Grampie

My grandfather passed away on Saturday. I am so thankful for our recent trip to Maine, so that I could say goodbye, and so Kyle could meet him.

When I told Kyle he passed, he was quiet for a moment and then said, "He's the kind of person you meet, and then wish you could have really know." I found myself feeling the exact same way. I knew him more through stories than experience and always wish I knew him personally. 

Grampie seemed somewhat anxious for Heaven when I saw him last. He was both a little introspective as he thought about his life as it was coming to an end, and there also seemed to be some relief in him that soon this world would pass.

My sister wrote today that " sorrow has a way of drawing me to heaven that joy doesn't". I completely agree. With each death that I have experienced I am drawn to Heaven. I long to share in  the sweet joy of being with my Savior, of seeing my mother, of no more pain, and joy everlasting. It's a sweet and strange thing to think of my mom and her father talking in heaven together. It's hard to imagine what they must be saying to each other. But what I truly have come to realize, is that while we mourn, Grampie is worshiping. He is able to look upon the Lord! I miss knowing him, but I would not wish him back!

Projects

There are a few things that I would like to get done around the house before the baby comes, and (hopefully we are able to find a 2 bed apartment) before we move.

The next on our list are these "drawers" and a coffee table. I can't wait to get started~

Finally Fall!

I have come to grips with the fact that Fall in California is just no the same as Fall everywhere else. *sigh*  However, the weather is FINALLY cooling down. The mornings are crisp, the nights are cool, and although the predicted high today is 92, it wont last for long.

I had a 3 day weekend. It changed my life! (perhaps that is a little dramatic, but it felt life changing) I was able to get things done around the house, I went on a looong walk, which was very nice for my legs, I slept and actually felt rested for the first time since I've been pregnant. I truly felt better than I have in a long time. It was fantastic.

Kyle and I enjoyed a weekend of getting chores done, going through our budget, doing a couple of "fall" activities, like going to a high school football game, and making pumpkin bread for our neighbor.

Kyle and I also enjoyed a ton of laughs together. I love being married to my best friend. I couldn't fall asleep last night because I had the giggles and couldn't stop laughing, which made Kyle laugh, and then I fell off the bed! Hehe

I am so happy that it's fall!

20 weeks

I can't believe I'm half way there! I was looking through a baby development book that was given to me and here is the picture of a 20 week old baby! Our little boy or little girl is already sucking on their finger, which has it's own set of finger prints.

We are so excited!

Ree to the Rescue

I called my two older sisters the other day and asked what they are making for dinners these days. I feel like I've been in a slump. I blame it on the weather (It just wont turn to fall around here!) and pregnancy, because who really wants to blame themselves for not being able to come up with some fun dinners?

Well my oldest sister told me that she loves The Pioneer Woman (let's be real, who DOESN'T love her?) Well I've pretty much turned on Food Network, watched her show every night, and then made whatever she just made for dinner.

Kyle's been happy, I've been happy to have some ideas (even if they aren't my own) and slowly but surely I am coming out of my slump.

I'd add them to my recipe page, but they aren't my recipes at all! I'm sure Pioneer Woman wouldn't want me plagiarizing, so just go to her site HERE or to her Food Network page HERE .

In other news, I find out in 15 days if we're having a boy or a girl! EEEK! I can't believe it... So let the guessing begin.

Put through trials to love

The older I get (yes, I realize I'm still not that old yet...) the more I see the details in the way God works through our lives. It's a theme that seems to keep popping up lately, and so I'm just trying to learn all I can, and enjoy it.

There are times that I have gone through trials, and the only thing that got me through was the knowledge that somehow The Lord was using this in my life to sanctify me and make me more like His Son. (The thought of being made more like Christ is a glorious thought! This thing that hurts right now, will make me more like Christ, MY SAVIOR! I get to be made like HIM!)

Now, many years after some of my trials, I am able to encourage people who are just stepping into what I have gone through. The Lord, through His grace and mercy, has allowed me to have the blessing of encouraging and praying for those who are in the midst of a trial now.

I can specifically pray for them in a way I wouldn't have known how to. I can give them verses that spoke to my heart. And sometimes I can just listen, knowing that is what is needed instead of words.

A friend stood on my doorstep a couple of days ago and asked that I pray for her as she goes off to love a friend of hers going through a trial. We prayed together, and I couldn't help but thank The Lord, that though my friend had gone through a heart wrenching trial herself, she was now equipped like no other to love on this sweet girl.

Another friend of mine is going through a trial with her whole family. They are going to (unless the Lord does a miraculous work, which He is capable of doing!!) lose a family member. My friend asked me for any wisdom I could give her and her family as they step forward into the unknown of losing someone. I can't tell you how unequipped I felt in answering her letter. In my weakness, the Lord gave me words, and suddenly detailed memories of my own trial in losing loved ones, so I was able to at least give her some truth from the Word. 

Romans 12:15 tells us to Rejoice with those who rejoice, and to mourn with those who mourn.

What a blessing to come alongside others.

Maine Trip 2013

My parents sent Kyle and I back to Maine as an early Christmas present. It was wonderful! I say "back" to Maine because you just say "we're going back east" whenever you travel that direction, and because that is where my mom was born and raised.

I had been wanting to take Kyle to see this other side of me for quite some time now. Sadly, it was also a goodbye trip. We ended up saying goodbye to my grandpa, because I don't think I'll ever see him again.

We got to sit and listen to stories about his childhood, his time in the military, and hear old hunting stories. He built ships while he was in the military, and when he got out he continued to build for different companies.

 We also had sweet time with my Uncle Tim and his family. My uncle is my mom's youngest brother. We haven't spent much time with him in the past. But we hit it off, had an absolute BLAST, and can't wait for more time together.

Here are a few pictures.. It was a fast weekend away and I realize I didn't take as many pictures as I wish I had. But here is what I have.. I also feel like I have more stories, but I'm sure they'll spill out over time.

Kyle's first real experience with lobster.

I dream to some day have a sun porch like this. We would sit here in the mornings at Uncle Tims and have our quiet time, or read and sip our coffee. It was glorious.

My handsome man in front of the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

This is Back Cove. It's about a quarter mile from my Uncles. It's a 3 1/2 walk all the way around the cove, perfect for our walks.

I remember going here as a little girl, but I really took the picture because of the boot. My dad had a very similar boot that he wore when we were kids. He'd wear them to our swim meets when he was officiating, we made so much fun of him as he walked around in cut off jean shorts and the boots, but the other dads thought he was quite styling and soon bought some boots of their own.

Part of the port. I loved watching the boats come and go. This was the view from a restaurant my uncle took us to. RiRa was the name of it. An Irish name, to go with all the Irish roots in Maine. Our waitress actually had an Irish accent.

The lighthouse

I loved the old cobblestone streets. When Portland was first developing the ships would come in from England and they would unload the cobblestones and make the roads. These have been here as long as our country has been around.

Time with Grampie, He didn't have time to stop and smile for the camera. He just wanted to continue his story. It was fun to listen.

One of Kyle's and my favorite thing to do together is explore new places. Our marriage is one big adventure, and exploring just adds to it. We laughed because we thought that with some snow this could look like Diagon Alley

One more of us in front of the lighthouse, You can kind of see my pregnant belly.