First Day of Summer

Today was my first day of summer. I woke up around 8:30 to say goodbye to Andy, Liz, and Judah. I loved my time with Judah! What a sweetie. It was so fun to have Andy and Liz around again. I tried to take a picture of all the things I've been doing today, but I have no picture of them leaving.

Next I took a shower. (No Picture) I thought about skipping the shower today but then I had a very funny memory that I always think of when I'm trying to decide whether or not to take a shower on a day like today; a day when I know I'll be home all day, seeing no one. I remembered when my brother Matt told me at the tender age of 10 that even though it's summer, my day would be better and I would feel a whole lot better if I would take a shower at the beginning of my day. What a gentle way to tell me that my pituitary gland was starting to work on overdrive and he was sick of smelling me and looking at my oily hair at breakfast. Not a great mental picture, sorry. He neglected to tell me anything about whether or not I should do my hair "the long way" everyday, so I decided not to. (No Picture)

Next I went to the post office to mail out a few things. (No Picture) Luke has been selling some PS3 games online, so it was my job to send them off today.

Next I had lunch and watched "It's a Big Big World". Today they taught me why clouds look grey somedays, and why we shouldn't be afraid of storms.

Then I went downstairs to fold laundry and watch the episode of "The Bachelorette" that I missed last night. Luke informed me that the bachelorette this year "just doesn't do it for him". hmmmm.

Then I couldn't help myself and I took a nap. (No Picture) I blame it on the pregnancy. The cats took a nap too, so at least I wasn't alone. It was only an hour nap. I've been known to do worse.

Then I made dinner for Luke (warmed up leftover pizza), baked cookies (chocolate chip), and welcomed Luke home from his first day of work at his brand new job! (No Picture of dinner or Luke coming in the door. Luke changed into his "everyday clothes" before I could get the camera out. I've trained him well! Or maybe I should say my mom trained me well! "Change into your 'everyday clothes' as soon as you get home!") What are "everyday clothes"? Usually cotton, stretchy pants and a t-shirt. Since these clothes are only being worn for 3-4 hours out of the day to do school work or TV-watching, they can be worn 2-3 times. Gross? Come on! I decided to take a picture of Luke's first choice for free time during the summer instead of getting him in his work garb. This is him in his boy corner. He wasn't real excited about the picture.

Then I took out the recycling. The recycling man comes every other week, and we always forget, so this means I actually remember to take out the recycling once a month. I'm so excited to have an empty container again because I have a lot of cardboard I want to get out of my way around the house.

Then I sat down to check my email and Facebook for like the fourth time today. (This will NOT be happening everyday. I'm not going to waste my summer days with TV and computer! I'm already planning a daily routine so I don't get lazy. I have not planned a routine for my days since college when I had free time in between classes. I'm excited about doing this. I just wish I had a Stacy Billings/Kelli/Allison around so I could schedule them in. I'll do my best to make do.)

During this time, while watching "TV's 50 Funniest Phrases" I decided to document my first day of summer.

I thought a lot about moving today. Why? Probably b/c Moville has nothing to offer...not even a grocery store, or decent bike path, or ice cream place, or sisters. :(

What was voted TV's number one funniest phrase? "Yada, yada, yada" from Seinfeld. Lovely.

Hard to Imagine

It's hard to imagine what my future holds.

Today was the last day of school. I finished an amazing year today. I do have to go back tomorrow and finish some things up with cleaning, but otherwise I'm all done. This year is different than the last three. This time when I finished it was very final. I didn't sign my contract to come back next year. Luke got a new job, so he won't be back next year either. It's pretty bittersweet. Today after school was out the teachers had a meeting to say goodbye and end our year. It was meaningful and good. I'll miss the kids the most. I'll also miss doing something everyday that I'm good at and enjoy. Although, many have told me that I'm making the right decision to stay home with the baby and that I'll really enjoy it and be so happy that we made this decision.

Anyway, this year is different. And we'll just keep praying. Please continue to pray with us. I'm getting a little anxious. It's been a month since the last time I've heard the heartbeat. I'll go again on June 2. I can't wait for that day. I'm still sickly and tired, so that's good, right?

Here comes summer!!! I should start thinking of what I'd like to do during this time. Luke starts work on Tuesday, but I'll have lots of free time. Wish I lived closer to home so that I could just be-bop on over to my mom's or sisters'/brothers'. I said be-bop just for my mom, but I don't think she reads this.

What's Been Happening?

May is definitely the busiest month of the year. At least it has been for the last four years. The good news is that Luke is done with track and college class. That makes life less hectic. We're also done with middle school youth group volunteer responsibilities for a while. Even with all that ending, our weeks stay busy. Anyway, who isn't busy during this time of year?

Time for an update:
I'm 12 weeks along in pregnancy and things are looking fine! I'm feeling nausea still, and hungry lots, but these are all normal things. I've gained more weight than I'm comfortable with (b/c I'm afraid I'm gaining too quickly), but I'm sure it'll be alright. My next appointment is June 2. On June 3 I'll get another ultrasound. I'm hoping to find out if it's a boy or girl, but it might still be too early to tell.

Summer plans: I will be taking it easy. Luke with be working. I'll tend the garden, and Luke will fix computers.

The cats: Poor Pumpkin got in a fight with another cat outside two days ago. We think the naughty neighborhood cat bit Pumpkin's foot. Pumpkin has not put any pressure on her wounded foot for two days now. She lays around a lot, and when she walks she only walks on three legs. It really reminds me of Evan, the cat from the vet. clinic I used to work at. Evan only had three legs. Pumpkin looks so sad. Sometimes we have to carry her around. I hope it's just a flesh wound that will heal quickly, and not a muscle/bone injury.

At school: Just last night the whole school participated in a multi-cultural evening. My class chose to study Madagascar. They made displays, dressed up, and decorated our room. I had a room mom help a whole lot with the decorations! I was so thankful for her help because it really made things look African.

I'll leave you with some pictures of the hurting Pumpkin and the multi-cultural night. Enjoy the spring weather!

Sisters:

Remind you of anything?

Start Praying...

Start praying now, friends...

We are expecting a baby in November!

November 29th to be exact.

Please pray with us. We have a lot to look forward to, and some things to wonder about/pray fiercely about, so we would love for you to help us!

Yay! Thank you, Lord. This is a blessing.

Hosanna

Last week at church I was blown away by the meaning of the word "Hosanna".

I always knew this word was shouted and proclaimed so strongly when Jesus rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, but I guess I never thought to wonder what it actually meant. I probably assumed that it meant something like "Here comes the King".

Hosanna has a duel meaning. This is amazing to me.
It seems that Hosanna is a cry for salvation ("Save! Please!"), while at the same time a cry of praise or adoration shouted in recognition of the Messiah.
Wow!
I feel like I should have been crying out this name of our Father everyday since I've been born. In a way I have. Ever since I learned of this one week ago I have been daily using Hosanna to address my King.
I think the reason that it speaks so directly to me is because I know that I have an infinite number of reasons to praise my God, but I also have the same number of reasons to plead with my God. The past 15 months I've pleaded like never before, and I've praised like never before.

Hosanna!

I love that a person can use one word to say so many things, especially when talking to the One who knows your soul and heart and mind so intimately. He knows my heart when I say Hosanna.

Well, today again I say HOSANNA!

First thing this morning I learned that my twin sister, Liz, gave birth to a very healthy baby boy at about 5 am. PRAISE GOD! Andy told me all about it over the phone and I just cried and cried after hanging up with him. I am so blown away by the goodness of the Lord. After losing their first, getting pregnant again and having a not-so-easy second pregnancy with bedrest and injections and doctor's appointments, God has blessed them tremendously. A healthy baby boy, perfectly healthy! I can't believe how happy I feel, and how thankful I feel. When I cried this morning I cried Hosanna. Thank you, Father, for a healthy baby, and please, God, bless me the same way someday. Thank you Lord, for good news finally, and please Lord, watch over this baby and bring him to know You. Is it OK for me to share his name, Liz? I'll let Liz share first, then I'll post pictures later with his name. Thank you to all of you out there who might have been praying for her!

Well, I was so happy, and then came the stark reminder that not all things are happy today. So, like the word Hosanna, this morning I was saying two things. I was praising God, but I was also pleading with God for the comfort and healing of a family that lost a three year old boy this week, for those that need to find jobs, for those that are waiting and waiting for all different kinds of things, for those who have lost loved ones, for the ladies who are having complications in pregnancy, for the hearts that hurt, and hearts that are full of excitement but also some doubts/fears/anxieties.

Lord, we are in such need of You!
Hosanna!
It's amazing to me that you care, that you orchestrate, that you continue to bless, to guide, to LOVE, to cherish, to FEEL with us. Thank you, Lord. You are the Creator and you cherish us.
Thank you for the gift of Jesus and eternity. Thank you for what you endured, and for what you have prepared for us.

HOSANNA!

Thanks to Miles

We went to Sioux Falls to do pottery with friends a couple of weekends ago. I had a lot of fun. It was also great to eat out, and talk about LOST, and play Little Big World--or something like that...I don't really remember what it's called.

Anyway, Miles posted some pictures of the pottery and I thought they were funny so I'm showing you two of them.

Here is a picture of Luke with his finished product. Funny b/c we don't know what Luke is looking at, and also funny because his pottery is mostly plain, with a few dead stick figures scattered around. He refuses to tell anyone what he was thinking of when he created it. My theory is Star Wars.

Here is a picture of my finished product. Funny because I'm fingering the camera. I thought I caught my blunder and put it down before the shutter closed, but Miles is so tricky! Also funny because now I'm disappointed with the design. Oh well, there's always next time. I like the colors though!