37 Weeks and Sunny

Just an update on life around here!

I am 37 weeks tomorrow, getting very uncomfortable, yet healthy and energized (usually).

We still haven't come up with the perfect name that suits both Brad and I for baby girl #3,

so she is still affectionately referred to as "Boba", as the girls named her months ago.

Addison is more lovey snuggly clingy towards me than ever, and I think she definitely understands that something is about to change around here. I'm loving it, as she's never been super affectionate until now. She says things like "After the baby's born we can really cuddle mom." (She gets annoyed when she tries to sit on my lap and snuggle and she has to maneuver around my huge tummy) Although I think she might have some jealousy issues, I think all in all she is excited and will be a good, possibly even helpful (???) big sister. Lily on the other hand...I'm not sure how she's going to react to us bringing a baby home. I think she kind of knows it's happening, but I doubt she fully gets it. I watch her with other babies though, and she adores them and likes to interact, so I think she'll be great:)

It's been a crazy week weather wise here in MT. Sunday it was 63. 63 in January! Maybe a record?

Then so far this week, we've had 50 degree days, and though it's cooling off a bit, it's still supposed to be in the mid 40's and upper 30's for the next week or so. I so needed this sunshine and warmth! I know it's not spring yet, but I've had a few windows open, just airing out the stagnant air that seems to collect each long winter. It's so refreshing and rejuvenating! The girls even got out their bikes and rode around the grassy parts of the yard (yes, enough snow melted that we can see grass for the first time in months!), and we took a stroll around the block and played outside for hours. I know it's not good for the plants, confusing them and all, but as my neighbor said, "Who cares? It's good for the human beings!" Agreed.

We have some major unknowns in our life right now...lots of 'x-factors', as I call them. I have moments when it's hard to breathe, all of it seems so overwhelming. But, I continually give it back to God, over and over again throughout each day, and His peace that passes understanding passes over me, and I breathe easy again. All will work out according to His perfect plan for us, though we have NO IDEA what that looks like right now.

I recently read Ann Voskamp's book, 1,000 Gifts, and was inspired to start a gratitude journal.

I found a leather bound journal with the words from Emily Dickenson etched on the front,

Forever is composed of nows.

I thought that was so appropriate for a gratitude journal. As I write not just the big things I'm grateful for, but each small thing that I think of every day, I realize how life is truly so different when I live in a constant state of thankfulness, noticing all the little things that are so good...all gifts from above, whether it's something big like remembering His mercy and grace, or something like watching Addison and Lily spin and laugh in their tutus while singing Joy to the World (the Christmas song that won't go away), or taking a bite of still hot out of the oven apple berry crisp with vanilla ice cream melting into it. The smell of the air as the breeze comes in through the open January window; the baby kicking wildly, hinting that she's ready to meet the world soon; a good conversation with a cousin I've not talked to in too long; afternoon naps:) Writing it all down only spurs me on to see even more things to be thankful for each day, and between all the little moments of thankfulness, there's little place for worry, as I see the goodness of God all around me, and was reminded yesterday in my devotional at She Reads Truth, that His eye is on the sparrow, and He is watching over me. Regardless of all the x-factors, life is good, He has a plan, and we'll see it soon enough. Until then, we focus on the nows, because really, simple as it may be, what a thing to realize, that when we look back on our life, the whole thing is made up of little now moments, and when we throw those moments aside, don't recognize them, cherish them, and give thanks for them...we are in essence throwing our life away, moment by moment.   So, that's life in a nutshell right now. Lily is upstairs singing Glo-ooooo-ooooo-ooooo-ria, over and over again (I forgot, there's two Christmas songs that won't go away. Maybe by Spring?), so I'm finishing my coffee and heading up the stairs to start the day. Hope you're having a wonderful week:)