Want to laugh out loud like I did?

Check out this link to my friend Kirsten's blog today. Oh, the woes of being a beautiful pregnant woman.

In Christ Alone

Last week, the choir sang an awesome song during the offertory. It's one of my favorites, and they did a beautiful arrangement of it. Here are the lyrics, which I've been pondering (and singing) for the last week or so:

In Christ alone my hope is found,
He is my light, my strength, my song;
This Cornerstone, this solid Ground,
firm through the fiercest drought and storm.
What heights of love, what depths of peace,
when fears are stilled, when strivings cease.
My Comforter, my All in All,
here in the love of Christ I stand.

In Christ alone, who took on flesh
Fullness of God in helpless babe.
This gift of love and righteousness
Scorned by the ones he came to save.
Till on that cross as Jesus died,
The wrath of God was satisfied -
For every sin on Him was laid
Here in the death of Christ I live.

There in the ground His body lay
Light of the world by darkness slain.
Then bursting forth in glorious day
Up from the grave he rose again!
And as He stands in victory
Sin's curse has lost its grip on me,
For I am His and He is mine -
Bought with the precious blood of Christ.

No guilt in life, no fear in death,
This is the power of Christ in me;
From life's first cry to final breath,
Jesus commands my destiny.
No power of hell, no scheme of man
Can ever pluck me from His hand;
Till He returns or calls me home,
Here in the power of Christ I'll stand.

The little lady

I suppose it's time for an update on our sweet girl, since we have many friends and family out of town/out of the country, and verbal communication is not always possible.

At Kate's 4 month appointment, which was actually closer to 5 months (thank you, slow insurance company), she weighed 15 pounds, 10 ounces. She measured 23 3/4 inches, but the doctor thinks she really is 24 inches and that the nurse didn't stretch her out as much as she could have. So, little lady is 2 feet tall! She got another round of shots, and she did really well! She is all smiles, so the doctor enjoyed our visit! Kate helped the doctor as she listened to her heart- she will grab anything in front of her, and this time it happened to be the doctor's fingers that weren't holding the stethoscope!

Our sweet pea is always looking around, with huge eyes, taking everything in around her. She wants to learn so badly! She prefers to look out the window during car rides instead of snoozing. It's been a long time since she let us cradle her like a baby. She wants to be up on someone's shoulder, so she can look around- even when she's being rocked to sleep. I guess she's wanted to be like the grownups from the very beginning... she wouldn't flip when I was pregnant with her, remember?? Grownups do NOT stand on their heads, and she was not going to either! A reclining position is much better. Her comfort in reclining also extends to football watching. She LOVES to watch football and Sports Center. This makes Daddy happy.

She has figured out how to roll over (my birthday present from her) and she's trying hard to crawl. She pushes herself so far up and tries to pull her legs up underneath her, but it doesn't work quite yet! This mama is okay with that for now. ;) She scoots a lot, so when we put her to bed, we start her at the far end. Come morning time, she has scooted all the way up and often has an arm sticking out of the slats of the crib! Since she loves to grab things that she sees, that also means the pacifier. She's AWESOME at taking it out of her mouth and looking at it and playing with it, but she can't figure out how to get it back IN her mouth... at least not in the direction it's supposed to go!

She loves to laugh and she loves to talk. She comes by it pretty honestly. Kisses from Daddy are her favorite, and we always greet him at the front door when he gets home from work. She's always SO excited to see him get out of his car and walk across the front yard.

We went to Lewis Ginter Botanical Gardens the other day with my mom and our dear friend Agnes to check out the butterfly exhibit. I was amazed at how attentive Kate is. Her attention span is far greater than I anticipated or even knew was normal for someone her age. She was enthralled with the butterflies and followed their every move. We just walked around the room and she jumped and kicked in my arms as butterflies fluttered past her face. Such a fun day!

I think that's enough of an update for now. Maybe a future post will include some of our nursery sagas. It's been an interesting ride, and it's only just starting!

**Just waking up from naptime**


**Wait... how did I end up like this?**





**Butterflies!**

Boy or Girl?

The number of friends who are expecting seems to keep increasing! And many are due around the same time! Blogs are being updated today, because today is apparently THE day!! Two boys, so far... Which leads me to my experience at the post office today. A month or so ago, I entered the world of half.com- this time as a seller. I have books from grad school to get rid of, and you can get good money for those! That, of course, sent me on a hunt around the house (at my husband's prompting) to see what other stuff I could sell. Especially since some books net $75! Poor Jon might come home one day to an empty house... But, I digress. At the post office (while shipping a book that had been sold), I was greeted by the kind lady at the counter. Really, she is kind. Surprisingly. I was carrying Kate in my arms, so she could look around and not be trapped in her seat. Here is the conversation that ensued:

Clerk: "Awwwwwww!!!!! Is it a boy or girl?"

Me: "She's a girl."

Clerk: "Oh, you confused me because she's wearing blue."

Well, I made Kate stand on the counter so I could make my point without speaking another word. Kate had on a bluish-turquoise onesie today with a slice of PINK watermelon on the front, and BRIGHT PINK shorts. All of which could be seen even before I perched her on the counter. I suppose girls are only allowed to wear pink and purple... Come on, people!!

Rest

Is it time to go to Boone yet? I'm exhausted and ready for a vacation.

Sexiest Men Alive?

Today I learned that you can add any of the following gadgets to your blog, if you so choose: Swine Flu Prevention Tips, Twilight Quotes, or Sexiest Men Alive pictures. We are pretty well protected against Swine Flu, I think Twilight is one of most absurd pandemics/fads/foolishness to come our way, and I will just check out this picture of the "Sexiest Man Alive," if I want that. I might also call it the "Jon and Kate" or "Dad and his Girl"gadget. Go Appalachian!

Back to School

Tomorrow is the first day of school. Here is the real reason I'm glad I'm not going back. And yes, this is one type of foolishness that high school (and middle school, I suppose) teachers deal with every day.

Mums and Football

It seems as though fall has arrived here in Richmond! So, I decided to autumnize my blog a little. Yes, this English teacher just made up that word. I've always loved fall and fall colors, but I'm especially enjoying it this year... It doesn't usually cool down quite this early (in the 80's... ha, ha!), but it gets in the low 70's at night, which makes this air feel much cooler! I ran by school to return my keys last week and the drum line was out front practicing. Praise God!! There's something about that deep sound that resonates through my soul, and gets me giddy for football. And I'm not even a huge football fan! Kate's eyes were huge as she took it all in. Each season brings new sounds and sights for her and I'm so excited to watch her learn even more.

Fall also means mums and I can't wait to go get them. I'm crazy like that, but I do love a few pots of mums perched on the front steps- gold, maroon, and orange. Such great fall colors!

Fall means football. My poor ASU Mountaineers couldn't quite pull it off this past weekend. Pirates are so mean. But as a college friend said, "Turned out to be a pretty good game - I still hate losing! But I can promise you this....I would rather lose a ballgame and ride back to BOONE than win and have to stay in a dump like Greenville." True, true. I don't really care too much about other football. I'll definitely cheer on the Panthers with my hubby and the Steelers with the rest of my family, but other than that... football makes for a good nap!

School starts here on Tuesday. And I'm not going. So weird! I've found myself thinking about it a ton lately, and almost literally crying in thanksgiving to Jesus for making it so I can stay home with my sweet pea. I will miss my friends, for sure, but check out my alternative!! Nothing beats those kissable cheeks and a huge gummy grin!

Enjoy the weather as it gets crisper, relax as football season kicks off, take in the smell of the fall air, and snuggle up in your favorite pair of jeans. God is so good to us!!

The Star of the Summer

It was brought to my attention that I haven't done a very good job of updating pictures of Kate on my blog. :) So, here are some pictures of my sweet girl from this summer, particularly from the beach...

What a guy!

Happy birthday to my sweet fella! He might be that much closer to 30, and terrified of it, but I sure do love my groom! He is a godly husband and father, he has the BEST sense of humor, and I fall more in love with him everyday. Thank you for working hard so Kate and I can be home together everyday. She adores you and I do too...

Another job that doesn't pay...monetarily.

In my previous life, I was a 10th grade English teacher at my former high school. That paid me fairly well. In April, I embarked on a most precious journey. My new occupation is Kate's mom. I'm no longer rewarded with a paycheck, but that's definitely okay by me. There remains yet another job that I claim as mine, that also does not come with a paycheck! I am a pastor's wife and have held this position for 5 years now. And that, my friend, is a job in itself! I love being married to a pastor. And most days I love this job. But other days, it can be really tough. I've been working on this post for days (I've been a little distracted), but here are some of the harder things that I have wrestled with this summer:

• Beyond Sunday mornings and Wednesday nights: MUCH time is spent between services. Pastors don't just show up on Sunday morning and Wednesday night! Hours aren't typically constant because every week looks different. Meetings with staff, meetings with students or other members of the congregation, and planning time consume time during the week. Pastors are on call 24/7... literally. If one of the youth is having a rough night or needs some help, a phone call at an obscene hour is not uncommon!
  
• Long hours: It's a beautiful thing when my dear hubby doesn't have to go to work until noon. But, he's going to work at noon because he won't be coming home until 8 or 9 that evening. Sometimes, though, he leaves for work at 9 to make it in time for staff meeting. Then Bible study is that evening. Before I know it, he's been gone for 12 hours and we miss spending any time with him. Or, meetings last well into the evening (he arrived home at 10:30 one evening last week). For two weeks in a row, two separate nights held the 12 hour work days. Baby (kids, for some) is in bed and Mom is ready to crash too. It's not easy.
  
• Watch your mouth, young lady: As a pastor's wife, I represent my husband and my family. Of course, I represent the Most High as well and I'm very aware of this. But church life is not perfect. If I disagree with something going on in the church, I have to be extremely careful when/if I open my mouth. Unfortunately, what you say at church can and will be used against you at some point in time. And people talk. Oh, how they talk. You have to know how to play the game. And it can be pretty exhausting at times.
  
• People are watching... and talking: Sometimes it feels as though I have to be "on" all the time. Feeling the need to appear perfect will wear you down! And rumors often run rampant. I try to remember that people need to see an example of a healthy marriage. So, I aim to keep my actions and words about (and to!) my hubby as encouraging as possible.
  
• Scheduling: By the time we pencil in church events, deacon's meetings/budget meetings/quarterly meetings/youth team meetings, we don't have many evenings left in the week. Throw in a date night (super important) and getting together with a friend, and we're down to one night at home. Not quite as terrible when it's just two of you, but add a child to the mix and it's hard to NOT be home.
• Did the church hire me, too??: This is a hard concept for some churches (especially in regard to the youth pastor). I am extremely blessed at our current church because no one EXPECTS me to do anything in relation to his job. They are certainly grateful when I do, but no one assumes that my calling is exclusively to the youth. I adore my high school girls and cherish my time with them, and I'm thankful that I was able to choose that for myself! Although it's not in my current plan, my role may change as Kate grows, and as I grow in my relationship with Jesus.
  
• Taking it personally: If anyone has anything negative to say about my man or his ministry, LOOK OUT! Just kidding. Well, kinda. If anyone knows the faults of my fella, it's me. I know them better than anyone. (Yes, it does go both ways... He has lots of dirt on me and knows all the ugly things about me!!) But anyway, it's really hard to hear someone talk negatively about your husband. As a woman, my feelings are pretty sensitive. And it hurts my feelings when someone is harsh- even if it's not toward me!!
  
• Friends: This one is really tough for me. Unless you are starting a new church (and pretty much chose the staff members with whom you'll be working), it can be difficult to make friends. Especially when going to a new church. For some reason, people aren't jumping at the chance to be friends with a pastor and his wife! ;) It can be hard to be transparent (and I'm all about some honesty and deep conversations) with church members. You have to be guarded in the things you say (for example, prayer requests have to be very vague when related to hubby's job). Plus, people already have their own circles of friends. When your life is engulfed in the church, how can you find solid fellowship with those who don't necessarily GO to your church??
  
• Contentment: I'm reading a book with a dear friend right now entitled, "Calm my Anxious Heart." The book starts out addressing contentment, so I've really been focusing on Philippians 4:11-13 lately. Life in ministry is not life in luxury. And I don't think that it should be. It's not about the love of my life being appreciated (although it sure is nice when it happens!). It's not about owning all the things that people around me own (I really have to check myself when I wish for bigger and better). And I will eventually have to learn that it's not about Kate being happy all the time. We live our lives for Jesus and not for ourselves or anyone else.

Being content isn't always easy. But He is the most important aspect of our lives and when we are solely focused on Him, "... the things of earth will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace." What a joy it is to develop relationships with teenagers and to encourage them and challenge them in their walks with the Lord. How precious it is to stumble through the rocky teenage life alongside our awesome youth. And what a sheer honor and privilege it is to serve them, pray for them, laugh with them, cry with them, and grow closer to our heavenly Father with them!!

Urgent Care and the beach

Yes. That is how our trip to Emerald Isle began this year. Here are the events of Friday night and yesterday:
-Around midnight on Friday night, Kate woke up and started screaming like a banshee...like she was in severe pain... and NOTHING could console her.
-2 am, Jon put her in the car and drove around the neighborhood.
-Once she was asleep, they came home and he put her in her bed.
-Totally fine in the morning.
-Jon, Daniel, Kate, and I left for the beach yesterday morning. Mom, Dad, and Gretchen came late last night after a wedding.
-On the road to NC. Kate slept like a champ until we stopped for lunch and I tried to feed her.
-Howling commenced.
-Kate refused to eat anything and would not stop shrieking.
-We shoved our food down our throats, calmed her down, and got back on the road.
-Arrived in Emerald Isle, Kate finally ate at 5 pm (had not eaten since 9:30 am).
-Conveniently, urgent care places around here are closed on the weekends.
-Head to Morehead City to BEACH CARE.
-Cute little place with a sweet receptionist (big hair and lots of makeup- who also gave us directions on the phone, "It's across the street from Hooters.").
-They don't take our insurance. Sweet southern receptionist tells me that the ER is the only place open that can't turn us away.
-Don't even really have any symptoms to tell them, so we decide to stay.
-Receptionist says that doctor is the "fairest" person she knows. He probably won't charge us too much out of pocket- between $98-$138
-In and out of BEACH CARE within 40 minutes.
-Diagnosis: She looks fine! Cost: $98.

So, I had my maternal instincts challenged yesterday for $98. The doctor was very kind, and it turned out that he really did charge as little as possible. Mom knows best, though. And something was not right with my sweet girl. No clue what it was, but I KNOW that something was off. She was not herself. But how do you tell the doctor, "She's crying a lot."?? That's what babies do! But mine doesn't. And he made me feel like an idiot. Like I couldn't handle a little crying. Like I don't know my own daughter. Whatever. Anyone who heard it would tell you that it wasn't just "a little crying." He did tell me that if nothing changed, that I could bring her back today for no charge.

Our first full day at the beach is halfway over. And we have yet to set foot on the sand! Dad, Daniel, and Jon set up the cabana this morning to stake our territory. But storms have threatened the rest of the day. We got all set to head down just a few minutes ago... despite the wind, clouds, and rough waves. As soon as we set foot on the walkway to the beach, I got nailed with a raindrop on my forehead. So, we turned around and came back up! I was not trying to run up stairs in the pouring rain with this chica!

Kate and I were in our pajamas until about 2o minutes ago (2:30 pm!!), we ate tomato and bacon sandwiches for lunch, and we're meeting up with Dad's college roommate and his family for dinner (2:30 pm!!). I love vacation...

Here is what the 3 month old beach babe looks like. It's a picture from the pool the other week, but she has the same gear on here at the beach! Anyone can look cool with sunglasses on top of her head! Once we get on the beach, we'll snap some more!

What will God do to get your attention?

God is bringing me to my knees again. And if I had to be honest, it's been a long time since I've "needed" God. Or at least realized that I needed Him. I've been doing things on my own, and it's been working out fairly decently. No major hangups. But it's not how I'm meant to live. Don't get me wrong- life hasn't been absolutely fantastic as it can be when you are living in the Word and in God's peace. But, it hasn't been disastrous either. And I'm realizing that I need the strength of the Lord to make it through things that seem minor to other people. It started last week when my sweet friend Kristen came to visit. I have missed my dear friend since she moved back to Wisconsin several years ago. Our time together was precious, but far too short. We spent every minute of the day together, and once she left, I realized my struggle with loneliness. It has pervaded my life, but is usually hidden under other struggles. It's one of the most painful struggles in my life. I could write forever on that one, so maybe in another post.

Jon's niece is visiting this week, and we love it when she comes! We always have so much fun together (while poor Jon is at work), and we are ready to hang out this week! But, she came down with a fever shortly after arriving here from camp, and it's put a damper on our activities. We are going to the pediatrician today to see what's going on with her. We have a big youth conference this weekend, so we are really hoping that she'll get well soon!

And then there's Kate. My sweet baby girl has been more irritable as of late. I think it's mostly gas (she is her father's daughter!), but a fussy baby is never any fun- for Mom or for baby! We are praying that she doesn't get sick too! She's been so grumpy the past two days that she's having a hard time nursing. Well, that is emotionally rough for me! I've been nursing her every day since she was born and she's had 2 bottles in that entire time. She wouldn't eat last night, so Jon gave her a bottle. But, thoughts raced through my head the entire time: What am I doing wrong? Why doesn't she want me to feed her? Is she sick? Will this be forever? Everything has just been so overwhelming. From an outsider's point of view, though, it's not much of anything! God is taking this chance to grab my attention, though. Jon stuck around this morning until I could get a shower so I didn't have a sick girl and a fussy baby on my hands. I spent my shower and getting ready time in prayer... Praying for the ability to handle the chaos in my life right now. Praying for a renewed passion for Jesus. Praying for my girls to be back their normal selves. Praying for Jon and some challenging work issues he has right now. And praying for peace. God knows He can get my attention when I feel like life is spiraling out of control. What will God do to get YOUR attention?

Awesome parents

In case I wasn't already super thankful for my parents, they caused me to take Kate to Panera this morning and hang out for several hours. Why? Because for my first Mother's Day, my parents gave us a house cleaning. They spent 2 hours just on the upstairs- and we do not have a huge house! They cleaned windows, bathrooms, base boards, ceiling fans, etc. We have since returned home and they are still hard at work on the downstairs. And I feel like I'm sitting in someone else's house!! It is BEAUTIFUL!!! My parents have been amazing since Kate was born. They are always doing something to serve us and help us out. I've never felt more blessed in my life. We are so grateful for you, Mom and Dad!!

Father's Day

Every girl thinks that her husband is the best dad in the world. I'm definitely one of those gals. And Kate thinks her dad is the best dad in the world. In honor of Father's Day, she slept through the night!! Midnight 'til 6:30 counts, doesn't it??

Happy Father's Day to the sweetest man I know!

Cleaning and smiles

Is nesting supposed to end once you have had the baby? Because I had the baby 6 weeks ago, and I think that the desire to clean and organize is greater now than it was before!! I wanted a clean house while I was pregnant, but lacked the energy to actually make it that way. I think I secretly hoped that someone else would take care of that for me. Now, Kate is here and I desperately want a clean home. I just don't have the time to do it now! I think she has "Mom's doing something important" radar, and she knows that whatever was so important before will be trumped by her wail for some snuggle time. And then there's the dad factor. I don't want to clean when Jon is home either. I'd much rather waste time watching The Office on DVD (I suppose this can't really be considered "wasting time"). But Jon is gone until Tuesday night on the first part of the youth choir tour in DC. And I am home with our girl. She napped like a champ this afternoon and evening, and I beasted the downstairs. I feel like I could go ahead and tackle upstairs!!! As I finished down here, the princess woke up and announced that it was time to eat once more before bed. I started talking to her before I got into the room, and as soon as I got close to her, here is what I found...

Her hair isn't actually that ridiculous looking, but the smile was too much to pass up! Plus, I can't ever get it captured in a picture. This pic on my cell phone was the best I could do!

Alas, I am not off to clean the upstairs... That will have to wait until tomorrow. I have put the sweet girl in bed, which means it's time to run and jump in mine. Because when will I be awakened? Your guess is as good as mine!

Naptime

Places that are apparently not sufficient for a nap today:
crib
swing
pack n play
bouncy seat

The ONLY place suitable for a nap today:
sling or in Mom's arms

New Beginnings...

It's not a wise idea to go for this long without blogging. By the time you get back into it, too much has happened and playing catch up is rather difficult. Here's somewhat of a recap...
At our appointment during the first week of April, we learned that Babe was upside down (or is it right side up??). We figured that she understood the way of humans. People don't move around on their heads, so why should she?? So, we scheduled a C section at the following appointment. The last few weeks were stressful and exciting. I felt great (probably because she was pleasantly reclined and not putting pressure on me) but I was really upset about having a C section. Something about never having surgery before and things not going as I had planned them. I was scared and I cried a lot. Probably more than was necessary... But, I knew that it was the only way my precious one could enter this world safely, so my feelings were utlimately cast aside. On April 30, all fears and anxiety disappeared at about 8:00 am. God was totally in control of this birth, and my plans were not to get in the way! He truly is the peace that passes all understanding. Really. I can't tell you how upset I was about having a C section. Words cannot describe my anxiety and disappointment. Kate blessed us with her presence at 8:25 that morning and we have been rockin' and rollin' since then!!
The next few weeks were packed with visitors and sleepless nights. More visitors than completely sleepless nights, though! I had written over 100 thank you notes before Kate was born, and the list has begun again. Between gifts and meals since she's been born, I think I'm back up to 40 or so. And yes. I'm very far behind on those all over again. I have baby help from my entire family while Jon is at work, and Gretchen even comes to town almost once a week to visit!! Kate weighed in at 10 pounds even at her 5 week appointment this past week, putting her in the 50th percentile (and making her Mom and Dad VERY proud!!). Our biggest victory so far is last night's champion sleeping: she didn't wake up until 5:15!! Here are some more pics to mark our last few weeks at home...

Week 1




Week 2



Week 3


Week 4

What happened??

What happened to time? My last post was on April 14... 16 days before my lady bug was born. And my ticker at the top of the page suggested (until about 10 minutes ago) that I am 43 weeks pregnant. Can you even imagine if that were true?!?! What IS true, though, is that time flies once new life enters the world. I can't believe that I've been a mom for over a little over a month now. I can't believe that I don't remember my life before my little girl was born. I can't believe that it's possible to love such a tiny thing so much. And of course, by the time I finally get ready to post again, the little lady is calling to me from her crib and telling me that it's time for dinner. So, my blogging changes because my life changed. In a huge way. Until later!

Kathryn Grace (Kate)
born April 30, 2009
7 lbs. 8 oz.
20 inches

HOW much longer?!

Time flies when you're having fun! And I sure have been having fun for the past 24 weeks! I can't even believe how little time is left. I love carrying my little girl with me everywhere I go. I talk to her, and she kicks me back. I always make sure to tell her when we're on our way to lunch/lunch duty. She is always ready for some lunch! Once the morning sickness passed, life has been amazing! Pregnancy definitely agrees with me and I really just love being pregnant! Even at 37 weeks, I'm still having the time of my life. I definitely have the back pain as I'm heading to bed, but I am on my feet and scurrying around school all day long. So, it's not too much of a surprise! The nursery finally was finished over Spring Break, which is a huge relief to me. I knew it would get done, but it was all so overwhelming and I simply don't have time to do stuff! This is how it goes with a full time job! There's hardly time to make dinner and hang out with my precious hubby!
We've been going to the doctor once a week now, so I've started taking treats with me when I go. I mean, if we're all such good friends by now, I might as well bake for them and take them some goodies! Tonight we toured the hospital, which was fun. St. Mary's is a pretty amazing place! I didn't realize that the 3rd floor looked like Embassy Suites! Dimmed lighting in the halls, long carpets hallways, and sconces on the walls??
And my sweet fella sent me this link today. It's such a great blog, and a huge encouragement to me as a youth pastor's wife. Check it out if you have a chance! http://www.marriedtoayouthpastor.com/