A week I wouldn't change one bit..

The last few days of waiting for Owen's arrival were an eternity.  The due date came... and went, yet the world didn't come to a screeching halt as I had apparently presumed!  We kept right on as 'normal'.  The only real difference was how I answered curious inquiries about my baby's pending arrival; with a rather melancholy, 'Oh, the due date was yesterday..'  Slightly dramatic, I realize now, but I felt as though the little man had taken up permanent residency inside my womb!
Proverbs 19:21' Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the LORD's purpose that prevails.' 
Derek didn't admit to this but I know he was dreading the thought of me going into labor while he was working.  He managed to talk me into accompanying him to almost all his jobs.  Although, on one especially hot day, it took the bribery of a chai frappucino to get me in that truck.  I'm glad he was adamant, though.  I would've driven myself crazy at home alone; he kept me thoroughly occupied with weeds that needed pulling and grass that needed mowing.
We also fertilized the entire coffee farm!  This may be my new favorite task in the fields, simply walking up and down the rows, flinging the fertilizer in a nice circle around each tree.  Not especially taxing work, but if anything was going to send me into labor I was sure that trekking up and down 6 1/2 acres of coffee trees would do the trick!

[Derek's rose bush in bloom!!]

Proverbs 16:9 'In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.'
We were on the schedule to take a turn leading Bible study on the 11th.. but in our minds that was kind of a joke.  After all, everyone knew we'd be in the hospital then!  Yet, Thursday arrived in all its glory and even after a walk to where Derek was working for the day, I felt absolutely normal.  After the fact I can honestly say that I'm thankful Owen didn't come that day.  Bible study was awesome and in our last minute preparations we actually learned a LOT.  Afterwords we had an awesome time of prayer!  Our wonderful 'family' gathered around Derek and I to pray for Owen's delivery and for his life. We asked God to give Derek and I strength to face each contraction and also strength for each step of this journey.  It was so encouraging.  God knew that we needed that.  He is faithful even when we are flaky.  He uses every situation to teach us something.
Psalm 33:11 'But the plans of the LORD stand firm forever, the purposes of His heart through all generations.'
Friday morning I woke up to the sound of Derek's laughter.  He was in the kitchen, drinking coffee and watching trailers for the movie 'Despicable Me 2'.  I wandered out and before I could lament about another night having come and gone without any sign of our son, Derek announced that we had an appointment at the movie theater once he finished his jobs for the day!  Sweet husband, once again, saved me from myself and gave me something other than going into labor to look forward to.  We had a fantastic date, complete with free popcorn and our smuggled in contraband: RedBull and Reese's for Derek, fresh blueberries and pineapple for me!  (Okay, and maybe a KitKat!)  I'm so thankful for that time together, especially now that it won't be 'just us' for quite awhile!
Psalm 37:7 'Be still before the LORD and wait patiently for Him..' 
I know you're reading this post because you know that the little man has, indeed, arrived and you want details.  But, this was all part of Owen's birth story; my impatience, God's perfect timing and a week that, looking back on, I wouldn't change one bit.

And now, the moment we've all been waiting for.. Owen's birthday!!  Saturday was absolutely beautiful.  Our friend blessed us with tickets to a pancake breakfast.  We wandered through a rummage sale and I got a killer deal on a massive stack of books.  (Although, now I'm wondering if I'll ever have time to read again.. :)  We cleaned the church, I took a nap and then decided that an evening stroll sounded perfect.  Kai and I had plenty of energy and went almost 3 miles.  I'm not sure if Owen was planning on coming that night anyway or if the walk was an extra motivator, but when I got home things started progressing.
It took a long time for me to be convinced that I was actually in labor.  I suppose I was in denial; I didn't want to raise my (and Derek's) hopes only to realize he was still not coming.  My chicken stir fry took a bit longer than usual to make because I kept stopping, grabbing on to the counter and just breathing.  The pain was a very intense cramping feeling, not at all what I had anticipated.  Derek was getting a little curious but trying not to be TOO excited.
If there was one bit of advice that we heard more than anything else it was 'Wait it out as long as possible at home.'  So, after only 2 hours of contractions we felt lame for calling labor and delivery but when they heard that the contractions were 2-3 minutes apart they said I needed to come in.  I'm so thankful we did!  We're only 10 minutes from the hospital but by the time we arrived I was already 5cm dilated.  In between contractions I still felt perfectly normal; later we joked with one of my nurses about how she saw us in the elevator on our way up, we were laughing and trying to remember what floor to go to.  She figured we still had a LONG ways to go.. little did she realize, Owen was on a mission.  Within an hour I was fully dilated!
My nurses jumped into high gear, spotlights were being turned on and they explained to us that our doctor was on Oahu but the on-call doctor was on her way.  I told Derek to give them my birth plan, but at that point it didn't matter.. even if I had wanted an epidural, there wasn't time.  And we were WAY past the point where I wanted to be using a birthing ball or walking halls.  This baby was coming!

Shout out to the best birth partner in the world.  Derek did AWESOME!  Yes, I did the actual pushing but he played a huge roll in it all; I couldn't have done it without him.  I'm sure I squeezed every drop of blood out of his poor hand, but he never asked for it back.  He kept me focused and helped me breathe through each and every contraction.  I brought my Bible, thinking we had a whole night of labor in front of us but Owen had different plans.  Thankfully, Derek was right there beside me calmly saying, 'You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength.'  When I look at my husband now I feel something deeper and stronger than ever before.  Yes, I would still love him even if he had passed out during delivery.  But having him as such an incredible support has made me fall in love on an entirely new level.
After hearing countless stories of labor lasting an entire day or TWO, I'm still a little bit in shock about ours only taking four hours!  I believe prayer made a huge difference!  In the days leading up to delivery I heard from countless people, friends and family all over the world, that they were lifting us up in prayer!  When we went into the hospital Derek let one of our 'Aunties' know and within minutes people from our church were praying and some even came to the waiting room.  The amount of support and love we felt (and continue to feel) is incredible and humbling.  We are abundantly blessed!  Like a broken record, the only thing I could think to say that night was 'Jesus, give me strength.'  Over and over and over.  And He did.. oh, He did!
Isaiah 40:29 'He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak..' 

People ask about the pain and I don't really have a good answer for them.  Turns out, it's true what they say about forgetting it all.  They wiped Owen off, set him on my stomach and I melted into a huge puddle of love.  Cheesy, I know.. but in that moment, I thought my heart would explode.  I still had a pretty tight grip on Derek's hand and if not for that I may have just floated away, that's how amazing it feels to see your son for the very first time!
God's timing is perfect and I'm so thankful He had his way with our week.  I'm so thankful for His hand on Owen's life and His incredible presence throughout his birth.  I'm blown away by my God and the miracle of life He has entrusted us with.  I have a whole slew of Owen stories, but those will have to wait till next time..
Psalm 18:29-31 '..with my God I can scale any wall.  As for God, His way is perfect.  All the LORD's promises prove true.  He is a shield for all who look to Him for protection.  For who is God except the LORD? Who but our God is a solid rock?  God arms me with strength; He has made my way safe.'
To God be the glory!!

Leonardo's labor-less week..

Trust me, I made a valiant attempt at having a baby this week.  Apparently the little man is on his very own birthing schedule; my efforts failed to faze him!  So, in place of the exciting labor and delivery escapades I know you're anxious to hear, I'll simply have to regale you with tales of an 'average' labor-less week!  

Monday found us at the coffee farm.  A solid day of weed whacking seemed like the perfect outlet for this prego's impressive stores of energy.  Yes, I'll admit, we were also secretly hoping it would spur on the contractions.  But the end result was not the trip to the delivery room we were so eagerly anticipating.  The only proof of a full day's work, apart from beautifully cleared rows of coffee trees, were my swollen ankles and an apetite rivalling that of a hippo!  Derek grilled cheeseburgers and we finished off the day with homemade peach cobbler and the knowledge that, try as we might to intervene, the timing will remain in God's hands. 

                                       

Landscaping jobs are keeping my husband fairly busy these days.  He even has his own business cards, now!  While he is out beautifying the properties of Kona I am left to my own devices.  This means I do all that I can to stay active, productive and not obsessing over when I'll finally go into labor!  I clean, do laundry, bake, pull weeds and go on long walks.  I read books and re-pack the hospital bag. This week I attempted a crafty project; homemade signs that I want to hang in the living room and nursery upon their completion.  With paint brush in hand and my piano station cranked up on Pandora I felt like quite the Leonardo!  My paint shirt doesn't fit quite like it used to, though and I had to scrub quite a bit of paint off my belly that night. 

There was a change in plans for Derek's Wednesday job so we headed to the coffee farm again.  This was a very wise choice as it prevented me and my newly discovered artsy side from taking on the repainting of the entire apartment!  An awesome friend from church came out to help us weed whack and we powered through an impressive amount of rows!  I did better at thinking non-labor related thoughts and just enjoying the day.  But as the rain started pouring down that afternoon I did find myself wondering if I'd be able to tell when my water broke because I was already sopping wet from head to toe!  

We really do have peace about the remaining days on the pregnancy calendar and know that He has the perfect plan.  But, that doesn't keep us from a few other quirky attempts of our own.  Derek brought home a soursop for our eating privileges.  This exotic fruit resembles a giant, spiked pickle and has a slimy taste similar to that of a banana/pineapple.  Through our Googling research we discovered that, among other things, soursop could be the cure for cancer and might induce labor!  'Oh, how incredibly convenient', I said!  Unfortunately, we could now be featured on myth-busters for that theory..

Derek's been eyeing a new camera for awhile but knew that the purchasing couldn't happen until we sold our current camera.  So, with our first born son on the brink of arrival.. my husband listed the camera online.  And it sold the same day!  I was convinced that would be all the prompting this baby needed.  "Oh, my parents are camera-less, here I come!!" But, he proved us wrong once again and this time I was grateful; camera phones can only do so much.  Not to worry, we are now the proud owners of a very snazzy new picture taker that only Derek could explain the true capabilities of.  It will document the arrival of our son, and that's all that matters to me.

[39 1/2 weeks]

Other excitement in the week that did NOT prompt anything labor related: a stroll downtown on the fourth, our favorite clam chowder and a great fireworks show!  The arrival of fun baby packages in the mail.  A hilarious attempt to chase a bird out of the church sanctuary; Derek and I were hopping from seat to seat, waving brooms in the air!  Finally the little guy landed, just as exhausted as we were, and I was able to scoop him up and take him outside.  After church yesterday people started placing bets on when Owen will make his grand entrance; there's over $20 in the pot so the pressure is on now!!

Here's the moral of this week's story.  Amidst all the hype and unknown and 24/7 wondering of the past few days, I come to a new understand of God as my Rock.  He is unchangeable, the only constant in all the variables of this life.  I've been searching out 'labor verses' and it's incredible how many times and in how many ways the Bible reminds me of the steadfast, unfailing faithfulness and love of my King.  In the Psalms alone I've found enough verses to accompany me through multiple hours of contractions as well as these last few days of waiting FOR the contractions, which is painful in its own way!!  God is my Refuge, my Rescuer, His love never ends, His mercies are always knew.  He gives me strength, He enables me!  And that's just a few of His amazing promises, from just one book of the Bible!!  The wealth at my fingertips is truly unfathomable.. I could pack an entire hospital bag just with memory verse cards, but I'll just take my Bible.. :)

So, YES, I'm ready to meet my son.  And, call me crazy, but I'm feeling excited about facing the contractions and conquering this unknown.  We may have to wait a few more days or even a week.. or more (I shouldn't even type that!) BUT God is in charge and He will equip me for all that is to come.  And when I'm starting to think I can't take it any longer, the waiting or the laboring, these are the words I will cling to...  

'The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.' Psalm 18:2

Taste & See!

'Taste and see that the Lord is good..'  Psalm 34:8  This verse shadowed me throughout the entire week; popping into my head at any given moment, showing up in my devotion or 'just happening' to be on the page my Bible fell open to.  But what exactly do these words mean?!  Taste and sight are proof of something tangible, yet God is invisible.  To taste and see something is to experience it.  But how do I experience the goodness of the Lord?  Well, the verse doesn't say 'Sit back, relax and know that the Lord is good..' it uses action words.  Taste!  See!  I can listen to hundreds of stories about the vibrant beauty of the ocean but it won't become reality until I see it with my own eyes and experience it.  In the same way, it doesn't matter how many pictures I see of delicious, juicy mangos- I won't know how they taste until I actually sink my teeth into one.  The psalmist urges us to take these same actions when it comes to knowing the goodness of God.  We need to take a bite, we need to open our eyes!

[amazing morning at the beach]

As I went through the week it was my goal to truly open myself up to experiencing God's goodness; becoming more aware.  And, although I'm just at the tip of the iceberg, I'm realizing how much I take Him for granted.  I asked God to open my eyes to 'see' His goodness in my life and I was continually being humbled by a new understanding of how BLESSED I am.  He is always with me, always working on my behalf and orchestrating the most minute details of my life.  He's molding me, placing me into situations that will allow me to grow.  He's blessing my socks right off!!  Yet, I fail to realize that all these things are HIM!  This week I sunk my teeth into the depth of His Word, into an appreciation of all He's doing in my life (and also into several juicy mangos :) and I recognized the taste for what it truly is: the goodness of God!

--gorgeous hibiscus--

We don't have a porch at the apartment but I set up my beach chair at the top of the steps and spent several evenings out there.  It's so easy to get wrapped up in things I need to do, places I need to go or even a favorite TV show I want to watch.  But taking time to sit in His presence made a significant difference in my days.  I listened as the birds sang their last songs and I watched the night chase away all the colors on the horizon.  I had a front row seat to the gorgeous double rainbow that came out after a rain storm.  A few verses before the one that followed me through the week is another verse that says 'the earth is full of His unfailing love.' Psalm 33:5  I realized this in a new way this week.  I 'saw' that unfailing love in encouragement from a friend.  I 'tasted' His goodness in moments of uncontrollable laughter with Derek or the realization that God had provided for our needs yet again.  He is truly everywhere, but it's up to us to grasp that!

Week 38 has come and (almost) gone without any new developments.  Everyone is sharing their tried and true methods for going into labor but I'm convinced that this little man is on his very own time table and I will not be resorting to castor oil, thank you very much :)  He'll come when he wants and until then I just continue to live as 'normal' as possible.  Although I still have the occasional, slightly irrational urge to clean any and every surface within reach, the nesting instinct showed itself more this week through my need to BAKE.  Cookies, bran muffins, home made lasagna for the freezer; you get the picture.  We are stocked up and ready for this baby to come!  Derek was slightly offended that I seemed to think he would be incapable of preparing even one meal on his own, but I think he's secretly glad to have some easy options in the freezer.  And, speaking of 'tasting', I KNOW he doesn't mind the pies!  

So, we're jumping into a new week and I know God has an abundance of goodness for Derek and I to taste and see!  That may or may not include the birth of our son.. you'll have to check back next week to find out :)

'come away with me..'

Baby Pearl and I arrived at the 'full term' mile marker this week!!  I must admit, the occasion wasn't quite as monumental as anticipated.  I suppose I was braced for an immediate onslaught of contractions once we rounded that last bend of the pregnancy journey.  But, alas, he is still perfectly content in his womb cocoon.  And, of course, I do want him to reside there as long as possible; I'm just feeling very eager to meet this little man!
I continue to crave FRUIT but thanks to Derek's jobs, this is easy to remedy.  This week alone he brought home mangos, figs, a pineapple and some lilikoi!  He also brought home a jack fruit, which was quite the experience!  Apparently, it wasn't quite ripe enough and all we got out of it was a sticky sap that got all over everything, including Kai!  Poor pup even had it on his paws and we had to bust out the peanut butter to clean his fur.  I don't think he minded, though!  Plus, the pooch can sense that we are on the verge of a drastic change and he's been utilizing every excuse for extra attention.
Although 37 weeks feels surprisingly similar to all the other weeks we've gone through, it did initiate a strong dose of my friend, Mr. Nesting Instinct!  Our apartment is now sparkling in places that will never even see the light of day!  I've done several loads of baby laundry and decided this task may very well be my new favorite 'chore'.  Miniature clothes and world's softest blankets are an absolute pleasure to fold.  (No guarantees on whether this fondness will continue once cloth diapers are added to the mix...)  With the completion of our beautiful cradle from an 'Uncle' at church we are officially READY to welcome our son home.  Now we simply continue with life as normal until the little man decides it's time!

[ready for Baby!!]

As long as my weed whacker harness still fits around this baby belly I'll do what I can in the endless battle with coffee farm weeds.  As always, I love the empowering feeling that comes with the conquering of each row and each section of field.  Right now that conquering is actually an impressive feat.  It would be ridiculous to compare this week's weeds to those we first encountered here, BUT there are some as tall as me right now!  I even encountered a few of the thick, 'gnarly' ones that have to be pulled out by hand.
Of course it would be ideal if we did the whacking more often, keeping the weeds a bit tamer.  But that's not exactly first priority these days.  Derek's landscaping business is blossoming and we are amazed at the ways God continually provides!  Apart from selling the occasional bag of coffee, these landscaping jobs supply our income.  That means farm maintenance is squeezed into the schedule whenever the other work is done.  The weeds aren't going anywhere, so it's not a big deal, they just become a bit more of a challenge the longer we let them grow!

[37 weeks!!]

'Here I am! I stand at the door and knock.'  This verse from Revelation 3:20 is quite often used as a call to those who are lost; Jesus is knocking, let Him into your life!  But this verse was actually written to a church, a body of believers!!  The highlight of my week was being able to dig into this a bit more, via Song of Solomon, and that's what I want to leave you with.. a bit of my discovery!
Song of Solomon is a beautiful description of a king who is desperately in love and chasing after his soon-to-be bride.  He is wooing her, courting her and they eventually marry and enjoy a wonderful night together.  But then we read that he is coming to her in the morning, asking her to 'come away with him' (2:10).  'The rain is gone', it's a gorgeous day and he wants to spend it with her; he longs to see her smile, hear her laugh.  The king wants to show off all his favorite spots; climb mountains with her and swim in the ocean together!  This makes my heart race.  But the response of the bride is such a let down.  My interpretation of her words: 'You're mine and I'm yours and that's great, but it's way too early for such nonsense.  You go ahead.. I'll catch up later.'  (2:16-17)  Uh oh..
This is where the Revelation verse ties in.  We are the bride, we are those who can say with confidence 'I am my Beloved's and He is mine.'  Yet, so often Jesus is left outside the door, knocking, while we continue to live 'our' life in ways we deem best.  He calls to us 'Let me in, my love, I have much to show you!'  But our response is less than enthusiastic.

The study I'm reading through describes the bridegroom as coming to the bride with hair 'wet with dew' (5:2) because he's been out gathering the lost, loving on those that are dirty and broken.  He wants her to join with him in this incredible mission to save the world.  The bride's response leaves quite a bit to be desired, though- 'Oh, I just took off my robe.  Do I have to put it back on?  My feet are freshly washed, are you really asking me to dirty them?'  (5:3)
God is calling to me on a DAILY basis to come away with Him, to delve into all that He has to show me.  He longs for me to step into the specific roles He has already prepared for me, to partner with Him in changing the world.  The Spirit whispers to me 'Let go of your expectations for the day, I have much greater plans for us.. if only you'll let Me lead.'  May I recognize His call, fling the door open and respond with much greater enthusiasm than I have in the past.  May I realize that nothing else matters more!  I AM my Beloved's and He is mine; instead of taking that for granted, may this knowledge make me quick to answer as I hear the King calling 'Come away with me..'

no where else we'd rather be..

This weekend my bestest friend married the love of her life... in Colorado.  The only downside to living on an island is that, unless we invest in a sailboat, flying remains the only option for traveling to the mainland.  At 36 weeks pregnant the airlines and my doctor were anything but keen on giving consent for the journey.  But, here's the ingenius part: I was still able to raise my glass of sparkling cider in a toast to marriage and love.  I ate wedding cake that was, let's be honest, just not as tasty as it looked.  And I blew bubbles and thanked God for two wonderful people committed to journeying through life together.  How did I pull it off, you may ask?!  Simple.  We attended a 50th anniversary party for a sweet couple in our church!
Of course, I still had high hopes of being magically transported to Elizabeth's wedding without going into labor.  But I was incredibly thankful that these events fell on the same day.  It may seem trivial, but I needed an excuse for sparkles and a cute dress!  God realizes the most intimate details of my heart and provided the perfect evening, complete with wonderful friends, a smoothie bar and fire dancers, to take my mind off of the celebration I was missing in Colorado.  It's mind boggling to realize the countless ways that the God of the universe is in tune with ME, pregnancy hormones and all!  I adore Him.

[what an Artist!!]

On that note, HAPPY FATHERS DAY, to my Papa God- Savior of my soul, Creator of the Milky Way, Painter of each and every sunset and Designer of the aardvark!  I will never be able to fathom how great He is or how truly incredible it is that He calls me His child [John 1:12].  Just this week I read in a study how we will 'explore the nooks and crannies of His Nature for all eternity.'  He is boundless and incomprehensible.  Yet, He is everywhere I look, closer than my own skin; He is constantly wooing, teaching and encouraging me.  I would, quite literally, be lost without Him.
I've also been blessed with an amazing earthly daddy.  He taught me to dream big, embrace my quirks and always look for the best in everyone.  Most importantly, he always pointed me to Jesus; I'll never be able to thank him enough for that.  And, although we still have approximately three and a half weeks till we meet our son, Derek is already an amazing dad.  He may be unsure of things like diaper changing, but he is eager to begin the journey of raising a son.  I know Derek will be an awesome example for our little man and there is no one I would rather share this enormous blessing and responsibility with.

[basketball belly!]

Our nursery is almost fully functional.  We organized all the amazing gifts we received at our shower and revised the list of 'baby essentials'.  Then we went on a shopping spree!!  Up until the shower we did an impressive job of holding back on purchases but the time had finally arrived to finish preparing for our son.  I was ecstatic and Derek... well, he had fun for the first 20 minutes.  Then the mattress pad covers and diaper rash creams started blurring together and he had to take an intermission/snack break.  We did a decent job of sticking to the list; minus a few 'must have' toys.  I say the nursery is 'almost' fully functioning, because the Target trip (plus two doctor appointments and a thousand other errands) completely depleted our energy supply and the changing table has yet to be assembled.

[sweet husband 'sorting' the shower gifts!]

Highlight of the week: redeeming my birthday present at a resort in town, a 55 minute massage!  Derek kept asking me for gift ideas and I continued to come up blank.  I felt bad for him, but now I'm thinking I'll leave him to his own devices more often because he did GOOD!  Perfect timing, too- as the weight of this watermelon sized baby is putting a significant pull on my lower back.  I really have no complaints, however.  This pregnancy has been amazingly smooth and relatively painless; I'm extremely thankful and hope and pray that will continue throughout the upcoming labor and delivery!
This blog began as a way to describe our wild coffee farming adventures.  The posts have, obviously, gone in a very different direction this year and I want to thank all of you readers for continuing to journey with me.  Not only is there a serious lack of coffee farm action to convey at this point, but our life is moving in other directions.  Derek is busy with landscaping and we're preparing to welcome the newest, sweetest member of our family.  God continues to teach us, growing our faith and putting us in situations that make us rely on Him completely.  No matter where Jesus leads or what tales I may have to relay, however, we know He is at work and there's no where else we'd rather be.  And yes, we do love Hawaii but by 'no where else we'd rather be', I actually mean this place of trusting God.  That's where we want to reside; regardless of scenery, occupation or achievements in this world.
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to Him and He will make your paths straight.' Proverbs 3:5-6

storms, unexpected poo, rainbows...

We're officially calling our little man 'Owen James'.  Of course there's a slight possibility that this handle will change once we meet him, but for now that's who he is.  Little Owen and I are 35 weeks and 5 days; can't believe that leaves just a little over four weeks in the pregnancy!  I'm still feeling great and continually thank God for the smooth sailing I've experienced these past nine months.  We've finished our prenatal class and officially 'know all there is to know'.  Just kidding, we're not completely disillusioned.
We realize there's no way to be fully prepared for all that is coming.  We can attend classes, read stacks of books, and do hours of research.. er.. blog reading.  But this little man will come when he wants to, be his very own, individual self and turn our worlds completely upside down and inside out!  While hanging out with friends last week Derek had a tiny taste of what is to come.. it included a naked baby and some unexpected poo!  Needless to say, this simply strengthened his resolve to be a 'diaper free Daddy' and kept me laughing hysterically for a good fifteen minutes!

Derek worked liked a maniac this week in order to free up our weekend for birthday celebrations!!  I'm afraid I wasn't very much help, apart from a little mowing and weeding.  But I did bake him a peanut butter chocolate pie and banana bread muffins; I think he approves of that arrangement.
We had an awesome time road tripping to the other side of the island; gorgeous day, great songs and I packed enough snacks for 15 people!  Our plan was to camp on the Hilo side for a night, maximizing the amount of exploring to be done.  But when we asked friends from that side to recommend a great spot they offered us the empty half of their house!  Now, don't get me wrong- I love camping!  But if this baby makes regular sleeping more difficult I can only imagine what his opinion would be about a night on the ground.  So, we were quick to accept their generous offer and even met up with them for delicious Japanese food and a tour of their favorite local spots.
I could write a novel about our fantastic birthday adventures but I'll keep it short and sweet.  A rainy afternoon made us resort to indoor activities; candy factory inspecting and a little shopping at the mall since Kona side is severely lacking in clothing stores.  We splurged on my all time favorite kind of cinnamon roll and went on a date to the movies.  The next day started off at a pancake house where Derek managed to notify them of the special occasion without my knowing; I was completely surprised by the server's rendition of 'Happy Birthday', the candle in my pancakes, and a homemade paper hat!

Our full day in Hilo was, thankfully, beautiful and sunny!  We went snorkeling, hung out with the biggest turtles we've EVER laid eyes on and enjoyed quality park time.  Derek and I love a good park and with the Kona side also lacking in that department we were pleasantly surprised with the wide selection in Hilo.  We ate our picnic by the water, threw the frisbee, napped in the grass and meandered down the paths, over the bridges and around the massive Banyan trees!  Venturing over to 'Coconut Island' had us excitedly discussing plans for the day when we might have our own island!  Kai, of course, was happy to accompany us and may or may not have done a little pond swimming on the sly... 

Back on 'our side' of the Big Island for my actual birthday, we were ready for more celebration!  Derek surprised me with breakfast at a lovely little creperie and then we were off to a baby shower!   Our amazing Hawaii family threw us a party that we'll never forget.  Derek and I were completely blown away by the incredible generosity, love and encouragement that was poured out on us.  Not to mention an absolutely beautiful day at a gorgeous location right on the water.  Coffee may have been our reason for moving out here but these incredible people are definitely the reason we've stayed.  The fellowship and involvement that we were so desperately lacking before has been found in abundance here and we can't imagine life without this 'ohana'.  The shower was a huge blessing and we actually feel ready for baby Owen to arrive, now.  The car seat is installed in the truck, the books are lined up on the night stand waiting to be read and I've started packing his diaper bag!  

I've had several 'rainbow spottings' this week.  Whether these moments actually included an arch in the sky or not, I've been continually stopped in my tracks by beautiful reminders of God's faithfulness, His promises.  Our life is about to change dramatically and we know there will be difficulties and storms.  But we hold fast to the promise of God's unfailing love, which will not be shaken.  As I begin a new year of life I'm eagerly anticipating all that God will do and the things He has in store for us.  I know there are lessons to be learned and these teaching sessions aren't usually a 'simple' process for me.  Yet, everywhere I look I discover reminders of God's goodness and love, the rainbows after the storm.  And so it is with confidence in my Savior that I begin this new year.  I'm filled with excitement; ready to embrace all that is to come: storms, unexpected poo, rainbows and everything in between!

'Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,' says the LORD, who has compassion on you. Isaiah 54:10

wading into the river..

It's fitting that our baby is the size of a large pineapple this week because that is exactly what I can't inhale enough of!  Well, actually, just fruits in general.  Thankfully, we live on an island abounding in delicious, tropical fruit and my sweet husband brings home a steady supply for the raving prego!  Our little man is growing at a steady pace.  At our last appointment he was positioned head down, with his butt pushed all to one side making for a lovely, obtuse shaped belly.  It's exciting to know that he's getting ready to make his grand entrance and my doctor and I were marveling at the miracle this process truly is.  Our baby has quite the journey ahead of him, I'll spare you the birth canal details; suffice it to say, he is perfectly designed to execute the mission.  And as I continue to learn more about the miraculous feat my body will perform during labor I am amazed to discover the ways God has intricately prepared me for this!  The details involved in pregnancy and birth are absolutely fascinating and I will not be told that it's 'just a coincidence'.
The little man is not the only one preparing for his big debut.  Several family members went together and bought us our crib and it is fully assembled and ready to go!  The room we will use as a 'nursery' still bears resemblance to a storage unit/coffee packaging facility.  But, it's a work in progress and, as of late, one of my favorite places to spend time.  Call me cheesy but I love to go in there and simply dream; folding his tiny, little man clothes and reading sweet bed time stories.  Derek and I talk about all the potential wrapped up in our pineapple-sized son; the places he'll go, the lives he'll touch and the amazing plans God has for him.  We know it is an honor to be parents and we are humbled by the task we have been given, our role in this new life.  On a less profound note, we're also anticipating the hilarity that will accompany life with a son and we have conversations about how burping should probably be frowned upon at the dinner table!

[34 -and a half- weeks!]

This week we received two handmade blankets in the mail, a quilted one from my Grandma and a knitted one from Derek's Grandma.  I know I can blame this on the hormones, but looking at these incredible treasures and realizing the heirlooms they will hopefully become makes me fairly emotional!  I say 'hopefully' because I am very aware of the fact that our son will, no doubt, be utilizing these beautiful gifts, from his great grandmothers, in the form of blanket forts, capes and things I can't even begin to imagine.
Clearly, I have baby on the brain.  But there are other happenings in our life.  We faced issue after issue at the coffee farm; every time we attempted to accomplish something in the fields there was a malfunction of some sort.  The ridiculousness was ALMOST comical.  The mower broke down, the rain was bound and determined to start up just as soon as we started working, empty gas tanks, both weed whackers having a melt down within minutes of each other.. you get the picture.  Regardless of our series of unfortunate events, we did manage to whack through one section of field, did some spring cleaning in the greenhouse and hung traps on the property to counteract the Borer Beetles.
I'm so thankful for my husband.  Although he's adamant that I take plenty of water breaks and never overexert myself, he also makes me feel useful.  While most people will no longer let me lift a finger, Derek knows I'm still very capable of most tasks.  So, I weed whack until he tells me to sit down and eat a snack.  He lets me mow at his landscaping jobs and then declares ice cream cones a necessity.  He knows that I need to feel needed and he goes out of his way to make this possible.  And when my muscles are sore and I'm feeling fragile, he takes over dinner preparation (which means we had steak!) and rubs my tired feet.  He brings me flowers and even sacrificed the last of his Doritos for me in a moment of desperate hunger.. and that, my friends, is love :)

[Yep, I'm married to THIS guy!!]

Derek had several landscaping jobs this week.  We're so thankful for work that we don't have to wait a whole year to be paid for :)  Coffee farming requires a lot of effort, time and money but doesn't exactly guarantee a steady income.  We wouldn't trade our time spent on the farm for anything but as our family expands we are really seeking God's will for the next step and where our focus should be.  It's incredible to see Him provide, literally, day by day.  Talk about a faith building experience!  It's also amazing to see people recognizing Derek's talents and abilities and we pray that this landscaping business will continue to blossom and grow!
We have big plans and incredible ideas for the future but we are constantly being reminded of the fact that we need to be faithful in the little things, good stewards of all that we've been given for THIS day.  Living this way keeps our faith strong and our priorities in line.  God is teaching us, molding us and, as we do our best to listen and obey, He is preparing us for the next step.
God really spoke to me through the story of Naaman this week.  Here's a quick version: (but you should really check out the story in 2 Kings 5)  Naaman is commander of the army, a brave and valiant soldier, who happens to be afflicted with a nasty skin disease.  Thanks to his wife's servant girl he learns of Elisha, a prophet in Israel that might be able to cure him.  Upon arriving at Elisha's house he is instructed to head down to the Jordan river and wash himself seven times.  He is told he will be cleansed and 'his flesh restored'.  But, this odd request was not at all what Naaman expected and it actually ticked him off.   He refused and 'went off in a rage'.  Thankfully, his servant talked some sense into him, reminding him that if the prophet had asked for some great show of strength and manliness he would have been quick to accept the challenge.  'How much more, then, when he tells you, 'Wash and be cleansed'!' the servant points out.  So, he relents and, after washing in the river, Naaman was completely healed, 'his flesh restored.. clean like that of a young boy.'
Now, thankfully, I don't have any flesh eating diseases.  But I do recognize myself in the attitude of this commander, blowing off tasks that may seem below me or just down right ridiculous!  I let myself become so caught up in grand plans to 'be all I can be', change the world, and 'be used by God' that I underestimate what God is doing in the day-by-day and seemingly insignificant tasks.  In missing these, or pushing them aside, I am also missing out on the reward, the blessing or, in Naaman's case, the healing that follows.  It is a journey, yes.  I know that I am made for great things and I don't need to squelch that knowledge, but I must be obedient and faithful in THIS moment.
And, for the record, it wasn't just a toe dunked in from the safety of the river bank.  Naaman had to go all the way in and the instructions were to 'wash yourself seven times'.  This was no sponge bath.  God will put obstacles, difficulties, and unknowns all along our path to teach us.  We may not always understand His teaching methods but when we've learned the lesson; when we finally wade into that not-so-pristine river, then He can lead us on to the next part of our journey.