38 weeks

I'm posting this a little late (big surprise, I know) because I can't seem to take a picture, upload it to the computer and blog it in any reasonable amount of time. Luckily, I'm posting this, my 38-week picture, before Judson's arrival, so that should count for something.

It was a wet, yucky day, so I decided not to bother fixing my hair and whenever I don't fix my hair, I lose motivation to put my contacts in or put on makeup. So, what you see is what you get.


I am feeling very good! I still have heartburn and my ankles are still swelling. But, I have energy and I'm not waddling too badly yet. This has been a very good pregnancy and I'm so thankful for that.

I'm not dialated. I'm not effaced. Judson is very comfortable hanging out where it's nice and warm. From today, I have 11 days until my due date! But, having an induction date makes it easier to really have an official date and that's only 13 days away!

Russell and Randall are counting down and are very excited. They love seeing the little clothes and playing with the few little baby toys we've accumulated. Randall was talking the other day about wanting to get a Christmas present for Judson and has been practicing how he will hold Judson when he gets here.


Slade and I find ourselves remembering more and more about when Russell and Randall were babies as we get closer to having another little one in the house. It's neat the things we had forgotten that we've remembered. Everything is going to change again and some days I feel ready and excited and other days I wonder if we'll survive...

We're slowly accumulating all the necessary baby stuff that we got rid of a few years ago. It's so fun to fold little tiny clothes and unpack little tiny diapers.

Nursery pictures coming soon!

Glad it wasn't cat we were eating!

Yesterday was a busy day, but a good one, too. We all slept in (if you call 7:15 sleeping in and we do!) and lounged around the house for a few hours, slowly getting ready for the day.

We left around 11:15 to head to Hawkins (about a 45 minute drive) to celebrate the 90th birthday of a very wonderful man we know from First Assembly of God in Hawkins, TX. Brother Bird, as we call him, has been a pastor for years and actually pastored First A/G there in Hawkins for several years. He is a sweet, funny and very godly man and we enjoyed the chance to honor him and celebrate his life thus far.

Brother Bird has been through a lot in his 90 years and it was neat to hear from people who have known and loved him. He has lived through brain cancer (or was it a brain tumor?) and can quote scripture better than anyone else I know. He might not always remember something he meant to say or a name or whatever, but he can quote verse after verse after verse, flawlessly.

We think the world of him and Sister Bird and we are honored to call him our friend.

We left the party around 2:30 and went to Peggy's house (Slade's mom). We stayed there until about 4, just chatting and catching up. We drove home, which is about a 35 minute drive from Peggy's house and got home around 4:45. We did little things around the house and then I left at 5 to stop at the store on the way to small group and Slade and the boys left about 15 minutes after I did. We met at the house we were having small group at.

We enjoyed some very, very yummy Indonesian food, prepared by Mark's sister and her husband (who are missionaries to Indonesia) and then I left to go run the nursery for our W.orld O.utreach W.eekend at church (which is our missions conference/emphasis weekend) and then Slade took the boys home after some time of talking with Russ and Dena (the missionaries). That's where the title of this post came from. Russ said they have eaten dog, cat, bat and I can't remember what all else. Luckily, they couldn't find those foods here, so we got to enjoy chicken. Well, I'm sure they could find them here, but you can't eat someone's pet! :-)

Slade got the boys in bed around 8:45 and I got home around 9:30. Whew! It was busy, but there wasn't anything we would have wanted to miss to make it less busy. It was a wonderful day!

Good days

This has been a very good week so far, very productive. I know it's only Tuesday, but it's a good start!

On Mondays, my mom has been watching Randall so I can have a day off, which I really appreciate! So, I took Randall to her and headed to MOPS where we made fun keychains (and chatted and snacked, of course). After MOPS, I had lunch with Allison (without any of my kids, weird and yet fun). Then I had about an hour to myself before heading back to my mom's. I picked Randall up and then headed to get Russ from school. From there, we went to the mall to get my mom's cookie cake for her birthday celebration that evening. It was a big cake. A really big cake. Luckily, we're all of the opinion that you can't have too much cookie cake.

We went to my parents' to celebrate my mom's 50th birthday with our family and a few friends. A good time was had by all.

Today, I took Rand to my mom's again for BSF Leader's Meeting. They have offered to have volunteers available to watch him, but he's the only kid and they have to get two volunteers each Tuesday (on top of the volunteers needed each Wednesday for the normal class), so I just asked my mom if she'd mind watching him. She said no and even offered to keep him all day! So, I go get Russ from school on Tuesdays and we head to Grammy's so he can have some time with her and not feel like he's missing all the fun.

After BSF today, I went to Russell's school to volunteer in his class. I had a blast! They weren't doing anything particularly exciting, but I just enjoyed getting to chat with the kids while they were in centers (organized free time). I put a few faces with names I've heard Russ mention and had fun getting to know them a little. Everyone kept turning around and grinning at me and waving at me. I tried to make sure to direct their attention back on Mrs. Roedel, while still smiling at them and waving, too. They were so cute. A lot of the kids asked either me or Russ if I was his mom. He seemed to enjoy having me there (maybe as much as I enjoyed being there... maybe). Next time, I'll have certain kids that need some extra help that I'll get to work with one on one in the hallway while the other kids are in centers. I'm glad I'm able to help Mrs. Roedel out, even just a little. I can't imagine having that many kids at all different levels of learning. Whew.

Then the icing on the cake was a confirmation phone call with the Children's Director at our church where it was confirmed that I get to be the Nursery Coordinator. We had talked about it a few days ago and the position was offered to me, but I wanted to talk with Slade, as well as make sure I asked any questions I had. Ginny and I had been talking about it on and off for a few weeks or so, but it wasn't in the nursery budget and I wasn't able to commit the time while also teaching during first service. Then Ginny said that the board had okayed the position and that they would be able to find someone else to teach the class I "tag" teach with another couple. So, it seems like all the doors were opened and I get to walk through.

I am very excited about this. It will be less than 10 hours a week, with 3 of them being on Sunday mornings. I appreciated Ginny's encouragement and faith in me, too. When we attended First Assembly of God here in Longview, the Nursery Coordinator, Joy, was amazing. She had found her calling in running the nursery. I want to be able to put people at ease the way Joy put me at ease whenever I was nervous about leaving Russ in the nursery (he's fussy because he's teething, he woke up early and might be crabby, he just wants to be held lately, etc). She did such a good job of letting me know that Russ would be well taken care of, as well as loved, even if he was crabby. I never felt like anyone was irritated with the instructions I might have wanted to pass on or that anyone felt like I was overly cautious or anything.

I like the idea of having a consistent person and a familiar face for people to talk with when they leave their kids in the nursery. The nursery experience can make or break a person's opinion of the church. Why stay at a church where the nursery feels chaotic when there are ten million other Bible-believing/preaching churches in Longview that might have a better nursery program? I look forward to getting to know people I might not cross paths with otherwise.

I have been feeling amazed, humbled and a little overwhelmed with all God has blessed me with. Serving in BSF has been such a neat opportunity and I am so thankful for all I am learning there that has/is preparing me for this new opportunity, as well. I am thankful that when God calls me (or anyone) to serve, He also equips me (and them). Whew. Lots of neat happenings.