you Lord! It is evident our little one is growing as my belly continues to do so as well. I'm starting to out grow work clothes, so it's time to go shopping. Bummer is I can't seem to find good in between pants. They're either to casual with draw-strings or made for a much bigger belly. Any suggestions of good affordable places to shop for cute transitional work clothes would be much appreciated! :-)

At our last appointment we got to hear the baby's heart beat for the second time. The first time our little one was a little shy, but not so much this time. Along with the heart beat we got to hear the baby kick the doppler scope and move around a bit. What a wonderful, amazing, beautiful thing to hear life inside myself! Today I am almost positive I'm feeling little flutters and kicks. Someone is going to be very active from the get go. Go figure, it's my baby! ;-P The baby's heart rate was 165 at the first appointment and 150 at this appointment - both quite fast. Brian said he can already sense the baby taking after me. Go, go, go!

One thing I would like to see moving along is our plan for the future, but that doesn't seem to be God's plan. We know what we want for our family and we're looking for ways to make it happen. Being a planner by nature I would like to know NOW of course - but being a follower of the Lord requires that I wait patiently on Him and His time. Just as I have at other points in life I cling to Jeremiah 29:11 - "'For I know the plans I have for you,' declares the Lord, 'plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.'" As I think about it, this verse reminds me of the many times in the nation of Israel's history that the Lord said, "Wait. I have a plan, but you have to wait. I know what's best for you and I will bring it about at the proper time." It's comforting to know what a great God I serve, who is always working on my heart, bringing about what He knows is best for me. And so, I will wait, and trust, and prepare for this little one as best I can where He has me now - knowing that wherever He has us in the future it will be just right!

15 Weeks!!!

We've been meaning to put pregnancy pics up for a few weeks now, but just haven't gotten around to it (and there hasn't been much that's exciting to see). :-) I'm starting to get a little belly, but it mostly shows up in the evening. Our little one is growing, growing, growing, as is our excitement.