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Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Wedded Wednesday



♥ What are your middle names? Daniel and Marie

♥ How long have you been together? 3 years

♥ Who asked whom out? He expressed 'interest' first

♥ How old are each of you? He's 30, I'm 28

♥ Whose siblings do/did you see the most? Mine, he's an only child

♥ Do you have any children together? 1 on the way!

♥ What about pets? its hard to have a pet while on deputation

♥ Which situation is the hardest on you as a couple? getting ready for another round of meetings and nearing the end of our travels after months of being on the road...we tend to get a little testy.

♥ Did you go to the same school? Nope!

♥ Are you from the same home town? No

♥ Who is the smartest? Probably him

♥ Who is more sensitive? Definitely me!

♥ Where do you eat out most as a couple? Panera Bread or Chilis

♥ Where is the furthest you two have traveled together as a couple? We travel all over since we are on deputation, from south dakota to florida/south dakota to new mexico-who really knows!

♥ Who has the craziest ex???? Thankfully neither of us,we don't have ex's!

♥ Who has the worst temper? I don't know that we necessarily have tempers we just equally get aggitated easily

♥ Who does the cooking? Me

♥ Who is more social? Me

♥ Who is the neat-freak? That differs in certain areas

♥ Who is more stubborn? Unfortunately, I think we're equal on that one!

♥ Who hogs the bed? He does! He's always taking my covers...

♥ Who wakes up earlier? Me

♥ Where was your first date? another good question...my parents house! lol!

♥ Who has the bigger family? me

♥ Do you get flowers often? Not usually, its hard to care for flowers on the road...

♥ How do you spend the holidays? With family

♥ Who is more jealous? Me

♥ How long did it take to get serious? A month

♥ Who eats more? Him

♥ Who does/did the laundry? Me, but he will help when he has a chance

♥ Who’s better with the computer? he is

♥ Who drives when you are together? we take turns! we both like to drive!

Playing Catch Up!

So, its been ages since my last post-my sincere apologies to all my faithful readers. We don't have internet access at home, so I don't have the time or the capabilities always to get into town where there is a wireless connection and do updates. Please notice the following post...its a baby update!
Since being home we have been busy noticing how much stuff we have, how tiny our apartment is and realizing how much more stuff we are going to accumulate when baby comes. What a task that lies before us! Were going to have a rummage sale this summer and we are already going through things...stuff that we convince ourselves to keep year after year and still never use it! Well, this time-we are standing strong and saying no more...its time to get rid of our junk and make a little extra cash for spoiling baby!
Joseph is trying to schedule meetings for summer and this is proving to be a difficult task. Normally, we try and take summers off since it is harder to schedule meetings due to Pastors knowing that people in the church will be vacationing, VBS going on, church camps, etc. and therefore, we then book our fall! However, this year I can't travel after Septemeber 22nd and we want to stay in the area in September so we are trying to book last minute summer meetings. Pray that God gives the necessary meetings in a short period of time.
Well, this was my quick update and I'm going to post my Wedded Wednesday blog as well! I figure that I'm playing catch up on here so why not!

Preggo Update

My Baby:
Your baby has continued to grow over the past week. Now almost 2 inches long, your little one has been engaged in some heavy acrobatics, kicking and stretching inside your womb. Remember, though she is getting bigger, it may be some weeks before you feel her moving around.

Her skin, though still paper thin and transparent, is forming a protective barrier around her body. Her tiny fingers and toes have begun to separate into unique extremities, and she's also begun to open and close her fists. The first signs of where her teeth will form appear this week, as tiny tooth buds begin to pop up under her gums. She may even have her first case of the hiccups as her diaphragm begins to develop.

My Progress Report:
How far along? 11 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: I haven't gained a pound...yet!
How much does baby weigh?
Symptoms: Occasional waves of nausea, tire easily, gassy (ew),very dry skin and lips
Maternity clothes? Mostly skirts, they are more comfy than my regular clothes now.
Stretch marks? nope
Sleep: Pretty good though I get waken up by frequent bathroom needs.
Best moment this week: I would have to look back to a couple of weeks ago, heard baby's heart beat and found out baby's heart rate is where it needs to be!
Food cravings: White Chocolate Reeses Peanut Butter Cups!
Food aversions: Leftover Taco Casserole...for some reason the stench from it being reheated was totally disgusting.
Gender: Still waiting...
Labor signs: way to early for this.
Belly Button - in or out? in.
What I miss: nothing as of right now, I've waited so long for this.....
What I am looking forward to: Sunday, wearing wearing my 1st maternity dress...
Milestones: hearing baby's heart beat...awesome-what a miracle!

Tuesday, March 16, 2010

10 on Tuesday

1. Today, we are homeward bound and will be home for at least another month!
2. Last night, we were able to have dinner with our good friends the Metsingers! We met them at Famous Daves, enjoyed some good food; but most importantly a good time.
3. Tomorrow, it will be time to get my followup ultrasound to check on baby's heart rate. Please pray that baby is okay and that the heart rate has increased. My appointment is at 10:45.
4. I am seriously contemplating getting my hair chopped off, I had been trying to let my hair grow out; but I don't know how much more I can take of constant tangles. I am getting my hair done this week, will I come home with a simple hair trim or a complete new hair style?
5. This is my 100th post, I thought about making a big deal about it; but have decided to make my big post, the 101 post!
6. This past Saturday, I was able to spend the afternoon with my great friend Lindsay! I am so thankful for her friendship and that we were able to spend some time together, even though we were both very tired.
7. Speaking of Lindsay, its crazy to think but her and I have actually known each other for 10 years now-which is absolutely crazy!
8. Our church's ladies retreat is just slightly a month away and I really need to start ironing out my workshop details! I am so looking forward to doing the workshop-I hope its a blessing to all that attend my workshop.
9. I have been to the driving range twice now with my new driver and I actually can see improvement in my swing! Joseph also bought me a new golf bag-one that looks more girly...we got such a good deal, it was on sale, plus we got another $10 off! Sweet deals!
10. Thanks for being a faithful reader...I love doing my blog and hope you enjoy reading it as much as I do writing it!

Friday, March 12, 2010

Preggo Friday!

If everything goes right and I actually do it on time, I have decided to deem Friday's, Preggo Friday! A weekly update of how my little "firefly" is developing and how I am feeling. I stole the progress report of how I am doing from another blog and the questions probably don't all apply at first; but it will still be fun!

Week 8-My Baby:
Though you might not feel it, your baby, now about the size of a kidney bean (8-11 mm), is moving inside of you! Your baby’s facial features become more obvious this week, as his lips, tongue, nostrils, and buds for teeth have developed. His arms and legs are growing, elbows and knees develop, and his fingers and toes, though still webbed, become visible while any traces of his “tail” are almost entirely gone.
This week, your baby’s bones also begin to harden through a process called ossification. Inside your baby’s brain, nerve cells are branching out creating his first neural pathways. And though it’s still too early to discern your baby’s sex, as any external genital organs have yet to develop, an ultrasound at week 8 could detect the beating of his little heart.

Progress Report:
How far along? 8 weeks!
Total weight gain/loss: I haven't weighed myself recently and I have a feeling that I don't really want to!
How much does baby weigh?
Symptoms: Occasional waves of nausea, tire easily.
Maternity clothes? The Bella Band, I have noticed some of my skirts are beginning to leave button/zipper marks in the skin.
Stretch marks? nope
Sleep: I sleep pretty well; but I wake up achy, however, this could be the result of sleeping on an air mattress this past week.
Best moment this week: Making it another week!
Food cravings: none.
Food aversions: Monday KFC chicken disgusted me; but since then I have ate other chicken just fine! Lasagna was also offered to me, I had it on my plate and when it was time to eat it, I couldn't do it, it suddenly looked very unappetizing.
Gender: Still waiting...
Labor signs: way to early for this.
Belly Button - in or out? in.
What I miss: nothing as of right now, I've waited so long for this.....
What I am looking forward to: my ultrasound next week, can't wait to see that baby is okay!
Milestones:

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Thursday Update

So, I discovered this morning that I am going to be the emotional queen of pregnancy-ugh. Joseph received a phone call from the Pastor of the church we will be in on Sunday. The pastor informed Joseph that since we were so close he would like us to be there at 10 a.m for visitation on Saturday-I had made plans a few weeks ago to spend the morning/afternoon with my friend Lindsay. I just started crying, knowing I would have to cancel my plans with Lindsay. And I also could not get over the fact that I was crying over all of this, I should not cry this easily...its one thing to be disappointed; but to add tears to the mix is another thing. Thankfully, Joseph-the best husband I have ever had-asked the pastor what his plans were for the afternoon after visitation and lunch, the pastor is going to let me go off with my friend for the afternoon.
We have been spending the week with my brother. We have had a great time with him! Last night we took him to Chili's for dinner-he has never been and the last meeting we had had given us gift cards for there! We even managed to have money left on the gift cards so that Joseph and I can go again! After dinner, it was off to Southwest Baptist Church-I love going there and seeing old friends! And finally after church it was off to ice cream with friends from home that are down here going to college! It was a great evening to catch up with everyone!
Joseph and I have discovered the fun internet tool of Skype! So far this week we have been able to chat with Joseph's parents on it as well as a good friend of his from Michigan! Its really fun to use and I am sure it will come in handy for when we go to Norway! So, if any of you has skype you should let me know, so we can set you up on our contact list! And just so you know, Skype is totally free! Yay!
Okay, well I should probably really find some motivation for the day and accomplish a few things before we head over to a friends house for dinner...have a happy Thursday!

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

Wedded Wednesday



So, I am stealing this idea from my great friend Lindsay....
My Courtship/Marriage

1. When was your "engagement" anniversary: July 9th, 2007

2. When is your "marriage" anniversary: January 4th, 2008

3. How long have you known your spouse: 3 years (though we did meet once when we were teenagers)

4. How long did you date/court before you were engaged: 4 months

6. What is your spouses full name: Joseph Daniel Barnhardt

7. Do you have any children yet: I have a baby in my tummy!

8. How many: 1 on the way

9. Do you have any house pets: no, kind of hard when on the road all the time

10. Do you own a house or rent: rent

11. Do you live in the country or town/city: town

12. What is one of your favorite activities together: Friday night homemade pizza nights watching movies or in the summer playing golf together as well-I like to give him pointers! lol!

13. Do you have a favorite vacation spot: We have never really 'vacationed' considering were already travelers...but we have been to Virginia Beach for a short visit and I don't think I would mind vacationing there!

14. Siblings (including in-laws): 1 brother and 1 sister

15. What church do you attend: Eastside Baptist Church

16. Is this the church you were married in: yes

17. What town is your current address: Tea, SD

18. Do you work or stay at home: our home is in the van always traveling....missionary wife

19. Where did you honeymoon: Niagra Falls/New York

20: Leave a piece of marriage advice: Communicate...love your spouse with the Cross in mind! Jesus loved us so much that He took the cross for us....

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Taco Casserole

Ingredients: Ground beef (I substitute ground turkey)
1 pkg. taco seasoning
1/2 cup salsa
Sour Cream
1 pkg. crescent rolls
1/2 bag tortilla chips
1 pkg. cheddar cheese

Directions:
1. In 9x9 baking dish, cover bottom of dish with crescent rolls and bake as directed.
2. Brown meat.
3. Follow directions of the taco seasoning package and add 1/2 cup of salsa.
4. Once crescent rolls are done baking, pour meat mixture over the crust.
5. Spread sour cream over meat mixture.
6. Grate cheddar cheese over the sour cream.
7. Sprinkle crushed tortilla chips on top.
8. Bake until cheese is melted.

**Additional ingredients can be added to this recipe or subtracted from this recipe! It is very simple; but very tasty!

Letter to Baby

Dear Sweet Baby,

We have dreamed of you for so long.
I wonder, are you a boy or a girl?
Will you have my eyes, or Daddy's lips?
I pray that God covers and protects you, "He shall cover thee with his feather, and under his wings shalt thou trust: his truth shall be they shield and buckler" Pslams 91:4.
Please snuggle in tight, we can't wait to meet you!
I pray that my womb is a perfect place for you to grow.
We want to see your first breath of life, hear your first word, take your first step, hear the words "mommy" and "daddy", having those fantastic ordinary days with our family.
Right now, we can only dream of meeting you and holding you in our hands.
I love having you in my belly, we have put our faith in God, and know that His timing is perfect.

Until we meet,

We Love You,
Mommy and Daddy

10 on Tuesday

1. Currently, we are in OKC, OK for the week with my brother Caleb.
2. Last night we were able to spend some time with our good friends, Lindsay and J.J-Caleb, my brother cooked Chicken Alfredo for us all.
3. We had a great missions conference in Altus, Oklahoma last week.
4. Sunday we have a meeting here in OKC, then we get to go home.
5. Please pray for my follow-up ultrasound. I had an ultrasound before we left and the baby's heart rate was a little slow, they are not concerned since when I had had the ultrasound the heart was just really beginning to form. I to am not very concerned; but there is a piece of me that is bothered...so just pray that the baby's heart rate has increased.
6. Thursday night, we get to spend some time with more friends Caleb and Laura Carter! Fun stuff!
7. The weather has been gorgeous down here in Oklahoma, last week there were a couple of days where it was in the high 60's-almost the perfect weather for me!
8. Saturday, Lindsay and I get to have some girl time and I am SO excited to have that time with her! Lunch and window shopping-fun times!
9. I am not very creative today with my thoughts today...but, speaking of creativity, I want to welcome my friend Deanna to the Cricut Expression Club!
10. I am thankful for friends that God gives us to travel the journey with!

Friday, March 5, 2010

A Photo Memory


I remember this night well, July 9th, 2007-the night Joseph and I got engaged! This picture was taken at Tello's, a very fancy and expensive italian restaurant on Lake Michigan. Let me take you back with me to how the evening had started. We had just spent the day out with Joseph's mom and had gotten back to the house when Joseph told me to get dressed up for the evening-he would be taking everyone out to dinner. I didn't have a lot of time; but quickly dressed and looked for Joseph; but he was nowhere to be found. His parents informed me that he had to make an errand and would meet us at the restaurant. This all seemed fine, maybe a little odd; but I didn't question it...well, I did question silently the fact that I was the only one dressed up. I planned on asking them what errand Joseph had to make as we drove to Haven, Michigan; but I couldn't get a word in edge wise since his parents had suddenly became very chatty. Once we arrived to Haven, we sat in a gazebo to await Joseph's arrival. Once he came, he made no mention of the errand he had to make. We split away from his parents, they took one side of the street and we took the other side to browse the tourist shops-it was a great time, especially since Joseph was willing to buy me a couple pieces of fudge and caramel! Apparently, he already knew his way to my heart! After we browsed the shops, we decided it was time for dinner and we went to Tello's which was quite an experience in of itself! The menus were written in italian, without prices and neither one of us can read italian! We ended up ordering plain old spaghetti...we knew that had to be somewhere on the menu! The waiter offered us wine and looked at us like we didn't belong when we informed him that we don't drink...we ended up ordering sodas and he brought them to us in wine glasses with straws that he had snipped in half. During the middle of the very expensive meal, Joseph's phone rang and he informed me that it was a preacher that he had needed to talk to about a meeting, so he excused himself. As Joseph made his way back into the restaurant and to the table after the phone call-which later I learned was his alarm clock-he promptly went on one knee. Now I must admit, deep down I had a feeling that this would be the night he would propose; but suddenly it was a reality and my heart went crazy. From his back Joseph pulled out a single red rose and gave it to me as he said something along the lines of, "Kendra Marie, you know I love you right? You know I want to take care of you for the rest of my life right? I want to be with you forever and always, will you marry me?" To which I just stared at him and did a little nod of the head, I didn't know how to speak suddenly. Joseph was like, "is that a yes?"! It sure was a yes...we left the restaurant and watched the sun set on Lake Michigan. It was a very simple and sweet evening, when I went home that night in the guest room a dozen white roses awaited my arrival. As I lay in the bed that night, I just replayed the night over and over again and again in my head....I had waited my whole life for a night like that and you always imagine how you want it to be or how you think it should be; but when it becomes your night and the way your husband to be does the proposal it suddenly becomes the way it always was supposed to be...better than you could have ever imagined.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

My Secret

So, you want to know my secret right? Why else would you be here? I would like to think that you would come by just because you love reading my blog; but that might not be the case because you are probably like me a naturally curious person…if someone has a secret-I want to know! Okay, well almost all secrets…some secrets I would rather not know about. However, I have a feeling that my secret is one you want to know about! As a matter of fact you probably are getting very annoyed with me because I just keep making you read and not sharing my secret!
My secret begins February 21st in Mattoon, Illinois-where Joseph and I were at for a meeting. Actually, it begins before then; but those details are very personal and I don't think you want to know about them and the story really begins in June of 2008. But, let me get on with the secret and if you want to know the details you can keep reading further and I would encourage you to please do! My secret is…on October 23rd roughly, Joseph and I will be having a baby-I am pregnant! I am 7 weeks!
So, for those of you that are interested, let me take you back to the beginning-June of 2008. Joseph and I decided it was time to go off birth control and have a baby. I remember thinking, "in just a couple months I will have a baby in my tummy" and whenever Joseph and I would pass the baby department in a store we would eye the baby clothes and point out cute outfits. We even talked about baby names. It was just so exciting to us and we really thought we were ready for that chapter of our lives and just naturally expected God to agree with us and give us a baby. Days, weeks, months and even a year passed by with still no baby in my tummy. Friends became pregnant easily, people that weren't even trying to get pregnant were getting pregnant, friends with children were getting pregnant again…frankly, there were times in this journey that I became very sad and discouraged. When we would go to meetings, people would ask, "do you want kids?", "when do you plan on having kids?" Of course I want kids and I planned on having kids forever ago-we were trying; but it just wasn't happening. Then when I would tell people the truth about things, they would say, "God knows best", "well you probably don't want kids when you are always on the road", "just be satisfied with your husband"-I know all those things and its easier said than done. I realize God knows best-I knew that throughout my journey and to be honest is our life ever ready for kids? So really, I don't care if I am always on the road or not, I wanted a baby. Joseph and I were happy with each other and we have come to realize that on this earth him and I are enough for each other. But, knowing all the right answers….doesn't necessarily make things easy. Knowing the right answers didn't make it easy when nights would come and I had just realized I wasn't pregnant or someone would tell me they had just found out they were pregnant and were excited to see how God answered their prayer because they were in His will-implying my relationship with the Lord might not be right. Nights where I would lay on Joseph's chest and just cry out loud to him and the Lord. I would cry out, "I will change whatever it is in my life that needs to be changed so that the Lord can really see that I am ready for a baby." I would ask, "when is it my turn, why must I keep waiting?" My husband hurt for me, he felt my pain and I know he so wished he could do something for me, he promised me, "we will have a child someday if not from your womb, we can adopt-we can do something". But, I would just cry out, I want a baby in my womb…I don't want to adopt. I don't believe there is anything wrong with adoption, I just believe that God had given me that innate desire to carry my own child and that is what I wanted to do. Each month my husband and I learned how to stand together and learned how to comfort one another and receive comfort from the Lord. Slowly, we realized that God sees the big picture and the works He is doing in our lives are for our good and His glory. As we grew in the Lord in this area of our lives it doesn't mean things were always easy, some months were easier than others and some months the Lord had to really work overtime on us to remind us of the work He was doing in us while we waited. Let me now speed up to about a week and a half ago.
Joseph and I were at my grandparents for a visit, I was suffering from a cold and just waiting for my dreaded "friend" to show up. While at my grandparents, I learned that someone I am acquainted with was expecting…on this day I was having a particularly hard day and that news hit home hard. I had to excuse myself to the room we were staying in, by the time I got to the room, I could no longer hold my tears. I just cried out to the Lord, I said, "Lord, I'm at the bottom of my barrel, I can't keep doing this each month…being late just to realize I am not pregnant, I need you to rescue me from this Lord-do something Lord. I'm trying Lord to learn, do whatever it is that You need me to do; but I'm done Lord, its up to You…" When I finished praying, I felt real peace and with grace I continued to wait for my dreaded "friend". Well, the following Sunday we were sitting in church and I was figuring out some things when Joseph shared with me that in his opinion, I was pregnant. I looked at Joseph and told him not to get excited because every time I take a pregnancy test it never gives me the answer we want. I really didn't think I was pregnant; but agreed to purchase a home pregnancy test from Wal-Mart. Monday morning came very quickly, Joseph was still sound asleep and I decided to crawl out of bed and take the pregnancy test. I slipped into bathroom whispering a prayer, "Lord give me grace." I took the test, placed it on the counter and looked away. Then I looked back and it looked like two lines had appeared-I have never seen two lines before! I started screaming, "JOSEPH! JOSEPH! BRING MY GLASSES I THINK I'M PREGNANT! I THINK I SEE TWO LINES!" Joseph ran in with my glasses and looked at the test and confirmed two lines; but just to be safe I decided to take the other test and it said yes to! Sitting on the toilet announcing to my husband was not the romantic image I had originally had in my mind to tell him; but to be honest it was just so hard to believe. We have wanted this for so long and to then realize it was finally happening was very overwhelming. I started pacing the hotel room, crying and exclaiming to Joseph there's a baby in my tummy-I've wanted this for so long-thank you Lord! We called our parents and my siblings to tell them the news; but ordered them to keep it under wraps until we had it officially confirmed by my doctor. The appointment to see my doctor was made for Friday….I was so nervous that she was going to tell me the pregnancy test had given me a false positive; but instead she told me congratulations and that I was due on October 23rd! I was only 6 weeks at the time; but she sent me for an ultrasound to confirm the due date because she wanted to proceed with caution since she knows our struggle. So, we have already been able to see our baby, though to be honest our baby doesn't quite look like a baby yet…however, its our baby and we already love this little one God has put in my tummy. Joseph kisses my belly every day and tells baby, "I love you". Its still very surreal to me, especially since most days I don't really feel pregnant; but everyone tells me that its nothing to be concerned about! Our baby does have a slow heart rate as of now; but they expect it to be okay and told us not to be concerned…we are however already committing this to the Lord.
I know we are not very far along and some people may think we should wait to share the news; but this baby is already a part of our lives. I want to enjoy this time, I don't want to look back at my pregnancy with regret because I had spent it in fear or doubt. This baby is a gift and we are trusting the Lord to let me carry the baby full term, I have no reason to believe that He will not allow me to do so. So, if you disagree with me sharing my news "early" please keep it to yourself. Please keep it to yourself, the risks of having a baby in my tummy-I know there are risks; but I serve an amazing God who has brought me through the drought and answered my prayers, He has put a baby in my tummy-I now have peace that I can have a baby!
I am now seven weeks pregnant and am actually feeling great despite an occasional wave of nausea and hormonal issues. I can already tell that my skirts are feeling tighter, my winter coat is already not very comfy to zip anymore and the upper part of my tummy is getting a little firmer. I am trying to eat healthy, you know get some fruits and vegetables into my daily diet and I do try to drink water. Though I must admit, I feel as if I have to choke down the water when I drink, I just despise water-it has no flavor, plus it makes me go to the bathroom even more and I already go a lot! Ugh! I also get hungry more frequent than I use to and I tire earlier, usually go to bed when I can before ten!
So, now you know my secret….please pray for me and baby that we stay healthy and have a wonderful pregnancy! Again, Joseph and I are SO excited!