Culture Shock

They do things a little differently here in Texas. Driving down Veal Station Road earlier this week, I passed the garbage collector. He was driving a beaten up old pick up truck with a big metal cage on the back. He was just throwing the bags of trash into the cage on the bed of the truck. In Kettering, everyone leaves their neat little waste management trash cans next to the garage. In perfect harmony the waste management mini-carts drive up to the cans and transport the trash to the larger trash truck waiting on the street.

Albertson's is a really nice grocery store here. However, I looked all over and discovered that they don't have any fresh mozzarella. I'm used to Trader Joe's; I think they had about six different kinds from which to choose! At the Super Walmart, there are forty varieties of tortillas, but only one type of pita bread. I'm sure the suburbs have more options but not the little towns out here.

Ryan went to get a Texas car registration and driver's license. Altogether the cost was about $250! There is a mandatory vehicle inspection in addition to the title fee, registration, and driver's license; however we were not anticipating the $90 new resident fee. We'll be holding off for a few months before we take care of my car! My dad gets frustrated by the laws in this state that really tax the little person. The oil moguls and natural gas companies have legislation in their favor that keep their costs low. There is drilling for natural gas all over down here. The gas companies pay very little to the local municipalities although the heavy truck traffic really tears up the roads.

I guess the cheap avocados make up for it all. :)

Cowgirl Up

Ryan has a new job working weekends at the Cowgirl Hall of Fame. Who would have thought that a city guy from the midwest would get a job working there? He's just doing general security which means that he is mostly responsible for telling people not to take pictures. He'll get more tasks after he learns more about the facilities. It is a great job because as a history buff he loves museums.

I met with a doula this morning. We'll probably hire her to help out during my labor and delivery. She is not medical personnel, but is available for emotional support. She knows different massage and breathing techniques. She can also give suggestions of different positions to help ease labor pain. She'll be a good support for Ryan, too. She can help him understand what I'm going through and how he can help.

Here's a pic of me taken this afternoon. Right now I'm 32 weeks pregnant. I've been putting on a lot of weight staying here at my parents. There is always a lot of good food around...
My Dad made this awesome dollhouse shelf for Molly! It is so cute! She already has a lot of books and stuffed animals that will fill most of it!

House Sold

We have an offer on our house! We received an offer on Monday and made a counter offer yesterday which the buyers accepted! The inspection will be next Wednesday. Ryan and I went out for Mexican food tonight to celebrate. In Texas there is no shortage of bbq, Mexican food, sweet tea, or steak.

Here are some recent pix:

Do you remember the children's story about the country mouse and city mouse? Well, this is a picture of the country cat and city cat. Buddy (black and white) is my parents' outdoor kitty. Kit Kat is on the left.

Chris and Ryan before they left with the moving truck. No, that is not a beer in Chris' hand. He did have Dr. Pepper and tortilla chips for breakfast. (This was Memorial Day morning so I guess it wasn't too recent.)

On the Job Trail

I'm looking for some part-time work for the summer. I just applied online to a local temp service. I've also applied to Kaplan and Sylvan to do some teaching. I have an "audition" at Kaplan next week in which I have to present a five minute "how to" lesson on something non-academic. I'm not sure what I'll choose... how to foster a good relationship with your inlaws, how to register at Babies R Us, how to create the perfect Greek salad... Any ideas?

My mom and I were discussing the diversity of the various jobs I've held. I'm not sure that it is a good thing that I've had so many jobs. Here they are, in semi-chronological order:
-Babysitter-Asparagus Cutter-Server at Olga's Kitchen-Tool and Die worker (yuck! only 2 days)-Grocery Store Cashier-Residence Hall front desk worker-fast food worker at Carl's Jr-American Spoon Foods in Traverse City-Substitute Teacher-Physics Lab Instructor-Rock Quarry Scale House Operator (I loved this job!)-Temp job registering Law students at Cooley Law School-High School Teacher-Home bound teacher-Athletes in Action- mystery shopper-summer school teacher- GAP-Bath and Body Works- Physics Instructor at University-Online test grader-Tutor

Please add a comment with some of the unique jobs you've had. I'd love to hear about them. I'll hopefully update again soon. We had some technical difficulties earlier in the week, but the internet is up and running now.

Definitely a Girl

At my ultrasound on Wednesday, the tech told me that the baby is definitely a girl. I'm thankful for the confirmation because I wasn't too convinced the last time! She estimated her weight to be 2 lb 11 oz and the due date to be 8/18. It was so fun to see her moving around and to see her heart beating! I also saw her face- can't wait to meet her!

She's been moving around in my belly a lot! After I woke up this morning, I just watched her deform my belly with her motion. My brother's dog Max was barking really loud right in front of me yesterday, and she didn't move at all. However, last week at church, she got really busy during the sermon. She was moving the whole time- our pastor can be pretty loud!

I'm off to go for a slow, steady jog- while I'm still able to do it!

Trust When I Can't See

A song I heard on the radio this morning had these lyrics, "I will go where You lead; I will trust when I can't see; this is my offering." God is leading us to this next place in our lives, but we can't see a lot of the future. So, we will trust when we can't see.

Ryan, Chris, and Kit Kat arrived at my parents' last night after 20 hours of driving! I'm so thankful to them for not only driving, but enduring a serenade by a loud cat for most of the drive! Our friends also helped us pack the truck on Saturday. It took less than 85 minutes to get the whole truck loaded- AMAZING! We've been blessed in many ways!

At home

The house where Ryan and I lived the last 20 months is no longer home. We will no longer have friends to visit or be together there as a family. However, tonight I'm at home. I'm staying with my friend Angela. Her two little boys are in bed, and she is out running an errand. Her husband is at work. My heart is content. I know and love this family. People are what makes a place home.

After Ryan and his friend Chris left with the moving truck this morning, I washed all of the laminate floors throughout our house. The walls have been washed, and the lawn is trimmed. It looks like a pleasant place to live. However, the lump in my throat reminds me that I am not at home. I'm alone in that place. And so I gratefully accept invitations to stay with others... so I can be home.

I'm very thankful that even in that empty house I have gentle kicks from my baby within reminding me that she's there. In the silence and emptiness, I was aware of the Lord's presence much more clearly than normal. I hope that in my times alone there, I will grow more in love with my baby and my God.

In the last couple days, my appreciation for a home with loved ones has grown considerably. I'm looking forward to many nights in the next two weeks spent in the homes of friends. I want to enjoy their presence and companionship as I wait in this season of transition.

Melancholy

The reality of our move has been hitting me more and more. We are trying to work out the details of moving our possessions next week and then Kit Kat and I travelling with my dad a couple weeks later. I need to survive with the barest of necessities because I won't have much room in my car for anything besides the cat, my dad, and me.

Last night Ryan and I were sitting in the backyard after dusk. He had just mowed the lawn, and the evening was beautiful. I was suddenly very sad to leave. We had sold some of our possessions in the garage sale- nothing too important to us, but a couple things we kind of liked. I think that as a woman it is especially meaningful to have a place to call home. (Especially a pregnant woman that wants to be nesting!) In addition, it is a reminder that life passes quickly, and another chapter in our lives was coming to an end.

On September 11, 2005, our last moving day, everyone had already left, and I stayed behind to do some final cleaning at our house in Lansing. I remember crying as I looked at our first home with the beautiful hardwood for the last time. We can never go back to the way things were then.

Ryan and I took our honeymoon a couple months after our wedding. The night before our honeymoon we spent the night at my parents' house in Monroe. That was the last time I would be there. They were moving shortly after that time. I cried as we left to go to the airport. Unfortunately for Ryan I cried throughout that day and a couple successive days. I would not return to the home of my childhood. Things would really be different from that time on. However, I love visiting my parents at their home in Texas. It feels like home to me, probably more than the place in Monroe would feel now. That's good because we'll be staying there for a month!

So, we are trusting God for another place to call home. I look forward to the days when I can tell our children about how God provided for us in this crazy time. I also look forward to the days when we will be home forever with the Lord. For now, I'll smile through my tears.

Spring Shower

These are all of the beautiful ladies that were at my first baby shower last Saturday! They really blessed me! I can't wait to use all of the gifts with our baby. I'm especially excited about the Baby Bjorn.

We had a garage sale this morning. We made a lot of money- enough for two fill-ups at the gas station! That's a big deal nowadays. It is always amazing the things for which people will pay money. It feels really good to get rid of stuff. We had our sale from 7-2 and then we packed up the remainder, and I was home from dropping it off at the thrift store by 3. Now, I'm off to join Ryan for a nap, and then we have to get ready for our open house tomorrow. Now that we've gotten rid of a lot of stuff, we mostly need to clean.

Belly pix @ 25 weeks

I'm noticeably pregnant now, especially when I wear maternity clothes. Not very many strangers have asked about my pregnancy, but my students and friends comment on my belly quite often! They say that I'm really starting to get big and to show.

By the way, Kit Kat is doing great! (Ryan thought he should get a little press.) He (Kit Kat) loves to lay out in the shade. He's getting ready for the baby! I also ordered some tranquilizers from the vet for our 20-something drive to Texas. That will be fun- being serenaded by Kit Kat the WHOLE WAY!

Here's our schedule for moving:
Pack the truck in Ohio - May 26-27
Ryan and his friend Chris drive to Texas - May 28-29
Arrive and unload truck - May 29-30
Ryan and Chris party in Austin - June 1-2
Emily's showers in MI - June 2-3
Ryan begins class - June 4
Last exam in Emily's classes - June 7
Emily and Kit Kat drive to TX - June 8ish

Pray for us! We need it! Please also pray for a job for Ryan. He's finding lots of jobs for which to apply, but we need someone to notice his resume and qualifications out of the other applicants!

This and that

This is a picture of Kim and I this morning at 6:20 am! She ran the Flying Pig marathon in Cincinnati and did awesome (4:30!). It is so fun to have her (and Toonsis her cat) visit. I'm trying to convince her to run a marathon in Dallas next December.

I only have four more weeks of teaching left (plus a week of final exams). I normally don't count down to the end (at least not with any of the quarters this year), but my big lecture class is a challenge, so it will be nice when that is done. It just takes so much more preparation to teach a class like that. I much prefer to teach smaller classes that can be more interactive and hands-on. I'm not complaining, however. I have a fantastic job.

Ryan passed his Texes test for social studies teaching. He did great. He needed 240 out of 300 and he scored 259.

Tank Top Weather

It is supposed to be 80 degrees here today. It's definitely tank top weather! I just ate my lunch out on the patio. Wonderful!
One year ago today my dog Hershey died. I've been very sad in recent weeks, but I haven't been too sad today. It might be because the weather is so different than last year. It was rainy and gray the day she died. It was the kind of day that reminds me of the sadness of life. However, today's sunshine reminds me of heaven and the joys of life. Last year, my friend Susan told me that once I was done being sad, I would only have happy memories. I have thought about that maybe fifty times in the past year. It is true. I am very, very thankful for the years I had with her.

Hershey was one of my greatest spiritual teachers. She LOVED to just be in my presence. She would lay at my feet in our "one butt kitchen" (it's small) as I cooked dinner. She would follow me around the house from room to room and just be with me. As I fixed my hair or typed on the computer, she would curiously watch my face. Pleasing me was seemingly her greatest joy. She lived to be with me. Many, many times I was challenged by her example of simple obedience. God desires that I would be the same way with Him. How I need to order my day so that I am looking to Him and just enjoying being with Him. The sunshine today is a brilliant reminder of His presence in this life.

Belly pix @ 21 weeks

Susan and Katie B- here you go! I'm 21 weeks this morning, and it appears that MOLLY CLARA is doing well. I had an appointment this morning. It is surprising how uneventful these appointments are. I pee in a cup, get my weight and blood pressure checked, have the opportunity to ask questions, and have the baby's heartrate checked. Then I'm on my way. I'm thankful that all is going well, and it's this easy! The baby is moving as I write this. Her favorite spot to kick is my lower right abdomen.

I have had no cravings so far, but occasionally I screw off the top of the hot sauce bottle and pour it all over what I'm eating. No more sprinkling a little here and there. I'm sure that this habit will die quickly if I develop heartburn. I don't crave salad, but sometimes when I start eating it, I end up eating 2 or 3 bowls full. I can't get enough.

Resurrection

Ryan was talking about the sermon our pastor did yesterday. (I wasn't there... I went to 7:30 mass with my grandma in MI). Our conversation made me think about the 1 Corinthian 15 passage that talks about the resurrection. I read it last night, and it was very powerful to me.

For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive. (1 Cor. 15:22)

Sometimes I can get so down when I think about all of the suffering in our world. I recently read A Long Way Gone which is a memoir of a boy soldier in Sierra Lionne. He lost his whole family to violence and with very little choice became a soldier himself at a young age. He was rehabilitated and got a college degree in the US. Education and intervention made a difference in his life. Even though education is important, I don't believe that it can turn our whole world around and make all things good. However, Christ can. Just as all death and evil entered the world through Adam, all life and goodness are found in Christ. This world will never be perfect, but He will bring a new kingdom that is only life and goodness. I believe this is a description of what heaven will be like when Christ returns.

When the perishable has been clothed with the imperishable, and the mortal with immortality, then the saying that has been written will come true: "Death has been swallowed up in victory." 1 Cor. 15:54

Have a happy belated Easter!

Probably a girl!

Baby was sleeping during my ultrasound today. She was facing my back and had her legs and hands up by her face. She did give me a big kick which I felt, and we were able to see it on the ultrasound machine! The tech is 90% sure baby is a girl! She's about 14 ounces (just a little bigger than a can of Coke!) and 10 inches long. Everything about her looks normal, but she is stubborn!