Baby T Grew.

Although it's WAY late I wanted to post the pictures of Baby T {Sullivan} growing. It's fun to look at these now and think about that mysterious baby! Having a gender and a face to now blame all those kicks and moves. 

                       

                                 Obviously, the math seems off. We announced our dog, Walter and the baby! 2 doubled is 4. 

                      

                                                 

                                                 

                                                 

                                                             

                           

                           

                            

                            

And unfortunately I kept procrastinating and didn't take my 40 week picture holding a pumpkin {which would have been super appropriate, her being born October 30th and all}. Disappointment. Next baby I'll hopefully complete it. 

Baby, Baby, Baby...

I haven't written a post yet, although I've often thought about it. Obviously, I spontaneously write... there is no rhyme or reason for it, other than suddenly getting inspired. A baby can do that.

We found out we were pregnant {March fifth}, although we had to confirm one positive test with three more revealing the same double line and "pregnant" screen. We had to wait {March twentieth} for my first doctors appointment, then the following week had my first ultrasound! We announced to our family and a few friends that we were expecting {March twenty-seventh}. That waiting period of twenty-two days was killer. ugh. It finally felt real after that. A month later {April twenty-fourth} we told the world!

I haven't been sick {ok, I've thrown up five times}, nothing about my life has really altered... other than not drinking wine and eating lunch meat. So far at 19 weeks, I've only gained two or three pounds. And some days my baby bump looks popped and huge, and other days I feel like I'm as skinny as ever.

I've been going baby book crazy. Mainly because we made the decision to not find out the gender, and there's only so much I can be doing to prepare right now. I'm eagerly awaiting my baby showers so that room decorating and nesting may begin.

Books I've bought:
- What to Expect When Your Expecting {cliche and a staple book}
- On Becoming: Baby Wise {about scheduling and getting infant to sleep through the night}
- To Train Up a Child {haven't read}
- The Happiest Baby on the Block {great for first 3 months}
- Simply Baby: An Invaluable Quick Reference to Infants
- Making Children Mind WIthout Losing Yours
Most of these are about giving babies consistency and "training" them in order to encourage their happiness and put their insecurities at peace. I'm excited to get studying and reading about raising our babe.

eight weeks.

twelve weeks.

fifteen weeks. 

Food entry...

This is my first "food" entry. Its a bit random, but this is a collection of things, just to keep it interesting!

So when when Jeff and I got married, naturally I registered for a panini press. After the first seven months, I used it once to make a quesadilla. We decided to return it, or rather Jeff decided so that we could get cash back from BB&B. Well it's now a year later and guess what I just bought... a panini press!

I've been a panini-making fanatic! Here's a recipe that Jeff really liked- despite it being meatless, and i LOVED!

Eggplant Panini withPesto
Ingredients:
1 large eggplant,about 12-14 oz
kosher salt to taste
olive oil spray
12 oz french bread(or baguette), cut into 4 pieces
4 slices part skimmozzarella cheese (I used whatever was on sale)
2 tbsp pesto (just store bought for simplicity)
8 thin sliced tomato
1/4 onion cut (I added this to the original recipe)

Directions:
Slice the eggplantinto 1/4-inch thick slices. Place the eggplant slices on a paper towel andseason with salt; set aside about 30 minutes. This will help draw some of themoisture out of the eggplant. Pat the eggplant dry with paper towels. Preheatpanini grill. Lightly spritz eggplant with olive oil, season with salt andpepper. When the grill is hot, grill eggplant about 4 minutes. Set aside.

Slice the bread openand place 3 slices of grilled eggplant, 1 slice of mozzarella, 1/2 tablespoonof pesto, 2 slices of tomatoes, and a few slivers of onion on each sandwich. Close and lightly spraythe top of the bread with oil. 

Place on a paninipress and close until the cheese melts and the bread is toasted. Cut in halfdiagonally and eat immediately.

A cup of cheer...

These days, my life has been consumed with coaching cheerleading at Hilton Head High School (and Middle School). We just returned from UCA cheer camp in Myrtle beach. It was a fun week, but definitely trying, to say the least. I've never been so aware of how broken and lost high school girls (and boys) are. Despite my experiences working with this age of girls, with coach cheerleading in Ohio and doing Young Life there, and actually being a girl in high school myself just a few years ago, this past week really gave me a different perspective.

There was so much insecurity, attention seeking, and genuine heartache during our 5 days at cheer camp. All of these emotions manifested in different and unique ways but they all shared a common root, which is sin. The things that went down, the issues that arose, were nothing but a visual representation of sin in the world. I wish I could go into more detail about specific incidents, but to protect these girls stories and experiences, I don't feel like I can or should. But please trust me when I say that these poor girls learning to deal and cope with so much in todays world, they are trying to discover who they are or want to be, and more times than not... it's devastating to watch.

My eyes have been opened to the idea of spiritual warfare. I find it odd that this is the week when the Lord revealed this to me like never before. I believe that rather than teaching me when I am surrounding by community, fellowship, and prayer... he waited until I was isolated, so that I could really get a clear view of how real this war we are fighting in is.

I know this seems super dark and deep, and that's not really my intention. I've just been blown away by this realization. I also have a deeper and more developed passion, more than EVER, for youth ministry. I am continually in awe of how blessed I am that the Lord has chosen me to do His work. He trusted me enough to send me to cheer camp with 47 girls from HHI, although I didn't feel equipped or worthy.

There is such an enormous need for youth ministries. But please hear this....  when I say youth ministry, I don't mean churches or people pressing values, morals, legalities, and laws onto these kids. These girls don't need anyone else to judge them and tell them who they are supposed to be, they get that all day everyday from the media, their friends, and families. All they need is the truth and love of Jesus. They need leaders in their life who will love and support them exactly as they are, and help guide them to truth, despite their faults, struggles, and wacky methods of discovering themselves. 

Now on a different note.... despite the hard, weird, awkward, sad, and disheartening moments....
WE TOTALLY ROCKED THAT CAMP. 
JV Squad: Camp Champs for Cheer, Camp Champs for Dance, 1st place home pom dance, & 5 All-Americans
Varsity Squad: 1st place home fight song dance, 2nd place cheer, 2nd place dance, Camp Leadership award (voted by other teams), Superior squad award, 6 All-Americans, 2 seniors nominated for UCA staff.

All of the Seahawk cheerleaders (JV and Varsity) with their trophies and awards! 

Our 11 All-American Cheerleaders! 

My JV competition team. So proud of them!

Welcome to our home....

Well this is my first post of 2012, how sad. During a typical day, or week, or even month(s) I give no thought to my "blog". But then, occasionally, I get drawn back. Here's one of those times....

Today marks our one year anniversary since moving to HIlton Head! It's wild that we've called HHI home for a year. And what a crazy year it has been, to say the least. In order to truly celebrate our one year anniversary of living on this wacky island, I will share with you pictures of our home. YES. the time has come, to make it public.

As a disclaimer... it's still a work in progress, but I finally feel like the essentials are done. We are currently renting our sweet little villa, so we are obviously not making updates and changes we would if it was ours forever. I am by no means a decorator, nor am I crafty... but I so badly wish I was. 

Without procrastinating any longer, here it it.... 

Jeff hand painted our Thompson sign...
we found drift wood at the beach, and viola!

Our courtyard.
It's nice to have dinners and just relax out here.  

Our living space... 

My favorite thing. Still adding and creating things. 

An attempt at a picture frame wall. 

  

Now to the kitchen...

We love the kitchen. We had so much space to fill, and ended up
 finding this table at Good Will for $20! 

Where the magic happens...

Master bath....

Jeff's Office.... the only room he got to decorate.

Is it obvious he's a huge Cincinnati sports fan? 

Guest Bathroom....

Guest Bedroom/My sister's room..... 

Went for the traditional beach theme. Got the furniture from an estate sale and head board from the garbage.
Still need a bed skirt... don't judge! 

Love this vase from Anthropologie. 

We love where we're at. This is the perfect place for the stage of life we're in right now. We have enough space to entertain, and have friends and family visit. We have no clue how long we're staying in Hilton Head, but we have decided that we will continue living here as long as we remain on the island.

Well y'all, thanks for visiting, come again!

The Low Country.

Clearly now that I'm living in the low country I've adopted the Southern lifestyle. The livin' is slow and easy here, so I'll credit that as my excuse for not posting EVER.

Back to the living being slow and easy.... Life has been anything and everything except slow or easy. Jeff and I are both in the mission field, fighting daily: we're fighting against the world, Satan, evil, negativity. I've never been so tried in my life. I know that sounds silly, considering I live within a 5 minute bike ride from the beach, I have the best husband, I have a beautiful home (rental), I'm very healthy, and the Lord has chosen and equipped us for this time of battle. 

On a lighter note: 

Living in Hilton Head we are so close to so many neat areas. We've visited Savannah, GA, Jacksonville, FL, Atlanta, GA, Beaufort, SC, and duh- Hilton Head Island, SC. This area is so rich with history, stories, and unique opportunities and experiences. We've attended our first Oyster Roast, seen where Forrest Gump was filmed, gone to awesome shopping centers, and enjoyed lounging on the sandy shores of the Atlantic River. 

THE SOUTH- (thee sauth) noun.

THE PLACE WHERE... 

1. Tea is sweet & accents are sweeter 2. Summer starts in April 3. Mac & cheese is a vegetable 4. Front porches are wide & words are long 5. Pecan pie is a staple 6. Y'all is the only proper noun 7. Chicken is fried & biscuits come with gravy 8. Everything is darlin' 9. Someone's heart is always bein' blessed.

We we're given a Low Country welcome basket when we moved down, and it included a picture frame with this written on it. We love it. Hope it shares a little taste of the Island living with you. 

Ready, Set, Go...

Man. You know when you dwell on something for so long... think about it in high school it's starting to drive, homecoming, prom, graduation, etc. Then in college it's spring break with friends, a three week break between semesters, whatever sweet plans your summer consists of, graduating, finding a job, starting a life as a "real person". If we are honest with ourselves and evaluate how much time we spend thinking, planning, and preparing for something in the future, I think we'd all find that it's an overwhelming amount. Here's my question: When we are planning and thinking about the future, what are we doing with today? I'm so guilty of this.
Jeff and I have been praying, thinking, preparing, planning, visiting, and coordinating all the fine details of our move to Hilton Head since December 20th, 2010. We are finally moving in three days. The day we have given so much of our time to, in order to be ready, is finally here. As I sit in my living room surrounded by boxes and clutter, I wonder what I might have missed out on these passed seven months.
It's such a difficult concept because we are called to serve, and in order to serve there must be a plan and a mission. In Matthew 6, we are also told to flee from worry.
    “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?  Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

     “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Matthew 6:25-34

I believe there is such a fine line between the two ideas or worry and preparation, and I admit that I fall on either side of that line when it comes to events in my life. I need to be prepared for what is to come, but at what point does my eagerness and willingness to be prepared become twisted or contorted into worry? "Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?" wow. No, I sure can't, and I sure didn't. 

As we are in our final moments of preparation I think, finally, we feel ready... we have three more days until we go to our new mission field and fight. Regardless of the past seven months the Lord has given us a direct mission and forgiven us of our worry and any regrets we may have. I tell God constantly that I'm not prepared, I stress out about little details involving my new job as a teacher... And he remind me over and over that I need only to seek Him. 

Ready? (hard to say), Set? (maybe, probably not), Go! 

This is all the Lord requires of us, is that we go, no matter how capable, fit, confident, or prepared we may feel. There's no need for us to worry, He will handle all the details.