Precious Days

Clint and I often look back at our time in Singapore as precious moments. Moments where we first learned what it meant to be married through thick and thin, good and bad. Moments where our american taste buds where challenged as well as our american sense of smell with some strange, foreign things. Our way of life was challenge not just by our circumstances but by the culture that surrounded us.

One thing that we talk about often and that made a huge impact on us was that when we first go there, the couple that was living in our apartment before us left us 2 towels, 2 forks, 2 spoons, 2 knives, 2 plates, 2 bowls, 2 glasses, 2 mugs, 1 pan to cook in, one hot water kettle, and one wooden spoon for us to use until our stuff arrived. We had brought a pair of sheets and a blanket. We had all we really needed. It was life lived sweet and simple. I remember the day our stuff arrived from the states. I felt SO guilty and ridiculous for all the stuff we had. I had only packed things that I thought were "essential", but in view of this new simplicity it all seemed excessive. American culture functions in such a way where we always think we need more stuff to get the job done. I think those were precious days to us because it was bare of the burden of stuff and we weren't bound to or dictated by things. I long for that sweet simplicity in life now.

Another precious moment that has resurfaced in my mind recently was that of an encounter with a very strange woman at a bus stop. i don't remember where I was going that day, but I was taking the bus and waiting at the end of our street at our closest bus stop. A woman who had on dirty clothes, had no teeth and was very talkative (not in english though!) was sitting at the bus stop with another woman. Well, I thought she was there with the other woman, but it turned out they weren't together. The other woman caught a bus leaving behind Chatty Cathy. Cathy scooted right down and began chatting to me and then asking me to scratch her back. I knew this only because she was signaling the scratching - again she and I weren't speaking the same language. So, there I sat with all my American space issues and all my germ issues scratching this women's back. Love doesn't care if you are dirty and toothless. I wish I scratched more backs and embraced others like I did that day at the bus stop.

I am currently being challenged in the arena of love. What do I love? Do I really love Jesus or just his blessings? If I look at how my time is spent do I love stuff or people? Do I love my enemies as Jesus has commanded or do I just avoid them? Do I love the comforts of money more than meeting the needs of people who are naked, hungry, thirsty or sick? Love is patient and kind...is my love? Is yours?

Our World

We are still alive. Just wanted you to know. I know my little blog space has been quiet and we have been out of sight for awhile. I am very sick (pun intended) of sickness! From colds to viruses to food poisioning we have run the gamet the last couple of weeks. I think we are on the up swing (fingers crossed, prayer sent). Enough on that.

I have entered project mode. Some might call it nesting, I call it panic. I am now 23 weeks and I am staring down May 17th with much ambition. I think it is because I know what the first 4-6 months are like after you have a baby. You search for your new normal, try to learn to maintain the basics and slowly add to that. This of course all while getting very little sleep. The very little sleep part is the hardest for me. Back to projects...We have begun setting up Reagan's big boy room. His bed is set up with sheets (still need a bed rail) and we purchased some blackout curtains which will be hung this weekend. We are getting ready to paint the closet because it was never painted when we moved in and needs it. Once these things are complete, we will start to take naps in there and move from that. Curious if the little guy can handle this, we shall see.

Other projects I want to complete before the Tiny Dancer arrives: We paint the nursery and rearrange the furniture, clean out the closets upstairs, build shelves in the game room closet, hang the rest of our pictures, hang curtains in the rest of the house, get rid of more crap, reorganize/clean our garage. As you can see, not all these projects rely solely on my work. Luckily, I have a compliant husband, so far.

As I think about these projects as well as unmentioned others, I am being challenged by 2 books that I am reading. One is Crazy Love by Frances Chan. Crazy Love is about God's love for us and our response to him. Do we reflect the life of christ in our love for him and others. It has knocked my socks off, in a good way. The second book is a bible study I am taking at church called Interrupted by Jen Hatmaker. Interrupted takes a look at the American way of life in light of what Jesus teaches about how we should live. It deals with staggering statistics about the world around us and is challenging me so much. I am mentioning these books as I mention projects because as I am doing, planning and spending, I am struggling with what I am doing, planning and spending. I can not more highly recommend these books and think they make an excellent reading duo.

One last note before I end this rambling. We do not have a name for the Tiny Dancer. We are discussing some old fashioned family names (mainly from my family) but Clint has told me that I am not a liberty to share. I want to share, but he wants to wait until we are more certain - like when she is born. My prediction is by week 30 all will know our name bank. Until then I may refer to her as Tiny Dancer or just Tiny. She is a mover and a shaker, hence the nickname.

Hope all is well in your world!

drumroll please...

Today was our 20 week ultrasound. I love ultrasound day because you get to see what is going on inside and see your baby. I love the ultrasound lady at my doctor's office, her name is Julie. She chats with you a bit, but when it is business time she gets in her zone, I love it!

She went over a little history with us and asked about Reagan. She then asked us if we wanted to know the gender and we said yes. She started her work and quickly showed us the baby's legs which were glued shut and not going to reveal anything. She went on to show us the heart, kidney's, placenta, umbilical cord, brain, spine...you get the picture. Baby was still not giving up any secrets. I had needed to go the bathroom when we got to the doctor, but Julie asked me to hold it so she could easily measure my cervix. So, after she had seen all she needed to see, she let me use the bathroom and said we could just poke around for fun when i got back from the potty.

When i returned she gooped me up and because baby had some extra room to move, baby decided to reveal that it was a...drumroll please...A GIRL! We saw a "hamburger" according to Julie. Clint saw it and knew right away, I had no clue what we were looking at. After that we looked at other fun parts like hands, feet, face. Julie sent us to see the doctor for the normal ob stuff with a handful of pictures of our sweet girl. All is looking healthy and good on our little one and that makes me the most happy.

Reagan's First Hair Cut

I have wanted to take R for his first hair cut for many weeks. Though his sweet curl in the back was, well sweet, it was also unruly and becoming increasingly more like a rat tail. The front didn't bug me as much as the back and around the ears. So, yesterday Clint and I agreed was "the day". Off to cool cuts we went. Thought sitting in a car would be a good thing for R to make it through the short procedure. Here are some pictures of the event...

our big boy waiting for his turn.

getting in the taxi and getting ready. you can tell he is really impressed with the experience.

The unruly back.

She begins, he seems happy.

He hates the drape and tried to pull it off most of the haircut.

She's wetting it, he's loving it :)



All done, don't the sides look so grown up!

Finished product and this little boy is finished as well.

Here's a little video of the hair lady using the trimmers on him...


Overall, Reagan did great and it was a good first hair cut for him. I will mention that I think cool cuts is a rip off and we won't be returning simply because the prices are WAY TOO MUCH. I love that my little boy looks so big now with his trimmed hair!

Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus

Every Christmas season, i am captured by a "christmas" song that just sings sweetly to my soul. Last year O Come, O Come Emmanuel was it. This year, that song is Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus. I am sure that I have heard this song plenty in my 31 years, but I am not sure the words stuck to me like they have this year:

Come, thou long expected Jesus,
born to set thy people free;
from our fears and sins release us,
let us find our rest in thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
hope of all the earth thou art;
dear desire of every nation,
joy of every longing heart.

Born thy people to deliver,
born a child and yet a King,
born to reign in us forever,
now thy gracious kingdom bring.
By thine own eternal spirit
rule in all our hearts alone;
by thine all sufficient merit,
raise us to thy glorious throne.

This hymn was penned by Charles Wesley and was published in 1744. This was the hymn that really set Wesley's career as a hymn writer in motion. It was birthed out of Haggai 2:7, "And I will shake all nations, and the desire of all nations will come: and I will fill this house with glory saith the Lord of Hosts." This excerpt from the Book, More Stories Behind the Best-Loved Christmas Songs by Ace Collins really connected the dots in my head and heart...

After reading these word, Wesley began to consider what Jesus’ birth meant to the world’s people. The minister lived in a time when many were suffering in hunger and poverty. There were orphans all around him. The distinction between the classes was distinct and large. He also knew a world in which slavery was allowed. It seemed that in the more than 1,700 years since the Lord had come, humanity had improved little, if at all.

As Wesley considered the plight of so many in the world and the thought of Jesus’ birth, a hopeful thought consumed him. With great anticipation he found himself looking forward toward the second coming of Christ, desiring to see that with as much zeal as the writer of Haggai had looked forward to the Lord’s birth. And like the man who wrote down those words in the Old Testament, Wesley realized he would have to be patient. God’s timing would take precedence over man’s desires.

As he thought of what the birth meant in the eyes of those looking forward to it, Wesley began to jot down the lines of “ Come, Thou, Long-Expected Jesus.” Much more than a babe in a manger, the Jesus Charles wrote about was the adult king who came to set people free. He was the fulfilling prophecy and the answer to the problems not only of every man, woman and child, but of each of the earth’s nations. Though Wesley’s lyrics acknowledged and emphasized the mighty power of God, his words also embraced the loving nature of Jesus. While it was the power that would deliver the world from sin, it was God’s love that would ultimately change us into being more like Jesus. When he finished “Come, Thou Long-Expected Jesus,” Wesley has perfectly married power and love." (pg. 100-101)

There is such a huge part of me that longs for Jesus returning because I see the condition of the world and of men's hearts. I know there are hurting people, hungry people, abused people and people who are just existing for the moment. I also know that Jesus not only came for me and you but for all the nations of the earth. With such expectancy I long to see him redeem all that is his.

15 months and 17 weeks

Reagan turned 15 months at the beginning of the month and I have yet to post. I was waiting till we went to the doctor this past wednesday so I could include his stats. Here he is at 15 months...

Weight: 21 lbs. (5-10%)
Height: 31 inches (50%)

At this age R is a ball of energy. He never stops moving and he never stops talking! He is climbing on everything that is climbable. I keep finding him on the kitchen table. Yesterday, I found him standing on the table, stiring my drink with a pen. He is stealthy and fast, but when he gets quiet you can be certain he is up to no good. He is currently trying to figure out how to climb the book shelves in our living room. He has a good appetite and likes eggs and ketchup, chickfila chicken nuggets and fruit. He talks A LOT of jibber-jabber, but has a growing word bank. He has discovered that a flight path is overhead in our backyard and is crazy currently about airplanes. He hears them coming before I do and waits until he sees them. He points in the air and gets really excited when he spots one. He has also discovered birds flying as well and points them out not only in the backyard, but also when we are driving in the car. He has transitioned to one nap a day and it has gone pretty smooth thus far. He has been saying Hot for awhile, but is starting to use it approriately. When he seems steam he says hot or he sees flames or when we get near the oven or the stove. He has starting using some sign language, which was funny cause he just started doing it one day. He says more and all done. Reagan is affectionate, sweet and a joy to be around. praying baby 2 is as mild mannered. We truly are having so much fun with him!

A quick note on the pregnancy. I hit the 17 week mark on thursday and had my 16 week appointment on tuesday. All is looking well with baby. He/She would not sit still to have his bpm taken, which was kinda funny and kinda scary. Scary because that activity mixed with amount of activity I have begun to feel in my womb - folks we have one crazy child in the making! Maybe it's just cause they have so much room to roam right now. I say this all the time, but this pregnancy is so different from Reagan's. Now that we are past the yucky part, I am enjoying every gestational day. We are excited to find out if this baby is a boy or girl and that day will be January 5. Glad I have the holdiays to distract me till then. We will let you know!

Family Pictures

We had some family pictures taken recently and here are a few of my favorites. We are going to try to do this every year around this time so that as the years go by, we will be able to see how our family is changing.Enjoy!