Winter Thoughts

This year has been a tad different than the past three years of Christmas spent together. Our first year of marriage we lived in our teeny apartment on St. Catherine Street. We were without child, I was working at Dr. Bizers, and we were busy bodies. Last year we had a two month old baby and were in a rough season of our lives, wondering where we were going to live once the money ran out, because there was none coming in. This year we have lived in the same house for nine months, have a steady income, and a 13 month old joyous toddler...with another blessing to be due in seven months.

Over the last nine months we have learned to do many new things. I have learned how to cook and bake from scratch, and Corey has learned to sew. Many people will be blessed by our new learnings with homemade Christmas gifts this year. Partly because we enjoy doing these things, and partly because of finances. However, we are quite excited about making things such as homemade coasters, place-mats, and skirts. As well as fudge, peanut butter cups, raspberry brittle, cookies, and cranberry popcorn.

This year we have the opportunity to verbally express to Isaiah what Christmas is. Last year I remember holding my sleeping baby and reading the story from Luke. This year we will probably read of Jesus' birth from The Jesus Storybook Bible, so he can vividly see wonderful pictures expressing this glorious day.

Corey wants to tell the story of our Saviors birth at our Christmas gatherings with family this year. Well he hasn't expressed that HE is going to tell it, but he says he wants it done-which will probably mean he will do it. It will be great to hear the truth of the Holiday proclaimed, because in America we don't usually view Jesus as highly as we do Santa.

We also had the opportunity to go caroling around Germantown on Monday. It was great to sing praises to our King to people who may not believe it. Some people came out of their homes into the freezing cold to hear us, others stood at their doors, some didn't come out at all. At one point we went to a bar and sung to the workers and customers. Two ladies came out of the door and sang with us. In a neighborhood like Germantown, where alcoholism is largely an issue, it was fulfilling to proclaim Jesus with people that fuel the substances of addiction, or are addicts themselves.

We are excited to start new traditions this year, and to spend time with family. I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

One thing to be thankful for.

I am sitting in the bedroom I share with my wonderful husband, with time on my hands while my joyful little boy takes a nap. Now that I am growing another human inside of me, I spend less time rushing around trying to get things done, and more time taking it easily and slowly...and hoping I don't fall into laziness. But as I sit here in silence I hear God teaching me and showing me what he has done for me over time. Which is great, because I actually prayed for that today.

I used to isolate myself from everyone. I never wanted company, and if I was around anyone it would be a close friend...that would force their way into my life. When I met my husband, we isolated ourselves from people, which was mainly my fault because he had tons of friends that he loved. I was so nervous, and shy around others. Living that way lasted from a young age, all the way up until two years ago.

I am so thankful for Godly community now. God has worked through his people to love me, rebuke me, help me financially, and take the time to pour into me. God has worked through me to do the same to newer believers. That is one minute (but incredibly important) thing that God has done in me. I am completely changed by Gods love...in so many other ways.

New Additions

So a couple of days ago I posted some updates...one of them about a future home birth. Soon enough we are going to see this vision play out. The Russell family is adding another baby to their family!

After taking 4 pregnancy tests a little over a week ago, and seeing negative results we were pretty discouraged. But Sunday night, after an obvious symptom had occurred, we decided to take another test. (Well I talked Corey into spending more money on a test.) There it was, two lines instead of one. I actually took it in a friends bathroom, which they weren't expecting at all. They were very shocked to see me hand a pee stick to Corey with a smirk on my face. It was exciting to share the news with the lovely soon to be Meyers family.

So here we are now, all day morning sickness and all. Today, I have been living off of oatmeal, peanut butter, and honey...combined. Hoping the protein will calm the nausea.

We will be expecting the little one in the beginning beginning of July. No midwife appointment set up yet, but hopefully soon!

We are so excited to take care of another one of God's children. We are equally excited to give Isaiah a lifelong friend.

Doesn't the picture above seem as if he needs a friend right beside? I think so.

Updaytes

Hello all. It's been a bit since I have wrote anything on here. I think quite a bit has happened since our last meeting.

On October 26 Isaiah turned a year old! We celebrated his birthday by dressing him up in a fuzzy green monster costume and inviting over tons of friends and family, the Saturday before. It was great. We received lots of toys and lots of clothes from everyone, which was a blessing because his mommy and daddy are pretty poverty stricken these days. Isaiah consumed more sugar than ever, and surprisingly didn't throw any of it up.

Corey and I both wrote Isaiah letters about his first year of life, for him to read when he is an adult. It was quite emotional to reminisce on all of the events that had only happened within the last 365 days. I'm a sap.

Corey and I went on a neat "dayte" a couple of days ago. It was the first time we had gone out without Isaiah since our anniversary (over a month ago). It was a day date, we went to a Flanagans and ate appetizers, poor Corey didn't have beer because we can't find his wallet. Then we went to the movies to see "It's Kind of a Funny Story."

(While we were out we ran into a friend at Quills who called our day date a "DaYte," and apparently that is now the name for day dates.)

Also, Corey and I are planning our future as four instead of three. We aren't pregnant yet, but we are planning the birthing process way ahead of time because we were so unprepared with Isaiah. We are planning a home-birth, and found a midwife here in Louisville to assist us. We will be meeting with her soon, and are so excited to learn more about having a baby at home.

It was a busy month, and since the 31st is tomorrow I suppose I should start saying my goodbyes to October 2010.

Book List

Ok, so I have neglected reading for quite some time now. But I have decided to pick it back up...and I'm going to try to read a book all the way through, because if you ask my husband...I'm infamous for starting something and not finishing it

Right now I am reading Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl. This is a splendid read about how to be a great Godly helper to your husband. I'm loving it.

So here are some more things that I want to read, or reread:

Passionate Housewives Desperate for God by Jennie Chancey

The Hidden Art of Homemaking by Edith Schaeffer

Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson

Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas

Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon (a cook book)

To Train Up a Child by Michael and Debi Pearl

The Great Divorce by C.S. Lewis

Mere Christianity by C.S. Lewis

Desiring God by John Piper

Don't Waste your Life by John Piper

That is just the short list, as I am limited for time!

But if you have any opinions, reviews, or recommendations....let me know!

Oh and Isaiah will be one in less than 3 weeks. Birthday Party planning is stressful, but super fun. I still cannot believe he will be a year old. And I'm having baby fever.

Bless you all!

Winter

The day was cold. White Powder coated the ground, and the trees had bared the last of their leaves. Large shadows were casted beneath my feet, I took a few steps forward.

The frosty wind hit my cheeks as I felt my tears turn to ice crystals. Red liquid poured from my cracking lips as I attempted to apply more Burt's Bees.

My eyes were full as I peered out at the open space surrounding the only soul within miles. The insecurities I held within rushed through my mind like a thousand antelope being chased by a fierce lioness. My heart was broken.

Another gust of icy wind whisked past my body. I felt my tired legs give out, and my knees hit the top layer of the frozen lake. The solid substance formed a crack, as I attempted to raise my heavy head to the sky.

I heard a crackling sound echo through the air. I felt a vibration in my throat, leading me to believe it was my own voice sounding off. More tears poured down my face. As I struggled to wipe them the warm sun grazed my cheeks. The wind whispered a phrase all too familiar, reminding me of joy.

The whispering wind lifted my aching body from the ground, and my arms to the sky.

Busy September

Corey and I had a really amazing weekend, celebrating my birthday and our two year anniversary. On Saturday we dropped Isaiah off at my moms for the night. It was the first night we had gone without our handsome baby. The emotions were a little mixed.

We started the day off by having a picnic at the top of Iroquois Park. It was nice. The breeze was cool, it was foggy out. We ate pita and bagel sandwiches and looked out on to the city.

Corey's parents got us a hotel room at a place that had a water park. That was neat. We acted like 14 year olds and went down water slides. It made us miss Isaiah a lot, because there were a lot of kids there, but it was still fun. We enjoyed ourselves.

We ended the night by just relaxing, eating, and watching television. That is a luxury when you have no TV set, and normally have a little baby making a mess to clean up. It was nice not to have to clean up after myself, Corey, or Isaiah. It was also nice to get a full nights sleep. That hasn't happened in over a year. It felt weird not inching to the coffee pot like a salted slug, which happens daily any other morning .

We enjoyed our day together. Though having a baby makes those times feel oddly different. We woke up early and left two hours before check out just to go and pick him up.

Sunday was nice as well. My family got together to celebrate my birthday. It was nice to see all of my sisters. Two of them I had not talked to in a month or so. I miss my family, and we all live within a 30 mile distance from each other. There is talk of us doing a family day every Sunday here on out. I am looking forward to it.

Today is mine and Corey's actual anniversary. He is working, unfortunately. We shall celebrate when he arrives home!