40 weeks.

Yep. My due date is here. And in 7 hours...it will have passed. haha Guess baby is pretty comfortable in there. :) I'm honestly feeling great considering the well-done baby I'm carrying around. I'm really taking this time to enjoy all the grace and love I feel God's poured out on me (or us) this week through the end of my first year teaching, love from all my students, fellowship with many friends, yummy food and desserts that I (probably) over indulged in, and lots of time in my nest. :)

Much of my down time has consisted of walking the last few days, since I'm officially a stay at home helper until this babe comes. :) I have truly enjoyed this last week of pregnancy so much.

Last weekend we went down to Salt Lake City with Greg and played with photography around the city. This one was taken at the Salt Lake City Public Library. It was rainy, cold, and the only thing I could fit in to was a maternity sweater dress. haha So it was that and my rainboots. Which, by the way, wearing rainboots as a pregnant lady is kind of like trying to hop over a fence! It's hard work climbing in to those things!!

My best friend from back in our homeschool days, Amy, has been in town with her husband for the last few days, and since I've had off, I've been able to see her quite a bit. :) She's also pregnant, 23 weeks, and I got to go to her in town baby shower for her little girl last night. It was so fun to see all the frilly girly things!! (I guess maybe there iiiisss another reason to keep having babies despite all the pain. haha)

But despite of lack of pink and purple feminine lace, these bow ties and onesies are pretty adorable! ;)(Thanks, Amy!) I know daddy is excited about these spiffy outfits for his little man. :)

So aside from friends, eating all sorts of yummy food, and lots of walking, I'm just enjoying my transition from being in the world of working peeps, to being blessed to be able to come home and take care of my family full time.

I know I say this a lot, but I am so, so thankful for my husband. It hit me Monday night as I was getting ready for my last day of work, that after Tuesday, my job description and responsibilities are really changing. My husband feels strongly enough that I should be home that he has taken this step of faith in actually bringing me home, losing part of our monthly income and totally trusting God to provide, to take care of him and our little flock. Wow!! That motivates me to want to be an extra good steward of my time at home, the money God blesses us with through B's work, and my family in general. I am so thankful for B, and the God I see working in him as a husband and father. I really can't think of a better job than being a full-time helper to my husband and shepherd to my child. I am so excited for this next chapter of our life and all the on the job training God has in store for me. :)

Now all we need is that little bambino to cuddle! ;) Keep us in your prayers over the next few days!

xoxo

Confessions from the most ungrateful person.

Caution: If you get uncomfortable when people share their dark hearts and sin, you probably shouldn't keep reading this. If you have a dark heart and much sin just like me, be encouraged and read on to see a little bit of God's grace in my life.

I ran across this article recently while doing some homework for my Biblical Counseling class. I'm more often than not convicted on so many levels while reading through things I believe will be helpful for "others." I'm learning to always include myself as one of the others.

This particular part of the article really hit home with a recent experience of mine.

"I have had the opportunity to go to India several

times. I stood in New Delhi, Northern India, at one of

the most horrible slums that exist. I stood transfixed for

a moment, looking at a three-year-old boy leaning

against the cot of his infirm mother. He had the distended

stomach and hollow eyes of a starving child,

and his face was fly-infested. I stood there with tears

streaming down my face. It wasn’t just compassion. (I

did want to rescue him and take him home.) But it was

the awareness that he didn’t choose to be where he was,

any more than I chose to be where I was. I was filled

with deeper gratitude than I think I have ever felt in my

life. I was raised in one of the richest countries in the

history of humanity. I was raised in a loving family, and

received a tremendous education. I was raised to come

to Christ early in my life. I was given such glorious

things. You could not explain the difference between

that little boy and me by anything other than the Lord.

I was filled with awesome gratitude for the Lord. I

stood there in that slum, and I felt every complaint I

had ever spoken as if they were a weight on my shoulders."

-Paul David Tripp

I really used to hate going to the city. Towards the end of the day I felt so dirty and tired of walking by homeless person after homeless person silently asking for help through cardboard signs. These feelings would literally alter my mood, making it so I want to flee to what I thought was my perfect home and never return to the ugly city again. These last few trips I really, really struggled with it, specifically when I'd have to find a bathroom. I would feel sheer disguist, maybe even hate, for the "dirty, homesless city people that make this bathroom a filthhole for me to have to use." Yes, my heart is that black. I've never told anyone just how much I hate the dirt and dirty people in the city. Too self-righteous to admit it, I guess.

My heart really felt drawn to this particular section of the article because on this last trip in to the city only by God's grace that I was able to look at the public bathroom differently. In the back of the public library I found an out of the way women's restroom. Anyone who has ever been to any public library knows that's where lots of homeless people spend their free time. Walking in I saw what I assumed (and I guess still don't really know for sure) was a homeless lady, dirty suitcase filled with every single one of her earthly personal items in tow. I don't even think I even have any niceness in and of myself that I was able to just smile at her. I quickly got out of her way and ran into the stall. As I pulled out one of those toilet seat covers (because you HAVE to use those, Lexy, who knows what sicknesses these dirty people might give you...I'm so lame...) God totally revealed the depth of the evil in my heart in viewing these "city people" this way.

"I died for these dirty people and this dirty city, just like I died for you."

I knew in that moment that the ONLY difference between me and that lady standing out at the sink was probably the Holy Spirit living inside of me. I felt a deep shame for my sin and a compassion I know that came only from God to want to move toward these people in the city and love them, not run from them.

In reading this article, I felt like Paul Tripp described feeling when looking at the small child in India. I was so grateful for the God who created both me and His people in the city, and so grateful that He has put me in a place where I can serve them from a true heart of love, His love. God showed me He is the God of Salt Lake City, and ever other city, town, neighborhood, home in the world, however dirty or unruly I think them to be. He is their God, if their hearts awknowledge it or not, and He has called us to go in to these places. Only with God's grace will I learn to love these people better, both in my heart and outwardly with my actions.

xoxo

 

Only the two of us could enjoy a date to the library so much.

On Wednesday, B and I ventured down to Salt Lake City to get some fresh air. Our goal was to walk around the city and get to know it a little better, but for a pregnant lady that's kind of hard....because you have to use the potty every few minutes and it's hard to find public restrooms. :) So we stayed close to the city building and the library.

 

 

 

Yes, here is pregnant me in the city building bathroom. I was soooo thankful to see a sign reading "WOMEN'S." After that we picnicked in the park. Or...B picnicked. I think I've hit that stage in pregnancy where I'm not as hungry anymore. I NEVER thought that would happen...but I could literally live off of spinach and fruit smoothies and hummus (although, I know baby needs more than that).

 

 

This was hardcore picnicking on a budget. We have always loved to picnic, but I was totally out of all staples for picnicking and we were at the end of the pay period. I got creative. :) It's more fun that way anyways!! Peanut butter sandwich for B, egg salad for me (he hates egg salad), yummy banana bread, chips, salsa, hummus, carrots and celery sticks, applesauce, gummies for B (haha...I spoil him...), and I can't remember what else. This was the most random picnic ever. :) Then we walked over to the library.

 

 

We really explored the place this time. Usually we find a chair and plop ourselves down with a warm coffee and a book, but our purpose this time was really to explore. We found this super, duper cool door that simply leads to a giant room overlooking the awesome kids section. It was literally a staircase from the outside of one floor to the other....overlooking this....

 

 

How cool is that!? I bet more people would read if we had more awesome libraries like this. Complete with inside mini malls/gift shops and places to eat like this...

 

 



They also had a whole section of these Zines. They're like chapbooks, or handmade mini literary magazines. They gave me some ideas for things to do with my poems and smash booking.

Well, I'm off to make my favorite cobbler! :) The weather has been so beautiful that I can't help but cook with the windows open any spare second I get!!

xoxo

Vanity.

It always amazes me how much of homebodies B and I really are...

For Christmas, B wrapped up a journal we keep for each other, with a piece of twine and had a little note in it about packing my bags for an overnight stay. After cooking breakfast Monday morning (more pancakes...my biggest craving these days), making his lunch, and questioning him several times on why he wasn't in his work clothes yet ("I just want to look sexy for breakfast"), he finally said, "You should go get ready." He then explained that he had the next two days cleared off for the both of us, found a substitute teacher for me, and had a short, but sweet list of things we could go do in SLC.

I think I cried three times before leaving the house. I was so thankful for my husband who, after a few rotten days of watching bme be self absorbed, was being so nice to me. So yes, I cried three times. :)

Anyways, I was sufficiently *cherished* by my husband on Monday and Tuesday. I probably even cried some more on the way to SLC. I'm going to blame it on all the pregnancy hormones. I cannot believe the wave of emotions that has come over me in the last few months and caused me to lay my head on the dinner table and just sob, usually for no specific reason at all.

In case anyone out there is wondering where two breakfast, book, coffee loving nerds like to hang out in the city here's out list of stops:

The Salt Lake City Public Library : Had to hit up Salt Lake City Roasting Co. on the way in to find a comfy seat to hunker down in for a few. My pregnant drink and food of choice was a white chocolate steamer and a cheese stick. Ha!

 Anyways, after much reading and writing, I decided to meander down to the adorable shops in the library, and lost my keys somewhere along the way (the only set of Volvo keys we had...oh well).

The Armstrong Mansion: This was our main destination for the evening. We've stayed here once before and really loved it. Each room is theme decorated after all the months in the year. My sweet, sweet B got us the February, complete with a spiral staircase that leads up to a jetted tub overlooking the city.

Everyone is going to think we're pretty lame, but we really read in bed and looked at blogs for the next three hours, waiting for our tummies to get hungry enough to head out in the cold again. But with an awesome staircase like that, who would want to leave the room?

On a side note, their breakfasts at this place are delicious! B and I seriously are breakfast lovers. I think we spent most of our honeymoon breakfasting. Almond cinnamon rolls, homemade granola, and cream cheese stuffed French toast are just a few of our favs that they serve here.

The Bayou: We hit up my first ever bar!! Haha Being pregnant and barely 21 means I drank a few sweet teas and ate some wings while watching my hubby enjoy a snobby beer.

Bruges: Gourmet waffles stuffed with pearl sugar and topped with buttery cream? Yes, you will most likely find us hanging out around this place!

The Rose Est.: Besides Starbucks, this is really one of the only coffee shops in the city we loved hanging out at all day, and believe me, we've searched and searched for coffee shops to hang around in the city. We spent the better part of Tuesday morning sipping americanos and, you guessed it, reading!

The Beehive Tea Room: You better believe we didn't leave SLC without stopping at my all time favorite tea room. Lilac tea, spinach and artichoke crescent sandwiches, and wild rice soup are both of our usuals. We sipped and nibbled between the turning of pages. :)

All this considered, I was prompted to write a somewhat somber note in my Commonplae after returning home from our mini vacation. Here it is:

1/9: "It's amazing to me how often Solomon's words ring true from Ecclesiastes. This week on our getaway, even with a spiral staircase leading up to a hot tub in a room that cost a few hundred dollars for the night, after an intimate day with my husband, after a full tummy and treats to indulge in, being warm, provided for, and in a comfy bed, my thoughts in the middle of that luxurious night still turned to, 'Is this really all these is to life?' Endless coffee shops, meals, and lounging around still resulted in, 'All is vanity!' Having 'my hearts desires' on this earth was and is vanity!"  

Some may think that note depressing, or maybe even insulting to my husband who planned this lovely suprise. But rest assured, I shared my feelings with him on the drive home and he agreed. It shouldn't be so shocking that he agreed. Our hearts desires cannot be sated in earthly things. It's not that either of us were ungrateful for one last desired getaway before baby arrives, but we just don't put our full hope in those things. I'm grateful for reality checkes like this, and the hope I have in Christ that moves me out of panic and confusion when the fleetingness of life is realized, and into trust and hope in truth.

Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God.
Colossians 3:2+3

Needless to say, we were both very happy to be home in our little dollhouse. And now thanks to the snowstorm it looks like we will be happy and homebound for a few more days.