big changes

Change.

Big change, little change. 

Good change, bad change. 

Change is an inevitable part of our lives. That is one thing that will never change.

This past weekend, Christian and I had the opportunity to step back and reflect upon some of the big changes coming to our lives soon. We escaped the children for a night in order to celebrate our 10th anniversary (already?! where has the time gone!!?)  And the theme we found ourselves discussing over and over is how immensely blessed we feel as we approach a new season in our lives.

We talked about all of the circumstances that have led us to this place, the decisions that have been made over the past few months, the seeming coincidences that could only be God's perfect timing, the worry and anxiety that accompanied the process of walking forward in faith. Ultimately, it all came back around to the fact that through it all, we are experiencing countless undeserved blessings. There is a humility that comes from not fully understanding why God has allowed us to experience His grace in this magnitude... but I guess that is the basic definition of grace, isn't it? Being gifted with something we really don't deserve.

At the top of the blessing list is the baby we are adding to the family sometime around the end of September. In a future post I hope to make time to articulate the exact reasons that this particular pregnancy feels extra-special.

Not long after we received the news of my pregnancy, we also received word that Christian's place of work would be closing. Though he has essentially been self-employed for the past 7 years, this news meant unemployment. A scary thought for any young family. True to the adage someone recently quoted me, "God is never early."

On Christian's final day of work, he went in for an interview and landed a job that far outweighs his previous one. Some of the added bonuses include health benefits (Hooray! Baby's arrival will not come straight out of our pockets!) and paid vacation (something not included in the old self-employment package) and the one that has me breathing huge sighs of relief is that I will no longer be in charge of the accounting/billing/bookkeeping/client management. The new job comes with its own office manager and the timing could not be better for me as I will soon tackle managing a home with 3 little bodies. Phew.

There is so much left unsaid in this post. But I hope in all that you read, you see how incomprehensibly blessed we feel as we leave an old season of life and press on toward a new, somewhat uncharted, season. A season that will bring inevitable change to our lives and our little routine. A season that we welcome with open arms because no matter what obstacles and challenges this new era brings, we know unequivocally that God has wrapped His arms around us and ushered us into this new place.

P.S.
Oh, and, the biggest bonus of all is that we get to have Daddy with us for 2 whole months in the interim time that he has between jobs!!  The timing for this pregnant Momma could not be better. We have some travel plans brewing... more to come soon.

joy

Almost nothing brings me more joy than seeing these two little munchkins play together.

It is happening more and more.  I hear giggling in the living room, and stop to spy on them. Or wonder of wonders, an entire half hour goes by while both girls have been playing in the bedroom with only each other for company.

And of course, they cause mischief together (like getting soaked in the leftover shower water. For once it was convenient that Annike had her clothes off.)

When Sommer was only 6 weeks old, crying a lot, stealing my attention and definitely not a lot of fun for her older sister, the subject of best friends came up. I asked Annike who her best friend was, fully expecting her to mention the name of one of her special little girlfriends. She grinned and answered without hesitation, "Baby Sommer!"
That has been my prayer ever since. Lord, may they be best friends!

You have a long road ahead of you, girls. Better stick together.

joy (part 2)

Almost nothing brings me more joy than seeing my two little girls playing together...

... except maybe seeing this little wiggling munchkin inside of my belly.

Annike looked like a "gecko" when we saw her in utero. Sommer looked like a "teddy bear". And apparently Christian has nicknamed this one "Baby Skeletor."

We will be adding the new little sibling to the bunch in late September (or early October, depending on how late this one decides to come.)

Pray for us? Pray with us? We have some big changes coming to the family soon. Big change, but exciting change!

happy birthday opa

Opa turned 90 years old yesterday. That deserves some celebration and acknowledgement, now doesn't it?

Only 1.6% of people born in 1923 make it to be 90 years old. Of course, this guy is Norwegian and might be given a slightly higher life expectancy because of all of the pickled herring and cod liver oil he has ingested (and enjoyed!) over the years. Still, it is quite a statistic. Consider that he was born in an era with no antibiotics in the middle of a tuberculosis epidemic. There was no electricity, no refrigeration, and definitely no indoor plumbing. He also survived the depression and one world war in northern Europe.

As the oldest of 9 children, he spent his youth helping his siblings forge better lives for themselves before carving out his own path and eventually landing in sunny Santa Barbara 50 years ago. Not a bad place to spend the latter half of life!

All in all, it sounds like a great excuse for a birthday party to me!

The immediate family all joined up in Santa Barbara to celebrate. Including ALL of his grandchildren (3), who he is quick to take delight in.

The significance may have been lost on the littlest granddaughters, but I am sure they will learn to one day appreciate the experience of their elders.

The good news is that Opa apparently still has his sense of humor,

And much to Annike's dismay, did not need help blowing out the candles.

We love you, Opa! We can't wish you another happy 90 years, but we can wish you a peaceful, healthy, joy-filled life and great purpose in the remaining years that God has for you.

babies don't keep

While I was growing up, my mother had this poem hanging on the wall of our family room on some homemade medium of sorts... cross stitched? hand painted?  I can not even vaguely remember what it looked like hanging on that wall all those years.  But the words are stored permanently in the subconscious recesses of my mind. They have been running through my head all day, and I thought I would bless you by sharing them.

Cleaning and scrubbing 

         can wait til tomorrow

For babies grow up, 

                     we've learned to our sorrow.

So quiet down cobwebs, 

   dust go to sleep

I'm rocking my baby 

               and babies don't keep

Author Unknown

Sommer was sick this week and needed a lot of Momma-time.  I rocked her to sleep today for the first time in a very long time. It was special. To be fair to myself, however, the girl has received (demanded?) a LOT of rocking in her little lifetime. Still, it was special. And well worth ignoring the pile of dishes in the sink.

the mess

I decided a long time ago that if I waited until my house was clean to invite people over that I would never have people over.

A true friend might actually feel honored that I trust her enough to invite her into more than just the neat and tidy in my life. A true friend gets invited right into the mess. And hangs out a while. And maybe feels the freedom to let me see her mess sometime too.

And she should feel honored because the mess is the real truth of who I am. All things un-hidden. Let's face it, on an everyday drop-in basis, my house is not company ready. Neither is my heart.

No picture to accompany the disaster that is my living room. No description to accompany the disasters in my heart.

Thanks to those who love me despite the mess.

v-day

Our 2nd annual Valentine's Day family date at the beach.

Then Christian takes all three of his special girls out for a Valentine lunch.

A celebration of family, togetherness, the man who takes care of us, the girls he loves, the male/female bonds that matter most. A celebration of LOVE.

Happy Valentine's Day.