Happy New Year!

It's already the last day of 2008!!  Wow, much has gone on this past year, especially in these last couple weeks!  

I'm so excited for 2009!  I know the Lord has some great things in store.  Tomorrow I plan on taking some time to write out goals for this new year!  I'm really going to stretch myself and push myself to achieve them!  I'll be blogging about them soon!  Tomorrow, Hannah and I are also going to get the baby room painted and set up!  I'll be sure to post some pictures of before and after!  

Have a Happy New Year everyone! :)

Happy Birthday Jesus!

Merry Christmas everyone!  I hope you all had a wonderful day with family and friends!  It's so good to remember the real reason for the season.  Jesus is the best gift of all! 

This Blog

Everytime I get on this blog to post something, i'm reminded of how much i really don't like it.  It's the whole layout that I don't like, it just seems so boring!  But in a way, it's really good for me to get on here and see that because each time I do, it's a reminder of the things that I DO like and the way that I want it to look! 

Soon, I'll be working with Nikki at Expressive Style Graphics to revamp this blog!  Great things are in store! 

At Large

Today is one of those days where i just feel large!  It could be because i'm extra tired or that i did so much today.   Whatever the reason, i just feel extra big!  :)  But it's all for a good cause!   Here is a picture of me a few weeks ago at the baby shower that Hannah had for me!

Beautiful Day!

Today was beautiful, despite the below zero temperatures!  Actually, this whole weekend was great!  Much progress was made on the girls bedroom downstairs, the painting is almost complete.  Just a few "special" touches on 2 walls and that part will be done!  

Yesterday we went to Des Moines and I got to pick up my new Canon 5D Mark II!!  I am SOOO excited!!!  I feel so blessed to actually have one in my hands.  Especially when i think back to where i was just a few months ago.  When I wanted to do photography so badly, but just hadn't made up my mind to do it yet!  

This morning, Jerod and I had another baby doctor apt and ultrasound.  The baby weighs 5 pounds 2 ounces now!  That's amazing that they can tell that!  It was a little bit camera shy though and wouldn't turn it's head around.  But we got to see the heart and spine... it's amazing how God puts us together!  

I am so thankful for so many things! :)

Answered Prayer: Canon 5D Mark II

On December 5th, Christian Photo in Des Moines was having Canon Days.  I took the day off of work and met Elly and we both headed over there.  I really wanted to see the new Canon 5D and also shoot with a couple of lenses to see which ones I'd really like to have.  Well, I loved the camera and had them put my name down on the waiting list... added to the others.  A few days later, I contacted Samys Camera in CA to see if I could get a camera body quicker.  I was told that they already had a shipment come in, sold out and those on the waiting list probably wouldn't see theirs until Feb. or March 2009.  So I decided to pray and believe that I would have one by the end of January.  Why?  Because the baby is due then and I wanted to give my mom my Rebel to take on her trip to Israel in early February.  

It's easy to trust in the Lord in the good times, but your faith is tested in the hard times.  This past week there were a few things that were bothering me.  I prayed about them and the Lord answered both of those prayers, one Friday and the other one this morning.  There's one more prayer that's in the process of being answered.  It's kind of a big one, but I remember that I have a big God!  So as I was thinking about this about 2 hours ago, and reminding myself that "...my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus", the phone rang.  It was Christian Photo calling to say they received a 5D this morning in and they were wondering if I wanted it.  Eight days after I looked at it.  It just amazes me how much the Lord looks out for us.  He knows the desires of our hearts!  I have been believing and sowing for a new camera and now it's here!  Thank you Jesus!  And to top it all off, there is a very dear individual who is purchasing it for me!  Wow.  God is good!  

Comments

Lately, I've been hearing all sorts of comments...

"You're due in 2 months?! You're not very big!"

"Maybe you should switch to bud light to get rid of that belly!"

"You can't even tell you're pregnant until you turn to the side!"

"You're starting to waddle a lot more." 

Comments that bring a smile to my face and comments that I choose to ignore.  But I think some of the best comments of all are the ones that I'm receiving on my blog!  Maureen, Mary and Candice have been huge inspirations to me!  Maureen really pushed me to get this going and post more often and I'm so thankful to her for that!  She is such a dear friend to me and I just love her!  I've never met Mary or Candice, but they are such an inspiration to me!  It just amazes me that these great photographers would WANT to check my blog, read it and leave a comment!!!  That really gives me the desire to keep posting!  Thank you ladies! I never knew leaving a comment on someone's blog would be such an inspiration! 

Odd Hours

When I was younger and grew up on the farm, I could sleep through anything!  Like the night our neighbors barn burned down, or when storms came through and thunder would rattle the old windows around my bed.  I've always been able to sleep really well and i see that as a blessing.  But lately, I've noticed that I awake at strange hours.  Sometimes I'm not sure why and other times it's because i feel the need to pray.  

The morning of Black Friday, I awoke at 2:20 a.m. because I had to use the bathroom!  I think the baby is using my bladder as a pillow! :)  I tried to go back asleep but couldn't so i thought i should make good use of that time!  So I went shopping!  :)  This morning I awoke at 4:15 a.m. as Jerod got ready to go deer hunting.  So instead of going back to sleep, I got on the computer to check out other photographers blogs.  I'm looking for some great photo ideas for shoes.  You see my wonderful friend Elly is getting married on the 20th and has asked me to take pictures.  And since it's a winter wedding she's not going to be wearing just any shoes, no, she'll be wearing some big furry boots!  We found them yesterday with her mother-in-law to be at ALDO and they are so FUN!!!  I can't wait!

Yesterday I also got to hold the new Canon 5D Mark ll in my hands and shoot with it and I.LOVE.IT!!!!  

Note To Self...

When you wear giant hoop earrings in the winter, don't stand outside in 17 degree weather to talk to someone.  They feel like huge icicles against your neck! 

Little One

Monday, Jerod and I had another baby doctor appointment!  The most amazing thing is getting to hear the heartbeat!  I love it!  The baby has a really fast one too, I'm still thinking it's a boy!  Here's some pictures of our little one! :)  They're kind of small but the top left is the baby's face looking at us, the two dark circles are the eyes, there is a little hand next to it's chin; Top right is the baby's head, looking up; Bottom right is the hand and Bottom left is a foot! :)