Birthday Week

I love fall and October!  This last week was my birthday, and I was so blessed by my family and friends.  I do enjoy birthdays, and I also enjoy good surprises.  Well, my hubby did a great job and surprised me!  Friday night, I thought I was just going to hang out with one of my good friend's Bethany.  But instead, we had a great double date with Tobin and I, and Bethany and her husband Brad.  It was special to hang out, have dinner at a yummy restaurant (Del Alma), and then we left dinner, and I thought we were going to "dessert."  Again I was surprised as we went to a Bebo Norman concert.  One of Tobin & my favorite artist, going back to college.  We had one of his songs that meant a lot to each of us, sung at our wedding. 

Here's the song: A Page Is Turned

Then we went out and had yummy gelato for dessert!  Very special.

Then on my birthday - I had lots of people at work wishing me Happy Birthday.  One of my coworkers made a gluten and dairy free carrot cake - yummy!  And then I went out to dessert with girlfriends from church.

I was blessed by getting several scarves as gifts - I love scarves!

Then on Saturday, I got to spend the day with my sister, shopping in Portland.  It was fun to get to spend time together, talk, and get a few things.  We went up to IKEA, and I finished getting a few things for the nursery (blog post to follow about that once it's all decorated!).  

I just am overwhelmed by the love and community that the Lord has blessed us with.  For several years, Tobin and I lived so far away that we didn't have many friends or family nearby to celebrate these fun events.  I am so thankful for the community of friends at church - that have basically also become like family and my family that is now so close.

As we approach Thanksgiving, I want to remember and be thankful for what God has blessed me with.

6 months quiet...and now only 8 weeks till big change!

It has been quite some time.  I think about blogging often, but something else always fills the extra time I have - cleaning, laundry, grocery shopping...and then if all the "have to's" get done, then I try to get to projects - sewing, pictures, reading, canning, fun with friends, etc.  I truly have felt blessed in these last few months, and that God continues to "fill our cup to overflowing" as a family.  So as you know, we are expecting...a little girl to be added to our family, sometime in the middle of December (later or earlier, is in God's timing).  These last 7 months of pregnancy, have been good.  God has showered me with blessings of feeling healthy and strong through much of this.  Even with my crazy gluten, dairy free diet, and scare of my colitis flaring again early in the pregnancy, God has been merciful --and cared for each of those things.  This little girl, is growing big in my belly (even though friends tell me "I look so small").  She is just the right size, moving, kicking, growing.  It is such an amazing feeling -- sometimes somewhat painful and awkward when she kicks my ribs or bladder, but so amazing to think of God creating this being inside of my womb.

I am now counting down the weeks under 10...that is if she arrives on time.  I thought I'd give you a taste of my changing belly.  We've been taking photos about every 2 weeks, with the corresponding fruit/vegetable "length" of the growing baby....I'm not sure how accurate they are given the range of vegetation sizes!

week 13

 14

 16

 17

 19

 20

 21

 23

 25

 27

 29

 30