11 Weeks

 Well, I'm pregnant!  Today makes it week 11 of baby Fraz!  This first trimester has already gone so quickly, despite wanting to sleep every minute and not being able to.

We are so thrilled to be expecting an addition to our family this July.  Somehow July seemed further away when it was on the other side of Christmas.  Now, it's only 6 months!

That means that before now and the baby arrival, we are closing on a house (11 days from now), making updates to the house including tile floors, some version of new countertops, LOTS of painting everywhere, some wallpaper ripping, maybe new windows?, and then moving in at the end of February.  And lots more nesting will then commence.  

When we let ourselves, we can easily get stressed out about all things house related, money related, work related, and new parent related.  The list could possibly go on all day.  So while I am here at home right now I am trying to make a point to remember that everything I've ever stressed about has always worked out.

Not because I planned it well.

Or am amazing at fixing problems.

And not necessarily how I wanted it to.  Oh, how often it wasn't!

But because God has always had and always will have the perfect plan for our lives.

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
--Jeremiah 29:11

What would happen in my life if I fully and completely trusted that?  That God does have plans to prosper me and not to harm me?

It would mean a lot less time wasted on worrying or analyzing the future.

It would mean living more fully in the present rather than anything in the past or the future. 

That's what I want.  And I know that's what God wants for all of His children, too.

So for today, what that means for me is drinking a cup of tea, marveling over the fact that there didn't used to be a baby Frazier and now there is, and how none of it was controlled by me.  Yes, as far as humans can plan, we planned this, but we have no control in our lives despite what we like to pretend.

"In his heart a man plans his course, but the LORD determines his steps."
--Proverbs 16:9

Here he/she is about a month ago!  I know ultrasound pictures when the baby is so little are difficult to read, but that little white elongated shape in the middle of the black circle is the baby's body, and the smaller dark circle near the bottom is the baby's brain.  So basically we're looking at the baby almost upside down.

Now three weeks later, he's grown a lot and is one week away from being done with growing all the organs needed for the rest of his life.  After that, he's going to just grow and get huge!

"Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him."
--Psalm 127:3

Making Your Own Art

When you make your own art, you get to say, "Hey, I made that!" which is way more fun than "Hey, I bought that!" (yes, even if it's on sale).  You get to hang out with friends if you do what we did, which is go to a local art studio with an instructor who walks you through it while painting the same thing.  It's lots of fun and it's an inspiration to do other things on your own in your house.  Or of course you could just listen to music in your own house and make your own art there.  Some of my favorite singers to listen to while painting are Joshua Radin, Ingrid Michaelson, the Weepies, Johnny Cash, and Coldplay. What about you?  Anything in your home that you've made, or any singers who inspire you to create?

A Photo Post

Our Anniversary after dinner, on our back porch

It was really windy on the ship!  Like my hair?

Chilling in Nassau

Our "Formal Night"

Figuring out our bus routes in Port Canaveral

My beautiful cousin and now-cousin-in-law!

Dancing cousins!

Cousins!! I love weddings!

Our One Year!

Happy Anniversary to us! Now our marriage will be easy as pie! (sarcasm, don't worry) Here's to the best man I know, who loves me better than anyone. :)

Being attacked by lavender as we left!  All of that is still in my dress.

Ready to go!



Navy Accent Wall

Ali, your wish is my command. :)

From the hallway

Inside the living room

The dining room



From the hallway again



Inside living room

Is it perfect?  No.  Was it worth painting it?  Yep.  Go get yourself an accent wall.

Resting

Take the time to watch darkness fade with the rising of the sun.

Get uncontrollably excited about Cobb Salad and homemade blue cheese dressing.

And rest in the knowledge that even though your schedule is still jam packed in the summer, even though there's never enough time in the day, and even though that thing you're pursuing just isn't as satisfying as you thought it would be, God is constant; in Him is true rest.  He is the Creator--the Artist of colors and streaks and light, the Artist of flavors and texture and fullness. 

And he created you.  He delights in you.

"You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you."

St. Augustine

Dear Sisters

Dear Sisters,

I'd like to tell you that I've gotten lots of things written up in an organized manner to tell you. But I
don't. I've written about three posts a week in my mind though. Does that count for anything?

Anyway, to my four dear sisters, all of whom seem to live so far away these days, I just wanted to say:

I miss you. I wish you still lived down the road and I had a key to your house and I could pop in anytime. I miss your stomping boots and being able to hear you singing in the basement through the air vents when I'm upstairs. I miss eating cracks and cheese and wicked goods, even though we've both decided that our bodies can't take those anymore. I miss coming over for tea and Scottish scones and talking about life and distressed furniture and husbands. I miss watching Animal Cops every Monday and Wednesday between my 9 & 11 am classes. That dorm room will always be your room in my mind. I miss being able to call you anytime, but I'm so glad for you that you're off having adventures!

Just a few things that have happened lately...
-I actually forgot the name of my blog for about two minutes because I haven't written in months
-Then I wondered why I named it something so long
-I still don't know what I'm going to rename it in two months when it's not our first year anymore
-I have a great job with awesome people, and I'm loving it!
-The first thing I did when I got my cubicle was to decorate it (Caro, I needed your advice!)
-The second thing I did when I got my cubicle was to fill it with snacks (Bobs, I tried to use your brain!)
-I know more about insurance now than I ever thought possible
-I perfected the Reese's cake (sorry Ali, yours didn't look nearly as good as it should have!)
-I tear up pretty much every time I read Emily Freeman's posts at Chatting at the Sky
-I painted a 4' x 4' painting for our dining room

-I turned our coffee table into an ottoman

Before:

After:

-I made little picture things to go in our room

-I "made" a pretty window

-I've been cooking up a storm (here is Corn Fettuccine, Homemade Pizza, and Cinnamon Rolls--

though definitely not in the same meal)

-We're about to begin summer community groups

-We went skiing last weekend

-I still want a dog but we still don't have one

I know life is crazy and always busy, and I know that it's hard to find the time to talk when you're in

different states and continents, but let's chat soon!  :)