Shadow

I was caught off guard by my shadow today.

I was getting Grace some food and in the early morning light my shadow fell on our family room wall.

What surprised me was how BIG my belly was!

I am officially in the "big ol' pregnant" phase of pregnancy. That phase between feeling all cute and new with your baby bump and the one where you are just so full of excitement because your baby's arrival is just weeks (or days!) away!

I try not to be a "Pregnancy Complainer." You know the type. They can't wait to get pregnant but then when they do, ALL they can talk about is how they are sick/tired/hungry/sore etc. It's one of my biggest pet peeves. I felt myself slipping into that though and wanted to change my attitude a bit.

I love all the phases for different reasons but I forgot how this season teaches you to be still. Quiet. Enjoy the movement and the moments.

Grace sits atop my bump with her legs around my belly (her sister,) and curls her toes into the bump. It is so sweet.

Love it.

And, as I am just days away from hitting 28 weeks, the start of the third trimester, I wanted to remind myself how precious these days are. How beautiful a time it is.

Even if I can't see Grace when she is standing underneath of the bump.
 
And poor girl has gotten knocked over a couple of times because of it.

It happens!

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Shadow

Bazilla

*Sigh*
Today was a good day.

A really good day.

Full and busy. Long and social. Going from almost 9 am to 10 pm with a 1 hour nap in the middle has left me feeling tired, but oh-so-satisfied.

Since the last time I wrote, I:

Went over the border again. Which really was a blessing, since our border situation has tightened just in the last past week. They increased the visa cost from nothing to almost 45 US dollars. Crazy. And there is an almost one hour waiting period at the border.

I had Chili's again. Praise the Lord! My appetite was hankering for some chicken strips and honey mustard sauce. I meant to get a side of black beans and rice to go, but I forgot. I was so satisfied.

I got to see Baby on the ultrasound screen for almost a full 30 minutes! Baby stretched (uncontrolled movements, mind you, but still incredibly cute,) and waved his arms above his head. *Sigh* It was amazing.

We got back through the border without having to stamp out and back in, which was a true miracle. We are praising the Lord for this blessing, which, if we can help it, will help us in another 3 weeks for our next Dr appointment!

We celebrated my sweet husband's 24th birthday. It was quiet and unassuming, but just what he wanted! A dinner of enchiladas, re-fried beans, and homemade salsa, with a dessert of dark chocolate cake and frosting. We snuggled into bed to watch a movie on iTunes, but then it freaked both of us out and was a bit too dark and ominous for a birthday movie date (The Road, which I heard the book is amazing, but cannibalism, on a birthday? no thank you.) So, we watched Frequency and were happy. We love us some drama and suspense movies.

We got to grill out with some class mates of ours. Had "white," barbecue sauce for the first time in my life and was quite pleased. I also loved seeing our Korean classmates be introduced to sweet tea and barbecue for the first time!

*Whew* So much has happened. I really shouldn't put off these posts!

We also finished our first text book in Arabic class. I officially can read all of the letters. Not very well, or very quickly, but the fact is, I can! We had our final exam for the book today, which I did fine on. As an educator, I was not very pleased with the content of the exams, as it was not on things we had actually been taught (well, some of it, I mean,) which is just setting your students up for failure. So on the parts that we hadn't really been taught, I didn't do too well, but I am fine with that because I know it wasn't my fault!

And although I originally started this post 10 days ago, it somehow was abandoned and forgotten about.

I've been dealing with some "blogging stress," lately. I'm not really sure if I can explain it. I am super sensitive, and when I read other people's blogs about how they are feeling about things I become over aware about hurting their feelings and not wanting to make anyone feel bad. I try to avoid topics that could upset anyone and then I feel bad that I am not blogging about my life. So, my solution is to not blog. But clearly that isn't a good choice.

I've also been severely disappointed in how some of the blogging community has reacted to a certain famous blogger lately. It just breaks my heart that people have so much hate and bitterness in them.

I guess all of that has turned me off of blogs for the past couple of weeks.

All of that to say, I'm still struggling with it, but I know how uplifting and encouraging this community can be, so I'm looking forward to embracing and finding those posts that make me grow and learn, instead of doubt and feel insecure.

Oh yes, and Bazilla means Pea in Arabic.

It's my favorite word so far.

Second runner up is FlayFla, the word for bell pepper :)

I hope this finds everyone well and enjoying the beginning of their fall! Our temperatures are set to finally dip below 100 within the next month (yay!) and Ian and I are taking our FIRST EVER VACATION (well, it's only 2 nights, but that's longer than we've ever had before,) to Dubai this weekend. Yay!

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Bazilla

Joyful

I have been feeling really joyful these last couple of days.

Which is AWESOME because I really haven't been feeling joyful these last couple of months.

And since {Joy} isn't one of those "fake it until you make it" things, like Praise and Thankfulness, I am so grateful to be in this new place.

After all, we have all been down in those valleys where the mountaintop of {Joy} seems miles away.

I still claim James 1:2-3 as my life verse:

"Count it all Joy my brothers, when you face trials and temptations, for the testing of your faith develops Perseverance."

and 4 is pretty amazing as well

"Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything."

and now, I can be Joyful as I think of all the lessons I have learned these last few months.

and trust me, I am.

~~~~~~~~~~~

I had a wonderful day today! Despite a bad thunderstorm rolling in and leaving me home alone without power for the afternoon, it really turned out to be great!

As soon as the power came back on and I could open the garage, I hopped in my hubby's car, and took off for St@rbucks!

I spent almost 4 hours reading, and people watching, and reading and drinking Pumpkin Spiced Latte! It was wonderful.

and then, on my 30 minute drive home (St@rbucks is FAR!) I listened to my favorite Christmas CD!

~~~~~~~~~

Speaking of CD's......

I just found out today that:

A.) Michael Buble's new CD comes out on Friday, October 9th! I wasn't even aware one was coming out, not to mention coming out this week! I am a huge fan of his music and have been to 2 concerts! I can't wait to take Ian to one during his next tour- they are always SO much fun!

B.) Chris Tomlin had a Christmas CD released today! I love me Christmas music, and I like to get ones that are "singable," which Tomlin's music totally is!

Anyone else a Michael Buble fan?

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Joyful