Parties

 One things I've really loved about our new home is being able to host people. I have come to learn that it is more of a state of mind/heart than anything. You can host someone just as welcomingly in an apartment as in a mansion; it is all about the attitude. However, it does help to have a little more space. While I haven't taken pictures of everything, we had a lot of special guests over in the month of April, including an Easter party, Carrie's 25th birthday, and Bob's staff over for lunch. We have quickly realized we don't have enough chairs, but everyone is generous and it has not been a problem. All of these pictures are from Carrie's birthday.

 I made these banner flags and was originally going to add letters on them to say "Happy Birthday" but decided not to so I can use them for any occasion.

 For Carrie's birthday, we each contributed cupcakes which are her favorite. I tried an orange dreamsicle recipe and it turned out delicious. All of the others are pictured below. I love potluck type parties because 1) it takes the pressure off the hostess (in this case me) 2) you get to taste everyone's best and since I love to share and try a little of everything, this is perfect. Our chalkboard table has been so fun to play with. We get to label different food items, and people like to draw on it and write notes when they finish eating. It entertains both children and adults alike!

 The birthday girl with all of her cupcakes and her new awesome haircut!

 Friends to celebrate with... You can't really tell in this picture but our backyard is by no means in good shape. It has lots of grass, well weeds really, to cut, but is very unlevel and was not planned out very well. That has not stopped Bob from playing Bocce ball on it though. You know, lawn bowling? It actually makes for an exciting game since it is so unpredictable. When we have people over, most of the time the guys end up playing.

Humble Garden

I've wanted a garden for a long time. I love the idea of walking to your yard and picking what you need for dinner. Because our house is in progress and I am sure always will be, the thought of actually planting a real garden and deciding in what part of our yard to do so was absolutely overwhelming, so we decided this year on a potted garden. We heard for the first time this year about the tradition of planting on Good Friday as a symbol of Christ going in the ground and of course that He resurrected and brings us new life. So we shopped for vegetables we thought were manageable (and had already started growing rather than coming from a seed) and planted away. For this year, we decided to limit ourselves to Romaine lettuce, two types of tomatoes, bell peppers, and jalapenos. We were also given a cucumber plant. We've already started eating some of the lettuce and the tomatoes are budding quite nicely. It is so neat to witness the growth and life of these plants in season and how quickly they do so. As we get better at this and make time for it, I really want to add some fruits and maybe trees eventually. My next plan is blueberries in the fall. My ultimate dream is to have a backyard full of all sorts of fruit trees that I can pick and make jam with, as well as a clothes line to dry clothes, and lots of kiddos running around. One step at a time though, and right now these few potted vegetables are enough for me.

Preparation

It is  3:24 a.m., not a time I usually witness nor am up to tell about. I have been awake since 1 and got out of bed at 2:45 to get a snack and get my mind off not sleeping, and all the other things running through my mind like what kind of curtains to buy and accent colors for the nursery. Things I don't really want to be thinking about at 3:24, because I want to be sleeping!

Our culture is strange in the ways that we prepare for something monumental. We have been so blessed and gifted by others giving to us in this season to welcome a new little one into our home. We have so may new material things that the babe will need (and others are not needs but I guess satisfy wants). We have prepared for the birth by taking classes and reading books, talking to others and asking advice. But really, how do you emotionally and spiritually prepare to have a new soul enter your life--and one you are responsible to foster?

Bob and I have been married nearly 7 years and the Lord has worked tremendously in each of our hearts weeding out much of the gunk, giving us new experiences in which to know him and ourselves, to grow and change. But there is still so much there, so much more I thought would be different by the time I became a parent, so much pain and pockets I hoped would be changed in me. Graciously, the Lord has reminded me lately that the best way to be a good parent is to allow him to work in me. Reading multiple books and learning different strategies may have some helpful outcomes, but it will be my own personal growth that will help me to be present and compassionate and faithful to the life of our child. I am sobered by the reality that is before me. I am tired already--tired because I can't sleep and tired because I fret so much about things that I can't control. I guess it is all part of the preparation. For me, every step of the journey has been one of surrender and it continues to be that way. It never ceases to amaze me that becoming an adult means more of  a realization that you have less control than you thought you would. That surrender is still incredibly scary to me but really leads me into knowing God.

So, the baby is quickly on its way (less than 6 weeks to go!) and I won't be prepared. Which I am sure you already knew, because how could one be prepared for that? But apparently I am a slow learner, and am just realizing that the best preparation for me is to realize that I will not be prepared. I will not have it all together; I will not know what I am doing. And that is okay--sort of--or, I guess I want it to be okay.

8 months!

We are in love and can't wait to welcome this little one soon! School's almost over, so after that I have lots of picture uploading and catching up to do!