Baby Shower!

My first official baby shower over the weekend...

fabulous food.

generous gifts.

hilarious people. fun games.

heartfelt prayers.

tears of joy. good memories.

Thank you everyone for such a special day! Baby thanks you too...she just kicked :)

Use it...

I was blessed by this devotion and wanted to share it.


My Struggles are About Him
by: Max Lucado

What about your struggles? Is there any chance, any possibility, that you have been selected to struggle for God's glory? Have you "been granted for Christ's sake, not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" (Philippians 1:29)?

Here is a clue. Do your prayers seem to be unanswered? What you request and what you receive aren't matching up? Don't think God is not listening. Indeed he is. He may have higher plans.

Here is another. Are people strengthened by your struggles? A friend of mine can answer yes. His cancer was consuming more than his body; it was eating away at his faith. Unanswered petitions perplexed him.Well-meaning Christians confused him. "If you have faith," they said, "you will be healed."

No healing came. Just more chemo, nausea, and questions. He assumed the fault was a small faith. I suggested another answer. "It's not about you," I told him. "Your hospital room is a showcase for your Maker. Your faith in the face of suffering cranks up the volume of God's song."
Oh, that you could have seen the relief on his face. To know that he hadn't failed God and God hadn't failed him--this made all the difference. Seeing his sickness in the scope of God's sovereign plan gave his condition a sense of dignity. He accepted his cancer as an assignment from heaven: a missionary to the cancer ward.

A week later I saw him again. "I reflected God," he said, smiling through a thin face, "to the nurse, the doctors, my friends. Who knows who needed to see God, but I did my best to make him seen."

Bingo. His cancer paraded the power of Jesus down the Main Street of his world.
God will use whatever he wants to display his glory. Heavens and stars. History and nations. People and problems.

Rather than begrudge your problem, explore it. Ponder it. And most of all, use it. Use it to the glory of God.

Through your problems and mine, may God be seen.

Recent happenings!

Since my last post, quite a lot has been going on! We went camping with Greg's family over the 4th of July out at Gun Lake. (Funny name, but the lake is actually shaped like a gun...weird huh?) It was so fun spending time with all Greg's cousins, aunts and uncles, siblings, parents and grandparents. This year the cousins thought it would be fun to create a mini triathlon, which turned out to be quite a riot! I joked that I would compete in the bike, float, and walk preggo triathlon. But, I did end up doing the 4 mile bike and 1/2 mile walk portions with the others. We had opening ceremonies with a special speech from Uncle Chuck out by the lake, followed by award ceremonies at the finish line where the aunts draped a yogurt lid attached by a paperclip to a candy necklace around the first place winner (stellar performance Elliot!) Mom M. and I were awarded the oldest and youngest competitor award with candy pacifiers (very appropriate don't you think?). Next year I am bringing my A game to this new tradition!

Some beach time...

The start of the race...

Elliot's crowning moment :)

Glowing with enthusiasm over our coveted ring pops...

Next we went up north to visit my lovely Lauren and her husband Dave for the following weekend. It happened to fall on only the biggest day of the year for small-town Weidman... Weidman Daze!! OK, this is pretty much your stereotypical po dunk small town festival. They have a small parade with mostly firetrucks and tractors, a small firework show, and the classic festival activities including tractor pulls, craft shows, and a dunk tank. The highlight was watching Greg and Dave compete in a fireman water hose contest where they had to push this tank across a wire using the power from the hose. It pretty much turned into a water fight....boys. Geesh.

In front of Lauren's recent house update....love that fireplace!

What a talented husband she has :)

32 weeks...

Thirty

Well, I feel like I'm finally in the homestretch...officially 30 weeks today! It feels so good knowing there's only 10 weeks left (or less hopefully)! Here's a few pics I forgot to post along the way...

27.5 weeks

29 weeks

30 weeks!

My legs have definitely started swelling more...even at the beginning of the day sometimes. And the veins continue to worsen. But, I have learned how to camouflage and wear lots of long dresses and skirts to avoid the stares. I have a normal check up appointment Thursday, and after that I will go every 2 weeks. I still feel pretty relaxed. No nightmares of birthing yet. No dreams of ugly babies. Not too much anxieties really. But, I am anticipating the 2 month push where you feel like you have so much to do in so little time. We still need to paint the baby room and move all the furniture in. But, for now I'm doing pretty good. However, ask me in 2 weeks, and I may suddenly feel overwhelmed. We'll see...

Flood of '09

So here's the latest for those that did not hear about the torrential rain we had in our area last Friday night...

It started raining Friday evening. Lightning. Thunder. The whole works. It got progressively worse in a short amount of time. Before we knew it, there was a river running between our house and the neighbors. Greg was next door at the time helping a friend install some flooring. He called and frantically said to check the basement. I had just been down there 30 seconds before he called. When I returned, there was water pouring down the basement windows. My neighbor Jen was over at the time, and we quick grabbed some towels to stuff the windows with. Like that was going to help. Come on. It was like the ship was sinking. There's nothing you can do to stop it, so you start collecting as much stuff as you can to get it to a dry spot. Thankfully, our basement is unfinished. We have some old couches and carpet that we put down there for a temporary hang out spot.

Greg and Mark (neighbor) came back to lift the couches on rubber totes. That worked. For a while. Until the water was so high, the totes started to float. When we checked on them again, all 3 couches had fallen off and were halfway under water. In the meantime, Greg and Mark went around outside trying to "save the neighborhood". People with finished basements, and tons of keepsakes were helplessly under water. Kids down the street were rowing in canoes in the middle of the street while cars were barely able to drive to their homes for fear of floating away.

Our house has NEVER flooded since it was built. Our neighborhood has been flooded before, but never water in OUR basement. We moved in less than a year ago, and it floods. Go figure.

Anyway, it was a wild experience....here's some pics for the record.

front doorstep (8 inches away from the water coming through the front door..yikes!)

We propped up the baby furniture on anything we could find. The garage only had about 3 in.
The sunroom with 2-3 inches, but everything got cleared out before the water crept in...

The basement with 18 inches! This is after those darn couches fell off the totes. At least we tried to save them....oh well.

Our backyard completely underwater...

And proof that we did indeed survive...

That's right...22 inches!

We are drying out with fans and dehumidifiers that have been running nonstop since Friday. The water table under our house must still be high though because our basement still has water seeping through the walls. With yesterday and today being 90 deg and HOT and HUMID, it has not really help get the mucky mildew smell out either! But, I'm thankful we saved what we could, when so many others had to strip their basements down to the studs following this "100 year flood".

Sweet Seventeen

A day late, but Happy Birthday Gretch! You're so fun, so energetic, so friendly, and now SOOO mature....well kinda :) Enjoy being seventeen. It only happens once!

Worth your time

This is a video worth watching as soon as possible. It is an encouragement and a blessing.

http://deathisnotdying.com/

I have not stopped thinking about it ALL day!

Feeling encouraged

I have really appreciated all your kind words and have really felt encouraged since my last post. Sometimes you just need to vent you know?? But seriously, God has shown me kindness and comfort over the past few days. He has reminded me of his faithfulness during hard times while I sat and read old blog and journal entries. He reminded me of a verse in Hebrews that talks about making sacrifices and how you will reap the benefits in the end. He has reminded me of his creation. In the same way that our little girl is being knit in my womb, God has also knit me. I am beautiful. Pregnant OR not. I am beautiful. And, He has reminded me of the true and deep love my husband has for me. All the memories of how Greg has shown me grace and strength in the past came flooding back, and reminded me just how much he cares about me.





The Lord has brought me through so much over the last few years...why would He fail me now?? And as a mentor of mine said recently, at least there is an end in sight with this one...only 3 more months!





Not to say that these feelings won't re-enter in the future, but for now....I am resting in peace. :)

(26 weeks)

This body is not my own

This is what I have to remind myself DAILY. Obvious to some, not to others. But for those of you that are, or have ever been pregnant, and follow the same God, you know what I'm talking about. Let's get to the point. This body is not my own, it belongs to the Lord. As easy as it is to say, I sure have a hard time letting go of the following...



...a minimal wardrobe that consists of wearing the same thing multiple days in a row (and never really being satisfied with how they look on me)...



...feeling HUMONGOUS and swollen, knowing the 'best' is yet to come over the next 3 months...



...the varicose veins which people can't help but stare at and comment on, and knowing there's no way to stop them from getting worse...



...the debilitating heartburn that always takes me by surprise...



...feeling like no matter how much I dress up, I will never look sexy to my husband when we go out....



...and the tailbone pain that has kept me in physical therapy the last several weeks...





I know I'm supposed to embrace the journey of pregnancy, and don't get me wrong....I feel PRIVILEGED to be carrying our little girl. (Greg thanks me all the time for sacrificing my body for our baby, which is so sweet and usually brings me to tears). But, honestly I am selfish. I want to feel good in public, and be noticed for a fit and lean body. Let's be honest. Pregnancy is the OPPOSITE of FIT and LEAN...I have always struggled with how I view myself and how others view my body, and knew pregnancy would bring this challenge again. But, I thought...'shoot this will be easy.' Easy in the sense that 'Oh, now I have a reason to be out of shape...I'm pregnant!' But, Satan likes to pounce when you are down. So I have to battle these thoughts on a daily basis.



So, here I sit. 25 weeks along, trying to think of some verses to memorize that will crush Satan and his evil lies. Any suggestions?

Charlie Bucket...

I have not posted much about my nanny job yet, and I think it's time. This little guy has absolutely made me adore him and his sweet family. His name....Charles Patrick.

Last Halloween...he was Charlie Brown.



I have been working for the Reese's now for almost 2 years, and wow has the time flown! Charlie even has a new baby sister...sweet little Sophia born in January. Although I occasionally look after both kids these days, Charlie is my 'first love' so to speak. I'm definitely attached, and he definitely knows it. He's my little Charlie bucket, and I'm his Nae Nae :)
Here's the short version of why I love this 2 and a half year old...

Charming (who wouldn't be with those faces!)

Hillarious (comes up with witty jokes, and then asks, 'Is that funny?')

Amazingly Athletic (loves playing basketball, soccer, baseball, and his specialty, GOLF...the kid seriously has skills too!)

Remembers (the few times he has met Greg, Charlie loves to ask about him and call him on my cell)

Little Man (too cute in his polo shirts and khaki shorts!)

Imaginitive (declares that its 'Bears' birthday and that we should have a party to celebrate 2 years for him...which I of course obliged to do)

Encouraging (while I'm wiping up something I spilled and saying how 'dumb' I am, Charlie says, 'It will be OK Nae Nae')

It hits me what a big role this little guy plays in my life. Especially as I picture myself with my own children one day. It has been such a wonderful learning experience so far, and while I love "pretending" Charlie is like my own, I realize just how different life will be with one that shares a part of me. I can't imagine looking into a child's eye and seeing a bit of Shannon or Greg in them. So exciting to think about!

And I AM planning to phase out of my job at the end of June. So, I am counting the days (solemnly) and just enjoying each day I have left with my little man.

To good times with Nae Nae...Cheers Charlie!

Recent happenings...

So, did you think I fell off the face of the earth?? I even thought I did for a while there! Geesh! But, we're back and at it. A big reason lately is lack of a camera. All the pics I've posted so far are from a borrowed camera, or just old ones from like a year ago, or ones I find on the internet that are appropriate for the post. Anyhoo, it was time(!) needless to say, and we used Greg's birthday as an excuse to finally bite the bullet. Without further adieu, here are some RECENT pics from life.

Starting with the baby bump...

22.5 weeks along

Sweet whispers to my little girl...

We also have quite a large festival every year called Tulip Time here in Holland, MI. For my friends who are out-of-towners, close your eyes and picture this....a week long celebration that kicks off with fireworks, carnival stands, and junk food wagons like you would see at an amusement park...followed by a bunch of dutch people dressed up in dutch costumes that dance multiple times daily in the middle of streets with wooden shoes and all....along with about 4 parades dispersed throughout the week (which include over 40 bands that come from areas like Virginia, and Chicago). The streets of downtown are lined with planted tulips that open just in time for the first week of May, in ALL different colors! Families fill the pathways of beautiful Centennial park with their little toddlers (also in dutch costumes) taking their annual family pictures, and teenagers use the week as a way to hang out with friends downtown. Even the high schools around here get a day OFF in the middle of the week to enjoy the festival!
It's CRAZY how many tourists come to this thing too! You would find the festival is geared more toward the older crowd, but locals enjoy and participate as well (Or some just get more annoyed with the crowded streets and 'dumb' tourists.)

After living here for 4 years, I have learned that Tulip Time is fun if you make it fun...Here's some snapshots of us enjoying one of the many parades.

Rode our bikes from our home only a couple miles into downtown...

Now that our camera is in full swing...more pics to come, including house updates, family time, and baby bumps!

25 good reminders

I hope these are as encouraging to you as they are to me. A dear friend sent them in an email recently, and I would love to accomplish even a few of these everyday. Something to think about anyway...

1. Take a 10-30 minute walk every day. And while you walk, smile. It is the ultimate anti-depressant.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day. Talk to God about what is going on in your life. Buy a lock if you have to.
3. When you wake up in the morning complete the following statement, 'My purpose is to__________ today. I am thankful for______________'
4. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
5. Drink green tea and plenty of water. Eat blueberries, wild Alaskan salmon, broccoli , almonds & walnuts.
6. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
7. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip, energy vampires, issues of the past, negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
8. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a college kid with a maxed out charge card.
9. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
10. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
11. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
12. You are not so important that you have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
13. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
14. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
15. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
16. Frame every so-called disaster with these words: 'In five years, will this matter?'
17. Forgive everyone for everything.
18. What other people think of you is none of your business.
19. GOD heals everything - but you have to ask Him.
20. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
21. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch!!!
22. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
23. Each night before you go to bed complete the following statements: I am thankful for__________. Today I accomplished_________.
24. Remember that you are too blessed to be stressed.
25. When you are feeling down, start listing your many blessings. You'll be smiling before you know it :)

Look-a-like

So I CANNOT get over this, and have been thinking about it for quite a few weeks. My youngest sister Katelyn is 10, and I think I've found her look-a-like. Dakota Fanning!! Well, Dakota like 5 years ago...but anyway, what do you think??

Katelyn is the bottom pic....could you even tell them apart??! Ever since I saw the movie, The Secret Life of Bees, I could not get her out of my head!

Dakota is a fantastic actress for her age and is just such a sweet spirited kid...just like my little Katelyn :) I love you sister! You have such a heart of gold!

Perspective

I have heard parts of the prayer below, but never read the whole thing. A friend forwarded this to me a few days ago, and I couldn't help but post it. If you've never read it, READ it. If you have, I hope it's a good reminder of how we can pray for our country. It truly puts things into perspective.

Truth...from a man the media has never been able to throw dirt on...amazing!!!
He has certainly hit the "world" on the head.

Billy Graham's Prayer For Our Nation

'Heavenly Father, we come before you today to ask your forgiveness and to seek your direction and guidance. We know Your Word says, 'Woe to those who call evil good,' but that is exactly what we have done. We have lost our spiritual equilibrium and reversed our values. We have exploited the poor and called it the lottery. We have rewarded laziness and called it welfare. We have killed our unborn and called it choice. We have shot abortionists and called it justifiable. We have neglected to discipline our children and called it building self esteem. We have abused power and called it politics. We have coveted our neighbor's possessions and called it ambition. We have polluted the air with profanity and pornography and called it freedom of expression. We have ridiculed the time-honored values of our forefathers and called it enlightenment. Search us, Oh God, and know our hearts today; cleanse us from every sin and set us free. Amen!'

Commentator Paul Harvey aired this prayer on his radio program, 'The Rest of the Story,' and received a larger response to this program than any other he has ever aired. With the Lord's help, may this prayer sweep over our nation and wholeheartedly become our desire so that we again can be called 'One nation under God.'

A weekend retreat

Over the weekend I was blessed to attend a fantastic retreat in northern MI with two of my dear friends, CJ and Lynelle, as well as six other women from Engedi Church. We stayed two nights in a B.E.A.U.T.I.F.U.L cottage by the lake, just a few feet away from the water...literally. Now, just a reminder that it's March here in good 'ol MI (for my western, southern, and overseas friends). So, no we did not slip into our swimsuits and sunbathe like the pictures may suggest. But, we did escape the rain from our home town for all 3 days and enjoyed lots of brisk walks in the cold air, wearing our mittens and hats.

We shared stories, encouraged each other, offered wisdom and prayed as a group each morning...and even sang a few songs. But, the rest of the time was our own. I LOVE these kinds of retreats! I get the most out of them, when I just have time to journal and read and pray on my own. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the fellowship of retreats with crafts, and speakers, and organized music....but there's something about getting away for a quiet, restful weekend with no schedule.

This weekend was also significant to me personally. One year ago on the first weekend in March, I reached the climax of crisis in my life. I was at my worst as far as depression goes, I couldn't control what happened in my family history, and was making sinful choices that were affecting my health and marriage. So, I fled town and started driving up north. I had no idea where I was going, and how long I would be gone. All I grabbed were a few clothes, my Bible, journal, and some money. I spent 4 days in a tiny motel in Ludington. I wrote about 15 pages filled with struggle, questions, and hopes. I never prayed so much in my life in those 4 days. I encountered God in a brand new way, and was brought to tears by what I had been doing. I wanted to be changed and made new. Upon returning, my life did not change overnight, but that long weekend was a huge step in my recovery. Three months later my dear and compassionate friend CJ (who I had confided in regularly) brought me to Lynelle (who has turned into an amazing mentor and friend). She had been through similar experiences, but had seen the light at the end of the tunnel. I was at the right time in my life to really make the change, and through a series of these kinds of relationships, God brought it about. I will always be grateful for how friendships blossom...especially these two ladies in my life :)

So thank you to Engedi Church for welcoming me into your group for a weekend together with sisters in Christ. It is yet another year I won't forget!

My Aching Back!

Every mom-to-be deserves at least one post to complain about the drama in her current preggo life! Today is that day. MY.ACHING.BACK!!! Literally. I probably got about 3-4 hours of sleep last night because of it. Yesterday Greg and I moved a ton of furniture around the house to reorganize a bit. We recently finished painting the fireplace room, which looks absolutely PERFECT thanks to my talented and diligent husband (pics to come soon...). But I guess I thought I could just pick up a couch and move it the same way I used to. WRONG.

I was tossing and turning all night, constantly pulling the covers on as they kept getting twisted from all the thrashing. I tried laying on my side, putting a pillow between my legs, laying on the other side, even laying on my back (which I am NOT a back sleeper)....and nothing seemed to minimize the ache. At one point around 5am, Greg (bless his heart) pulled the covers up over me for the 50th time, and proceeded to start rubbing my lower back. All it did was show me how much he loves me, but it really didn't help ease the pain one bit.

So, in the end, one was lesson learned:
Think twice about doing something you thought you could have easily done before you went and got all pregnant.

Also, to respond to some questions about the last blog....I DID end up finishing my curtains for the built-in, and they turned out just how I hoped! Now, I can stow my baskets filled with hats, gloves, and scarfs as well as various board games below without being seen. I need to get a camera soon to post these fun transformations! But, in the meantime, thanks for the accountability...even in the small things :)

Snow day in February...sigh...

Since it's 19 deg. out and been SNOWING all day...what's a girl to do????


Today's activities so far:

~ Nanny from 9:30-1:30
~ Stopped by the fabric store on the way home

Plans for the REST of the day:

~ Finish the laundry (which I LOVE)
~ Begin sewing my curtains to cover some shelves below my built in
~ Read a bit (currently the Chronicles of Narnia...addicting I must say :)
~ Make it to the gym and do some walking on the treadmill (if I have energy by then)
~ Nap
~ Small group!

Not bad for a day indoors...but seriously can we get on with Spring already??? I'm pretty much DONE with winter. So, what are you up to today?

The Secret's Out...

Here's the announcement...






The verse at the bottom got cut off, but it reads
Psalms 37: 4 "Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart".
And we are expecting September 9, 2009....how cool is that?? 9.9.09! I know I know, it rarely happens that you actually give birth ON your due date, but still fun to say.
All I can say is how completely PERFECT God's timing is. Greg and I have had a rough last year and a half with family issues on my side, and struggles within our own marriage. But, we have definitely come out stronger on the other side by the grace of God. There were so many times when I just wanted to be pregnant, and let that be my escape from all my other problems. Especially when all I could see were all the OTHER pregnant women around me. But, God protected us from that situation, as it could have been disastrous. I would have used it as a tool to protect myself from further hurt, instead of rejoicing in the fact that God has given us great responsibility and privilege to carry a child He has created.
So here we are...after waiting (not always so patiently), in our new house (with still a LOT of projects and painting to be done), basking in thankfulness (even though I'm not so thankful to be sick sometimes), and ready to take on the journey (even though we don't know the future). Bring it on!
Some other tid bits for those who are wondering how I've been feeling: I've definitely been nauseated, but am thankful to never have thrown up. I don't feel sick everyday. But, sometimes it just hits me unexpectedly. Naps are a MUST once a day. I usually hit a wall around 3:00 and have to lay down for a while. Greg has been patient with my crankiness, and my short tongue. Last Wed we had an appointment and were able to hear the heartbeat for the first time. The doc found it right away, which eased my nerves. It was so LOUD and fast! Greg and I looked at each other and started laughing out loud we were so giddy. I'm just starting my 12th week, so we're almost 1/3 of the way there! Stay tuned...Oh, and we are DEFINITELY finding out boy or girl! We didn't even have to have a disagreement on that one :)