Ok, You People

First, if you are a woman (or I guess even a guy), READ Sanctifying Truth (link at left). I've only gotten one commenter. The faithful Jaclyn. If you others have read it and not commented, let me know somehow. What I'm posting right now is too important to me to not make sure you ladies are reading it!

Second, surely you all knew the Cheese Post was WAY out of character for me. Let's just say that's what happens when you give your husband your password so he can "see something" with Blogger. Ben, I am impressed with your comment...but it should be directed at Matt. Sure, I like cheese. But I would never waste a post on it! I think you and Matt would get along quite well...

Third, I think we've found the problem with posting pictures on Blogger. Matt had downloaded the new and really different beta test for Internet Explorer 7, and from about that point on is when I started having issues with posting. Yesterday, he had to get rid of it and return to the current version for some web site work he is doing for our church. And so far with this post, I've had no issues! Yeah! So here come all the pictures I've been wanting to post from retreat! Don't forget to scroll down and read about the retreat if you haven't already. Click on the pictures to view it larger if you wish.

Place - The Camp Koinania grounds. Fourth pic is the dining hall and fifth is where we slept.




Sessions - Our speaker Mary Alice, she and Cheryl (piano for worship team) doing a duet at the talent show, the Treasure Chest Mary Alice used props from during her speaking times.



People - Doreen/me/Judah's first lovey, Karen/me/Robin/Betty the retreat mascot of sorts, Room 22 (Bottom Row: Robin, Norma, Sandy who received Christ on Sunday, Top Row: Me, Karen, Tricia)



Random - Me getting made-over in the "Basic Day Look" by Jo (a professional in a salon...after I went to the bathroom and rubbed the blush a little more I liked it), Doreen striking a pose, the "Jury" in a skit during the talent show, the worship team (the tall one in the middle is Cindy, my prayer partner for the next year who happens to be a family practitioner and has delivered babies...but no one purposefully put us together, except God) :-)

Cheese is great!!

I like cheese.

Picrtures Finally!

Don't forget to go down and read the Retreat 1-3 posts if you haven't already.

Me with Karen (right) and Robin (left). Karen is a sweet, spirited lady who is one of my Plan B Maternal/Emotional Supporters for labor and delivery. Robin is a quiet, down to earth lady who will serve as Plan B Secondary Coach to Matt.

Me with Doreen - a wacky fun lady who is not only a wonderful friend, but is one of my Plan B maternal/emotional supporters for labor and delivery.

Retreat III: The Speaker

First, a few notes about today. Guess what I've done for exercise? I walked to Target and Safeway (both within 5 min walking of our door) to pick up a few things. Boy was it HOT! Ok, warm. But I was breaking a healthy sweat. So what did I do then? But of course! I tried the "heated" pool (which in my book is not heated at all). Did I dip in my toes and decide to lay out? NO! The water was cool and refreshing and felt glorious. It was so precious to have the weight taken off my bones and joints. I sat in it for a while, then I walked around and then did some pilates/yoga movements. Then stretched and sat some more. A short dry off/lay out session followed. ::big sigh:: God is good, all the time. Meanwhile, Aut said she was sitting on the other side of a wall from 8 inches of snow (See the pics on her blog since Blogger is still cooperating with her). God created quite the variety, didn't He?

So the speaker at retreat was Mary Alice, a 57 year old mother of 7 with gorgeous faded red hair down to her mid-thigh. Yes, gorgeous! It was healthy even at the tips! Her love for her family is more than evident. I don't think there's even a powerful enough word to describe how much she loves them. Of her 7 kids, 1 is autistic, 1 is downs, and 3 are severely dislexic (I think 3, and is that how you spell it?). Her oldest daughter is in Cambodia as a missionary, and one of her sons has joined her for a while -- she stuck his homeschool in his back pocket and shipped him off, she said. The rest of her kids, she, and her husband live in an 800 sq ft A-frame house in the country (either NorCal or Oregon, never figured out which). She is a huge part of a women's prison ministry where she lives. Apparently drugs, alcohol, and prostitution are part of her past before Christ got a hold of her. Needless to say, Mary Alice of all women has led a HARD life and she admits to it whole heartedly. But you know what her favorite saying is?

MY GOD IS BIGGER!

This was a different kind of retreat than I am used to. I've always gotten way in-depth, nitty gritty Bible study at retreats. Mary Alice covered large chunks of Psalms 119 and a passage in Hebrews. She never went to the Greek and Hebrew. She never dug to the deepest ravines between the lines. I think normally I would have been disappointed. But not so this time. I needed to just listen and watch Mary Alice.

People. Tried and true genuine JOY was overflowing every nook and cranny of that woman. Joy in her Savior. Joy in the life she has been blessed with. She doesn't have joy just down in her heart...joy IS her heart! The FREEDOM she expressed, even without words, was so refreshing to see. The freedom she has in Christ. The freedom she has from her past. The freedom she has from life's trials. How did she get this joy and freedom? By making "My God is bigger" the theme of her life. She didn't say it was her theme, but I can tell she lives by it every day. She told the doctor who timidly approached her with the results revealing her daughter was downs, "She is fearfully and wonderfully made, and I'm taking her home!" Why? Because God is bigger than downs. Because God knit her together and gave her to the parents He desired for her. She approaches all of life this way. Nothing touches this woman, not because she is strong, but because she understands and clings to the SIMPLE fact that our God is bigger than anything this world has to offer or can throw at us.

And she also portrayed the SIMPLE but most profound and fundamental aspect of our faith...

Just Love Jesus.

Just love Him. Why do we make it so hard? Why do we work, do, serve, minister, and work some more while hardly giving a thought to doing it out of love for Jesus rather than others? By simply loving Jesus, you WILL love others. But just because you love others does not necessarily mean you love Jesus most. If we loved Him with our whole hearts, we would have courage to speak His name, raise our hands in song-worship, seek His face constantly through the day, and so much more. Just. Love. Jesus. So simple, and yet it shames us because we always add more than is necessary.

Believe God is bigger. And just love Jesus.

So simple that it's hard for my brain to grasp the simplicity for all the extras I've added my whole life. When I learn to let the extras go, that is when the joy and freedom will flow!

Retreat II: Fun Bits

ARGH! Blogger is still not cooperating with posting the pictures. I will e-mail them and see what the deal is.

Place - The camp was gorgeous! Set up in the moutains of Santa Cruz, it was such a refreshing and relaxing retreat from busy city streets and hectic noises. The ladies took my pregnant belly into consideration and did things for me I never even would have thought to ask for: the room closest to the conference center, a double mattress on my bed, and a chair beside my bed for me to sit on. Such simple provisions, and yet it truly showed how THOUGHTFUL these ladies are. And without knowing it, Tricia had provided us all with a few "extras" which included the body wash I use here at home but didn't take and the matching lotion that I've never thought to buy. And it works wonders on my itchy stretch marked belly. And what did Tricia allow me to do? Keep both the body wash and lotion! Such a small gesture, but it means so much. (I wish I could have gotten a picture of the "river" that ran beside the camp. You could hear it when you walked outside. And it was gorgeous! But too far down in a ravine and I wasn't willing to get close enough to the edge to take a picture.) :-)

Food - It was tasty! The tomato soup had a kick to it, so I couldn't finish it. As did the scrumptious chicken cheese enchilada. But boy was it all good. Funny thing though. Me, little miss Home Ec major, sat there eating the "meat" on Saturday night desperately trying to figure out if it was pork or turkey. Tasted like turkey. Looked like turkey (mostly). Didn't smell awful like pork. And it was good. So I ate it in my pride without asking what it was. But at lunch the next day I asked someone. Yep. It was pork. Did you know for years upon years I have always been soooo against pork and have told people I can't stand the stuff? But, I ate the whole silly piece on my plate and actually enjoyed it. Matt is grateful since he likes pork. Favorite food item of the weekend? The pineapple sorbet at Sunday lunch. Tricia told me I was allowed to eat a second helping because it was sorbet, not ice cream. I love it when other women help me find the excuses. :-)

Games - Zilch...not a game to play at 9:30 at night and/or if you hate math. Yuck. Scattergories - did you know there are still people out there who haven't played??? I ended up teaching a group of women (after quitting Zilch unashamedly) who had never played. The one who owned it had never even assembled it. Hoopla - I brought it and taught a group of women on Friday night. On Saturday night, I left it sitting all alone on a table while I played Scattergories, but quite a sizeable group of women ended up playing. I was glad to see their enjoyment!

Seminars - There were two beauty seminars given by Jo (face) and Monica (hair). They were quite interesting, and I was able to be the model for the basic day look make-up. It was SO much fun to see a few of the women have their hair and make-up done up. It is so amazing every time you watch someone apply make-up in such a way that it truly brings out the woman's beauty rather than "wow, look at her make-up." We even got a few samples to try at home.

So those are the fun bits of the weekend. To come are the more meaningful things that happened and what I learned. For now, I'm gonna go have a picnic lunch by the pool. It is INCREDIBLY gorgeous here, and I'm hoping to get some more R&R. Though I had a 3 1/2 hour nap yesterday and 9 hours last night, I think the weekend took more of a toll than I thought it would. For those who've prayed for my ribs...they are not as excrutiating today. It goes between a dull tenderness to the sharp pains. Haven't figured out yet what makes it hurt worse. But at least I can breath better!

Retreat I: What a weekend!

Ok, so the exclamation point is a little too energy-filled for what I am right now. Boy, am I exhuasted! But it was such a wonderful weekend. God really answered prayer -- I got to know PLENTY of new women and the ones I already knew a little I got to know alot better.

I requested to room with Karen, and thought it would be nice to room with her, Robin, and Norma. But I could only ask for one. But guess what! They were ALL in my room...plus crazy fun Tricia (who almost immediately started massaging my back when I got to the room) and her neighbor Sandy (who came to Christ Sunday morning! more on this later...). It is overwhelming to see the love of Christ POUR out of these women. The joy and exhuberance they have in serving others. The crazy personalities they have. Well, ok, Tricia and Karen are by far the craziest. Norma and Robin are much more "normal." ;-) I am happy to say that just before we left on Sunday, I was able to tell Robin she can be my secondary coach and then told Karen and Doreen that they can be my "maternal" support and emotional encouragement. I couldn't choose just one. I love them all and see how each of them can help if my family isn't here when I go into labor. Not to mention, if I chose one, the cat fighting over who got to do it might have gotten worse! But it was hilarious to watch! And I felt honored, in a weird way, to be fought over by women who could be my mothers (except Karen, she's the youngest of them).

I will post pictures later when Blogger decides to cooperate. And don't worry. There is much more to come about the weekend. I just don't want to take up the whole Internet with one post, and I need a nap now.

Pray for my left ribs. Something is painfully wrong. I hope it is nothing too serious, and I don't think it is. But it HURTS!

Early Morning Post

Ok, so it's not that early to the rest of you. But a 7:30 am post is unheard of for me. Mostly because I'm never on the computer this early, but Matt left at 7:00 and for some weird reason I'm awake. For now.

These flowers were a blessing from above by means of my mom. I've been quite overwhelmed lately with the whole process of labor and delivery. Not overwhelmed in a bad, sad, angry, joyous, anxious, or excited way. Just flat out overwhelmed. I think it is because 1) I now know what my body is capable of and will inevitably do and 2) AWE at the INCREDIBLE way God has designed the female body. You all wouldn't believe how many intricate details work together to form, carry, and deliver a baby. Well, unless of course you've had a baby before. :-) I kept telling Matt that I know God has made me for this. But, God knew I needed someone ELSE to tell me that. And you know what He impressed upon my mom to put in the note that came with the cheery flowers? "You are designed for what is ahead." Stopped me in my tracks and made the tears flood my cheeks and wash away the burdensome overwhelmed feeling. Since that afternoon, instead of being emotionally overwhelmed when I think about the NEAR future, I have that kind of gentle excitement and quiet anticipation within me. Hmm, sounds like God's peace, huh? Thank you, Momma, for your generous surprise and much needed encouragement. I wonder if God plants glorious flowers for YOU every time you send them to Aut and I. I'll definitely have to visit your mansion in glory!

My doc appt went very well yesterday. Matt came back with me and was able to witness Dr. G's amazing turn around in bedside manner. So talkative and friendly again! Praise the Lord! I only gained 1 pound the past two weeks (woo hoo!) and my BP was 110/60 (very good!). My belly measures 35 cm which is right on target for being 35 weeks, and Judah's heartbeat was fine. But here's the interesting piece of news...

I asked Dr. G if he does inductions because we learned about them in class on Tuesday night. He said he does them whenever he can! He explained to us his reasons why and the method he uses depending on when and why he is inducing someone. He said that if I do not go into labor by March 13th, he'll begin induction that day! Now, if that's not a cool but weird thought, I don't know what is! That means that Judah will be born NO LATER than the 13th or a couple days after depending on the induction process and my body. The true end is in sight. No more "how far past the due date will I go?" Now it's just "will I have Judah before the 13th?" It's exciting! Especially since I KNOW now that Nonie and Thea will still be around! But, of course, if he comes early...odie weldie! I'll be callin' up someone from church!

Speaking of, this weekend is the ladies' retreat. I'm looking forward to it, though it will be interesting to find out how I will do at a camp in the mountains (yes there are cabins, not tents) while pregnant. I already got special permission to have snacks in my room even though the camp does not allow it. I'm still trying to decide if I can/should take two or three of our king sized pillows. They're only twin beds, so I'm not sure three would fit. It's just two nights. Maybe I'll be ok?

I am excited about the topic, Treasures of the Heart. It is all about Scripture and how we are to hide in our hearts and such. Perfect for what has been the growing desire of my heart lately! What I am looking forward to most is getting to know more ladies and becoming better friends with the ones I already do know. A few of them know one of my intentions is to single out a couple or three that I can feel comfortable enough calling up to be my secondary coach just in case no family is here when Judah is born. One of them, Robin, her HUSBAND had quite the conversation with Matt and I last Sunday about how his wife would LOVE to be our support person and to feel free to call her up...that she'd get to the hospital the moment we did. Not because she necessarily loves labor/delivery (though she's done it 7 times) but because she just loves to support people. I can see that in Robin. But I've got my eye set on Karen. I have felt from the moment I met her that we are supposed to be friends. Whether it's to establish a good friendship, a mentorship, or to have her help with the birth of our first child, I don't know. I just know God put a spark in my heart for her, and I think she feels the same way. We'll see!

I hope the food is good.

I'm gonna go take an early morning nap. Then it's off to packing, small grocery shopping, baking chocolate chip pumpkin mini muffins for retreat, an afternoon nap with Matt, dinner at (probably) In 'n Out, then off to rendezvous with the ladies who will drive me to the retreat!

Have a splendiferous weekend!

Second Post for Today

Wow, it's unusual for me to post twice in a day. Or thrice if you include Sanctifying Truth. Just thought I'd throw out some pictures for ya'll to browse!

My birthday flowers from Momma. A refreshing burst of spring in the cold and dreary winter months (for the rest of you that is.) ;-)

Next are the beginnings of Judah's scrapbook. Sorry for the flash on the cover, but I keep the plastic on for protection. Matt questioned it, but I am glad I did...a photo sticker got on it; and if it hadn't been covered, it would have ripped when I peeled it off! Click on the pictures to get a closer look at what was written and the pictures.

The "title page" sets precedent. I will always do a silhouette of whatever each child's "animal" is, the meaning of their name, and then the day and year they were born. Obviously, there is nothing above 2006 yet.

Morning Glory

Wow! What a morning! I truly believe I am a morning person. I'd just forgotten how much of one I am. Here's what I've done so far today...

~Woke up and spent time with Matt
~Got dressed to the shoes and hair
~Had cereal while we read and prayed together
~Went to Target and the grocery store
~Put the groceries away (carried them up the stairs by myself in 2 trips)
~Made Matt's lunch
~Saw Matt off to school by walking him to the car instead of staying at the door (3rd stair trip!)
~Started my daily ritual of chatting with Jaclyn, e-mail, and blog checking.
~Updated our finances.

...and now I'm deciding what to have for my mid-morning snack. Though I guess it is almost lunch time. It's so refreshing to have lots of activity in the morning compared to dragging myself out of bed and straight to breakfast, bye Matt, and then computer.

Did I mention it is a glorious day outside already? The sun is...wait, was (just looked outside) shining, the birds are still singing. It's cool enough to feel the briskness but not enough to need a jacket. It's rained recently so the air smells fresh and isn't dry. Simply wonderful.

Makes me wonder what on earth I'm going to do this afternoon! I hope you all have a wonderful day alongside me! I do know that we're going to childbirth class tonight...it's on the pushing stage. Yipe! :-P

Check out Faulty Double Helix today. It's a good one! (linked at left)

I've been made a believer!

But not in a spiritual sense. :-P Has anyone out there ever tried the Mr. Clean Magic Eraser? My mom has, I know. I've had two sitting under my sink just waiting to be tried. Today was that day. Woah nelly. It's AMAZING! Our tub has a built-in non-slip surface, and all the little bumps looked dirty. But no amount of scrubbing I did would ever get it pristine. A few scrubs in one spot with the Magic Eraser...and I was calling Matt in to see what it did! A perfectly white strip amidst dingy-ness. I also used it on the grout of our kitchen's tile coutnertops. Everything looks so much brighter now! After all that scrubbing though, I did have to throw it away. It was next to falling apart altogether. But so worth it! Try it!

So, Jaclyn's sweet dad asked me the other day if I've done "nesting" yet. I told him no because I clean pretty regularly, though not as ferociously as I used to. But today is the first day in a long time where I've done the cleaning all at once, with only a couple water breaks. I guess I could be nesting since the time is getting closer. I did our dry erase calendar today for February...and a few days of THE month are now on the calendar! Eek! :-)

But...it also could be the cinnamon rolls and coffee we had for breakfast that made me clean the bathrooms, dust, scrub the coutners, do the dishes, do some laundry, rearrange and perk up my birthday flowers...because of the sugar and half-caf high! :-P Remember my post a while back where I tried cinnamon rolls using my biscuit recipe? Well, thanks to Food Network and Semi-Homemade Cooking, I think I've discovered an easier way to assemble them. All you gotta do is:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees.

In a small bowl, combine 1 cup brown sugar and 1 Tbs cinnamon. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine:
2 cups flour
1 Tbs sugar
1 Tbs baking powder
1 tsp salt

Cut in 1/2 cup shortening (or butter). With a fork, stir in 3/4 cup milk until dough leaves sides of bowl.

On a floured surface, knead dough with a little more flour 10 times. Roll or pat out to 1/4" thick rectangle (or as close to a rectangle as you can get). Butter entire surface using almost a whole stick of softened butter. Spread out and pack on brown sugar/cinnamon mixture.

Starting at one end of the rectangle, roll dough tightly making sure to get a packed log. Use a bread knife to cut the log into 1/2" to 3/4" sections. Place in a baking stone or greased pan. Bake for 15-20 mintues.

Meanwhile, combine 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 Tbs milk, and 1 tsp vanilla. Whisk together until completely smooth. Continue adding powdered sugar until you reach a thick, smooth glaze. Pour on top of rolls when they come out of the oven.

I didn't remember the exact amounts of sugar/cinnamon or powdered sugar glaze, but who cares. It still turned out. I think she might have used canned bread dough or something like that. I used my biscuit recipe, guesstimated the amounts of filling and glaze, and used her method of assembly. I think I shall call them "Sunrise Cinnabiscuits." How's that sound? They go great with coffee, by the way!

And yes, if you are health conscious at all, you will probably feel guilt after you eat three of them and have a cup of vanilla nut coffee. Definitely a fat and sugar splurge...but hey, it gets your house clean! :-D

It's a big big bed, with lots and lots of room...

Ok, so I changed the wording to Audio Adrenaline's Big House song. But you'll see why. The eastern king rails did indeed come yesterday, and the two nice men set up our bed for us. And as they left, my eyes just about fell out of my head. It is GORGEOUS..........and much more ominous looking that I thought it would be. :-P I can't tell you how bizarre it was sleeping on a "REAL big bed" as Autumn put it this morning. It really does make you feel more like the parents of a household when you've got a nice big bed to cozy up in. HA! But if I need a step stool, how on earth are kids gonna come bounding up on Saturday mornings? :-P And yes, I really need the step stool. I tried several ways to get up on the bed, but none of them worked. One way MIGHT work after I'm not pregnant anymore, but I'm not optimistic.

Still though, I am so excited and continue thanking God and Matt for providing the bed and dresser for us! Now if only our nightstands weren't so stinking short now...

The finished dresser wall.











The far wall with the mirror we got for VERY cheap at Target. First time we've had a full length mirror in our marriage too. It's kind of weird to see your whole self at one time when you are not used to it.

::breaks into song again:: It's a big big bed, with lots and lots of room. It's a big tall bed, that takes up the whole room...

GREAT Belly Photos

Matt is awesome! With our combined efforts, we got some more belly photos taken last night. They turned out so well! I only wish I could post the more artsy ones, but those are only for select viewers. :-P

Busy Day to Relaxing Busy Day

Wow! Yesterday was a whirlwind Sunday. Morning service, Starbucks run, membership interview with two elders, lunch with pastor & family for Matt and Todd to talk with Jim about the new church website, second Starbucks run (I had water this time) with Todd, Target to browse (ended up finding a STEAL on a full length mirror), back to church for evening service's annual business meeting (we've got SUCH a solid church), followed by a dessert fellowship. We were one of the very last few people to leave. Gone for 12 straight hours! It was such a fun day! So full of sweet fellowship and gaining more and more "family" away from home! Praise the Lord for His kindess in leading us straight to these amazing people!

Then there is today. Busy at home, but in a relaxing way. Typical e-mail, blog checking and posting, and of course chatting with Jaclyn and any family that gets on. But then the day's activity increases. Exercise, lunch, laundry, and finishing mending the dust ruffle. Why the mending? BECAUSE...our Eastern King bed rails arrive tomorrow! We're so excited! And I'll finally get to show you all how beautiful our room is now!

But for now, I feel like copying Tracie. This is one of the coolest no-reason surveys I've seen...

1. Grab the book nearest to you, turn to page 18, and find line 4- "...to follow you, then you will be free..." Genesis 24:8
2. Stretch out your left arm as far as you can. The printer.
3. What is the last thing you watched on TV? Today Show
4. Without looking, guess what time it is. 11:48 am
5. Now look at the clock. What is the actual time? 11:52 am
6. With the exception of the computer, what do you hear? A neighbor vacuuming.
7. When did you last step outside? What were you doing? Around 9:00 am as I watched Matt walk to the car and we talked about how cold it was, he reminded me to exercise today, and we exchanged I love you's and blown kisses.
8. Before you started this survey, what did you look at? Caught up with my commenters on my two blogs.
9. What are you wearing? My Christmas pj bottoms, white long sleeve t-shirt, earrings, skivies.
10. Did you dream last night? Yes.
11. When did you last laugh? A few moments ago when I read that Thea called me a "Cheeky Minx." I love it when she says that.
12. What is on the walls of the room you are in? The infamous but beautiful big wooden fork and spoon from Hati that I made SURE Matt didn't do away with while we were cleaning out his grandmother's house.
13. What do you think of this quiz? I like that it has original questions.
14. What is the last film you saw? At the theatre - King Kong. On DVD - Crash. (very eye opening and thought provoking about racism and how our lives are all connected...but watch out for the L.A. style language)
15. If you become a multi-millionaire, what would you buy? Help our church find new property that doesn't have tiger salamanders on it and give to the building fund, save enough to all-out buy a house in MD when we move, pay off a few debts some of our friends/family have, get a Honda Pilot for Matt paid in full (and pay off our Accord), and have a day at a spa in Monterey for some prenatal relaxation!
6. Tell me something about you that I don't know. I now have to have the house at 68 degrees at night in order to remain comfortable. None of you except Matt know that because that is SOOO out of the ordinary for me. I think the "hot" part of pregnancy has finally begun for me.
17. If you could change one thing about the world, excepting politics and guilt, what would it be? Smoking, drugs, and abortion would be non-existant.
18. Do you like to dance? YES! I just don't have enough opportunity!
19. George Bush? A sweet, good-natured Southern boy who loves God and desires to do his best in serving the country God has placed in his hands. And he adores his wife too!
20. Imagine your first child is a girl. What do you call her? Elaina Marie
21. Imagine your first child is a boy. What do you call him? I don't have to imagine this one. Judah Gabriel.
22. Would you consider living abroad? Consider, yes. Do...I'm not sure. It would depend on where and why.
23. What do you want God to say to you when you reach the pearly gates? "Welcome home. Be at rest. And enjoy my company forever!"

Jaclyn tagged me with this...

Four jobs you have had in your life:
1. Sales Clerk at Name Brand Clothing
2. Lifeguard
3. Secretary at Family Counsel (best job!)
4. Secretary at Union University
...and believe it or not, I think that's it for official jobs I've ever had!

Four movies you would watch over and over:
1. Miss Congeniality 1 & 2
2. Independence Day
3. Willow
4. Clueless ::almost afraid to admit it::

Four places you have lived:
1. Little Rock, AR
2. Santa Clarita, CA
3. Jackson, TN
4. Salinas, CA

Four TV shows you love to watch:
1. Lost
2. Emeril Live
3. Oprah
4. Star Trek ::again, almost afraid to admit it::

Four places you have been on vacation:
1. Maui, Hawaii
2. Bermuda
3. St. Thomas, Virgin Islands
4. Florida Keys

Four websites I visit daily:
1. All the blogs...usually at least twice.
2. Hotmail
3. Um...
4. Er...

Four of my favorite foods:
1. Fetuccini Alfredo and Tiramisu from Olive Garden
2. Papa John's Pizza and garlic sauce
3. Fresh pineapple
4. Potatoes in pretty much any form

Four places I would rather be right now:
1. In Christ's arms
2. With Aut and the kids
3. Having ice cream at Jaclyn's house (with no one choking...)
4. With my hubby on the couch...which I am going there this second...

Post-Birthday Post -- or rather, Book

Well, so begins my second day of being 24. Yes, I do feel a year older. Jaclyn made a really good point yesterday - She always feels a year older when alot has happened in that year to grow and mature her both in life situation and maturity. I think she is completely right. And I think I have several huge reasons to feel older. Celebrating one year of marriage, moving across the country to a whole new life, new job for Matt, and becoming parents. Yep. I definitely feel 24. And I think it's a good age to be for where we're at in life. Now for Matt to join me in May... :-P

Yesterday was a good day all around. It started with sleeping in an hour later than usual while Matt had his own breakfast and study. Then he came and cuddled with me for a while before he had to get ready for school. A perfect way to start the day in my opinion. Nothing like a golden room being lit up by morning sun and relaxing in the arms of the one you love. ::sigh of relaxation:: I laid in bed awake for a whole hour more as I talked with my mom and Autumn, both calling with birthday wishes. One began with a big Happy Birthday! and the other began with a smile-inducing rendition of the Happy Birthday Song by Autumn and three little munchkins. Yes, I got out of bed to see Matt out the door. I'm not THAT lazy on my birthday! :-)

I then had a wonderful oatmeal, strawberries, and coffee breakfast as I began my morning chat with Jaclyn. It was just me and her all morning long. No one else was online. No one called. It was very special to me to have that undistracted time with her on my birthday. Not that I don't enjoy talking to others, but it almost felt like we were out to coffee or something. So much fun! It only continued the perfect way my day started. But alas, she can't stay at work forever!

I had a good healthy lunch of a turkey sandwich with my favorite trimmings - cheese, lettuce, and tomato. With some healthy flax seed infused blue corn tortilla chips. Caught some TV, though there really wasn't much on. Lost Fans - Did you know the images in the black smoke during its stare down with Eko were scenes from Eko's past??? Him holding his brother, the man he killed when he was young, a crucifix, and a woman we haven't been introduced to yet. Crazy!

Anyway, then I went and got all comfy in bed again and read more of Redeeming Love by Francine Rivers. I'll be sad when I turn the page and there is no more! A couple hours later I finally got around to getting ready for our birthday outing -- doctor's appointment (shouldn't it be the patient's appointment?), Olive Garden, and birthday gift shopping.

Doctor's Appointment - Oh...my...word. It was SO pleasant this time around! Perhaps we finally broke through the barrier with each other? It was the first normal, routine visit I've had. For those who knew I *sadly* gained 8 pounds over December, I managed to LOSE 1/2 pound in the last two weeks. Praise the Lord! Everything is perfectly fine and healthy with both Judah and I. Dr. Goodwein always asks if I have any questions, and I said no yesterday. He said, "You are just too calm for a first timer." :-) I did eventually ask his thoughts on epesiotomes and epidurals...and boy was he talkative. But his coutnenance was so pleasant the whole time. This doctor is truly the one I needed, regardless of how indifferent and gruff Matt and I thought him to be. Again, praise the Lord! I see him again in two weeks...and then *drum roll* I begin seeing him every week. That means the time is REALLY getting close now!

Olive Garden - Tasty. Need I say anything else? We had such a wonderful waitress. She reminded me alot of Jodee Upchurch in her casual, friendly, and servant's heart attitude. Though she was not quite as bubbly and outspoken as dear Jodee. ;-) And I have concluded that you know you truly have a grown-up taste when tiramisu is the heaven of desserts to your taste buds. ::sigh:: Could I have a-nuther, puh-lease? Richly coffeed soft lady fingers with such creamy marscapone dusted with decadent fine chocolate... ::snaps and comes to::

Birthday Gift Shopping - Ok. I have a deeply rooted issue with spending money on completely frivolous things that are for myself. It really is a serious problem. I was intending to get some practical but pretty clothing ::ahem:: but was not impressed with the colors/patterns available. Lerner was having an AMAZING SHAZAAMING sale, and we looked around for a while in there...even contemplating getting a pair of nice cords for $10 in the size I wish to be after losing weight post-pregnancy. And there was a cute blue sweater for only $12! I wasn't sure about having "Goal Pants" because people always warn against losing weight to fit into a specific piece of clothing, and Matt didn't really like the style of the sweater. He did come up with the great idea...ALL his idea and I am impressed...of having a jar post-pregnancy and a weekly weigh in. He said for every pound I lose, he'll put $3 in the jar for a new clothes. So if I lose 50 lbs (including the weight I lose during delivery such as baby, etc.), that's $150! I could do alot with that! So we went to JCPenney's to look at necklaces since I was only able to find one at Christmas. Enter my deeply rooted issue.

A necklace is PURE ADORNMENT and nothing more. Yes, nice clothes are not necessary. We could wear cheap clothing and have the need for covering met. But I feel that we as Christians are to look presentable while fulfilling our need for clothing. Clothes are not PURE adornment. They are a necessity with the option of being adornment. A necklace? Useless. A pretty thing to hang around your neck and nothing more. Do people wear them for themselves or so others will notice? If I wear a necklace that is trendier than my classic silver simple jewelry, what will others think? Will they think I am trying to fit in and/or be noticed? Will they notice my necklace and not me? Couldn't $12 be spent on something that is pretty AND practical? Why does it seem like such a waste to spend it on a necklace?

Those are just a FEW of the questions Matt and I discussed while I contemplated the necklace I found that I think is beautiful but is SO not anything like what I own or wear right now. I always buck the trend. I love being considered classy and sophisticated with an edge...remember my wedding? Tradition with twist? Well, this necklace is all twist with no tradition. Matt brought up the FACT that I spent more time deciding on this necklace than I did on the bed frame and dresser...and the necklace is only a drop in the bucket compared to what we paid for the furniture. He is right. And I saw how silly I was being. But it truly is HARD for me. Jaclyn understands. She's got a big mother of pearl butterfly necklace she branched out with. Matt ended up telling me to just get the necklace (it is a birthday gift after all so it's ok if it's frivolous) and try it on with the outfits I had in mind. If I didn't like it, I could take it back. So, I got it. It does look good with the outfits I had in mind. I just hope I can pull it off as well as some other people can with this kind of trend going on (Aut, you'd look awesome in it!). Matt assured me it's ok to change styles! Everyone does it. I don't know if I want to completely change my style, but it would be nice to let down my hair and be a little funkier once in a while. :-)

I like it best with the two short necklaces off of the pendant one. I'm going to see about getting some hooks for the other two necklaces...so I'd have three necklaces out of one with several combination options.

Then we finally got home to find my annual birthday flowers from my mom. Ahh, so nice to have fresh flowers inside our home. Is there anything more refreshing, serene, and joyful at the same time? They are purple and yellow flowers of various varieties in a clear purple square vase. (For some reason I can't get the picture from the camera to the computer even though I just did it with the necklace pictures. I'll keep working on that.) Matt worked on homework while I messed around with taking pictures of my necklace. And Jaclyn called to SAY Happy Birthday rather than type it. A good way to end the day just like it started! Then...I got back to reading Redeeming Love until bed time.

And tonight, we're having Rich & Diane and Kim & Moses over for dinner/Bible study. And since my mentor group suprised me with a birthday cake on Tuesday...we get birthday cake for dessert! Matt and I have done very well not to cut into it yet! Thanks for letting me share my day! Birthdays seem to get less people filled and more relaxing the older I get. Eventually though, I'd like to have a party again!

Don't forget to read my other blog The Sanctifying Truth as well as Faulty Double Helix, both links are at the left. I hope you all have a wonderful Friday and good weekend!

I've Finally Done It

Bright ideas sometimes come when you least expect them. Not to add to your blogging world or anything, but I have created a new blog. This blog will be for life events and pictures while the new one will be much more personal and practical.

www.sanctifyingtruth.blogspot.com

It's more for my benefit than anyone else's...but I know we ALL can benefit from what I will be posting about. Also, note the new links I've put up to my blog and three new ones.

Bed update - So, they came to deliver our new bed and dresser last Thursday. Guess what! We have an Eastern King, not a California King. :-P So the rails for the frame were too narrow and too long. So they left the dresser (thank you!) and the headboard is leaning against the wall with our mattress on the floor in front of it. The footboard is leaning against another wall. But even still! It looks worlds better and we are THOROUGHLY enjoying having a headboard rather than a wall to lean against. It makes it feel like a real bedroom. Imagine that. They said it would take about two weeks for the new rails to come in, so maybe in another week. It gives me time to repair our dust ruffle...I sew up one rip and then find another one, then another. Very odd, but at least it is fixable!

Tomorrow is...a busy day. ;-) We might have the car washed. Then we have another Dr. Goodwein appointment. Then dinner at Olive Garden. Tradition! 24 seems kinda old to me. But the closer tomorrow has gotten, the younger 24 seems. I'm glad!

Ok, gonna eat lunch now and finish chatting with Jaclyn. She's such a trap! I wanted to nap like two hours ago. But alas, she is irresistable! I can nap and clean the house in one afternoon right? YES!

Cory James Christopher Savary

It's startling to wake up to a phone call from your mom telling you that one of your cousins died unexpectedly during the night. Cory had been dealing with pneumonia, and it got the better of him.

Cory just turned 19 on Jan 7. I remember when he was little, you couldn't really communicate with him and he was not the most disciplined child. He was afflicted with autism and a few other things.

But that was then. As he grew older, and especially after being provided with the perfect care, he was only affected -- not afflicted.

This morning, Matt and I continued to lay in bed after I finished the call with my mom. I started thinking back over Cory's life, and could not help but smile and be in awe at how far he had come. He was night and day from the child he used to be. You could ask him questions, and he would understand and answer. He could tell you what he wanted, needed, or was excited about. His affection was very sweet and only increased in frequency and tenderness with age...though his hugs could still be bone crushing at times! His ability to do tasks became tremendous! I remember after Christmas dinner watching him faithfully clear the table. Not just a few things. He helped until the job was finished! I got very nervous when he picked up my mom's Christmas china gravy boat filled with gravy to carry it to the kitchen. There was no reason for me to be nervous -- he handled it perfectly. That's when I found out he'd actually been busing tables as a job in Conway where he lived (30 min from LR). Astounding!

I see it as God's grace in his life. Only with God's help and through His will was Cory able to overcome the mental blocks life had given him. It is God who provided the perfect circumstances for Cory to be able to live in Conway at a place he could thrive at. The perfect people to teach him skills and discipline. The perfect family who faithfully loved him and brought him home to LR for weekend vacations and family affairs -- to remind him he had a family that loved him dearly. It would be very easy for those like Cory to be overlooked and left by the wayside. But that was not God's plan for Cory's life. He is a precious part of our family; and, though he was just one person, he altered the dynamic of our family life.

I have a few fun memories of Cory:

~As I've said before, his bone crushing hugs! I am glad that Judah got squished by Cory at least once, though it did make me nervous to be hugged so hard while being pregnant!

~His insatiable love of toy snakes. He loved them and I think got them EVERY Christmas, birthday, or whatever gift-giving day in the year there is! I remember times when he'd pretend that one on the floor was real...or actually mistake it for being real. It was funny to participate with him (unless your realized his fear was real!).

~His tears whenever a saxophone would play. The first time I learned that he would lose it like a woman when a sax was heard was when the whole family was at Riverfront Park in LR for the 4th of July fireworks. The band started playing a slow blues-jazz selection, and he just started weeping. I believe it was Nonie who explained to me that he cried whenever a sax would play. I told Matt this morning that I STILL wonder what it was inside Cory that impacted him so greatly to hear that one particular instrument.

~His affection for Janet. Janet is a trooper! Not only did she immediately gain two sons when she married Skip, but she gained a son that had special needs. I remember watching her struggle to learn how to interact with him. It has been wonderful to watch their relationship grow and develop as Cory matured mentally and as Janet matured spiritually/maternally. It was precious to watch Cory always patting Janet's back, hugging her with BIG hugs, kissing her cheeks with wet kisses. I wonder just how much of his heart was taken up with love for her. :-) The picture above is of Janet helping Cory open his Christmas gift.

~His affection for...anyone! He always had a hug ready for any person that even minutely gestured for one.

~His facial expressions. Though he could not express every thought using words, you could totally tell what he was thinking. I think my favorite face of his was "Aww, come on" look which is similar to a rolling of the eyes. He'd look up and to the side while slightly closing his eyelids and give a pronounced sigh.

This being the first time a close member of the Savary side of the family has passed on has brought up quite the array of thoughts and feelings inside me. It is hard to be so far from home and family that it seems impossible (and probably is) for me to fly home, be with them, and attend the funeral. So many questions have run through my mind as well. The very FIRST thing I thought when I hung up with my mom was, "So can Nonie and Gramps still say they have 24 grandchildren?" I know the answer is yes. And I can still say I have 12 cousins (if I counted correctly). It just seems to make it a little more awkward, for lack of a better word.

And one of my more precious thoughts that creates in me a gentle grief all it's own is that I will only be able to teach Judah about Cory. I will only be able to give him the memories that I have of a cousin he can not see, but was hugged by.

It feels different to know that we are missing a member of the Slew. We are the closest family I have ever ever known -- and now we are down by one. A great reminder that life is fragile, and though we seem to be an invincible example of a family who adores each other, it doesn't mean all of us will be called Home at the same time.

Lucky duck. Maybe instead of clearing, he'll have the table set for all of us when we get there -- complete with rubber snake place cards and some soft jazz background music.

Copying Autumn...

Thirteen Things I look forward to with OUR NEW FAMILY 1. Judah's first smile. 2. Seeing Judah's eyes looking at Matt and I. 3. Watching Matt hold Judah in the mornings when he's dressed in his business attire. (He already pretended with a teddy bear and blanket we have in the crib right now. It was adorable!) 4. Laying down in our bed with Judah between us and playing with him. 5. The moments Matt and I will look in on Judah together as he sleeps. 6. Showing off our bundle of joy to our new church family. 7. The challenge of learning how to care for my own baby -- esp. learning which cry means what. 8. Catching Matt asleep with Judah cuddled on his chest. 9. Catching myself asleep with Judah cuddled on my chest. 10. Smelling that sweet baby scent...and realizing it's my own baby that smells that way. 11. The new dynamic Judah will create for mine and Matt's marriage. It has already brought us closer. I can already tell that I am still first to Matt, and he is still first to me. And both of us are more in awe of what God is doing with our lives. 12. The challenge of getting my body back with Matt's encouragement and Judah's willingness to live outside of me...and help "nurse" my body back! :-) 13. All the other firsts that will come later on -- giggles, picnics in the park, crawling, walking, babbling, talking, discovering hands and feet, play dates, cute toddler clothes...the list is endless as you moms know!

Pray Before You Study

I was reading in Ecclesiastes a few morning ago after Matt left the bed to do his own morning study, and I realized that I really have come to enjoy using Matt's Bible for study and mine for just reading. But he took his Bible for that particular morning's study. So I decided to meditate on what the truth of God's Word does for us in our walk since I had reached a passage in Ecclesiastes that was nigh impossible to interpret on my own. I started reading Psalm 119 and marking the verses that were the desire of my heart. I came to the one part of the chapter that many people know by heart. But this time it struck me anew. What a PERFECT prayer for me to offer up each time I am about to study His Word. I have had a growing desire lately to really know Scripture, to understand what I read rather than just read. I want to retain its principles. I have thought more about how it is Truth that sanctifies us. It is the Word that lets us know more of Who God is. The more we know of Him, the more we know of ourselves...and the more we are put in our proper place. It is the Word that makes us more sensitive to our sin -- something I also desire more of right now.

This is my new prayer, one I hope will occur every morning from now on. I'm even making book marks with this passage on it for Matt and I.

Psalm 119:33-40

(ESV version)

Teach me, O Lord, the way of your statutes; and I will keep it to the end.

Give me understanding, that I may keep Your law and observe it with my whole heart.

Lead me in the path of Your commandments, for I delight in it.

Incline my heart to Your testimonies, and not to selfish gain!

Turn my eyes from looking at worthless things; and give me life in Your ways.

Confirm to Your servant Your promise, that You may be feared.

Turn away the reproach that I dread, for Your rules are good.

Behold, I long for Your precepts; in Your righteousness give me life!

9 days into the New Year

...and I'm just now posting. Oh, I've had time lately, just not motivation. It's one of those situations where you have SO much you want to post, you just don't have the energy to sit and create posts! I think I may work on several and save them as drafts to post throughout this week. I get so afraid people will miss posts if I continually post! So for my peace of mind I will say, check back often! Especially this week!

::singing:: Sunrise, sunset. Sunriiise, sunset. That was the theme of our return trip. We saw the sunrise on a plane. We saw the sunset on a plane. This is why. (And the pic is the sunrise. we didn't get the camera out fast enough for the even more incredible sunset.)

We got home safely (obviously). But safely does not mean easily! We left Little Rock Monday Jan 2 around 7:00 am. Got to Chicago...after what seemed to be an enormously long decent through incredible clouds. Why a "long" decent? Because the clouds were SO tall! I timed how long it took for the wheels to touch the ground from the time we first glimpsed the ground...30 seconds exactly. Never seen Chicago weather before. Don't know if I want to again. It was POURING down rain when we boarded our next plane. We sit for a while. Pilot says the hydrolics are being checked, a part being ordered, the wait will be at the very least an hour. We know we will miss our flight in Orange County. We get off with the rest of the passengers, change our flight from OC to San Jose and walk around. We board the plane again, sooner than expected (hurrah), and sit for a bit longer. The plane taxis to the runway and we sit...and sit...and sit...as it pours outside. Pilot says "When it rains it pours" and informs us we have to wait for planes to take off one at a time and pick their way through the weather. We look to the right across the runway. There are 15 planes waiting over there. We are second in line on our side. Each side takes turns, right? No. All 15 planes take off before us...about 10 minutes apart. We miss our re-booked flight in OC. We FINALLY arrive at OC airport and ask around about what we are supposed to do. We go down and outside to an annex building where commuter flights go to San Jose. The door is "locked" so we go all the way back up to the main terminal and find someone to help us. Apparently someone had booked us while we were in the air for a flight that was supposed to be taking off that very moment...but hadn't yet! So we argue with the lady about the "locked" door to find out you don't have to turn the handle, just pull the door open. Duh. So we run back to the annext building (fastest I've moved this whole pregnancy), PULL the door and make the flight. Praise God Moses was able to still pick us up in San Jose. But did our luggage make it with us? Nope. It came later that night and was delivered two days later. Truly the hardest day of flying I've ever had. And yes, pregnancy had something to do with that -- protein bars CAN get you through a day, but they get old after a while and sitting for that long isn't the best feeling in the world. I'd rather have the customs issue comeing back from Guatemala than a day like that again.

After having a few weeks to decide what to do with Matt's re-location bonus (totally unexpected provision from the Lord!!!), we went out looking for a bed frame. And found it in only a few hours. Ashley Furniture here was having a remodeling sale, so we decided to give them a shot (they are usually quite pricy you know). They had several beds in there we loved...but then we saw one that we loved AND was the price range we saw with online deals. We walked around one more time and came back to it and still loved it. We chatted over price...and God gave us quick wisdom. It is wiser to get the matching dresser (that was also a good price) than a sewing machine because sewing machines are always available, improving, and lowering in cost. Matching dressers are hard to find years down the road. Matt was able to get $400 knocked off the total cost of bed and dresser. I'd post the link....but I think I will wait until I can post real pictures of it with our bedding and such. I'm awaiting a call from them to set up delivery this week. It'd be SO cool if I could suprise Matt with it since he's got several long school days this quarter!

I wake up every morning now and smile just thinking about having a REAL bed instead of just a mattress on the floor. I told Matt it's like we're going to be OFFICIAL parents now. We have a big bed that our kiddos will be able to climb up on when Saturday morning rolls around so we can cuddle and laugh as a family. I guess it's part of what I consider the "American Ideal" for a family. Parents who have a nice big beautiful bed. Thank you, Lord, for ONCE AGAIN providing for our desires...however silly they may be!

Meanwhile, Matt and I have decided to get the last of the desired decorating done, mainly hanging frames. It's is SO amazing the transformation that takes place when you put stuff on the walls. It makes a place look truly lived in and cared for. I will post pictures of this project when I post pictures of our new bed and dresser. So I guess a Home Update is up and coming.

AND...without further ado... We had another Judah appointment and ultrasound last week. Dr. Goodwein was able to get some good 3-D shots of Judah. He said that Judah is DEFINITELY still a boy, which was comforting. Judah, again, kept his hands and arms (and legs and feet this time) up by his face. But Dr. Goodwein had a bag of tricks he used to get satisfactory pictures. Everything is still going swell, though I need to be careful from here on out with how much weight I gain. I'm already at the upper end of what is normal to gain. My main concern is that I want my body to be quick to return to normal as soon as I have Judah rather than have so much weight to lose and muscle to tone that it takes FOREVER. Pray for me as I try to be disciplined! Here are the pictures... and explanations in case you can't make out his form.

This is a profile shot. You can see his upper arm extending from the lower left hand corner, bending at the elbow, and his forearm and hand verticle in the center of the picture. To the left of his forearm is his head. The black area is his brain cavity with his forehead the lovely curve touching his hand. The "indentation" black area next to his wrist is his eye, and his chubby cheek is below that cradled in the crook of his arm. To the right of his elbow is his bent knee with his lower leg extending towards the right of the picture.


Again, his head is in the upper left of this picture. Forehead slopes down to darker area which is his closed eye. The line extending down from the dark area is his chubby cheek. His nose is a little distorted but is to the right of his eye, and his lips are below his nose (duh). His entire leg and foot is on the right side of the picture, with his flexed foot at the top. For those who are really good at interpreting this photo, you will notice the light colored curl between his toes and forehead -- those are curled fingers.



This was the best shot of all of little Judah's face. His head is still on the left side, but the angle is more frontal so you can see more of his face rather than a profile. In the very center of the picture is a triangular shaped object, that's his little nose (that I claim is Matt's!). To the left of his nose is his closed eye, down to his chubby cheek, and his sweet lips are below his nose followed by his chin. His arm and hand extend up over the right side of his face next to his nose, the hand resting on his forehead. I really hope you all can see it! These are simply amazing!


My appointments have now moved to every two weeks rather than once a month...a marker to me that the time really is approaching! My next one is actually on my birthday...Jan 19. I think more often now about the reality of giving birth to a child (and what the pain will be like) as well as the reality of actually having a child that is my own. One that I can not give back. One that I will be responsible for 24/7. These are not bad thoughts to me...just major reality checks I am grateful God is giving me now instead of when the moment comes! And it is SO fun to see Matt's eagerness for Judah to be out and in his arms to play with and cuddle. I thank God for a husband like Matt. He is perfect for me! We start our childbirth classes tomorrow evening, and my one-time breastfeeding class is on Saturday. I am hoping this will help our perspective on the coming events become more focused and even more realistic.

Mid-Holiday Post

I must say, a 2.5 week vacation feels WONDERFUL but a little odd at the same time. I came home for Christmas from California four times while in college and stayed several weeks. But this time, I came home from California with a husband for a couple weeks. I guess it's just odd because I'm not in school nor do I have a job to go back to. I just get to live life in a different spot with a husband. :-)

It's been quite busy too, compared to what I am used to. Autumn and Andy and the kiddos got here the same day we did. So it's been a community of 10 people living together in one house. I'm thankful my parents' house is big enough to accomidate us all...quite nicely at that! The bed Matt and I claimed has actually been quite good for my back and joints. I think it's the foam layer on top. Firm but gently cradles me. Oh, and I can't forget to mention the four pillows I sleep with and the husband I sometimes use as a body pillow in addition to those. :-P

It has been SO AMAZING to see Matt with the three kids. I am convinced now that we MUST have a daughter someday (Please, Lord!). He is simply adorable to watch with an even more adorable Hailey. He makes her (and the boys, too) giggle whenever they play together. He's got so much energy to fly them, horse around, play video games, snuggle, tickle, and the list could go on. We've never been around kids together for this much time. I consider it a blessing from God to have seen my husband's temprament with children just a couple months before we have one of our own. ::sigh:: I love Matt. End of story.

Speaking of our own...Judah's growing and I think I have too. :-P I still haven't put myself back on my parents' scale since we got here. Probably cause it makes me nervous. The eatin' has been good! I've been able to help with dinner most nights and expose my family to some of the dishes I cook for Matt and I. It's been cool to see what it would be like to cook for a family of 10. Double the food...and the flexibility!

We got quite blessed at the baby shower Rachel threw. An extra suitcase home is in order! (That's Diane, the lady who did the devotional.) Judah has been getting stronger as he grows. His kicks have become so strong when he's most active, that more than just my belly moves. Matt even "felt" a kick when he was just sitting next to me! I've also had a couple times where I'd be laying on my side and Judah (as usual) has used the bed as a trampoline. But now he has started pushing up against the bed so that I feel him on both sides of my belly. He pushes and holds, and if I gently push back he'll immediately recoil. I hope I'm not scaring him, but it's been the first...um...human to human interaction with him (for lack of a better way to explain it). Action and reaction between two human beings? Whatever. It's been awesome. Take my word for it!

Matt and I are thinking about going to spend our Kohl's gift cards today to get some date time. I'ts been totally fun being with so much family all the time, but we all have to admit it is not something Matt and I are used to! Matt is the only person I interact with 5 or 6 days a week on average, and I don't usually do much except for household tasks everday. When our plane hit the runway here, our feet didn't stop running. It's been a lovely change of pace, but one that my pregnant body has been exhausted by! And, when you're used to so much time alone with just your hunny...you miss it even when life is 10 times as lively as usual!

I know I'm going to have people withdrawals once we get back home, though. I've got plenty of options for activity here. Remind me what I did all day when I was at home?

Random list to keep having text in this post so you will be sure to see all the pictures:

I got my hair cut as a non-Christmas gift from my mom. I wish I could have Glynn at the snap of my fingers. There is nothing like 100% trust in the person who cuts your hair. I LOVE my new cut. It's definitely shorter, but I think it looks great and it is easy or complext to do at my own whim.

Things we got for Christmas:
1) A quilt journal with pages for pictures and explanations for all the quilts I have and will make. Hope started it for me.
2) A flip flop and flower chip and dip set from Autumn that matches our Fiestaware perfectly.
3) Giftcards to: Kohl's, Olive Garden, Starbucks, Jamba Juice, Cold Stone Creamery. Date heaven!
4) Christmas towels for our kitchen. Something I've wanted for a while now! Funny- I helped Hope pick out kitchen towels for my mom's stocking, when my mom had already gotten ME kitchen towels.
5) A GORGEOUS clear blue snowflake ornament from Hope called "Winter Fantasy" which I will henceforth name our future tree.
6) Lost, the First Season on DVD
7) Casting Crowns' Lifesong CD

Fun Christmas Survey of Self

Ok, so I've finally forced time for a quick post. Today is our last day at our new home for 2005. We get to go Home to LR tomorrow! But...I've just woken up and had breakfast. Now I need to get moving on all that's to be done today! I hope my body will forgive me eventually. Last night was my first time to discover what grinding lower vertebrae feel like. It's not excrutiatingly painful, but it certainly is NOT comfortable. And this morning it was quite painful to turn over and get out of bed. But I love my little Judah. I realized I've forgotten about him a lot the past few days because we've been so busy with getting ready to leave. It always makes me wonder how a pregnant woman could forget at times throughout the day that she is pregnant. It becomes second nature somehow to have a whole other human being inside of you! :-P I bet it will be weird to not have one in me anymore come March. By the way, welcome me to my final trimester!

I had this typed up previously to post as Christmas got closer. Enjoy!

You all gotta do this on your own blogs! Tracie did it first...

1. Egg Nog or Hot Chocolate? Homemade hot chocolate with big marshmallows when it's just Matt and I. Egg nog when it is combined with vanilla ice cream after decorating the tree. Those were the days!

2. Does Santa wrap presents or just sit them under the tree? Depends on what movie you watch, I guess. Neither in real life.

3. Colored lights on tree/house or white? Oh, WHITE!!! But then, nothing would do for my parents' tree but colored. As much as I always thought our tree looked gaudy and wanted it different, I'd flip if it changed because it just wouldn't be "our" tree. It does look much better since it has been toned down over the years...and it is the perfect picture of a traditional tree now.

4. Do you hang mistletoe? Where do you even find that stuff?

5. When do you put your decorations up? When we go somewhere for Thanksgiving, just before we leave so when we come back it is done. When we actually stay in our own home someday for Thanksgiving AND Christmas, we'll do it either the weekend after Thanksgiving or December 1st. Haven't decided yet. Can't wait to have a tree someday...

6. What is your favorite holiday dish (excluding dessert)? Mashed potatoes by far and Nonie's "burn 'n' serves."

7. Favorite Holiday memory as a child? This memory is more of an across the years memory. I love how every Christmas we'd wake up in our Christmas pj's, have pancakes and a B-day party for Jesus, open gifts, then get cleaned up while Momma started cooking. Nonie and Gramps would always arrive first with gifts and pies around 10 or 11, then the rest of the family would trickle in. Dinner was always around 1:30 with the kids at their table and the adults all around the big table with the china and crystal. We'd feast, then laze around the rest of the day. Pie usually around 5 I think. So I guess my favorite memory as a child, and still today, is just the whole day itself and being with family.

8. When and how did you learn the truth about Santa? I remember it was in the apartments in LR. I think I was about 4. Momma sat Autumn and I down and told us there was no Santa Clause. I remember not caring one bit, but if memory serves, Autumn cried.

11. Snow! Love it or Dread it? Are we talking Little Rock's few inches that last only a few days or Evansville's few FEET that sticks around for forever? I love seeing snow. I even love to play in lots of it. But I don't love it when it shuts down civilization as we know it. And I don't like it when it gets all dirty and slushy looking.

12. Can you ice skate? Yes, but not especially well.

13. Do you remember your favorite gift? I don't remember a favorite but here are a few I remember well...my snow queen porcelan doll, my first Petra cd and MWS tapes, my first eye shadow, my bean bag (that we had to leave in Tyler, TX one year...no I'm not bitter), an "adopted" dolphin, and more recently the Swarovski crystal Christmas ornaments and my Pampered Chef soup pot.

14. What's the most important thing about the Holidays for you? It's hard for me to say celebrating Christ's birth above what my first thought is. Each passing year I try to focus on the "reason for the season" more and more because I am older and wiser and know better. But to me, the first thought of what is most important aside from the spiritual aspect is being with family. I cherish every moment!

15. What is your favorite Holiday Dessert? Pumpkin Cream Pie...and Starbucks' egg nog and peppermint flavored drinks.

16. What is your favorite holiday tradition? Getting new Christmas pj's every year, having a pancake B-day party for Jesus, driving around to look at lights, decorating the tree to Christmas music followed with egg nog shakes.

17. What tops your tree? Tree? Well, when I HAVE one maybe we'll look for another Crown of Thorns like I gave my mom last year.

18. Which do you prefer Giving or Receiving? GIVING! Especially for the name I draw for extended family...since it's usually Nonie. I love to make things and give them rather than just buying something.

19. What is your favorite Christmas Carol? Secular - "I'll be Home for Christmas" by Amy Grant Spritiual - "Mary Did You Know" by Jubilant Sykes and O Come O Come Emanuel

20. Candy Canes! Yuck or Yum? Doable, but usually only 1 or 2 for the holiday's sake.

As Requested

If you missed the previous post, read it first so you know why on earth I wrote this post. :-)

Tracie requested the recipe. Momma wanted me to bring some home. I want to make Jaclyn wish for them more. So here is the recipe, Tracie. Let's make some when I get there, Momma. And enjoy your nilla wafers, Jaclyn.

I love Betty...she's my kitchen's best friend. This recipe is compliments of Mrs. Crocker, with two tweaks from me!

::thinking of what to name them::

Chocomint Christmas Cookies

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
2 cups sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cream of tartar
1/8 tsp salt
3 egg yolks
1 tsp peppermint extract
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1 ziploc bag

Preheat oven to 300 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl beat butter and shortening with an electric mixer on medium to high speed for 30 seconds. Add sugar, baking soda, cream of tartar, and salt. Beat until combined, scraping sides of bowl occasionally. Mixture should be smooth and creamy (not very grainy). Beat in egg yolks and peppermint until combined. Beat in as much flour as you can. Stir in remaining flour.

Shape dough into 1" balls (or use a 1" cookie scoop). Place 2 inches apart on an ungreased cookie sheet or parchment lined stone. Bake for 20 minutes or until sides are set. Do not let edges brown. Cool on cookie sheet for 1 minute. Transfer to wire rack and let cool.

When cookies are cool, heat chocolate chips in a microwave safe bowl for 1-2 minutes. Stir until all chips are melted and chocolate is smooth. You do not have to keep microwaving until the chips are gone. Stirring will finish the job. Fold lips of ziploc bag over to prevent messing the outside of the bag as you spoon the chocolate in. Fold lips back up and shake chocolate into one corner. Use a chip clip or rubberband to create a tight seal at the level of the chocolate. Snip a tiny hole in the corner of the bag, and pipe your decorations. Do NOT stack the cookies until you have chilled them in the refrigerator to allow the chocolate to set. To keep chocolate firm, store in regfrigerator.

Next year I will probably divide the dough in half and add red and green food coloring for more festivity. And maybe I'll coat them with chocolate and sprinkle crushed peppermint on top.

Ok, so now after all of that...I have to go eat one! And then wake Matt up so we can get to our fun afternoon!

Sweet Tidings

Yesterday was a long, busy, but fun day! Matt was at school until late in the afternoon because he had a meeting...the first of which he is not allowed to tell the details to even me! I should write a book, My Husband's Secret Life, and journal about what it is like to be the wife of a man who can't say everything he does/knows to provide for our family. :-)

It gave me lots of time to work on Christmas gifts, bake Christmas cookies, do some laundry, chat, and just do whatever. Not until I got in bed at 1:00 am last night did I realize I NEVER sat down just to sit and relax. That's not typical for me right now. But, oh what a productive day!

I'm very excited about what I am working on for family Christmas gifts. So far, Helen's (Matt's grandma) is my favorite, but Aut and Andy's was the most challenging in both decision and degree of difficulty. I spent at least 4 hours on theirs and my back and neck are still letting me know that today!

I'm also excited about the Christmas cookies. I think

we may have found our own little Esparza Christmas tradition...baking peppermint sugar cookies and drizzling chocolate Christmas designs on top to give to neighbors and friends (and ourselves!). They are simple, but very tasty! It's cool to see a sugar cookie and then get a zing of peppermint when you eat it. I think we are going to give our neighbors theirs today. It'll be fun to chat a little more with them when they are home...but I'm interested to see how giving it to the people across from us will go over. 2 men and 1 woman, all VERY business oriented and pretty reclusive compared to the family atmosphere the rest of us have.

Matt has two tests today. Tomorrow is the last day of the quarter! It's so insane to think that a week from now I'll be in the air on the way home for Christmas! ::sings I'll be home for Christmas...:: I can't WAIT!

After Matt gets home, we're going to eat lunch and take a nap (and then go get Narnia tickets for tomorrow and our Christmas pj's). I was up until 1:00 working on Aut/Andy's gift, and then crashed as Matt stayed up until 2 caulking our bathroom and killing the ants that infested our bathroom and trailed across our bedroom carpet. Last night marked the 4th day we've been battling ants. First the kitchen, then our bathroom, then the front bathroom, back to our bathroom. He's going to do some major caulking this weekend while I clean up dead ant bodies that were poisoned with the traps we have. Note to Housewives: Scrubbing Bubbles is an EXCELLENT but safe ant killer. They die instantly and are easy to wipe up, and those near the area you spray are stunned and slowly killed by the fumes. As effective as Raid, but not as toxic to you (esp. when pregnant).

So, off I go for my first nap of the day. :-P

Excitement Rising

Wow! Is it already holiday crunch time? I can't believe this is Matt's last week of his first quarter, finals being next week. 1 Quarter down, 7 to go. He's got a couple projects to fine tune, a paper to write, and several tests to take...then we can be whisked off to a LONG vacation full of family and celebration of Christ's coming and the start of a fresh new year!

I've been working on our Christmas cards today. It's so much fun! Instead of the regular cards, I found these CHEAP kits at Target that provide all you need, including envelopes. You write a Christmas letter, print it on the stationary, fold it like a tent card, and attach your 4x6 Christmas photo to the front of the card. They're quite sophisticated looking, but more personal since you can write more than "Have a good Christmas" or whatever. Tomorrow's task is getting the pictures printed and attached. Everything else is ready to go. Above is the picture we are using...we actually used the timer on our digital camera for the first time. I prayed beforehand that frustration and impatience wouldn't enter the scene as it sometimes can...and it only took us three tries to get a good picture!

In pregnancy news, apparently my pelvic bones are starting to loosen up (to match my hips and lower back) as is normal when approaching the third trimester. Autumn warned me of it. She's not kidding. It's NOT comfortable. Last night I could barely get out of bed it hurt so much to move. Thankfully, it mostly felt like pressure today rather than pain (except for when I was grocery shopping). I just keep remembering Romans 8:18--my current sufferings are not worthy to be compared to the bundle of joy that is soon to be revealed!

Just saw a picture on the news of Washington, DC's weather. Two words. Heavy snow. THOSE are the visions I get when I think of where we will be living in a couple years. Lord? Am I cut out for that kind of weather? Did You bring us to California to have us store up as much sunshine and mild weather as we can so that we can survive East Coast Winters?? :-P

And so it begins...

Well, Matt and I began the Registering Road Trip today. It is much different than registering for a wedding. With wedding stuff, you know what you want already and have lived long enough to know what brands/items are good or bad. I've never done this baby thing...and I realized today that I am quite meticulous and curious about all the stuff that's out there. I like to read all the descriptions of products and compare them with a few other brands. Matt also realized I am meticulous and curious. :-P I just want the best for Judah, as Matt does. It just takes me longer to make the decision than it does Matt. Linda is the same, so I know I am not the only woman out there that loves to read everything before you decide!

I think we're far from done, but we've certainly started up a good registry. We are currently registered at Target (with more to be added) and are planning on registering at Toys-R-Us. Boy, that looks weird without the R backwards. Target has most of the smaller, practical, necessity type items (feeding to diapering to health/safety). Toys-R-Us will be more of the toys, pack 'n' play, car seat/stroller, etc. Basically the fun stuff and the big items. That's not to say this division is set in stone. We saw a car seat at Target we really like. Argh. So many decisions!

I hope people think to look online when they start the gift buying. We decided today that we will not be using the quilt I made for the room. People apparently think babies shouldn't have brightly colored bedding -- aka NOTHING matches the Scripture quilt. So we decided that will be our multi-purpose and travel blanket. Neither Target nor Toys-R-Us had beddings sets we liked...until I looked at Target's web site. Search accomplished. I found a Safari bedding set (with room accessories available too!) that keeps with the animal/Noah's Ark theme and has brighter colors than most other bedding, though it is still pastelish soothing-like. It's adorable, and it even has a quilted look. I NEVER thought I'd go for anything close to a quilted look. Just goes to show how we change as we get older...and how silly old quilting ladies can change your taste without you knowing it.

Here is the registry page where you can look at what we've got so far.

Here is a quick link to the bedding.

So back aching, body tired, brain taxed but still wanting to scan all the goodies...we returned home to a relaxing evening of homework/reading. I finished ANOTHER book. We only bought it last Saturday. Me having fun-reading for when Matt is doing homework is proving to be a budgeting issue in my eyes. Even though I ONLY allow myself to crack the books we get when Matt has serious studying, I still finish WAY fast. Francine Rivers is just too good.

Wow. This ended up being a long post. I'm sure you understand. Sometimes a woman just needs someone to listen while she rambles. Of course I've got Matt...but he was with me the whole day, so his day was my day! And I want others to be in on it! Therefore, I ramble as I go off to empty what is apparently invading Judah's precious space. His foot is good at poinpointing my "holding tank"...or what my mom calls his "waterbed." :-)

JUDAH GABRIEL ESPARZA

God answered prayer yesterday in three ways.

1) The first thing we saw on the screen was a view that showed us God chose to give us Judah Gabriel rather than Elaina Marie.

2) Everything is perfectly normal with both Judah and myself.

3) My fears about not getting along well with Dr. G were dispelled.

The appointment went quite well yesterday. Things were very relaxed, light-hearted, and pleasant. Matt and I have decided last time was a fluke -- my nerves were way on edge and maybe Dr. G had a busy/hard day.

Dr. G spent a good long while looking at Judah and getting all the measurements, making sure everything was normal. Praise the Lord it is! He weighs 2 lbs exactly, a couple days ahead of schedule. My weight however...well, let's just say no more 5 week stints of not gaining anything. We are questioning the weight though because what the nurse told me and what I saw on the scale were different. If she is right, I'm still within the gain range though I gained 11 pounds in 4 weeks. If she is wrong, I lost 5 pounds but still have a baby that is a quite healthy weight. I hope it's the latter! :-P

Here are a few of the pictures we were given on CD. Dr. G was not able to get a good 3-D view of Judah's face, but he promised next time he will try again. I was thankful because he was bouncing my belly all around to get Judah to move...and my bladder was full! Enjoy the pictures...and no, there is NO mistaking this for a girl! Click on the pictures to enlarge!