Monday, November 28, 2011

2 month appointment (at 10 weeks)

Juliet weighs 12 lbs 1 oz
She is 23.5 in long
Her head is 14.5 cm in circumference
She got three shots :((((

Thursday, November 24, 2011

I am thankful for...

....this smile
 ...for playing Risk, running a Turkey Trot, and a yummy breakfast
 ....for the help and love of Grandparents
 ...for yummy desserts
 ...for great friends, wonderful company over a Thanksgiving meal, and an abundance of food
 ...for a table where we could all fellowship, eat together, and share what we were thankful for
 ...for spending time with friends from different stages of life
 ...for lots and lots of laughs and stories and wine
 ...for friends from birth
 ...and for sweet, little Juliet's first Thanksgiving!

Monday, November 21, 2011

An Impossible Calling

My heart aches to be in Mexico these days.  It almost kills me that I can't just "go" right now; for a visit at least.  I have recently been almost obsessed with reading blogs of other missionaries and I think it is because it is the closest I can get to being "there" right now. 

I am such a goer and doer; I always have been.  Even though I don't like bugs, can't stand to have greasy hair, and like taking hot showers, there is no where I have ever been happier than on the mission field.

I think part of my contentment on the mission field is a result of my own sin of getting caught-up in "stuff" in the US..  Here in the US it  is so easy for me to get caught-up in material things, entertainment, and "instant"-everything.  It is so much easier for me to focus more on the simple and important things when I have fewer material distractions; in other countries, for instance.   When my life is more focused on serving others and less focused on me, I am more content. But, I think another reason I am so content on the mission field is not because it is always easy, not because nothing ever frustrates me (have you ever met a Hispanic that arrives on time???), and not because nothing ever challenges me, but because I really believe God has called me there.  I don't think you can find true contentment outside of His will.

Well, right now my I am here.  In the US.  And not only am I here, but my "going" and "doing" is very limited.  I am learning to stay and rest (I mean that figuratively!).  Being still for now is okay; I know this is my current calling.  I want to "go", but I know this is a season and there will be a time when it is easier to go and do.  However, what I really struggle with is if I will ever be able to go on the mission field again.  I have such a longing to go; but the reality seems so impossible.  How many single moms go on the mission field? ...not to mention other logistics and issues that would arise.   A future "there" just doesn't make sense. I have really been struggling with the future and feeling stuck in the impossibles.

Thankfully God has been showing me that impossible is good.  Impossible means that if I do go it is completely of Him and not of my will or my doing.  If "going" were possible for me right now, I'd go.  So being stuck in the impossible for man forces me to rely on God's timing and plan and not my own.  Maybe I will never "go" again, I don't know God's plans, but if I do I can be sure it is of the Lord; otherwise, it just doesn't make sense. 

So, here is to the future full of going and doing; but also to the present full of waiting, resting, leaning, and trusting.  I hope to be able to re-read this post one day and be able to say, "o, ye of little faith".

1 Corinthians 1: 26-31

26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”

Friday, November 18, 2011

The Help

I have had so much help, and offers of help, since Juliet has arrived.  So many of you have, or have offered to baby-sit for me while I catch a nap or do school work; you have loaned me things; and given me countless advice and answered my thousands of questions on everything baby.  Thank you so much!

Also, without the help of my parents I would be one hungry, tired, and probably crazy, girl.  I have had breakfast in bed since the day Juliet was born, constant baby-sitting so I can get in a run or a nap, encouragement and devotions, a bottom-less water cup by my bed, and Juliet "holders" for when she cries so much I cry too! 

I am so blessed.

Go Steelers

We all attended Dan Berger's Steeler themed birthday party.  We totally dressed for the occasion.

2 Months (Tomorrow)

Tomorrow Juliet will be 2 months old.  Even though the time has flown by and I can't believe she is two months, I also still feel like she is older than her actually age.  She has so much personality, opinion, and spunk.  This past week (FINALLY!!!!) she has been sleeping better.  She has been sleeping a four hour stretch eating and then sleeping another four hours at night.  She still eats every three hours during the day, but she is now also napping much, much better (like an hour between each feeding) during the day!  I have not eaten dairy the past two weeks because Juliet was just being SO cranky.  Her tummy seemed to be hurting her, which meant she did not sleep well, which meant she was a very fussy baby.  My dad saw a baby on TV and made the comment, "why is that baby not crying?"...Yes! She was being that fussy.  But, alas, with the no-dairy diet and the good sleep habits, we have one smiling, happy baby!

2 month milestones:
-smiles "on command" as long as she is fed
-uses cloth diapers
-nurses about an hour, is awake about 30 minutes, naps about an hour to an hour and a half, and then repeats the process all day long
-seems to really like being outside
-will turn her head to follow your voice
-wears size 3 months clothes
-loud music and lots of movement calm her when she is crying
-cannot be bounced enough

Words I would use to describe her: expressive, sweet, alert, inquisitive

Saturday, November 5, 2011

Uncle Zach

Zach is here visiting for the weekend and a conversation at the dinner table goes something like the following:

Judy: I'm going to the church to drop a bike off for the yardsale.

Me (holding a crying Juliet): Want to take Juliet? Or I'll go with you if we can leave her here!  (I kid, people)

Zach: Can you not leave her alone because she will crawl around and like, eat stuff?  (he does not kid...)

Me (laughing): She can't crawl yet! She can barely hold her own head up.

Zach: Really? So, if you laid her on the floor she would just stay there?? If she saw something she wanted she would not try to go get it??

Oh, how I love him! 

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Pit Happens

I like to listen to sermons when I do my long runs (well, when I did my long runs...one day, one day...).  I just could not do music for 3 hours.  So, I would put pod cast of sermons on my ipod to pass the time.  I particularly like to listen to sermons from Generation Church out in Seattle, Washington.  This church, is well, spirited.  They are filled will passion and all about yelling and Jesus.  Therefore, their comical, upbeat sermons are great for running! 

Back in the fall of 2010 I was running in Mexico and heard a sermon called "Pit Happens".  The sermon was on Joseph (the guy with the coat of many colors!).  The basic story goes... Joseph (a pretty good guy) was thrown in a pit by his brothers, they then felt bad letting him just die so they instead sold him into slavery and he was taken to another country where more "bad" events came his way (jail, etc). 

The sermon talked about how we all have trials and struggles in our lives.  One of Joseph's trials was being thrown into a "pit".  While we are in the midst of our own "pit" (aka: trials) we have three choices: we can quit, fit, or sit.  We can just give-up and quit, assuming that there is no hope for the situation.  We can whine, complain, and pitch a fit about our situation and how it is unfair.  Or, we can sit, wait, and trust that God has a glorious plan no matter how much pit happens.

When Joseph was in the pit his reality was awful!  His own brothers had essentially left him for dead.  I'm sure he was not feeling too hopeful.  However, Joseph did not know what God had in store for him: he would become a ruler in Egypt! 

So, this sermon is a great, yet simple and comical reminder to me that Pit Happens!!!, but am I going to choose to quit, fit, or sit in God's sovereignty?

Cloth Diapers

A new adventure!!!  At least they sure are cute :)

Halloween

For Halloween Juliet and I headed to the Whipple's house to trick-or-treat in West Asheville.  I was a cat and Juliet was the cutest little tiger.  I totally used her to get candy because I needed wanted chocolate!  We trick-or-treated with the Zetterholm clan, which made me not feel so bad about getting free candy.