No, I am not pregnant...Parte Deux

As many of you read earlier, I was fearful that the lady from my last post would see my stomach moving or somesuch and wonder why I had told her I was not pregnant.

However, I knew the time would come...our last Bible study last week was a "share" day. This is the opportunity to share what God has taught you through the study this year, or other BSF happenings. I knew that God had impressed on me 3 years ago to share during this BSF "share day" that God had promised us a child. It was frustrating to not see His answer before we moved, but I also knew this year that it was necessary to declare the Faithfulness of God and the answer to His promise in this BSF "share day." Therefore, it was with trepidation that I arose and began my declaration with an apology to the lady who I had so maligned. She, thankfully, was seated only 2 rows behind me and identified herself (remember, I could not remember who she was). She was very thankful to have the record set straight.

It was at this point that I started wondering if I was really going nutty by thinking that she had even addressed me as a "child." (see earlier post)

I did not have to wait long to be reminded of why I had thought this!

I visited my grandmother this past week in Florida (more about that in another post). I was asked many times about the new life growing inside of me...among those a rather comical story of a lady with the early stages of alzheimer's who asked me 5 times in 5 minutes when I was due, I already knew I was having a boy?, and how on earth do they know things like that, before declaring it a wonderful thing...all in the exact same words and with the same facial expressions. While some of those questions seemed normal in the normal flow of conversation that day (albeit a bit forgetful), they became rather comical when she asked them again the second day with no background of even knowing I was having a boy etc...(and please understand, in no way am I laughing AT her...just the situation. I may well be there one day and would not mind someone else finding the humor in the situation.)

Despite the obvious presence now of a baby, I WAS once again reminded that I may not have passed up the stages of "childhood!" I was asked once whether I was off from school for the summer. (a child!) ...and then even worse, I was asked if I was married. (I think he saw my wedding ring) When I responded in the affirmative, he then said, "I guess there is no point in asking where you go to high school then!"

So there you have it...the background to why I thought I was being asked if I "was a child." I thought I had started looking older, but apparently not...One day...(in the meantime, I will try to appreciate looking the same age as my younger peers who are just now having their first child too)

Four Things

Taking this idea from my college friend Ami...

Four jobs you have had in your life:

1. crisis pregnancy counselor
2. AARP tax preparation volunteer
3. Math, French, Spanish, Computer Teacher (not all done completely simultaneously)
4. Training Coordinator/IT dept. at a Nuclear Power Plant

Four movies you would watch (or have watched :)) over and over:

1. A&E Pride and Prejudice
2. Jeeves and Wooster--any of them
3. The Sound of Music
4. Thoroughly Modern Millie

Four places you have lived (I cannot narrow this down to just four so I will just mention the places since we have been married):

1. Houston, Texas
2. Frederick, MD (2 houses)
3. Huntsville, AL (2 houses)
4. Houston, TX (again)

Four (OK maybe narrowed down to 5) places you have been on vacation:

1. Europe in general...
2. Bahamas
3. Western Canada
4. Saudi Arabia
5. Hawaii and other US sites...

Four of my favorite foods:

1. Tortilla soup--anything somewhat spicy and mexican
2. Good sushi (there are different degrees)
3. Pasta dishes
4. all types of cheese!

Four places I would rather be right now:

1. really pretty content to be here...(at home on a rare, lazy Thursday)
2. Hawaii!!!
3. Paris (as in France)
4. anywhere else traveling with Michael...

Four things I always carry with me:

1. my baby :)
2. ???
3. ???
4. ???

And since I was such a flop at what I always carry with me...

Four things I only sporadically remember to carry with me:

1. the cellphone
2. my purse, including my license
3. cash
4. a book (for "down" time at appts, meetings, etc...)

No, I am not pregnant...

Last week on Wednesday I went to Bible study. As I was walking in, an older lady walked in next to me and started making small talk conversation. First, it was about the weather. Next, it turned more personal. "Are you a child?" (which is what I thought I heard) I have often gotten questions like this since I look so young. When teaching, I was regularly mistaken for one of the students. However, I felt for sure, I must look a tiny bit older than 10 years ago and have never liked that kind of question anyway. I thought it a curious choice of words--normally worded like "and where do you go to school, little girl?" I gave her a funny look and just said "no" in a rather snippity voice. She apologized and said that since her daughter is she often thinks that lots of people are. I then puzzled about this thinking that perhaps she was referring to the fact that her daughter was a BSF (Bible Study Fellowship) child-- as in mother-daughter and maybe this lady thought she recognized my mom. The conversation was then over and I went into the sanctuary rather perplexed.

Now for many of you quicker thinkers out there, you probably by now have figured out what she really asked. "Are you WITH child?" A very different idea! and I had just told her "no!" I realized this as I was walking into the sanctuary, but by then, she was not only no longer around, I realized I could not pick her out of all the ladies there...I had been too intent trying to think through her comment to notice what she looked like. I felt miserable immediately! What an embarassing situation for her. I did not even try to placate her since I was so puzzled by why she was asking her question. Perhaps she just thought I am in major denial? I had a hard time concentrating on our lesson that day since I was imagining her sitting behind me watching my stomach jump in time with the music or as something particularly interesting to baby Michael was said. And what about the next 4 weeks I would have to see her again and again in Bible study? (I am only getting bigger) So, in the off chance that you are the offended lady who happened to stumble on my blog, I do apologize! :)

It is at this point that I thought it appropriate to set the record straight and provide a quick video of my stomach jumping, a side-comment/picture, and some 28 week pictures of the ever-growing belly (can't really even fit into the baby shirt from last pregnancy pictures anymore--the growth has been slow but steady).

Now, imagine the poor maligned lady above sitting behind me watching these antics...a lot of the video is me breathing, but check out especially 14 seconds, 36 sec, 55 sec, 1:19, 2:29, and 2:48 with lots of little kicks in between.

Speaking of "With" Child...I have often been curious about the parking spaces at HEB. I was so eager to park in all the lovely "Pregnant Momma" spots all over Huntsville, Alabama when we lived there. Here, I am sad to say, there are only two places that I am aware of that have those reserved spots. Krogers (rarely shop there) and Babies R Us (everyone is a pregnant momma there!) HEB seems to come half way. They have nice spots for "Customer with Child" right near the front. However, while I am technically "with child"--how can I be otherwise?--I fear judging by the picture on the sign, that is not the kind of "with child" they mean. I have never had the guts to try parking there...not yet. Give me 3 months! :)

Last but not least...the promised updated belly shots.

Boundless Compassion and Love

Isaiah 49:15 Can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? yea, these may forget, yet will not I forget thee.

I was thinking about this verse when I saw this sight...

You might ask what two doves/pigeons (anyone know what they really are?) sitting on a window ledge outside with a cat on the window sill inside has to do with this...

I kept wondering why the birds were not terrified to be that close to the cat--especially an obviously interested cat and one that kept attacking the window! I came to the conclusion that they must be nesting nearby and trying to protect the babies. Sure enough-- A nest was in the tree right outside the window.

That is when I started thinking about how these parents were trying to protect their young no matter what. Everyone knows that a nursing mom cannot forget her baby, but the Bible reminds us that God's love for us is even greater! Even in the chance that the nursing mom forgets her child, we have a God who will never forget us! That is boundless compassion and love like no other!!!

Spring Has Sprung: Part 2 --or better known as summer as come

After planting these lilies 2 years ago, we finally get to see the blooms! And the knockout roses are doing their best to be knock-outs!

Two years of hard labor

Well, not really...

It has been about 3 years (but only 9 months of which has really been pretty intensive, with a few breaks)

No, I am not talking about the hard labor of a career, or of an obligation, or of childbirthing, but something equally as satisfying at the end. ~A SAMPLER~

I grew up with a mother who has spent hours completing needlework projects of all sorts, most of which grace someone's else's home (many in ours, including a piano bench, several pillows, and a sampler) Like my mother, I have always had an affinity for needlepoint over crossstitch. Needlepoint goes so much faster and requires far less attention than counted crossstitch. However, I have always wanted to complete an old-fashioned sampler. (and these are always found in counted crossstitch)

sam·pler

Pronunciation: \ˈsam-plər\, Function: noun, Date: 1523: a decorative piece of needlework typically having letters or verses embroidered on it in various stitches as an example of skill

I currently have two samplers hanging on my walls--one is the aforementioned one completed by my mom many years ago and the other is one that dates back probably 100+ years ago by another young girl. Now it was my turn.

Right before we moved from Maryland 6 years ago, I found one that I loved from Hobby Lobby on clearance. I picked it up thinking that one day I would get around to doing it...I finally decided about 2 1/2 years ago that I would have the patience to start a counted crossstitch piece. The kit was a pattern of a historic Danish sampler from 1763. Only after I opened the kit and started to determine where my first stitch would go did I notice the size. I had been planning to do a nice, standard 8"x10" or so sampler. This one is 26"x28"!!! (yes, that is almost 2x2.5 feet!) I debated about whether to change the name and dates to my name and dates since I was copying a historic design, but since a sampler traditionally declares the name and year of the workman, I decided to adjust those in the pattern. I had a relatively easy job since the girl who completed this project already bore my same first name! It was an easy job from there to change the dates (what was not so easy was to determine which dates to which dates, since she had the date it was begun and the date it was completed and her birthdate, but all were identified in Danish! I had to go online searching out the infinitive of the verb forms to try and identify what it was saying in Danish) I did keep the original date of the sampler (as represented in the bottom right building tower.)

When my mom was here last summer, I truly began in earnest to make some headway--after taking off from it for more than 6 mos. before that. It has been a constant goal since then to finish it. Our nights of snuggling on the couch watching a movie were mostly over (but hey, all the guys need is shoulder to shoulder time, right?) while I would work feverishly on the sampler during movies.

Then comes last week...I knew I was getting to the end. I had the project on a frame, and since it was so large, I could never see the whole project at one time. Last week, I finally reached the final corner where I could see my pattern from one side match and fill in the pattern from the other side. So to make light of many more hours, I put in the last stitch last night amid cheers from my sister (on the phone) and Michael. What a sense of accomplishment! Now, if I can only frame it without costing an arm and a leg--especially since it is an unusual size and will need to be custom framed! I am already looking forward to the next project (and no, it will not be counted crossstitch!!!)

P.S. Michael and I celebrated by snuggling last night for 15 minutes on the couch.

Spring has Sprung

To all the folks reading this up north, here is a glimpse at our only "Spring" in Houston. We have been enjoying these flowers for the past month but know that when the summer heat descends, many will die out.