getting ready...

I am astonished at how quickly the time is going by - just five weeks until our little boy will join the world, Lord willing! (I am planning to have the baby about a week early, at my doctor's advice...either via induction or c-section.)

It feels like I want everything to be "perfect" in my surroundings as things get closer. I know that's never realistic since we are actually living life and not in a magazine spread, but the pile of papers on my desk right now threatens my sanity, for real!

God has been teaching me the past few days about choosing what is important in life, and sometimes that takes priority over having a perfect house. Sometimes it means leaving dishes in the sink while I chat with my husband in the evenings. If I waited until my kitchen sparkled with order and "perfection", my husband would be asleep, or so groggy conversation would be impossible! Sometimes choosing what's important means playing with Elijah...and not letting my mind wander to the vacuuming or laundry or my grocery list.

I wish those kind of choices came easier for me! I confess, it's so easy to put a higher value on tangible accomplishments than close, connected relationships and having fun with people.

Help me, Lord, to ask You what's important during my days. Life is short...I want to live for what's lasting and eternal and lovely. Thank you for my husband and my little boy (soon to be two little boys)!

two cowboys

Some friends of ours from church invited us to their place a few days ago, and this was what the Harkins men did! (Pregnant mamas were excluded, unfortunately.) Todd enjoyed getting his feet in the stirrups again, and used his Grandpa's saddle. Elijah had a blast. Too bad we can't keep a horse in the garage of our apartment!

(All the pictures are courtesy of our friends.)


A beautiful evening in Idaho...











Thank you, Lord, for our smiling little boy and his good father...and for friends who let us come and play!

I've finally pressed 'play'!

Sorry to all who've stopped by only to find the same post for the past two months! It was sort of a bad post to leave you hanging with. I don't think my heart is 'on pause' anymore...in fact, I am relishing delicious feelings about that little baby on the way! I dream about him nearly every night. Perhaps I should clarify that to add that most of the dreams are about forgetting to feed him. Oh well...they make me laugh in the morning, at least!

I've been kept busy with lots of doctor appointments, non-stress-tests, and ultrasounds. In fact, from this week on I'll be having an NST and ultrasound weekly. I am so grateful for the careful approach of my doctors here, and grateful that all looks well.

I'll try to update you a little more faithfully! Here are some pics from the past weeks.


Happiness is swinging in a hammock with a cousin!

Here's Elijah in his temporary 'stander' (borrowed until he gets his own). We like to push it partly outside and hang out on our apartment's patio so he can listen to all the bugs and birds and little kids playing. This was about three weeks ago, and I think my belly has gotten a lot bigger even since then!


Free chairlift day at the local ski hill! This is us in the middle of June, freezing on the mountain. So glad I listened to my husband and didn't wear shorts and flip-flops like I wanted to! :)