Christmas Presents!

About a month ago, I fried our microwave when I decided to clean it without knowing what I was doing. Arghh!

Thankfully, Mom knew this and helped contribute to a new microwave as a Christmas present...thanks mom and dad!

After feeling pretty badly again last week, I gave in to the nausea and just laid around on the couch and in bed.  I read a couple interesting books, including "Dear John" (by Nicolas Sparks) and "The Deep Hearts Core" (I can't remember the author) which is a true story about a teacher who goes into the Mississippi Delta to teach in one of the poorest and most crime ridden schools in the area.  The stories in the book are crazy but it is encouraging to see how a teacher can have a good influence on their students if they choose to be a role model.  

After I finished reading those two books, I decided to start a "classic" so now I am reading through "The Great Gatsby." I always enjoyed reading but had difficulty finding time with all the classes I was taking.  Now I have some spare time until I start up student teaching next Wednesday so I am planning on finishing this book before then!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Well, it's been a busy past week, He and She went to visit 5 families in four days!  It was tiring but wonderful to see family again. 

So, I thought this whole morning sickness thing was going away, Saturday was a pretty good day for me as well as Sunday during the day...I didn't feel bad at all.  "Maybe this is over?" I thought.  But I was wrong.  After leading a service for the seniors in our church in our 2 times a year hymn sing, I began to feel the tell-tale signs of that sick-to-your-stomach feeling.   Maybe, I was just run down from all the partying, and I would have slept in on Monday but unfortunately, we had to wake up at 7AM to drive 3 hours down the turnpike to a wedding.  I had a headache all day and when we got home, I collapsed in bed. Yesterday was no better.  Ick. Hopefully, if I am like the rest of the women in my family, this should be over soon. 

And now, one more party to go to, a New Year's Eve party tonight with an 80's theme.  We go to this party every year and it is always so much fun.  It is still very quiet here with no students. Today, I made myself some of the "pregnancy tea" which seems to help my stomach and He and I worked out together and did his surfing workout.  Happy New Year to all!

Gingerbread house!

Just to warn you, there is a picture of my belly below so if you don't want to see it, don't scroll down. 

I had friends over today and they kindly came and made me lunch (a spinach salad with chicken) and made gingerbread houses together that they had gotten from AC Moore for $6 a piece.  I don't consider myself a very creative person but I was very proud of my creation that I made.  I thought it looked cute.  So now we have a christmas tree and gingerbread house in here and it really feels like Christmas now!

Cute right? It took a couple of hours but with friends and hot apple cider, it was quite fun!  

He has been commenting that I am starting to expand in the belly region and I have been denying but I think this picture shows that I am growing a little bit.  I am almost 10 weeks along now...

It is still pretty small and you can't tell but there is definitely a little bump there. 

Friday, He and I went to the first ultrasound and got to see the little peanut.  Amazing!  I teared up when I saw the little heart beating.   It is very sad to think that someone would want to abort something so precious.   We don't know the sex of the baby yet and won't find out for another month probably but found out that I am farther along than initial predictions and my new due date is July 22nd.  It was kind of funny because He and I went together and they tell you that you should drink 32 oz. of water an hour before coming in for the ultrasound so they can see the baby better.  And of course, you can't go to the bathroom until after the ultrasound! Well, I knew I was gonna have a problem when I got out of the car.  I felt sick from drinking all that water and tried walking very slowly up to the office door but to no avail...I threw up all over the sidewalk!  Thankfully, even though I threw up some of the water I drank, I still had enough in me for them to see the baby so it all turned out okay.  Hopefully, this morning sickness thing won't last for too much longer.  It hasn't been too bad, just feeling tired and queesy for most of the day but at least I am not throwing up all the time.

Where have we been???!!!

Recently, I have been receiving a little friendly nudging on posting on the blog since it's been a while.  Since all the students are moving out today and I have just been putzing around the house doing laundry and cleaning, this is my perfect opportunity to tell you what's been going on lately. 

First, the musical.  We had over 1200 people come through and see it (including my sisters and their husbands and kids) and it went so well and I was so proud of the kids and what they accomplished.  I think it was a great experience for them and the response to it was overwhelmingly positive so it was a great blessing and I am thankful for the opportunity. 

Second, Thanksgiving.  It was, as always, an interesting time of seeing family again...in all, we went to 4 parties that weekend and were a little tired of eating turkey I think but of course a good time was had by all. 

Third, finals!  This week, I had finals and it was a wonderful consolation knowing that it was the last time (I think...unless I decide to do another degree :) ) I will be taking exams or finishing up projects so now I can breathe a sigh of relief because it is all over.  Now, all I have to do is sit back and wait until Jan. 21 when my student teaching begins. 

Finally, last but not least, He and I found out this month that we will be parents next summer!  We are both very excited and are looking to welcome our little bundle of Joy in the end of July.  

Below is a picture of our Christmas Tree we got this year.  We call it the "fat boy" because it is only 5 feet tall and a little squat but it was fun to get a tree this year since we haven't for a couple of years now and decorate it together.  See you all at Christmastime!

The final push, I can't believe it's almost here!

Well, we are now officially less than a week away from the first performance of the kids musical I have been in charge of.  I can't believe how quickly time has flown!  I have been enjoying working with the kids every week but this last rehearsal we had on Sunday was so exhausting.  I had adult choir that sang in the morning services which meant I had to be at church by 8:30AM.  Since choir sang in all three services, there was no way I could leave or go anywhere to rest until the kids rehearsal.  HE also woke up early that morning but went for a morning surf and then met me at the 11 service.  

After church, I had to work on getting the children's set on ASAP so we could start our rehearsal on time.  HE was kind enough to run and get me something to eat so I could keep working and rehearsal went extremely well.  It was so encouraging to see all the kids pull together the way they did.  After rehearsal, I had to work on fixing some of our lights for the musical so I didn't even leave the church until 7:30PM that night...an 11 hour day spent entirely at the church!  It was so funny because HE kept calling me and telling me he missed me.  Needless to say, I felt like a load of bricks hit me this morning when I woke up.  Please pray everything goes well this weekend, I am so blessed to have this experience, I have really learned a lot. 

Our fans...

Just thought I would share with everyone what we found on our door the other day...

Apparently, there are some students that think this is pretty funny...He walked out to his car 

two weeks ago and found his car similarly covered in little post-it notes.  I don't know if you can read them but they all say things like, "You are awesome," and other such things.  We have yet to take them off the door because I get a kick out of looking at it every time I walk in.

CHANGE!!

I apologize but I have some random thoughts and ramblings for todays post...

Change is all I have heard over the past 2 years...let's pray that the change we get is a good change!  God is sovereign!

Things are busy busy busy right now.  He is the busiest ever in his job right now....I signed up for my last semester this week and am really excited to be student teaching in the spring.  

The musical is almost here!  I had a case of anxiety Sunday night when I tried to go to bed...I couldn't stop thinking about what we still have left to do and hoping there is enough time to do it in.  

I have been enjoying my new workout routine since stopping my other job...running three times a week and lifting 2x.  I have been motivated so far and enjoying the progress I have been making...He and I were having a wrestling match last night and he said "You're strong." A little confirmation does a body good!