Wednesday, August 29, 2012

But What I Do Have

I was just telling my sister how much Mike and I love to help people out financially. We love giving money to help people out, because we know what it is like to be helped out in that way, and it feels so good. This isn't to sound all great, but some people love making dinners for people, or babysitting for free, or any other type of service. But we really love being able to get people out of a little financial stress. Well, that has not been super easy for us since the race. A few Sundays ago I was asking God why we just can't have the means to serve in that way right now. And of course, a few minutes later, the pastor shares the story about when Peter and John came across a crippled man who was begging for money, and this is what they said.  

But Peter said, “I have no silver and gold, but what I do have I give to you. In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk!”     Aha. and the man was healed!

Well heck! I mean. I will always have the power of Jesus in me to give to others! Pretty great to remember that! Love My God!

Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Proof

Here is proof, we just got back from out of town a few days ago, I have been starting my new job which has been longer days due to orientations, my brother in-law is in the hospital and my sister is home from LA. And the funny thing is, this doesn't even bother me one bit.

What does bother me just a tad, is how much change this is for me to even just add a few hours of work in, even when Mike is home with Matthew. It is totally not bad, but Mike and I basically gave high fives and a quick kiss the second he got home from work as I got in my car to leave for work. We NEVER go a day without seeing each other hardly at all. I got home late tonight and I just had to hug my husband forever. I just missed him so much. It is an interesting transition being back and work and feeling super motivated with my career again. I don't want to work much at all, but I feel very much like before I had a family since it was the job I had right of college. I want to challenge myself and become much better at what I do, and in the process I feel like I am living split lives. I know this must be normal after being home with Matthew ALL the time to even going working a few afternoons, but it sure is strange. I haven't quite figured out yet how to not box it all and still realize I am living one life and not two. As my husband pouts off to bed because I can't come with him because I need to review some stuff for a health care class I have to take tomorrow, I'm feeling a bit split. It is good, just not used to it yet. I love my job a lot a lot a lot, but I love my family way much more and I have to realize its OK to love both at the same time. But Im still thankful to be a stay at home mommy for a huge part of the time and that is what I hope to be for a long time!

Happy Notes

Eric is getting better!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I had the perfect morning with Matthew and my two nephews.

Matthew and Zechariah can play outside by themselves (with a fence) together, happy, for a few hours now. I didn't know it could get this easy.

My bump is a real bump now. I look like I did when I was about 7 or 8 months pregnant with Matthew here at only 21 weeks. And pants that fit me all through my time with Matthew in my belly, are out the window now.  But that is totally great, because this little guy in here is moving all around, and Im starting to get elbows and knees pushing out. Its the happy time of pregnancy where I can feel him with my hand. And hopefully the fact that some pants won't get over my hips means my hips are getting WIDE. Get as WIDE as you want hips, whatever it takes to get this baby out smooth. Boy does perspective change.

Work is going great. Even though Mike had to use all his time off so I can do mandatory hospital orientations. Hmmm. Hopefully he will accumulate enough just in time to take a week off with the baby. And since Matthew is in TOTAL daddy world right now, he hardly even notices the few hours I am gone here and there.

I got to share my story of my time in the Red Light District in Thailand at a safe house for trafficked girls in Toledo this weekend. I have to say, walking into a safe house that is going to house girls that go through everything they do, is overwhelming to say the least. They have a healing oasis there, that's for sure.

My son is rocking my world right now. I guess he always has, but boy oh boy is he my little love. I am loving seeing him grow into a very sweet and affectionate boy to us, family, and his little friends.Oh and his stuffed animals. The stuffed animals in our house receive tons of love and affection.


Monday, August 27, 2012

Strength

I think everyone in my family is trying to find strength just about now.  My brother-in-law has an infection creeping up his leg with nothing stopping it. And while my sister is trying to stick with him as much as possible at the hospital because he is off and on alert because of meds, their three very little children are just wanting their parents so terribly. She runs back and forth to see them and nurse her baby, exhausted. And while Mike and I can't be there every second or do over nights because we work and have a kid, my AMAZING family is taking over. My parents came up for a few days, and my little sister is flying home from LA to stay with the kids so they can have someone consistent with them. I love them. So great knowing my family would do anything, like spending all that money to come all that way to watch her niece and nephews that she would do anything for. But we are all a bit just trying to keep it together I think. In the midst of it all we find strength to claim Victory over Eric's leg. Cuz it just has to get better.

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Matthew

Wow, that little boy of ours has really stolen our hearts lately. I mean, we have loved him from the beginning, but he has been pulling some smooth moves on us lately. =)

A Secret Longing

There is a secret longing going on in some ladies hearts now a days. I see it on blogs and when I talk to my friends. We become moms, stay at home, and try to learn how to cook. Then we start to own our new life and love it. And we kinda want to have gardens, and bake our own bread, line dry clothes, and have the home that all the neighbor kids run to because it is safe and loving and smells good- so we want to cook lots of pasta for them and have sleepovers with monkey bread for breakfast.

So all that added up, we (or I will only speak for myself) just kinda want to have dresses like these.
I know it all sounds so outdated, but I am just speaking truth!



Wednesday, August 22, 2012

Organizing Tips

Being new to this whole family thing and only 4 years new to living on our own. I have two organizing tips that have stayed true true true.

How to keep your house organized: Don't buy lots of stuff. Get rid of stuff. In place of stuff. Spend time together and talk.

How to keep finances and bills organized: Only buy things you have the cash for. I'm telling you, way short list of monthly bills to juggle and then you know the stuff you have is actually yours- who wants false wealth anyways? Plus, we can ALL wait to save for the newest toy. We really can do it.  there are circumstances that can make it hard to not take out a loan, but trust me, we are hoping that saving up for new furniture or a new car will save us lots of complaining in the end, and make our stack of bills less scattered around the house. Plus it helps us keep our house organized, because we buy less stuff. hehe. =)


Still learning big time, but we are sticking to this stuff, and thankful we are learning it so young. Hope our thriftiness pays off in the end. Plus, we love our free floral couch form Mikes aunt. Its amazing. And we are not being sarcastic. =)

Sunday, August 19, 2012

To Be

You know. I'll be darned. The woman that God wants me to be is WAY better than the woman I had in mind for myself. I have been letting God do the work inside of me instead of me trying to polish myself up. Since my identity has been so much more secure as his daughter I feel so free and I am starting to have such a clear picture of who I am becoming and why and for what reason. It is amazing and wonderful and so much better than spending hours trying to figure it out on my own. The World Race changed me and gave me firm lessons I will follow the rest of my life and  so did other previous events. But Ive been surprised. This whole caring for a household thing and not just skipping around the world when I want has done something that God knew would do to me that I didn't have any clue. Who knew that folding laundry, doing dishes, reading children's books, sweeping the floor all day, and wiping poop would actually teach me servant hood more than anything I have ever done. To some I am not radical, spontaneous, or adventurous anymore. To some my life is boring and not noble. My old self would say that. But for some reason I don't care if my life looks "cool" or not. This year has changed me to really understand more of what commitment and serving really means. We have been forced to become good stewards, better friends and family members, and to see what it might really mean to plug into one place for a few years, and make a stable home for people to take refuge in. It is good. I don't know everything, and I want more wisdom. But I see more clear now. I am changing. And I like it better than who I was trying to make myself look before. This is good and I am thankful.

Oh. And these verses have been my prayer this whole year. That I can be that prudent and wise wife; for the sake of my family and others.

Proverbs 19:14,“House and wealth are an inheritance from fathers, but a prudent wife is from the Lord.” 

James 1:5   If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given him.

Saturday, August 18, 2012

Brothers

So we just found out that we are having a BOY! WOOOHOOO! There are going to be brothers in our home. I was equally ready for either, but now that I know, I am fully in.  My heart is busting out like crazy to meet this next little boy. I sure LOVE being surprised about the gender before the birth. It has been SO much fun knowing for part of my pregnancy. Seriously, I am pretty proud of all those who wait, but this is crazy fun to us and extremely exciting. Knowing, makes it feel like Christmas every day, but better. I am smitten with his ultrasound picture. He is so cute and perfect for us. I kinda felt all along that this was God's plan for us. I only ever had dreams while I am sleeping about having boys. I don't know if that means anything, but it is what it is. And I am just saying, I am happy God is giving boys to a dad like Michael. Boys need dads like him to grow up secure knowing they are loved . Mike is strong and very affectionate. I'm serious God, you can fill this house with boys. I'm thankful neither of us was hoping for a certain gender. It made finding out way less stressful. We don't need a boy AND a girl to feel complete in our family. My parents had four girls and as my dad would say, "I never wish I had a son. God knew that I would be a good dad for four daughters." I love that so much. I feel so thankful God's plan for us is what is happening. Its an overwhelming amount of joy - I kinda can't sleep great because it is all I think about. =) =)

Speaking of boys. My husband is my #1 guy in this house but my little Matthew is just making my heart explode with love all the time. He could be mid tantrum or I could be teaching him a little lesson, and he still makes me think he is the cutest thing in the world. I don't know how he does it. He is pretty sly like that. I'm telling you, the kid is good. And now I am going to have two little boy brothers just driving me crazy in love. Can't wait.

Thursday, August 16, 2012

Just Enjoying It

So lately there have been such great things going on. changes. and still some decisions and changes we are thinking about making. but even when it is good, it can seem like a lot at once. so tonight i had to go sit outside in the windy evening and talk to God.

ME: So Michael, I just sat outside and talked to God and told him about all the things on my mind that we have to do and are happening. Cuz it feels like a lot.

MICHAEL: And what did God say?

ME: "I got it girl."


AH. He's got it. Time to relax and enjoy the ride eh?

Also we know the gender and I have been giddy all day, I could hardly sleep I am so excited. BUT, we will post when a few more family hear from us. EEEEEE! It feels like Christmas but better!

Tuesday, August 14, 2012

NY and a Boy or Girl?

Well. It has been a full few weeks. Exciting. I just visited a friend in NY. Much needed. Kinda cool to be back where I grew up.

Also we find out tomorrow if we are having a boy or girl. and NO, I do not care one bit what we are having. I just want the baby that is inside of me. They can be whatever they are made to be and I will be SO HAPPY either way. boy or girl. I'm all for either one. I cannot wait!

And mike felt the baby kick for the first time yesterday. We both felt it at the same time. It was so amazing.

I know I kinda lack on my blogging. It has just been a very full summer of friends and family and a desire for blogging is lacking, which has been pretty nice. I should catch myself up on everything soon with this, since it is nice to document life and read back on things.

Well, I better get sleep for our big day tomorrow. My belly picture will come soon too. oh have i popped.

Wednesday, August 8, 2012

The Games

Did anyone else get super emotional at the end of that crazy USA vs. Canada soccer game? Go USA girls. I truly had tears. Cannot wait for the final game tomorrow.