The Blur

We came.

We saw.

We conquered.

Kinda, anyway.

What a crazy, exhausting fit of cluster-filled days....

Christmas, we of course spent on the road and then with family.

Then we dedicated a full day to decrapifying our former home.

Then we dedicated a full day to attempt to sign paperwork on said former home, see friends, load our car, and celebrate our niece's birthday.

To be honest, Techy just asked me what day it was, and I only know because my phone told me.

Life is a blur right now.

Oh did I mention that Techy came down with strep throat in the midst of this?

Yeah.

Ultra megazoid, fun, Scoob!

The real kicker?

Today is my baby's 2nd birthday.

And being the totally awesome mom I am, we are celebrating by spending 6 hrs in a car and then praying that an ice cream cake magically appears on our doorstep.

I totally rock at life.

And mommyhood.

And celebrations in general.

Don't you wish you were my kid?

But despite the blur, we did relish the time spent with friends and family.

Despite the illness, we did enjoy cups of hot coffee and the flavors of Christmas cookies.

Despite the anxiety of emptying our former home, we did have the sheer satisfaction of making someone's day, who was in desperate need of a house full of furniture.

And despite the frustrations, we did, if just for a moment, have the opportunity to reflect on what our saviour did for us.

And that's enough for me.

He has come for us

Today is Christmas.

2011.

And we are on the road.

Worn travellers.

Road weary.

And I'm "great with child" as the song says....

I don't think anyone who has been pregnant at Christmas, doesn't sympathize with the young virgin mother who managed to travel for days, if not weeks, on end just prior to delivering the world's greatest gift.  But with all this travelling that we've done this year, I feel a bond with her.

And with that tiny baby who grew into the strongest man the world has ever known. The One. The Saviour of the world, made his entrance in an animal crowded cave in a town overrun with tired tourists.

Today, as we travel, with our little family in tow, I can't help but be thankful for the fact that they were willing.  That the prophecies were fulfilled and the Saviour came for us.

A few weeks ago, I heard this song for the first time, and today I can't get it off my mind.

I am so thankful he has come for us!

Merry Christmas!

Holiday Hoobie Whattie

Just stopping by to wish you a very Merry Christmas from this Holiday Cheermeister.

Rich Man's Problems

It's been a long weekend.

Saturday alone I spent about 72 hours unpacking boxes and settling into this temporary rental abode.

And no sooner than the last box was unpacked and the last load of laundry was done, it happened.

Yesterday, Techy, Little Man and I went out house hunting with our realtors...

Just like every other Sunday afternoon for the last two months.

No big expectations.

But then we found it.

Our dream house.

Twice.

Two different houses five minutes apart.

Two completely different lifestyles.

And both with recent price drops.

Making them both amazing deals.

And ensuring that both of them got more traffic this weekend than any house should get the weekend before Christmas.

The stack of realtor cards on the counters spoke for themselves....

And totally stressed me out.

We knew we wanted one of them.

But couldn't decide which one.

And I spent a semi sleepless night being silly and agonizing about it.

Then posted on Facebook about it.

When my friend, Katie, reminded me of something my mom says all the time....

These are rich man's problems.

Meaning this isn't a problem at all.

There are other people out the who are agonizing over real problems.

And if there is anything I have learned over the last few months, it's that as long as I have my boys (and the soon arriving girl) it doesn't matter where we are.

And I'm so thankful for the opportunity to be reminded.

Yes, we did make an offer.

And no, we haven't heard back.

But it doesn't matter either way.

Because I'm already more blessed than I can imagine.

Home ownership or not.

A Preggo Update

I am really not in the mood for words tonight.

So a picture will cut it, right?

How about a then and now for old times' sake???

Unless I grow alot this week (which, considering the fact that all I want is pizza and taco bell, is a possibility), I am pretty sure that the difference is apparent.

But I'll leave that to you to decide.

(For those of you who may or may not be keeping track, I am 31 weeks and as of yesterday have only gained 30 lbs. - I blame the illness that kept me strapped to the bathroom floor for a good 12 hrs last week...but I'll take it!)

Something Techy Will Never Understand

Tonight I cried.

Sniffling, snubbing, can't catch your breath crying.

I cried bitter tears for a wife who had to say goodbye to her husband today.

I cried thankful and happy tears for a mommy who gets to hold her baby in the comfort of her own home tonight.

And I cried the exhausted tears of someone who has been running on empty for a little longer than is possibly recommended.

And boy, do I feel better!

My husband will never understand me ....

Thankfully, I think he loves me anyway.

Biting Back the Bitterness

If we're friends at all, you probably know that today's tragedy at Virginia Tech had a real impact on me.

And if you aren't aware of what happened, I'm so jealous of you.

Because I spent all afternoon sitting by my phone and anxiously waiting for updates from my brother in law who was out on the man hunt.

And maybe it wouldn't be so bad if I hadn't known he was working today.

Or if there hadn't been so many conflicting reports about who the fallen officer was.

Or if this had been the first time this had happened.

Or maybe if my mom hadn't gotten one if those phone calls when I was 9 years old....

I know the terror of thinking you have lost someone you love due to the random, senseless act of some troubled person.

I have watched my sister live the agony time and again as her husband spends days doing his job, just as this young officer was....

Tonight, I ache for that poor wife and mother who got that phone call.

Tonight, I seethe with anger and hatred for the evil behind this senseless act.

And tonight, I pray.

For comfort.

For strength.

For healing.

For peace.

Because, after all that we've been through, I've learned nothing if I haven't realized that despite it all, God is still in control.

And as shocking as it seems, he still loves the troubled soul who committed this wretched act.

And for now, my only response can be...

May the God of all comfort show himself all powerful tonight while so many hearts ache.

Heavy heart and an empty stomach

Well, the inevitable happened.

I got the bug.

And surprisingly, being sick with a big baby in the belly isn't that different from getting sick every other time.

Needless to say I'm typing this from the comforts of my pillow on the bathroom floor.

Go me.

But today I have bigger things to say than just "woe is me I'm puking".because about the same time as I started getting sick last night our best friends in Delaware were rushing their one week old to the emergency room where they were told that he has an issue with his heart and will require emergency surgery today.

Suddenly praying to the porcelain god for a few hours isn't so bad....

So I've been using my "comfort"time here on the bathroom floor to pray for little Rocky,

and I'm sure they would appreciate it if you would do the same...

Now please excuse me while I get back to what I was doing before...

Ugh.

How much happiness can fit in one day?

The past 24 hrs have been an exciting roller coaster of emotions.

Allow me to recount.

Move into house. High.

Wait all day for cable man and miss your prime romantic dinner opportunity. Make the best of things by going to dinner in your hobo outfit with the love of your life.  Mid level drop.

Go to awesome new church's awesome new Sunday school class and make lots of new friends. High.

Rush home to put your cranky kid and hubby down for a nap. Low.

Go to ikea. High.

High.

Super high with a barrel roll.

Come home 4 hrs later to a cranky hubby, already sleeping toddler and an empty cupboard. Low.

Go to bed because your aching back and feet cannot take any more. Low.

Awaken to the sound of your husband looking for a trash bag to puke in. Low.

Spend the next 6 hours trying to sleep between all the bathroom visits and the knowledge that you and the kid are next. Super low.

Just as you are finally starting to drift off, getting a knock on the door from your almost-no-longer-housemates who've been up all night doing the same thing as Techy. Low.

Blogging about the excitement at 3 am rather than sleeping because, if nothing else, at least you still find it humorous...for another 6 hours or so until you get it.... Priceless.

I knew you would appreciate being in on it with me....

Moving Anniversary

Yesterday was moving day.

As well as my anniversary.

Glamorous, right?

Totally.

I went to dinner in my VT baseball hat, tee shirt and jeans.

Totally the epitome of what a hot, pregnant momma who is celebrating her 6 year anniversary with the man of her dreams should be.

I think I need an intervention...

And a full body massage...

Oprah, can you hear me???