Two Weeks Later

Ok, so almost two weeks after my last post...

~ We have our stuff now! Praise the Lord for the abilty to actually LIVE life now!
~ My family has come and gone. We had great days - relaxing ones, touristy ones, busy ones.
~ We have finally learned that yes indeed we have insurance though we have no ID cards yet.
~ I have felt the baby kick from the outside...Matt is still waiting for his second time.
~ We have had our first non-family guests over for a Sunday lunch.
~ I've begun having creative thoughts about food combinations. Good ones though. Like garlic mashed potatoes with a little lemon juice (both Momma and I think it is delish! We tried it at Outback), strawberry peach pie, and this morning's first thought was to make mini-pumpkin pies using my mini-muffin pan.

Our apt. is almost completely normal now. We shoved the few upacked boxes into the nursery so we only have to look at them when we want to. Once we get a few items hung on the walls and things finalized, I'll take pics. Today is my first "official" prenatal check-up (as well as the mid-point check-up). Maybe my next post will be another ultrasound picture and I can tell you the baby's name! Pray they'll do the ultrasound and that Baby will not be shy!

Also, say a little pray for my congested, pressurized, itchy-eyed, sneezing head. It's miserable.

Lazy but Exciting Day

You'd think I'd post every day since I check blogs every day. :-P Here's an update...

~Matt and I both have developed a cough, mine accompanied by slight asthma. I think Matt's is more superficial than mine and at least it's ok for HIM to sound like a man. I'm tired of the rattling chest, junked up throat, slight difficulty breathing, and hoarse man voice. But an inhaler will arrive on my doorstep today. Pray it helps! I deserately don't want it to develop into bronchitis or anything. We're thinking maybe some of the smoke from the Cali fires has blown up and triggered it all.

~How is the inhaler arriving you ask? MY FAMILY! My dad has a conference to go to in Monterey next week, so my parents and Hope are flying in a few days early and leaving the 22nd (a few days after the conference). I'm so excited for them to see where we are living, even without all our stuff. They'll be staying in a hotel here in Salinas until they go to their hotel in Monterey (Sat I think). They should be able to stay with us in the days after conference because...

~Got a call from the moving guy yesterday. He said he thinks he'll be here next Tuesday. At least we were contacted and have an estimate. And it will be nice to have my mom and sister here if the mover arrives while Matt is gone. I've got a feeling my mom will know where I would want stuff so I don't have to be the only one in charge. :-)

~I'm so excited that Aut and Andy's house sold and that their move is beginning now! She got to watch me go through it, so now it's fun to be on the other side...and I guess to be relieved I had no kids outside of me. Whew! That's got to be SOME adventure moving with three little ones! But I see this as a great change for them, and a turn down a fresh path of life!

~ A couple pictures of the color present in our apartment now. It looks good, but will look AWESOME once the rest of our furniture is here. Peach/Tangerine is living room. Yellow is obviously bedroom. The yellow is much deeper in person, and brings out the embroidery in our bedspread. Don't worry. I didn't pick yellow randomly. It'll look beautiful if I could ever find fake palm fronds to attach to the wall as a headboard to really bring out the theme of Tropical Romance.















~And my MOST EXCITING news for today is what happened this morning. Matt pressed snooze a few more times than usual, but we were both awake. The baby started kicking a little, and Matt put his hand there as I was telling him the baby would stop if he did...because it always does. But, a few seconds later, the baby gave the biggest kick of all so far and Matt felt it!!! We were both joyed to pieces! I think it might have made his morning. I hope he feels more a part of this pregnancy now, and I pray that there will be more frequent times now that he'll get "in touch" with our baby. Goodness, I haven't even gotten to feel a kick with my hand yet. Good baby! Do it again soon!

A Glimpse in My Journal

I've begun a study in Ecclesiastes using Matt's study Bible. It is the first time I've used a study Bible in my devotions, and it is what I've been looking for in my walk! Ecclesiastes is a wonderful book...and I'm only halfway through chapter 2. Here are my thoughts that I wanted to share with you all because they hold rebuke and encouragment for ALL of us...

Thoughts about the book as a whole:

1) Avoid walking through life on human wisdom alone. Rahter, live by the revealed wisdom of God.
2) Vanity is the futile attempt to be satisfied apart from God.
3) The "Abundant Life" is obatined by seeing and accepting each day and ALL it contains as a gift from God.
4) The primary issues of life are to enjoy divine blessing and prepare yourself for the divine judgment.

Today's Thought:

2:11 "Then I looked on all the works that my hands had done and on the labor in which I had toiled: and indeed all was vanity and grasping for the wind. There was no profit under the sun."

To expend God-given resources for human accomplishment alone is empty. This INCLUDES time and energy. If you only have enough time and energy to either clean the bathroom or spend time with the Lord, which would be more profitable for eternity? Do what is MOST profitable FIRST, then the Lord will show you time to do the rest.

So simple. So clear. And yet I still struggle with consistency?

Settling In

Well, today was the first day that I actually FELT like doing something around the apartment. I don't know if it was laziness, true pregnancy tiredness, or what last week, but I just was not myself as far as desiring to keep up with home tasks. I personally think alot of it has to do with not having our stuff which makes it feel like we're only here temporarily. Make sense? But, with our stuff on its way and the bit-o-painting we are working on, I feel a little renewed resolve to keep up with what I usually do.

Here are some pictures to show you all the "adventure" we're in right now. Such memories for years to come...and ones we can tell our little one. But we can't say we walked uphill in the snow. This is California, and though it is chilly, there will be no snow.


This was our "living room" before the new computer desk arrived. Now you see why I am much more comfortable at the desk!

I think I may be getting spoiled having our bed in here. It would be so grand and romantic to have a gas fireplace in your bedroom.






This is our living room now...post computer desk and borrowing a TV from some FRIENDS. Skip caught the part of that sentence I wanted him to the other night when he called. We have friends already! We met them through church. Moses and Kim are a couple a little older than us (32, 25) but in the same stage of life (minus baby-on-the-way). They are proving to be a lot of fun and kindred spirits. When Kim gets back from her Nebraska, the four of us are going to get together. Apparently Moses is quite the cook, and I'll be making dessert.


Our lovely BIG kitchen, compared to our Jackson kitchen. We just painted the shelves and drawer bottoms yesterday. Shelf paper...it doesn't work no matter how many times you try or how you prep the wood. So I picked a paint color called Muted Gold and it looks wonderful. I'll have to get used to the texture though. My fingertips have such issues with certain surfaces--the weirdest one being printer paper. ::shiver:: I'm still getting used to tile/grout counters. I hope the grout doesn't stain over time. And I still adore the "stone tile" laminate.



This is Matt putting together our computer desk. Yes, I did help, but he's the man. I'm really hoping that our dining room won't look aweful with the corner desk AND our dining table/chairs in there, but the baby's gotta have a room and Matt needs a space to study where he won't disturb the wee one.

This is the baby's room...so far. Fun Noah's Ark will be the theme. :-) And next to it is the master bedroom...so far. We are going to be painting it a muted golden yellow over the next couple days. Fresh Morrocan will be the theme.

And finally, this is our lovely dresser right now. My clothes, Matt's clothes, and our laundry basket. There are some clothes hanging in the closet...can't have a wrinkle clad grad student, now can we!

That's it for now! I hope you enjoyed the tour! We will DEFINITELY post pictures when all is said and done...and delivered to our apt.

Some little girl is meowing ferociously outside. Hope the kitty is ok...good grief. But I welcome the sound of wind blowing and children playing. Very soothing to me!

And the baby must have just woken up...it's kicking around a little. :-D

Why Everyone Needs A Mom Like Mine

K ind to stranger and friend alike.
A ble-bodied to do hard tasks. Plow Girls my dad calls us.
T eachable, and more-so the older she gets.
H ard to keep secrets from, a sign of a true friend.
E xcellent at gaining whatever information is needed
R enders to others both needs and wants, regardless of time or money.
I nsatiable appetite for time with her children and lets us know it.
N ews gatherer so all can stay up with what's going on.
E early riser to spend time with the Lord and my dad.

M oney is no object when it comes to blessing others.
A rtsy and creative in all things craft and decor.
R ighteousness is ever becoming the desire of her heart.
I nterested in learning about what others are interested in.
E ntertained by what is properly entertaining.

F lexible each and every day to whatever comes along.
I mitates those who are spiritually worthy of imitation.
T eaches others what she has learned--and educates my little sister.
Z ealous in praying for family, friends, and strangers.
R eads then recommends GREAT books.
A nticipates what God is going to do through her children and grandchildren.
N otices when someone needs a pick-me-up and gives it--flowers especially.
D oes not hold back emotion when it is time to show it.
O pens her home and heart to any who need them.
L aughs alot--and spreads it.
P refers to relax over being a busy-body.
H opes for our Lord's return.

If I had to choose just ONE thing that I have learned from my mother, it would be generosity. I never paid attention to it as a child because I didn't care about characters of the heart. But the older I got, the more I saw how much time, money, and self she gave to my sisters and I...and now that I am even older, I see how much she gives to those outside our family. She puts aside whatever she is doing to listen and give advice the moment it is needed. She has no outward qualms about spending money to fulfill a need or even a want. I don't know how many times she has sent me flowers, but it NEVER gets old. Ever. She has the perfect kind of generosity that anticipates the need before it is voiced and then does what she can to meet it. And time and time again, I think about how THAT is what I wish to be known for and I pray God gives me the means to do it as well as my mom does.

Happy 43rd Year, Momma. I love you!

Praise the Lord for Creation and Situation!

In the midst of a combination of situations that can make us feel at a loss, God has still proven faithful!

We got a call yesterday from the Memphis office, and the movers will be packing up and moving out our stuff...on FRIDAY. The last day of the month. This is saving us from having to pay another full month's rent to Cherry Grove for an empty apartment. The manager however is wanting us to pay for three days double rent SIMPLY because the walk-through may not be able to happen until Monday. Empty apartment on Friday. Empty on Saturday. Empty on Sunday. Walk-through on Monday because of their rule of no walk-throughs on weekends (don't know where that's stated). And we pay over $100 for those three empty, unoccupied days. We'll see about that. I just gotta keep calm on the phone while protesting.

AND we got our computer desk delivered yesterday instead of Thursday. No more sitting at three stacked boxes trying to juggle keyboard and mouse...and figure out where to put your legs. So we're up to three pieces of furniture now. Air matress, computer chair, and computer desk! Movin' on up!

Please pray that we will be able to figure out the health insurance election TODAY. I've spent hours (with my wonderful mom) the past two days researching, calling, being frustrated, and trying to find answers. And it's starting to give me an instant tension headache every time I think about it. We know which company we should use (thanks to my dad's final advice), but there are two issues that must be answered. At least now I know what the issues are exactly and who I should call to ATTEMPT to find answers. I pray it works out today.

And now for Cross-Country Trek pictures... PLEASE CLICK on some of them at least so you can see a bigger picture and get more detail of the Grand Canyon.


This was my FIRST view of one of the most awesome places in God's creation. No movie, no IMAX presentation, no person, no photograph can EVER truly prepare you for how vast and deep the Grand Canyon is. I just stood there wondering for a while if it was really REAL. How can something that HUGE possibly exist...aside from a God who is bigger! I describe how big it is by saying if you are standing on a beach looking out at the ocean, THAT is how big the Canyon is. And yet you still know that there is more beyond what you can see. Add the mile depth, and it's even more "grand." Simply astonishing.

Our first "First Real Vacation" picture. More than 3 or 4 hours outside Jackson. Not because we had to. Not to see family. An honest-to-goodness sight-seeing vacation. It was so much fun! Just me and my husband. A vacation with a boy! Alone! Very cool. This was Matt's fourth time to see the Grand Canyon, my first. And now I am the only one in my family who has seen it...even though all of them have lived or still live in Arizona. You all MUST get up to see it! For Thea: The lady who took this picture was from England. When she handed the camera back she said, "Have a good holiday!" in a cute British accent. Made me think of you!

And now for what God blessed us with to impress us even more with His creative abilities...

Days Later...

Welllll....we are here in Salinas now! We got here on Wednesday around 12:30 pm, with move-in at 2:00. We walk into the leasing office to find Christy (a very nice, fun lady and very helpful) suprised to see us. We asked if we could still move-in even though we were early. She said, "Well, if you were a couple hours early it wouldn't be a problem. But you are two days early." WHAT? we were thinking. Turns out, everywhere in our paperwork she had written the 21st at 2:00 which was Wednesday, but human error had her write the 24th (Saturday) on her calendar. So she knocked off a couple days of our rent payment and we have stayed in a hotel the past two nights, set to move in today at 11:00 am. Horrible you think? Nah. Not really. The reason the apartment wasn't ready is because they installed all new vinyl and carpeting over the past two days and are scouring it this morning. Two days is SO worth it to have two years of really nice floors. I'm totally gonna post a picture of the vinyl when I get a chance...you'd think it was stone. You'd swear it was stone, feel it with your bare foot, and wonder why there wasn't a pronounced grout line. The old vinyl would have been just your typical white tile look. God is good and we are willing to wait for what is better!

In the meantime, Matt has started his check-in/registration process with NPS (the graduate school). Hopefully things will move very quickly since classes start on Monday. He has all of his books save one, which he is getting this morning while doing a few more things at NPS. Priority right now is paperwork so we can get paid and not let our insurance drop. Please pray that everything will turn over quickly. Our insurance from Union drops Sept. 30th which is not very long from now. And I really should get to an ob/gyn for my first check-up which will end up also being my half-way check-up. :-P

Just found out my friend who lives an hour from here is having a boy. That just makes me giddy all over! So does the weather here...if anyone comes to visit, pack warmish clothes!!! You'd be chilly in shorts. I was even chilly in cords and a 3/4 sleeve shirt and undershirt yesterday. Salinas is a little warmer than Monterey (25 miles to the coast), but there is always a cool breeze. ::evil grin when thinking about the hot humidity we escaped::

Ok, I need to get moving and pack up our hotel room. We basically moved in...house plant, desktop computer, nonperishable food items, and the clothes we packed. So I need to get it all ready to go save the computer so we can pack the car quickly when Matt gets back from NPS and then move-in to our new home! It's still very weird for both of us to think that we are residents of California now...until Sept. 2007 when he graduates. And that we'll have a 1 1/2 year old by the time we move to Maryland.......................

3...2....Drive!

Day after tomorrow is when we start our 5 day/4 night cross-country trek. I'm soooo happy to have Matt at home today and tomorrow. It's fun to have someone to pack with. Today we're working on getting our "essentials" boxes packed up...since our stuff will follow us later (when? who knows?). We do have an official address out there now, but Matt is currently at Union having it faxed to him. Our move in date there will be next Wednesday, the 21st. Us and our essentials. While we will still have an apt full of furniture and other items several states away!

Matt and I are going to see Dr. Keith tomorrow morning at 9:00 so he can listen to heart tones of the baby and make sure everything is still running smoothly. I still feel great with minor compaints about not sleeping very well and still eating every 2 hours. Though I don't have to eat as much as I did at first. I also cramp when I have to go potty. :-P

Anyway, I'm gonna keep on gathering essentials to pack. I hope you all enjoy your day! I'm enjoying the heavy rain/sunshine combination today. I'm "soaking" it up since we won't get rain like this for a long time...

Made It Through the Night

So marks my very FIRST time to be alone at night since July 2, 2004. Sure, Matt and I have been away from each other three times since we've been married; but I had a companion every time. Rachel for Josh Groban's concert. Thea for Matt's first Baltimore trip. And 7 crazy fun girls in Guatemala. But last night it was just me and Matt's old teddy bear in our huge bed. I didn't cry like I thought I might. Probably too tired! :-P I did wake up quite a bit though. The first time I did the whole turn over and think "Where is....oh yeah." But, it wasn't NEAR as bad as I expected, which I am grateful for. Part of me wants to think it was 1% nice to not have a pillow shifted by his arm or a knee in my shin. :-P But I guess either I wake up because his physical presence is made known or because my spirit knows he's not there with me. It's a lose-lose when you're married I guess. :-)

Anyway, today is a full day! Which is why this post should probably be made later so I can go shower. My last day with the quilters. Hopefully I will get a whole lot of Judana's (Judah, Elaina combined until we know) quilt done. Then they are all taking me to Olive Garden. Such sweet ladies! My digital camera WILL be going with me!

Then I'm gonna check the mail after praying hard that our new car's registration and renewal sticker will come in the mail today. It was sent last Thursday. Our temp tag expires today. So if the registration does not come today, I can not drive to Little Rock as planned. Not worth the risk of being caught in a vehicle who's license plate does not match the car it's on. :-{ But, if it doesn't come, I will take that as direction from the Lord that I am not supposed to leave Jackson while Matt is gone.

If it does come, I call Paul and have him put the plate on the car. Pack. And take a 3 hour drive by myself. Again, I think this would be a first to drive that long without someone else. My first thought when the opportunity was presented was, "Ooo, maybe Tracie can ask off work and take a road trip with me." But, then I came back to reality. :-P

AnyVay. I need to go shower now. But to leave the post on a mysterious note... I think I MAY have felt the baby for the first time yesterday. Still have to talk to Autumn about it and see what she thinks. Might have felt it this morning too. Very much a "Was that a muscle twitch down there or a baby kick??"

So Dizzy with Adventure...I just want to veg!

Our questions about timing, forms, etc. are being answered. But there are still several unknowns about the actual time of the move. But we have figured out a Plan B if we have to leave before the movers can come get our stuff...it involves Paul and Tracie, but they don't know yet. ;-)

There's also been a change in the plans for Dr. Keith (ob/gyn friend) to listen to heart tones before we leave. Silly Matt and I. (ooo, banana pudding sounds delish!) We just figured out yesterday that it would be CHEAPER if I actually had my official first preggie appointment while still here under our current insurance. With all the MRI's I've had, we have waaaaay passed paying my deductable which means anything I have done will be at 80%. If we waited for me to find an OB out in Cali, we'd be on new insurance and have to pay the deductable before the percentage kick-in. ::rolls eyes:: And we just now figured this out. Hopefully Dr. Keith will be able to fit me in either tomorrow morning, next Wed afternoon, or next Thursday when Matt is available to go with me. Though, if a pelvic exam is involved...I will NOT be seeing Keith! :-P

Just found out that Crystal, an awesome girl our age who is in our cell group, won the finals at the West Tennessee Shoutfest (Christian concert with multiple groups such as Skillet and others). She is now one of 20, 19 other people will win at 19 other Shoutfests, who get to send a personal cd with other information to Fervent Records. Five finalists will be chosen of the 20, and one will ultimately win a recording contract. While Crystal was different from the others who are mostly Christian rock style, it was said of her that of all the contestants she is most appealing to Word, the over-company of Fervent, because she can do more than one style. Word has a huge black Gospel area as well as a praise & worship area, and Crystal was MADE for both. Pray for her! She is done competing and it is up to the judges and her cd. This would be such an answer to prayer, and already has been. We prayed at the beginning of the summer that God would send Crystal an opportunity to use the talent He has given her...and here she is in the midst of it. And our cell group is her "posse," as we keep calling ourselves. Crystal Taylor. Watch for her name!

Anyway, I'm gonna keep ironing and going about some things I wanted to do this afternoon. Won't get everything done I want to because it is too much. And I still just wanna sit and finish a book I've been reading. But...discipline. ::sigh with a half-smile::

No More Hobby Room

Our Hobby Room has now been dubbed the Moving Room. It's becoming full of boxes that are packed and other items waiting to be packed. Sort of difficult for someone who has clutter nervosa, but I have come to accept it and am already excited about UNPACKING it all and getting another chance to decorate my own home. The ideas are running rampant! And Autumn, I'm actually going to start using ALL my candles instead of hording them. If I burn the cool and pretty ones, that just means I'll get to replace them with different cool and pretty ones!

Next week....ACK! But I'm more excited then overwhelmed. Stuff = Stress. Us? Yeah, we don't have alot of stuff. Praise the Lord!

On another note, here are some pictures of the last quilt I am working on with my Quilters. I will miss them so much! There is nothing like spending time with ladies aged 50 to 88, most on the upper end of the age scale. They are JUST as good of friends as those my own age, if not more fun! They have been such a blessing as they shared their WWII cadet nurse stories, what aches and pains they have and the "remedies" for them, touching stories of how they have lost those dear to them, what is on the latest TV shows (the ones I don't even watch!), and so much more. I'll miss Natalie's home baked wheat bread with peanut butter and jelly. She is so faithful to feed us, and now sees it as imperitive she arrive with food so my baby can eat, too! "I knew I had to bring something or Dawn would get onto me and starve!" I have gained priceless quilting and sewing skill and talent while working with them. Though I've never seen the children that recieve the quilts we make, I know that what our hands do are keeping orphans warm on the inside and out!

This quilt is the one I got to choose fabrics for and make to keep...both to remember the quilters and for mine and Matt's baby. We've decided it will be the theme for the nursery both spiritually and visually.

In the Rapids Now...

...and having a blast!

We got word on Tuesday that Matt has indeed passed his final security clearance. His recruiter has given the letter to NPS (the graduate school) and is now working on the fine details of orientation logistics and getting letters where they need to go. Hopefully we'll be able to get our apartment within the next few days. Pray NPS will work smoothly with Matt and the recruiter and accept him quickly!

I got an e-mail back from a pastor I contacted in Monterey. Their church came highly recommended by a man Matt worked with at Master's. So far, everything looks good! I just pray they are as much like Placerita (the church we attended our senior year) as I think they might be.

Matt's last day at Union is next Frid....oh my gosh. ::stunned:: Nothing like having a BIG realization while posting to a blog. We have next week to pack. The next week is when we leave Jackson. Exactly 2 weeks from tomorrow. ::shock:: So much still has to happen and there is so little precious time. With a deep breath, I remind myself of my previous post. Rapids go fast. But everything works out in the end with the Guide.

Two weeks. Pray for us.

It's Rafting Time

Time is a valuable thing. We all know it. We all live by it. We all verge on considering it a god. For goodness sake, we even strap it to our wrists.

But I want God's time to be my time. He always has a way of making time seem to slow down so that life is manageable, and I am clear headed about what all must be done. It's time for me to put myself back on His time, not my own and not others.

Our trip to California was fruitful. We did find a God-send of an apartment, perfect for our needs and in a perfect location considering all that is within walking distance (a blessing when you only have one car). I am praying that one of the two upstairs apts will remain open long enough for us to grab it up once we get final word on things. Which is where time comes in.

Matt's recruiter is returning to her office tomorrow after two weeks vacation. We know the investigation finished up while we were all gone from our locations due to a couple phone calls that took place. Once the recruiter gets final word that Matt passed all his clearances, she will give us final word. THEN Matt can officially apply to the school, she can send the letter of support to the school, they can accept him, he can go to Baltimore for DoD orientation, we can snatch up the apartment, pack, and move. And according to our tentative desired moving date, we have exactly two weeks for all of that to happen. I've seen many bug-eyed responses to that time frame, including myself.

But if we rely on the Lord to keep us clear-headed and wise in our decisions and the timing of events, it won't be bad at all. Fast yes, but adventure fast. Not hurling-us-forward-and-leaving-our-brains-behind fast. Funny how when we are closer to Him, we feel more fancy free about what life holds. I believe that is called "peace."

While white-water rafting is fun, it is fast and furious. It holds great potential to cause fear. And if you don't have a Guide, you give in to that fear and are lost at how to navigate the rapids. You might paddle the wrong way and tip over. You might get stuck sideways on a rock. You might give up and row to the bank before you even try, missing the opportunity. With a Guide, your adrenaline pumps hard as the butterflies in your stomach tell you that this will be exhilerating and fun. You know He will tell you everything you need to do. You anticipate the victory and know it will come! ...and that it will all settle down quickly into a peaceful stretch. Your Guide will say with a twinkle in His eye, "Good job! Now relax and enjoy, because an even bigger rapid is next!" And He'll be there for that big one, too.

Three Things

I follow suit of sister and mother.

Three things you like about yourself:
- my eyes
- my photogenic qualities
- my love of the adventure called life

Three physical things you don't like about yourself:
- my pregnancy acne
- my thighs
- my un-toned arms

Three things that scare you:
- losing Matt
- spiders
- being harmed by a stranger in any way

Three of your everyday essentials:
- sleep
- Bible and prayer (if only I was more consistant)
- food

Three things you are wearing now:
- jewelry
- blue fitted maternity shirt
- denim maternity shorts

Three of your favorite bands or musical artists:
- Josh Groban
- Chris Rice
- Michael W. Smith

Three things you want in a relationship:
- love
- supreme trust and loyalty
- open communication

Two truths and a lie: (in any order)
- I pierced my belly button once.
- I pierced my ear cartilage once.
- I pierced a cow eye ball once.

Three of your favorite hobbies:
- quilting
- reading (currently Christian fiction)
- putzing on the Web

Three things you really want to do right now:
- shower and primp for dinner
- be settled in our final home in Maryland so we can feel life become normal again
- feel and look fit

Three careers you'd consider:
- genetic councelor
- interior designer
- fashion designer

Three places you want to go on vacation:
- Morocco/Spain
- Rome/Athens
- Philipines

Three things you want to do before you die:
- write a book with Matt
- take the above vacations
- move always towards righteousness and then see Christ come for us...and not die

Quilt and Car Pictures

These are the fabrics I used for my latest quilt called "Baby Animals." First quilt for profit. Learned my lesson about how much to charge...MORE!















This is a close up of the front. It is made of 24 Scripture squares that I traced using a quality fabric pen. Each Scripture is well known and EXCELLENT for children and parents to memorize. These are the kind of quilts that I make with some ladies at church each Monday morning for the children who must go through Child Protection Services.




















Close-up of the back fabric (hence "Baby Animals") and a close-up of the name embroidery for the little girl who will receive this quilt.















And now..........for one of our greatest blessings from the LORD!!!































Don't forget to read the post below for the 3 milestones! There's an ultrasound picture in that one! I'll be back next Thursday! Pray for travel safety and quick apartment finding!

:: Speechless ::

My friend Christa had the BEST blog post. It was all about how our lives change so rapidly and we can either try to control our circumstances or seek to follow God's will first. A timely post for Matt and I!

Change. Lots of it has happened these past few weeks. Here goes...


1) I had my first ultrasound last Friday. More than hearing the heartbeat of our little one, I was
astonished to see it bouncing all around. THAT is what finally hit me in the head with the knowledge that I am REALLY pregnant. Of course I knew I was before; but before you SEE it, you just kinda feel like you are "playing" pregnancy. Everything (hearbeat, measurements, etc.) was said to be perfect for a 10 week pregnancy, which in turn means that risk of miscarriage goes from 20% all the way down to 2% no matter how far along I am. I have only gained 3-5 pounds in 10 weeks, for which I am thankful! And my blood pressure is only 110/60...better than pre-pregnancy. I will be returning next Friday (most likely) so my OB friend Keith can listen to heart tones. I don't think it's necessary...but I think Keith is excited and wants to hear it for himself. :-) Hey, as long as it's free! Praise You, Lord, for giving me connections yet again!

2) We have been searching for a month for a new car. The Rav4 is a good car, faithful to get us where we need to go, but the fact that we are moving has caused us to see the good reasons to get a more solid vehicle. After a month of frustration with a dealership and not finding EXACTLY what we wanted, it happened. Last Saturday, Matt was looking for what we wanted online...and BAM...there it was. Almost too good to be true! A 2003 Honda Accord EXV, leather seats, side curtain airbads (in addition to front and side), 28,000 miles...for an EXCELLENT price. So we called the dealership, our insurance, and the place we knew we wanted the loan from. It sounded perfect. So, we immediately packed up and went 3 hours to Bowling Green, KY...praying all the way that this would be worth it. Woman's intutition told me it was going to happen and I was soooo excited! This has been my DREAM car for a long time! But, the car was EVEN BETTER than we had first thought!!! A gorgeous blue-gray color with two-toned gray leather interior. V-6 engine and all airbags (much needed for California freeways!). Very roomy in front and back seats. Power everything. Keyless entry (the remote IS the key...very cool!). Awesome warranty still in place. 6-disc CD changer. Heated seats. Dual passenger AC control. Brushed silver trim (totally futuristic and us). In a word...BLESSING. The dealership itself and the saleslady we worked with were incredible to work with. Several of them stayed at least an hour after closing so we could get the car. Not once did we hit a snag in the process. It feels so natural to have this car...my dream car. Every time I see it, I am in silent shock and awe that God has given us the exact car we were looking for - especially with all the safety features we wanted for both California and children. We WILL be driving this car into the ground. Remember...I know what I want. And when I get it, I am content with it for as long as it will last. Example: I STILL have my fun fishy bedding I got the summer after 6th grade. If we had a guest bed, it would totally be on there!

3) Finally, the Lord has given us direction several times over and we really feel that Monterey is where He desires us to be. We are at peace with the decision and are moving ahead with finding a place to live and all those details. School there starts September 26th-ish, so we will most likely be moving September 14th (5 days driving, 4 nights sleeping). We DESIRE your prayers for all the details to work out smoothly and quickly since we have less than a month to get everything closed up here and opened there. I have that kind of excitement that is boiling inside but very hushed and hesitant when I look at all that needs to happen. Change, Christa? This one is huge and fast!

I will post pictures of the car this afternoon as well as pictures of a quilt I have just made. First one made for profit!

Thanks for taking to time to read our insane update!

Following Auttie's Example

Just for fun! No one comments anyway...so I'll post whatever I want now.

1. If you were to choose a new name for yourself, what would it be? I wouldn't change my name. Because our mother was nice and adventurous enough to NOT give the three of us typical names, we are not subjected to duplicates in public. We are UNIQUE! Thanks, Momma! I ADORE my name!

2. If you were given an extra $10 in change at Walmart, what would you do with it and why? Assuming it was given to me as a gift and not an accident, I'd probably get clear nail polish, polish remover (almost out), and search my heart out for a good lip gloss (anybody know what happened to the good Bon Bell ones???)

3. What's the biggest lesson you've learned from your past relationships? The less you do emotionally and physically (even just an arm around the shoulder), the more INCREDIBLE it will all feel when it is the first time for an "I love you" or a kiss when it is with the one you marry. I'm on a mission to convince the teen girls in my life of this because of the firsts I was blessed to have with Matt. Oh, to MAKE them understand!

4. What's one of your worst habits? Um, I can't really think of any. Maybe the occasional face-picking fest? Or getting silent when I've been hurt and being put out for a while?

5. What was the best day of the past week for you - why? Today! I get my first ultrasound in a matter of hours!

6. What are you wearing today which is most reflective of who you are? Probably my jewelry. Simple blue beaded necklace with silver pendant (bright, girlish personality), simple silver hoops in all five holes (slight rebel on the inside), two toe rings (love of being different and of the beach), watch (organization and punctuality), and my beautiful wedding ring which is reflective of my highest and most enjoyable calling.

7. Choose a unique item from your wallet and explain why you carry it around. I don't have a wallet. I have a small pouch I carry around with just keys, cell phone, insurance cards, debit card, and DL. And lip gloss if I remember. Who needs more than that in their purse?

8. If you could change one thing about your physical appearance what would it be and why? My thighs and hips. ::sigh:: I feel like they've gotten bigger, more cellulity, and jigglier since being pregnant...more than they were before.

9. Share one of your most embarrassing moments. 6th grade. Stairwell of the school after having gone to the bathroom. Girls line was in front of boys line. I was one of the last girls in line. It was winter. I was wearing tights. Boys were snickering for a long time. Didn't know why...until I felt my rear. And found that my jumper was tucked ALL the way in my tights in the back.

10. If you had to choose between a million bucks or to be able to go back in time and fix all your mistakes which would you choose? I totally agree with Autumn's answer. Definitely $1,000,000! My mistakes are part of who I am today. How do we learn if we never make mistakes?

11. If you were given a million dollars and 24 hours to spend it in, (no depositing it in the bank or investing it) what would you buy? A 2005 Honda Accord EX blue with leather ivory interior, a 2005 Honda Pilot for Matt in his color choice with leather, pay off Thea's entire medical school education, pay off the school loans for Matt's family, new computer desk, plasma TV, dining room set, new mattress with headboard/footboard from Pier 1 that I love, SEWING MACHINE and hobby table...am I done yet? See, I'm not high maintanence. I know what I want. That's just being decisive.

12. When you look at yourself in the mirror, what's the first thing you look at? My skin. It's havoced with pregnancy acne. :-(

13. How much cash do you have on you? Zip. We're debit card people.

14. What's a word that rhymes with "TEST"? Vest

15. Who is the 4th person on your missed call list on your cell phone? Probably Momma

16. What is your main ring tone on your phone? I don't have a main one. Friends have a ring. Savary Slew has a ring. Esparza Crew has a ring. Matt has his own ring. And everyone else has the typical Cingular ring.

17. Do you prefer a bright or dark room? Depends on what room if it's paint. If it's sunshine we are speaking of....BRING ON THE BRIGHTNESS!

18. What did you have for breakfast? Oatmeal, strawberries, and a small cup of Irish Cream coffee.

19. What were you doing at midnight last night? Sleeping hard I could probably have been mistaken for a dead person.

20. What did your last text message you received on your cell phone say? Don't remember. That was a LONG time ago when Thea sent me one, not knowing it costs us BOTH.

21. Do you ever click on "Pop Ups" or Banners? No

22. Who told you they loved you last? Mattipoo

23. Last furry thing you touched? Paul and Tracie's cat Abby. She's SO adorable and soft!

24. How many hours a week do you work? Right now however many I feel up to. :-)

25. How many rolls of film do you need to get developed? Three. But who knows where they are. And no, I still don't care.

26. Favorite age you have been so far? 23...nothing like the present adventureS.

27. Your worst enemy? Satan/my flesh

28. What is your current desk top picture? The yellow tulips on Windows XP. So bright and cheery!

29. What was the last thing you said to someone? "I love you, too!" to Matt. "NO!" to the 241,000 Today Show viewers who chose dress number 2 for the Hometown wedding. Though one girl did have a point that the other three looked prom dressish. BUT I will say that Sarah, the bride, said dress 4 was her favorite and that's the one I voted for. Classic, elegant, and gorgeous for a Chesapeak wedding. Silly viewers.

Health with a Splash of Indulgence

Thanks to Kay for exposing me to strawberries with whipping cream poured on them. Don't worry, it was just a splash of whipping cream and a dash of sugar. It was TASTY!

The quilt I'm making for Kenya is coming along. It's gonna be adorable...and Matt helped me figure out a way to possibly get more than just $10 profit off of it. When I take it to her on Friday, I can simply be honest and say supplies cost more than I anticipated so could we renegotiate the cost to $50. If she says no, I live and learn and I tried. If she says ok, wonderful! I'm definitely taking a picture of this one. It's close to perfect!

Well, tomorrow is the day Matt takes the GRE. We found out on Monday that he has passed secret clearance and the TOP secret clearance is in process still. The other guy who is "about to pass" hasn't even told Mrs. Recruiter where he wants to go and doesn't return all of her e-mails. So, we are safe. He takes the test tomorrow. Gets his scores. Calls the faculty of each school to determine which program is best or if they are equal. Then we wait for total clearance, then tell Joan where we want to go for sure. ::sigh of relief:: So nice to have a plan now.

Meanwhile, pregnancy is going well. Been extra tired and I guess "lazy" lately. Need to make sure to keep exercising to combat the fatigue. Still get HUNGRY every hour and a half, but not really nauseous. Definitely have the network of veins on my abdomen and chest! Kinda cool to see how God created the woman's body perfectly to carry a child. Dealing with two horsefly bites from swimming last night...one on my shoulder and the other on my FACE!!! Ack!

Notice the new link to the left to my Mom's blog!

Try to stay cool today!

Lord, WHERE?

Please pray for us. We are having quite the difficult time deciding where it is the Lord would have us. Dayton or Monterey?

We are workign through pros and cons to each city, and have even created four working budgets (two for each city). We have called various places to get better estimates on things like insurance, gas, etc. We are working HARD to decide. But it is not easy. We had decided last night, but now we are second guessing a little bit now that we have slept. I think the reason we keep second guessing is because we don't want to feel rash in our decision, but the point we are at is DECIDE. And either one we say will feel rash because there is not middle ground in this choice. It's one or the other. Just because we choose one does not mean the other will lose all appeal. Silly unchanging inanimate places that make it so hard!

Just pray. We want wisdom. We want clear direction (which we may have gotten but are second guessing it as well). We NEED to know asap-est of asap so we can get things rolling.

::raises head in pleading::

God gives us what we want...with a twist.

A twist to make sure we continue to trust Him. Thank you, Jaclyn, for those words of encouragment.

I'll just be blundt about it. We may be moving to Monterey instead of Dayton. Matt has not taken the graduate record exam (like an ACT/SAT for grad school) and Dayton requires it. Autumn helped us find some info yesterday that could be helpful in persuading Dayton to still take us. Matt will be talking with them today about it.

Meanwhile, I think God has graciously prepared our hearts for either location now. We were so closed to Monterey because of the heart pulls in Dayton. We were quite presumptious that Dayton was a sure thing. Yet another reminder to hold EVERYTHING with an open hand! God may give His children what they desire, but we still have the responsibility to keep looking towards Him for direction. That reminds me of the verse, "A man may plan his WAYS, but the Lord directs his STEPS." This could not be a more perfect example of that verse! :-)

We did find out that neither school starts until the beginning of October, so we have a few more weeks to breath and make sure everything gets settled. We are grateful for that!

Concerning the new little life, I think my nausea is starting to wane. Praise the Lord! Now I just get next to ravenous every 1.5 hour instead of nauseous (unless I wait too long). I got prenatal yoga and prenatal pilates DVD's and am in the process of forming a good exercise routine. Eating? Well, not to much into veggies like I was a couple weeks ago. This week's favorite food is ramen noodles, though I did HIGHLY enjoy Nonie's meatloaf and my mashed potatos two nights ago. :-P

I'm off to make a "change address with" list, do a search for churches in Monterey, clean the bathrooms, do pilates, shower, lunch, and then go talk with my "boss" about not coming back this year and what she needs from me (if anything). Have a SUNSHINY day!

My 50th Post

I just noticed that this will be my 50th post since starting my blog. And how appropriate considering the news I am about to reveal.

Our baby will be born in Dayton, OH. We will be in Dayton...by August 26th at the VERY VERY latest. We have three weeks to move.

PRAISE GOD! Remember how in the last post I said I was thankful things were returning to normal this week? Yeah. Like I said then, I'd be happy for things to be un-normal if it was because the DoD contacted Matt with a yes. Weeeell.....

He got an e-mail last night from his recruiter. It never said "Yes, you are in." It was just several items about has he chosen a program yet, she needs to know if we want Dayton or Monterey, when is he going back to Baltimore for orientation, and such like that. WHICH makes us think that possibly that letter we got MONTHS ago was THE OFFICIAL offer of employment. Perhaps we were just thrown off by the "contingent upon your security clearance." That made us think it was still a toss up. Apparently not! Matt is going to call the airforce base in Dayton and talk to some enrollment councelors this morning to finalize which program he wants to pursue, and then he will talk to Ms. Recruiter. I will hopefully know more detail after that! How will the military move work? When do we absolutely have to be in Dayton? Was that letter really the official yes and we just didn't know it?

We are so excited! We are in awe at how much is to be done in the next 3 weeks. I am looking forward to seeing all the people come forward and offer help. Thanks in advance to family who will come to Jackson to help us/me pack. Thanks to Autumn (and Andy) in advance for be our apt/home hunters!

No more praying for a yes! Now we rejoice our hearts out and start praying for a smooth transition in such a short amount of time!

NORMAL

As Matt and I prayed together last night, I thanked God for the week ahead that return us to...normal. No more traveling. No more oodles of bucks spent on gasoline. No more out of town dining expenses, ever increasing over our allotted budget amount. No more DRIVING. No more visitors. Just me, Matt, and our home. I hope the people we visited (including Guatemala) appreciate the sacrifice we made! ::whimper:: We did enough traveling in July to last 6 months or more for just two people!

But I did tell God it would be grand if we didn't return to normal this week because of the DoD's yes call or letter. I really pray that we know something THIS WEEK, whether yes or no. Patience is still there, but we're about to go bonkers!

OH MY GOSH! I JUST REMEMBERED I HAVE QUILTING AT 9:00...IN TWO MINUTES. Have I showered?? NO! BYE!

::runs to get in shower::

I'M GOING TO HAVE A BABY!!!! ::sigh of relief::

FINALLY! Now that Matt's family finally knows for sure that we are expecting a baby, I can start posting about how I feel and the progression of the baby and pregnancy. Whew! It's hard to post away about life and not be able to talk about the BIGGEST event in life! :-P

Today, I'm doing ok. We're in Evansville for the weekend visiting the Esparza side of the family. I've had to eat a little more often (but not more food) today because it's a hard day nausea wise. Janet could not have said it more perfectly...it is there constantly enough to be irritating, but not enough to make me really sick.

We still haven't heard from the DoD. So patience is still on the top of our character list. It will be very interesting to find out the timeline of events if they do end up saying yes!

Well, I'm off to show pictures!

A Bright Sunshiny Day

In my spirit that is! It's only 10:45 and I've already exercised, unloaded the dishwasher, washed some dishes, bleached the kitchen counters, and straightened the house a little. Thought I'd post while I eat my apple and give Jaclyn 10 minutes of chat!

I'm so excited...Matt finally posted for REAL on his blog! Go read it from the link to the left. It's very good. He talks some about how he's feeling waiting for the DoD to call us and let us know yes or no. Here's how I feel. I am more anxious today than I have been. Not in a bad, worrisome way. But in a "I think it might happen very soon" way. If ever anyone could get on their knees...no, their face!...and pray for a yes, now would be the time. I desperately want my husband to have his dream job at a young age, to see him get into what he REALLY is interested in, to see him involved in the government of a country I support whole-heartedly and claim as my own. I want to be closer to Autumn. I want change - it's what I've been used to for the past four years as I moved places so much because of college. And of course the better salary and benefits of the government would be nice, too! Please Lord, we don't deserve it, but You are good and can do it if you choose!

Ok, I need to go shower and order the pizza for a Guatemala Pizza 'n Pics lunch with some of the girls I got to know really well on the trip. Should be great fun!

::sigh of relief::

What a groggy day! Took a MORNING nap for an hour and 45 minutes. Ate some mac 'n cheese with Matt and Melody.

Then GOT MY GOLD STAR for the day! This makes two days in a row. I wasn't going to exercise today because I didn't feel well, but when I opened the door for Matt and Melody to go back to work, it was MUCH cooler than it has been and I thought I'd take a walk. So I took a 10 minute walk and then did some core exercises for about 30 minutes. I feel so much better now...though the thought of my soft, comfy bed is still appealing!

This afternoon's agenda:

1) Make the batter for Tracie's molten choclate cupcake things for cell group tonight...her b-day celebration.
2) Fold two loads of laundry and wash the stinky towels I've forgotten about (since Guatemala)!
3) Clean the bathrooms. But Matt said not to and he would do it when he gets home. But I guess if I feel up to it and have time, I coudl still do them. As of right now though? Yeah, I don't want to.

By the way, I'd just like to give a shout out to Autumn's blogger friends. I love all the comments they give. Very funny and very encouraging...even to me and it's not even my blog! Hmm...wonder if they know about my blog.... :-)

oooooooK

Yeah, so life will not settle for a while! And that is why I have not been able to post in a few days. So here goes!

Matt got home for lunch last Thursday and told me that yes, we were indeed driving the 4 hours to Chatanooga for the night and picking up his sister Melody on Friday...to then drive 8 hours to Little Rock for the weekend. I'm tired of driving, but it was fun! The "fourth of July" cake we ordered for the family cookout Saturday was SO tasty! I forgot how much I love ice cream cake! Thea spent pretty much the whole day with us, which I loved up one side and down the other. She's so much fun...thank you for giving us all your time, Luv! I always think to myself, there's no one I'd rather be with me for big events than Thea. :-)

We came back to Jackson late Sunday and have just been movin' through the week as normal with Melody here. She has been blatently introduced to Ken and Barbie (upstairs neighbors) both nights she's slept in the living room. I think they're on a loud streak again...thankfully a party mode rather than fight mode (if they MUST be in a mode, party is best).

To be honest, I don't know that I really want to post about Guatemala on my blog, for reasons which are personal and because most of the people who were really interested know the highlights of it. I guess I do still need to send out update/thank you letters to those who supported me.

You know? Cap'n Chrunch with Berries is such a good cereal. Sure it has more sugar than cherrios, but it has ALMOST the same amount of vits and nuts as multi-grain cherrios. And I really wanted them this morning. I think I will exercise today too. Maybe in a few minutes after my food digests a little. Gotta get that gold star, Aut! (I've only got one for the past two weeks) :-(

Doing Better

I did it! I exercised today...a 2 mile brisk walk with some arm strengthening. I feel so much better now.

My sinuses/allergies are a little better today. At least my face/head doesn't hurt anymore and I can somewhat breath through my nose when my mouth is closed.

My emotions are a lot better too. I think I am really coming to terms with Bethany and starting to remember all the sweet things about her rather than her actual death.

Still get nauseated when I think of Guatemala. Such a different trip from all the other ones I've taken. I was asked to share about it tonight at cell group. I hope Keath (youth pastor) doesn't get offended or put out because of my experience. It was pretty opposite to how most people react to a foreign missions trip. Still can't find my film. Still don't know how much I care.

I hope Melody calls us tonight, otherwise I don't know how it will work out picking her up in Chatnooga. SOOO excited about our 4th of July ice cream cake on Saturday with my family...sweet cream ice cream with coconut and cherries, yellow cake, white icing with cherry halves and blue icing stars! I so wish my family could have been with me in Memphis to see the AWESOME fireworks! Not to mention sitting by my grandmother and hearing "God bless the USA"...I miss that! But, the afghan she gave us at our wedding (crocheted American flag) looked WONDERFUL on our couch for the holiday!

I'm gonna go get some veggies to munch on. I'm glad exercise makes you want healthy food!

Yawn

I'm back. I'm exhausted. So much is going on in life, and I'm not quite sure when it will slow down.

Guatemala was fine. I'll be posting about that over the next few days from my journal that I kept while there. It's hard for me to think about Guatemala right now because it makes me nauseated just thinking about it. Weird, huh? Hope that stops soon. Can't find my three rolls of film. I'm hoping to track them down either at the Houston airport or in the church van. Please, Lord, have them be SOMEwhere reachable!

I think I'm over the hardest part of grieving Bethany's death and Matt Rehrer's loss of his entire family. Having found out the night before I left for Guatemala didn't let me realize just how much I needed to cry and grieve. That realization hit me especially hard yesterday. I was able to use the family's deaths as a devotional topic on Friday night. I spoke on the brevity of life, how we never know the instant it begins OR ends. And THAT is why we must be urgent and sincere in our evangelism. Thank you, my Matt, for that excellent perspective.

Meanwhile, while trying to catch up on sleep, I am having an "allergic reaction to the States" as my mom joked. I was perfectly fine in Guatemala despite some people's fears, but once we hit Houston my allergies/sinuses blew up. Now my whole face hurts, my neck is tense, and I'm congested to high heaven. I'm learning to let Matt do what he wants for me. It's hard not to feel guilty over him continuing to do things for himself and now me that I would normally do as his wife. But, it is nice that he WANTS me to lounge and relax. It relieves some stress to know he is perfectly fine with me not doing anything around the house today. I love him. :-)

Thursday we are going to stay the night in Chatanooga, TN, and pick up his sister Melody from a youth camp there on Friday. Then we are going to LR to share Guatemala stories/souveniers (for immediate family...money is limited). I was hoping to share pictures...but that may not happen. Then Melody will come back to Jackson with us for all next week, and we will drive to Evansville next weekend to take her back and share Guatemala stories/souveniers.

And then we might come back and pack quickly...if the DOD will call us and tell us we're in! Keep praying for our patience and that God would allow it to happen!

Gonna finish my cherrios.

And Off I Go...

It's 2:30 AM! I have to be at the church by 3, so I'll keep it short. I'm tired, but excited, and running on adrenaline. Please pray for me and the rest of my team as mentioned in previous posts. Can't wait to come back and have oodles of material for more posts!

On a side note, please pray for mine and Matt's college friend, Matt Rehrer. His parents and two sisters were killed in an automobile accident in the past day or so. Pray for wisom and peace for him and his wife, Kara. Also, pray for me to be emotionally stable in Guatemala since I was good friends with one of his sisters, Bethany.

Until next week...

Clean Paint Sewn to Suitcase

I've got a lot to do today! The apartment hasn't been cleaned (scrubbed I mean...it's straightened) in a week and a half due to Thea's visit, Matt's mono and trip, and other busy-ness. I also need to finish prepping the fabric for the banners my group is helping the Guatemala kiddos make to celebrate their new school. And then I need to pack up all the banner supplies in my extra suitcase. Tonight is our last Guatemala meeting/packing party. Each of us will carry two suitcases: 1 personal, 1 filled with supplies. I can't believe I'm leaving on Sunday!!!

On the Guatemala note, God went ABOVE and beyond what I needed for funding. I was expecting only one more $100 check, having told several not to give because I didn't need anymore. Yesterday I got $200 in the mail and found out that people at church had given $120 to my account. So as of now, I'm $220 over! Who knows what our mailbox will see in the next few days! Thankfully, the extra is not in vain. Whatever is over in anyone's account spills to those accounts that still need funds. After that, it goes towards supplies for the trip. After that, it goes into the "pot" for next year's Guatemala trip! So good to see that the Body of Christ does not hoard their money...they have given so freely and sacrificially!

Yesterday was Tracie's birthday...Paul surprised her with a new kitten! Long haired calico colored. Name: Abigail...Abby for short. She is SOOO affectionate for an 11 week old kitten! She is also very playful. Ever seen a laser pointer and a cat? Great fun!

Anyway, I'm gonna go do a little more cleaning. I'm pacing myself so I don't get sick of it!

Experiencing Life in the Body

This is in response to Autumn's latest post...

Don Winter just finished a series on Experiencing Life in the Body. I wish I could get in every detail because it was SO thought-changing about the "church." For several weeks, he wouldn't even say the word "church" to keep us from thinking inside the box. When we think "church," we think the building where we go every Sunday to sing and listen to a sermon. When the New Testament believers thought "church," they thought going to each others' homes - even daily - to fellowship, worship, and learn more about God. This is why our church has cell groups...which I know are in some churches in Cleveland and BCLR has "care groups" which are simliar.

Think about it. In the Old Testament, the people traveled from all over to the Temple for worship and learning. The priest presided and offered the leadership for all the people. But, when Christ died for us, the veil was torn in two and we were given access directly to the Father. Priests were not needed for that particular service anymore. So what did this open the door to? PEOPLE MEETING IN THEIR HOMES! They now could approach the throne of God for themselves at any time they desired. Yes, they still met at the temple for celebration, fellowship, and learning...but much of the early church's practice was small groups inside homes. The smaller the group, the less likely people are to fall through the cracks and sit on the back pew unnoticed. The smaller the group, the more people's needs will be seen and recognized. The smaller the group, the more vulnerable and real people will be...which is where UNITY in the Body of Christ appears. The smaller the group, the more people will be able to speak up as they discuss various doctrines, more questions can be asked, prayer can become more powerful.

Don't get me wrong. Assembling of all of these small groups into one building is still very much a part of Experiencing Life in the Body! It keeps a bigger part of the "church" unified and on the same page. But, where I now think the church has gone wrong is that there is not an equal amount of importance placed upon small, frequent gatherings as there is on the big once-a-week gatherings. The Body of Christ is also the Army of the Lord. Look at how our Army works. Do soldiers on a base only meet once a week for training? NO!!! They have smaller platoons and such that meet EVERY DAY for rigorous training so that in the heat of battle they will be knit closely together and know exactly how to defeat the enemy!

The same system would better serve the church...and PUSH people out of box that was formed so long ago. Can we come up with a word to replace "church" so that people won't even touch the box? :-)

Insomniacs' Anonymous

Here I sit putzing around again. I've been awake since 4:00. I've seen the clock at almost every hour of the night. Perhaps I am deeply affected by the good stress of Matt's job opportunity, Guatemala, and my favorite holiday the 4th.

I forgot to mention in the last post that God has provided ALL of my funds for Guatemala now!!! Praise Him! $1200 came from only 15 people/couples...in only 3 weeks!!! I'm am astonished. But somehow, I think maybe I am not that shocked. God wants me in Guatemala. He made it happen. :-)

Matt is teaching the jr. high/sr. high Sunday school today because most of the youth are on retreat and apparently everyone else Keath asked had something going on. I think there is a whole lotta trust going on with ECC and Matt & I. They allow us to participate in things and even ask Matt to teach when only a couple people really know our background and testimony. Perhaps it has something to do with what Hap keeps telling us...that he sees great potential and maturity in us both and he expects something grand to come of us. Quite encouraging if I do say so myself.

Don't miss my previous post, those who haven't seen it. It's a lovely one!

I hope you all have a great Sunday...and celebrate hard this 4th of July! We're goin' to Memphis for today and tomorrow! Woo hoo!

Gonna go lay down until the alarm goes off...in 15 minutes. :-P

Can't Sleep, therefore I Post

Yes, it is 4:25 and Dawn Esparza is awake and putzing around on the computer.

Matt got home yesterday. Praise the LORD! Everything in Baltimore went "stellar" and Matt feels confident that the job is almost a sure thing. I told him to make sure "almost" stays in that sentence. But God has been SO good to us. Matt had no effects of his mono while in Baltimore and was never nervous during his day-long testing. Both the polygrapher and the psychologist that analyzed him said he is a healthy man and there will be nothing bad on either of their reports. We are pretty sure we will know something by the end of July if not within the next two weeks or so. I hope he finds out before or after Guatemala!!! I told him he can't tell anyone until I get back. :-P

It has been such a BLESSING to have Thea here. My soul has missed it's mate more than I knew. I love that England, a husband, new friends, distance, and time can not change our relationship one bit. Oh sure, it changes in that it deepens and we mature. But it never lessens. And for that my soul exults! God knows I need her for life! I like to think that Thea and I have what could be called an example of the "perfect" friendship. Not by way of nothing wrong ever happens, of course. But perfect in health, success, love, and loyalty. (For those of you who are technical, Thea and I call each other our "soulmate" because that is just what it is. But, that doesn't mean she is more to me than Matt. How can you be a soulMATE with someone you are ONE with? Mate implies that there are two.) ;-)

All three of us got lovely sunburns at the pool yesterday. I even had on 45 sunblock. We made a jokey-joke on the way that it was a Spaniard, a Filipino, and White Girl (movie title worthy according to Matt). And guess who got burned the least! The smart white girl who wore sunblock. Poor Matt. He is soooo crispy on his face and front torso. His back is perfectly fine. Should make for an interesting tan...

Thea leaves today. I will miss her greatly, but I feel rejuvinated and refreshed!

And....today is mine and Matt's FIRST ANNIVERSARY! I can NOT believe it has been a year since our wedding day. Since I wore my gorgeous dress. Since I had all my beautiful bridesmaids by my side. Since I became a wife. Since I went to my dream spot Hawaii! I can not believe just how much has happened in our first year of marriage. A month of relaxing and living with each family. New jobs and a move to Jackson, TN. Church searching for 6 months and then landing at a wonderful one. Making several lovely friends as we have gotten involved in the church. Having the whitest Christmas of my life with our Indiana family. Taking a vacation to Louisiana to visit sweet friends in the Army. Helping Paul and Tracie get down the aisle in a beautiful way. Dealing with allergies and the "MS scare." Now dealing with Matt's mono and further testing. And especially the job opportunity with the Department of Defense. What a perfect way to usher in a new year of marriage...with the big changes of all that lurking around the corner. So weird and awesome and scary at the same time to think we may be completely gone from here in a month and a half.

God is good. There are no other words. I love that He keeps life interesting even when He is not required to. The more He does in our lives, the more I sit back in awe at how FUN the abundant life in Christ really is...even with the hard stuff that comes along.

I've written a book. It's now 4:40 am. Can you tell I'm really NOT tired??

Anxious and Anticipating

Sometimes I sit alone in my thoughts...and then gasp.

This is the week of Matt's big day with the DOD in Baltimore. Thursday. Leaves Wednesday morning and returns Friday morning. He got diagnosed with mono last Thursday. God moves in mysterious ways. He is ok, but taking it really easy today and tomorrow to make sure he's as rested as possible. The doctor said Baltimore is perfectly fine as long as he feels up to it. Pray for health, nerves, clarity of thought and speech...and most of all a calm peace and faith in the God who has given this opportunity.

This is the week I get to see my best friend, and she gets to see my first home. I haven't seen her in months and months. I love that she is coming to keep me company (and sane) while Matt is in Baltimore. I love that I get to hear of all her grand adventures over in Europe...and just BE with her once more!

This is the week before the week I have to pack up and get to Guatemala. I was blessed once again today with financial support from a couple that has known me since I was three. A couple at ECC that DOESN'T EVEN KNOW ME gave quite a sum to my account. Among just 11 people/couples, I have received all but $330 of all $1200. That blows my mind away! I know of more that is coming, and I will end up with ony $130 left. God moves in fast and glorious ways to show His will and direction!

And I gasp because I realize how much the Lord's hand is in my life! Who said life was dull?

Christ gives it MORE abundantly...that's for sure!

Halfway to a Colorful 8 Day Craving

In answer to a few comments on the previous post...

Jaclyn, there was $0 in the mailbox the day you made and estimate. But because of yesterday, I am +600 and -600...exactly halfway! Want to make a guess at what today's mail will hold?

Christa, I will be gone from July 10-17. We're flying so that's why it's only a week.

All, I was getting tired of the plain-ness of the other blog and wanted something no one else had. Since I have a computer guy for a husband, I know a TEENY bit about html coding. So, I've been kind of self-teaching with html color and text. It take a WHILE to learn and figure out. Trust me. The new color scheme, if no one noticed, were the colors of our wedding (minus your basic black and silver).

Hmm...craving macaroni and cheese and garlic bread at 10:00 am? Yes, I'm weird.

US Citizen's Molina is Painted Clean

I have my official United Staes of America passport. I feel so official now! Now, if I go 20 times to foreign countries, it will almost be filled up. :-P Reading some of the advice that is contained in the passport is kinda scary. There are certain ways to lose your US citizenship. You have to be discrete in your clothing, where you carry your money, what kind of valuables you have, etc. "Contact the US Embassy" is all over the place. All things I knew subconsciously, but to see them written by my government? Sheesh! I love this part on the title page..."The Secretary of State of the United States of America hereby requests all whom it may concern to permit the citizen of the United States named herein to pass without delay or hindrance and in case of need to give all lawful aid and protection." Go USA! And, I am QUITE happy with my picture. I've seen nightmares of passport pictures before!

I have $580 so far. God provided all that in just two weeks! $620 to go!

I need to go look for fabric paint, sponge brushes, and rope today for the banners we are making to celebrate the completion of the new school. I found the children's home's website: http://aguavivahome.org/ Check it out if you get a chance so you know more about where we are going.

But, before all that, it's Bathrooms Wednesday. I used to clean the whole house on Friday's and have the other days to relax. But it's SO much easier to assign certain tasks to each day. For example: Quilting Monday, Laundry Tuesday, Bathrooms Wednesday, Dust/Windex Thursday, Floors Friday. Now my only problem is to not be idle in the afternoons!

Four by Four

Places I Love...

1) Maui, Hawaii - A beautiful place in the summer, and probably more gorgeous in spring! With it's clear aqua water and island dotted horizon, refreshment and relaxation is all you'll get! Go on the lucious green Road to Hana and you'll get adventure as you drive a road RIGHT on the cliffs of Maui and see those hole in the wall waterfalls. And you MUST not forget the ice cold, juice-down-your-chin pineapple chunk from a road side fruit stand. And the fact that it was my honeymoon makes it a favorite. ;-)

2) St. Thomas and St. John, US Virgin Islands - Strong trade winds will blow through your hair as the salty air tantalizes your nose. White sands offeset the deep blue that contains a myriad of firey colors found in coral and marine life. Dine at a screened in restaurant and experience dandelion leaves in your salad - a treat to be sure!

3) San Fransisco, California - A place that your heart will remain in! If you love city life, this is definitely a place to visit! Buildings everywhere, street cars, hills you wouldn't believe! One building even houses an ENTIRE level of Jessica McClintock dresses! Visit the famous Alcatrez and then eat at Fisherman's Warf on Pier 9. After dinner, gaze at all the seals basking in the sun. Don't forget to take a morning jog through the thick fog across the Golden Gate Bridge (take your mom with you, too!). And above all, the memory you will always hold in your heart of hearts is the grand performance of The Phantom of the Opera at a decadent play house.

4) Washington, DC - For art, history, science, and patriotism at its peak, WDC is the place to be. Going for a week's vacation...not nearly enough!!! There is ever so much to do in this splendid city. Monuments galore, museums a plenty, and honored graves all over. Exquisite architecture, too! There is not enough space in this post to tell of all that is so wonderful about WDC...so go for yourself and see!

Places I long to go...

1) Morocco - Ever since I went to Epcot Center in Disneyworld and saw the "world fair" they had, I have longed to go to Morocco. It was such an enchanting display of the mystery and beauty contained in such an ancient culture. I want to ride a camel in the desert. I want to see the Rock of Gibralter. I want to wear the luxurious fabrics and fine jewelry of that people. I want to see what life is really like over there!

2) Spain - Let me ride a horse across the open plains to an old Spanish castle. Let me taste REAL Spanish food. Let me bask in the Spanish sun on a beautiful beach. Let me see the matador dodge the furious bull. And finally, let me wear that red salsa dress and dance the night away with my Spanish husband!

3) Egypt and Israel - Close to the birthplace of civilization. Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Nile, the market place. All intriguing and mysterious to me like Morocco. But Israel? The place my Savior lived, died, and rose again!

4) Random places I want to see - Taj Mahal, the Heart of Africa, Stonehenge, the Statue of Liberty, an iceburg near Alaska, the Outback of Australia, the Sydney Opera House, the Eiffel Tower, Rome, and my brain is running out of fuel....

And we sit here so thankless for our place in this world! God has given us so MUCH to see and do! Now if only we will ask Him to help us do it!

La dee da-ing through the Day

What a beautiful day...and life!

Acts is the perfect study to do just before a missions trip! I can't wait to do todays. I have gotten at least one thing out of each chapter that is SO applicable to the Guatemala trip.

Chapter 1: Christ assured the apostles they would have the Holy Spirit's power THEN told them to go into all the world and preach the Gospel. A comfort and encouragement indeed! Soothing to the thoughts of inadequacy that pop up.

Chapter 2: Comfort from David in the Psalms - "I saw the Lord always in my presence; for He is at my right hand, so that I will not be shaken. Therefore my heart was glad and my tongue exulted; moreover my flesh also will live in hope." Soothing to the unknowns associated with this trip as well as being a leader this time around.

Chapter 3: "It is the name of Jesus which has strengthened this man whom you see and know; and the faith which comes through Him has given him this perfect health in the presence of you all." Shown to me just in time for lunch with Dawn tomorrow, a woman in my cell group that has MS and is praying and believing that God will heal her.

Chapter 4: "And there is salvation in no one else; for there is no name under heaven that has been given among men by which we must be saved....And when they had prayed, the place where they had gathered together was shaken, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak the word of God with boldness." Two verses that scream missions. The message and the power from God to speak the message. If you ask, He will help you do what He has called you to do!

And chapter 5 is today. :-) But first, chatting with some of my favorite people and then laying out. I've decided I should at least get a base tan before going to the equator high up in the mountains. And I wouldn't mind fitting in a little better with the Guatemalans. Say no to pasty white in Latin America. ;-) Can't say as much for the two FIREY RED heads that are on my team.....

Guatemala or Bust!

Wow! I just went to my first Guatemala trip meeting. It was kind of overwhelming to walk in and know NO ONE except for Keath, the youth pastor. Got all my paperwork done...

...and met three of the girls on my team within the entire group. Aubree, Colleen, and Keaghlan (pronounced Kay-lyn, and yes it took me like three times to type it just now). They are such fun! Three different personalities with several common threads. I can already tell we are going to have a blast working with each other! Lord, why must you give me these attachments when Matt and I are in location limbo??? There is a time and a season for everything...and everyone...

On another note, we're still enjoying the rain from Arlene. Makes for getting lots of stuff done indoors...like typing up and prepping support letters for mailing. Kind of weird when you ponder how you can eek out the money for stamps JUST to send out letters to GET financial support. Me? I call that ironic. And an opportunity for God to shine in His provision. It's just stamps, but they sure can add up!

Off to write my letters....

CT Scan Results

The nurse called me today and said that my ct scan revealed no sign of sinusitis and everything is "normal." It kind of frustrated me because it seemed vague, but I guess there is nothing else to tell. It leaves me wondering why on earth I still feel "blocked" in my nasal passages. Maybe my nose changed?? Hopefully starting Claratin (actually Sam's knock-off that Momma said works and is cheap) and continuing nasal steroids will help with the "blocked" feeling.

I'm also feeling under the weather right now. Pretty exhausted and I have a sore on the back of my throat that resembles strep. It hasn't spread or gotten worse as far as pain, so I'm intrigued as to what it is.

Praise God we'll have glorified bodies someday.

On another note, I am a little anxious to get my support letters out for Guatemala. I won't get the materials from Keath (youth pastor) until Sunday. Please pray that I will trust the Lord to bring in the funds! Only $1000 to go since *someone* graciously already gave $200! Praise God!

On still another note, Jackson is already feeling the effects of Tropical Storm Arlene. Matt and I were just sitting on the couch, and I heard the rain sound in our fireplace. I looked out the blinds and it was POURING...but sunshiny. It's been off and on like that since then, and the clouds are gor-geo-so! I took pictures. :: guilty smile ::

Hope you all have a splendiferous day!

Mi vida es muy loca!

...but starting to slow down...somewhat. The following is an update that I hope many I e-mail will come and read. I want more people to know about my blog...but I guess I should start posting more often if I want visitors and comments!

Health

I am finished with my fifth try at antibiotics. Took the last one today. I don't feel that it has helped at all (even when combined with the steroids). Allergist scheduled me for a ct scan of my sinuses tomorrow at 1:00 to see if there has been ANY improvement at all since I had my MRI's. If not, I have no idea what he'll say. I've been waiting for him to drop the word surgery, but he hasn't yet. Which is good. I'm about ready to give up on all medicine and just pray my heart out that I get better. Or take Jaclyn's advice to go the natural route.

Job

Matt is scheduled to fly out to Baltimore on June 29th and have all day polygraph/psych testing on the 30th. He will fly home on July 1st. Please pray for him! Clarity of thought, peace of mind, strength of character, and faith in God's sovereign plan. Pray for me that I will not be a worry wart wife! My best friend Thea is most likely going to come stay with me while Matt is gone...which I am MOST grateful for! Then, we get to celebrate our first anniversary on July 2nd!

Shocking News!

I get a call on Monday night from Elizabeth, a girl we know from church. She informs me she can no longer go on the Guatemala missions trip with the church youth group. She has to have tailbone surgery. The trip is July 10-17. Matt and I originally wanted to go, but then the job possibility came up and we thought it unwise to leave. Keath, the youth pastor, calls me at 8:00 Monday night saying "Do you think that MAYBE God WANTS you to go on this trip?" Meaning that things have worked in such a way that it seems there is no question God hand-picked me to go on this trip. Keath and I discussed details, and he said he wished he could tell Matt and I we had a week to decide...but we only had 2 hours. The airline had even graciously agreed to wait one more day for final ticket purchase to see if Keath could replace Elizabeth. Matt and I talked, weighed, prayed, read Scripture, and called my parents. EVERYTHING pointed to yes...except for newlywed separation anxiety! :-) So, at 10:00, I told Keath...and now I am on my way to Guatemala. Amazing how life can change SO quickly! I went and started the passport process yesterday. It took QUITE A CHUNK of money. Don't anybody tell anyone it's only $60 to get a passport right now. Even un-expadited, it's up to $97. Add $88 to that and it's expadited. Yes, that's what I had to pay. But, souls last longer than money.

So, please pray for Matt and I in these three areas! Esp. for me as far as Guatemala goes. It is my first time to be on the leader side of a missions trip, and while EXCITED, I am also a little intimidated and deal with feelings of inadequacy. But, that is when I must remember "Not I, but Christ who lives within me." Biggest concern right now: Raising $1200 in only one month. But I know if God wants me to go, the money will be there.

And that is a breif update! I will try to be better at posting now that I DON'T WORK! Life as just a wife is GRAND! Housework is so much more enjoyable in the mornings...when you haven't already given four hours to business people.

Have a sunshiny day!

Who is the REAL you?

Ok, so I did the Charlie Brown Character quiz like Thea did. She is Woodstock to the core, but I would throw in:

1) PigPen: because he doesn't give a care what other people think of him.
2) Snoopy: he's the life of the party.
3) Marcie: she's intelligent, sacrastic, pracitcal, and a loyal friend.

but WOODSTOCK to the core! (unique, original, loyal, where the fun is, tries new things, etc.)

I am Schroeder..."Creative and quiet describes you best. You're most often found off to the side, watching things happen and enjoying the show. Your love for the Arts and beauty is a welcome retreat from your frequent bouts of neurosis."

Ha!

Now you try it and tell me who you are in my comment box.

http://quizilla.com/users/anonymousnowhere/quizzes/Which%20Peanuts%20Character%20are%20You%3F/

In the Midst of It All

I really need to get back in the habit of blogging. I love to get comments from people, but how can I if I don't blog?

I'm really tired today. Matt and I have not been sleeping well at all lately, me for the past couple weeks. Is it our mattress? Is it a sin issue we are to deal with? Is it too much thought spent on job, health, and wedding? We are beginning to explore each of these. Matt found several interesting verses in the Bible dealing with sleep. I hope it works out soon...lack of sleep affects EVERY area of life and body just as lack of time with the Lord does. Interesting how these two can go hand in hand.......

Thursday is my follow up with the neurologist. I'm most interested to see what the vision test revealed. 9 minutes of one eye staring at a red star with a shifting black/white checkerboard behind it had better come up with something! :-P Haven't gotten any of the bills yet. God will provide. He is giving me the grace to trust Him with our finances.

I can't believe Paul and Tracie's wedding is NEXT WEEK! AAHHH! So much to do, so little time...minus this weekend since Matt and I are going to E-ville. Each day I am more and more thankful that I will have my mom, grandmother, and little sister here. Read: assistant coordinator, secondary assistant coordinator, runner. Woo doggy it's gonna be great!

Ok, I should probably get some work done. Jaclyn has refreshed me with her blog. Read it. And Thea has refreshed me with smiles.

Warm Fuzzies

That's how I feel inside right now. I love encouraging people because it forces you to look on the bright side of life. It makes you count your blessings and look upward instead of outward. I love you, Thea!

It's Friday, praise the Lord! We get to sleep in tomorrow! It's been sooo hard to get out of bed this week. Don't know why, but it's frustrating. We're renting Phantom of the Opera tonight for our dinner and a movie date. Hopefully no one will keep Matt longer than 4:00 today. People can be so demanding...but it makes us learn flexibility, patience, and service.

Alright, I should get to work. I've got more evaluation data entry...which I actually enjoy. Hopefully I can go to the last chapel of the semester today. And, hopefully, it will be good...end the year on a high note and all.

Have a warm fuzzy day!