Thankful

There are many things that I am thankful for...

November 26th was my mom and dad's anniversary.  31 years.  Although my dad is not able to be here and share the day with my mom, I have no doubt that they will catch up when they see each other again!  

Yesterday, we spent Thanksgiving at Jerod's mom and dad's house and my mom was able to join us.  Even though I only live about 20 minutes from her, sometimes it seems like it's been too long since the last time we got together.  I am very thankful for my relationship with Jesus Christ, this house to live in, for the baby on the way, for my family and for my mom.  I love you mom.  

Breakfast With Cafe Classico

This morning I woke up CRAVING homemade hash browns, scrambled egg whites and turkey bacon!!  So I went to work.  Jerod got home from the gym and wanted coffee.  Brasilian coffee sounds good he said.  But you won't let me have any.  Early on in my pregnancy I heard that it's not good to drink coffee, along with many other things that you shouldn't do.  Which is why I told him he couldn't drink all the Brasilian coffee without me. But as the months have gone on, I don't see the big deal of having a cup of coffee every now and then.  

So we brewed a pot of Sendas Cafe Classico!  And YUM, it was SOOOO good!  We have less than half a bag left, so we'll need to plan a trip back to Brasil soon to get more! :)  And of course to soak up some sun, eat some fejaoada, visit old friends.....

A Shoebox

This morning I went to Des Moines to take a baby class that the hospital offers.  On the way home I stopped at Walmart to get some groceries.  Cereal, pie crust (still haven't found a recipe i like), carrots and toilet paper were a few of the items, along with a toothbrush for the shoebox.  I saw a package of 4 and decided to get the package of 2.  After all the groceries were in my cart, I made my way to the children's clothing section.  Not knowing if I was going to buy for a boy or girl this year, I thought I would see what I could find.  Each year, our church participates in Operation Christmas Child through Samaritan's Purse.  Jerod and I have done it for a couple years and it's something I really enjoy.  When my good friend Maureen was in Africa, she actually got to help deliver a shipment of boxes to hundreds of children.  She posted the video on her blog and it brings tears to my eyes every time I watch it.  

I came across some boys t-shirts and noticed that they were Christian shirts with Bible verses on them.  I found one that I really liked and put it in the cart.  So it looks like I'll be buying for a boy between the ages of 10-14.  And then I became stumped and couldn't think of anything else to get.  Boys here in the states that age most likely have interests in things that I could not fit into a shoebox.  So I prayed and asked the Lord what I should get.  After all, He knows the exact child this box will go to.  And then a cool thing started to happen. Really cool.  When you quit rationalizing things and just listen to the Lord's voice.  I got a box of Uno cards and the Lord told me that someone would come to his house and teach him how to play.  I walked buy an isle full of candles and knew I should turn down there but I kept walking.  What would a boy want a candle for?  It's not for him, it's for his mother.  So I turned back around and got a candle.  It was really interesting picking out what scent too.  I didn't get the spice type candles because I have a feeling those will be familiar smells in their county.  So I got a cherry one.  I thought it was interesting that I would put something in the box for the boys mother, but the Lord showed me that the boy is the man of the house.  He doesn't have a father living with them and he has 2 younger siblings.  He's not a selfish boy and he would be glad to share with his family.  

I kind of walking aimlessly, without knowing what I was looking for but knowing that the Lord would make it clear to me.  I picked up a word search book and continued down another isle.  Not seeing anything for a child I thought, Why did we go down this isle?  For you.   At the very end I found a 2009 planner that I had been wanting.  :)  Then I came across what I was looking for, crayons for the younger ones.  I went back to the toothbrush isle and replaced the ones I got for the pack of 4.  I found a few other small things and as I payed for the items, I felt really good about what I had purchased.  

You know you can make your own don't you?  This time it was the cashiers voice talking about my pie crust that she was holding.  Yes I know, I said.  But I haven't found a recipe that I like yet.  I walked outside to the first real snow of the season.  It was beautiful!  It was also beautiful how the Lord made things clear to me, but also that I listened.  Sometimes I get too caught up in other things that I miss it.  Miss the blessing that He's trying to tell me and I don't want to do that.  I don't want to miss any more candles.  

All Things That Sparkle

Christmas gets closer by the hour!  Jerod and I went to Target the other day and I was instantly attracted to everything that sparkles in the Christmas isles!  I'm not quite sure what it is about the jewels and glitter, but it's like I have a radar for it!  

But even better than plastic glittery ornaments... is going to Josephs before that to get my ring cleaned.  I found the best gift that Jerod could give me for Christmas!!!  A ring with diamonds circling a red rudy (to wear in the winter) and one with an emerald (to wear in the summer)!  They would look similar to this ring from Tiffany & Co. just with a round stone and not square.  I think I may be waiting a little longer than a month and a half for these gifts though!  :)  Boy, do they sparkle!!!

Not Enough

The one thing that i love about Jasmine Star's blog is that she posts so frequently and also that she's real.  I told myself that i was going to blog more often, like 5 times a week at least. Because i haven't been doing it enough.  I visited another photographers blog a few minutes ago and not much had changed since the last time I looked at it, about 10 days ago... and because of that, i don't check it as much either.  But with Jasmine's i check it daily.  And then I got to thinking that i don't have anything interesting to write about or any fabulous photos to post.  Do people really want to know about my days at work, coming home for an hour and then back to work for a night meeting?  I wouldn't think so.  So i got on J*'s old blog to see what she wrote about when she was just starting out.  And many of her posts don't have photos either, but she was real.  And spoke the truth.  I think that's what i like the most.  So here i go...

I've been putting together a few ideas for the business.  I started making a list of all the things that i would like to have and use for photography.  Everything ranging from lenses, a new camera, lightening equipment, what print lab to go through, everything!  I was thinking about this about an hour ago and got stumped.  Or a little overwhelmed if you will.  There really is so much to think about and invest in.  Sometimes it seems confusing and other times i think i'm getting it.  When i make a decision i tend to really think about it.  Like it were my last meal.  Just ask Jerod when we go out to eat.  But then again, i don't want to think so much about this stuff that i put it off either.  Sometimes i have a tendency to postpone something if i don't understand it.  I learned that about myself at a previous job.  I don't often ask for help.  But i think that maybe i should this time.  

Building A Bedroom

After a busy week at work, i'm very glad that it's the weekend... even though it means more work!  This morning Jerod and i got up early to work on the basement.  With a new baby on the way, we need another bedroom!  Our house is small, but cozy.  Jerod and his dad just cut a hole out of the basement wall for the new window.  Before that, he and i cleaned and rearranged the whole basement, covering everything with plastic so it doesn't get too dusty while the bedroom is being built.  I'm not too fond of making work harder than it has to be, like cleaning everything 50 times.  :)  But everything is one step closer to a new little one in the house!  And all the work and hours and dust is worth it!