Immeasurably More!!

Ephesians 3:20 says that God is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine.  I love this!  I have a fairly extensive imagination and have been known to scheme up a few outrageous ideas or elaborate plans.  Realizing that my God operates on levels that my imagination can't even begin to comprehend is staggering.  His love for me is unconditional, His mercies are new every day and nothing is impossible for Him!  Incredible.  And what does that say about His plan for my life?!  The things I ask Him about or imagine for the future are minuscule; He can do immeasurably more!

Going into a new week I never know what to expect.  Derek has set days for a few of his jobs, but other than that we make our own schedule, taking each day as it comes.  This means that as I reflect on the past week I'm always blown away by all that's happened in our life and the countless ways God has been leading us, teaching us and providing for us.  I didn't have any idea that this week would include a hot chocolate date with sweet friends, more fresh fruit than we could possibly handle or a bonus chance to listen to our baby's heart beat.  Once again, God's ways have proven to be so much higher than mine!

[growing bump!!]

This past week I accompanied Derek to a few of his landscaping jobs.  These particular jobs are my favorite because they come with free access to an impressive variety of fruit trees and whatever the gardens may be producing!  We bring buckets for lettuce, tomatoes, carrots, herbs, etc.  And we load up bags full of lemons, bananas, papayas, pummelos (like a giant grapefruit!), avocados and... MANGOS!  Yes, it's finally the best season of the year and I'm surprised that I haven't gone into a mango-induced coma, yet!  I can't get enough of them!  Derek came home one day last week with an 'early birthday present': his lunch box, packed full of mangos!!  He knows me well :)  Don't worry, we've definitely been sharing our abundance of fruits and veggies.. yes, EVEN the mangos!  If we keep it all to ourselves things will start to rot and a moldy blessing isn't much of a blessing anymore.

 [baby banana & Derek with his machete!]

God used a little time spent at our old hangout, the laundromat, as another reminder of just how blessed we are!  We only frequent this establishment when our comforter needs washing, now- compared to the weekly trips we used to make.  But two hours was all I needed to come to a whole new realization of how AWESOME it is to live in the apartment!  How incredible it is to have a roof over our heads, running water, a toilet, a washing machine..  things that are so easily taken for granted.
The longer I dwell on it the more I realize that this week was packed full of God doing immeasurably more than I could ask or imagine!  A skype date with a sweet friend, a completely unexpected package full of baby things, a jar of homemade jaboticaba jam (made from a grape-like fruit that grows on the bark of the tree!) and finding out that our amazing family members went together and bought us a crib!!  Immeasurably more, everywhere I look.
I spent some time floating in the ocean, feeling gloriously weightless and graceful.. quite a difference from the reality of a huge baby belly and an extremely off kilter center of gravity.  The ocean here is never truly 'cold', but I definitely prefer the perfectly wonderful temperatures that summer brings.  Our little stretch of the Pacific is now a balmy 80* and I love to simply float, forgetting about anything but the exotic fish and brightly colored coral until my body turns into a giant prune.

[33 weeks!!]

Our prenatal class this week was a tour of the hospital!  This definitely elevated our levels of excitement and made us realize how close we're getting!!  Things felt especially real when I volunteered to be the guinea pig for the nurse's demonstration and actually got in the bed and was hooked up to all the monitors, etc.  That's where the bonus chance to hear Baby's heartbeat came in.  Although our doctor appointments are very regular now and we hear that wild, healthy racing on a regular basis, it's still one of my favorite sounds!  After our nurse was done with her presentation she turned around to unhook me and, after a look at the machine, said 'Are you feeling these?'  I started laughing, thinking it was the joke at the end of the speech.  But she was adamant and showed me on the print out where I had gone through four contractions in 15 minutes!!  I hadn't felt a thing, so it was no worries and class progressed as normal but it definitely made for a little excitement among all us first time parents.  'Wait, is she going into labor?!'  'Is the baby coming right now??!'  Nothing like a few Braxton Hicks to liven up the evening :)
God is so incredibly good!!  I've felt Him and seen Him throughout this whole week and I'm SO thankful!  This Sunday at church His presence was especially tangible.  One of those experiences that can't truly be described except for the overwhelming desire to cry and laugh at the same time!  Even though I was terribly hot, I had goosebumps while we worshiped.  The Holy Spirit was so very present and it took my breath away.  I don't always go to church with expectancy like I should.  I don't anticipate all the ways that God can and will move in that time.  When will I learn; He is able to do immeasurably more than all I can ask or imagine.  

[island beauty]

one.step.at.a.time

When it comes to unknowns and contemplating the future there seems to be a vicious cycle on repeat in my mind.  I wrestle with the 'not knowing'.  Then, by the grace of God, I surrender!  But before too long my flesh kicks in assuring me that I do, in fact, need to know and we begin again.  I'm so thankful that God doesn't give up on me.  Looking forward to all that is to come is incredibly exciting.  We know He has things in store for us that we can't even begin to comprehend.  Just the other day we were marveling at all that's happened in the past few years and how we never would've guessed we'd get to live in Hawaii!  But human nature (and a hefty dose of nesting instinct) has me asking God about His will on a regular basis these days.

[throwback to our Aussie days!]

What's the next step in this journey we are on?  Where do you want us to go from here, God?  What is your will for our little family?  And that's when I stumbled across this verse.  ‘Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.’  1 Thessalonians 5:16-18  There it was in just three little verses, the answer to my heart's questions!  The remedy to my endless dilemma.  What is God’s will?  Rejoice.  Pray.  Give thanks.  Always, continually and in all circumstances.  Pretty straightforward, lest I attempt to overanalyze the instructions.
No matter where God leads us, what we are doing or how our well-constructed plans may turn out, the command remains the same.  Always find a reason to rejoice.  Be in constant communication with our God no matter what we're facing.  And last, but not least, be thankful- regardless of the current condition of life.  I figure the only way one can truly attempt to carry through with these directives is through trust.  Being confident in who God is and the things He has promised us.  I know He has plans for me- prosperous plans of hope and a future [Jeremiah 29:11].  I know He will work all things together for good [Romans 8:28].  And I know He will guide and direct me, 'Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying, "This is the way; walk in it." Isaiah 30:21  And that's all I need to know.  My part is to trust and obey, taking life one step at a time.

[Derek captured this butterfly that loves our lavender plant!]

We had another rainy week and the moisture is definitely taking the island to a new shade of green!  There certainly is a glorious amount of beauty in this place!!  We were a litte worried that we would face mammoth sized weeds when we headed to the land this week, but we were pleasantly surprised to find their growth insignificant.  The coffee trees are doing well; there's not much to report at this point in the growing season.  We're still selling our coffee from last harvest and, with hopes to start selling a bit larger quantities, we recently sent a sample to a local chain of tourist shops!  

Derek and I have discovered some ways to embrace the torrential down pours we've been experiencing.  One afternoon last week I found my husband outside playing basketball.  Not one to let boys have all the fun, I could only observe for so long before joining in.  Soaked to the bone, with not a care in the world, we were just shooting hoops and playing in the rain with our pup, Kai!  Solid way to spend some time :)  

We've also taken on the challenge of mastering 'latte art' and somehow this is especially fun on rainy evenings.  Fine coffee connoisseurs that we are, it was only a matter of time till we invested in our very own espresso maker.  This contraption has taken our beverages to a new level!  We've been experimenting with the classic 'rosetta' as well as hearts, flowers, tigers or whatever image we manage to conjur up in our mugs :)  I'm still steering clear of caffeine but Derek decaffeinated a batch of our beans, allowing me to indulge in the occasional latte.

Baby Pearl weighs four and a half pounds now and is 17-19 inches long!  Apparently we should be able to make size comparisons with a honeydew?!  He closes his eyes when he sleeps and opens them when he's awake.  His latest accomplishment is the development of his immune system- one step closer to living life outside the womb!  We can not WAIT to meet this little man.  Battling what I call 'restless leg syndrome' at night has me eagerly anticipating the day I will be able to ditch some of these wackier pregnancy hormones and side effects.  One thing I will definitely miss, however, is the movements.  Although the flips and twists continue to increase in intensity, I love how active our baby is and know I need to cherish every moment of the remaining weeks. 

[love watching this guy surf!]

God continues to provide work for Derek and we are incredibly grateful!  This weekend came complete with a graduation party for a friend, our first mangoes of the season and a swell for my husband's surfing privileges.  We are so blessed and so excited for all that God is teaching us and doing in our lives.  We may not know what all the future holds, or even what this new week has in store.  But we go into it with rejoicing, thankful to be in this place at this time.  And we continue to go to Jesus with every single detail, listening for His direction and obeying- one step at a time.

discovering new depths..

The truth of the matter is that sometime in the second trimester my runs slowly morphed into run/walks and have now become just.. walks.  At first this was difficult; I'm one to either go all out or not go at all.  But, I've learned to embrace this slower pace and now I truly enjoy these outings.  It feels good to stay active, whatever form that may take as my belly continues to expand.  As I've taken the speed down a few notches out on the jungle trail, I've started noticing enormous amounts of beauty that I would've otherwise missed.  Plus, when I was starting to feel lame about my pace a few days ago, a bug smashed right into my face; comic relief and confidence booster all in one!  At this point, I know that walking is what's best for Baby and me which is all that matters.  I also find myself chattering away with God on these walks and learning amazing new things!

One day this week as I rambled down the path with Kai and my extremely obvious baby bump these words popped into my head: 'Holy Father'.  This took me by surprise because I'm one to start my prayers with a bit more simplicity or familiarity.. Jesus, Papa, etc.  Then I found myself asking God if he liked this title, or if it was too stuffy, to 'religious sounding' for him.  And I felt him telling me to break it down.  Holy, that's what he is.  Perfect, exalted, completely worthy.  He is God Almighty, he 'wraps himself in light... the clouds are his chariot and he rides on the wings of the wind' [Psalm 104:2-3].  Nothing stuffy about that.  Then I thought about God being my Father.  I picture the prodigal son shuffling up the driveway and his Dad running to meet him.  He throws his arms around him and hugs him tight.  There's no guilt trip, no silent treatment.  He is genuinely overjoyed to have his son home and he throws a massive party!  'See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God!  And that is what we are!' [1 John 3:1]  Nothing 'religious' about unconditional love! 

For unknown reasons these two terms have collided in my head, and as I walked along I began realizing the incredible significance of their coming together.  The untouchable, the divine catching a glimpse of me through the window, setting everything else aside and running to embrace me!  'You've come home and that's all that matters!'  Incredible.  The world can't comprehend a love like this.  No strings attached.  Real, authentic, beautiful love offered freely from the Creator of the universe at the unfathomable price of his only Son.  'For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.  For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.'  [John 3:16-17]  

[Mother's Day! 31 weeks- 4 days!]

Discovering a new level of God's amazing character was definitely the high light of the week but each day was also chock full of little bits of goodness.  My family attempted a group skype date; it didn't work out quite like we envisioned, but it was great to see faces and hear voices -even when those faces and voices didn't exactly match up.  Derek and I had time for some frisbee throwing!  We did a bit more harvesting in the gardens we're looking after.  As the Hawaiians describe having plenty of something, we now have 'choke' tomatoes, carrots, lettuce, corn, etc.  My favorite are the cherry tomatoes; sweet and juicy, I tell Derek it's like eating skittles and there's literally hundreds ripening right now!  My own personal skittle bush- sweet!  We also have 'choke' Ahi, tuna, after another deep sea fishing expedition for Derek.  He has some wild stories from this last trip, including 'the biggest Marlin he's ever seen' AND an epic reeling battle only to find that he had snagged a SHARK! 

Pregnancy quirk of the week: hot flashes!  And I also had an urgent craving for egg salad?!  Our second class at the hospital went well and we've mastered several breathing/relaxation techniques.  We had another appointment with the doctor and everything is right on track for both Baby and me.  Although, she couldn't measure him this time because he was turned sideways!  This seems to be his favorite position of late; we picture him in there with his feet crossed and arms behind his head.. just chilling in complete oblivion to the discomfort he's causing my ribs!  Cheeky little guy :)  

This side of the island has been playing catch up in the rainfall department, with showers every day if not ALL day!  We're so thankful for the moisture.  The gloomy weather did put a bit of a damper on my plans for snorkelling and a picnic this weekend.  But we salvaged things with homemade pizza and a movie marathon.  And Sunday was my very first Mother's Day!!  Derek surprised me with a beautiful plant :)  It's so exciting to think about all that will come with being a mom!  I'm so incredibly grateful for my own Mom and all that she has taught me.  I pray that I can embrace the journey of motherhood with the same strength and grace that I see in her.

Now we head into a new week!!  I pray that each and every one of you readers may come to realize the incredible love of our Holy Father!!  Let that love turn your life inside out.  Let Jesus walk with you and open your eyes to new bits of truth.  Dive into the incredible depths of His character.  And as the prodigal son [or daughter] that we all are from time to time, don't be afraid to trudge back up that driveway..  our Father WILL come running to meet you!  

Slurpees, Dramamine & a Ladybug Bladder

May has arrived!  That means we're only two months away from meeting this little man.  That also means we're in full-blown summer mode.  Yes, I realize we live in Hawaii and I'm probably not allowed to be as excited about 'summer' as those of you coming out of a genuine winter.  BUT, we've been eating corn on the cob and watermelon for lunch and I love it!  We spend more of our evenings outside, planting flowers, picking weeds and, occasionally, getting into water fights.  A few of the families Derek works for only live on the Big Island part time and while they are away we have permission to take full advantage of their gardens!  So, I've been tagging along to gather up peas, lettuce, tomatoes, etc. while Derek does his thing.  And after an especially toasty morning this last week, my husband surprised me with a Coke slurpee date, my all-time favorite!  See why I feel like summer?!

This week brought about several exciting things.  Derek was able to go on a deep-sea fishing trip!  He didn't snag the marlin he was hoping for but they did get several smaller fish.  He also managed to avoid any sea sickness (Dramamine is a wonderful thing!)- making the expedition a definite success.  We started our pre-natal classes at the hospital, which I had really been looking forward to.  I can't exactly say the same for Derek, but he was a trooper and I only had to drag him a little bit :)  I'll admit, I was a little nervous, too; Derek noticed that I was wearing 'my very finest pregnancy clothes' for the occasion :)  Watching a video of an actual delivery was slightly scarring for the males in the room and definitely made everything seem a bit more real!   We realize there's no way to be 100% prepared for all that is to come, but I'm thankful for the chance to gain a bit more knowledge and get to know other expecting couples.

[week 30 bump!]

With 30 weeks (and 5 days) under my belt, quite literally, the little monkey inside me is becoming increasingly cramped in his cocoon.  His new favorite pass-time is what I can only describe as 'ribbing' me from the inside.  At this point it just feels strange, but I can definitely see how it will become less fun as he continues to bulk up.  The other development of late is that my uterus is squishing and rearranging all my internal organs.  I feel like my stomach has relocated to the general throat area, my bladder is the size of a ladybug and my lungs have been deflated, folded up and tucked away in a drawer!  It could certainly be worse but this relocating of my insides does make for more frequent bathroom breaks, panting as though I ran a marathon after simply walking up the stairs and feeling like I'm going to regurgitate my dinner on a regular basis.  Sorry if that's TMI; I also seem to have completely lost my social 'filter' these days and don't have a problem sharing strange body facts with anyone who will listen!

My latest choice in reading materials has been along the lines of 'Wild Things: The Art of Nurturing Boys' and 'How Do You Tuck In a Superhero?'  I realize I should be educating myself on things like 'Sleeping and Eating Patterns' or searching for literature on 'How to Get Dad to Change Diapers and Love it!'  But I've bypassed those genres for now.  I want to know what makes boys tick!  Needless to say, the stories these authors tell keep me in stitches and I end up repeating most of them to Derek because they're so bizarre and/or hilarious.  The thing I find slightly disturbing is that my husband totally relates to these wacky escapades and even gets this strange look in his eye as if he's fondly recalling all the similarly stupid stunts he's pulled over the years.  Uh oh... what have I gotten myself into!?

[Kai welcoming Derek home from work!]

My stomach has been waking me up at strange hours of the night/morning lately.  It used to be frustrating, but now I'm thankful for the opportunity to talk to God in the quiet.  I grab a banana or a bowl of cereal to apease my growling insides and then I pow wow with the Creator of the universe.. doesn't get much better than that!  Sometimes I go outside and watch the stars, other times I curl up on our awesome, new couch.  Although I find myself talking to God throughout the entire day, there is something special about this wee-hours-of-the-night-conversing.  'I wait for the Lord, my whole being waits, and in His word I put my hope.  I wait for the Lord more than watchmen wait for the morning.'  Psalm 130:5-6  
God has so much to teach me, but in the business of the days I tend to have a harder time recognizing Him.  I long for His voice to be the most familiar in my life.  As easily as I can find Derek in a crowd or identify the tell-tale laughter of a friend, do I know the voice of my Maker?  Can I distinguish his calling, his leading amidst the noise of the world around me?  I'll admit, a lot of the time I can't.  That's why I'm thankful for sleepless nights; as I become more familiar with the way Jesus communicates to me in the quiet, the quicker I will be to listen for that same tone throughout the day.  May I long for Him like David did, 'My soul yearns, even faints, for the courts of the Lord; my heart and my flesh cry out for the living God.' Psalm 84:2  May I desire the Presence of the Lord more than anything else in the world.  For only in that Presence will I find true life, unconditional love and abundant joy.  Only in Him do I have a true purpose, a hope that can not be quenched and strength for whatever this life may bring.

He's in the couch business!

My God shall supply all your needs according to his riches in glory by Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:19  He also goes above and beyond this meeting of needs, because of his great love!  He blesses us abundantly!  Our heavenly Father loves to give gifts- providing us with things we don't necessarily 'need'.  He is a wonderful God!  A generous God!  Since moving to Hawaii we've learned this countless times, yet we are still continually amazed as we see Him come through for us and do 'immeasurably MORE than all we ask or imagine.' [Ephesians 3:20]

The past year has required a significant re-defining of necessities and luxuries in our life.  We have a long way to go, but living without running water definitely helped put things in perspective.  Derek and I chose to live in the greenhouse, to 'rough it' for six months.  But we know that our primitive lifestyle would have still been considered extravagant by a majority of the world's population.  And that knowledge has changed the way we look at certain things.  For example: a couch!  There's certainly nothing wrong with having a couch, but it hasn't been high on our priority list this past year.  Of course, we looked into it several times.  But shopping for a used couch is tedious work.  Gaping rips and questionable stains are deal breakers.  Sacrificing the month's grocery and gas money on one isn't an option either.  So, we've 'made do' with chairs.  

Now, what if I told you that God had the perfect couch for us?!  Seems a little silly, huh?!  Is God in the couch business??  And what if I mentioned that it was without rips or stains, incredibly comfy and folds out into a bed!  Too good to be true, right?  AND (I know, I know.. this is getting ridiculous ) what if I said it was.. FREE!?  Okay, that's pushing it.  Or is it?  Because God totally did that this week!  Incredible, right?!  I think so!

Let's rewind a little bit.  Apparently, I worked my pregnant body a little too hard in the field this week..  Monday found us at the farm, weed whacking our way through an impressive amount of rows.  At lunch my back was achy and my stomach was protesting being strapped into the harness, but I was having WAY too much fun to call it a day.  Yes, there's a slight bit of exaggeration in that statement.  But the truth is, it's very empowering to accomplish so much out there and I love seeing such immediate progress.  In Derek's defence: he did tell me I could take a nap in the back of the truck, but that wasn't an option in my mind.  I spend my days telling people that I CAN still handle things and don't need to be babied.  My mind was made up: I wasn't clocking out till it was time to leave.

[A beautiful row of coffee!] 

That night we ate cheeseburgers outside and watched the sun sink behind the ocean.  It was the perfect end to a successful day and the next thing I knew, I was waking up!  Turns out I had exhausted myself to the point of barely finishing my dinner and I definitely didn't make it past the opening credits of our favorite show.  Needless to say, the next day I woke up feeling like I'd been hit by a train.  Muscles were sore and stiff and my head was pounding.  I knew heading to the farm was out of the question for this prego.  Shuffling out from the bedroom proved to be about all I could handle that early in the day and I folded myself into a wicker chair in the living room and closed my eyes.

Derek said, later on, that seeing me like that had pushed him over the edge.  Finding me a couch had just been bumped up on his priority list!  In my pathetic and slightly dramatic state I was completely oblivious to his frenzied Craigslist search.  That is until he mentioned he had found one for free and then quickly squelched my assumption that it was a scam by showing me the email he's already received in response.  'Yes, this is for real and you can come pick it up right now!'  Something along those lines; that letter was the ONLY thing motivating me to get going that morning.  

It was a bit of a drive to the location but we deemed the trek 'worth it' and Derek knew that's about all I was capable of anyway.  I spent the trip with my chair reclined and sunglasses on- not knowing what a hangover feels like, but convinced I was experiencing the equivalent.  I googled 'headache while pregnant' and found it could be from over-exertion, dehydration, not enough rest, working in the heat, extra strain on muscles, etc.  Oh, sweet.. I hit it out of the ball park with a nice little combination of ALL OF THE ABOVE!  Note to self: listen to your pregnant body!

We arrived to find a sweet, little lady who manages rentals and simply ended up with an extra couch that the next renters don't need.  One cushion was a little worn, but it was clean, rip free and gloriously comfortable!  Right about then I started to count heads in the room and realized Derek's options for lifting buddy were a) pregnant wife or b) sweet, little lady!  But God was on top of this, too.  I'm not sure where this random man came from or how he ties into the story but he suddenly appeared and next thing I know- the couch is loaded up!

I LOVE our new couch.  I can not find the right words to express my utter delight every time I sit down on it!  Derek went back to the fields that afternoon and I, after washing all the cushion covers, curled up on that couch and let sleep, water and acetaminophen have their way with my bone weary body and splitting headache.  The next day I was good as new!  We headed to the land and started in another section of field.  I was significantly less hard core and, thankfully, didn't suffer any crippling side effects this time.  It's amazing that we used to be able to clear just a few rows in a day and now we can cruise through a few acres!  God is good and we love this jungle life.  How many people get to work outside all day?  

I'm not sure why, but having a couch motivated me to make our apartment a bit more 'homey' this week.  It's hard to decorate when most of our things are still packed away in boxes in Colorado, so we just haven't.  But with my 'nesting instinct' kicking in, I found a few frames on sale and had fun hanging pictures on the walls while Derek was away at landscaping jobs.

My favorite concoction from the kitchen this week: pancakes!  Neither Derek or I are really crazy about pancakes but I found a recipe that I had to try in my super-hero blender.  The ingredients: bananas, eggs, baking powder!  Simple as that!  I also threw in a scoop of peanut butter, because we add PB to almost everything in this house.  Then I added chocolate chips and strawberries while they were cooking and, let me tell you, they were awesome!  Derek said 'These are WAY better than regular pancakes!' and he couldn't believe they were just eggs and bananas.

I see lots of experimental baking in my future, though because I told Derek I wanted bananas and he delivered. Or, rather, God did- a massive bunch was sitting right in Derek's path as he forged through the jungle last week!  Usually you chop the whole tree down to get the bunch, but these had grown too heavy and took matters into their own hands.  I was certainly pleased.  Some wives want a man who brings home the bacon, but I'd rather have bananas :)  And now they're ALL ripe and begging to be used!
Moral of the story:: don't underestimate the Provider!!  Whether it's a couch or a bunch of bananas; He's on top of it!  Nothing is impossible for Him.  I see Jesus provide for us daily and yet I still have such a small idea of all the things my God is capable of.

[the bunch!  AFTER we'd eaten 10-15!]

learning to 'be'..

Last week I spent five hours chasing a one and a half year old around.  We blew bubbles and drew pictures- read here: I drew and she alternated between throwing crayons and attempting to eat them!  We went to the swings, we did laps on a scooter and then we did laps in a stroller.  We turned pots, pans and every type of kitchen utensil into a drum set.  We ate mountain apples and I tried to read her a book but she decided it would be more fun to throw that, too.  Then we repeated all this.. several times.  She was very sweet.  She also required my constant attention.  After she went home I realized I hadn't eaten lunch and, after scarfing down a bowl of cereal, I promptly fell asleep.. at 5PM.

This experience caused a bit of what I'm labeling 'pre-baby anxiety'.  If one afternoon was all it took to knock me out cold, how in the world will I handle being on duty 24/7?!  Thankfully, God met me in this place of fear and uncertainty, reminding me that I won't be giving birth to a toddler!  Yes, it will be a full time job and I will be pushed beyond my limits.  Exhaustion may become the new 'rested' and my days may seem slightly less 'productive'.  But the joy of walking (or, rather, racing!) through life with our beautiful son will be immeasurable and far outweigh any and all adjustments we make.  Derek and I will learn as we go, taking it one phase at a time.  When we first meet Baby Pearl he will most assuredly be opinionated but, thankfully, we'll have a little time before he starts walking and talking!  Each day will be a new challenge and God will give us strength for the individual moments.
Throughout my days I encounter countless occasions that prepare me for motherhood.  After spending the morning sweeping, vacuuming and mopping I sat down to enjoy my sparkling house only to witness Kai come through like a tornado, leaving muddy paw prints in his wake.  Hopefully the saying, 'it's the thought that counts' applies to cleaning, too?  But these things must be taken in stride and I can only imagine the train wrecks I will encounter with this wild baby growing in my belly.

[You don't stay mad at this guy for very long..]

Other reminders: a rainbow in the sky that made me stop what I was doing and just 'be'; to appreciate and soak up the beauty and God's goodness!  I was driving down the road and saw a bubble machine on the sidewalk, there was no one around and it was just blowing bubbles all over this empty parking lot and into the street.  I LOVED it!  The little things in life are the best and I will teach my son to cherish what usually goes unnoticed.  Actually, I'm sure he'll be the one pulling me over to examine a cocoon or climb a tree :)  I want him to know that God loves those moments and orchestrates them for us to enjoy- to forget our worries, abandon our fears and simply run through the sprinklers or gaze up at the stars.
We heard the little man's heartbeat at our check-up this week, galloping along at top speeds, he's healthy and growing right on track!  I'm also doing very well.  This was the week for a few tests to be done and I was nervous about all the blood drawing on the agenda.  (Bad experiences in high school..)  Thankfully my body is pumping out a lot more blood than it used to and, other than bruised arms, I'm no worse for the wear after three times under the needle.  Worse than any visit to the lab was a run-in with some angry wasps at the greenhouse!  I only came away with two bites, but they were on the same finger and it took several days for the itching and swelling to go down.  So much for spring cleaning at the farm!

[can't WAIT to start dressing 'Peanut'!]

My latest craving: cinnamon rolls!  And I woke up and made them, too- complete with cream cheese frosting!  Who knew that pregnancy would be my push to another level of culinary achievements?  Not so culinary but also high on my list of favorites these days are the Costco hotdogs!  Say what you will but they are tasty!  Costco is also the cheapest place to go on a date.. I almost feel bad every time we eat there, like we've ripped them off somehow.  Seriously, two slices of pizza, a hot dog and a drink for $5.60?!  You can't beat that.
Week 29 didn't bring too much new-ness to the pregnancy scene.  I have had stiff muscles and my sweet husband attempts to massages them in whichever awkward position I feel the need to lay in.  There's also been a few bouts of insomnia.  My mind decides it wants to operate at full steam starting at 4AM and returning to my dreams is next to impossible.  Not usually one to toss and turn, I'm realizing how my comfort level will continue to decrease in the next few months.  But a body pillow has been added to the shopping list and I'm hoping that will remedy the situation.

Derek's schedule has been chock-full of work and we are incredibly grateful.  He is such a hard worker and a man of many talents.  It makes me so proud to see people recognizing and utilizing those skills!  Needless to say, I'm very thankful for all he does to support our little family and brainstorm for the future.  I also can't complain when I get to ride along on a job that happens to be at the water front.  Derek works his magic on the yard while I read my book and watch the waves crash against the rocks five feet in front of me.
This weekend we were able to attend a phenomenal party.  A friend of ours is launching a 'one stop party shop' business for catering, entertainment, flower arrangements, etc.  This party was their debut and people came from all over to see what they're all about.  She figured the bigger and better it was, the more likely to stick in people's minds.  So she invited friends and family to fill up the venue and we had a great night full of laughter and music, fire dancing and delicious pig straight out of the Imu!

This week I did a lot of learning in the simplicity department; being aware of the beautiful moments happening around me.  We got a lot done and the days, as usual, flew by.  But there was so many sweet moments of just.. being.  One of my favorite things is sitting outside after dinner and witnessing the day come to a close.  Simply being in the presence of my Creator.. my Daddy, is the best part of the day.  Also, to BE with Derek, uninterrupted.. just talking out the day or sitting in silence while the sun sets, is incredible!  Thinking about raising a child has me re-focusing on these 'little things' and learning to be present despite that to-do list or a reminder on my phone.  I know that will be an enormous part of  'communication' with my son; words are important but actions say so much more than I realize.  That's how my Father is with me- always present and constantly desiring to be with me, teach me and walk with me through each day.  In a world of schedules and chaos and the need to feel productive, God's teaching me to simply 'be' and it is wonderful.

a baby bump, a business trip & words to live by

This week was a bit out of the ordinary.  Derek was away on a mini business trip, doing some investigative work into coffee decaffeination.  Long story short: there's a significant lack of decaf Kona coffee and we want to know why.  We've been doing our research the past few months and have created a small-scale operation in our own kitchen!  The guinea pigs, I mean.. our decaf-drinking FRIENDS from church :), have lovingly volunteered to drink it before bed and still slept soundly through the night!  Although we do realize this method is not exactly fool-proof, it is exciting and fuels our ideas for the future!  We would love to stay in Hawaii and make a living off coffee, but we've become very aware that simply farming it is not enough.  This business idea certainly has potential, but will require prayer, investigation and more prayer.

First step: a scouting trip to the Swiss Water Decaf Company in Vancouver.  Yes, I do mean Vancouver, Canada!  Of course I wanted to accompany him on this grand endeavour, but one ticket is significantly more affordable than two.  Plus, he promised to take me back in the future when we have more time for Canadian exploration.  The trip was a smashing success; Derek came back with an impressive amount of knowledge and ideas.  He was able to take a personal tour with the plant manager and pick his brain on everything except their 'top-secret patented formulas'.
He explored as much of the city as the train, his method of transportation, would allow.  A visit to Science World and an Arctic 3D movie in their IMAX theater made for an added bonus to the trip!  We both agree that travel, adventures and life in general are significantly more enjoyable when we're together.  Apparently it was a very quiet three days for Derek?!  Of course, I have no IDEA what that means!  But he did have a good trip.  The one thing I definitely don't regret missing out on was an intense, back-room interrogation at customs.  Apparently, my husband fit nicely into the 'suspicious' category since he was traveling alone, entering the country for only three days and had a noticeable lack of structured plans.  Thankfully, his story checked out and his detainment wasn't too excessive.

[baby bump!!]

My home-alone experience was quite pleasant.  Of course, I missed Derek terribly but I think it's healthy to miss each other at times, to be reminded of why we're crazy about each other!  The time actually flew by.  I tackled some 'spring cleaning', took more coffee to be roasted, ran errands, rented a few chick flicks and ate 'breakfast' for almost every single meal!  That may reveal a weakness of mine- extreme love for all breakfast foods.  But, I do believe there are considerably worse conditions!
Being reunited, even after just three days, was wonderful!  After living on hotel breakfast and subway sandwiches, Derek was excited to find home made lasagna and chocolate chip cookies awaiting him.  And I definitely slept better knowing that I was no longer the lone defender of the house.  (Kai thinks he's pretty tough, but he's got a long way to go if he's aiming for 'vicious guard dog'.)  Saturday was a great day, including a baseball game, another round of sun burn, coke slurpees and an avocado festival with friends!  Sunday was, as usual, my favorite day of the week.  Church was awesome, although I was slightly distracted since it was my debut as power point operator.  Derek usually mans that station, but I gave him the week off because it was his turn to lead Bible study.  He did awesome, by the way!

[third trimester here we go!]

The third trimester of pregnancy is treating me well so far!  I have been incredibly blessed throughout this whole time; I feel great!!  Our little man is fully formed and developed by now, he just needs to put on a few more pounds before we can meet him.  He blinks his eyelids, has his very own dreams and is constantly re-arranging positions and reminding me of his presence.  I need reminders, though- feeling as great as I do means that I occasionally forget to actually act pregnant.  Derek is always getting after me for lugging around mop buckets, etc.  Give me a few more months, though and I'm sure I'll be feeling it on a whole new and uncomfortable level.
This week I spent a lot of time reading the words of Jesus.  I'm in Matthew and chapters 5-7 have really captivated me.  As I absorb these words I feel myself swept away to that mountainside, my blanket spread out beneath me, my lunch forgotten, just taking in all the words that this man was speaking.  Some of his statements seem entirely backward; 'Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.'  'Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.'  And yet he says he didn't come to abolish that which we know, the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfill them?  He's radical, that's for sure- he takes things to a deeper level: you will be judged for murder, yes.. but you will, likewise, be judged for even thinking angry thoughts or calling someone a fool!  How do any of us measure up to that standard?  This Jesus talks about loving your enemies and he says to do good- but do it in secret so that you won't be praised for your deeds!  He goes on and on, up on that hillside, and as crazy as it sounds, I don't want to miss a single word.  He teaches a beautiful, simple way of life- not worrying about tomorrow, not striving for treasures on this earth.  But what does that mean for me??  He talks about a narrow gate that we must enter through, he says that on that road is life but he also says that few find it?!  One thing's for sure, we've certainly never heard anyone talk like this Jesus... and isn't he the carpenter's son?
I'm so thankful to have access to these words, to be able to read them freely and know that they are truth.  I really have no idea if my daydreaming reflects the actual thoughts of people hearing these words for the first time, but I'm sure they were curious.  Many wrote him off as a lunatic and a few believed that he was who he said he was!  But it's incredible to dig into the words he spoke, the way he loved and the life he lived.  It's inspiring and humbling; both a call to a higher standard of living and also an amazing covering of grace and freedom!  These three chapters blow any 'self-help book' right out of the water.  These words are truth and light; building blocks for a life reflecting Jesus- a life where we are less and he is more.  They are challenging and convicting; Jesus' words will change your life.  They've turned me inside out and I'm realizing that the deeper I dig the stronger my craving becomes!!  The more I learn of who Jesus is and the life he's called me to, the more I fall in love with my Savior!