I May or May Not Have...Saved a Life

Yesterday, after the victorious win over Ohio State , for those that don't know Michigan beat Ohio for the first time since 2003. Moving on, we decided to try and finish up our Christmas shopping. It was cold and very windy. I was carrying Klayton, purse and diaper bag as I usually do. To get to our van from my parents house we have to walk up a flight of cement stairs. Joseph was running to the van in an effort to get the doors open and ready so we wouldn't have to stand in the cold longer than necessary. I decided to increase my pace and promptly fell forward into the stairwell...ruined my brown boots even more, scratched up my leg, bruised it slightly and Klayton went away with a smile thinking it was fun because he didn't even touch the ground! So, I may or may not have saved his life in that fall...

Missionary Wife: The Beautiful and the Ugly

**I have decided to do a serious of posts about my life as a MW (missionary wife). This is just a way to let you briefly peek into my life.**

So, life as a missionary wife can be very interesting. There is more to it than traveling the country side, enjoying the sites. There are aspects of it that are beautiful and then there is an ugly side. I love being a missionary wife because I know I am right where God wants me!
Some of you may not know what a missionary does. A missionary is someone who feels God has asked them to be a witness for Him here in the United States or abroad. My husband believes we are to be missionaries in Norway where we will tell others about Christ and will start churches. But, before we can get to Norway and so we can devote all of our time to sharing Christ with Norwegians and starting churches we must do this thing called deputation. Currently, Joseph, Klayton and I are on deputation, we travel around the United States for months at a time sharing with churches about our burden for Norway, hoping that they will take us on for financial support. Usually, a missionary will gain financial support from one out of twelve churches they have been in. In our case this can make deputation very long as we have alot of money to raise.

The beautiful side of being a missionary wife is I get to meet and make new friends, visit historical sites and states that I have always wanted to see. Visit fun places and catch up with friends that I wouldn't otherwise see. Sometimes I get spoiled by churches we go to, like one time a church member of a church in New Mexico bought me my very first Coach bag! Yay!
The ugly side of being a missionary wife is that there are moments of being homesick, feeling lonely. Sometimes you don't feel like you can be yourself because you are constantly being watched. Some people think that as a missionary wife that there are certain luxuries I shouldn't be allowed, like carrying my Coach bag. It can also be hard to be in church after church and not pick up a new supporting church.

If

I saw this recently on a blog and thought it would be fun!

If I could live anywhere in the US...
*I would live on the ocean shores of the Atlantic. Maybe Virginia Beach? Sleeping to the sound of ocean waves is so peaceful.



If I were to have more children...
*I definitely hope this happens. I would love for Klayton to be a big brother! A sister would be fun!

If I could have any talent in the world...
*I would probably be a violinist or a singer. I have always wanted to play the violin and constantly wish that I had a beautiful voice to sing with.

If you met me in real life...
*Well most of my readers know me. But for those that don’t, you would learn that I’m a private person, with a purse fetish, who loves to capture the moment with a camera and is forever in love with my baby boy!



If money were not an object...
*I would fix up the house we are living in. Get a new vehicle, maybe a Pacifica? Buy a new wardrobe…hire a maid.

If I could meet one celebrity...
*Mmm, maybe Sandra Bullock?

If I could only shop at one store for the rest of my life...
*I guess if this meant I couldn’t go to grocery stores,I would stick with Target. Because my family could still eat and I could buy cute clothes!

If I could chose one animal/pet...
*I would get a dog.
If I could go on a trip right now...
*Somewhere relaxing, warm, fun…maybe Hawaii?

If I had to choose between a house cleaner and a personal chef...
*Without a second thought, hands down, every time I would choose a house cleaner. I hate cleaning, it’s a job that never ends. Ugh.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving! There is so much to be thankful for not just today; but everyday!
5 Quick Things I am thankful for:
1. This man...he is a great husband and daddy! Love him!

2. This boy. He brings joy to my life every day.

3. Being a mommy. Love it and wouldn't trade it for anything. I'm even thankful for those dirty diapers, because if I didn't have those that would mean I wouldn't have a baby of my own to love.

4. My family. God has added to my family this year by giving me a new brother in law and a new sister in law! So thankful for a family that is always there for me!

5. My mom-my friend. Yes, she is a part of my family, duh! But, there is just something extra special about her that I can talk to her everyday and about whatever.

First Haircut

I've known this day has been coming as the hair was beginning to grow over the ears. Well, I wanted to take Klayton to a "cute" place, you know a place he could sit in a fire truck or an animal chair. After making tons of phone calls, we found out there was a place like that near my grandparents! I was so excited until my grandma informed me how much they would probably charge...I called hoping that an infants cut would be cheaper; because really he doesn't have THAT MUCH hair! Apparently, you pay to sit in the chair because infant cuts start out at $18 and depending what they do and the length of time they may possibly charge more...I just couldn't get a straight answer. So, it was off to Cost Cutters for a $10 haircut!
I'm so glad we decided on the "cheap" place because little man slept through it all!

Klayton didn't even flinch when she buzzed around the ears...

I should mention that I find this pretty cute...daddy holding his baby for his first haircut!

And about 10 minutes after the haircut began, it was over and Klayton woke up! Unaware that he just had a haircut!

Doesn't he look cute?

And, we now present Klayton with a certificate for his first haircut...he doesn't seem to crazy about it!

13 Months

Klayton you are 13 months!

This month:
• Started drinking from a straw cup! Yay!
• Transitioned to a front facing car seat
• Had your 1st haircut
• You were introduced to pizza, ravioli, nutrigrain bars, lasagna, toast, chocolate milk, sunny d, potato soup, baked beans...
• Went to Rhode Island

You:
• Wear size 4 diapers.
•12 month clothes
•Wear size 3 shoes, some 4
• Love to be hung upside down.
• Like to drink from mommy and daddy's cup at dinner
• Eat a cup of yogurt and a piece of buttered toast for breakfast
• Do not like cottage cheese
• You are now taking steps
• Likes to pretend to bury things
• When focusing intently on something your mouth hangs wide open as you concentrate
• Very vocal
• Still love to clap
• Constantly on the move, you can't seem to sit still for a second
• Hate having your diaper changed in the morning
• Love chocolate, vanilla pudding
* Enjoy being chased
* When you drink your chocolate milk, you literally chug it from the straw, hilarious!

Some things I dont want to forget:
• This is from a while ago; but it must be recorded! Your fake cough! When we took you into see Dr. Klein back in August, we inquired about a "cough" you had. We didn't think it was real; but seriously how many babies have a fake cough?! While we were in her office you indeed coughed and she started laughing and confirmed it to be a fake cough! You sure know how to get attention...
• When I give you pudding you get so excited! Your legs start kicking! When I have a spoonful ready, I just have to hold it still and you dive in for it! No surprise that it ends up all over your face as well as on me!

Love Him

When things are tough and rough...I just look at this little boy and smile. He brings me joy that I don't have words to describe. I love him and thank the Lord for this precious gift!

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10 on Tuesday

You Know Your a Mom When:
1. You have peas stuck to your neck and don't even realize it until much later in the day, when you are out and about.
2. You discover the melted chocolate hand prints on your face and shirt.
3. That junk hanging out your kids nose is removed with your bare finger and you dont even think twice about it.
4. When you hear, "mommy" you automatically think its you being spoken to even if there are a hundred other mommies in the room.
5. Your purse is a diaper bag.
6. When going out to eat you order your meal based on sharing it with your child.
7. When speaking to your husband you either use code words or spell out words. For example: when speaking about the bottle you may say..."can you get "it"/4 oz./the thing/" or you may say, "would you mind grabbing the b-o-t-t-l-e?"
8. You can recognize a dirty diaper a mile away.
9. You can recognize the cry of your child, even if you are across the building...in a different room...behind a closed door.
10. You realize there is something very special about being a mommy, yet you can never seem to find the words to define it.

My Memories...GIveaway Prep

Well, I am finding this digital scrapbooking pretty easy to work with.

From what I can figure out, you can make your own photo book with the program as well!

What I also like is I don't have to load up a ton of scrapping stuff, its all on my computer!

I plan to officially start the giveaway next week! Be on the look out!

Playing Around

I was asked to try a scrapbook software and will be doing so for the next week! Here is a creation that I did with my first try using the program!

So, what do you think? If this looks like something you would like be on the lookout for a giveway that I will be hosting so that you can get this digital software for FREE!

Thank You Jesus

Ever feel like nothing is going your way and theres no light at the end of the tunnel? Well, I've been there before and I'm there once again. Just when I finally felt like our family was getting ahead in certain areas, we have been knocked right back down.
Tonight I'm sitting in a hotel room that is way over priced and yet they want to charge us for internet usage as well as the continental breakfast. I'm tired, weary and in need of rest and by that I mean I'm in need of more than just physical rest. I sit here hoping, praying for that miracle I need and trying to forget the attack I'm feeling from all sides. As I ponder this I can't help but be reminded how easy life can be when everything is going our very way...how easy it is to say, "thank you Jesus" when everything is coming up roses. But, now that nothing seems to be going my way I'm sitting here knowing I still need to say, "thank you Jesus" and finding it hard. This is me being real...I know there is always reason to say "thank you Jesus" even if it seems difficult to find reason; but for me in reality I have two boys in this very room to say, "thank you Jesus for my husband and child".
Tomorrow is a new day and just maybe that miracle I'm waiting for will come...

10 on Tuesday

1. Today we are off to Massachusetts for another missions conference.
2. I'm excited to see my family in a couple of weeks! Yay!
3. Thankful for good friends, like Lindsay who is always a phone call away!
4. Please pray for a special prayer request for my family. No, I am not pregnant...just need a different sort of miracle.
5. You know that thing called pride its a nasty thing to deal with.
6. I realize that A LOT of parents do this; but I...and Joseph find it disgusting when people lick their finger and then wipe their childs face to clean it. Would you want someone to do that to you?
7. We picked up another supporting church! Yay! One step closer to Norway!
8. Thanksgiving is just a couple weeks away...what are your favorite Thanksgiving traditions?
9. Do you realize how difficult it is to find infant mittens?
10. I wish having a cell phone wasn't so stinking expensive...
Happy Tuesday!