Can I tell you something? Today I want to cry. I cannot sit, stand, or lay down in any direction without hurting. It all just aches and swells. I'd really like to end this pregnancy on a happy note, but let me tell you, I'm so done. I am trying to count it all joy, but it's getting progressively harder each day past my due date. Well, that's the truth about that.

Then Jesus said, "Come to me, all of you who are weary and carry heavy burdens, and I will give you rest." Matthew 11:28

I'm not sure if God meant that figuratively or literally, but I'm taking him up on his offer today.

I woke up this morning and spent some time in Truett's room praying for him. I prayed for his little feet, wherever God would lead him in his life. For his tiny heart, that it would be healthy and strong, and so full of love for other people. For his mind, that it would be filled with good things, and that Jonathan and I would be a part of filling it with great things. I prayed for his little legs, that they would take him good places and help share God's love with the world. Hurry little man.

From the Heart

I'm not sure where to begin.

I'm thankful. I've been enjoying this gray cloudy weather. There has been nothing nicer than to sit in silence and relax at home with Truett. I've struggled with swollen feet this whole pregnancy, and just to put them up for a few hours every afternoon really is heavenly.

I'm in love. Do you know Jonathan? If you do, I'm sure you would totally agree that he's such a helper (and that's an understatement really). I have been crushing on him lately like no one's business. I feel like a giddy little school girl when he comes home from work and I hear his key turning in the door. I just know that fun is about to be had, and every night I'm going to feel so very very loved.

I'm obsessed. I've been listening to Coldplay's new album. Woah. Enough said. You should go buy it.

I'm hungry. My body wakes me up every day around 3am to make me eat. This has only been happening for the last 2 weeks, but I seriously get so hungry that I start to feel sick like my stomach is eating my body from the inside out....so Honey Nut Cheerios and milk have been my go-to. :)

I'm impatient. It's hard to wait to see the face of your first baby. It's hard to wait...it's just hard. Time feels like it has literally stopped. I think. It has.

I'm learning. I have been loving YouVersion. Do you have the Bible App on your phone? If not, you may just love it like me! I don't know what I would do without those reading plans. I just continue off where I left off the day before and allow God to show me something new each morning. Or, in my 3am moments, I just read it right from my computer and count it all joy. :) I'm thankful for wonderful new technology that's so easy and awesome.

I'm excited. Truett is almost here, my little brother's wedding is in 2 weeks, Christmas is just around the corner, and my sister is having a little baby girl in a month. What more can I ask for?!

Favorite Warm Weather Gear!

Every year, I pull out a bin of cold weather hats, gloves, and scarves. And...every year, I always want new stuff. Why is that? It's like my sad purse addiction (which by the way, I am getting over. I only have 3!) and shoe fetish (and am down to 20 of those, thank you!). Well, if I need it or not is not really the issue. I mostly just wanted to share some adorable finds that I loved, if you find yourself like me, dreaming about snow!

Pink Wool Blend Scarf $12.90

Yellow Knit Scarf $6.99 (No, it's not a joke)

Navy Cable Hat $12.99

And how adorable are these earmuffs? Best part? They double as headphones. Who doesn't listen to jams while shoveling the driveway, right? $29.99

Striped Leather Gloves $98

Cable knit pom pom hat $29.95

Long cable knit mittens $29.95

Or...if you want something truly original, check out Etsy. They have some of the cutest shops!

What a steal. Only $15.00 for a custom knit hat?!

Happy Shopping!

Korean Noodle Bowl

So, after my last post about Sushi, and wanting to further my hot recipes streak, I decided to try this new one, and DING DING, it's a winner! I used what I had at my house, so feel free to alter it based on whatever you have in the fridge!

Ingredients:

1 lb whole wheat linguini noodles

1 1-inch piece fresh ginger (I used pickled ginger that I already had instead)

2 large cloves of garlic, grated

1/4 cup dark soy sauce (I used low-sodium)

3 Tbsp honey

2 Tbsp tomato paste

2 Tbsp rice wine vinegar

1 Tbsp sesame oil

1 tsp hot sauce (I used a Tbsp cause I like it hot!)

2 Tbsp vegetable oil (I used EVOO instead)

1 lb skinless, boneless chicken meat, cut into thin strips

1/4 c small cabbage, thinly sliced or chopped (I left this out because we didn't have any on hand)

1 bell pepper, chopped

1 bunch of scallions, thinly sliced

2 Tbsp sesame seeds

Directions:

1. Bring a large pot of water to a boil, add the pasta and cook until al dente. Drain. While the pasta is cooking...

2. Combine the ginger, garlic, soy sauce, honey, tomato paste, vinegar, sesame oil, and hot sauce and stir it up really well.

3. Chop all the remaining ingredients up for a quick stir fry. In a large hot skillet (high heat) using your EVOO or vegetable oil, add the chicken and cook until browned. Add the cabbage and bell pepper and stir-fry for 2 minutes.

4. Add the scallions and ginger sauce and toss for 1 minute. Pour over the drained noodles and top with the sesame seeds! Serve with hot sauce, of course!

Sushi Date $20

What happens when you're pregnant and want sushi? A veggie sushi date, of course! We made quite the amazing sushi at home the other day (and no I've never taken a class or done it before, so you can do it too!) so I wanted to share my recipes here in case you feel the need for a fun, healthy, $20 date! You can really choose any vegetables you wish, but these were some that Jonathan and I picked for ours. If you want to add crab meat or salmon, that's appropriate too, but I prefer to keep in simple.

Sushi Roll Ingredients:

Seaweed Sheets (also called nori) - plan on 2 per person

white sushi rice

1 red pepper

1 cucumber

1 jar of pickled ginger (not raw ginger)

1 avacado

rice vinegar

soy sauce (I use low sodium)

1 pkg cream cheese

Directions:

1. First, make 1 cup dry rice following to the package instructions (sushi rice is a little sticky, which is good). This will make approximately 2.5 cups after it's cooked.

2. While the rice is cooking, thinly slice your vegetables in long strips so they're easy to roll. You don't want them diced for this, trust me.

3. When your rice is finished, add 2-3 Tbsp of rice vinegar per 1 cup of rice and mix well.

4. On a wet surface (I used a wet cutting board), lay out a sheet of seaweed paper.

5. Spread a thin layer of rice on the seaweed, being careful not to get it too close to the edges. After all, you don't want a mess. You want pretty sushi.

6. Lay whatever vegetables you choose to use in a thin line and then roll as tightly and gently as you can with wetted fingers. (We just added ingredients that we wanted, not everything. You can see our sushi rolls below if you need suggestions.)

7. To get the roll to stick shut, just add water under the edge. The nori sheets will stick really well together with water.

8. To slice, make sure to use a very sharp, wetted knife and cut slowly. Each roll should make about 6-8 pieces. (It cuts much easier if you refrigerate it for 30 minutes...if you have the patience) I betcha it turned out great!

9. Make and use your sauces! Don't skimp! It's the best part! May I recommend the Sesame Ginger Sauce? A-MAZING.

Dynamite Sauce: (surprisingly good!)

1/2 cup low-fat mayo (I used fat-free miracle whip)

2 Tbsp hot sauce

1/4 tsp sesame oil

Sesame Ginger Sauce: (SUPER WINNER!)

2 Tbsp soy sauce

1 Tbsp dijon mustard

1/4 tsp sesame oil

1/4 tsp ginger root (I used chopped up pickled ginger from above ingredients)

2 1/2 tsp water

Jonathan's Sushi:

Red Pepper

Avacado

Cucumber

Michelle's Sushi:

Cream Cheese

Avacado

Cucumber

Ginger

A Critical Heart

At my church (LifeChurch.tv) these last 4 weeks, there has been a wonderful series by Craig called "Those People." It's about the negative, hypocritical, manipulative, and critical people in our lives that just seem so hard to love. We all know someone that has one of these characteristics, and in some ways, we were all, or still are, these people as well. I came to realize that more than all the rest, I'm the critcal person. I don't always voice my opinions out loud, because I've somewhat learned to tame my tongue, but it's a heart condition, and when it comes to that, I'm guilty for sure.

I'm critical of people who are late to meetings, of people who don't do things exactly as I think they should do them, of others who don't produce the quality that I think some should strive toward (excellence in everything, right?) Why do I do that? What a nasty disease. It seems good to care about the small things, but it can really just lead to judgment that doesn't do anyone any good, and leads to a negative heart. I've caught myself several times about to share something, and then deciding to stop mid-thought, because really, it's not going to lift anyone up.

Dear Lord, help me to work on my critical nature. To be patient and loving toward all people, no matter if I understand if or why they do things or not. It's not up to me to make them perfect, but it is up to me to love them. Please give me a gentle, kind, patient heart. Help me love like you love, and take everything else to you.

Jonathan

This is my husband.

I hope our little baby boy looks just like him.

He is literally the man of my dreams in every way.

I'm Still Yours

I heard this song by Kutless for this first time today. How beautiful.

If You washed away my vanity

If You took away my words
If all my world was swept away
Would You be enough for me?
Would my beating heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives and takes away

If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart will sing to You

When my life is not what I expected
The plans I made have failed
When there's nothing left to steal me away
Will You be enough for me?
Will my broken heart still sing?

If I lost it all
Would my hands stay lifted
To the God who gives
And takes away

If You take it all
This life You've given
Still my heart
Will sing to You

Even if You take it all away
You’ll never let me go
Take it all away
But I still know

That I'm Yours
I'm still Yours

Oh, I'm Yours
I'm still Yours
I'm still Yours

You can listen here: http://youtu.be/D3fr2Kl4Fcs

Truett Update

I can't help but trust God when it comes to having a baby, because really, what else am I supposed to do? Doesn't he take care of my every need, and know exactly what I need or want before I ever ask?

I know this is probably not a big deal, and of course, I feel like a paranoid parent now, but we found out at our appointment today that Truett has two dilated kidneys. Now, the doctor said it was very mild case, and she thinks he will be fine at birth, but we'll need to do another ultrasound after birth just to make sure. It's not exactly what I like to hear, but I know that we have good care and I'm thankful for the information. Severe cases can be signs of down syndrome, so of course it scares me just a little, but I trust God for whatever he may have in store for us, and we love that sweet sweet boy so much already. Please pray for little Truett! He is so close to being here, and we can hardly wait! This is one of those times that I have to remind myself that Truett is not mine--he's God's, and I have to trust that he already knows how perfect that little boy is going to be.

Michelle