The Waiting Game

Well, he's still not here! We are actually very surprised. I assumed he'd be, at least, a little early. But...NO. Officially, little Augustine is one day past his due date...and counting.

I realize this is not actually a real reason to complain...but I'm going to do it, anyway.

I'm off to eat some spicy Salsa to try and get things going - and, YES, I have tried the other stuff : ). Well, I haven't tried Caster Oil...and I only went on ONE walk...

You can keep your fingers crossed for me. If anyone needs me, I'll just be home surfing boring facebook statuses, stepping over Cheerios (instead of cleaning them up) and answering calls with the phrase, "No. I haven't had the baby, yet."

Below are some lyrics from "Love Song for a Savior" (Jars of Clay)...

In open fields of wild flowers,
she breathes the air and flies away
She thanks her Jesus for the daises and the roses
in no simple language...
...Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him
Someday He'll call her and she will come running
and fall in His arms and the tears will fall down and she'll pray,

"I want to fall in love with you"

This song was on an album I used to listen to a lot when I was first introduced to Jesus Christ.

It's a nice song. Nice words.

But, quite frankly, this one always got the fast-forward from me. Why? Oh, I don't know...maybe it's because I shut down a little when confronted by overly-emotional expressions. Maybe it's because the ideas of "GOD" and "FATHER" don't feel synonymous to me. I don't know, I just think of this little girl, blissfully playing in this field of flowers and falling at the feet of Jesus, enjoying his embrace...and I just don't get. I don't "Feel" it. It's not that I don't consider the relationship a real one...quite the contrary. But, it's the blissfulness of what that little girl "feels" that I can't put my finger on.

Here's the thing...I just heard it for the first time, in a really long time, the other day. This time I wasn't trying to fit myself into the picture and see what it felt like there. But it was easy to image my little Gwendolyn running through a field of "flours" and laughing and loving without any hesitation. I vividly and simply envision the way she smiles and says "Jesis" when it's time to read her books at night and how the sound of her Daddy singing about his Savior, always calms her crazy little self.

When I think of Gwendolyn, these words..."Someday she'll trust Him and learn how to see Him...Someday He'll call her and she will come running"...seem natural. I actually DO think that is what will happen.

I am interested by this logic...because, if it's true for Gwendolyn...then it's true for me. My relationship with Jesus Christ does, in no way, hang on a feeling or rely on a notion of fancy flowers. But, the cynicism I carry from my "life experiences" has made the run through the field of flowers more like a tired sprint through the grocery store.

I'd like to say this re-evaluation of the song has changed my life around completely and I have been, again, re-born in the embrace of my Jesus. Alas, that's not actually true. But, I can tell you this...God Does Not change...He does not vary with my current emotional state.

And, the picture I see of my Gwendolyn has found me, also, looking out the car window for my own field of flowers...daring to believe it truly exists.

My Babies' Rooms

I'm too tired and hot and lazy to write anything with substance, so here are some pictures of the kids' new rooms...

The Princess' Room:










Augustine's Room (AKA Gwendolyn's other room):
...It's so weird setting this room up for a new baby and thinking about how that new baby won't be Gwen...it's just strange...has anyone else ever felt that way??








Thank you, Daddy, for all your work on the not-so-fun parts about putting rooms together!

"It helps to listen, even when someone is talking about NASCAR."

My Title is a quote from my brilliant brother. He and his wife, Jenná, have recently embarked on planting a new church in the Tucson/Marana area.

He's one of those guys who learned a lot in Seminary...but learns even more in LIFE, on a daily basis.

Check out the new Blog for Holy Cross Church and follow along for an encouraging reminder of who God IS...and who we are, because of Him.

OR...just follow along to laugh at Pete. He's actually pretty funny.

Best Day EVER!

This last Saturday, my wonderful friend (and sis-in-law), Jenná, and I had plans to get a pedicure and have a little lunch. We are very close, like sisters, really. But we don't get to just spend casual, event-less time together very often. So, this would be a nice morning, and a nice way to celebrate the impending arrival of my little guy.

Being with Jenná would have been nice...but what actually happened, was one of the biggest blessings I've had the privilege of enjoying!

When Jenná pulled up to meet me at Starbucks that morning, out of the car came Jenni Thye and Amy Cooper! These girls are two of my very dearest friends. They were my room-mates in College and my beautiful bridesmaids, and now live out-of-town.

These girls know me well...and still love me LOTS! I miss them more than I realized!

After I totally broke down and cried for about 5 minutes (Jenni identified it as the hormones), I got to spend the rest of the day with them! It was truly wonderful and exactly what I needed. And, boy was it great that I didn't have to spend the entire day with just Jenná!!!!

37 Weeks...and 1 day : )

Sunday was a stressful and emotional day. Actually, I've been having a few of those, lately. But, instead of showing those pictures...I'll just show the ones where I took a break from trying to get things done, put some blush on and made rice crispy treats with Gwendolyn...then ate them ALL.









My little Gwendolyn has been pretty bored with her tired, uncomfortable, HOT Mommy. There is NO WAY I'm going outside...so she's pretty much on her own...let's just say there has been lots of Barney-watching around here. But, the baby pool helps A LOT, too!







And, it wouldn't really be any fun without at least one fit.



We recover quickly...bi-polar, much??



I'll tell you one thing, though...I'm really NOT going out there.



During the 1-hour trek across town to pick up a $40 double-jogger with a rotating front wheel!!! YEAH!!



I've decided to wake up every morning thinking, "this could be the day"...not because I actually have any idea when Augustine will come, but because it seems like more fun than waking up and thinking, "I have no idea when I'm going to go into labor".

So, this morning I shaved AREA 51 : ) and spent time relaxing...I'm READY!