Thankful

Thanksgiving came and went and I didn't get a chance to write all that I'm thankful for... I could write a list a mile long, but I'll keep it to the top 5:
1. Jesus Christ- I am forever grateful that He saved me. For eternity, and also from living a life of self focus and emptiness.
2. Jackson Perdue- Jackson encourages me and loves me like no other man ever has or will. I love him and am better because of him.
3. My gorgeous daughters- I literally thank God every day if not multiple times a day for the gift of Belle and Juliette. They make my life more rich than I can imagine and fill my heart with an inexpressible joy.
4. Friends- God has blessed me with awesome friends. There is one friend in particular that God has used to fill me to overflowing. Lindsey Clark. Ever since we met, God has used Lindsey to sharpen me, encourage me, and fill my heart with happiness. Specifically, in this rough season Lindsey has helped Orkin miraculously get out to kill the fleas (she called Orkin while she was in a hotel room in Ohio because she saw Jackson put a message on Facebook and got Orkin to come out earlier than they told Jackson they could come out), she has sent me super encouraging emails, and just today she had Safeway deliver some fresh produce, antibacterial wipes, rice cakes, and other groceries that made me feel so blessed.
5. Family- I'm so grateful for the family that God gave me. In laws included!

So glad

It's been a rough couple of months. There's been a lot of things going on, especially illnesses in my immediate and extended family. Right now both of the girls have horrible diarrhea and little Juliette threw up last night. I haven't slept more than a few hours at a time since October 10th, almost two months. I knew that I'd be in a care taker role during this season, but I did not know how much care taking would be required. A few days ago I realized that in the past couple of weeks I've been doing things more out of my energy, not God's strength. It took a painful experience for me to remember- really remember- that I can't live a minute without God. My circumstances haven't changed much but I feel so glad in my heart right now. My mom texted me today, "This is the day that the Lord has made, let us rejoice and be glad in it". At the time I didn't feel so glad. I started the day, even after that wonderful reminder, trying to do things on my own. God gave me the gift of a phone call with Lindsey (my amazing friend that continually helps me with anything and everything and encourages me to keep running the race with God well). Then, I got another gift, the gift of time - both girls are napping at the same time which hasn't happened but maybe once since Baby J was born. I was able to spend a good amount of time reading my Bible, journaling, praying, and just being. This is the day... this is the day that the Lord has made. I'm going to be glad and rejoice in it.

His Grace

Things have been CRAZY at the Perdue household. We've had fleas (yes, they are still here and we had to quickly evacuate yesterday while the Orkin man came back to spray). If you know me, you know I really don't like things out of order, I don't prefer surprises, and I like to at least think that I have things under control. God has been stretching me in the midst of all that's going on this month. It's been rough, but it's an answer to my prayers. Before Juliette was born, I'd been praying that God would make me thirst for Him more than I ever have before and I specifically prayed, "Do whatever it takes". Well, God is using my circumstances to do just that.

Juliette is a wonderful baby, but like any newborn she is up a lot at night. During the days, Belle is adjusting to her new life with little sister and has tried to get attention by acting out and disobeying- A LOT. She has her good moments, but it's been exhausting... On top of just having a baby, I felt really weepy and sad for a good week after Baby J came. Albeit difficult, this really brought me into God's presence.

I had everything (and I really mean everything) organized before Belle's birthday and 6 days before Juliette's birth. I had redone all of the closet organization, the girls' room was perfectly set up, and our house seemed cleaner than it had ever been. The flea bombings/spraying has changed a lot of that. We've had help (thank you family!) getting things back together, but it's not how I had it or where I want it to be...

Okay, enough whining. This is about God's grace in my life... These past two weeks I've been praying so much more, feel closer to God, and have spent much more time in my Bible. There's no coincidence. I continually think of 2 Corinthians 12:9. It says, 'But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.' I know that MANY people go through MUCH more difficult times, but this is my piece. Life's hard right now, but God is good. Along with my prayer to thirst for God every moment, I'm praying that I'll enjoy the here and now. I recently heard something that will stick with me. A friend told me regarding raising little ones that, "The days are long, but the years are short". It's hard to remember on a daily basis, but it's so true. I'm SO grateful God has blessed us with two healthy, beautiful daughters. The displayed pictures are from yesterday. Despite the chaos, Juliette is still thriving and precious. Belle enjoyed a trip to the pumpkin patch with her aunties while we were getting the house ready for the Orkin Man. His grace is sufficient for me.

Ways to Make Your 37th Week of Pregnancy Whiz By

As many of you know, Belle was a week after the due date. Every day post September 28, 2006 felt like eternity and I truly got a little depressed each night I went to bed until October 4, 2006. I've been preparing myself that Juliette may come late. Due to various pains and prenatal issues I've been hoping that Juliette will come a little bit early. I'm telling myself it would make up for Belle being "late".

Babies are considered 'full-term' at week 37. While many people don't deliver at this time, I think most pregnant women think, "Great! The baby is ready and if I have the baby this week I won't have to be pregnant for another 3+ weeks..." That's what I thought with Belle, and the thought crossed my mind early last week. HOWEVER, I am praying to God that Juliette does not come right now for at least another week or two. Here are 3 ways to make the last weeks of your pregnancy whiz by:

1. Have a child with a birthday- Belle's birthday was this weekend. Enough said.
2. Have car trouble- Jackson noticed his brakes were making a metal on metal sound on Saturday. I had to take the car to the shop on Monday and was 'stranded' at my mom's place (with a big 'baby's coming- gotta get this done' list) from 8am until 5pm.
3. Have a flea infestation- I'm not joking. We got a glider rocking chair from someone and we're guessing at this point that it had flea eggs in the cushion. We had to bomb our house last night and I'm still cleaning dishes and clothes due to the gas residue as I type- well the dishwasher and washer/dryer are cleaning right now.

I'm tired, but I'm sort of keyed up because I feel like I have so much to do. Maybe I'm nesting... Anyhow, I have yet to pack and do the 'baby's coming- gotta get this done' list. It keeps getting shuffled out due to all these random things cropping up. It seems crazy to me that I'll be 38 weeks on Friday and the due date is approaching so quickly. That being said, let's hope Juliette doesn't make her appearance until week 39 at the earliest.

Happy Birthday Belle!

Well, almost. Belle is turning 3 tomorrow, October 4th (right around 3 am). It is so hard to believe that three years have passed, and yet it's even more difficult to remember life without Belle. She's a joy, a beauty, and a treasure. We had Belle's Ariel-themed third birthday party today at Grammy and Papa's place and it was a blast. There was pizza, a jumpy house, lots of generous gifts for Belle to open, and a pinata.

Belle's life is a celebration and I can not imagine our lives without her. She is truly a miracle and gift from God. Happy Birthday Princess!

Happy Birthday Jackson!

Jackson turned 29 today. I praise God for making such an amazing man of God, husband, daddy, and friend. This morning as I was getting up I thought of all of the birthdays that we've celebrated together (this birthday is the 7th birthday that I've been a part of), and all of the birthdays that will come. Jackson's life is a big deal to me and a lot of other people. He's awesome. I plan on coordinating something pretty big for his 30th in 2010. Happy Birthday to Jackson!

Our Budding Artist

Belle has loved drawing and doing crafts since before she could even talk. As an aside, I enjoy making crafts, although drawing has never been a forte for me. Yesterday, Jackson and I were talking and doing things to help him get ready (he's preaching at Crossroads this weekend) and Belle announced that she was drawing a picture for her Grammy on an envelope. She was laying on her tummy with her legs up and worked quietly for a good 10 minutes. When I checked on her and saw an actual drawing, I was positive that Jackson had drawn a smiley face in the center of the envelope and Belle was just adding strokes to the hair around the picture. Belle smiled and said, "This is Tati (Auntie) Kara". I asked Jackson and simultaneously showed him Belle's drawing and he said, "You drew that for her!" When we realized she drew it on her own, we praised her and were both pretty shocked. She isn't even 3 yet, neither of us are artists, and while she does a lot of crafts with me she doesn't draw every day... There's more!

After all of the parental praise, Belle said, "I'm going to do some more drawings..." She went back to work and after another 10 minutes she brought out the envelope and told a story for each character she had drawn. "Auntie Kara is in the middle; she's happy". "I'm there" (the little smiley face on the left). "Juliette is there and she has an owwie on her belly button and she's angry"- I had just told her yesterday that Juliette can't take a bath right away because she will have an owwie on her belly button for a little bit. When I asked her what the drawing above "Auntie Kara" was, she replied, "That's just a smiley face". Then she pointed at the smallest drawing above the picture of her and she said, "that's a pretend eye". I am often surprised by the things Belle says and already knows, but this drawing shocked both Jackson and I. This picture looks as good if not better than some of the first grade drawings that I collected in class last fall.