Looking Forward to my Heavenly Father's Strength...

"Praise the Lord!  How good to sing praises to our God! How delightful and how fitting!" (Psalms 147:1)

Whoo! I am excited and overwhelmed as I think of the change-filled reality that another birth and baby will bring into my life and into my family :)  There is a whole lot of change ahead and while I can feel it coming (very soon) I know I can really only prepare for it in the rest and peace of my Father's Arms!  One thing I know won't change though, is that I will still need Him more than ever and He will still be here through it all.

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. 

Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. 

He says, “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.” (Psalm 46:1-3, 10 NIV)

Truly He will be exalted!  And as He is my refuge I am really wanting to face some of the hard realities ahead in His strength- don't take this as a negative blog post!  There is just something freeing about realizing that labor is not going to be easy, but rather hard, hard work, and then once my little girl is here there will be a brand new lack of sleep as she and I learn to get on a new rhythm together.  These are not sad things- just tough realities that are mixed with many blessings!  

I hope to learn again firsthand through my own weaknesses that God is oh-so-powerful, constant, and merciful.  Labor was very much full of those reminders the first time around and I have faith that this labor will also bring those Truths about God to mind in a new and mighty way. Now I just pray that I will be able to focus on Him again and not only my own momentary struggles as I get thrown into the heat of it this second time around ;)

"He takes no pleasure in the strength of a horse or in human might.  

No, the Lord ’s delight is in those who fear him, those who put their hope in His unfailing love." (Psalms 147:10, 11).

Aw yes!  Please let my hope in you Lord, be a delight to you.  That is my goal in labor- as hard as it may be!

(Forewarning: these ramblings ahead are for a mature adult audience- not to freak anyone out- I just don't want to shock any kids either)

There is also this thing called nursing that begins after having a baby...  It's wonderful and weird to finally have your belly back after nearly 10 months of sharing it 24/7, but in this new found belly freedom comes this crazy enslavement of your chest.  Lol- don't let that image be an ugly one, maybe enslavement isn't the best word to use, it's more of a humble service to your little one...  they won't remember all the work put into their health, but God will remember and in those late night nursings He has met with me so many times!  It's wonderful and it is also a lot of work!  Are you seeing a theme here?  ;p 

I have to mention another not so easy reality (that isnt hard for all women lol but isnt my favorite), the fact that after birth there is at least 6 weeks without deep physical intimacy with your hubby. Thankfully there are many other forms of intimacy that develop and thrive- just to mention a few: in your teamwork, giving, and friendship.  However, it is still a hard adjustment to have some of your body on hold from your hubby- thankfully not all of your body though!  All these changes really do go by fairly quick, but they can also be a little emotionally overwhelming at times.

The truth: birth and babies come with a lot of adjustments.  And yet, nothing else in the world can compare to the rewards of this new and changing time.  There are joys to be had that cannot be expressed, and wounds to be dealt with that only God can fully know and heal.  Truly, helping to bring a new life into this world is an amazing spiritual journey that can only be understood by fully seeking after The Lord!  I don't want to miss any of it and that's why I just wanted to take time to reflect and look ahead...

"Do you not know? Have you not heard? Has it not been told you from the beginning? 

Have you not understood since the earth was founded? 

He sits enthroned above the circle of the earth, and its people are like grasshoppers. 

He stretches out the heavens like a canopy, and spreads them out like a tent to live in. 

'To whom will you compare me? Or who is my equal?' says the Holy One. 

Lift up your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one and calls forth each of them by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing. 

Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. 

He will not grow tired or weary, and His understanding no one can fathom. 

He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. 

Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint." (Isaiah 40:21, 22, 25, 26, 28-31 NIV)

Hallelujah!

That is a reality that I look forward to facing everyday- God does not grow tired or weary!!!

Thank you Jesus :)

Adventures while camping...

Day One- 

August 14th, 2013 (Wednesday)

Arrival 11:59pm!

Okay, but really, we didn't find Jeff until 12:15am where we almost passed each other in our cars- after he had packed everything up to come back out and look for us.  We left late, we got lost, no reception, and Jeff blew a flat at the campsite and couldn't even try to call us or text us until he could fix the flat and get back to a main road!  Needless to say, just getting out to our campsite has been a very big adventure- all on its own.  

Oh and did I mention its totally raining?  Haha.  So much for "dry" camping!  Seriously though, when things are this crazy, is there anything else to do other than laugh?

My parents are a great example of laughing through rainy camping experiences.  As a young girl we were camping and I woke up to them scrambling around trying to put the top on our tent as thunder rolled in the distance.  They were busting up as they twisted and turned the top getting it backwards and upside down.  There was nothing left to do but laugh as they barely strapped it down in time for a torrential rain downpour.  

When they came back in the tent they were reasonably wet and all of us kids were awake and wide-eyed.  They turned on the lantern and we all cuddled close, whispering, listening, and laughing together.  Bugs, frogs, and lizards began crawling up between the closed top of our tent and the screen top of our tent.  That whole camping experience got crazier by the minute and I am thankful that my parents showed us how to laugh in the midst of unforeseen circumstances.

Isn't that just life, though?  Always full of surprises!  Camping is such a reminder that life is messy, real, and- if we stop long enough to acknowledge it- beautiful!

Praise God we all found each other tonight!  And thank The Lord that our kids slept through most of the craziness.  May they wake up to find us still loving life and laughing tomorrow!

God is good :)

Goodnight!

Day Two-

August 15th, 2013 (Thursday)

The rain has finally stopped at 5:30pm today...  It tried to stop earlier but would just start up again and keep drizzling.  Of course, I say all this after having slept away most of the afternoon (and it was wonderful), but the few times that I did wake up the rain was still pitter-pattering on top of the tent.  So, I am pretty sure my account of the rain coming down "most of the day" is correct.  :p

The boys came and joined me for a nap too only an hour or two after I laid down and after their own little fishing excursion, with Jeff and Zeke, down by the stream.  Tammy said she was able to get some adorable pictures of our toddler boys with their daddy's as they "helped" fish too.  Later, after dinner, I was able to witness this ridiculously cute Father-Son activity as we all walked down to the stream.  Truly, Tammy and I find it is so hard to believe that our first born babies are old enough already to balance on the rocks, hike around next to daddy, and help hold the pole a little bit.  Being pregnant with a second baby and, for Tammy, already having her second baby here, definitely puts a new light on how "not a baby" our little boys are already!

The fact that time is fleeting is a huge reason for journaling out this on-going adventure of our family camping trip!  It's our last big getaway before baby sister arrives.  And while, of course, I can't wait to meet this sweet new little girl, I also want to soak up this fragile time between baby one and baby two.

"So teach us to number our days that we may get a heart of wisdom." - Proverbs 90:12

Day Three-

August 16th, 2013 (Friday)

Restless insomnia haunts me again!  5:15am and this belly is just too big to be kept lying down for too long-lol.  I've only been awake since 4:30 but I don't see myself falling asleep anytime too soon.

So, instead, I think I will type and read on this handy-dandy little lighted device (my phone).  Who knew it would still be useful even while we are "out of service" range?  Even though its true that I enjoy being very social, it really has been so lovely not to have to text or call anyone for one whole day!  My phone has pretty much just been my clock this trip and I have had no pressure whatsoever to return any calls or get back to anybody.  That is, no phone calls, just my little Nico who insists on calling me by name lately, haha, he is very into my name "mommy" these days.  And so, not having my phone makes me quicker to respond to him and to daddy too.

Oh life before technology, I can see that it must have been much easier in some ways to not be distracted from the people who are really present!  Although, I am sure that every life finds its own way to be distracted from the present day in some way- isn't this part of being human with a soul?  Time does not exist forever!  I still hope however, that I will always remember God has created time and put me in this exact position of time for a reason- to obey and honor Him.  So, after this little sidetrack about time and distractions, ultimately, I pray that my time will "not" be distracted from Jesus!

With that said, I think I will go soak in some Jesus time.  Yay!  I am blessed.  May I serve at the pleasure of my Lord Jesus Christ!

How beautiful it is to walk in the footsteps of God.  Being awake in the early morning light it is hard to want to sleep again!  This is the hour His mercies are new :) that is, they are new every moment that we come to Him in humility, however, I love the picture that this verse in Lamentations brings- the picture of a brand new day being how God's mercies cover us!

Oh the beautiful sound of this rushing stream nearby.  What a wonderful constant noise it is!  How much better to hear that than a television?!  Truly, in this ever rising light the sound of it seems to just echo glory to The Lord!

Day Four- 

August 17th, 2013

Well- after a very exciting beach day yesterday I can definitely say I am actually quite content to just hang out around camp and the creek all day today.  Yesterday was super fun and super exhausting!  Lol.  Maybe waking up from 4-6am yesterday didn't help either, but Tammy and I at least got little cat naps in later, on our drive back to camp for dinnertime.

So one fun highlight of yesterday is when my family and I splurged on all our own ice creams at the Tillamook factory right about lunch time (they sort of ended up being our lunch ;p).  Oh man and mine was an amazing waffle dish sundae with cookie dough and espresso mocha ice cream, whipped cream, chocolate syrup, nuts, and a cherry.  Extensive I know!  Haha, but I totally pulled my "pregnant" line on that one, especially when I finished it all with no help.  I'm pretty sure it's been over a week since I last had ice cream though, so you know, I was making up for lost time.  Lol.  Not to mention, every single one of us worked off our ice cream on the mile long hike afterwards through the sand (with kids and supplies) just to get to the beach!

Another highlight was the awesome beach that we played on all afternoon.  Nico was beyond happy as we let him free to run and roll in the sand; he is such a beach sand babe!  I don't think he really stopped running until two hours into our beach stay- unless he was rolling. Talk about wearing out his little body, crazy kid, lets just say he was really good about napping in the car and even going to bed after all that energy exertion!  Pretty much it was all around worth it to do all that we did yesterday as well as a lot of work, beauty, and deliciousness- even if the guys never did catch us fish for our fish tacos.  Lol.

This is random but something else worth noting as I haven't done this since high school when I went dry camping with my aunt, after four days now, I have officially peed on only two real toilets!  Haha.  Did I mention I am also 35weeks preggo?  Impressive right?  Well, at least, for those of you who don't go dry camping all the time :p  Tammy cannot be included in that list though, she is a pro- even with a toddler and a 10 week old!  Okay so she is totally more impressive than me haha but hey, I'm just glad I am finally starting to pick up on her vibe- dry camping really is a refreshing change from our normal lives.

It's only 6am now, so I should probably get some more sleep before everyone wakes up, but it is so good to be awake alone in this quiet, peaceful outdoor loveliness.  "Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in Christ with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places..." - Ephesians 1:3.  And, so I end this little entry and begin this day!  Thank you Lord :)

"Whatever you do, work heartily, as for The Lord and not for men, knowing that from The Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward.  You are serving The Lord Christ." - Colossians 3:23-24

Day Five-

August 18th, 2013 (Sunday)

My battery is about to die, but I wanted to write one last entry while I am still out in this beautiful forest wilderness! It's 7:30am, so not too early but most everyone is still sleeping in and soaking up this lovely family vacation time. Jeremy and Nico are just too cute all cuddled up on the deflating air mattress; I have definitely been reminded that air mattresses are very good at making you have to cuddle up close- lol.  There are a lot of little things that have been completely do able and yet have reminded me how very spoiled I am to have all that I have back home, such as my amazingly comfortable king size bed, two whole bathrooms, and running water.  And yet, out here in this gorgeousness all around, plenty of yummy food, and people to share Gods incredible creation with, the things back home become so visibly unnecessary and they really are just little things that are nice to have whenever they happen to be around (I need to always have this perspective).

Too funny but one of the devotions for today quotes this verse, which goes well with my thoughts too: " Do not remember the former things, nor consider the things of old.  Behold, I [the Lord] will do a new thing, now it shall spring forth; shall you not know it?  I will even make a road in the wilderness and rivers in the desert." - Isaiah 43:18-19 and: "If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new." - 2 Corinthians 5:17.  When I am fully in each moment with my life, living for Jesus, looking ahead with Him too, then there is newness beyond compare!  Every breath is hope for His goodness, every step is work for His name, every move reflects His glory, when I am His and He is mine!  

Thank you My Sweet Savior for a new day, may yesterday's failings be forgotten and forgiven only to be found as new life in you today!

Amen.

Just going for it...

I have been too out of the habit of posting lately and I need to just blog some thoughts on my mind!  Mostly really, I think I will just list what my brain has been recently consumed with and maybe once I throw it all out then I can let Jesus fill me up and pour some more productive words through me.  Life is just so very full, busy, hilarious, blessed, and all encompassing!

Here goes, a list of thoughts within my bursting little cranium:

Weekly and daily routines with Nico

Quality Time spent with daddy

Dreams and projects around the house

Hopes for Cali family to move closer to us (and find jobs!)

Eating right

Exercising often

Trying to beat heartburn

Wearing loose clothes/feeling big lol

Making time with friends

Having to pee- a lot... 

Finishing a few inspiring books recently!

Getting ready to go camping

Organizing finances and bills

Paying off debt

Remembering I am abundantly Blessed!

Understanding my own expectations

Visiting parks

Meeting new moms

Communicating with my church family

Scheduling leaders for our babies area on Sunday mornings

Writing out goals & questions for a meeting with all the leaders

Brainstorming curriculum

Attending and participating in recent weddings!

Listening to my boys make music ;)

Leaving time for Jeremy to get some alone time too

Looking forward to a baby shower :)

Enjoying being a stay-at-home mommy

Preparing for another home birth and baby!

Birthday parties

Festivals

Gardening

Wondering how to schedule in date nights more regularly- lol

Shopping lists and groceries

Glorious nap times- haha

Beating the heat

Playing board games

Staying up too late to watch movies with my hubby

Deciding whether or not to completely repaint our bathroom

Reading through the Gospels at Breakfast

Praying for restoration after disciplining my little man

Kisses, tickles, cuddles, and laughs- as much as possible!

Starting a new book study with my mom friends: "The Power of a Praying Wife"

Realizing everyday how very soon our little girl will be here :)

Organizing hands on play dates every Friday during this month

Deep cleaning random things

Trying to stay on top of chores- dishes, laundry, and dinner...

Lol... that last thought just leaves me void of ideas for a moment- dishes, laundry, and dinner keep Nico and I busy all day.  Repetitive stuff!  Between playing, folding, washing, napping, playing some more, socializing a little bit, making dinner, spending time with daddy, and then our bedtime routine- well our day is over and gone!  Its amazing how time flies when we are having fun ;) 

Yes, my life is pretty simple most days.

And yet, each one ends, begins, and is filled with love...

Love!  The most profound gift, simply given to me daily by my Creator...  I am blessed to experience love in such real ways every day- physically, emotionally, mentally, and spiritually.  Most often I see my Savior's love through my family, however, He surprises me in new ways all the time!

May my heart ever remain grateful...

Truly my God's Love never fails. 

Thank you Jesus!