Tender Mercies

I was hanging out in our rental apartment in Salzburg, Austria with my sister when my dad walked out of his bedroom and announced that I was having a girl. I was only 11 weeks along at that point and while I was wishfully hoping for a girl, I was preparing myself for a boy. His strong conviction of the gender of our child without any hints from an ultrasound surprised me. My dad seems to always be right about things, so I secretly hoped he was right this time too. Today during my scan, my favorite sonographer announced that we were having a girl. Grandpa is always right. I never imagined our family starting with a baby boy. I don't know why, but a baby girl seems to fit just perfectly. Now I just have to keep calm and stay healthy for 19 more weeks.

I was always blessed to grow up with excellent health and dental insurance. I never had to worry about whether or not mom could take me to the doctor or wondering if my teeth were healthy or not. When I was engaged to my husband, I told him that it was very important to me to have health coverage, and he promised me he would always provide. I trusted that. Well, we got married and we were blessed with Active Duty Army health coverage.  3 years later as we were preparing to get discharged from the Army, my Dad called to make sure we had health coverage set up before  we were officially discharged. I agreed with him since we were making the 5,000 mile drive from Alaska to Kansas. You never know what can happen. My husband wasn't in a hurry to get any, but since he loves me greatly he agreed. It's a good thing he did! Health insurance is confusing. I don't like things that are confusing. Because of this and other reasons, we decided to opt for a health care sha...

I knelt beside my bed this past weekend, talking with my husband, when all of a sudden I felt a gentle "poke, poke" inside of me. Could it really be? I had been anticipating feeling the baby's first movements for the past week or so. I just knew it would be soon, but I didn't want to get my hopes up since many pregnancy websites say that first time moms may not feel movement until close to 25 weeks. I was 16 weeks and 4 days. Well, sure enough, the next day I felt some additional small waves of movement. It wasn't just gas or digestion, for when I listened to the heartbeat with my Doppler, I was able to associate the movement I heard from the speaker with the poking sensation.  I think I will enjoy these gentle proddings right now before they begin to be larger and more uncomfortable. As I approach the halfway mark of this pregnancy, I am filled with excitement and the ever deepening realization that I am actually pregnant and have a huge responsi...

Life is busy.  2 weeks into school and you start to feel the weight of how the semester is really going to be. No, I'm not in school myself, but supporting my husband who is studying full time, working, and teaching early-morning seminary, is a big responsibility for me.  I think we are good team-players though.    Driving out to Grinter's Sunflower field was the perfect way to celebrate the ending of a school week and catch some fresh air, pleasant breeze, and get some sunshine--in more ways than one.  Running across the field before the camera's timer clicked wasn't always so successful... ...and sometimes it is!

I'm really not sure if I ever thought this day would come. The day that I made it past 13 weeks pregnant without losing the baby. #miracle.  I know I am not out of the woods yet, and honestly, when are we really? I am just trying to live every day with gratitude for the life inside of me, living with hope for the future.  Part of me wanted to wait until next week, when I was past 14 weeks and officially in the 2nd trimester, but I couldn't wait any longer. I've been getting a little thick in the middle, which is getting more difficult to hide, and I feel like I haven't been able to be completely honest with friends when they would ask, "how are you doing?" All I wanted to talk about was how nauseous I was or how nervous I felt. So now, the news is out, whether or not you already suspected something was up.  Seriously though, the 1st trimester is not for the faint of heart! There were many instances when I thought I would lose the baby, but dee...

Click here to see Part 1 about our Paris adventures! After 4 days of sight-seeing in Paris with my youngest sister and my parents, we all flew to Munich, Germany and then caught a train to Salzburg, Austria, where we spent the next 4 days and 5 nights. My mom had spent a bit of time in Salzburg 33 years ago as a missionary, and I am a huge Sound of Music nerd, so it was so fun to finally visit!! We had some rain the first couple of days in Austria and Germany, but that didn't stop my sister or me from making some priceless memories. Take a look at this precious gem:  Day 5: Travel Day & German lunch in Munich Eating an authentic German lunch in one of the top Biergartens in Munich was a perfect way to ease a day of traveling. It looked pretty bland, but I couldn't believe how much I loved my plate of warm sauerkraut and sausages! Day 6: Sound of Music Tour My Childhood dream of dancing around the "Sixteen Going on Seventeen" gazebo from t...