In the home stretch...

Maternity pics were taken by Daddy at 35 weeks--I'm pretty sure "we" have grown substantially, even since then! ;)  Now we are at 37 weeks and 5 days; only 2ish weeks til the due date.  At 10 weeks, I remember thinking it was going to take f.o.r.e.v.e.r. to get here.  While it did seem to drag at times, it's hard to believe that I'll be holding my baby girl very very very soon.  Woooow.

So, here's what's been going on in the baby department...

• 2 weeks ago, I was only 20% effaced with no dilation.  The Dr. let me skip the exam this week (can I get a YAY?) since it's still early yet, so I'm hoping next week we'll have progressed enough to be excited!  I'm trying not to get my hopes up though.
• Thanks to my sweet Flower Mama friend's help, I've been taking Evening Primrose Oil since 36 weeks. It's known to help with progression, softening of the cervix (TMI?) and shorten the transition stage of labor.  I didn't experience hardly any Braxton Hicks contractions until I started taking it, but still haven't had any real-deal contractions. We'll see how that goes!
• Up until just a few nights ago, pelvic pain/pressure had made the nights pretty rough.  But just in the past few days, I've had little-to-no pain or pressure, and have slept like a baby.  Is that a sign of something, experienced Moms???  Or is it just a blessing? :)
• Per the pelvic pain, Cate is head-down and still active like crazy.  I thought by now, with how HUGE I feel, her movements would decrease.  However, I sometimes feel like I'm growing a freestyle break dancer, and I pray that means she's small and has lots of room in there. :)
• I was getting a little worried that the typical "nesting phase" had skipped me, but I'm getting little spurts of it here and there.  I'm getting VERY good at...making lots of lists!  Does that count?  No?  Hm...well, hopefully it will come in full swing soon, so I can post pictures of our new CLEAN apartment.  Ahem.
• The baby books and wesbites say you should have your hospital bag and diaper bag packed--and the car seat installed--up to 4 weeks before your due date.  -cough-  We have yet to get any of that accomplished. -cough-

Grace & peace to you,

A very pregnant and ready-to-get-this-show-on-the-road Jen

Preggo Update (and other newsness...)

29 weeks. :)

The past few weeks have been so busy, with alot of changes happening that have kept us on our toes--and kept us in prayer. :)  Things like unexpectedly finding a new apartment, possibly a new job for Craig, new church, new nephew...have I forgotten anything? (More details on all that soon!)  While sometimes the changes/waiting can be stressful or uncertain, we've been praising God for this season we're in.  Testing our trust in His provision and testing our patience, though difficult, have been incredibly sweet in rewards.  He is good, even in His disciplining. :)

Since we've been so crazy busy, I can hardly believe that we have 11 weeks to go before Miss Cate makes her appearance.  11 WEEKS.  -gasp-  We'll be in the single digit countdown soon, and we haven't even begun to get ready for her.  Due to my sweet Mom's urgings, we finally registered at Babies R Us so that she can start planning a baby shower.  If you happen to visit the registry and see the giant tub of Animal Crackers...that's cause Daddy had the registry gun. :)

Baby bump schtuff...

• Cate has become one active little girl, going from little thumps and kicks to complete turns and stretches.  You can see her movements just by watching my belly, which is highly entertaining and endearing. :)
• We passed our yucky glucose test with flying colors, however I'm a little anemic, so Dr. has me on high doses of iron--which means I'm gulping down the prune juice too.  Heh heh.  TMI??
• I've not been sleeping very well--mostly due to my back and hips aching.  Rotating often helps, but that means less sleep.  A sweet cousin-couple bought me a body pillow, which has helped tremendously, but I still have some rough nights.
• I WANT TO EAT EVERYTHING!  Though my main cravings are loaded salads and fruit, if they're not close at hand, I'll eat anything else.

I'm not at the "Oh my goodness, I can't wait for this to be over" stage yet--I've really enjoyed this season so far.  But as far as getting to see my baby girl, I've really started getting anxious for her to be here.  I'm anxious to rock her, love on her, sing to her, etc.  AND see her Daddy fall in love with her; I'm really, really, anxious for that too.

I will have pictures of our first little home soon, along with pics of our new apartment!  But alas, we haven't any internet at the new place yet--hence the blog-slackingness. :)

It's a Girl!

Bring on those crocheted hats! :)
Ultrasound day was so exciting--as my Flower Mama friend told me, I was happy to have an early appointment so the day wouldn't drag.  Since I didn't let my six-year-old sister come to my first appointment (the not-so-fun one), I told her she could come to the ultrasound.  She was thrilled, and was SO sure it was a boy that she specifically wore blue.
They let me and Craig go in first, just to make sure all was good with Little One and so we could have the gender reveal alone together.  I thought I would cry when I saw the little baby form on the screen, but seeing the little feet and bones made me too excited--AND the tech took forever taking the anatomy pictures before revealing what bebe was, so the suspense kept the tears at bay.

Just from what hubby and I were seeing, we thought it was going to be a boy--but apparently we weren't looking at what we thought we were seeing, haha.  FINALLY, the tech told us that it was no doubt...we were expecting a daughter.  I gasped, and Daddy grinned in complete surprise.  I laughed and said, "I can totally hear Jaelyn saying 'Ohhh maaaannn....' in disappointment."
I called it--she said, "that stinks!".  Thankfully now, she's ecstatic to be having a niece, and already has their playtime figured out.

[Her profile facing up...I think she has her dad's profile & nose, but of course don't know for sure :D ]

Again, I hadn't cried up to this point.  But when the tech panned to get a full-front shot of her face, I couldn't breathe, and out came the tears.  I was looking at my daughter's face.  Oh my goodness, it was so surreal, and a revelation of how much I already loved her.

For some reason, before the U/S, I was barely feeling flutters.  As soon as the day after, I was feeling full movement and kicks--maybe we got her all stirred up.  I'm loving it.  Even when it wakes me in the middle of the night (when I have bad pregnancy-insomnia as it is), it makes me happy.

AND overwhelms me, because of things like this...

For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb.

I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.

Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.

My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret,

intricately woven in the depths of the earth.

Your eyes saw my unformed substance; in your book were written, every one of them,

the days that were formed for me, when as yet there was none of them.

--Psalm 139:13-16

The rules:

1. Thank the person who gave you the award.
2. Write seven things about yourself.
3. Pass on to seven other bloggers.
4. Tell the seven awardees of their award! :)

Thank you Miss Chloe at tryin' to throw my arms around the world for TWO awards!  Chloe is an expecting Mama, wife to a law-student and a passionate Jesus-lover/runner/blogger.  She also faithfully checks my blog on her roll, even when she knows I haven't posted anything new in months.  I heart her looooots.
We will tackle one award at a time, since I'll need something to blog about next time.  Am I clever?  Well lets not get carried away...:)

[1] The real reason I haven't blogged much.
With a relationship, engagement and marriage within a 5 month period, I haven't lacked for subject matter--and I still would like to share some fun details that are dear to my heart very soon.  But to be honest, friend, I've not been in a good spiritual season of late. I can't explain it wholly, nor know what the Lord is trying to teach me here.  I DO know that the health of my relationship with my Abba affects EVERYTHING.  It affects my perspective, my marriage, my desires, my job, my friendships--and yes, it even affects the way I blog. :)  I'm praying for God's grace to grow more healthy in whatever ways that glorify Him most.

[2]  I really, really love this man.

He is a blessing from God that I never expected this year.

My journey to Prince Charming wasn't perfect in the slightest--even though I'd practiced purity, read the books, did the courtships, etc.  I'm just so thankful that God does EVERYTHING the way HE wants to.

[3]  The Mr. and I live in a university campus Ministry Building as the live-in custodians--we think it's a pretty sweet deal, and we're praying for any opportunities God has for us to serve there (other than clean the bathrooms, but we hope to glorify God in that too!).

[4]  I MADE A BOOK LIST.  -gasp-

I used to love making yearly book lists, and scratching one off each time I closed a cover.  But I stopped two years ago in protest to all the marshmellow fluff they package in the genre "Christian" and sell.  It's ridiculous the stuff they shelf in the name of my Savior.  But now that I've cooled down, with thanks to a husband that knows his stuff and recommends sound books, you can check out my new book list here. :)

[5]  I heart Lo Mein.  Like, not even kidding, I want a plate of it right now.

[6]  First first book I've finished from my list is one I highly recommend, friend.  It's a little coffee-table-style, simple (yet heavy) overview of the Gospel.  Why I love it so much is it wasn't a overview of the Gospel for me to SHARE with others...it's an overview for ME, to be reminded of the Gospel I heard and believe.  There's a difference, though there shouldn't be. :)

The Cross Centered Life: Keeping the Gospel The Main Thing
--C.J. Mahaney

and [7]

If you haven't caught the cat-out-of-the-bag on Facebook yet...

Even when you tell only a few, there's always a chance of an information leak. :)

[in case you can't tell, those are plus signs.]

It's still so very early yet, which is why we wanted to keep it under wraps for awhile.  But maybe with more people knowing now, more can pray with us--which we request sincerely. :)

Since I've been awful with blogging faithfully, I haven't any idea on who to award and definitely don't think I could pick seven others.  Boohoo.  So if you read this post--thank you---and you've just been awarded by Jen :D

23 years today

The future-husband took me out for my birthday a day early, since he worked today.

We went to dinner at a really nice Italian restaurant--it's one of the best in our area, and is taking Olive Garden's place in my heart. :)

The first time Craig and I ate there together, we weren't "together".  It's amusing to think about, since it's pretty fancy for taking someone who's not your significant other.  That night, we had initially planned to go eat at an authentic Mexican taco stand, but it was the second time we went when it was mysteriously closed (against their posted hours, might I add?).  He highly recommended the Italian instead, and I hadn't ever been--now it's a favorite. :)

Our first official date was also the plan to try for the taco stand for the third time, and it was open.

We kind of think it was providence--it being closed gave us a good excuse to hangout "as friends", and we didn't catch it open until we were official.

He also surprised me with roses.

AND...the ESV Study Bible.

He sure knows how to win my heart. 

Complete with my soon-to-be married name. :)

I joined the Bible Blast journey through the Word with Meditations of His Love--can't wait to do it with this!

My desk at work.  I heart it.

Spelling cont...

Nearly four months later, here I am. ;)  While skipping through the alphabet, I hope to share some things that have kept me insanely busy...

M is for Mark Schultz.  I thank God, and thank Mr. Schultz for coming to my area for a concert on June 17th.  Without that concert, I wouldn't have agreed to go see him with a friend who wanted to catch up.  Two months after catching up found me engaged to that dear friend. :)
[You can read a breeze-through of our story at weddingwire.com/craigandjennifer]

N is for nursing, again.  After receiving my CNA, and going through one crazy semester of generals that were required for the nursing program, I've felt led to change my major to Education.  How's that for stereotypical college student???

O is for ohhhhh, God is so good.  Those words aren't flippantly spoken from a girl who is on cloud nine and has everything together. They're spoken from lips that are typically Overwhelmed and Oh-so-often standing in the need of God's grace, which He offers consistently...which is why He is oh so good.

P is for prayer.  Dear friend, it's fast, free, and the rewards are priceless.  We Americans are all about things like that.  But this is something I've struggled to take advantage of to it's highest potential.  I'm praying to be better at that.

Q is for quite a year.  It's weird to think we just have a couple weeks leff of it.  Mine has been FULL, and I don't merely mean my schedule.  It's been FULL...of blessings, of difficulty, of lessons, and of grace.  Has yours been Quite a year?

R is for reading.  Something I've missed dreadfully.  I used to keep updated book lists, and check them off after each book was finished.  I would read books with friends and we'd discuss them--which was so good for fellowship and retaining what was read!  But I haven't been able to do more than a here and there, which is why I needed to put down the Bible Retreat after Psalms. :(  I hope married-life will be paced enough to be immersed in books again.

S is for SWAT, the youth ministry I've been involved in for over two years.  I was one of the few who started SWAT as a small youth group Bible study, and I have seen so many students come and go since then.  All of them have taught me so much, and have become precious to me in cool ways.  I've decided to no longer volunteer with the youth once I'm married--which will be difficult, as much as it will be good for me. :)

T is for True Princess.  For the last six weeks I will be helping with SWAT, I started the Lifeway Bible study True Princess: Embracing Humility in an All-About-Me world with the girls.  This has been one of the best student studies I've found in a long time.  It's rich with the Word, very deep and challenging!  We started a tradition of having tea with the study each week, and we've been going to our local nursing home to do manicures for the ladies there.  It's been amazing. :)

U is for unexpected plans.  If you just skip back a few blog posts, you'll see that even 5 months ago, marriage wasn't even on the horizon of my mind (look at what I had to say about my relationships on my About this Jen page, haha).  I had come out of a difficult relationship early this year, and if anything, I was ready to commit to a lifetime of singleness and servitude. :)  But lo and behold, I'm so sincerely grateful that I have a Father who knows me so well.  His plans for me aren't copies of anyone else's life and plans--they're just for me, and for me to trust Him with.

V is for very scatterbrained.  I think my brain only knows one mode, and it's THAT one.

W is for wedding, which is on New Year's Day 2011.  One of the reasons we chose that day is thanks to Chloe...she blogged about her wedding on July 4th, and the perks of always having your anniversary off.  Since Craig and I will be in school for awhile and working ALOT, it would be nice to have our anniversary on a holiday between semesters. :)

X is for...not very many things. Including this line, haha.

Y is for why are there so many letters in the alphabet? Y is for I can't think of anything for this one either.

Z iz for zuppa, vich iz veady.
And I'm hungry, because my Mom has be on a "your wedding dress doesn't zip and you have two weeks" diet.  Ahem.

Wordless [hardly] Wednesday

This isn't the only reason I've been blog-absent.

Buuuut it contributes. :)

God is good.

Yeah, you got it...

Dog gone tired. :)

I've done more than the aforementioned, in case you were wondering.

--The Children's Home was heartbreaking/awesome, and it was a blessing to spend time with my Placebo sisters.

--Class has been such a good experience--the schoolwork isn't hard yet, but what they're training us to do will be.  But our gracious God is gracious for things like that, yes He is. :)

--Acquire the Fire was phenominal, and the students were blessed by the retreat.  I will have to do a post on that, cause there are some funny pictures to share...and how fun are blogs with fun pictures?

I haven't done a whole lot of crashing, just a whole lot of running.

And while I'm running around, thankful for opportunities to serve, the Evil One hasn't been sleeping.

Praise Jehovah Jireh (my Provider)...there has been equal joy to the weariness. :)

Joys anyone? Okay...

--When I get to see evidence that my family is happy even during hard times--not financial/material/superficial, but real happy.

--Connecting with the students at ATF,  especially with ones I'd "missed" for lack of connection for a long time.

--Going to the nursing home with the SWAT girls and painting the lady-residents nails.

--Learning the beautiful language of Swahili....Hujambo! (hello)
--When I see the glory of God in the circumstances of others, even when they are difficult and wounding.

--Weekly phone calls from girlfriends that never get old or redundant (shpell scheck?)...re-duh-n...yeah that one.

--And Psalm 51.

Until I get to blog for reals, may your Creator God bless your new week.  See the joy/happy in it...even if you're running ragged, and the Evil One is snoozing on your heels.  Remember...your Savior has already crushed his head.

Habari za jioni...good night. :)

Ohmygoodness: JenCode for backed-up-blog. We're gonna need Blogger Drain-O after this.

Tuesday 1. Bible study with my prettymuchamazing college group--on the book of Malachi & empty religion (wonderful study, btw!).  This is the place where Jen dominates at Apples to Apples...a fantastic rare thing, indeed. :)

2. Stay the night with these two wonderful ladies: Ashley & Andrea...

My Bulgarian placebo sisters.  We were triplets in the spiritual womb and no one knew it. :)

Wednesday
3.  Andrea, Ashley & Jen motor to a Children's Home where we will help with any indoor/outdoor work they need accomplished.  That evening, we will hang out with the kids/teens there--have a devotional, worship and games.  Please pray for us--this is kind of our "spring break mission trip", and we hope to be a blessing to the kids there.  It's not about us...it's about our Savior and our "faith expressing itself through His love" (Gal. 5:6).

Thursday

4.  Go shopping for similar outfit to this.  Only without the cute lab coat.  Rebekah (my cousin and fellow future nursing student) and I went shopping for scrubs yesterday.  She made me laugh because our scrubs for class have to be white.  Yes, plain white.  No cute designer scrub-tops here (did you know they actually have name brand scrubs?!  Like Grey's Anatomy scrubs?  No joke).

And Rebekah figured we looked more like we're from the psych ward than cute nurses.  Ha, you never know. :)

Friday

5.  Pack up the cool cats on my sidebar: SWAT--and head to Nashville, TN for the weekend.  We are blessed to be able to go to Acquire the Fire for the second time, and we're looking forward to what God has for us.  It's like mini-Passion for high school/pre-college students.  Again, pray for us--I'm praying sincerely that the students are incredibly and imperishably (which means is lasts forever!) by Who their God is. :)

Saturday & Sunday

6. Return from Nashville and crash.

Monday

7. Nursing classes commence.

See what I mean by ohmygoodness?  I will be backed-up on posts, and unable to vent them until next week when I can sit down and breathe once again. :)  Blogging friends, prepare for battle.  You'll need your infectous blogging-bug sneezes and some Blogger Drain-O.

Passion 2010 and a New Year...

In two hours, I'm meeting a group of friends to drive to Atlanta, GA for the Passion 2010 conference. And guess what? Just guess. Guess what I haven't done? What detrimental deed to my social acceptence during my stay in Atlanta haven't I done for a 4 day conference???
You prolly guessed it. I haven't packed. All my laundry is done though. So I just need to stuff in all in a bag. :D

I'm looking forward to the time away and for what God will have for our group--together and individually. I imagine I may blog about it for awhile when I get back. :)

I'm sorry I've been such a blogging stranger! I miss you all and miss being more updated on your lives. Now that the holidays are behind us, I hope to have more time.
Anyone with the blogging bug, please sneeze on me!

Another time measurement is tossed in the trash, for a brand new one to hang on the wall. It doesn't have wear marks from hanging for months yet. It doesn't have notes and dates scribbled wildly yet. I hope your 2009 looked like the calendar you tossed in the trash--a little worn and wild, marked from experiences and milestones. Because each of those things mark ground that was covered, lessons learned, character refined, etc. :)
Now we have a whole new year to look forward to. Who will you be at the end of 2010? Where will you have walked? How many would you have reached out to? How many lessons will you learn?
I pray no matter the milestones and wear marks you'll bear, that you will simply mark another year of life to praise God for! That you'll see Him more in everything around you, and have more chances to grow closer to Him.

Happy New Year,
Jen

Seasons and Mexico Plans

Oh my goodness...honk if you're loving the Autumness. The windows are open as I clack, and I'm loving the cool air. (Sorry Banana, my fall post is late as usual, but your giveaway was wonderful!) It's my favorite time of year, but it sure doesn't last long. It makes me so happy to get the sweaters out, have bonfires and hayrides, eat Thanksgiving food, and bask in the changing leaves.
You know what's so amazing about the paradox of it all? It's not a new thought, but it's nice to simmer on it...
Fall is breathtakingly beautiful--all the colors, the weather, etc.
But in truth, fall is really a death.
It's the funeral of spring and summer's labor of growth.
Now it all dies, making way for winter's finalization and sleep. To make way for spring again.
Are we only seeing the grotesque side of our "death"?
Can we trust our Abba enough to see the beauty in it too?


Today marks exactly one year since I stepped on Mexico soil for the first time. And, Lord willing, we will be there again in exactly 6 days. We plan to visit the two boarding schools we visited before--I'm anxious to see if the same children we met last year are still there. Three little girls I spent the most time with there were Lucina, "Daisy" (pronunciation and spelling may be incorrect) and Maria. I will definitely post pictures and let you know once I'm back if I get to see them again. :)
My brothers Justin (17) and Jonathon (15), sister Phelisha (19), cousin Mary (17), and one of our fellow Swat members, Alex (16, Alex was with our team last year :) ) are among our team of 16 this year. We'll be visiting churches and some evangelism. Our heart and mission is to focus on the love of God for us, and His command to love one another. It's been amazing how the Lord is working things together, and it keeps pointing back to this: His Love.
We're hoping to encourage the churches we visit, assist the missionary family in whatever the put us to work with, perform the Everything skit during evangelism and church visits, do puppet shows, clowing and music for the children, and whatever else the Lord leads. One of our team members is a dental hygenist, and will even be giving demonstrations on brushing--we're taking toothbrushes and paste for the children too.
It's been so neat to see the team members putting together their talents to help in many ways. Reminds me of the people giving for the temple in 1 Chronicles--David praised God because God is the one who gives us gifts so that we can give something. :) The glory always returns to Him.

I'm in a current season of the Lord revealing more of my heart. When we pray as David prayed, "Search me"...I think the Lord already knows what's there. Maybe we ask Him to search us so He can share His findings--especially the unfruitful parts. Lately I've found myself becoming what Max Lucado and Brennan Manning calls the Rock-Stacking Spiritual Monitor. :) I pray to share the thoughts on Cameratismo soon.

Thats all for news. :) I will say goodbye with a prayer request--please pray for our team! We have only 6 days until go-time. My hope is that we take these last few days at home in careful preparation, forgetting ourselves and completely enveloped in what the Lord has for us to do (even if it's not what we had in mind!). His will, not ours, be done.
Thank you, and happy fall!

Summer Bloggin' Catchup: Chapter Three

"Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails."

~Proverbs 19:21~

Steven, a dear friend and one of my co-volunteer youth leaders began officially "courting" me this summer. If you're not familiar with this way of pursuing relationships, I encourage you to read Boy Meets Girl by Joshua Harris, and Boundless.org has some articles with good perspectives on it all. But in a nutshell, the desire is to purposefully pursue a God-glorifying (including honoring our parents, upholding boundaries that honor both of us, etc) relationship that prayerfully leads to marriage. And if at anytime we feel that this person is not the one we will spend the rest of my life with, then we don't pursue any longer.

Things sure haven't been easy for me in the relationship department of life. Each season has brought with it it's treasure-trove of lessons and wisdom, yes. But they sure can be the most trying, confusing, worrisome, and trust-in-God-testing oceans in one's lifetime. It doesn't help that I have to constantly envelope myself in knowing God's in control, since this issue tends to scare me to death. Because of said fear factor, everyone in my aquaintence has heard me mention a shaved head, sackcloth and celebacy at some point or another. :)

So here we are, treading forward with peace so far, in hopes that the Lord reveal His purpose to me/us once again. Prayer and counsel is always priceless, please feel free to offer any throughout. :)

Summer '09 Bloggin' Catchup: Chapter Two

June 6, 2009

My Bubbie graduated! :D

Isn't he somethin?

We all love each other to death, and aren't in anyway partial. But in every family, there's always the sibling(s) that you typically clash with...then the one(s) that you just get along with. Justin always has been the latter with any of us. :)

We hardly ever argued with Bub. Cause he just never argued back.

Now if he was annoyed, explosion would eventually ensue! But it always took alot to get him upset.

As he's gotten older, he's become more of the "grumply old man" variety. He has a sense of humor that tinged enough with dryness and sarcasm that will make a plain ol' statement quite hilarious. He's a gentleman and a charmer, an artist and a pretty amazing big brother to all of us (even Phelisha and I, who are technically older). STILL, after putting up with 7 of us for 18 years, he's a peacemaker.

His graduation was alot like the past two Hill Homeschool graduations...pork BBQ and Italian beef sandwhiches with all the sides and the typical shop/barn decorated with lights and balloons, a picture table and line-dancing music (what's a Hill graduation without the Electric Slide?). Justin felt pretty blessed (big thank you to everyone who made it, it meant alot to him!). Pastor James even spoke at the ceremony, Justin-style, paralleling Star Wars. :) Who would have thought?

Phelisha, Justin and I may not fit in the laundry baskets anymore, and playing Johnny Quest has somewhat lost it's appeal. But it's ceremonies and milestones like this that make you take pause and be thankful. Maybe even cry just for a second. :) Just like the 12 stones at the Jordan River, it's good to remember all the good things. AND trust God for the good things to come. :)

Just an update...and a successful sales pitch?

Aww......?

Yes, this is what we all said.

A few weeks ago, a friend came to our house and in light of our pitiful lack of pets....*cough*...provided us with three hamsters. Awwwww.....
We soon discovered that we have one male...and two glowingly expecting females! 15 days ago out come two of these little pink critters the size of a calcuim pill. :) So, for the very low price of $24.99, you will get a snazzy CritterTrail hamster cage (complete with wheel!) and a two-month supply of hamster food. And if you comment this blog within the next year, we'll give you a FREE HAMPSTER. But no, that's not all...need stocking stuffers?! Take advantage of this limited time Holiday offer and we'll send you not ONE but THREE hampsters. That's about a $150 value all for just $24.99!

Ah ha ha ha.

So how have you been, friend? I hope very well, whether busy...or busy!...as the holidays are now upon us. As for me, LeAnna dear told me once that our candle doesn't shine brighter when we're burning it at both ends....at least I think that's what she said? :) But I still am, and with no motives of trying to be shiny. I've been working full-time for Nature's 1st, which I'm thankful for! Though nearly ten hours a day in a 6x8 office gets a little wearying. Hopefully we'll have our new office ready to go in January...a wonderful 16x16 space of organized loveliness! I'm also still at Sears on Saturdays, but prayerfully, that will only be a few more weeks. Sad as the thought is, I can't believe after three years it's time to move on. :( But I will be happy to have my weekends free again.

SWAT's Bible studies on Wednesday nights have been really good, though I've been having a hard time getting the girls to "discuss". I'm a big "discusser" and I ask alot of questions, so I've been patient and prayed that they glean good things from it, even if I don't hear them say so. For the month of November, we split into guy/girl groups and last night was the final sessions of our particular studies. We girls did "Unveiling Beauty"--a pretty in-depth study on the definition of real beauty against the world's standards, the pursuit of real beauty (which turned out to be our pursuit of GOD, Himself), and our example of real Beauty. It's was really convicting for me, but refreshing, as real conviction usually is. :)

Cameratismo has unofficially been put on the shelf, though I didn't mentally mean to do that. It's simply been put there until the first available 3-hour slot, and it will be finished. I suppose that has suffered with the same excuse my blog has as far as the writing world, and I believe this next issue won't have a contribution from me (but I'll be back!). I haven't been journaling as much as I used to--and I still consider myself an avid journal...er?--and the other day, while I attempted to, I skipped back to earlier this year. Wow. Not only has so much of ME changed, but my whole writing style has been affected. I pray for the better, but it's been a bit different lately and more and more I find myself ripping out journal pages and deleting e-mails, and five-paragraph blog entries...yes, I really did that just two nights ago. :)

I think the season of silence has been good, though for what I don't know yet, He knows. But I pray I will have fruitful things to share when the clouds clear. :)

Well, I have chatted updates into a novel, as I usually do...huh Tim? :)
I'll share a neat quote I read in Lion & Lamb last night, and may the Lord Jesus bless the rest of your week as we daily learn to trust a little bit more.

"For many of us, trust does not come easily. Trust does not come from discovering in philosophy or cosmology some proof that God exists...ultimately we trust God because we love Him. Not the other way around: not trust first, then love. Job trusted because He loved.
You will trust God only as much as you love Him. And you will love Him not because you have studied Him; you will love Him because you have touched Him--in response to His touch..."