Visiting Missouri

Every year, we get together with some of Brian's college friends and their wives who have become my dear friends too. The first time we met, there were six of us. Seven years later, there are 11 with one more on the way! It's so special to share life together with these guys.

We usually rotate the visit at someone's home to help save on costs, and this year, we stayed with one of the families in Missouri. It was a great excuse for Brian to take me to the University of Missouri - Columbia where he studied journalism as an undergrad. I had never visited his school before, and it was fun to walk down memory lane together!

Outside the student union - Memorial Hall

Go Tigers!

Outside the J-School

The famous quad and its columns

Shakespeare's Pizza - yummmy!

Just having fun with our friends and their kiddos

11 Weeks Pregnant

11 Weeks Pregnant

Brian receives William MacNider Award

In between getting ready for the baby's arrival, things have been busy around here as life goes on! 

In September, Brian and a classmate of his received a peer-nominated award, the William deB. MacNider Award, and I was so proud of him! 

Here's a description of the award: 
"This award was established in 1950 by the sophomore class and promotes public commendation of sophomore medical students who possess various intangible traits of good character, including personal integrity, a sincere and genuine interest in the lives of others, a willingness to help others at all times, humility, a cheerful attitude, and friendliness to all as shown by Dr. Billy MacNider."

10 Weeks Pregnant

10 Weeks Pregnant

For this child we prayed...

Throughout our journey of infertility, I found comfort in many things - but one thing that was particularly comforting to me was the story of Hannah in the Old Testament. In fact, one of the best books I read during our nearly 3-year journey was called "Hannah's Hope: Seeking God's Heart in the Midst of Infertility, Miscarriage, and Adoption Loss." 

Hannah was real. She was honest. She prayed and she wept and she negotiated with the Lord. She watched as women in her community celebrated the birth of their children, and she mourned. I liked this woman! As I read more about her story, I felt a connection to her - as I think many women going through infertility do - because she was so open about the roller coaster of emotions she felt over the years. 

Finally, after many years, she discovered that was was indeed pregnant! Joy of joys. And the Scripture detailing that part of her life gives me chills sometimes. Her heart is what I pray my heart may be - open to God's will as we dedicate the life of our still-unborn child to Him.

1 Samuel 1: 27 - 28:  27 I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. 28 So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.” And he worshiped the Lord there.

9 Weeks Pregnant

9 Weeks Pregnant

Getting the nursery set up

As many of you know, Brian and I decided *not* to find out the gender of Baby Bean and keep us - and everyone else! - in suspense until this little one decides to make his or her appearance this winter.

And good thing we haven't wanted to find out - at our 20-week ultrasound, the little stinker kept his/her back to us the entire time, with his/her hands balled up by the face and his/her legs crossed! Just as stubborn as his father (not me, of course!)

(However, for what it's worth, every stranger who has come up to me and guessed at the gender has guessed BOY so far! We'll see...)

In the meantime, my parents came up in September and we worked on getting the nursery set up. They brought up the crib and rocking chair my mom had used when WE were babies (so special!) - I love it. Dad and Brian worked together to get it cleaned up, built, and set up in the nursery. 

The nursery is still a work in progress so I'll post pictures of that another time. But I love walking past the nursery every morning, and seeing that sweet crib sitting there!