Blogging Is Therapeutic

Our hard work for the Festival...we had an "Open House" in the community center of our apartment complex.

God provides...we've been worried about leaving Raymin. A little over a month ago, his aunt, uncle, 2 y/o cousin, and great aunt arrived from Thailand. They are a sweet family. Chris is going to start studying the Bible with Solomon.

Sam's solid adventures. He does much better naked!!

As I was talking to Chris this morning, I realized that during the first months after having Sam blogging was my way to vent and process. It's awesome to have those entries to look back on. God has brought me so far. After going back to work, I just haven't had the time or energy to do this as much. Working 2 12 hour shifts a week has been really hard. I have actually for the first time in my life dreamed of 2 things: 1) having an office job 2) being a stay at home mom. The reality is with my intense and intentional personality (yes, I know it may come as a surprise...I'm not laid back) I would be just as busy with my life at home. I love hosting people...meeting with women...and now spending time with young mom. I find the best extroverted energy stolen by my job as an ER nurse. It has been exhausting to miss 2 days completely with my son and husband...and then try and squeeze everything else in during the other days. And...I have to work every other weekend. Today it hit me though. I'm thankful for the training God has given me as an ER nurse for the past 5 years. With a diabetic husband and children, I will be able to advocate for their health and know what is a crisis. Praise God. With us living in foreign lands, I know this will be frustrating at times, but thank you Central DuPage Hospital for that training. I also dream of the day when I teach women...prenatal education and pediatrics...how to raise healthy babies. AND...then be able to share Christ's message with them. The LORD knows. For this season, I continue my work in the ER...and I'm excited to see what the next season holds. So, that's why I haven't been blogging as much.

Now for a Sam update. He's doing amazing...rolling, skooching (how do you spell that?), babbling, eating solids, and sitting up on all his own. He finally got his bottom 2 teeth during month 5. Month 5 was a big month for us!! He weighed in at 21lbs 27 1/2 in at his 6 month appointment. He has been so fun. He loves being out and about...taking in the world. I love being his mom. He's still the cat napper...he takes about three 1 hour naps during the day. He's usually up one time at night to eat. I can do that. Sometimes more...especially if he eats bananas. Man, this kid does NOT have an iron stomach. We'll get there. He's loving the fruits...and sweet veggies so far. It's crazy that we've reached 6 months...I can't imagine life without him.

Overall, we're doing well. We're still having frequent discussions about "what we want to be when we grow up." God knows and takes care of us. He continues to do great work in and around us. We have an awesome Festival at church...and last weekend we have a great 1st dinner party at our house since Sam was born. I cooked Thai food for over 10 people...it was awesome to see Burmese families and American families mix in our tiny apartment. One of the American families could speak Thai...it was amazing to see the interactions. The normally quite Burmese families opened up...It made me really excited to learn another language (Hindi). God is at work. I'm thankful that my life rests on HIS faithfulness...