Happy Spring!

It's that time of year when I start getting itchy to be outside!!  We've started off the season this year with a whopping temp of 24 degrees.  Just a bit different from last year's record highs in the upper 80's!  I'm okay with it though.  Although I am starting to get antsy for open windows, fresh air, and some GREEN stuff outside, I'd rather enjoy a gradual thaw and some mild weather before jumping headlong into Summer.  It's been awhile since I've written anything, so I thought I'd just do a big update in one fell swoop.

Nate:  My wonderful husband is busy as ever.  We found out last Fall that the company he works for will be consolidating all of his department (currently spread out all over the U.S.) into two locations.  For us, that means either transferring to Tulsa, OK - or finding employment elsewhere.  It was big news!  A little daunting, perhaps, but also a huge blessing.  Nate has chosen not to move our family to Tulsa, which means he'll begin actively seeking a job in the field he's always wanted to work in: financial planning (or something similar).  This also comes with the possibility of moving back East toward our family, or going further West to be in the mountains (a dream of ours!).  Exciting times, as we're waiting on God's will to be made clear in it all.

Also, with a move on the horizon, he's been working hard to get our house in top shape before we put it on the market.  We happen to have a mostly useless very finicky tankless water heater that he has poured many hours of blood, sweat, and tears into!  Once the weather starts getting milder, he'll start tackling projects outside too.

Amanda:  Most of you already know that we are expecting a new addition to our family!  Our son will arrive sometime late April/early May - so naturally I've been a busy Mama!  I've been incredibly blessed with this pregnancy.  I had more severe morning sickness than with Olivia, but really other than that it's been pretty easy!  I've been busy with preparations for the baby, but I'll save that for another post.  :)

I'm also still doing the paper route, although Nate usually helps out by delivering one day a week for me (it gives me a chance to sleep in one morning!), and he's also been great about helping out if I'm sick, or in snow storms, etc.  Have I mentioned how blessed I am by this guy?  ;)

Other than that, I still get to stay at home with Olivia, which is a joy and privilege for me.  My heart is definitely at home right now, and I am savoring (most days, ha!) these moments I have with her.

Olivia:  My big girl just turned TWO a little over a week ago!  She is growing so fast!  I love all the new things she's doing now - she loves to "help" me cook dinner, she can put her toys away all by herself (which she usually prefaces by announcing "BIG mess!  I kean it up!"  :)

She's also made the transition into her "big girl" bed!  We wanted to get that out of the way before the baby was born, and after about 6 weeks of sticking it out through interminable bedtime battles, it just "clicked."  She started sleeping without her pacifier at the same time, so it was a lot of changes for her!

She brings so much joy into our lives.  She's notorious for making us laugh when we're trying to be stern with her, and some of the phrases she comes up with are hilarious!

 She still loves to read, currently her favorites are "The Three Bears" and "Peter Rabbit."  She can almost recite these two whole . . . we'll often hear her upstairs in her bed rambling about "Uh oh!  Goldilocks broke the chair all to bits!  Great Big Papa bear big big voice . . . Peter Wabbit naughty naughty . . . "  etc.  It's very entertaining!

She also loves her baby dolls, Elmo, and her "bunny" - a stuffed animal that she received as a gift for her birthday last year.  Bunny goes everywhere with us, and sleeps with her every night.  He's very loved.  :)

Right now she's fond of announcing to anyone and everyone that "Mommy's tummy is bigger bigger!" Even though I don't think she completely understands it all yet . . . She's going to be a great big sister.

Aside from all that, we've been able to plug into a local church at long last.  We've been so blessed by the fellowship there, and how God is working through the church body!  We've been challenged, encouraged, and strengthened, and are so pleased to finally have a "home."

Whew!  Well, now that I've written a short novel, you're all caught up!  :)  To those of you who are on this journey alongside of me, I could not be more thankful to have you in my life!  I pray that we can continue to press on toward the goal together.

"I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.  Let those of us who are mature think this way, and if in anything you think otherwise, God will reveal that also to you.   Only let us hold true to what we have attained."

Philippians 3:14-16

Grace and Peace,

Amanda

Friend Reunion: D.C.

If you ask my husband what his favorite memories of college are, he will undoubtedly refer to one event or another taking place between an intimate circle of friends from those years.  He was fortunate enough to grow and learn with the same group of incredible people throughout his four years at school.  Several of the friends ended up going on to marry, and while I didn't attend the same school, after marrying Nate, I was graciously adopted into the group.  These friends are really more like family, and through the years, we've made an effort to get together in spite of being spread out all over the country.  I really cannot be more blessed by their friendship!

This summer was especially fun.  It was the first time the entire group was together since we started adding children to the equation.  Boy was it fun to watch our kids interact!  There were so many other reasons this trip will be memorable for us . . .

The day before we were due to arrive, we got a phone call from our friends out in Washington D.C. who were hosting the gathering.  There had been a "land hurricane" (yes, you read that right . . . that's what the news sources were calling it, haha!), and they were left without electricity.  By the time they had called us, they had already gone without power for nearly 24 hours.  Thankfully, with kind neighbors offering the use of generators, they were able to save the $700 worth of groceries just purchased!  We were just praying the power came on before our plane landed!

We were able to fly out of Chicago with another couple and their daughter (also from Iowa) who were part of the "group".  This made travel lots more fun!  Thankfully, Olivia slept until we were nearly landing, which was fantastic!  All those great ideas from Pinterest on how to keep a toddler busy were filed away for next time.  :)

Upon arrival, we were dismayed to learn that there was indeed still no power, which meant no a/c.  Normally this wouldn't have been too big a setback, but we're talking Washington D.C. in July, in a record year for heat.  Factor in the ridiculous humidity, and it was pretty safe to say everyone was miserable.  Still, we were all excited to be together, and we made the most of our first night there, camp out style!

The next morning (Sunday) some very generous friends of our host couple let us stay at their enormous home.  They already had restored power, and air conditioning!  We were eternally grateful!  Here's a photo of the amazing home:

One of the perks of getting this group together is re-living college days.  For the guys, that means plenty of Smash Brothers and Mario Kart on the N64.  :)  Thankfully, after one night, and two days of being at the "other" house, we were able to move back to our kind friend's home where they were hosting our entire group.  Hooray for electricity!

While our main goal for this trip was just to visit, and enjoy each other's company, we also wanted to take advantage of some of the awesome things Washington D.C. has to offer.  We were able to visit the Smithsonian, tour the White House (very cool if you ever get the chance!), visit the Library of Congress, along with portions of our group going on to the National Botanical Gardens, and the Capital Building.

Going anywhere as a group meant we had quite the entourage!  Strollers, baby carriers galore, we were quite the sight!

Olivia was always up for another adventure.  She was my little Hollywood baby this trip - she cracks me up!

 Of course, one of the highlights of the trip for the kiddos was riding the Metro around the city.

It was such a thrill for them to "hold on" while the train was in motion!  So cute.  Our friends also made the trip memorable for the littles by indulging them in a giant bouncy house.  The kids certainly wore themselves out playing in it!

In addition to the other activities, we grown-ups got to have an evening all to ourselves.  We enjoyed a lovely dinner at a pub in Old Town Alexandria (definitely one of the highlights of the trip for me!), and then meandered around enjoying the scenery, old buildings, and general "quaintness" of the city.  After dinner, we were brave enough to venture over to the National Mall to check out the monuments by night.  Hoping for a cooler (and more enjoyable) viewing.  I have to admit, in spite of being absolutely drenched in sweat by the end, it was really enjoyable!

Needless to say, we created enough memories on this trip to last a lifetime, and the experiences shared only served to re-enforce the amazing friendships that have stood the test of time.  We feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of this group!

Nine adults, and five kids (under the age of 3!) under one roof, for an entire week.  What an adventure we had!  So thankful, and looking forward to the next time we're all together again.  :)