Lunch with Linds!!

Yesterday in kind of a last minute plan I had lunch with my very best friend from high school! Lindsay and I don't really see each other hardly at all anymore but it never fails that when we do have the rare chance to get together it's like we pick right up where we left off. I think we could talk for hours.

Probably the one thing I love the most about my friendship with Linds is that even if we haven't talked in forever, if there is a major Mavs game on.... or even Cowboys... we will call each other out of the blue and either gripe or celebrate on the phone for a few minutes depending on the outcome of the game!! No catching up necessary just a little sports talk and done...oh and throw in a little Charles Barkley hatred and your good!

Birthing class

Jimmy and I just got finished last night with our 6 week birthing class. It was in the home of our midwife every Tuesday night. I can't even begin to tell what an amazing class this was for us. This is not your typical sterile hospital class that wastes 6 hours of your life on a Saturday showing you old fashioned models of how the baby comes down the birth canal. This is a class based on the book Birthing From Within that focuses so much on being mentally and emotionally prepared to give birth. Not just the labor and delivery process but the feelings and emotions that come with giving of yourself to bring another life into the world and seeing birth as the truly profound wonder that it is.

We actually looked forward to these classes every week and bonded with the other 4 couples in the class. We knew every week that we were going to hear things that reached our hearts and encouraged us about the truly beautiful process that pregnancy and birth is. Of course we talked about the scientific basics of labor and delivery but what we left there with each week was a sense of empowerment that of course labor is not going to be easy (just as parenting and most any other challenge in life is) BUT, God has equipped my body as a woman to deliver this baby and has given me the most amazing supportive person to love me and be beside me every step of the way to get this baby here and in our arms!

Last night at our last class we had a special pot luck dinner. Then the midwife asked all the ladies to stay in the living room while the dads prepared something special for us. Then one by one each husband came to get his wife and led her to a private spot in the house. Jimmy came to get me and led me to a room where there was a footbath for me. He washed and massaged my feet in a bath of essential oils. He gave me a card with the most beautiful letter he had written to me. Jimmy has written me many letters in our 4 years together but this was the most beautiful yet. I will cherish that letter FOREVER and read it often!

These last few weeks have not only been great in helping us prepare for the birth of Serene but have brought us even closer together as a couple and reminded us of how AMAZING the bond we have really is. As we sat together last night with him massaging my feet we talked FOREVER about how crazy it is that two people could love each other this much and how much fun our lives are getting to spend every single day with your best friend. We laugh often about how even though we could spend more time apart doing "girls nights" or "guys nights" we just hardly ever do that stuff cause when it comes right down to it we just want to be together. That's why if you do get us out on a guy night or girl night we text message each other the whole time telling the other one how much we miss them and can't wait to get home and see them... OK, sounds super cheesy BUT that is just us. We can't get enough of each other! Oh and throw in a football game to watch while we're together and you pretty much have our own personal paradise!! =)

Here is a pic of everyone in our birthing class. They were all wonderful people and I know we learned not only from the midwives but from the them as well.

Birthday with my two (well 3) favorite people

This was on my actual birthday Sunday night. I love these 3 people so much.... of course so far you can't see person no. 3 but stay posted and we'll get some pics of her up here soon enough! =) Thanks for the birthday wishes from everyone! It was a great day and I know 31 is going to be wonderful!

Birthday with family

Although my birthday is actually today we celebrated with my family on Friday night because my brother was leaving to go back to Florida early Sat. We had the best time. I took everyone to this awesome little hole in the wall that Jimmy and I discovered while going to our midwife in Denton. It's this tiny little diner called Frostys that has been there since the 1950's. The guy taking your orders and flipping your burgers is the original owners son. They brew there own root beer and serve it in frosted mugs! Jimmy and I have been going to a birthing class once a week for the past 5 weeks in Denton and we have made this our special date night all 5 weeks. It has been really special to us to have this fun little date night each week to talk and spend time alone before our new arrival! =) They also have this old school juke box and with lots of great old songs... of course being the sucker for Johnny Cash that I am I pretty much keep my selection to "Walk the Line" and "Rng of Fire" every week!

Anyway, my family loved the place... and we had a great evening together. They also brought me a cake which we had after we got back and hence stuffed our faces just a little bit more... GREAT for a 8 month pregnant woman!! =)

BTW, as of midnight I'm 31!!

Cookie decorating at Nana and Pop's house

One of the traditions we are starting this year is a special night of helping Nana and Pop (my mom and dad) decorate their tree. With a special dinner and of course Christmas cookie decorating. We did this last Monday night and Anna had the best time helping to cut out the cookies and best of all decorate them with frosting and sprinkles!! It was particularly special this year because my brother had flown in as a surprise to the family for the entire week of Thanksgiving! It was so much fun having the whole family together.

John took several of these pics of Anna decorating the cookies and of her taking a play break outside on her hot wheel! LOVE these pics!

Perspective

A long time friend of mine was in town with her family last Sunday afternoon to say good-bye before they head to Asia as missionaries to an unreached group of people. It was wonderful to see them and to hear their story of how the Lord lead them to this work they will now leave a life of comfort for.

Jimmy and I sit in awe at people who are so willing to go and answer such a difficult call. It really puts things in to perspective this time of year when materialism is at its peak and here are these people packing every thing they own in two suitcases per person and leaving everything they have ever known and all those they love in order to reach others for Christ.

Thank you Rob, Alicia, Hannah and Hudson for your example of selflessness!

Wedding

Last weekend we drove to Houston for the wedding of my friend Lauren. I have known Lauren since 8th grade and I think her wedding officially means all our group from high school is now married. It was a beautiful wedding and gorgeous reception. I am so happy for Lauren and Robert!!

Christmas tree decorating

This actually happened last week but I am slow in posting.... it has been crazy around here ever since we walked in the door from Orlando.... crazy good though! Lots of fun Thanksgiving/Birthday/Christmas stuff, which will all be posted in the next couple of blogs!

First off was our Christmas tree decorating night. We promised Anna we would decorate the tree as soon as we got home from seeing Uncle John. So the nght we got home she was very ready. Although we didn't do it that night, we did get around to it the next evening and we had a great time! I made us a special dinner of creamed spinach, whipped sweet potatoes and garlic bread. Jimmy contributed some amazing steaks! I also made some cinnamon sugar roasted almonds for dessert.

We spent the evening listening to Christmas music and decorating the tree. Anna had the best time! She is at an age now where these things are starting to be very special and meaningful to her. She remembered exactly where we put up the tree last year and has asked all year long if it is time to put it up again. It was so special watching her eyes light up when Jimmy turned on the tree lights once it was all decorated.

Jimmy and I really want Christmas for Anna (and Serene and all of our future children) to be about family, special traditions, GIVING TO OTHERS and of course the true meaning which is celebrating the most precious gift God gave to us when He sent Jesus to be born. We NEVER want the focus of Christmas to be gifts and getting more stuff... we have ENOUGH stuff.

I love this time of year! Merry Christmas!

My family!

Mom, dad, brother
Jimmy, Anna, Tarrah
(dog - Addie)

More Disney

Giving thanks

Only 10 days now until one of my favorite holidays.... I love this time of year because it kicks off the holiday season! Since it is Thanksgiving, I wanted to take just a minute to talk about some of the things I am most thankful for....

God - I am so very grateful for the grace and mercy He provides each and every day!

Jimmy - My husband is my hero! I love him more than I could EVER explain. My day is ALWAYS better when he walks through the door in the evenings! Of all the girls in the world, I am the one who gets his love for a lifetime!

Anna - My little ray of sunshine! This child took me from wanting to only have one child to wanting to have as many children as the Lord wants to give us because she is so precious and amazing! I pray that I could be blessed with her genuine joy for life and awe at the most simple things!

Serene - Even though I haven't seen or held her yet, I feel overwhelming love and gratefulness for her. There were two times in this pregnancy that we thought we were going to lose her and I am so thankful that she is almost here and we can hold this precious treasure that the Lord has blessed our family with.

Disney World - Magic Kingdom

My younger brother moved to Orlando, FL back in May so we decided to take our last major vacation before the baby comes to see him and go to Disney World. We flew out Wednesday and just got back a few hours ago. It was so much fun and although having never seen a Disney movie besides Finding Nemo Anna LOVED every minute of it. I thought it might not be as fascinating not knowing any of the characters but it didn't matter... she couldn't get enough.

We also had a great time seeing my brother John and just having some down time before things kick into high gear with the holidays and new baby!

Just stuff

Today was a super fun day! We started the day with what is fast becoming our Saturday morning tradition of either eggs and buckwheat pancakes or eggs and french toast... today was french toast.... it is a super yummy, super healthy version I make on sprouted grain bread with of course REAL maple syrup none of this maple "flavored" nonsense! Then we worked on painting the baby bed and a couple of other fun projects!

We spent the early afternoon relaxing and just being lazy. Then this evening we went to Northpark and walked around a little and then went to dinner at Maggianos. Just a piece of advice... make reservations.... there were people waiting when we got there that were still waiting when we left. One thing we have learned is that you can't afford to wait for an hour just to sit another hour with a 2 year old.... reservations are life savers when eating out with kids... or like we often do, just find the hole in the wall that no one else knows about!

Also, there is this one spot in front of Williams Sonoma and Tiffanys at Northpark that has a little pond with turtles and a few ducks and of course that is Anna's favorite place in the mall. They also have these "slides" that the kids love. They are just these HUGE planters that are sloped and the kids can run up them and slide down the slick sides.... It is quite the attraction! =) Anyway, Anna spent at least 30 minutes doing that before and after dinner so Mommy and Daddy took turns shopping in Williams Sonoma while she played. We picked out a Barefoot Contessa cookbook that has some amazing recipes in it.

The pic I am posting of Anna is her on the "slide" and the other pic is my 7 month pregnant belly! WOW... not long now and I feel like my belly is ready to pop already! =)

Final fall festival of the season

Last night we went to the fall festival at First Baptist Church Euless. We had the best time watching Anna go from car to car holding up her little Elmo bucket getting candy from each person. Last year she wasn't 2 yet and was a little shy. This year she was all grown up about it and it makes me realize just how much things change in one year. YIKES! I can't believe next year at this time we will have an almost 4 year old and an almost 1 year old.... WOW! How much fun!!