Big God

Lately I have been having to remind myself that I serve a Big God.

I serve a God who orchestrates all things for the good of those who love Him (Romans 8:28).
I serve a God whose mercies are new every morning, great is His faithfulness (Lamentations 3:22-23).
I serve a God who tells me I am worth so much more than the birds of the air, and flowers of the field, and that I need not worry about my future (Matthew 6:25-34).
I serve a God who tells me to be anxious for nothing, but, through prayer, make my requests known to Him (Philippians 4:6-7).

In sum, I serve a BIG GOD.

Therefore it does not matter that I do not have a solution for LAB -- Life After Baby.  :-D

In the past, when major life changes were on the horizon, I have had pretty specific prayers:
"Lord, if its Your Will, let me get accepted to the college of my choice."
"Lord, if its Your Will, lead me toward the right graduate school"
"Lord, if its Your Will, guide me toward a job offer in the mountains of Colorado."
"Lord, help me discern your Will for this romantic relationship."
"Lord, guide Chris to a job within my five school districts so I can keep my current job, and our first years of marriage can be in the mountains."

In major life decisions, I have asked for God's guidance... but I've also had a pretty specific request based on where I thought He was leading.

Thinking about our life with a baby... I don't even know my requests.  I don't have an ideal scenario in my head of what our lives will look like next fall.  Chris and I have so many decisions to make, and we will be praying through each and every one, but I don't know what I'm praying for.  I don't know what the best situation is.

Should I pray that we stay here?  That we move?  If so, where should we move?  Should I pray that I keep working?  That Chris keeps working?  That we find a great daycare?  That I open a daycare?  Is it best for our children for us to be nearer to family?  Will I suffocate from all the love if we move nearer to family?  Do we stay in America?  How will we afford ... anything in the next year?

The questions and decisions are endless, and the clear-cut solutions are few.

That is when, I have to remind myself that I serve a BIG GOD.  I do not have to figure out the perfect scenario and pray for that to happen.  God will figure out the perfect scenario, and all I have to do is worship and listen.

This is where faith and hope require daily effort.

"Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

"For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have?  But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently." Romans 8:24-25

I serve a Big God, and although I love planning, and I love to think ahead, in this case, I can learn to trust and wait for His direction.  I can trust that His plan will be much bigger and better than mine ever would have been, and His will be revealed in His perfect time.

Hunters

My wonderful hubby has had an amazing few days hunting up in Wyoming. 

The past few years his hunting group, which consist of his dad, brother, brother-in-law, and friend, have hunted for elk in Colorado and they have had a rough time.  In the past five years of hunting, their entire group has killed two elk -- and both shot by the same friend.  So, no member of the Miller family had ever come home from an elk hunting trip with an elk.

Wyoming is clearly the place to go for elk.

In one day, five men bagged five elk.

We are feeling so blessed with all the meat God has provided for us for this winter, and the wonderful time Chris was able to have with the men in his family out doing what they love.

Treasuring the Present: Pregnant Travel

Today, I am making a point to treasure traveling while pregnant.

You might think I am being sarcastic here, but I am completely sincere!

Last week, I traveled to Nashville to see my mom, aunt, and cousin and we all attended the CMA Awards.  The baby got to go with me, and I didn't have to hire a baby-sitter.  Our perfect little growing baby, in fact, travels with me EVERY DAY!

I get to take the baby with me when I go to work, on hikes, to meetings, when I teach students, when I fly cross-country.  This baby, in fact, has already visited various parts of Colorado, Missouri, Michigan, Arizona, Texas, and Tennessee -- and you know something, our baby is an awesome traveler!

There were four babies/toddlers on my recent flight from Nashville to Denver, and my baby was the most well-behaved of all of them.

I am so grateful for this time when the baby comes with me WHEREVER I GO!  If the baby is moving or squirming or happy or upset, I am the only one who knows about it.  The baby and I have a lot of secrets during the day when it is moving, or when it lets me know it's time to call it a day and get off my feet.  As soon as our little Nugget enters the world outside Mama's belly, the entire world is going to know when the baby is moving or squirming or happy or upset.

Traveling with the baby is easier now than it will ever be.

Preggers I: 28 Weeks

How far along?  28 weeks

How I am feeling?  Physically, I'm feeling well... but also big.  I'm starting to feel like maybe the "cute" pregnant size is behind me, and I'm feeling more whale-like every day.

 

How big is baby?  The size of an eggplant... 13.6-14.8 inches and 1.5-2.5 lbs

Sleep:  Pretty well.  I'm trying to focus on using my Bradley relaxation exercises as I fall asleep, and they're going really well.

 

Boy/Girl Prediction:  Apparently, all of Tennessee thinks the baby is a girl.  My aunt, my cousin, and perfect strangers all predicted that I'm having a girl.  We'll see.

 

Baby Nicknames:  Pretty much Baby

Best moment this week:  Being in Nashville with my mom, aunt and cousin.  My mom got to feel the baby kick, and it was fun to get all dressed up and feel pretty for the CMA awards despite being 27 weeks pregnant.

Food cravings:  I loved the fried chicken in Nashville.

 

Missing:   Being able to sit for long periods of time without moving or needing to use the restroom (like on my flights, for example)

Maternity Clothes:  Should I just take this question out of my weekly information for now on... yes, I'm in maternity clothes -- I don't see that changing any time before now and when the baby arrives.

 

Movements:  Yes, and I love them!  They are getting stronger, and more frequent.  The baby was moving like crazy during this past weekend's Michigan football game.  I think the baby thought that he/she could play better than my beloved, but pathetic team was playing.

Labor Signs:  No.  Thank goodness!

General Attitude:  Trying to stay focused on baby preparation projects around the house -- making room in our closet, our room, our family room, in drawers, etc.

What I am looking forward to this week:  I have my glucose screening this week, and that will be nice to have behind me.  Please pray that I pass with flying colors.

Milestones:  Ironically, I have flown more in the past 6 months since I've been pregnant than I have in the past 3 years.  As far as we can predict, I have now taken my LAST flight until after the baby comes.  All other travel from now until D-Day will be in the car.

 

 

Thank you, Veterans.

Tomorrow, will be posting my usual Monday pregnancy update, so I wanted to take the time today to post in honor of, and thanks to our country's veterans and active service men.

Bucket or To Do...

I have a list for the rest of the year... I'm not sure if its a Bucket List or To Do List... but either way, it needs to get done.

To make a list for the rest of the year is a little overwhelming, and feels more like a daunting list rather than a fun list... so I'm going to stick to November.

November Bucket/To-Do List:

• Make room for baby clothes in our closet
• Continue process of storing clothes/items that are not readily needed in order to make room for baby items
• Organize our basement and make it more of a guest room for company that comes to see our baby
• Be disciplined enough to do focused-exercises 3-or-more times/week
• Finish Christmas shopping for the Miller Family gift exchange (occurring over Thanksgiving -- we're calling it Christgiving... which is a pretty cool name)
• Study for O&M certification exam
• Take and PASS O&M certification exam
• Complete Work To-Do List (a WHOLE other can of worms)
• Begin decorating house for Christmas -- I'm hosting a gathering on December 3, so the Christmas decorations have to be well under way before we head to St. Louis for Thanksgiving
• Have a few friends over for dinner... we owe a couple of families
• Spend quality time loving on my adorable animals before they get their new human sibling
• Make progress on Bradley Method books, and The Happiest Baby on the Block book
• Keep loving my hubby like crazy

Wish me luck!

Sandens Take Nashville

What an amazing and memorable two days the Sanden women had in Nashville, TN.

What a perfect trip -- we laughed, we ate, we saw sights, we met new people, we made quite the impression wherever we went, we did separate things, and we did things together -- just a great trip!

Here are some parts of our trip in pictures:

Mom and I walked around Vandy's campus... my old stomping grounds

Great meal and great family at Pancake Pantry!

"Got Syrup?" onsies at Pancake Pantry... so cute!

Mom and I are ready for the CMAs!

Cousin Elizabeth and me, at a Honky Tonk Bar - pre CMAs

The Sanden women -- mom, and Aunt Diana are married to brothers.  My dad, and Elizabeth's dad are brothers, so we had sisters-in-law, and cousins!

... So, when it was time to walk from the bar to the CMAs, it was pouring rain.  We asked for garbage bags from the bar and walked to the venue.  Call us bag ladies, or white trash... but we arrived at the event dry and beautiful underneath these bags!

Here we are from our seats!

Hello, Nashville!

The 47th Annual Country Music Association Awards!

After the show, we went to a bar for dinner, and Elizabeth hung her beautiful cloak on this mannequin to dry it off... it was pretty funny.

We met a friend for lunch at the Loveless Cafe, and I fell in LOVE with this onsie!

Our dear friend, Stephanie grew up in Michigan, and we've known her for over 20 years.  She and her husband and three girls spent two years in Rwanda, and then moved to the Nashville area a few months ago.  We were SOOOO excited to get to see her and catch up over a great Southern meal at the Loveless Cafe.

Mom and I spent some time Thursday shopping for the shoes I need to wear in a wedding this December.  The bride wanted the shoes to include several aspects (satin, heel, open-toe)... and given that I will be 8 months pregnant, I wanted the shoes to include several more aspects (low heal, comfortable, can-wear-them-again).  These shoes were the winner.
As we were walking away from the shoe counter, the sales woman said, "Enjoy the wedding."  My mom immediately, and loudly announced to everyone in the shoe department that it was not MY wedding (give that I'm 6 months pregnant).  "She's a bridesmaid in the wedding... she's been married for 2 years!!!"
My mom wanted to defend my honor and set the record straight about the shoes for someone ELSE'S wedding.  It was really funny.

We heard some music at the legendary Bluebird Cafe

What a perfect few days.
It means so much to me that these three women (mother-daughter, and mother-daughter) came from different corners of the country (New York, Florida, and Michigan) to spend time together, make lasting memories, and have one last hurrah before my life changes forever, and I become a mother.