One Thousand Gifts

Last January my friend Polly gave me a book called "One Thousand Gifts" by Ann Voskamp.  In October my friend Erika sent me the same book.  I decided maybe I should read it!  So, in February I started reading and I'm not going to lie...it is slow going.  I don't get many opportunities to sit and read these days!  But I'm plugging away at it and in the mean time telling everyone I meet about this book and the incredible help it has been to me as we wade through the uncertainty which is currently our life!  Now, I would like to preface this post by saying that I'm not a Voskamp disciple...she is just a lady, albeit with a profound knack for putting "feelings" onto paper, but nonetheless...just a lady.  I don't think she would choose to be uplifted to the pedestal some feel belongs to her and if she does I don't want to know...I choose to think her humble. 
I'm realizing that this book is hard to summarize, but if I could it would be this: through the hardships and the joy of life we are given good gifts every day from a good God.  When we intentionally look for these gifts and give thanks to the One who gives all things our lives will radically change.  Discontent and fear, anger and jealous cannot live in a thankful heart.  A good God cannot give bad things...although it sometimes feels bad it is only because our perspective is skewed by the here and now of this earthly home.  I'm trying to intentionally look beyond the pain and dispair of today and thank God for all of His good gifts to me.  Will you join me?
I would like to blog my list of 1000 gifts (don't worry, I won't share all 1000)!  I'm no photographer, but I may try to add some of that too!  I would love to hear from all of you!  What are you thankful for today?  Are you sharing it with those around you? There is no better way to spread God's steadfast love than to express the good gifts God has given you.  I promise your attitude will change when gratitude is your attitude!
OK...ready, set go!

1. Thick mist across my backyard.

4. The sight of a sleepy 3 yr. old first thing in the morning.

5. Baby Smiles!

15. A quiet house.

24. Dates with my hubby.

 

49. Green Latte' mug all skinny and tall bringing my morning "fix".

50. "There are no strangers, there are no outcasts, there are no orphans of God".

My goal will be one post a week...continuing my list!  What are you thankful for today?

Cloth diapers, Little People and Resumes

So...currently BOTH of my children are napping...I can't quite believe that this amazing event is occurring simultaneously!  Although I have about 4 large loads of laundry to fold...I'm literally at a loss of what to do...so, blog I shall!

Ayla and Petra in Poppy's wagon!

This is my official farewell to 2011 and Hello 2012!  My life changed in many ways in 2011 and it is looking like 2012 will be almost as interesting...hopefully, a little less 'dramatic'!
2011 started with the final days of my Father's life here on earth...Ayla and I spent 2 emotion charged weeks in Maine only to come home and discover I was pregnant.  Shock...and then morning sickness and I seriously haven't slept ALL night long since about May or June!  Mostly they were 'good' reasons to be awake, but still!  But if you have been following me at all...this is not NEW news! 

Cloth Baby!! 

My last post on here was week 35 of my pregnancy and Petra Grace decided to enter our world a smidge early at 36 weeks.  She is thriving and healthy...a whopping 13.2 lbs. at her 3 month checkup.  I am doing cloth diapers with her...more than I anticipated and just loving it.  I would love any opinions you all have about detergents...I have used Rockin' Green and EcoNuts...like both, but I'm ready for some input on that one!  Currently I'm in love with FLIP diapers which can be purchased at BabysRUs or online at www.cottonbabies.com OR if you are like me...you wait patiently watching www.craigslist.org for someone to sell them uber cheap!  I also got some used bumGenius hook and loop covers from cottonbabies and recently purchased a 'well-loved' bumGenius 4.0 snap version which I'm falling head over heals for!  I found that the hook and loop leak when Petra naps on her belly.  ICK!  I also purchased 1 cover from www.justsimplybaby.com and got 2 free (great story), but they consistently leak as well and I'm not in love with their performance, but their style is 2 thumbs up.  JSB does have wonderful sales on inserts though and I really like the size of them for my little munchkin.  I have about 12 or 13 Imse Vimse (Swedish for Itsy Bitsy) that I will be trying soon...they are not onesize, but are for 15 lbs and up.  I'll have to let you know what I think of those!

Ok, now for Little People...Ayla is in love with all things Little People right now. We got her the Nativity for the Christmas season and she and Daddy had a great tradition of having the wise men or Mary sing songs from on top of the stable (where the angel is supposed to sit).  Ayla just makes up her own words and tune!  Fantastic...wish I could have filmed it, but alas...the camera appears and the cheesy smile takes the place of whatever else was happening!  Often I hear her in room time talking to Eddie and Sarah Lynn.  She is seeming bigger and bigger now that Petra is around.  She is a wonderful helper and completely adores her little sister.  The feeling is quite mutual, I'm happy to announce.  They will be great friends someday...I'm sure. 

Candle pin bowling with the Radford clan!  SO exciting! (Notice...no shoes.  They don't making bowling shoes that small!)

2012 is promised to bring many changes for our family.  We got the word in November that due to downsizing (which NEEDED to happen) The Good Professor, my dear darling hubby Pete, will be out of a job as of May 31, 2012.  Praising the Lord for extended notice and praying fervently that the Good Shepherd will lead and guide these wandering sheep.  We are resting in the fact that He didn't fall asleep and 'Oh, goodness...what happened with Pete and Jenn?'  This was a planned event and much needed in our lives for some reason.  It has been a wonderful reminder to both of us that we are where (and what) we are by the Grace of God alone...no wisdom or power of our own has put us in a job we have loved and with people that we will miss greatly if we have to leave them.  We do not doubt this is exactly what God has for us, but now we need to decide whether to try to get Pete's PhD finished and then move on or whether to move somewhere and let the PhD go.  Mind numbing to mull over and never have an answer.  Most people don't realize that Pete isn't full-time music at Calvary, but full-time seminary prof and part-time music.  We are not anxious to leave...quite the opposite, actually.  God has used this church and seminary in a very special way in our lives.  Just trusting He who holds our future!

Blessings to you all in this new year...thanks for taking time to read about my life and adding your 2 cents!

35 Weeks

   It is slowly becoming clear...pregnancy is a marathon, not a 5K!  It takes patience, endurance and lots of mental battles must be won along the way.  I've never been great at winning mental battles, but God is faithful and I find myself constantly begging for help as I continue!
  Meanwhile, my appetite and my ankles are growing at an alarming rate!  Between Pete's marathon training and my pregnancy my grocery budget is being taxed to the limit.  By the end of the week there is seriously NOTHING left in the house to eat!  Dr. appointment yesterday proved that Baby Radford is cooperatively heading the correct direction (SOUTH), but my dear darling doctor put me down as dialated -1!  Thanks alot...like it would have killed him to just write 0!  No big deal...plenty of time to go.  I must admit, I'm beginning to feel like I will be pregnant forever...knowing it isn't true doesn't seem to really help all that much either.   I find myself actually believing that I will FOREVER have huge ankles and not have any shoes that fit and that this fact will send me into torrents of tears more quickly than you can say "puffy"!  Ahhhh, the joys of hormones!

So, here we are on Sunday (after church) ...needless-to-say, Ayla wasn't the most photogenic at that point.  We took a great one right before church, but I had my eyes closed...Pete and Ayla looked great, but I looked totally out of it!  Special thanks to Kristan Cuenca for my beautiful dress...I felt like a million dollars and not nearly as large as I really am!

OK...here it is anyway...isn't my little family adorable?

   On a more fun note...the nursery is coming together nicely.  I made a little birdie mobile that I found on pinterest (my new favorite addiction) and I have a nice little stash of cloth diapers now.  I've decided to give good 'ole cotton a shot for 2 or 3 days a week and see if I can't save us a little cash on the diaper front!  My amazing Mom-in-law found 12 of them at a yard sale and got a great deal and I've been scouring craigslist and watching for good deals at www.cottonbabies.com and www.justsimplybaby.com!  Fun, fun, fun...hopefully I'm still having fun as I knock "poo" into the potty and wash all these lovely things.  Man, what we will do for a couple bucks!  We'll see...I'm committed to at least TRY it out for more than a week!  I'm hoping I fall in love with it.  Maybe I should make a plan of what to do with the money saved on diapers.

There it is...all ready for a new little bundle of joy!

 Blessings ~
 Jenn

33 weeks and growing

It is truly hard to believe that time is passing so quickly.  I am 33 weeks today!  Wow...am I really ready for this?  Guess I don't have much of a choice at this point, huh?!! 
The summer is wrapping up quickly and the good professor has already started teaching again...his classes at Temple begin again next week.
We were completely surprised last Sunday when the choir and orchestra from Calvary threw us a wonderful picnic baby shower!  We had literal showers as well (more like terrential downpours) but it was wonderful.  We were amazed and so blessed!

32 Weeks

The Big Sister

I wore this dress when I was Ayla's age!  My 'dopted Grammie Pelkey made it for me!

Our basement is in great shape again and my sewing room is getting "re-setup" and the nursery is slowly coming together again. We are making a few changes to the way we had it for Ayla...just a little way to mix things up a bit! I'll post pictures when it is all done!  Also, I'll post pictures of the shower soon as well!! 

The "name game" continues...we can't seem to settle on ONE, but that's ok...we have a few weeks left.  Here are some that are still in the running...don't comment on them...it just confuses me more!  :o)  Petra, Eden, Paisley and I also like Trinity.  Why, oh why, is this so hard?!

Well, I hope you all have a blessed Friday!  I'll try to keep this updated as we progress!

XOXOXOXO

Jenn



27 Weeks...the beginning of the End (3rd Trimester)

    Sitting by the ocean yesterday morning watching the waves roll in I was struck (again) by the majesty and sheer awesomeness of our God.  Why am I so amazed when I feel this little girl inside me kick?  Why does it still completely floor me that God would give me this gift?  How Great is Our God? 
    So, 27 weeks!  I'm officially entering my 3rd Trimester...crazy, right!  Is this going by quickly for everyone else?  So, as promised...here I am!  Also, going to post a couple other pictures of recent happenings around the Radford household!  We were beach bums for this past week and that is always fun...also, my blanket I'm making for Baby R!  It has been such a fun summer so far.

It is amazing what a little color and new jewelry will do for a preggo chicca!!  Life just seems a little better with a little bit of bling...am I right?  or what!!

Our whole week looked like this...notice the Good Professor down at the water to the left of this picture and this is Ayla booking it back to "sit by Mommy" because she had washed off sufficiantly and Pete wasn't MAKING her stay near the water!  What a cutey patootey!!

   Looking out toward the Cape May Lighthouse after a beautifully cool (though somewhat) rainy afternoon.

  This is my favorite picture by far!



My current project...still on the needles!  Special thanks to ravelry.com for the pattern.  I got quite a bit done on it this week at the shore!  Hopefully I can keep up the momentum and actually finish it by October when Baby R is due!



Well, there it is...my summer so far!  Don't forget to keep praying for us as D-day looms ever before me.  I'm excited to be pregnant, but really nervous about what that actually means for my body and the baby!  Ps. 139 is a constant reminder that none of the details are being missed by my Great God!



24 Weeks...16 to go!

24 weeks...really?!  Time is flying by now.  Sometimes it is still a dream and I'm sure I will wake up to the reality that once again I've dreamed all this up.  It truly NEVER gets old going in to the doctor's office and listening to the heartbeat...strong and steady!  I'm continually getting kicked now and the kicking is consistently higher than before.  When I first felt movement it felt as though she were going to put a foot out it was so low, but that isn't the "norm" anymore!  Praise the Lord!  What a strange feeling.  Oh, but I love it.  It is glorious to experience life in its truest form.  So, as promised...another picture.  We are going to be working on the nursery and getting it ready for our newest addition.  Trying to make it look less like "Ayla's old room" and more like "Baby Radford's room" (as Ayla calls it)!  I have some fun ideas and will post pictures as I finish it!

We spent last week up in Maine seeing family and committing my earthly father back to the ground.  Dad is still so real and alive to me...sometimes I call and expect to hear his cheery "Good Morning! Pastor Hilton!" on the other end of the phone.  I find myself often wondering what he thought of me.  He loved me dearly...this I KNOW, but was he proud of me?  Did he approve of my life, my parenting, my choices?!  I find myself (and rightly so) focusing back on Christ...I know that if I follow Him and "delight myself in the Lord" that I will be right where I need to be!  I find all the lessons my dad taught me in life are now coming back and are at the front of my mind.  What a wonderful Heritage to remember...an earthly father who reflected my Heavenly Father!  I have so much to be thankful for.  It is amazing to think that dad knew before I did that his continual prayer was answered and that I was pregnant.  God is always good and His timing is NEVER off!  Our job is to trust and lean on Him and not our own understanding.  I must remind myself that although my dad's physical shell now resides in a pretty little plot of land in South Gardiner, Maine, my father is rejoicing with the angels in Glory when a soul turns from sin and accepts Christ.  He is personally worshipping our Creator and has seen the face of God...just imagine!  How could I wish him back too this pitiful life? 

19 Weeks and Counting

So, I looked at my blog the other day and realized how remiss I was in posting...February was my last post!  Let's just say ALOT has changed since then!
Spring is officially in the air and summer hot on its heels here in PA.  There is nothing better than the smell of fresh cut grass and Ayla exclaimation about there being flowers on TREES!  Flowers aren't supposed to grow on trees!  Well, sometimes they do.  It made the tracking in of flower petals much more bearable this year because she loved it! 
At the time of my last post I knew that God had blessed me beyond my allowable dreams, but the reality of pregnancy was still an evasive ghost.  Now 19 weeks along I'm a little more confident in the hope that this will ideed happen and I won't wake up to find a mean joke someone has been playing.  A few of you have been "bugging" for a baby bump picture...here it is!

I know I have a long way to go, no need to remind me!  We will soon find out if our little munchkin is a boy or a girl and I will share that here if possible! 
God was good before I got pregnant...He is the same now!  I'm so thankful for this opportunity and a little nervous about having 2 bouncing bambinos in my care!