Ahh, the nausea is here

Not too bad yet . . . this is the third day, though, and it is getting a little bit worse each day. Any suggestions for dealing with morning sickness?

I Love Reading

The Well-Educated Mind, Susan Wise Bauer
This book inspired me to take up a course of serious reading and review of Western literature and civilization. Let us hope I do better than Jane Austen's Emma! (Mr. Knightley: "Emma has been meaning to read more ever since she was twelve years old. I have seen a great many lists of the drawing-up, at various times, of books that she meant to read regularly through--and very good lists they were, very well chosen, and very neatly arranged--sometimes alphabetically, and sometimes by some other rule . . . But I have done with expecting any course of serious reading from Emma. She will never submit to anything requiring industry and patience, and a subjection of the fancy to understanding.") On a more serious note, I really did enjoy the book. Bauer offers insightful commentary without telling you what to think; instead she wants to train you to think for yourself.

I Will Carry You, Angie Smith
Angie writes the "Bring the Rain" blog. This book is about her daughter, Audrey, and Angie's decision to continue the pregnancy after being told Audrey had conditions making her "incompatible with life." It is a beautiful story of hope and faith. Sad and encouraging and really spoke to my heart.

Mary Barton, Elizabeth Gaskell
Nineteenth century British novel about class, industrial England, family ties, and love, of course. Throw in a murder trial and you're good to go! Haha I really did enjoy this story, though it did get a little preachy at times when the novelist steps in.

Moving Update

I am making progress on the list I posted a few weeks ago. We're down to about six and a half weeks till moving day, and I am getting excited!

1. Found a house to rent - YAY! The Gent and I traveled last weekend to house-hunt. We saw six houses, three of which were uninhabitable. Let's just say one was infested with fleas and leave it at that. UGH. One was workable, a second we liked, and the third we loved. It is double the size of our apartment, has a fenced yard, 1920s Craftsman style, lots of built-ins, high ceilings, and did I mention I love it.

2. Resigned my job - DOUBLE YAY! I had been planning that speech for a while. It went smoothly and I felt great after delivering it. My boss asked what he could do to change my mind, and I said "I think we're past that. I appreciate the opportunity to work here, but it is time for me to take a new direction."

3. Rented a moving van.

4. Lined up volunteer movers in the new city. Have to find a few here, but the Gent has been paying it forward and helping friends move, so that shouldn't be too hard.

5. We've started hosting parties and dinners for friends, just have about four more to get scheduled. I love entertaining. :)

6. Already got all my books back. Wow, friends, you were quick! Thanks!

7. And I have a nice box collection going . . . I'm sure we'll need more but the closets are full for now!

Worry

God's plan for my life is not that I would be happy. It is that I would find joy and be satisfied in Him. Not in my husband, not in my job, not in my role as a wife, not in my excitement over a new baby, not in any of those things. The joy of the Lord is my strength. Not my self, not my marriage, not my dreams. In Christ alone my hope is found.

The more I think about it, the more I realize that there is always something you will be waiting for and worrying about in life. But God wants us to live in the present. He commands us "Do not worry." My worrying is sinful. It is an announcement to God that I do not trust Him and His plan for my life. Ouch, huh?

So instead of worrying while I wait, instead I'm taking time to reflect on God's goodness to me. I remember how I used to worry if I would ever meet the right man and get married. I look back now at how abundantly God has blessed me with my husband. In him, God has surpassed any dreams I had about my future husband. Why do I so quickly forget to trust Him?

There will always be something to worry and fret about. I can worry now about this pregnancy, I can worry about my children as they grow, I can worry over their friends and their schooling and the bump they got on their head when they fell, and the list goes on and on. God wants me to start to get this battle under control now. With His help I'm working on letting my worries go.

Matthew 6:25-34
Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Philippians 4:4-9
Rejoice in the Lord always.I will say it again: Rejoice! Let your gentleness be evident to all. The Lord is near. Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you.

Pregnancy Update

Just a quick post to let you know everything is going well. I feel great, other than being tired and making frequent trips to the ladies room! I am enjoying squeezing an afternoon nap into my schedule a few times a week. I've never been much of a napper so this is an indulgence.

I went to the doctor's office twice last week for bloodwork. My hormone levels are great - quite a bit higher than average for this point in the pregnancy. The nurse said maybe my dates are a little off, but I KNOW they are right (yay for charting). My first real prenatal appointment is July 2. I'm assuming there's only one baby in there . . . estimating my due date to be February 23 or 24.

The Best Father's Day Present Ever

Baby is due in February and we are thrilled!


PS - Dear friends from church, we'd like to just keep our news to our Sunday School class for now. So shhh!

Do you know about . . .

Groupon?!

If not, check it out: www.groupon.com. You'll score great deals!

Groupon has several deals a week for U.S. cities. Join their mailing list for the city closest to you, or cities you plan to visit.

The Gent and I have had some fun dates at restaurants we usually couldn't afford, thanks to Groupon 50% off deals.

Sign up and save some moolah next time you go out on the town.

Monday Essentials . . . Wardrobe

I know you have those same pieces in your closet that you go to over and over. My basics have to be comfortable and stay looking fresh all day. Here's what I find myself relying on. What are your go-to items?

Solid color camis from Old Navy


A great denim blazer


Cute cardigans


I love these LL Bean shirts - they come out of the dryer looking starched! These are the only true no-iron shirts I have found. I love them. They stay looking fresh all day.


The perfect pair of skinny jeans. I tried expensive ones with no luck. Mine were $15 at Marshalls and I love them.


Comfortable and cool knit dresses


To add pizazz . . . a great purse


And to finish off the outfit, the perfect pair of shoes

Three Truths

We've just started a new study in our Sunday School class. The two premises our study is based on are:

1. There is a God.
2. I am not He.

To this I would add one more.

3. He is good.



God is good. All the time.

God is good. When I understand. And when I don't.

God is good. When life is daisies and roses. And when life is darkness and suffering.

God is good. When I am overwhelmed with praise. And when I am overwhelmed with pain.

God is good. When I am faithful. And when I am faithless.

God is good. In all circumstances.



His goodness is part of His nature.

His nature does not change.

When all around me is confusion, I rest in this:


There is a God.
I am not He.
And He is good.


Jesus loves me, this I know. For the Bible tells me so.


Amen.

Yummy Summer Recipe

Apricot Pork with Fresh Green Beans

olive oil
4 pork chops, rubbed with salt and pepper
4 apricots, cut into wedges (or you can used canned)
2 T honey
3 cloves garlic, minced
fresh green beans

Heat olive oil in large skillet. Cook pork chops 5 minutes or so, turning once. Add apricots, honey, and garlic to skillet. Cover and cook 5-7 minutes, till pork is done. In the meantime, steam the green beans in the microwave for about 6-7 minutes (I just put them in a glass bowl, add a little water, and cover with a lid).

I served this meal with artisan bread; brown rice would be good, too, and healthier.

Easy, quick, and healthy summer dinner!

Please Join Us

The Gent and I are embarking on a special season of prayer, and we'd love for you to join us.

We've known for years that adoption and/or foster parenting are in our future. The topic came up on an early date way back when, and we've returned to it frequently since. We aren't sure what exactly this calling of the Lord will look like.

Foster parenting, domestic adoption, international adoption, older children, special needs, sibling groups? We're not sure yet. We know God has children already destined for our family. We are waiting on His direction.

How do we choose an agency, when should we start the process, can we afford it? Not sure on the first two. Yes, we can afford the children the Lord will bring us. Millions of people get by on much less. We are abundantly blessed.

Will we have the wisdom to know how to handle the difficulties that will certainly arise? We aren't under any illusions that this will be a piece of cake, but with God's help - absolutely yes.

For now we aren't taking any specific steps other than prayer. We feel the Lord is calling us to seek Him at this time, and we are trusting Him with the details.

We invite you to come and seek His direction with us.

Only nine and a half weeks to go . . .

. . . until we move, ahh!

It is starting to sink in - how much I have to do before then.
- Find a house to rent
- Resign from work
- Clean out office and train new person, if hired by then
- Visit a few landmarks in our current town that we've been meaning to get to
- Host several parties/dinners for friends so we can visit one more time
- Collect books I've loaned out to folks (if you borrowed one of my books, please return!)
- Reserve moving van
- Line up friends/movers to help (any volunteers? pretty please?)
- Pack. A. Lot. Of. Stuff. (note: give away some stuff)
- Boring but necessary things like clean, shut off utilities, turn on utilities, change address
- Okay, you get the idea!

For now, I am collecting boxes - if you have any to donate just let me know . . .

Monday Essentials . . . Ten Commandments for Dogs

I think every dog should know these ten commands. Zeke, Nick, and Huck have mostly mastered them, but they forget. Often. So we practice these essentials for a well-trained dog a lot.

1. Sit. The first basic command every dog should master(after learning their name).
2. Down. Great way to calm a hyper dog.
3. Stay. Sit and down are pretty useless if your dog can't hold the position.
4. Come. I think it's pretty obvious why your dog needs to know this one.
5. Wait. I love this one for keeping your dog from rushing the door.
6. Place. In our house, this is "go to bed." Each dog has their own bed and they go and stay there during meals, when we have guests over, or when we all just need some space. Most useful thing we have ever taught our dogs.
7. Drop it. Great for fetch games, and whenever your dog puts something disgusting in their mouth.
8. Leave it. Good for avoiding disgusting things getting into their mouth, also good for ignoring distractions on walks.
9. Take it. Good for teaching your dogs to take medicine (like those all-important heartworm preventatives!). I teach this one and "leave it" by putting the boys in a down-stay, putting a treat on the ground in front of them, and saying "leave it." After a few seconds or minutes I say "take it." They catch on pretty darn quick.
10. Leash-walking. Most dogs need a daily walk. It is good for exercise, socialization, and bonding. BUT! Please don't let your dog take off in front of you and drag you along. Dogs should learn to walk on a loose lead at your side. I thought this was impossible, but if Nick can learn (it took about six months), any dog can. Huck is still a work in progress. ;)

What do you think? Any other commandments for dogs?

PS - no, my dogs are not perfect!!! we're still working on getting these ten commandments down.

Sweetness

Just in case you haven't seen this before . . . (you know I love dogs, bear with me.)


Excited Pet Dog Greets Soldier Back from Afghanistan -- Best Welcome Ever - Funny videos are here

Hurray!

The Gent graduated from law school last month. I'm not sure who was more excited about it, ha!


I am so proud of him. He won three top honors for leadership and scholarship. And did exceptionally well academically at a great law school. You understand that I just have to brag on how great he is. :)

Here we are celebrating with all the family:


Congrats, sweetheart!