Are you sure you want to have a kid??

One of our ministers, Scott, is teaching a parenting class to newly married couples and asked for feedback on Facebook. My response was turning into a novel (shocker), so I decided to post it here: Right after London was born, my aunt asked me in a sweet and romantic way, "Oh Kathrine, do you even know what you did before London was born??" I know what she wanted me to say. I was supposed to say something mushy like, "No, I don't. I can't even remember life before London. It was all so meaningless and dull before her." However all I could think to say was, "Yes I remember what I did! I went to movies and went out to nice restaurants and slept in on Saturdays!" Being a parent is so hard, yet so wonderful all at the same time. It has already flown by, and even though I'm sometimes so tired that I want to cry, I have never regretted one minute when Christian and I put London first...above our hobbies, our friends, our household chores, and even our ministry. We love God more than anything and because of that we love London. Yes we go on dates. Yes we read the bible and pray....we are not neglecting those relationships. But right now, our main goal for the next 16 years is to make a disciple out of the precious little human than God has entrusted to us. So, those of you planning to have kids better be prepared to kiss your selfish days goodbye. You will trade in late night movies for late night baby rocking, but trust me, it is so worth it!

What Really Matters

As Jesus and the disciples continued on their way to Jerusalem, they came to a certain village where a woman named Martha welcomed him into her home. Her sister, Mary, sat at the Lord’s feet, listening to what he taught. But Martha was distracted by the big dinner she was preparing. She came to Jesus and said, “Lord, doesn’t it seem unfair to you that my sister just sits here while I do all the work? Tell her to come and help me.”  But the Lord said to her, “My dear Martha, you are worried and upset over all these details! There is only one thing worth being concerned about. Mary has discovered it, and it will not be taken away from her.” (Luke 10:38-42 NLT) Today I started to feel guilty that I couldn't be of more help in the kitchen. Instead, I found myself chasing 1 year old London around the house and cuddling her for a nap. People think it's crazy that I still hold her for most of her naps, and maybe they're right. However, as I was sitting here thinking about all the details of the Thanksgiving meal, all the missed conversations and opportunities to reconnect, God gently reminded me that my true purpose for this day lay right in front of me...on my lap to be exact. When Jesus went to stay with Martha, she missed the point of His visit. The point was not to impress Jesus with a tidy house and perfectly prepared meal. No, instead, the point was to spend time connecting with her Savior. So today, on this day of thanksgiving, I will be thankful for the time I have to connect with my tiny girl. Time goes so quickly, and before I know it, she will be too big to fit in my lap and too busy to cuddle. God has given me the enormous gift and responsibility of motherhood, and I fully intend not to waste it. There will always be dishes to do and laundry to fold (or throw in the bottom of my closet), but when it's all said and done, London will not remember if the rug was vacuumed or the laundry was neatly put away. She will remember sitting on the porch watching planes fly over our backyard, having spontaneous dance parties in the living room, and, yes, falling asleep in her mother's arms (And let's be honest...I am far better at these things than I am at housework!). I pray that these years I spend as a mom will be done so in the spirit of Mary. There will always be housework to do and meals to prepare, but my London will only be a baby for the blink of an eye. I'm done wasting energy on guilt and insignificant details. Today I choose to be thankful. Today I choose London.

Sorry, Mom

My mom gave me a card for Mother's Day that said, "A summary of motherhood: Holy crap. This is hard. The End." Couldn't have said it better myself. Don't get me wrong. I love being a momma, and, to quote my good friend Shannon, "my worst day as a mom is better than my best day at my job." However, it IS wicked hard, and every day I find myself thinking, 'I really should apologize to my mom for all those mean things I said to her when I was a teenager.' After all, she changed my diapers, washed my clothes, cleaned up my messes, caught my spit up in her hands, chased me around the house, fed me, bathed me, carried me on her hip while she cooked dinner, endured hours of crying, gave up sleep for 18 years (I've heard that you sleep even less when they are teenagers), and, oh there was that unmedicated 24 hour labor and delivery thing she did too. And that's just the tip of the iceberg. When I was 5, she consoled me when I accidentally stepped on and killed Fluffy, the class hampster. Then, in the 6th grade, I threatened to jump out of a moving car after I found out I had to change schools.  My mom was my best friend that year; she watched me cry myself to sleep countless nights and coaxed me to befriend the friendless at school. She was there for me in the 9th grade when I had my heart broken for the first time, and, then, fell asleep crying on the couch with me 6 years later when it was time for me to be the heart breaker. During my freshman year of high school, she stayed up all night with me and my best friend Lisa to help us finish the infamous leaf project, and that same October, she pulled another all nighter to make mums for all my friends. And I'm just getting started. She was a party planner, a mediator, a nurse, a taxi driver, a lifeguard, a teacher, a homeroom mom, a hair dresser, a travel agent, a butcher, a baker, a candlestick maker, and one hec of a wedding planner. Now that I'm a momma, I am starting to understand just what it is that she did for me, and all I want to say is, "Sorry, Mom. I never knew, but now I do."  So, Mom, if you're reading this, I hope you know how thankful I am for you and how much I love you. I hope it was worth it. Then again, I guess I'm  not that sorry, because judging by my experience so far, it totally was.

All Mine

London is all mine. Have you ever been given a sweet treat at Christmas time or for your birthday? A treat you tucked away in your pocket, and, later, stowed in your top dresser drawer to savor and eat slowly? A treat that was all yours? My aunt makes 4's every year. These hand-dipped caramels take days to make, and when you receive your box on Christmas day, you vow to make them last the entire year, only to succumb to their buttery temptation day after day until it's January 6th and your box is empty. London is like my box of 4's. She is all mine. Oftentimes I don't want to share her; I just want to take all of her hugs and kisses and lock them up for safe keeping. And I want her to last forever, until my hair turns grey & arms are no longer strong enough to hold her. I want to savor her life like my chocolates, not rushing one moment, but taking in the sweetness of it all. Today I prayed for a long life with my baby girl, but I know that any amount of time spent with her will never be enough. 

A Breath

It has been a hard week and I'm tired. It's the kind of tired that you feel in your bones. But it's also the kind of tired that makes life worth living. It's the cuddling in the middle of the night kind of tired. It's the sound of a rocking chair for countless hours kind of tired. It's the soft head in the crook of my elbow kind of tired. It's the small hands on my cheeks as we drift off to sleep kind of tired. It's the endless playing on great grandma's red quilt kind of tired. It's the singing If Your Happy and You Know It 10 times a day kind of tired. It's the holding baby girl while she naps because I can't bring myself to lay her down kind of tired

Someone once told me, "It's a breath. Before you know it, they are grown and going to college." My time with her is but a breath...I can sleep later.

Things they don't tell you about being a new mom...

Childbirth truly is the worst pain you will ever feel. It's not something you can prepare for, and you lose all of your dignity in the process.

Childbirth is the most rewarding and incredible experience you will ever have. It is a miracle...there is no other word for it.

When I was in the hospital, every day felt like Christmas morning. I had this precious gift, London, waiting for me. The nurses took care of everything and I could just relax and enjoy my present....

Then they sent me home. You have to take a test to drive a car and become a US citizen, but they just let any idiot walk out of a hospital with a baby. I remember thinking, "I can't even figure out how to buckle her into the car seat. How am I going to raise her without all the nurses??"

The first month sucks. I wish there was more eloquent way to put it, but there's just not. You don't sleep, you don't have time to eat, you still look pregnant, you cry a lot and you have no idea what you are doing. I have heard women talk about bringing their babies home and staring into their eyes all day, contemplating how much they love them. They are liars. No one has time to stare or contemplate. You simply survive the war zone.

By about 3 months you might have time to contemplate your great love for your baby. I love holding London while she naps. I wish I could say that I always use that time to read, pray and think deep thoughts. But sometimes all I have the energy to do is watch Netflix. However, more often than not, I find myself gazing at London, taking in her features and thanking God for the miracle that is my baby girl.

Babies are a full time job. I consider my day successful when I am able to change out of my pajamas before Christian gets home.

London is a what Dr. Sears calls a "high-needs" baby. She doesn't like to be put down. She will out cry us every time. For the first two months, I would literally hold her all day long (thank the Lord for my Moby Wrap). Once, after a particularly hard day, I told my mom that I felt like a loser because I hadn't "done anything." Her reply was one I will never forget. She said, "I dont know why people think rocking a baby means you're not doing anything. Holding and rocking London is the most important thing you can do right now. She will only be a baby for the blink of an eye and then she will never be this small again. Hold her and rock her as much as you can, because someday you will wish you had just one day again to hold your baby."

Being a new mom is the hardest, craziest, most stressful, most emotional thing I have ever done...and there is nothing that I'd rather do.

London Scout Pimentel

When God said that he would greatly increase labor pains because of Eve’s disobedience, He wasn’t kidding. However, now that London is here, I realize that the reward of a baby is the ONLY thing that would cause a woman to do something so unbearably painful. In one instant, I experienced that greatest pain and the greatest joy I have ever felt.

On Monday night, I started having regular contractions that were gaining strength by the minute. I didn’t sleep at all Monday night and went to the doctor’s office on Tuesday morning. My midwife said I was indeed in labor, but that it was progressing slowly. She told me to go home and keep an eye on it. There was a risk of prodromal labor (contractions that don’t help you progress at all—basically REALLY SLOW labor), but she thought I would be at the hospital that night to deliver. Well, lucky me, it ended up being prodromal labor. We went to the hospital that night around 9:00PM, only to find that I was still only 1cm dilated. Since I hadn’t slept in 24 hours, they gave me allergy medication to help me sleep and sent me home. However, the contractions continued to increase in strength and were 4 minutes apart, so at 3:00AM we went back to the hospital to be admitted. By the time the midwife showed up, I had been without sleep for 48 hours, so they gave me stronger medication to aide my sleep. I still had contractions, but was able to doze in between them for 2 hours.

Christian and I had decided to do an unmedicated birth, and in my naivety, I thought a few classes and some determination would make this whole labor thing a piece of cake. Boy was I wrong! I never thought I would be one of those women to yell and cry during labor (not sure why I thought that, because I am pretty dramatic). In fact, Christian and I would make fun of the women in the videos we saw during our labor class. I am here to tell you that I ate every snide comment that I made about those women. My mom, dad, and sister were in the room for the majority of the labor, and we could not have done it without them. I say “we” because Christian was as much a part of the labor as I was. I had back labor the entire time, so Christian would apply counter pressure to my back during contractions. My mom and dad took turns rubbing Christian’s back in between contractions so that he would be able to help me. It was truly a group effort! My poor dad probably cried more watching me labor than he did at my wedding….it was really sweet!

When I started the transition phase of labor, everyone but my sister and Christian went to the lobby to wait. At that point, I truly thought I could not continue. Shelby and Christian were amazing, and continuously encouraged me when I felt like giving up. At one point, I ended up writhing on the floor and crawling under the bed….to their credit, Shelby and Christian didn’t laugh at me once, even though I know it was hilarious to watch. You truly lose all dignity when you are in that much pain. I could care less about what people thought….I just wanted to do whatever it took to meet my baby girl!

Finally, after 45 ½ hours of labor, I started pushing. I pushed for 2 ½ hours, which took every ounce of strength that I had. I was literally praying out loud the entire time, asking Jesus to help me find the strength to push….I’m sure the nurses thought I was crazy! Shelby and Christian were incredible and stayed by my side to encourage me the entire time. About halfway through pushing, we were able to see the top of a head full of black hair. Knowing that my little one was so close gave me the strength to continue pushing. There was this poignant moment, at the very end, where I thought my body had given out….I literally had nothing left to give. I remember looking at Christian and asking, “Can I do this?” to which he replied, as he had so many times before, “Baby, I’m so proud of you. I know you can do this.” That was all I needed. At 10:44PM on 7.13.11, London Scout Pimentel entered the world weighing 7 lbs. 11 ounces. I can’t begin to describe what it was like to give birth to London and have them lay her on my chest. It was the most beautiful, spiritual, and joy-filled moment of my life. I thank God for trusting me with the life of my precious little girl.

Baby Central

I watched the documentary "Babies" this week, and within the first 10 minutes, I was deeply convicted about how very spoiled we are here in the US. Women in Africa literally give their kids rocks and sticks to play with. That's it. They don't have diapers, and they certainly don't have cribs or swings, nor do they get "Parents" magazine each month. And you know what? Their kids are perfectly fine! My house, on the other hand, is officially baby central. We have it all....the swing, the bouncer, the cradle, the crib, the play mat, the jumper, the stroller, the car seat, and a million books and toys. Talk about a spoiled child...and she's not even here yet! Don't get me wrong....we are incredibly thankful for the blessings that God has given us and overwhelmed by the generosity of those around us. I am just reassessing how much of this stuff I really NEED. Of course I want it all, and I'm sure it will come in handy, but if I were stranded on a deserted island, I'm pretty sure that London would learn to sleep without a crib or a monitor or the book Baby Wise. In a way, it is extremely comforting. If she decided to make an appearance this week, everything would be just fine! All she really needs is two parents that love her. Everything else is just icing on the cake! That being said, we are extremely humbled by all the support we have been given by family and friends. It has allowed us to furnish a beautiful room for our precious baby girl, and we can't wait to watch her enjoy it!

London's First Trip!

We just got back from our "babymoon"/conference in Cali. It was an absolute blast! We were headed to a conference called Catalyst in Orange County, so we decided to go a couple of days early and take London to Disneyland! The conference was amazing, and the park was magical as always, but the best part of the trip was shopping for and talking about our baby girl. Who knew that shopping for your unborn child could be more fun than a trip to Disneyland!?

I was a bit fearful that becoming a mom would mean no more freedom and fun. However, now I realize that everything is so much richer with London in tow. Even though we haven't officially met her yet, I am filled with joy thinking about our future adventures together. I can't wait to revisit childhood with London, to make lasting memories as a family, and to see the world through her eyes.

She got her first taste of loud music on our trip, and it was hilarious! During a Disney show, she kicked and squirmed every time the music got loud. I noticed her kicking again during Aladdin the musical, but by the end of the week she had grown used to it...she didn't kick much during worship time at the conference (which, by the way, was amazing...it you haven't heard John Mark McMillan or Gungor, go look them up right now). Maybe she just loves musicals like her parents. :)

Here are some of the things we bought her in Disneyland. I don't even like pink that much, but felt compelled to buy it for her! I just can't resist the girly stuff, even though I was really opposed to it before!

Next adventure with London: at trip to NYC to help Aunt Shelby with her bridal pics!

Meet Baby London!

Baby P has been extremely active since week 17 of my pregnancy...kicking, punching, flipping. It has even kicked me awake a few times! In fact, one morning it wouldn't stop kicking until I got up and ate my leftover chinese food...at 6:00 in the morning! All that kicking had given me the impression that I had a little man-baby swimming around in there...a baby boy that took after his rather large daddy. However, at our ultrasound on Wednesday we were shocked to learn that we are HAVING A BABY GIRL!

We are so excited! We are officially in love with baby London (yes, her name is London, like the city where we honeymooned!). She is just so cute! She moved and kicked her little legs throughout the entire ultrasound. She is an active little girl and most certainly strong-willed like both of her parents!

Against my better judgement, I am posting some prego pics. My friend Wendi (who is due on the same day as me!), inspired me to do so. She looks so cute in her pictures!

1 week ago: 5 months

4 Months

I feel like a beached whale.

OK, so I know I’m pregnant and all, but should I really look like I have a giant beer gut when I’m only 4 months along? Baby P is only 4 inches long and weighs 3.5 ounces, so is it really necessary for my belly to start at the middle of my rib cage (no lie) and go down to my thighs? A little girl at church told me the other night, “Wow, I can’t believe your stomach is already that big. My cousin is 4 months pregnant too and your are WAY bigger than her.” Awesome. By the time it’s all said and done, I guess Christian will just have to roll me around like a massive beach ball. OK, so maybe I’m being a bit dramatic…..I’m not THAT big. But I sure don’t feel like I look preggers. Instead, I look like I have a food baby.

On a more positive note, I just spent an awesome weekend with my college friends and their families. We talked a lot, played with babies, ate good food and laughed a ton! It was so much fun. Every year I spend with them makes me more thankful for the precious bond we share. They are amazing women. Watching my sweet friends be moms was such a blessing. It put things into perspective for me….even if I gain 200 pounds, it will be worth it, because I will get to have a precious little baby to love in the end!

Boy or Girl??? What do you think?

According to this really reliable online quiz, I have a 65% chance of having a girl. Dad, Bob, and Paul think it's a girl. Here are the worst possible combinations of me and Christian in a girl:

1)Really pale skin with lots of dark body hair

2)Giant man-like bone structure and the propensity for dance

3)A love for sports involving fire arms and no hand-eye coordination

According to the wedding ring test, I am having a boy. Mom, Linda and Shelby (I think) think it's a boy. Here are the worst possible combinations of me and Christian in a boy:

1) Again, really pale skin with lots of dark body hair

2) Feminine physique and a manly set of vocal chords

3) Small and unathletic with a propensity for football

What do you think it will be?? We find out in 5 weeks!

We're having a baby....WHAT!?!

So, right after Christian spun me around the room, both of us elated at the sight of the word “pregnant” on the little stick, I had this sinking realization that you can’t take this decision back. Ever. For the next 80 years I will be a mommy. WHAT?!? Yes, it is amazing and wonderful and thrilling beyond belief. But it is down right terrifying too. Christian and I, starting on July 11^th, will be the sole ones responsible for screwing this child up. For a perfectionist, the idea of messing up a HUMAN BEING is just about the worst thing ever. Way worse than getting a B on a grad school paper or gaining 10 pounds (which, by they way, I get to do….like 4 times over throughout the next few months). How in the world can we prepare for this? After trying to read 5 different books on pregnancy simultaneously, then giving up (because there was no flippin’ way I could process all the contradicting information), I decided to just let it go. There is no way I am going to be a perfect mom. My child will not be perfect, but then again, neither are his parents. And isn’t that what makes this life so interesting? The fact that we all have sob stories and baggage and funny childhood memories about family fights? I love the fact that God has kept me humble through my imperfection, and that I know what it means to suffer because of my mistakes. In the end, if I make a million mistakes (which I will), and my little one ends up loving Jesus in spite of that, or maybe because of that, then nothing else really matters. We’re imperfect. Jesus is perfect. What more is there?

Goodbye Grandpa

Four and a half years ago my Grandpa Pick danced with me at my wedding. Tonight he is dancing in Heaven with the angels. He went home to be with the Lord tonight at 8:00. We will miss you grandpa. We will miss your stories, your artwork, your ability to find beauty in the smallest of things (like a dried up grapevine!), your love for animals, your whistling and your piano playing. You were one of a kind. Paint a pretty sunset for us while your up there. Love you.

unperfect

When I was in the 2nd grade I cried because I got a 95 on a coloring assignment. When I went to plead my case to the teacher and beg for the additional 5 points, she refused to change my grade because, unlike the other students, I had not outlined my picture with marker. However, I held my ground and pointed out that I, unlike the other students, had taken the time to outline my picture with a darker shade of crayon, which, by the way, is much harder than outlining with marker, thank you very much. My perfectionism was a force to be reckoned with, and I was not going to back down. So my teacher, wise woman that she was, gave in and awarded me the 5 extra points.

I would like to tell you that I have since abandoned my young and stupid ways. That I no longer seek to be perfect and please others. But the truth is, the grip of perfection has only gotten tighter as I've gotten older. So tight that I was beginning to suffocate. And perfectionism's old friend, anxiety, had become a driving force in my life. By the way, did I mention that I feel anxious about the fact that I just started a sentence with "And." That is what I would call unperfect grammar. But I'm going to leave it there (just like I'm leaving the "But" at the beginning of this sentence), because I have decided to take delight in unperfect things.

I mean, who decided on standards of "perfection" anyway? When you really think about it, societal standards of perfection are often arbitrary and unfounded. The other day Christian and I went to a fairly nice restaurant and our waitress had sleeve tattoos. I loved it. I loved the fact that the manager at a nice restaurant would hire her, because, let's be honest, you don't see a lot of tatted up waiters working in classy restaurants. Despite the fact that tattoos are no longer as taboo as they once were, there is still a societal stigma of DANGER! associated with them. Christian and I had a 10 minute conversation with her about the artist who designed her tattoos. She was delightful. And did I mention that she was one of the best waitresses we had ever had? I shouldn't have been surprised, but I was. Shame on me and my ridiculous standards.

So I am trying this new thing. I am finding beauty in the unperfect things. My sister told me a few weeks ago, "I have decided to eat breakfast every day, no matter what time I wake up.....whether it's 8:00AM or 8:00PM!" Why shouldn't she? If she likes breakfast, why not? That may seem like a no brainer to you, but in my sick mind, it was a revelation. I thought, 'You can just do that? Eat whatever you want when you want?' I know. Sick. But that's the small box I have been living in. Everything has rules. Everyone has a standard, and if you don't measure up to someone's standard, if you don't please everyone, then your world will fall apart. But guess what? I ate breakfast today at 1:30, and it was fabulous. I had Christian's mom over the other day when our house was a wreck, and she still loves me. I have started displaying my animal greeting cards like art in my house. Weird, yes. But I like it. I am going to learn to play the guitar. I will never be good at it, but I don't care. I'm going to do it because I like doing it. And I am writing this blog entry even though I'm not sure anyone will A) read it or B) like it. I had fun doing it, so why not?

Did I mention that "unperfect" is not a word?

It is now.

"There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..." 1 John 4:18
"Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom." 2 Corinthians 3:17

2105 Howell Mountain Drive

I am sick.  I suffer from an illness called overcommitmentitis. I can't seem to just have one thing going on in my life.  Once grad school ended, I didn't know what to do with my spare time, so we decided to build a house! That's right, Christian and I signed our lives over to KB Home Mortgage a few weeks ago and have begun plans for a new casa in Cedar Park. We are very excited!  Although we are sad to leave the Austin city limits, we couldn't beat the price and we LOVE our new neighborhood. Our foundation is set to pour at the end of this week.  Your prayers and suggestions for how to stay sane are welcome!

Our lot

Master Bathtub

Garage Door

Outside of house

Tile/Cabinets

Kitchen countertops, cabinets, and tile

Kitchen light fixture

Guest Bath

I want to be like her when I grow up...

We just got back from a fabulous vacation in Vegas with my sister and her boyfriend....lots of sleeping in, eating, laying out by the pool and seeing shows (and, by the way, if you ever have a chance to see Cirque du Soleil BEATLES, you must! Pure creative genius.) It was just what we needed! By far, the best show we saw was a free one in the Nine Fine Irishmen Pub. The band, Sine Ri-Ra, was amazing, but even more amazing was their groupie who danced the ENTIRE time at the front. I want to be her when I'm old. I won't try to explain...you'll just have to see for yourself...

prayer request

grad school ends in 11 days!!!! i will have my life back!!!! thank you, Lord, for seeing me through these past 2 years. if any of you are still reading this (i know i'm an inconsistent blogger), please pray that christian and i will make it through these next 11 days. it's going to be crazy! 

Babies' Mommas

I love babies. I have always loved babies. In fact, at a very early age I found myself constantly distracted in church by all the cute babies cooing in the auditorium. Even to this day, I will not hear a word of the sermon if a baby is sitting in the pew in front of me (just ask Christian). So you can imagine what a thrill it has been to watch my friends become parents. I have loved watching them go through pregnancy, and become more like Christ as they parent their little ones. There is nothing like getting to love the children of some of the people you love the most. What an honor and blessing it has been to learn from them as they seek to love their children like Jesus loves us. So, I just wanted to thank a few of them for their examples....

1) Amber, thank you for being one of the most Godly and intentional parents that I know. You are raising your boys to know the Lord, and your patience with them always amazes me. I adore Eli and Calvin, and I can't tell you what a blessing it has been to be a part of their lives. If I love them as much as I do now, I can't imagine how I will feel about my own children some day. Thank you for sharing them!

2)Debby, it is so apparent that you are absolutely in love with Joaquin. He is one of the happiest babies I have ever met, and I know that is because you have sacrificed so much to spend every minute you have with him. I deeply respect your choice to stay home with your little one. It is so obvious that he is number one to you! Thank you for sharing your little man with me....I have LOVED getting to cuddle him and love on him....I am living vicariously through you!

3) Lisa W., you always amaze me with your ability to stay calm in the midst of craziness. You juggle a booming business, two kids, and a husband, and you do it beautifully. You have two of the most beautiful children that I have ever seen, and I have loved watching their personalities blossom. I love the fact that you allow each of them to be exactly who they are; I love that you do "girly" things with Asia, even though you are a tomboy at heart!

4) Melissa, I am so thankful for the example you have been to me. Your relationship with Cole is incredible. I know that life has thrown you some curve balls, but you have never once let your difficulties affect your bond with your son. It is so obvious that he knows that he is loved by you; he can be his silly self, he can talk to you, he can play with you, he can learn with you and he can pray with you. You are raising an amazing son who knows the Lord, and I pray that God will bless me with one just like him!

5) Brooke, I love hearing stories about Joel. It is so obvious that you and Paul get a kick out of his silliness. I love that fact that every day at school (back in the day) you would have a story or a home video of Joel to share with me. You and Paul are both amazing servants of the Lord, and it is apparent that you are raising one just like you both! Joel has a great sense of humor and he never meets a stranger....just like both of you! I can't wait to meet new baby Mason! He (or She??) is a lucky little guy!

6) Jenny, I can't begin to tell you how excited I am for you and Chris. You were made to be a mommy, and I am amazed at the Lord's faithfulness. I have loved hearing about your prayers for baby T. and reading your blog as you write about the gift of pregnancy. You are too cute! You and Chris are going to be incredible parents; you passion for the Lord paired with your passion to experience life to its fullest will make the Thompson household an amazing place to grow up.

7) Ashley! I am thrilled for you and David! God's timing is so perfect, and I can't wait to hear all about your new career as a mom. From the moment I met you, I knew that your creativity and love for family would make you an amazing mom.  I have watched you love on Zach's kids, and it is obvious that God has uniquely gifted you to be a parent. Christian and I will be praying for your little red-headed (hopefully!) peanut!

Desert Song

"All of my life, in every season, you are still God, I have a reason to sing...."

-from Desert Song by Hillsong United

Christian and I are both in our last semester of graduate school, and we are faced with many choices about our future.  We are no different from many people our age....we are wandering through the desert of life, wishing that God would speak to us, like he did Moses, and tell us exactly what to do. However, I am daily working to embrace the conviction I have had in the past weeks: it doesn't matter.  No matter what our future holds, the fact remains that we are blessed right here, right now, and, in every season, God's love is enough.  

Two things happened this weekend, which both humbled me and further convicted me of this truth.  A cab picked me up bright and early at 5:15 AM on Friday morning to take me to the airport.  My cab driver, a slight man with a dark, wrinkled face and kind eyes, told me about his humble beginnings.  At the young age of 16, a family friend drove him from Mexico to Austin, and he was left to fend for himself, with $1.oo in his pocket.  He spoke no English, had no friends, and certainly had no means of getting either of those things.  God must have been looking out for this man, because the very first person he approached not only gave him a job, but also paid for him to learn English.  He ended up working for this "stranger" for 20 years, and he eventually married an Austinite and raised 3 children with her.  Don't tell me that God didn't plan that. 

Even more touching than this man's story was a story that I heard at Stream in the Desert this weekend.  A highly successful family from Rowanda was forced to flee to America, barely escaping death.  Do you think that that was in their plans?  To drag their five children to a foreign country?  To give up a high paying job to become a custodian at a hospital?  To leave behind their friends and family, only to find that those most precious to them had been slaughtered?  God forgive me for not being content with the life you have given me.  I am blessed beyond measure.

So things may not work out the way that we plan them.  So what. If I'm really honest with myself, it is simply my own pride and desire to impress the world that drives my desire to see my plans come to fruition.  I have to know....I HAVE TO know....that God has a purpose for my life that far exceeds the one I have for myself. Lord help us all remember that in every season, regardless of circumstances, you are worthy of honor and praise.