allow me to brag on my husband for a bit . . . to...

allow me to brag on my husband for a bit . . .

tomorrow we leave for a seven-day caribbean cruise. yes, he's taking me on a cruise :)

i have the best husband ever -- and not just because he's taking me on a cruise. i cannot imagine being married to anyone else. or, choosing to not marry michael. last weekend, i went to a women's conference. during one of the sessions, the speaker through out some crazy statistic about how the majority of women interviewed, if given the opportunity again, would have chosen not to marry their husbands. i guess that's evident by the divorce rate in the u.s. still, my friends and i looked at each other agast. michael isn't perfect, but he's perfect for me.

last night he took me to dinner at one of my favorite restaurants: maggiano's. he bought me a new (and quite expensive) swimsuit for our cruise -- which he picked out himself. he tells me why he loves me on a regular basis and does "husband-y" things around the house (like rearranging the living room and bedroom). he finds great deals (like our cruise) and is very responsible with money. he supports my sometimes-crazy adventures, like training for and riding the ms 150 last year. he goes to midwife appointments with me . . . and seems to enjoy it. and he'll be a phenomenal support during birth.

and in six months, he'll be a fantastic father.

well, there's definitely a lot in the air, but it'...

well, there's definitely a lot in the air, but it's exciting nonetheless.

exciting to remember that God provides in perfect ways.

exciting to remember that he is intimately aquainted with all my ways.

exciting to remember that he knows what i need before i even ask.

today, i was meeting with charles before our staff meeting. this was our second meeting as this was my second week leading our team. we won't meet the next two weeks and then we'll be half-way through my "tenure." i've enjoyed these meetings so far -- it's fun to see what charles is up to and hear his strategies, vision and planning.

i digress . . . about half-way through our hour-long meeting, charles asked what we are planning to do work-wise once the baby comes. i told him we're still deciding, that i don't think i can stay in my current role full-time and that he could pray for us. to which he responded that he has been. he and stan have been talking about how each region really needs an "assistant" to the regional director -- someone to take the strategy and coordination from the rd. he doesn't really know what it would look like right now, but he's asked us to pray about the opportunity. i'd work part-time as an area director and part-time in this new position.

i'm really excited about the possibility. i knew i wanted to be home more than i am, but the only option seemed to be sarah's mtr role. i could definitely do that, but it certainly wouldn't thrill me. however, i have really enjoyed the "big picture" and strategy parts of kiley's job these last two weeks. i love working on projects, i'm learning, and having a good sense of the whole puzzle.

certainly it's all in the works and nothing is decided. michael and i could really decide this isn't for us and that we want me to actually be home. but, it's very cool to me that this opportunity is beyond what i could have even imagined.

i'm jazzed.

and now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we could ask or imagine . . .
ephesians 3:20

"resting in Jehovah heart are truly blest -- findi...

"resting in Jehovah
heart are truly blest --
finding in his presence
perfect peace and rest."

i wish i knew the title of that hymn . . .

i am tired. overwhelmed. and, this week, overcommitted. i don't like when i find myself in a place like this. you know, when you all of a sudden realize you said yes to too many people . . . but, it's too late to go back. i didn't realize i was overcommitted until i was too far in to turn around.

i am tired. i need the rest of Jehovah.

i'm really excited about the changes i'm going through at work. i'm eager to see a "different" side of AL and to have a change of pace with different responsibilties. but, it's still overwhelming. i don't feel competent in many areas.

i've been encouraged by the book of joshua. it's neat to me to see the changes joshua went through during the book. during the first chapter alone, God tells him three or four times, "do not be anxious or afraid, don't be discouraged or dismayed." he must have been pretty scared to lead the large band of israelites. but, God continually reveals himself to joshua and "fights" for him on many occassions. in fact, he even rains down large stones to "smite" the enemy! by the end of the book, joshua is encouraging others not be afraid and reminding them of how the Lord fought for them.

i kind of feel like i'm in joshua's sandals for these next eight weeks. i'm feeling pretty anxious about some things and don't really know how to lead our small band of ADs. i'm looking forward to seeing how the Lord fights for us . . . by the end of these two months, i want my faith and confidence to have grown, so that i am encouraging others to not be afraid.

"worry does not rob tomorrow of it's sorrow, it robs today of it's strength." ~corrie ten boom

Whomp-whomp. Whomp-whomp. What an amazing sound....

Whomp-whomp. Whomp-whomp.


What an amazing sound. Wednesday, we had our 12-week OB appointment. This early in pregnancy, it can be heard to hear the baby's heartbeat and so I was trying not to get too excited -- I didn't want to be disappointed if Dr. Smith couldn't find it.

She came into the room where I was already sitting on the table and asked how we were doing. The next words out of her mouth were, I have a patient about to push, so if I get a phone call and have to rush out, that's why. Initially, I was bummed. I was afraid she would be too rushed to find a little heartbeat if it wasn't immediately present.

But, Dr. Smith came through for us. She was extremely patient and took, what felt to me like, a long time running the doppler around my lower abdomen. All Michael and I could hear were the woooooshes and gurgles of my stomach. But, everytime she thought she was getting close she would close her eyes and purse her lips, listening really intently. And then she said, There it is. For half a second, we didn't hear anything. And then . . .

Whomp-whomp. Whomp-whomp. whomp-whomp.

Special K's heart is beating strong around 140-150 bps. The baby was a little bugger hiding from us, but from the heartbeat is doing very well.

What an amazing sound!

let's get this party started right! here's a litt...

let's get this party started right!

here's a little something i wrote february 10, 2007. that day already seems years away -- not just a few weeks.

"a day that will live in infamy.

well, at least in the kramer world.

today, michael and i found out we're having a baby! crazy, huh? weird. still very, very surreal. weird. unbelievable. and, did i say, weird. one little line changed our world this morning.
so, our lil punkin is due around october 20."

and our life will never be the same.