Tulip Girl

update: it appears that for now all is good. With the contract with Wachovia for three more years, that is a good thing. Also, it appears that CitiBank uses some Recall services, so there is a chance Recall may get the account. That is still no good for Iron Mountain people. I just don't want anyone to lose there job. At least in the short term it might not be as bad. This gives people at risk a chance for a different job. This does not mean good news for Dan and me. Wachovia is a client of Recall but CitiBank is a client of Iron Mountain our competitor. Since Wachovia only utilizes half of Recalls services, they are going to switch to Iron Mountain. This is no good considering that Wachovia makes up almost 60% of Dan's business. I'm not sure how all that is going to effect things, but it doesn't look good so please keep Dan as well as the great team of people that work for him. Dan doesn't like the idea of having to lay some of his guys off. Click here...

In my experience with doctors, I have learned something. Going uneducated into a doctor office and blindly accepting what is said is just not a smart thing to do; down right foolish. I respect doctors and am very thankful. Having a dear friend who is a doctor has given me in-site into this profession. I have learned though that going into an office educated and with questions can create a better partnership. The reason this is on my mind is vaccinations. I am not against all vaccinations but some may be overboard. When I was a child, I was given about 12 vaccinations. Now babies receive 32 before the age of two. The info is over whelming so I am still learning. In the link of the day is a link to information on vaccinations and alternative schedules for vaccinations. I do have to say though, a vaccination against chicken pox? Seriously!? I remember when as a child if their was a child with chickenpox in the neighborhood, all the kids went to play at their house. How times c...

Caroline and I had a lot of fun making these pies. I actually did the no bake and she did the bakes berry pie. It was a lot of fun and we learned a valuable lesson. Baked berry pies really do need to cool to room temperature before you try to eat it.

So my doctor told me at the beginning of this pregnancy not to lift anything I have to make a haaraa noise to lift. So what do I do now when I have to pick myself up off the floor or the couch or what ever low place I'm sitting? :) I'm definetely big enough now that haaraas are needed. Last night our guest Pastor Matt spoke on Philippians 3. Wow, that was convicting. Sometimes I get pretty opinionated (like my previous blog entry) and forget that regardless of whether I believe my words are true, I am to speak truth in a way to bring light to the truth and healing, not to cut others down. Humor is good, but not as a guise to hurt or "throw arrows". Dan just put down grass seed this past weekend and there are already baby shoots coming up! I love watering the lawn because then I can go investigate all the little guys. The place where the giant mulch pile was may be a problem. There was some what of a dip there but now that is filled in with the left over mulch ...

Update: Here is the growing belly at 18 weeks. This is my second post of the day. I'm just saying that so you don't forget the other one. Its an important one. Today was such a good day. We had a guest Pastor come and kick of our Church Revival. For all you West Coasters, yes, churches in the South really do have Revivals. :) Matt McKully (Matt correct me if I spelled that wrong) is a former member of our church who has since become a pastor and has his own church flock to shepherd. It was so exciting to hear a clear list of scriptures presented for the imp0rtance of Salvation. I have to say I was very touched when afterwords Matt was concerned that his comment concerning abortion might have offended me as a pregnant woman. It meant a lot that as he did his sermon he thought of me. And because I said I would write it, here is what he said and what my response was. Matt explained that there was once a saying that went, "No place safer than a mother's whomb....

I am floored. I just read this article (link in my Link of the Day on the right side column) about ADHD in women. I have always felt like such a scatter brain as well as possibly suffering from some sort of hormonal depression for the last couple years. Fortunately I've studied psychology and the ins and outs of depression and similar problems so that never sat well with me. Then at one point a military doctor tried to diagnose me with an anxiety disorder. This article really puts things in perspective since ADD has also been a suspect since early elementary school. I highly recommend you read this article and you will seriously see what I mean. It is very enlightening not to mention a burden off my shoulders. Just a disclaimer, I am in no way diagnosing myself. I do not plan on getting diagnosed with it, but will accept that there are many women out there who are experiencing similar problems and struggles and I a not alone. There are some fixes that are safe and easy....

I am currently studying Isaiah 53 and 61. As I read again these two chapters this morning I am reminded of Jesus' apostles and the Jewish leaders in their preconceived ideas of what Jesus' coming would be like. In 53 is a clear picture of a Jesus who suffers who is unattractive, he complete opposite of what we see in Jesus paintings today. In 61 we have the proclaiming of the King coming back to set the captives free and no doubt this is the one they hoped for. I know Judas fully expected to be exalted as the treasurer of a this mighty kingdom. When Jesus' coming did n0t allow him to take revenge on his enemies, he chose to either take revenge on Jesus or he was trying to force Jesus' hand into battle and finally becoming the king Judas wanted. No doubt the disciples had hoped for an immediate kingdom as well. Yet as they stood on that road side watching Jesus ascend they did not feel disappointment still standing in their traveling robes with road dust on their s...

Today I am 17 weeks. I can hardly believe it. Sunday night I was laying on my stomach for our evening prayer and the baby started kicking. I thought it was so awesome. Before it was flutters but this was all out kicking. I can't help but smile when I feel the movement. Three more weeks and we will know what we are having. I can't wait! I am so excited. I can hardly believe it. Oh wait I wrote that already. :) Thurs. through Sun. I got a lot done but I didn't realize I had worked as hard as I did until Monday when I was so tired I took two naps and fell asleep before 9pm. I literally kept forgetting what I was talking about mid sentence. I'd just zone out and not realize it. I was relieved when I woke up this morning and felt a lot clearer. I am excited to get a start on Christmas presents. I won't say what it is but I started making something very cool as presents.

So I went from not posting since Aug. 17 to posting twice in one day. I role my eyes at myself. I have to write about the recent on set of coverage famous women are getting during pregnancy and post pregnancy, particularly the whole weight and fashion thing. I admit I am going to try and really not worry about the weight thing. The safety and health of my baby trumps my need for skinny. Its the whole package of pressure to be chick pregnant. There have been a few articles about it recently. I'm all for this obsession with pregnancy because hopefully it may in some way keep some girls and young women from abortion. Its not a good reason but hey, what ever saves a life. I digress. I don't have a lot on my mind about it, I just think its annoying because I'm a little ashamed and mostly annoyed to say I'm susceptible to the pressures of our culture that women put on women. That's really it because I'm not going to complain, just admit.

I can't believe I went from posting regularly to hardly at all. Yikes. To my family I am sorry about that. Things have been going good though. I have gained weight. I won't write numbers because it is more than I should have so far. I'm not to worried because you really can't tell there is added weight. Maternity clothes are now a must. I have a great friend, V, who has given me four pairs of maternity jeans I wear all the time. I have several maternity tops sot that is very good. I bought a sweater yesterday on sale which I'm sure I will need. I'm also exercising regularly. My abdomen muscles are quite tender as this baby tries to push his or her way through the muscles. If I could I think I would just wear dresses all the time because pants put pressure on my belly and that isn't to comfy right now. Now I understand moo moos but no I won't wear one. I've got my dignity. This last weekend I started the Breaking Free Bible study by Beth ...