Baby Ray, the business

I've been thinking about my baby clothes line a lot recently. Baby Ray - where will this next year take us? With the recent legislation that has the potential for running all boutique business into the ground as of January 1, 2010, what should our next step be? (If you want to know more about this issue, check out the Handmade Toy Alliance)

Sander and I really want to abide by the laws, but its such a silly law! It will require us to test every garment/item made at a cost of $3,000 each, no matter if all we use are certified lead-free components! It seems like a ploy to use a good reason (I'm all for keeping kids safe from harmful chemicals - that's why I use organic fabric!) to get rid of competition. Sites like etsy.com and a growing number of small business owners are really taking a bite out of the children's' clothing and toy market and bigger companies don't seem pleased. Its like the hemp business...outlawed as it is from the same plant family as marijuana but really only because it was/is the only competitor for cotton. Ok - I'll calm down. You know how that hemp issue works me up!

I love making and designing retro baby clothes and would love to do it for a business, but perhaps it will just be a hobby as I dress this little boy we're about to have. I'd love to sit down at my juki, update my etsy site, and get going...but what will really happen January 1, 2010? As if starting a new business wasn't hard enough...

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Bumper pad - the process

Today I finally started on the bumper pad. I made the pattern, cut the fabric, and sewed it up today! All I need to do now is add the binding and ties - should finish that tomorrow if I decide to apply the binding by machine. I'm a selective perfectionist, so we'll see if I decide that I can sew it on straight enough that way.

Above you see the Juki in action...oh how I love my industrial machine. How did I live without it?

Here I am pin basting it together. Not as precise as hand basting, but it worked fine with this thick batting.

I still love this fabric!

Here is is...all quilted up and waiting for binding. Stay tuned!

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Family blows through

My family got to stop by Houston for about 18 hours this weekend. They arrived Friday night and were gone by Saturday at 4pm - off to Victoria's scholarship dinner where she gave the invocation (yea!). My parents are awesome commuters between DFW, College Station, and Houston. Seems like anytime we have anything going they have to hit each area in a 24 hour time slot. We need a high speed rail set up for thet route...

It was so nice to see my dad - the first time since Christmas due to all the bed rest stuff. My mom was super helpful too - helping me get all my things together for the weekend. We took the chance for a little photo op our our awesome porch glider (thanks Sir!). Can you believe the next time I see them there should be another little addition to our family? Man...9 months can fly by...

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34 weeks! What a milestone!

Babycenter.com says:

Your baby now weighs about 4 3/4 pounds (like your average cantaloupe) and is almost 18 inches long. Her fat layers — which will help regulate her body temperature once she's born — are filling her out, making her rounder. Her skin is also smoother than ever. Her central nervous system is maturing and her lungs are continuing to mature as well. If you've been nervous about preterm labor, you'll be happy to know that babies born between 34 and 37 weeks who have no other health problems generally do fine. They may need a short stay in the neonatal nursery and may have a few short-term health issues, but in the long run, they usually do as well as full-term babies.

What great news considering what they prepped us for 10 weeks ago at the hospital! 10 weeks ago they were giving me steroid shots to boost the babies lungs as they were concerned I was about to go into labor. It was a scary time and one of great uncertainty, but my how things have changed.

Through everyone’s prayers (probably more than I realize), I have slowly gotten better each week. I remember how excited I was to be able to sit up and eat! Of course I had to lie back down as soon as I was done, but it was such a relief. Then, I got to sit up at the table and eat and shuffle to the fridge and back. At that point I was so excited to refill my water bottle on my own. Week by week I was able to add a little more activity.

Bad days came and I felt like all my progress was for nothing and I was just right back where I started, but then the next week would be even better than the one before. Around 30-40 days on bed rest I began to get discouraged and thought it would never end and I wouldn’t ever get to be out around people again. Around that time the midwives released me to go to one outing a week – Sunday school – and almost immediately that need was met.

What has been hard and what has been easy about these past 10 weeks on bed rest really surprised me. Ever since that first day at the hospital I have been amazed at the unexplainable peace I have felt about the outcome of this little guy’s life. In the Bible it says: And the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philipians 4:7). I’ve read that and “known” it in my head for awhile, but this is the first time I have really experienced it for a long period of time. For 10 weeks now I have felt like my heart has truly been guarded from fear. There are tons of times I would have freaked out and been consumed with all the “what if’s”…those who know me know I tend to do this anyway, let alone when a serious issue comes up. All I can say is the power we have through the Holy Spirit is bigger than what we realize…maybe we don’t ever realize it until we really need it. So, as weird as it may sound, I am glad in some ways that Sander and I have been forced to deal with bed rest and the fear of pre-term labor for as long as we have. We have learned that 1)we really aren’t in control of our bodies, 2)God is and will take care of us, 3)even if we have to deal with a “bad outcome,” our hearts have the capacity to be at peace.

I don’t say all this because in our situation we’ve had a “good outcome,” making it to 24 weeks. I really think I would be saying this even if our little guy was born 10 weeks ago. This peace that has guarded my heart isn’t a state of mind or a happy place I went to because I denied the reality of the situation. Each day I was aware of what could be wrong with my little baby boy should he be born that day. Each day I was aware of what I could be doing other than sitting on the couch all day. But each day I was given the peace that passes all understanding. Its real and I am incredibly thankful for it! Without it this would have been a really different 10 weeks. For one, I wouldn’t have been able to enjoy the time it allowed me to become better friends with my awesome visitors and meal-bringers. You guys who have called, visited, facebooked, and brought meals have meant so much to us. We love you!

So now Sander and I are looking to the future and we don’t have to look far. I am due in 6 weeks, so in 5-7 weeks we should be in normal labor. My nesting instinct has certainly set in and I am trying as hard as possible to not run us both ragged trying to finish all our unfinished house and baby projects. I can’t sleep some nights because I want to re-organize a closet – who does that? I never have before, that’s for sure!

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The exhaustion has returned

I am due in a little over 6 weeks - oh My GOODNESS! Seriously - the time has flown, even on bed rest. Maybe it feels like it is coming fast because I was on bed rest...there is still so much to do! We have moved in most of the furniture to the baby's room (just have to wait for the second coat of wax to dry on the dresser). I'm almost done with the baby bedding too, so that will be nice. Then all I have to do is hang the pictures, alter the curtains, make the valence, wash and organize the clothes and the room is done. And that is just to finish the nursery. We have also re-organized all the other rooms in the house so the new guest/study will need curtains made and the drum set needs to be set up in the front room. Then there are the closets that need to be re-organized and the baseboards that need to be cleaned...

That nesting instinct is real and is sending me into overdrive! I have to have Sander's help with pretty much everything too since I can't lift more than 5lbs at a time. I had him up past 10pm last night installing door knobs and moving boxes. The ironic this is my energy level is sapped. Thankfully I am not at the coma level I was during my first trimester, but the lack of exercise these past few months probably doesn't help anything either.

Here's a pic of the nursery - phase II:

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Care Package!

Yippie!

I just received a super sweet care package from one of my oldest friends. We met when we were 12 through our sisters who were friends at camp. Our moms thought a pen-pal would be good for us. What a dear friend Micah has become.

Just thought I would upload a pic of the items - she knows me so well! Cutesy shoes for the un-named boy baby, poetry for us (and the baby too), CDs of sermons, and relaxing tea (oh how I love tea!).

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Sander and I just ordered the Naturepedic Organic Cotton Mattress! I have been doing a lot of research on what organic items are worth it to buy, and which ones are just a way to spend extra money. After looking into it I realized we really wanted an organic mattress, or at least one without vinyl (PVC) and phthalates. Since the baby will spend at least half his day sleeping on this mattress, that seems like a good place to start cutting down on his harmful chemical exposure. I have been looking into this for awhile but just found out that the U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission actually banned the use of some Phthalates found in crib mattresses and baby bedding as of Feb 10, 2009.

There are lots of mattresses on the market now that advertise organic liners, fillers, etc, but we decided on the Naturepedic. Here is a great info page if you want to know more: http://www.naturepedic.com/facts/


Amazon has it available with free shipping so it really isn't that much more than a regular crib mattress. You can see it here on our: Amazon Baby Registry.

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Update II

Here is the dresser we're using in the baby's room that will double as a changing table. We forgot to get better before pictures, so here are some "mid" pictures. It was white, teal, and natural wood with cigarette burns and various scratches.

We sanded it all down and began to paint over the teal frame.

The two top drawers are curved and really make the piece unique. It has a great shape and should look really cool in the end.

We're painting it light blue with a darker blue wash. Directions found here: Romantic Home

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UPDATE

Sander picked up our most recent Craigslist purchase this afternoon! I have been looking for a dresser for several months now and nothing seemed quite right. This came up, was close to our house, and was only $100! A few weekends ago we almost broke down and bought an Ikea dresser for $250...glad we waited. We bought it from a couple where the man just moved here from Australia, dresser in tow. Turns out it didn't go with any of the girl's furniture. Yea for us!

I love craigslist...

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Painting the Baby's Room

We finally decided what color to paint the baby's room and had the time and energy (me!) to do it! I edged sitting down and then took my time with the top sections. It took me about twice as long as it should have, but I was able to do it. YIPPIE! What a huge praise that I am doing so much better. The funny thing is it wasn't the contractions holding me back - I didn't have a single one (!!!) - it was the standing. Being on bed rest for over 2 months has really sapped me of any endurance. Even standing and painting was sapping my energy. Plus, the baby is encroaching on my lung space making breathing harder and harder...

But, I shouldn't complain. I am SO excited to have it done!!!!!

Stay tuned for a full view of the nursery in a week or so, complete with painted dresser, crib bedding, and curtains!

**Thanks Meredith for the color suggestion!**

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31 weeks

7 weeks ago I was admitted to the hospital and put on bed rest. I didn’t know at the time how long I would be down, or when this little baby would be born. Each week that has gone by though has been a better week than the one before! Today I have been able to make my own dinner, walk around the house, and even sew a curtain for the bathroom. There is still a lot I can’t do, like exercise, walk around a store, or take out the trash – but the great news is I am up and contracting less. The official test came back from the midwives this week as well and it too has confirmed I won’t deliver in the next two weeks.

YIPPIE!

The time at home has been hard at times, but looking back, I don’t feel as though I’ve been on bed rest too long. Perhaps that’s because I’ve been able to sit up to eat for a few weeks now. ; )

Last Friday I saw the first real jabs and punches everyone talks about. I was lying on my side watching Sander pack when I saw the arm/foot drag across my stomach. I yelled out for Sander to come watch and our little boy kept up the show for about 15min! He hasn’t been as visible since, but it has been fun to start to see him in action and not just feel him. And, after our early scare, it is such a comfort to know he is strong enough and big enough to make such ‘waves.’

In some ways I am grateful for the bed rest period. Overall it has made me so much more appreciative of this little life inside of me and makes the aches and pains that have begun minor in comparison to the alternative. The pain of a baby wedged under my ribs is nothing compared with the potential pain of seeing the same baby in NICU for months.

With the scary time behind me and the important benchmarks ahead (34 & 36 weeks), I have been able to start working on my registries. Could they make any more things for a baby?! I am talking to all my mom friends, but it still has been difficult to figure out what I really need v. what the world wants me to buy. Amazon has been my best friend though as they have a baby registry now and it lets me add lots of different items you can’t find at the typical baby stores. Yea internet shopping, I have always loved thee.

Onward and upward to week 34 – the week I am released from house arrest!

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Week 29

I was allowed off of "house arrest" for 2 hours today. The midwives have given me permission to start increasing my activity slowly and said one church event a week would be a good start. They want me to stay close to home the rest of the time so I can sit and lay down as needed. Since I was out and actually dressed up for once in 7 weeks, we thought it would be a great time to snag a pregnancy photo. Here I am at 29 weeks and 3 days pregant (a little over 7 months)...but who's counting?

*Note: we took a lot of pictures, but I like this one because Sander didn't make it in time and just stood there...off to the side. I was like, do you want to stand near me next time? Anyway, this one makes me laugh.

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Recovery Recovering Team

My mom and aunt came into town last week to help me with left over projects that have been impossible to complete while on bed rest. They swooped in and slipcovered two chairs and the frame of my couch. I am so excited to have them both done!

Now that the couch is done, the vibrant fabric looks even bolder than I first thought. Good thing I like it. Perhaps not what I would have done had I known what house I would have bought and where it would go, but hey - at least it's unique!

Thanks mom and Cindi!!!!!!!

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Bed Rest Update - day 34

The midwives today had more good news - I am not progressing!! If I am not having many contractions this week, they will allow me one activity outside the house and said Church would be a great option. So, if all goes well and the contractions stay low, then I should see many of you Sunday! They still want me to keep activity to a min and definitely no lifting, or bending. I have had a few rough days Since Sunday, but this weekend was glorious with hardly any contractions. They are definitely still here and come back at off times, but as long as I head to bed as soon as they act up, they think it will keep them from starting back again in a way that will land me in the hospital.

So, as of now one activity out of the house, if I feel good, is all I am allowed. By 32 weeks they will ween me off the meds, and by 34 they want me back to full activity. 34 weeks is so close now, I can make it! Thanks mainly to your visits, prayers, and help! These past 34 days would be much gloomier if it hadn't been for y'all!

Because of this good report Sander will be heading to the country of Georgia March 6-15. I am so excited for him and feel at complete peace with the timing. **We'll post more on this soon!**

Please keep the following in your prayers:

• That I would go to 40 weeks - FULL TERM
• That in labor I would be able to relax and wouldn't worry (in practicing my relaxation techniques I realize I am having a hard time to get my mind to be quiet)
• Safety for Sander

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To the Midwives…again!

I’m off to my weekly visit with the midwives. If all goes well though I won’t have to return for 2 whole weeks. Yippie! Who knew we would become such close, personal friends?

The great news is I am INCREDIBLY happy with the midwife group I am using, the Women’s Specialist of Houston.

The Women's Specialists of Houston consists of seven ob/gyn doctors and four
nurse midwives. The nurse midwives and doctors work together to provide the best
care for our clients. Together we develop a care plans for normal and
complicated pregnancies. If necessary, we will consult or co-manage your care
with one of our physicians. In some cases a woman may need to transfer to a
physicians care. The nurse midwives assist the physicians in gyn surgeries and
cesarean sections.

The nurses up front and the Certified Nurse Midwives themselves are all fantastic. They have spent so much time with me making sure I understand each stage of the pregnancy and letting me know why they are doing what they do. They have even drawn out pictures for me so I understand fully what is going on.

The question I have met from a lot of people is, “well, what if something goes wrong?” I knew the process they had in place, but wasn’t sure how seamlessly it would work until I was admitted to the hospital a few weeks ago. As they are located in the medical center, they just put me in a wheel chair at the midwive’s office and then wheeled across the sky bridge to St. Luke’s. There the midwife on call still attended to me until things progressed even further. Then they had the perinatalogist (beyond an OB) consult with me, but the midwives still came by during the day and followed up with my progress and had input into my care.

Now that I am out of the hospital I am back in the midwives care, but should any other serious issues come up they will consult with the OBs in their group (just down the hall) or I will go back under the perinatologist care if I am re-admitted to the hospital.

The personal attention I have received has been fantastic! They listen to me and then believe me when I share my symptoms and concerns. It is such a change from my previous OB where I felt like a number and if I asked a question I was treated like a moron.

So, even though bed rest and hospitalization hasn’t been fun or inexpensive, I am incredibly thankful for the fantastic care I have received! Hopefully this afternoon’s visit brings more good news.

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Bed rest, day 18.

It is getting harder and harder to stay down. The first week I couldn’t get up with the IV and constant ‘contraction monitor’ strapped to my abdomen. Then the 2nd week I had so many visitors I didn’t really have enough time to think about all the things I wanted to get up and do. But, week three has been a little bit more difficult.

Right now Sander and his mom are cleaning the house while I lie here trying to feel like I am ‘doing my part.’ I don’t know why, but I don’t want to look like I’m enjoying myself while others are working for me. I keep saying that I wish I felt sick or incapacitated in some way so that I felt more justified in receiving help. It is hard to just sit back and enjoy life when I feel physically fine.

Sander has been great though and given me the tough love I sometimes need. He will call from work and ask if I am still lying down. When I say yes, he’ll say, “your baby’s lungs and brain thank you.” I know that is what I am accomplishing by staying on bed rest, but it is hard to keep that picture in front of me all the time.

Oh – a big thanks to everyone who came by today with chocolate! I have been craving it every day this week and the spoons of Nutella just weren’t cutting it. Everyone came through – Janice, Victoria, Meredith’s awesome co-workers, and Tonya ALL brought me chocolate this week. Thanks guys!

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Bed Rest - Day 14

*I should have posted this on Tuesday...oh well. I've made it to 26 weeks and 2 days (& 18 days into my bed rest)!

I'm glad to report that it actually hasn't felt like I have been on bed rest 14 days. This means I am 25 weeks and 5 days along, getting closer and closer to those all important milestones of 28 and 32 weeks pregnant!

Since it has been about a week since I last emailed, I wanted to send a quick mass update. Yesterday I went for my follow appointment at the midwives and it was good news all around! Each day my contractions have gotten less, so that on Sunday I was even able to sit up and lie on my back for extended periods of time. The midwife confirmed that I haven't progressed any further than I was when they discharged me from the hospital, however, she seemed confused as to why they were getting better. I
suggested it could be because so many people have been praying for me! I truly believe they have helped me remain peaceful when I would normally be quite stressed, so I also believe they could be healing whatever is mysteriously "wrong" with me as well.

Today I have had more contractions that yesterday. I am not sure why as I am doing all the same things, but they are calmer than a few weeks ago.

So far I have had so many visitors I haven't been able to accomplish too much on my bed rest to-do list...what a shame = ). I have read Pride and Prejudice (I am ashamed to say this was my first time to read it) and have begun my Rosetta Stone Spanish
lessons once again. Thanks to friends I have a great stack of books to work through and crafts and food to keep me content for at least the next week. = )

Just wanted to pass on the good news from the midwife. I go back again in a week, but if things go well at that appointment, I will be able to wait 2 weeks for my next appointment. When I think of the possibilities we were facing in the hospital, compared to the good news we are now receiving, I am astounded. There has been such a change in tone from all the midwives and doctors! Praise the Lord!

Much love,

Whitney

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Baby Update

Hello! Here are the two updates just to fill everyone in...

From Sander on Thursay night:

Hi everyone,

I decided to just send a mass update. I know tons of you have called/texted to ask how she's doing - sorry we haven't been responding to many. The cell phone service isn't good in the room, and we've had doctors & nurses coming in and out all day. If this is the first time you've heard anything at all, we're also sorry - some of the texts wouldn't go through.

A bit more detail about the situation: Whitney's been having mild contractions for about a month. Unfortunately, some of her physical traits also make her at a slightly higher risk for pre-term labor. Our midwives & doctors have been aware the whole time and have been keeping pretty close tabs on her. Yesterday, she began having some more severe contractions. The midwives brought her in, and recommended that she be admitted to the hospital's antepartum (pre-delivery) department where a specialist could check her out and try to see what's going on. They were worried that she would go into labor, so they gave her some medication that was supposed to stop the contractions. That didn't work. So they've given her a stronger medicine that has helped but hasn't stopped everything. She also underwent tests that can effectively show whether or not she would give birth in the next two weeks. The good news is that she
came back negative on that tests, but since they can't figure out what's causing the contractions, they want to keep her in the hospital until Saturday. As far as we know right now, she could potentially give birth at any time, and any movement whatsoever seems to cause more contractions. If she gets to go home, she'll be on strict bed rest until the birth, and we need to do whatever we can to keep that from happening as long as we can. Even a week can make a huge difference in his chance for healthy survival.

Through it all, we've actually felt very much at peace. From the beginning of the pregnancy, we've been reminding each other how little control we have over the whole process. It's God, not us, who creates, sustains, and determines the fate of this little guy. It's so sad to have to experience this, but God's grace, comfort, and "coincidental" providence has already shone through in ways that would take way too long to detail out here. Your messages, texts, and emails have been so encouraging, and we're honored to have all of you asking God to heal Whitney and show Himself for all of His greatness. We know it's not some hocus-pocus that will convince Him to do what we want, but a way for us all to rally around a common cause and see what God's up to. Should our
situation take a turn for the worse, we know it's not because God's abandoned us, but because something much bigger is going on. Jesus was all about getting this message across, as with the blind guy in John 9 - the disciples are like "Hey Jesus, whose fault is it that this guy's blind? Did he sin or did his parents?" But Jesus goes, "neither - he was made blind so that the God's power could be shown through his life." And BAM, Jesus heals him, and tons of the people in the city turn back to God. The blind guy had to go through the pain and cultural shame of being blind his whole life so that God's power could be displayed. But it was amazing in the end, so keep your eyes peeled for whatever God's going to do in this situation. It's going to be sweet.

Again, we can't say enough how much we appreciate each of you and your care & concern for us. We're incredibly fortunate to have you all as friends and family, and don't take you for granted. We'll update again as we know more. Please feel free to forward this on if we've forgotten anyone (if you're one of the forgotten, we're sorry...).

Sander

Update from Whitney as of today, Sunday, January 25th:

I am still on side bed rest at the hospital, which means its somewhat hard for me to type. I have so much more to say of course, but just wanted to send a quick update. I am still at St Luke's, but hope to be out tomorrow. Everyone is really positive and think i am doing much better and not at risk for labor immediately (praise the Lord- such a turn around from Wed night!!). The perinatologist (specialist in antepardum issues) saw me again yesterday and thinks everything looks much better now that the contractions have
slowed down. Before he releases me though he wants to do anther test that is 99%
accurate for predicting whether I will go into labor in the next two weeks. He said my contractions are still too frequent and too early on in my pregnancy to not make him worried, so doesn't want to send me home without that test. You have to wait 48hr from his other exam or you will get a false positive, so here I am.

I already feel so much better as the IV is out (!!!) and I get to wear my own clothes now.

As far as they have told me I will definitely be on bed rest the next 10 weeks (I'm just 24 weeks along right now), but being through everything the last few days helps put it in perspective. 1) I talked to the neonatal doctors and DO NOT want to do anything to cause this little boy to have to face the world any earlier than need be, 2) just taking the IV out makes it all seem much more manageable, 3) being at home with my own things around me will be so much more relaxing than the hospital...I'll want to do whatever I can to stay home.

Amazingly enough I have been in pretty good spirits. I have been trying as much as possible to just keep my mind on today and not think of what I am missing. I found this quote yesterday on a bed rest website: "While on bed rest you have to develop the right state of mind. Be peaceful and calm and know life will be okay without you for a little while." Good advice as I probably tend to think I am more "needed" in life than I really am. I am also convinced everyone's prayers have made such a difference too. I am not usually this peaceful about anything, so I can definitely feel the Lord working. Its
actually pretty exhilarating, if that's the right way to say it. I am still thinking it out, but I really feel blessed to get this chance to sense the Lord so clearly and know He is here and at work!

Sander has been amazing and will be able to work from home somewhat, which will help so much. He wants to try and keep life fun and as normal as possible. I am so encouraged by him and he has really helped me feel so much better about the whole process. I'm so glad to have a friend like I do in Sander who is taking on this new challenge as something for us to take on together. That isn't something every husband is able to communicate, so I am incredibly thankful for it!

I certainly didn't think this would be me, other people go through these types of things... But, I am thankful the pregnancy has been uneventful to this point and that it could be much worse now.

I'll keep updating, but hopefully there won't be much to report anytime soon!

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Latest Project

I don't know if I'm "nesting" yet or not, but the last few days I have been fixated on finishing my to-do list. The latest project I completed can be seen below: our bedroom curtains. Now we finally have something to pull the room together. The fabric is my absolute favorite fabric in the house right now - brown linen with a metalic teal design.

Next project: recovering the kitchen chairs. Stay tuned!

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Yesterday

A note to take to heart as 2008 fades away and 2009 looms ahead...from the venerable Oswald Chambers:

You shall not go out with haste, . . . for the Lord will go before you, and
the God of Israel will be your rear guard —Isaiah 52:12

Security from Yesterday. ". . . God requires an account of what is past" (Ecclesiastes 3:15 ). At the end of the year we turn with eagerness to all that God has for the future, and yet anxiety is apt to arise when we remember our yesterdays. Our present enjoyment of God’s grace tends to be lessened by the memory of yesterday’s sins and blunders. But God is the God of our yesterdays, and He allows the memory of them to turn the past into a ministry of spiritual growth for our future. God reminds us of the past to protect us from a very shallow security in the present.

Security for Tomorrow. ". . . the Lord will go before you . . . ." This is a gracious revelation— that God will send His forces out where we have failed to do so. He will keep watch so that we will not be tripped up again by the same failures, as would undoubtedly happen if He were not our "rear guard." And God’s hand reaches back to the past, settling all the claims against our conscience.

Security for Today. "You shall not go out with haste . . . ." As we go forth into the coming year, let it not be in the haste of impetuous, forgetful delight, nor with the quickness of impulsive thoughtlessness. But let us go out with the patient power of knowing that the God of Israel will go before us. Our yesterdays hold broken and irreversible things for us. It is true that we have lost opportunities that will never return, but God can transform this destructive anxiety into a constructive thoughtfulness for the future. Let the
past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him.

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Stuff Christians Like

My friend just passed on this website to me and, yes, I laughed till I cried.

http://stufffchristianslike.blogspot.com/

Check it out and tell me what you think.

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We're having a baby boy!

Yippie! Sander and I are so excited and will now probably post much more on our blog. We weren't quite ready to post the news till now, and how could we blog without letting the news out? The baby looks healthy and the sonogram was so exciting. He was kicking, yawning, and refusing to move for the technician. Just what I expected from our offspring. = )

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House work and a wedding

Sander and I have been busy the last few weeks priming and painting the house. It has just been a rough couple of weeks as I started my job, classes, and we were working each night to meet a deadline for the painters and floor contractors. We had some problems a long the way with our painter (for the oil based trim), but God fought the battle for us. The trim isn't perfect, but it turned out better than we could have hoped for.

Sander's job was to roll...

I edged...and edged...

The floors are being refinished today and we should be able to move in starting Wednesday. I'll get some updated pictures then!

This last weekend we had a nice break from working on the house. We went to Lake Conroe for Jon and Britanie's wedding. It was great to see such an amazing couple join together...and the wedding was gorgeous! It was on an old river boat that cruised around Lake Conroe as we ate, danced, and celebrated their nuptials. The weather couldn't have been nicer and the ceremony was a great chance to remember the vows Sander and I made almost 3 years ago.

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We own a house!!

The deal is down - we are now officially property owners!! There wasn't a sold sign in the yard, which was a real dissapointment, but we took our official picture anyway. Tomorrow the work begins and the reality of what we just signed away hits.

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Recovering the couch

I decided to recover the awesome, yet olllld couch we have. First, saving money is always great, but the best part is I can pick exact fabric I want! Sander loves it too by the way...surprising but great! (Its from Ikea of course)

It is taking me WAY longer than I thought it would and the first cushion ended up smaller than the original. The feather form still fits, but it is more compressed and not as comfy. I'll tweak the others and maybe the small cushion will just blend in. Hopefully...

Old and New

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Last May 13

I was going through some old Picasa photos and realized that were were on the Isle of Skye one year ago today. It is shocking to realize how beautiful the day was, as Skye is NOT known for its good weather. *sigh* It really does feel as if we never really went...

In memory of one of the most fabulous days in Scotland, I've posted a few of my favorite pictures:

View from the B&B

Group shot outside the B&B

On the road leaving the B&B

Highland Coo

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Textiles, House, and Isaac

Last Friday the Fashion Design program at HCC had their big end of the year fashion show and awards ceremony. Sander and I went even though I was only showing a jacket in the show. I had thought they were only giving away a "best-in-show" award, but they added a lot more this year. As they began I was talking to my friend next to me and then we both heard our names. We went up but we had no idea why they had called us to the stage since we had been talking and not listening to the award ceremony. It turned out we each received a $500 Textiles scholarship from the Kingwood Quilt Guild! We were so surprised! Our Textile teacher nominated us for this award and it was a huge honor. It was a fabulous surprise and a way the Lord is obviously looking out us knowing what we need before we need it...as Sander and I were to find out this week.



As I mentioned below, we have an offer on a house. We found out this week what the seller was going to offer for repairs. They barely offered a 1/4 of what we requested. It was discouraging and something we had to think seriously about. But, we saw the scholarship and in several other random places ways the Lord had provided the money despite the reluctance of the sellers. It is easy to get greedy and want the extra money from BOTH places, especially as the list of repairs seems to grow each day. But we had to get to the point Thursday where we firmly knew the Lord had led us to this house and that if the seller wasn't going to provide, that was ok. All money belongs to the Lord anyway - and if we really need it, He will provide it. God has in the past and He will in the future.

It has just been a tiring week with major life decisions, Sander's work going insane, finals at school, Victoria visiting and planning her Europe trip, and baby/house sitting for a friend since Wednesday. Each hour has been fine, but taken as a whole, I am just tired. In some ways I am glad I'm not at the apartment this week though as it has kept my mind off all we have to do with fixing up our 1956 house. Since I'm not home I don't have to think about packing, etc. PLUS we haven't had to deal with people in the pool at 3am like we have every weekend since January - yippie!

Isaac has been a blast to babysit! He is such a good natured kid and does the funnest things. He has been fabulous and a great sport putting up with Sander and I instead of having his parents here. He even hung out with me Wednesday as I went to a party/final at school. He ate and entertained us all at the party with hardly any fussing. We have played at home, gone to a farmer's market, gone to parks, played at Sander's field day, and he has ate, Ate. ATE! = )

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Gracious Uncertainty

In the past few days I've begun to read My Utmost for His Highest by Oswald Chambers each day. Tuesday's was so inspiring to me, I have been thinking about it ever since. I don't know if I will ever get to the place of being completely gracious about the uncertainty of life - but I pray that I will. It seems SO freeing...probably because it is just the way God designed it to be! I am so grateful though that God has blessed me with ears to hear and eyes to see...at least in part - I have so far to go, but I am grateful and appreciative for all the grace shown to me in all my failings so far!

Hope this encourages you too:

April 29, 2008
Gracious Uncertainty


. . . it has not yet been revealed what
we shall be . . . —1 John 3:2

Our natural inclination is to be so precise— trying
always to forecast accurately what will happen next— that we look upon
uncertainty as a bad thing. We think that we must reach some predetermined goal,
but that is not the nature of the spiritual life. The nature of the spiritual
life is that we are certain in our uncertainty. Consequently, we do not put down
roots. Our common sense says, "Well, what if I were in that circumstance?" We
cannot presume to see ourselves in any circumstance in which we have never
been.

Certainty is the mark of the commonsense life—
gracious uncertainty is the mark of the spiritual life. To be certain of God
means that we are uncertain in all our ways, not knowing what tomorrow may
bring. This is generally expressed with a sigh of sadness, but it should be an
expression of breathless expectation. We are uncertain of the next step, but we
are certain of God. As soon as we abandon ourselves to God and do the task He
has placed closest to us, He begins to fill our lives with surprises. When we
become simply a promoter or a defender of a particular belief, something within
us dies. That is not believing God — it is only believing our belief about Him.
Jesus said, ". . . unless you . . . become as little children . . ." (Matthew 18:3 ).

The spiritual life is the life of a child. We are not
uncertain of God, just uncertain of what He is going to do next. If our
certainty is only in our beliefs, we develop a sense of self-righteousness,
become overly critical, and are limited by the view that our beliefs are
complete and settled. But when we have the right relationship with God, life is
full of spontaneous, joyful uncertainty and expectancy. Jesus said, ". . .
believe also in Me" (John 14:1 ), not, "Believe certain
things about Me". Leave everything to Him and it will be gloriously and
graciously uncertain how He will come in— but you can be certain that He will
come. Remain faithful to Him.

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Kitchen Table

Here is the table I was talking about from Craig's list. I am going to use the fabric in the 2nd picture to make seat covers for the chairs and curtains for the kitchen window.

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Adventure

Today Matt Lauer is in Istanbul with the Today Show- I want to go back! He is going to 5 countries in 5 days. He was in Argentina, Amsterdam, Laos, now Turkey and Istanbul. It has been fun to watch, but seeing a place I have been was the best. I would love to go back and highly recommend Turkey, Istanbul, and the Agean coast to anyone thinking of an overseas trip.

After watching I got a little sad, thinking Sander and I are done with our adventure days. But, when I think about it, life is an adventure right now. We are settling into Houston and have accepted it as our permanent home for the foreseeable future, which includes making major life decisions. We've even decided to buy a house!

We have a contract in on a house, which if all goes well, means it will be ours May 15th - Yikes! It really feels surreal, but it has been an incredible growing experience for Sander and I together.

The house was built in 1956, so it has a few issues to be worked out, but it has original wood floors, lots of trees, and a big yard. The immediate neighborhood is really nice too, but the surrounding area needs some work. It is in an area of Houston that is revitalizing, but it is just hitting this neighborhood. Hopefully the schools will improve in time for our future (hopefully) children.

Sander is excited about re-doing the yard and the wiring - I'm thrilled to decorate! My after-school project will be recovering our 11ft couch with fabric from Ikea, my new best friend. That and Craig's list which as already given me an AWESOME formica table and chairs for $65!

I have to fit in all the re-decorating before the first of June because I'll be starting my new job at Thimble Fingers, a sewing school in West Memorial. It is a really creative place which provides studio time for kids and adults to come and work on individualized sewing/design projects. I am thrilled to start and get involved with this amazing business plan. As it progresses I will update here with lessons learned and if my enthusiasm continues after working 8 hours a day with little ones. = )

Today I am working on my final sketches for my fashion illustration class. I've been amazed at how much I have learned and my ability to sketch a female model free-hand AND clothe her. This last year has taught me so much - bring on the house so I can have room to put these new skills to work!

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Israel

I just got back from an amazing trip to Israel. We had some equipment being built near Haifa, and I was given the opportunity to go do the inspection. It was really and truly a gift from God, and while it was an incredible experience, it's also incredibly difficult to describe what it felt like...so I'm not really going to try here. I'd be glad to go into it all in person or on the phone or something.

So I got there on Sunday afternoon and headed straight to Jerusalem, where I stayed for three days. My hotel was on the Mount of Olives, where Jesus did a lot of His teaching. My room looked out to the courtyard of the chapel built where He ascended into Heaven.

I took the first three days to do some sightseeing, and the company I was visiting even arranged for a private tour guide - very cool. I spent the first day just going around Jerusalem - there's probably more history packed into the Old City than in the whole of America. The second day, we went out to the Dead Sea region and saw the Dead Sea, the caves at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Mosada, the cliff-fortress-city that was the last stand in the Jewish Wars against Rome. The third day, we headed back out the Dead Sea and drove up the side of the Jordan River to the Sea of Galilee. We saw among other things the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, the various villages where Mary Magdalene, Simon Peter, Andrew, James, and John came from, the town of Capernaum which Jesus used as a hub for His Galilean ministry, and the site where He fed the 5000.

Then it was off to Haifa (a city on the slope of Mount Carmel, where Elijah took on the prophets of Ba'al) and to real work. There, I spent two days in spirited negotiations making sure everything we designed and paid for was built correctly. The second evening, I took the train back to Tel Aviv and stayed on the Mediterranean coast, then caught a plane back to Houston the next morning.

It was an awesome trip, and one I'll never forget. Pictures are up on our picture site, which you can access from the link at the top. They'll say way more than I could ever write here.

Sander

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Toll Tag

http://www.txtag.org/

I just got my toll tag at the above address! It works throughout Texas AND I don't have to pay any extra charges like I do in Houston. Whoo hoo! Get yours today!

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