Showers of Blessings

One of the fun parts about pregnant at this time is that one of my great friend's Heather Jackson is also pregnant! I love that along with our husbands we all work for the Urban Eagles, we live less than 5 minutes away from each other, and both of the neighborhoods we live and work in are consumed by mainly refugees. We already have so much in common, to throw babies in there too just makes it that much better! Our hanging out time will soon turn into play dates, and I am totally okay with that :)

Heather had a baby shower today and it was so special and beautiful. She was absolutely glowing! (I mean, check her out!) I am so excited for Heather and her husband Stephen and I can't wait until the day when I get to meet that little baby girl! God is blessing this child with some amazing parents and she is going to grow up having a hunger for Christ like none other!

So of course when I found out Heather was pregnant I was so excited to start making little baby stuff! When we learned that she was having a girl I made little leggings for her right away. (I'm sorry I don't have pics of the leggings but don't worry, when I find out what I'm having those are one of the first things I'll be making!) For her shower I decided to make her a diapers and wipes clutch/case. It was super easy and the fabric I found was super cute! (her nursery is owl themed :) I found this amazing tutorial at Just a Bit Frayed. However, I added a little wrist sling so Heather can be hands free to take care of that sweet baby girl. I was so excited to give it to her, and by her reaction, I think she loves it too!

Isn't she just glowing? Her due date is May 23 which is a special day for Stephen and Heather
because it's also their wedding anniversary :) 

I can't wait to make my own for my little Juice Drop!!!

Mountains and Onions

What's more relaxing than being secluded in the mountains with some good friends, a log cabin with an amazing view, a hot tub (even though I can only put my feet in), and peep s'mores? Nothing comes to my mind at the moment! We've headed to the mountains (a little west of Asheville) with some great friends (the Auyers--who graciously opened their home to us for the first 6 months we were here, the Turners, and the Resslers; not to mention 3 dogs including a great dane!) On the agenda for the next day and a half: chillaxin' and a little hike through the Appalachian mountains!

So onions aren't quite like avocados in my opinion but being a little bigger in size just means Juice Drop is getting bigger and smarter and I'm completely fine with that! So it's ok, Juice Drop, be an onion and grow, baby, grow! 


If the background of the picture looks a little different than usual it's just because we were in the mountains (no big deal ;)

How far along? 17 Weeks

Total weight gain: 4 pounds still (surprised I didn't really gain any weight in the last week)

Maternity clothes? Still just the leggings

Stretch marks? Nope

Sleep: sleeping on my side is getting better... progress!! woo hoo!

Best moment this week: relaxing in the mountains with good company 

Miss Anything? being able to fully emerge myself in a hot tub, had to just stick my feet in :(

Movement: I think I've felt some bubbles which I've read is the baby moving :)

Food cravings: wheat and grains

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: still don't know! and the next 3 weeks are going to be a killer!

Labor Signs: No

Symptoms: get tired easily, loss of breath, cramping in my obliques if I sit for too long (experienced this yesterday during a 4 hour car ride--gets me excited for the 11 hour car ride in August for Lindsey Marler's wedding! I'll be 34 weeks!)

Belly Button in or out? half way in, half way out!

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy until I get hungry or tired lol

Looking forward to: our 3rd appointment tomorrow!! Can't wait to hear the beautiful sound of Juice Drop's heartbeat <3

Maya, Maggie, and Echo sitting so nicely 

Travis is a little jealous of the guy fly fishing 

We were following the Deep Creek Trail

Taking a hike to Juney Whonk Falls (what a name!)

And here it is: Juney Whonk Falls

Enjoy the rest of your week! 

It's Easy Being Green

I grew up a pretty picky eater. I didn't start liking hamburgers and salads until I met Travis (a few years after actually) and I ate plain cheese pizza until I really understood that mushrooms, tomatoes, and spinach are the best things you could add to make your pizza the most delicious. While I did miss out on a lot of amazing foods, one of the foods I feel that I really missed out on (and every time I take a bite of one I say to myself oh, man, I really missed out!) is an avocado and even more so guacamole! Oh my goodness, what was I thinking?! Yeah, the color may be baby poop green and it may not have a real taste unless paired with something, but boy, oh, boy, when you do pair it with just the right ingredients you have a flavor sensation in your mouth that you could just die and go to heaven for!!! Ok, enough of my ranting about delicious food--can you tell I'm pregnant?! 


So while my little Juice Drop is the size of an avocado this week I think I may have to pick up a few from the store and let my taste buds have a hay day! :)

How far along? 16 Weeks

Total weight gain: finally bought a scale! And according to the scale I've gained 2 pounds since last appointment which was 4 weeks ago so total weight gain is 4 whole pounds!

Maternity clothes? still just the leggings. I've been able to still squeeze into my summer shorts and old jeans turned capris but my good jeggings are done until after the baby comes I'm sad to say 

Stretch marks? Nope :)

Sleep: what's that? With not being able to sleep on my back along with my stomach, my only option is my side and it's not working very well. Plus any sudden movements I make I feel like I'm pulling something in my stomach. Insomnia will be setting in very soon I'm afraid. Oh yeah, and the nightly waking up to have to pee

Best moment this week: getting to spend it with my bro and sis with it being the last time I'll see Stef until Juice Drop arrives

Miss Anything? sleeping through the night!

Movement: maybe, still don't know if it's Juice Drop moving or just me hungry 

Food cravings: whole grains and whole wheat but I feel like that's just me loving my carbs haha

Anything making you queasy or sick: nope

Gender: hopefully we'll know at the next appointment which is next Thursday!! Stay tuned :)

Labor Signs: no

Symptoms: still peeing like a racehorse, not sleeping, cramping in my abdomen from organs moving and uterus expanding, eyes are dry and sensitive

Belly Button in or out? still in but when I'm bloated it looks like it could pop out at any moment

Wedding rings on or off? on

Happy or Moody most of the time: happy! until I get hungry or tired then the mood swings hit hard!

Looking forward to: our trip to the mountains next week with the Auyers and Turners and of course hoping to find out if Juice Drop is a girl or boy!!


I am so proud of my sister, Stef (aka Aunt Fanie) it's not even funny! She has grown into a beautiful woman after God's heart and the way she has matured in the last few years is astounding! I will miss her so much these next 6 months especially with her niece or nephew growing inside of me but I know God is taking her to a place where he can strengthen her and prepare her to love with an even greater love for Him and His people. I'm so excited about this next adventure in her life and my prayer is that God works mightily in and through her and she can be a light for the people in Hawaii and wherever He stations her after. Another prayer: she's able to return before Juice Drop arrives so we don't have to Skype her in the delivery room and she'll be able to hold that little babe only a few minutes after he/she enters the world! 


Check out what she'll be doing for YWAM and PhotogenX here and check out her amazing photog skills on her Facebook here!

I won't be mad if Juice Drop looks like little Stefi (on the right)

We can't help but laugh hysterically when we're together.
I miss living 5 minutes from her.

Juice Drop says Have a Great Day!

Life As We Know It

Even if we weren't missionaries obeying the call of Christ to live in a refugee neighborhood I don't know if I'd want to live anywhere else. Where else can you color outside with your 5 year old neighbors, watch a pick up game of Chinese soccer, listen to the beautiful guitar playing and singing of a man and his family worshipping, and watch the sun set? This is life as we know it and I LOVE it!

My most favoritist picture ever! This father and baby are so presh!

This is the life

Travis had some help moving the 40 pound goals that were sitting on our porch to the other side of the neighborhood. Talk about TEAMWORK!

Who needs a truck when you've got 15 boys to help?

How did you spend your Monday night?