Happy 2012!!!

Celebrating the New Year by my lonesome, by drinking Raspberry Schweppes and vanilla ice cream with a curly straw.

Memories Made

I have been a bad blogger and no New Year's resolution will fix that. December has been a hard month. The rest of the year I count as wonderful. Many wonderful memories were made. I met Ayu, my sponsor child from Indonesia, who has now graduated from the Compassion program. I got to know several wonderful women during that trip and was able to reunite with them this past August in Colorado. I felt a baby kick from inside one of my best friend's abdomen. Sweet joy. And I also was able to visit her for several days in August. I laughed with my little cousins in New Mexico. I watched my own boy learn his letter sounds and complete numerous Rush Hour car puzzles in a row. We took in the most beautiful view of the St. Lawrence River. I am more in love with my husband now than ever before. I joined a small group Bible study and have been challenged to study God's word. We switched churches. We grew. We learned. Gramanita was able to visit this year. Twice. I held my brother's newborn baby girl. My sister and I, giddy with glee, stopped to look at every little girl outfit in Target in the weeks after her birth.

Maybe this next year hold as many or more wonderful memories to be made. Perhaps, we will go camping "up north" in Minnesota. Maybe we really will pay off our mortgage. Or travel the world... Maybe I will have another baby to love... And maybe I will be able to speak to my brother again...

And now to celebrate the last day of 2011. Me and my boy, who loves to cuddle in with me every morning. *love*

MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

"Behold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son, and they shall call
his name Emmanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us." Matthew 1:23

Baby Shower Saturday

Last Saturday, myself and two friends threw a baby shower for our mutual friend/sister. I went to visit Carissa in South Carolina in August and last week she came home for Thanksgiving. We seized the opportunity and showered her. She's due (with a girl!) February 4th. I hope I didn't make her feel awkward by how much I had my hand on her belly. Honestly, I think she was fine with it, since she did the same to me when I was pregnant with Josh. Feeling a baby move inside is really the most amazing feeling in the world, even from the outside...I'm counting my blessings in being able to watch my dear friend be expecting her first baby, even if it is from far away. I cannot wait to hold her little girl and kiss her little fingers and feel her soft hair on my cheek. And I secretly hope that little baby will look like her Asian side... :)

A Busy Bee

What a week! I think I am ready to stay home for the next month. I have been just. that. busy. We have been making pies, prepping for Thanksgiving, visiting with friends and family, shopping during the wee hours of the morning, throwing my friend a baby shower, eating too much and enjoying the people that God has brought into our lives. And now Adam is fighting a fierce cold. I am wishing for one more day in my long weekend that I could actually stay home and get to know my house again. But tomorrow I have an appointment in the city and some things to return, so I will be off and running again.

On a happy note, I bought a new shower curtain for the bathroom. It makes me smile every time I walk in there. I also bought paint and will begin painting hopefully this weekend. Doesn't my shower curtain make you smile too? The way I see it, I have free license to decorate my bathroom in a kid-friendly fashion, since I have a small kid myself. (Did you see my matching bath mat? Yes, that also makes me smile. I also will be attempting to paint some matching wall art.) More news about my busy week/month to come later. Nothing too exciting, so don't get your hopes up.

Do it Faithfully

3 John 1:5 - Beloved, you do faithfully whatever you do, to the brethren and to strangers...

Can I say that about myself? How can I, if I spread myself so thin? What does the Lord really want me to spend my time doing? Am I able to do that which He has called me to do faithfully? These are questions I am always asking myself. Always evaluating in my mind. How can I get to the place where I know I am in God's will and can truly pour myself into what He has for me? What things, good things, am I involved in that are not His best for me?

Lord, help me to know what you have for me to do. Help me to know when to say "no" and when to say "yes". Help me to do what I do the best way that I can. Help me to serve you faithfully in all that I do, to my family, to my "brethren", and to strangers.

Wanderings

This past weekend my friend Stephanie and her family came to visit. Adam and I took them into Rochester to the public market on Saturday morning. We perused vegetable stands, dug through homemade mittens, bought way too many raspberries, smelled fresh roasted coffee beans, and enjoyed the beautiful, albeit chilly, morning together. I love going to the public market, and I don't know why we don't go more often. There is something exciting about the masses of people, crowding through the stalls, the hawking of goods, hearing the voices of people everywhere. It's invigorating. I enjoy talking to the different vendors and gleaning bits of information from them or about them. We came home with bags of goodies and ate good that night! Although the asparagus I bought is still in the fridge... Maybe I do tend to go overboard.