Happy Christmas

Apparantly to say "happy" is British or something. I didn't know, I just like to say happy instead of merry. I sure hope yours was full of happy and a lot of merry. Here's what we did...
Group shot after gifts


Me and my loot from Mikey. A friend gave me the GREATEST idea ever. She goes to her favorite shop and puts a cart of goods on hold for her husband to come and pick out of. BRILLIANT I tell ya. I pick out what I want, including stuff I wouldn't get for myself and take the guess work out of shopping for him. Worked like a charm. You should try it. It was great.


We spent our day lounging by the pool. And you?

rain, rain are you here to stay?

It rained so much today. It was amazing really. All I wanted to do was lie in bed with a warm drink and watch sappy movies on Lifetime. In my old life I would have gladly called in sick and enjoyed a quiet, cozy day in my pj's. I don't have that liberty anymore. Instead of "calling in", I'm "in my calling". That puts a damper on my damp day plans. Today I traded in my cozy bed and recorded t.v. for 10 hours of ministry. Some of which was ministering to people Ive never met and may never meet. So now here I sit, on my couch, glasses on, heat on, laziness....on. TV on, blog stalking on, Brain...OFF. Won't you join me? He did....

Family Fun

My oldest brother and his wife were visiting for Thanksgiving. Since our family has grown A LOT in the past few years we thought it would be a "great" idea to take family pictures. Have you ever tried to take pictures with 1-3yr old, 2-2yr olds, 1-almost 1yr old and a newborn??? Our great idea turned into a "quick they are almost all in one place snap it" night. Here are some from that day. Mind you, mike and I had just flown in from Georgia that afternoon. Oh well, we'll try again next year!

Coffee...good for the soul

I'm a coffee lover through and through. When God chooses to bless us with pregnancy, I really don't know what I will do. I've tried to cut out the coffee before and my friends it isn't pretty. I don't mind decaf but really, what's the point. A very good friend of ours loves to roast his own coffee beans, let me tell you this stuff will put hair on your chest, but it certainly is delicious. He opened my eyes to "green beans". No, not the string vegetable kind but raw coffee beans. I didn't even know you could buy those. I'm a fan of organic and fair trade. Fair trade means the companies pay the workers fair wages, not slave labor. A company I've grown to love is Pura Vida.
Ive ordered green beans from them and we use them commercially at our coffee cart at church. It's very yummy and they support other great companies like Sojourners. So, if your in the mood for coffee and want to make sure your supporting good causes check em out. They deliver straight to your door in less than a week!

My buddy and me

My buddy Evan came to visit me today. His mommy had a meeting so he came over to play at my house. Having no children of my own gives me freedom to give moms a break, which I just love. There have been SO many babies this year. It's so much fun. Evan is a little extra special. I found out he was going to be born when he was just 5 weeks alive inside his mom's tummy. Since we work together I got to watch them both grow throughout pregnancy and experience almost everyday changes. He was such a good baby even then. Didn't make his mommy sick or anything.

He was a little fussy so I pulled him out of his chair and fell right asleep in my lap. He's so yummy.

Top 5 Things I've failed at.....

1.Blogging
How terrible of me to have blogged last over A MONTH ago. So much has happened and yet I haven't posted a thing.

2. Seeing clearly
took 29 years for my eyes to start failing. They sure did a good job on it. They are supposed to only be for reading but I can see so much better all the time with them on. I'm used to squinting to see not so much used to wearing glasses so I forget them often.

3. Running.
I have expensive, really good running shoes and haven't actually gone for a run in them once. I've walked a lot and thought about running but have yet to do it.

4. Waking up early
I end each day with prayer begging God to help me rise early to spend time with him and get a walk or jog in. Its not working. I'm actually more tired than when I went to bed.

5. Calling my phone company to figure out why I can't send picture messages.
it's been over a year and I've switched service companies and still nothing.

Micah James Daniel

My precious nephew Micah was born last night at 9:30pm. He weighed in at 8lbs 6 oz and 20in long. He is cute and loving and a miracle.

I was honored to be a part of the "care team" for my sister Bethany during birth. She knows how obsessed I am with pregnancy and the birth process and asked if I would be there with her during his birth. It was awesome. Awkward at times to see her laid out like a garage sale and enduring pain only a mother could know. She was trooper and pushed through with only minimal pain meds. (She opted for a low dose of pain killer instead of an epidural).
It was all wonderful, but the funniest part(s) were hearing her tell us "you.just.don't.understand." and just after birth in a clearly lucid moment "i want pickles, bad". Watching the nurses scurry when she said "I can't hold it anymore, I'm pushing" was truly humorous, especially since there was no Doctor in sight. His head popped out just in time for the Dr. to catch him. literally catch him. And then the sweet cries from this new life. An overwhelmingly amazing moment that words cannot do justice.
We have generational birth defects and God spared this little boy from all of them. Then came our cries of relief and joy.

My sweet little brother, an amazing father and doting husband. If you know him you know he doesnt say much but the care he gave his wife was beautiful. He knew exactly what was happening at each moment and was right there for her every need. (even when she yelled at him!). His face of joy and excitement when Micah was born are precious memories. Watching and taking pictures of him cutting his sons cord to give him independance and to bond with him as his father are amongst my favorites.
Congrats Daniel and Bethany!

God bless you and keep you, God smile on you and gift you, God look you full in the face and make you prosper
~Num 6:24-26