Another Reason to Love Christmas!

Anticipation
Originally uploaded by Justinwill

Just look at how cute Jacob is waiting for Santa!!

Joel's turns 3

IMG_0003-1
Originally uploaded by Justinwill

I love Christmas

I love Christmas time. I love my tree, I love my decorations, love Christmas music....it just makes me happy. I am so happy to have 2 weeks off coming up to spend with my boys. Did I mention that one of those little boys will be 3 this week!!!!!!!
That's right, Joel will turn 3 on Friday. Hard to believe that he is that old. He is so much fun. I miss when he was Jacob's age, but I love the child he is. His personality is so fun and I love that he and I can have real conversations. He was once my early Christmas gift....oh, another reason to love Christmas! I remember holding him and realizing with tears streaming down my face, how much God must love me to have sent his one and only son to die for me. And to truly experience Christmas, thinking of Mary holding her baby, the one who would die for me, made the season mean oh, so much more than ever before.

Sleep Well by Todd Agnew

It's okay little one
Don't dismay little one
Your just a babe
How can you be trembling
It's alright little one
He's come tonight little one
The one that you and the world have been waiting for


Sleep well
Sweet dreams
You need your rest
or so it seems
Sleep well
Come what may
For God has come
And you must prepare the way


It's alright little one
Don't you cry little one
Your the delight of the blind and the barren
It's okay little one
He's come today little child
Enjoy the peace
It may be the calm before the storm

So sleep well
Sweet dreams
You need your rest
or so it seems
Come what may
For God has come
And you must prepare the way

Messiah has come to save the world
And he has chosen our place in time
God has given us his son
but why must ask me for my...

Sleep well
Sweet dreams
You need your rest
or so it seems
Sleep well
come what may
for God has come
and you must prepare the way
Send "SLEEP WELL" Ringtone to your Cell

5K

I did it! I ran my first 5K. My time was 29:59 and for the 30 degree stifling cold, dreary day, I was very proud of myself. I have been running 3.26 miles (according to mapmyrun.com) 3-4 times a week and I can say that it only took me just shy of 5 months to lose all the baby weight that I gained (somehow I always manage to gain 40 pounds in a pregnancy despite working out the whole time). I am back in all my clothes and even lost enough weight that the dress I ordered for Mike and Wendie's wedding was falling off of me by the time the wedding rolled around. For the record....I worked hard. I am not that girl who just has baby weight fall of. I worked incredibly hard, running at 6 a.m. sometimes in the dark and working out at 5:30 in the morning too. There is another 5K this weekend that I wish I could run, but Justin has a campout with the teens....I think I am hooked.

Weddings, Woe, and Weekends without rest

This weekend was Wendie and Michael's wedding. Congratulations to them for finally joining the married bliss club! Pictures soon! The ceremony was lovely, much like a church service and very full of celebration. Many turned out to show their support of the union from all different points in their journey. Justin's phone alarm went off during the ceremony in his pocket (oops) and as embarrassing as it was, I figured part of it was karma for all of Michael's antics during my wedding (I seriously have maybe one picture where he doesn't have a weird face or isn't trying to be funny). =)
It was wonderful to have Keith and Lindsey here...we miss them lots and wish that they could live closer. Lindsey and I were both exhausted last night! I'm not sure I'm a very good hostess. Tonight my mom will still be here and our pastor from Hays is coming into town for a few days too. I'm seriously considering taking the day off tomorrow to get caught up!!
I just went on a 3.26 mile run with Liz (I've been running this about 4 times a week...it's called the banish baby run). We are running a 5K next weekend and I wanted to make sure I could run as fast as she can! We made it (talking too) in about 40 minutes.
In one of my other posts, I talked about the director from Kanakuk who was charged with molestation of boys and I heard about a mom the other day who decided she was a lesbian... but this is what Joe White (founder of Kanakuk) wrote recently in response to times when God doesn't make sense:
http://www.kanakuk.com/downloads/WalkingYourFamilyThroughPain.Pdf
Healing words, now on to some healing rest.
I found it very healing and I loved how he quoted Kay Arthur saying "When in doubt. 4:8 it". (Phil.4:8)

Things that Make me Happy

It is a stressful time.....school is busy, I meet with HR tomorrow to discuss moving to the jr. high, it is a wedding weekend which means I have to fit into a dress with the extra baby weight I still have, and so on....but in the midst of all of this, I have this:


Can you get better than that?

Prayer

My heart breaks for Kanakuk. On Friday, as a former staff member I received an e-mail from their COO, informing me about one of their directors who was recently charged with being involved in illicit sex crimes against teen-aged boys. He has been charged with two counts of misconduct with a boy aged 15. He was at Kamp when I was there as a very young director...he's only 2 or 3 years older than I am. He has a wife and a little girl.
It is so terrible to me that a place like Kanakuk where God is exalted and children and youth are led to Him every day, Satan is still in the midst. This is where I do not understand. In my own life, I have seen the work of Satan and how it destroys everything in it's path. I feel so helpless when this happens. I know that God's power is greater but sometimes it is just so disheartening to see that not just those who allow Satan to overtake them, but the trickle down affect that it leaves on others.
As a mother, this kind of thing makes me scared for my boys. Scared to leave them at a camp, scared to let them go out in the world, a world full of sin. And yet, I know that I will have to let them go and all I can do is just pray.
Pray for Kanakuk. Pray for the boys who lives will never be the same because of what has been done to them. Pray for Katie (the wife of the director who is being charged) and for the little girl. Pray for justice to be served.

In case you ever wanted to know

Sometimes it cracks me up what people put up on Facebook..but just in case you ever wanted to know...
1. Where did you take your profile picture? Cedar Creek park

2. What exactly are you wearing right now? Gray running shorts, tank top, and tennis shoes

3. What is your current problem? I need more money! Oh, yeah and more time...

4. What makes you happy most? my family

5. What are you listening to at the moment? Justin reading to Joel

6. Any celeb you would marry? Not marry, but I'd like to have some time with Matthew McConaughey

7. Name someone with the same birthday as you? My friend Lori's sister and the Sunnyside Nurse Amy

8. Ever sang in front of a large audience? yes , many times

9. Has anyone ever said you looked like a celebrity? yes -Jennifer Love Hewitt

10. Do you still watch kiddy movies or kiddie TV shows? Yes, all time time with Joel (BOB The Builder is what I sing in the shower these days)

11. Do you speak any language? English

12. Has anyone you've been really close with passed away? Yes

13. What’s your favorite band? Rascal Flatts

14. What's something that really annoys you? Bad drivers, people who drive down residential streets too fast, and being ignored

Chapter 1:
===============

1. Middle names: Anne

2. Nicknames: Christie

3. Current location: Olathe

4. Eye color: Brown

Chapter 2:
===============

1. Do you live with your parent(s)? Nope

2. Do you get along with your parent(s): Mostly

3. Do you have any Siblings? Yep-Ben and Michelle

Chapter 3: Favorites
===============

1. Ice Cream: Homemade Vanilla

2. Season: Summer

3.Shampoo/conditioner: Pantene

===============

1. Dance in the shower? No

2. Do you write on your hand? No

3. Call people back? Sometimes

4. Believe in love: yes

5. Any bad habits: Reality tv

Chapter 5: Have You..
===============

1. Sprained stuff: no - i've broken my ankle and toes before though

3. Had physical therapy: no

4. Gotten stitches: yes

5. Taken painkillers: yes,

6. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling: nope - I'm not a very good swimmer

7. Been stung by a bee: No

8. Thrown up at the dentist: Yes actually when I got my wisdom teeth out

9. Sworn in front of your parents: oh yes

10. Had a detention: nope never


Chapter 6: what/who was the last?
===============

1. Movie you watched? Transformers

2. Person to text? Liz

3. Person you called: my mom

4. Person you hugged: Joel

5. Person you tackled: Joel

6. Person you talked to: Justin

7. Thing you touched? mouse - the computer kind

8. Thing you ate? peach cobbler

9. Thing you drank: water

10. Thing you said: Let's go potty (to Joel)


Chapter 7: Future
===============

1. Where do you see yourself in 5 years? Still teaching, signing Jacob up for kindergarten (hopefully at my school), maybe having baby #3???

2. 10 years? Attending lots of sports games for the boys

3. In 50 years? retired, spending time with Justin and our kids and grandkids

4. Where do you hope to live? Somewhere warm

5. Do you want to be famous? not really

6. Do you want children? I have 2 but wouldn't mind another

7. Will you have plastic surgery? I'll let you know after I lose the baby weight.

Summer Fun

It's been a fun and busy summer so far. Lindsey was here to visit with Claire and Ashton. Jacob and Ashton are about 4 weeks apart so we know they will be lifelong friends. I know we all wished that Keith had been able to make the trip with his family, but it was so nice to catch up with Lindsey, albeit crazy with 4 children under 2.5 in the house! We also started our remodeling of the bathroom while Lindsey was here. I can't wait to pose pictures of the finished project!! I spent one day working on the 6th grade reading curriculum and am going to be teaching summer school for Liz the last week this month. Tomorrow we are headed to Chanute to see my brother and to meet his fiance for the first time! Crazy! Then the last week in June I will be teaching summer school for Liz. Before I know it the summer will be over!
In other news, Jacob is starting to look more like himself. He still looks an awful lot like Joel but he definetly has his own features and personality. His first smile brought me to tears. He is a very cuddly baby and a great sleeper now that his nights and days are right. He sleeps from about 10 until 3 every night and then wakes up at 5 or 6 and then will sleep until about 8 0r 9. Justin has been entertaining Joel in the mornings that he wakes up early so that we can sleep in a little bit. Having 2 is definetely more work but soon it will be less when they can play and entertain each other. They grow up so fast!

Happy Mother's Day

These are just two pictures of what a Happy Mother's Day I had this year...

Welcome Jacob

When we had Joel, I thought my heart could never ever be as full as the moment they laid him on my chest. I had dreamed of being a mom for so long and have always seen that as my life's goal. Watching him grow, my heart has grown with an ability to love that I never knew existed. Now to think that God would give his only son for me has an entirely different and much deeper impact for me. Just the thought brings me to tears! When this pregnancy started, as with the pregnancy with Joel, it wasn't easy. With my diagnosis of placenta previa, I was terrified of the impact on my health and feared that it would take me away from Joel. But God was so faithful and the previa was no longer an issue by 25 weeks. Still I didn't know exactly what a new child would bring. How could I love someone as much as I love Joel? And the moment they laid Jacob on my chest, I knew. I knew that God had once again grown my heart so that I could love more. I feel so blessed to have two beautiful, healthy boys and a husband who loves them and me. I couldn't ask for more. Today I was reminded of Hannah's story of praying for Samuel in 1 Samuel 1. Joel and Jacob, you have been much prayed for. Other than praying for Justin, all my life, I have never prayed with more tears as I have for you.

1 Samuel 1: As surely as you live, my lord, I am the woman who stood here beside you praying to the LORD. ²⁷ I prayed for this child, and the LORD has granted me what I asked of him. ²⁸ So now I give him to the LORD. For his whole life he will be given over to the LORD."

Disgruntled and Thankful

I know, a random combination..but today has been one of those days. First of all, I am still pregnant...very very very pregnant and so the first thing that people say when they see me on a Monday morning is, of course, "Are you STILL here??". Yes, my body does not know it should go into labor and well, my due date isn't for another 12 days! But that wasn't the worst. Today I found out that it looks like I will not be teaching with one of my best friends and the best co-worker situation I have ever had next year. We had to sign these lovely contract things saying whether we would move to the jr high or whether we wanted to stay K-5 and the great catch was if you checked the K-5 option they could move you for next year. But Liz is on the path to administration and so after being advised by some very important people in the district, she checked K-5 and I checked jr. high cause I was too scared they'd move me to another school. So anyway, I don't know exactly who I will be teaching with, but I am sad....sad and still very pregnant. The day only gets better. Since no one expected me to still be here at this point, my long term sub sat in my room all day and read a book. And she'll be there all week. Which is fine, but why am I still here again???
To top things off, I read this today on a pastor of a church in Olathe's website.....not my pastor but one of a church that we know people who go to...

"Mercy and showing the Love of God to the sinner (which is all of us).
Here is something I am passionate about and a great test to see if you are in a good church; if you are in a church that you must HIDE and LIVE A LIE for fear of judgment or being kicked out... you are in a BAD CHURCH... I would leave!
I spoke to a friend of mine this morning who works at a church and secretly struggles with homosexuality ... he can not tell anyone for fear he would lose his job. Ladies and gentleman, this is a a disgrace; the church should be a safe place for people to be real and authentic ... and get help for their struggles ... and if you can not do that at your church then find a new one!"

Okay, I am all for loving the sinner and hating the sin...but when do we get to keep people accountable for those sins? I'm not saying people should be kicked out of churches, don't get me wrong, that's not what I believe. But there is a place for the fear of judgment....it's the HOLY SPIRIT telling us that something is wrong!!! I have made my share of bad decisions and choices and still make them but if there wasn't some accoutibility for these things then why would I chose not to make them again and again? And I'm sorry, but if this guy is struggling with homosexuality, he should not, in my opinion, be in a place of leadership at all.

Okay, so enough of that. Onto my Thankful part of this...I am thankful for my family. One of our friends from college is very sick and probably has only weeks to live and they have a little boy just Joel's age. My heart breaks for them. I am thankful for my health, Justin's health, Joel's and this new life inside of me's health. I am thankful that I have a church and a small group that holds me accountable for my choices. I am thankful for my friends, even if I don't get to teach with Liz all the time. And most of all, I'm thankful for the reminder from our friend who only has weeks to live that the living God is in control. Read this part of his blog:
"Job 1:21 "...Naked I came from my mother's womb, and naked I will depart. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; may the name of the LORD be praised."

Simeon Weltmer’s May 3, 2009 testimony

I was told my liver is sick and is killing me. The liver is so bad that my cancer doctor, Dr. Lori Maness, MD, did not even mention the cancer at the appointment. There are only experimental treatments that have been abandoned. I was given “weeks” to live. Only the direct hand of God could save me. Jennie and I quickly decided not to make me an experiment.

Three weeks later (now), my bilirubin liver toxin is still high but has fallen to 27 to 21.9 and stabilized. (normal value less than 1) There is no medical explanation. This is the work of the Great Physician, no matter what happens in the future.

I called the on-call Bone Marrow Transplant Physician Assistant Randy at Nebraska Medical Center. He said that while they cannot fix the liver, sometimes it “gets better on its own.” Please pray for this.

As a doctor, I do not know what to think. I try to live every day to the fullest while making end-of-life decisions.

I fear for Jennie; I cry when I think of Austin. He needs a daddy.

God, why do walk with me so far in my medical training only for disease to force me to quit?

I am reminded of Job 1-2. Job was “blameless and upright, a man who fears God and shuns evil.” At the pleasure and play of Satan, allowed by God, he lost oxen, camels, sheep, servants, and had painful sores on his body. His wife told him to curse God and die. He did not. In all Job did not sin.

I remember, The Lord gives and the Lord takes away, Blessed be the name of the Lord."

And so with all of my disgruntles today, I am humbled and very very thankful.

Facebook Mommy Survey

So this was a little survey on Facebook that I decided to do, but didn't post it on my FB...but thought it was very interesting

Pregnancy #1

1. WAS YOUR FIRST PREGNANCY PLANNED? yes

2. WERE YOU MARRIED AT THE TIME? yes

3. WHAT WERE YOUR REACTIONS? ecstatic

4. WAS ABORTION AN OPTION FOR YOU? no

5. HOW OLD WERE YOU? 27

6. HOW DID YOU FIND OUT YOU WERE PREGNANT? home test

7. WHO DID YOU TELL FIRST? my husband, then my mom, in laws

8. DID YOU WANT TO FIND OUT THE SEX? Yes

9. DUE DATE? Dec. 2nd

10. DID YOU HAVE MORNING SICKNESS? yes...lost 5 pounds!

11. WHAT DID YOU CRAVE? chips and salsa

12. WHO/WHAT IRRITATED YOU THE MOST? the weight gain

13. WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST CHILD'S SEX? male

14. DID YOU WISH YOU HAD THE OPPOSITE SEX OF WHAT YOU WERE GETTING? nope

15. HOW MANY POUNDS DID YOU GAIN THROUGHOUT THE PREGNANCY? 43

16. DID YOU HAVE A BABY SHOWER? Two

17. WAS IT A SURPRISE OR DID YOU KNOW? I knew

18. DID YOU HAVE ANY COMPLICATIONS DURING YOUR PREGNANCY? yes...Joel had some kidney opening dialation so we had like 6 ultrasounds in addition to a few early ones since we didn't know exactly how far along I was (we got pregnant immediately following an early miscarriage)

19. WHERE DID YOU GIVE BIRTH? Overland Park, KS

20. HOW MANY HOURS WERE YOU IN LABOR? Well, depending on whether you count the two hours of waiting for my epidural to wear off a little so that I could push and waiting for the dr to finish another patient...5 or 7 hours

21. WHO DROVE YOU TO THE HOSPITAL? Justin (we were induced at 7 am)

22. WHO WATCHED YOU GIVE BIRTH? Justin and my mom and a lot of nurses

23. WAS IT NATURAL OR C-SECTION? natural

24. DID YOU TAKE MEDICINE TO EASE THE PAIN? YES!

27. HOW MUCH DID YOUR CHILD WEIGH? 8 lbs, 10 oz

28. WHEN WAS YOUR CHILD ACTUALLY BORN? December 4, 2006

30. WHAT DID YOU NAME HIM/HER? Joel Swain

31. HOW OLD IS YOUR FIRST BORN TODAY? 2 years

Hopefully the details of #2 will be coming soon!! I am dialated to 1 1/2 cm right now and am 37 weeks so this baby is officially full term and welcome to make his appearance!

My Favorites

So I am 35 weeks now and so ready for this baby to come. Here are my maternity pictures...http://www.flickr.com/photos/justinwill
well my favorites anyway. Emily did an amazing job once again on them!
Still working on names...Jacob, Jonah, Jackson, or James??? Hopefully we'll decide before he gets here...less than 4 weeks now!

Only in Kansas

This was last week.... and...


Today

What's in a Name??

Okay, so we are still unsettled on a name for this baby. We want his name to begin with a "J" but so many J's have already been taken that our choices are slim. I like Jacob....but Justin hates it because Jacob means supplanter or substitute...Jacob stole his brother's birthright...not exactly ideal for a 2nd born. Justin likes Jack...but I can not see naming my two boys...Jack and Joel...(Jack and Jill ring any bells). And so it goes.... meanings are one thing, but really!!! So we need some help!

Ecclesiastes 7

¹A good name is better than precious ointment....

Williams Look-alike Meter

MyHeritage: Family trees - Genealogy - Celebs - Collage - Morph

Getting Ready and the Sickness

So, Justin is on a Z-Pack, Joel has been on Antibiotics for over a week, and I'm still fighting it on my own. I'm hoping that my ob will decide that I need something and let me take something. Sudafed and Robitussin are not working and I really don't like taking them very often cause it makes me nervous. I just want to feel better!! My head hurts, I can't breathe through my nose, and I keep coughing...and you don't even want the details of my nasty mucus! I'm still working on how to sleep with my head propped up and still stay on my side. 12 weeks or less (hopefully the less) to go in this pregnancy! This little boy moves all the time and I am pretty sure he's going to be a big boy! My school threw me a shower with the other 2 teachers who are pregnant in my school. It was very nice and now I am really ready to go. I can't believe the amount of stuff I have for this one! Joel was asking me about birthdays the other day. He knows his is in December but he wanted to know when Justin's was, when mine was, when Lucy's was, and then he asked "when is my baby brother's birthday?". I'm sure to him it seems like forever too! I can't wait for the two of them to meet and to grow up and play together. I'm sure they will be great friends.

"But by faith we eagerly await through the Spirit the righteousness for which we hope." Gal. 5:5

Answered Prayer

It Moved!! My placenta moved! I am now off pelvic rest and officially approved for a normal delivery! Praise the Lord! I know so many of you were praying and I am so so grateful for your prayers! I know that God does hear my prayers! It is just such a relief to be able to enjoy being pregnant and to enjoy Joel without having to worry every second about tearing my placenta. It's also just a relief not to have the strain of the financial worry of being on bed rest and unable to work. We were given several pictures to take home which I will post later, along with some long awaited belly shots for those of you who want to see just how big I am this time!! We went out to eat tonight to celebrate and I fully plan on working out tomorrow morning...because I can!