Well, it’s been a little while, but I’m actually still around. I love to get on pleo and read and comment on everyone’s blogs - I just can’t seem to make updating my own a priority!
Justin and I are doing great, just staying really busy as usual! Fall was absolutely beautiful here this year, and just this week has it really turned into the typical wet and cold of November. But now we have the holidays to enjoy and brighten things up!!
Here is one highlight from my months of absence…
On October 7th, my dear parents celebrated 30 years of marriage! They were able to escape off to the mountains for a few days and had the best time. Well, a few months ago, I got the idea of making a digital scrapbook for their 30th anniversary present. So while they were gone, Justin, my brothers, and I snuck down to Murfreesboro to raid the house for pictures for the scrapbook. Unfortunately, it would be the very next weekend when we were all able to make a visit down there to celebrate. So we didn’t have much time to get the book ready! After many long hours and not a lot of sleep, I got the book finalized and submitted in time for the company to print it and overnight it to us. The company was scrapblog.com, and they were just wonderful!
I’m so thankful for my brothers and Justin, who were great sports in going along with my crazy idea and putting in so much time and work. I’m also grateful to my Aunt Amy, Aunt Beth, and Grandmamma, who all helped as well in some way!!
Anyway, the book turned out better than I could have hoped, and my parents were SOO surprised. It was just soo much fun! I love surprising people with happy things, and the look on my Mom’s face was simply priceless.
I don’t have the words to describe how very thankful I am for my parents and their marriage. I’m so thankful to them for raising us to know God and for all the wonderful memories we have and continue to make! I love you so much Mom and Dad!
Here is the digital version of the scrapbook, or you can go here and click "view full screen" to see it a lot better!
I’m so excited about Thanksgiving and the time that Justin and I are going to have with our families, Lord willing. We are so looking forward to it! Also, Justin and I will likely be making some exciting decisions about our future soon, so any prayers would be greatly appreciated!
I hope all of you have a very happy Thanksgiving!!
Love,
Jess
Oh Jess, that made me cry! I loved all those pictures...especially of you all when you were babies. Sooo precious. I can just imagine Claire and Michael doing this for us one day (mainly Claire, but I'm sure he'll "help") =). We can't wait to see you both, and we really do pray for you guys EVERY day! I know it's so stressful right now...but you know it's in God's hands...see you so so soon!
What an awesome thing you did for them! I love it. Have a wonderful Thanksgiving...tell everyone hello for us if you don't mind! And, you have my prayers!
Very nice! I love those photo books, and I am completely with you - I'm so thankful for my parents' wonderful marriage and example. By the way, you look just like your dad. :) Oh, and best wishes (and prayers) for your upcoming decisions. ;-)
Great idea, even brought back some great old memories for me especially seeing your two grandfathers. I am realy looking forward to these new decisions. It sounds exciting.
Justin and I are about to leave with my family for what has become our annual trip to the Smoky Mountains. And we're excited!
We always have such a wonderful time, and Lord willing, this trip will be no exception. Dad and Justin are putting the last bags in the car, so I better go!
Hope you all have a blessed week!
Each birth was so different...With my first I had no idea what I was doing. With #2 I tried to keep myself distracted- I cleaned the house, went to a movie;); but I didn't use an actual method. #3 happened really fast start to finish. It was incredibly intense. Because of that birth experience I prepared a little more for this one. I guess you could say the method I used was Bradleyish...When I felt a new contraction starting I would make a conscious effort to relax my whole body and "work" with the contraction instead of against it. I repeated the same words in my head over and over with each contraction. Something to the effect of, "This doesn't have to hurt. My body is doing what it needs to do to bring the baby down. I'm going to relax and let my body do it's job." Corny sounding, huh? But it worked! It was the most wonderful experience!
When I started having babies I knew I wanted to have them naturally, but I thought that just meant dealing with extreme amounts of pain. I didn't know anyone who used the Bradley method at the time. I did take Lamaze, but I didn't make it to the end of the class before he was born and what I did learn didn't help me much. I didn't really research Bradley until I was pregnant this last time. If only I had known about it earlier!!!
I really believe a lot of the pain associated with birth is "in our heads". There is so much fear and that fear makes women tend to tense up and "fight" their bodies. Don't get me wrong, it isn't like getting a massage; but it doesn't have to be like something out of a horror movie. If you can take control of your mind and convince yourself to relax and let your body do it's job, you will be fine. Knowing what to expect is another important part of the equation. That helps you to work with your body. Surrounding yourself with the right people is also important. You want the person attending the birth to be someone you trust and who will have a calming effect on you. O.k., I could take over your blog with this! I wish we could talk in person!!!
I was lurking and I have some books that I could give you on something similar to what Erin is stating, it is about self hypnosis in a way. I can give you the names of the books if you are interested. I am also always game to talk about birth althought I have only done it once.
Okay, do you have something you need to tell us??? ;) Don't let us be the ones to find out on pleo! Okay, for real, how are feeling? Back to eating pizza yet?
Well, I remember you..a little..lol. So your mom was a Henderson, right? I remember thinking your mom was so beautiful when I was a little girl...I loved her long blonde hair...funny the things we remember as kids :)
Your mother was a Charley Brown fan and for my birthday one year she gave me a box of rocks. I think your mother was in the 5th grade when I first met her. I was 19.
Yes, I am that old and it was your grandfather, Norman, who was one of the greatest influences on my song leader training. What I liked the most is that part of his influence involved the correction that I needed along the way.
I thought you might get a kick out of it. I bet you know who wouldn't be so pleased, though. =) How is everything going with you guys? Justin's job still keeping his so busy?
Hey! All in all first trimester has gone pretty smoothly. A few episodes of nausea and catching up on lots of sleep! I'm starting to feel more energetic and peppy :)
Hi Jess! going through some old pictures when I was cleaning out for a garage sale this past weekend, and came across several from FC with you and Justin, hope you are both great!
Yes, that would be fine. I have left messages on their pleo blogs and emailed MacKenna's mother telling them I would be glad to talk to them, but I haven't heard back from any of them. I know they are very overwhelmed right now, but please let them know we are here and available if they need us. It's a lot to go through. I thought maybe seeing pictures or videos of Addi might be encouraging to them.
I've had my ups and downs. I am hanging in there though. Just broke it off with my booyfriend for religious reasons. that was a hard thing to do. I just keep praying and keeping going
Wow! congratulations! I wish I had realized it was your anniversary when I spoke with you tonight. You and Justin are such a Godly couple and are blessing the world by your relationship!
HI!!! GREAT to hear from you:)! Your pictures above are so beautiful! I have never even seen any! I am guessing we are near an anniversary and congrats are in order...can't believe it's been as long as it has since you got married!! What is going on in your life?
Congratulations! I remember talking to Justing on the phone a few days before your wedding, and he was the cutest sweetest thing ever going on and on about how he was the luckiest guy on eath to be marrying you!!!!!
Addison's surgery is over and she is doing well! Praise God!!
At 2:30 today we heard that she was already in recovery, making the surgery much shorter than they had origionally thought.
I haven't heard the details as to why that was or exactly how much was accomplished in the surgery, but it appears to have gone very well!! Her parents should have been able to see her by now, and I just can't imagine their relief.
Thank you so much for your prayers, and please continue to pray that much good will come from her operation and that the recovery will be smooth.
Hey Jessica! This is Amy DeBoer. It is so wonderful to hear that Addison's surgery was successful! I hope that you and Justin are doing well! I miss seeing you guys around! take care!
It was so great to see you. I'm sorry I didn't get to talk to everyone more. Sitting in the middle, I felt like I was hopping b/t 2 conversations WHILE feeding Ava. Be safe going home!
So I missed seeing you. And I'm super bummed about that. And there was nothing I could do about it either. :( Well, I'm just going to have to try extra hard to make it to Bowling Green.
I never hated being at work so much. Everything is going as well as possible, but I'm very ready for school to be over. Even more than last year. I'm going to be in Louisville in June for Patrick Cawthon's wedding. We're going to try to arrange a BG visit if possible.
i'm not sure what advantages there are to powder vs liquid, but i need the powdered washing soda to make my own detergent....which i'm wanting to do for $$ saving purposes. :)
You all may remember when I asked for prayers last August for Phillip and Tracy's baby niece, Addison.
She was born in March 2007 with multiple serious heart defects. Her open heart surgery in August was postponed when they found her oxygen level to be quite healthy. This was a blessing, as it allowed her to gain a little weight, and to get a lot stronger.
However, her oxygen level has recently dropped down to the point that it's time for that surgery. The past 8 months for her to grow stronger have been such a blessing! I have yet to meet this precious little girl, but I know what delight she brings to her family.
Her surgery will be Wednesday, April 9, at Vanderbilt hospital. She is just over a year old, and the surgery is expected to last about 10 hours.
Please pray for her safety, for the surgeon and staff taking care of her, and that the surgery will be a great success.
Her family will desperately need prayers for comfort and peace.
Here is Addi's grandmother's blog, for more info, as well as Addi's website!
