My Favorite Summer Picture

These are the two people I love most in the world! You can see why, huh?!

Applause is appreciated

It is official...I am now in the third trimester!!! Please feel free to stand up and clap at any time during the reading of this post. You can even cheer if you want to. That's what I did ~ on the inside ~ as I sucked down my protein shake.

I've only made it this far by relying on God's daily provision of strength and encouragement, which often comes through my husband, daughter, family, friends, blog comments and lots of cards. And for that I am applauding each one of you who has stuck by me through the first two-thirds of this difficult pregnancy. Take a bow.

Today the future seems a little brighter as I narrow the count to less than 90 days.

Another happy pregnant girl

When I got pregnant, I knew 13 girls who were also pregnant. All but one of them felt good and were enjoying being pregnant. Of course I wouldn't wish hyperemesis on anyone (the morning sickness I deal with), but it was frustrating to not be among the happy pregnant girls.

I just read that Beth Moore's daughter is pregnant. She didn't mention morning sickness...just her excitement at having another baby. I'm truly happy for her. It just struck me at how different my pregnancy is from most others. While most expecting mommies share their excitement about carrying a new life, I mumble about how much I hate pregnancy. And hate is not a word I use often or lightly. But I truly hate the state I am in.

Keeping my eye on the end goal is difficult at times, but I know one day I will be so grateful for all this. Not the experience of pregnancy...but the end result. A new baby...flesh of my flesh and bone of my bone. 92 days ~ give or take ~ to go.

A world full of cliches....

Have you noticed how there are cliches everywhere...especially when it's the last thing you want to hear? Lately I've been hearing lots of cliches.

~ There's a light at the end of the tunnel.
~ Hang in there.
~ All things work out for the good. (A gross misinterpretation of the Scripture.)
~ This too shall pass.

I'm not saying they aren't true or meant to be encouraging. I'm just saying they are cliches. And right now I hate cliches.

I've been wrestling with God this week. Ever done that?! He always wins, but I wrestle just the same. Last night I sat on the deck under a cloud-covered night sky, and I wept. Where are you God? Why aren't you answering my prayers? How could this be for your glory? How could this be the best for us?

There were no audible answers or even heart answers. There was just a strong breeze and the smell of rain that reminded that God is everywhere. Of course he was there with me on the deck. But He didn't change my circumstances...or my heart for that matter. He just sat with me and let me weep.

There is a time for encouraginging words...even cliches. There is a time to speak truth to a hurting heart. But there is also a time for weeping. A time for crying out to God. A time for brokenness. I am grateful for a God who let me do the latter when no one else is comfortable with it. He let the silence fall around me, but I was not alone. I was in the presence of a God who sees every tear and allows His own to be shed for me.

The weekend in pictures

Here's part of what our weekend consisted of. We went to Tim's Grandma's house and picked black raspberries and blackberries. Both are Emma's favorites, which is evidenced in the amount she ate as she picked.







I love to get generational pictures when I can. This is Grandma Beth (Tim's mom), Great Grandma Gladys (Tim's Grandma), Emma and her Daddy Tim.



We had another squirt gun fight Sunday afternoon because it was so hot. It felt great to me! Afterwards I soaked in Emma's pool with her. We called it the hot tub because it was so warm after sitting in the sun all day.




Oh, and I have to share this. We opened the front door one day and this is what we saw on our front porch. He wasn't too scared of us....can you tell?!

Is this for real?!

I can't believe I am finally to the "less than 100 days" mark. I thought I would never get here! In less than two weeks I will be starting my third trimester ~ oh glorious day. The end is almost in site, which is a wonderful thing because this has been a really, really rough week with the nausea.

Random Summer Pictures

Emma singing in big church for VBS. She loved it!


Mini golfing for her cousin Jacob's birthday.



Emma having a water gun fight with her Dad. I laughed so hard!!!


Swimming in San Antonio at our roof-top pool. Emma is swimming so well on her own now. We are finally feeling like all those private lessons are paying off.

Texas was fun but....

I didn't have any morning sickness in Texas, but the first morning I woke up with a sore throat and ended up fighting a cold the rest of the week! I was still grateful to be nausea free for a few days.

Highlights: swimming, visiting the Alamo, eating awesome Mexican food, strolling along the riverwalk, a carriage ride on our anniversary, watching fireworks from the roof of our hotel, riverboat tour, naps every afternoon and sleeping in each morning.

Happy Anniversary Honey!

To my awesome husband:

I can't believe we've been married 10 years! They have flown by and yet we have packed them full of fun and excitement haven't we?! I am humbled that God chose me to be your wife, and I am proud to call you my husband. You make the grass so green on this side of the fence that the other side looks dull. I'm excited to see what the next decade holds for us. Everyday is an adventure with you and I wouldn't think of having it any other way. I LOVE YOU!