Captivating Retreat Day 1 & 2-ish - Unveiling Beauty

So, one of the core desires is to unveil our beauty - True Beauty - and it is THE core desire. This Beauty is essential and is almost constantly under siege by our Enemy. Yes, the battle is real. We're not told to put on our armor because war may happen and we want to make sure everything fits (Eph. 6.10-18). No, we are in it whether we like it or not and by accepting Jesus as our Lord and Savior we are told that we will fight. Of course (just to calm our nerves), we do know that there is a happy ending - Thank you, Father God!

Anyway...back to Beauty...

What is True Beauty?

mercy

vulnerability

compassion

strength

tenderness

Now, don't think, "Oh, I'm screwed. None of that is in me. I must be the ugliest woman ever!"

Not true.

You do possess True Beauty because you were made in the image of God. We all were! This turns my thinking from hopelessness to hope! I am hopeful that all that I feel I'm not (merciful, vulnerable, compassionate, and tender) I can actually be and live out. I think I've always been good on the strength part. I know I can survive most anything and get through it, not unscathed, but through to the other end. As for the rest...yeah, a lot of work needs to be done in my heart, but a lot of work has been done in my heart since I accepted Christ.

When we accept Christ, we are not given an invitation to be a moral, good girl. When we accept Christ, we are given an invitation to have life, "and have it to the full" (John 10.10).

It is only in this abundant living that we can reveal, walk, and give a clear picture of the Beauty that God gave us as His beloved daughters. Everything else, without Him, just shreds it to pieces. Everything else tells us we're ugly. Everything else tells us we're weak. Everything else tells us we're worthless. Everything else tells us we're not enough. Everything else tells us we're too much. Everything else tells us that True Beauty, the feminine heart, is wrong.

"The thief only comes to steal, kill, and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10.10).

This is putting my faith to the test, unveiling this God-given beauty. I have not been good in, again, any of those qualities with the exception of strength; however, I have an amazing, loving, strong man that God has placed me with and he needs me to let go of the control and let True Beauty shine! I cannot be his complete "ezer kenegdo" (I know, fun word, right?) aka "lifesaver". I want this, oh, how much do I want this! Pastor Husband needs this, my children need it, and I need it and Jesus gives me all that I need to be this - to unveil Beauty.

I'll end this with a quote from the book, Captivating:

"Jesus is extending his hand to you. He is inviting you to dance with him. He asks, "May I have this dance...every day of your life?" His gaze is fixed on you. He is captivated by your beauty. He is smiling. He cares nothing of the opinion of others. He is standing. He will lead. He waits for your response" (Eldredge, 218).

Set-Apart Motherhood: Reflecting Joy and Beauty in Family Life - Leslie Ludy

I'm currently reading Set-Apart Motherhood by Leslie Ludy for an online Bible study. The book is fantastic and we're reading chapter three right now.

A few things I have learned:

1. God's pattern for motherhood is victorious, joy-filled, and beautiful (2)
2. "Productivity is not God's highest goal for this season of my life; obedience is" (16)
3. The joy of motherhood is not dependent on whether the house is cleaned, if Pastor Husband took out the trash and remembered to put a new bag in the trash can, or if kiddos are actually listening to me or not. The joy comes from "an abiding contentment and peace, no matter what challenges I'm facing" (18)

So, I'm trying. I'm trying really hard at something that seems like it should be so natural. I have to really fight against my natural tendencies and the patterns I grew up with and, let me tell you, I fail pretty much every day...BUT the failures are less explosive with each passing day. It's working. The focusing on God's pattern and consciously making the decision to choose joy over frustration, anger, impatience, tiredness, irritation, and all those other non-joy-filled emotions.

When I choose joy it's so much more fun - the time spent with my kiddos and other people's kiddos. On Saturday we basically had two sets of twins. Our friends were moving and their little ones are the same age as ours and it was interesting, but we had a good time at keeping four tiny humans alive all day. It was one of the few days (I'm getting more days thinking this) that I felt like if we were placed with a baby the adoption agency would not be making a mistake.

Here are some joy-filled pictures from the last few days of joy-filled motherhood moments!

Our Little Man

...is not so little. I realized this when I put up the pictures for his birthday timeline banner thing. He was a little baby man for maybe a month and then he just got big. He's just big. Not as big as Cousin Ponchito who turned one in May and is basically a man already, but Baby Dos is super big in comparison to his not-so-big sister.

Anyway, we took him to get shot...by a camera people!...at the park the week of his first birthday and they are so cute! If anyone is looking for someone who can do some of the most natural pictures of you, baby, family, events, etc., then give this lovely lady a call: Sara Lucero Photography. Gorgeous, all of her pictures and she's pretty dang swell herself along with her little family. Head over to her site. You will not be disappointed.

I loved all the pictures, but she got a sequence of pictures of Baby Dos going down the slide and I don't think she realized all that she captured.

Photo by Sara Lucero

Photo by Sara Lucero

Photo by Sara Lucero

There are sooooo many people who know and love our children. It overwhelms me every time when I think about all the faces that have smiled at them. There have been many hands that have held them and changed their diapers. This series of pictures portrays that it takes more than one set of hands to raise a child. For our children, consistently, it has been my hands, Pastor Husband's hands, and my mom's hands a.k.a. Ga. God's love is so present in these photos that I try to think about them during the times that I am anything, but content with the circumstances that are surrounding me.

Ga has been coming over every Tuesday since Baby Girl was born and she'll be three in September! When Ga is here Baby Dos doesn't even need me to exist so that's when I run around town doing errands, reading at Starbucks, or just getting stuff done around the house. I love that she was included in the photos because she has such a huge part in my kiddos' life. My sisters and I were raised super close to our grandparents and I am so thankful my kids are getting the same.

So, thank you Sara for the fun time at the park, beautiful pictures, and for finally meeting you and your precious family. Thank you all who have loved our children. Thank you Ga for being so present in their lives. Thank you Lord, above all things, for Pastor Husband, Baby Girl, and Baby Dos...and for Future Babes!

The Journey Begins

...and I think I know what the ending is, but then again, you never know.

I believe, the grand finale is when a child is placed in your home. At some point, that part does happen, right?

It's so weird...adoption. When you really think about it. All of a sudden, regardless of age, a new being is entrusted to you and yours. Perhaps a baby is easier than someone who has engraved memories. Still, you look at this child and think that you're completely changing their life as they know it or would have known it. Hopefully for the better.

I don't feel as if I'm being pessimistic or "morbid", but these are the thoughts I have when it comes to adoption and the adoption story that Pastor Husband, Baby Girl, Baby Dos, and I have just started.

Pastor Husband - who has better printing than I do - was hard at work filling out our adoption application two nights ago while I verbally gave him the answers. No, it wasn't a test, but it was definitely a test of our memories! My apartment number from ten years ago! Yeah right! Thank you Google, thank you Google. You are helping this adoption take bloom. After a lot of searching, mapping, and digging through public records online we completed the application.

We took the application to the post office this morning.

Even as I type, I feel a bit queasy. Quasi-morning sickness? It's so scary! Sometimes - honestly a lot of the time - I don't feel like I'm a good enough mom to the two we already have and someone may say I'm good enough for another?

We prayed over the envelope. Whatever the decision or baby or child or age or gender or color God is deciding. He may decide that we shouldn't officially adopt, but keep up our unofficial adoptions of our youth-turned-young-adults from before. I hope that in this lifetime we do adopt others in the same way that God has adopted my little family.

"Treasures in Heaven"

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moths and vermin destroy, and where thieves break and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moths and vermin do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also," (New International Version, Matt. 6.19-21).

Well, moths and vermin did not destroy this place nor is this place actually destroyed; however, what it once was is now part of the past rather than the present. The church where Pastor Husband was the lead pastor has now passed onto another church. The church we were once part of voted to give the building to this other church and the name Pastor Husband and I, along with others, so believed in will be removed.

It's a good thing...a great thing, in fact, because the new church has drive, momentum, and people! The Kingdom of God will continue to thrive. It's not that we didn't try. Our little church tried as we pushed and pulled the few we had up the never-ending, steep, craggy mountain. Although, despite the struggle to push outside of our walls there was much love within those walls. I went through literal life-changing events within those walls and was witness to amazing transformations.

The church, as we knew it, was going to end. We knew it and it was just a matter of time. Then God put us all on different paths and provided us all with blessed miracles.

Now we are living abundantly versus barely surviving. I don't believe Pastor Husband ever stored his treasures in the church, the building, or even in the people. I believe he never lost sight of seeking God's kingdom first. I, on the other hand, was a completely different story. I had to keep reminding myself what ministry was all about - what life's purpose is all about - loving God and loving others.

I am excited for the new church and the stirring it may do within their city. I'm also sad because there were still a few there who have spent their entire life at the old church and now they have a huge change to get through and I just pray they get through it well. I pray they are able to give grace and mercy to the new church because this will be difficult. Change is never easy.

It is amazing...through all this change, I think, for the first time, I was able to detect God's hand rather than saying after the fact, "Oh yeah, I get it now. I see how You did this or that." There were still hard moments, but I don't think I had any doubt interfere. It was just my own personality that got in the way! Yeah...still working on that stuff.

Happy Trails to Us!

I follow a few blogs and there have been a few Facebook friends who have moved within the last year, meaning 2013, and I've been a bit envious. Don't worry, God knows this and I've talked to him about it. I wasn't truly envious, my heart wasn't thumping to the little green monster's beat, but I just wondered what it was like to move a whole family to a new home where you plan to do life and raise the kiddies. Well, like I said before, God knows this and said, "Bam! Here you go!"

We're moving. In two weeks. Moving.

The process to get to this part went kind of slow and without any real direction, which is why the "Surprise, you're moving!" was definitely a baseball to the head.

Now, I don't know if this is the life of a pastor wife or just my life. I think, like Pastor Husband, most pastors want to find a church and make a home there. As much as I love the church we're at - only two Sundays left - but I also knew it wasn't forever. I don't know what this next church will be like...I give it all over to God. I  thought this whole moving thing would completely overwhelm me, but I pray each morning, as I think about what may or may not (more like not) get done, for grace and mercy to overwhelm me. Otherwise, my head would be gone, my children would be terrified of me, and Pastor Husband may forget he's married to me.

It's bittersweet. I'm excited to move because I actually enjoy packing and new places; however, I am going to miss the people. I "had" many children from this church - I always tell them I love them more than my own children because I didn't have to birth them. As Pastor Husband announced our goodbye our last five years of life flashed before my eyes.

I was looking for a church while I was at school, fully thinking this church would only be a school thing and I'd be back at my "home" church once I graduated. God had other plans. I was asked to help out and all these amazing teenagers punched their way into my heart and then the pastor asked me out on a date! We had our first alone-no-interruptions conversation in the sanctuary. We were betrothed under the same roof, Married. Pastor Husband announced from the stage when we were expecting Baby Girl and then Baby Dos. LIFE. Life has happened in that building...not just on Sundays either. I've had tears in my eyes whenever one of our kids were baptized or stood there and gave their testimony. I've met some of the wisest women. Women, I know, I'll never meet the likes of again.

God moves your life whether you want to admit it or not. You look back and remember the people that pulled you through, pushed you back up, and shoved you forward. They didn't get there by accident, my friends. The places and events. The glory goes to God alone.

Recent Adventures

Yes, I am still catching up from Christmas. All the decorations have finally come down and are in the respective boxes and the boxes are still in the dining room. Halfway there, right? Well, to finally put the holidays to a close, I am posting the last of our Christmas-holiday-fun pictures.

On December 23 we made our finally, all day trip to Disneyland and we have never seen Baby Girl so excited! Captivating speaks truth - there really is a princess in all of us and it'll bloom and mature as long as someone doesn't come along and smash that princess to bits. Baby Girl was in love with the princesses and she doesn't even really know who they are, but something inside of her just sings whenever she saw one of them. We decided to wait in the line for the princess meet & greet Disney has now and it was probably her favorite part of the day. Minnie Mouse may have come a close second, but it was during normal naptime hours so there was a tantrum before and after the picture. Baby Dos and I waited an hour for Mickey Mouse! Insane. We wanted to end our last trip with the fireworks, but they canceled last minute due to wind...boo. Other than that, it really was a fun day, good weather, lots o' people (so many the park closed), and I think Baby Girl had the most fun she's ever had there.

Next, we went to my college roommate's wedding out in Temecula. The couple lives out in New York (so lucky! with the exception of all the snow happening right now). It was so pretty, the whole wedding, and very thoughtful. Thoughtful to their guests, to each other, and to God. He wasn't lost in all the details. I love weddings that make Him the lead role because He is the one that gave us marriage. We should thank Him, loudly. This couple has done it right from the very beginning of their relationship and I'm thankful to know them. Oh, and the cake...the best wedding cake. Ever.

Finally, the last adventure of 2013 - Mexico. I'll admit, I am not a fan of Mexico. I never went much as a kid and I don't even know where in Mexico my family is from...we don't even speak the language! Probably one of the reasons why it's not on my top ten list of places to go. Thank goodness, Pastor Husband knows it like its his first language. Anyway, we went down to San Felipe because one of our friends was going and there's a family down there Pastor Husband is very close to from all his missionary work. It was a good trip and actually very restful. The babies slept through the night and took a nap each day, which means the adults got to take a nap every day too! We took one of our youth-turned-college-unofficially-adopted-daughter with us and I don't think she's had that kind of sleep since she started college. We ate and slept - my perfect kind of vacation. We also did many things that ended with, "Only in Mexico".

Always Wear Clean Underwear...

...and keep your living room clean because you never know who may show up or why they may (or in my case, have to) show up.

Baby Dos arrived on July 24 at 2:49 a.m. - in our living room.

I remember when we first went to the birthing center and we requested a home birth. I also remember when I saw the amazing and beautiful bathtub at the birthing center and completely changed my mind. I'm sure if I had listened closely I would have heard God chuckling to Himself.

The whole thing just went by so dang fast even though I was having contractions for almost two weeks prior, but man! When they were consistent and working contractions it was nothing like I had with Baby Girl. My labor with Baby Girl was a marathon while Baby Dos had me sprinting to the finish line. We skipped the whole 5-1-1 warning and went straight to maybe three minutes apart, at the most. I made it to the front door and waited while Pastor Husband loaded up the car and while that was in progress Baby Dos gave me the clear message that we were now in the pushing stage.

I told Pastor Husband that we were not going to get in the car. Phone calls were made, things were brought back into the house, and midwife, nurse, and doula came to us. For the time that I pushed, I made sounds like Serena Williams on the tennis court. Somehow, by the grace of God, Baby Girl slept through it all! I probably would have lost it if I heard her wake up.

Baby Dos had his - we had a boy! - first doctor's appointment today and came out with a clean bill of health! He has already gained a pound in the two weeks that he has been part of our family. Nursing is 100 times better than it was with Baby Girl, which makes me sad because it was months before I was able to hold Baby Girl close to me without pain; however, I am so thankful that it is going well the second time around.

He is so alert and stays awake during the day and it's not always crying-awake. He also sleeps pretty well throughout the night. We've had a few four hour stretches during the night! I hope this keeps up and just gets better as the nights go by. Baby Girl is adjusting and will pay him some attention and then does her own thing. Baby Girl has had two molars come in last month! She is just growing before our eyes and will be two next month. Unbelievable!

We are now a family of four. I find this fact incredible every time I think about it. We have survived two weeks without losing any limbs along the way. I would say we're doing pretty well. Here's to tomorrow!

My Life.

"A Mother's Heart"

Last night we had a bbq with Pastor Husband's pastor mentor group. The group usually meets about once a month, just the husbands, and the wives - well, we see each other at certain conferences/workshops throughout the year, dinners, and then at the bbq to ring in the summer.

Baby Girl was our entertainment last night, but the thing that just hit me about our beautiful daughter is that she is truly a little walking, babbling, instrument of God that has been given to me.

We had the unique opportunity to pray over the couple's grandson, whose house we were at, before he left for a whole new chapter in his life. He was going to be on his way to New York (love that place!)! So, the big, bad (as in Michael Jackson "bad) group of pastor husbands stood around him and placed their hands on him. The wives, we sat where we were and prayed as well. I was actually in the kitchen area because from there I could still participate in our conversations and watch Baby Girl.

Prior to the prayer, Baby Girl had been running, literally, around the house, laughing, and talking up a storm. It was a special occasion so she got to eat some homemade peach ice cream. The sugar went straight to her head! So, she had been working off her energy as the adults tried to pay attention to each other in the living room.

Then it happened and it moved my entire world.

As I prayed and kept an eye out for Baby Girl, she came running by and no one said a word to her...on her own - actually, I think it was a clear direction from God - she walked over to the husbands praying over the young man and one of the pastor's wives was sitting within the group with her hands out. Baby Girl took her hand, looked over at me, and then bowed her head. She was quiet the entire time and glanced at me a couple of times. When it was over she resumed her running around.

It brought tears to my eyes. I am so thankful to God for giving us Baby Girl to be our manifestation of His spirit. I pray that we, as parents, are wise enough to be able to teach Baby Girl and to also learn from her.

Gimmie a Break

The last three weeks have been slowly draining the life out of me.

Okay, maybe it's not that dramatic, but it was definitely a test of my mothering skills, patience, and knowing that "this too shall pass". Pastor Husband was training for his new part-time job and the training used full-time hours. Some hours were a normal type of 8-5pm and then some were late into the night. Then there were even a couple of graveyard shifts! I am so thankful for his stamina, hard work, and his knowing that we will get through this and then things will settle.

Today was our first normal day, you could say. Though he did work a graveyard shift last night into this morning. Then the dogs got out so I had to wake him after a few hours. I knew though that I needed to get out of the house without another human being in the car, which included Baby Girl. Now, she has been wonderful. I'm surprised she didn't tell me that she was tired of my face or try to run away herself. We played a lot of "what does the (blank) say", visited thrift stores, went to dinner, ran around the house yelling (all for fun, not at each other), colored, sang songs, danced, and played with kitchenware. We explored every corner of the house.

I feel like an Oprah-show when I say that I needed some "me time". It's that whole hating to show vulnerability thing.

I decided to go get a haircut as Pastor Husband and Baby Girl were napping. I did and I asked for side-swept bangs and I got something between straight across, side-swept bangs. It's different and I just wanted her to stop cutting so I said it was great. I then went to the used bookstore and browsed. After being gone a couple of hours I thought for sure that both of my family members would be awake and entertaining each other. I stopped at Starbucks first for a treat and went home.

They were both still asleep! As I tried to settle down and read some, I heard Baby Girl talking to her crib friends. I got home just in time for her to wake up. The break was over.

Oh well, it was still a couple of good hours of just relaxing as hair stylist took over my hair and it was nice being able to look at almost every book on the shelves without having to constantly glance for the little person next to me. One day she'll enjoy doing this with me and will probably want to sit in the middle of the aisle reading something and I'll join her with my own pile of books. It'll be a lovely way to spend some time together.

Wordy Wednesday: The Pacifier Saga, Day 3

Today is the third day going without a pacifier. We started on Monday when we only used it at naptime and bedtime. It was a good day. Baby Girl was in a really fun and playful mood. Tuesday, Pastor Husband and I caved. We gave in about a half hour before lunch. She was fine after that and, again, only used it to sleep. Today we entered into day three...

Today was a success! Minus the complete meltdown this morning. Baby Girl actually did the same thing yesterday morning and Pastor Husband and I are completely baffled as to why this is happening. She's not crying for the pacifier, she's just crying. It's not teething and she isn't sick. The second her favorite cartoon came on she was fine and just sat with me. The poor thing didn't even make it through breakfast this morning.

However, today I will count as a success because we went the whole day without me giving in and plugging her up with a pacifier. Baby Girl even went through her entire afternoon nap without one! Tomorrow will be the same routine and then Friday - the big night! - we'll try to do bedtime pacifier free.

I'm not sure why I picked this week to start this, but I did and now I have to stay dedicated. I realized that the pacifier is really my bad habit, not Baby Girl's habit. She doesn't look for it, ask for it, and will only take it if she happens to see it. It's more our crutch than any thing else. It takes such discipline from yourself to raise a child! I knew this, but I'm really beginning to realize it as she gets older and learns new "tricks"!

Monday, Day 1 - Diaper Head

Wordy Wednesday

...as in, I'm going to be using a lot of words in this post tonight!

Last night I finally got to use my Christmas present from Pastor Husband. Tickets to Jekyll and Hyde!!! It sort of felt like Valentine's as well because we got dress up, go out, and stay up late. Staying up late doesn't happen often, at least not on purpose, due to the fact that we like to sleep.

It was fun because we haven't been to The Pantages theatre in a while and all of a sudden there is a hotel across the street. It was odd because the lobby/front desk/bar area was decorated in a very Las Vegas-80's-extravagance. We felt a bit sleazy in this swanky place, but decided to stay for appetizers, which were so yummy! Expensive, but very tasty. Then we walked and had dinner at this little Italian place, "Fabiolus Cucina". Just go, you need to go there. Pastor Husband had the gnocchi and I had the Tagliatelle. Mine had a meat sauce, but it didn't taste heavy or oily. It was cooked perfectly.

On to the musical...I've seen Jekyll and Hyde three times. Last night was the fourth. It's been years since the last time and I know it was recently revamped by Frank Wildhorn and it seems like whenever he does this he scrapes a bit more off. The music thins a bit and he'll add a song here, take out a song there. Now, it's good, I would never say it wasn't because I'm not a composer so who am I to say that he doesn't know what he's doing.

Right now, Constantine Maroulis is playing the part of Jekyll and Hyde. This is the second time I've seen him on stage, the first being, "Rock of Ages". That musical suited him perfectly because he's a rocker. J&H, just not so much. They definitely added a more rock vibe to the songs he sang, which made those songs seem out of place to the rest of the music. He performed them well, but it made the songs stand out on their own rather than complementing the others. He also tried to sing with an accent and if The Beatles can sing without an accent so can the rest of the world.

The ladies of J&H - spectacular! If it wasn't for them, the show may have been lost. Deborah Cox (Lucy) and Teal Wicks (Emma) have those classic, big, solid, gut-wrenching voices that I love. Out of all the Lucy's I've seen, Deobrah Cox is the closest to Linda Eder (my favorite singer ever!).

Regardless of the weird rock edge to the musical, it was a great show and one of the best nights we've had together. Pastor Husband never makes me feel like I'm only the mother to his children. He is always so good at loving me as his wife first, which gives me a nice reminder that I am his wife first and mother to Baby Girl and Baby Dos (soon enough!) second.

PS - it occurred to me last night that this song should be played when someone is baptized :)

Duty Calls

I informed Pastor Husband today that I was going back to my housewife job today. He was pleased to hear that and said that I wouldn't be fired because I have a benevolent boss. Pastor Husband is a blessing with all his understanding.

I kind of took off for a week and didn't do much of anything with the exception of taking care of Baby Girl. She never went without clean diapers or without food. I'm not that bad!  Not much else got done though. Laundry is stacked high and I didn't make many dinners. I guess I was just tired because I did a lot of that throughout the week. I even fell asleep, twice!, while Baby Girl was still awake!

Today, I'm taking back over my life regardless of how much I want to fall into a coma. I keep waiting for that burst of life during the second trimester, but, so far, it's hiding far away from me. Today, I managed to wash diapers, clean up the living room, put the recycling out, wipe off the cabinets, make dinner (Pinterest), and clean the microwave (Pinterest).

We've had a good start to Valentine's - we got to hear Baby Dos' heartbeat at my midwife appointment, had a picnic in the park, shared a yummy dinner together, and took a field trip to the store. Tonight, after Baby Girl goes to bed, Pastor Husband and I have cupcakes, coffee, and a movie to share. Thank you Lord for all of Your goodness!

...speaking of Pinterest :) Here is dinner: Day Three Healthy Dinner Recipe - Pasta-less Manicotti. Here is cheers to a clean microwave (this worked awesome and it was so quick!): Vinegar is the new clean smell.

Wordy Wednesday

I'm not sure why Pastor Husband brought this up this morning. Maybe it was something on the radio. I don't know, but he wanted to know what "keel" meant and why we say "keel over". I didn't know the actual definition, but I told him that I was always imagine a person sloping over to their side, like a slumped over flower. Turns out...I was kind of right!

keel  

/kēl/

Verb (of a boat or ship) Turn over on its side; capsize.

It made for fun car conversation :)

Merry Christmas!

Sunday before Christmas...Pastor Husband working it!

Christmas Eve

Around 1am when everyone was asleep except for me!

Baby Girl ripped one piece of wrapping paper at a time

Baked French Toast for Christmas Breakfast

Advent: Day 2

Devotional: God promises to faithful Abraham that in his seed all nations of the earth shall be blessed.

We are always blessed and, I believe, those "extra" blessings - things, people, events, etc. - are God's love notes from Him to us. Today, God sent an abundant love note through Pastor Husband who was the best daddy and husband in the whole world today! I'm dying of a cold and he took of both of us today without breaking a sweat. As I sit here, unable to breathe out of my nose, my ear plugged up, and sweating because right now it feels like it's 100 degrees in the room, I am also thanking and praising God for bringing this amazing man into my life.

A Brother From Another Mother

Someone said that a long time ago when they walked into Stater Bros. and I have had it in my memory box ever since. Anyway, to let you in a bit on Pastor Husband, I will start off by saying that he is an introvert in extrovert clothing. Not to say that he is fake around people, but it does tire him out when he's around a lot of people for a long period of time; however, unlike me, he doesn't get all pouty, grouchy, or hide in a corner until it's all over. He genuinely cares about other people and their stories, which is why he is so good at making friends. His friends though are quite unique. For some reason, Pastor Husband, is awesome at making friends who don't speak English.

Since knowing Pastor Husband I now know people from all over the map. Our wedding was actually streamed so that all his ESL friends could be part of our ceremony!

Here's a list of our extended family:
Austria via England
Belgium
Brazil
Japan
Romania
Guatemala
Mexico

I think I've met most all of them face-to-face. Some have been in our bedroom via Skype...yeah, that's never strange. There's always some kind of language, accent, or new custom that I get to learn. It's all quite interesting.

Today, we had lunch with married Belgium friends. The husband is actually from Brazil and the wife is Turkish. She's four months pregnant with their baby boy. These wonderful people brought us chocolate - LOTS! - waffles, some kind of candy that tastes like violets (haven't tried them yet), and Turkish gummy candies that are rose, vanilla, and citrus flavor (these are very yummy).

I knew the rest of the world existed and it wasn't flat, but Pastor Husband has definitely expanded my horizons. I feel very international!

The stash.

Wordy Wednesday

arosepast tense of a·rise (Verb)

Verb:

Emerge; become apparent: "new difficulties had arisen". Come into being; originate: "the practice arose in the nineteenth century".

It was reported to me that Pastor Husband used this word at Young Adult Camp last weekend when he spoke to the group. The informant and I both did not believe it was an actual word. Pastor Husband proved last night that it's real! Apparently, I don't read enough of the KJV of the bible so I was unaware that it uses the word 173 times! To compare, the NIV only uses "arose" 11 times.

You learn something new every day!

"Sunday's a'coming!"

That was the term Pastor Husband used during a sermon a couple of months ago. When Monday feels like it's going to be forever, trials never seem to have an end, or when stress is the only emotion you've felt for the last month - always remember that "Sunday's a'coming!". Always remember there is hope and there is joy. I thought about this phrase as we entered the new zone in Baby Girl's life. The no-nursing zone!

::Sing Twilight's Zone theme song now::

We started weaning a couple of weeks before the big numero uno birthday and she had her last bit of me about a week ago. It was hard for both of us. Probably physically and emotionally for both of us. The day time was fine, no melt-downs and with napping, snacks, and meals it was actually nice to have some time to do all of it plus play. Pastor Husband and I were worried about the mornings and I was incredibly worried about bedtime.

I know, I know, I know...don't feed your baby to sleep. I've heard it and read it, but it worked for us. And I loved it. I loved that calm, quiet time between us with her sound maker playing the rain and the slow, swirling image of the fishes on the ceiling. I also think that Baby Girl sleeps better with a full tummy...the girl loves to eat so why not fall asleep doing something she loves. Anyway, it worked. She would wake up maybe once during the night with a quick cry and fall right back asleep. I don't feel as if this routine backfired on us at all. Well, maybe, until now...Baby Girl has not enjoyed being put to bed anymore.

"Sunday's a'coming!" and it came for us last night after two nights of no bueno. It's funny because everything you read about babies, especially sleeping topic stuff, it usually says "give it a couple of nights" or a "couple of tries" and it's so true! It wasn't hard when we were first trying to get her to sleep a full night, at least not emotionally, for me. It was emotionally hard, this time around, with trying to get her to sleep by just putting her down in bed, no nursing. To hear her cry was horrible. I felt like I was suffering right along with her. The first night, we both went in to rescue her a couple of times. It was the longest two hours for all three of us. The second night, I think we went in only once to give her her pacifier. She may have cried for about an hour or so. Then last night...Baby Girl had her bottle of warm milk (yeah, she's a princess), we picked up the toys, and then read a couple of books. I told her I loved her, gave her a kiss, and put her down in her crib. She cried a bit, at first, nothing unusual. I turned off the light and closed the door.

It wasn't until about a half hour later that we realized that she wasn't crying. She was quiet. She was sleeping! Sunday came and it was glorious!

Tonight the same has happened, only I started hearing music coming from her room and I realized she turned on one of her glow worm toys. She's so precious!

Moral of the story: "Sunday's a'coming!" Don't give up!

Sometimes I put her to work :)

Wordy Wednesday

On Sunday, Pastor Husband thought he made up another word, but one of our HS-ers looked it up and it really is a word!

We're going to do a year-long series all about Jesus. Now, don't get the wrong idea, we talk/learn about Jesus every Sunday. For this series though we are delving into the details of Jesus. Pastor Husband's goal is that we really KNOW Jesus. "The more you know..." (remember those commercials?). I'm looking forward to it!

in·fec·tious/inˈfekSHəs/

Adjective:	(of a disease or disease-causing organism) Liable to be transmitted to people, organisms, etc., through the environment. Liable to spread infection.
Synonyms:	contagious - catching - communicable - taking