Been a while

It's been a while since I've taken time to post anything. It's been a little busy around here but so much fun in the Grimme house. Right before Luke was born and shortly after we came home I had a couple days of being very fearful that Billy and I's marriage would never be the same and that we wouldn't be who we used to be. I feared that our lives were over and that we were going to be 90 before we knew it - true story. Each little thing we did, such as watch TV (big deal, right??) together or stay up late in bed talking about things we're learning, I felt like we accomplished something and that we were still "us". As silly as it sounds, it's true. Each day brought more and more of a sense of normalcy and by the time we were home for a week I was very relieved. I'm happy to report that 3 1/2 months later we aren't 90 and dying! ;) Honestly, we have grown closer and such a stronger love for one another as we take care of our son and spend time as a family of 3 + Wyatt. We are learning so much and God is walking us through such an incredible journey together. I absolutely love the time we're spending together and it has been a great joy and blessing to have Luke in our lives. I wouldn't trade it for anything.

Luke is growing a TON, and while I think that 4 months isn't really that old, I feel like my little baby isn't such a little baby anymore! He's quite the noise maker and we've finally conquered naps. I had read that around 4 months of age their sleeping cycles regulate and they become better sleepers during the day and night. Truth! Little boy blue is now taking 2 naps a day, in bed by 6:30 and doesn't wake up until 7:30 or 8 the following morning. He's also started solids. I just couldn't keep up with how much milk he wanted and formula was tearing up his stomach. So we tried rice cereal and he LOVES it. Along with bananas. Later today we're going to try peas...we'll see how that goes! It's been fun learning to make baby food :) Luke is also a huge fan of water...bath, lake, pools. It's been a fun start to the summer so far, and the coming months bring more fun and lots of travel. Billy, Luke and I will be going to Pennsylvania, Florida, Charleston and Georgia between now and the first of August. Traveling with a baby will be interesting but I'm looking forward to it.

Recently a friend posted a link on facebook for a promo video highlighting the new book Radical, by David Platt (thanks Anne :)). As if the video weren't powerful enough, I read the bio on discerningreader.com and thought it would be a fun book for Billy and I to read through together. Fun? Hah :) I could think of many other words that would describe the heart change God is moving us towards while reading this book, but I'll save it for another post once we're finished with it. In the meantime - go pick it up and take a read.

Humbled.

God has been doing a mighty work in my heart the past few weeks and every time I think about writing it, a new treasure is revealed and I'm once again on my knees in awe of Him. There are three things He has been chipping away at and it has been such a challenge to swallow, but such a sweet time of learning with Him. And believe me, we are continuing on this journey. Pride. Security. Vanity.

Pride. As my pastor said this past week, "How much pride is too much? Any." Amen. I've been studying Daniel with some awesome ladies and as we've studied the words said by and written about King Nebuchadnezzar the Lord has spoken some deep truths to me regarding my pride issues. A deep longing to be recognized and praised, wanting to be known as if I deserve something or am above someone else. I accepted the fact that I had pride issues, but it didn't REALLY hit me until last week when we received over $1000 worth of checks in the mail. One of them was $500 from some dear friends saying, "We wanted this to be anonymous but the bank wouldn't let us. The Lord told us to give this to you to help with the hospital bills right now." Really? REALLY?? Yes, my God provides. And yes, I wanted to give back the money and say we didn't need it because I was too prideful to accept a gift from our friends. Knowing I have to see two more specialists this week likely leading to yet another scan and very likely a surgical procedure, I wanted to deny a gift because I was too prideful to accept. WOW. Then God spoke powerfully on Sunday morning (check out the sermon at Southbridgefellowship.com. Ah-Mazing.) My lovely pride issues falling right in line my heavy security issues that I look for in my husband - funny that he travels every week. Leaves quite a bit of time to spend finding my security in the Lord, that's for sure! Oh and then there was the meltdown after trying on swim suits about the drastic changes my body has taken since my sweet son was born and mourning over the fact that I am 22 years old and having to visit my dr. every 3 weeks, see a back specialist, go back to physical therapy, and see a colon specialist (yes I just said colon in a blog. twice.) because of yet more issues from the delivery. But God is good and gracious with His teaching, though it is heavy at times. My body is a temple and it was not made to live forever. And it was not made for me to flaunt or pridefully boast in my weight or figure. And one day I will be given a new body to worship Him in forever. So the past few weeks have been heavy. But I have been reminded of His provision, His security and comfort that can only be found in Him, and the desire for Him to be the ONE AND ONLY thing I worship.

A couple updates about the fam.. Luke is incredible - he is 3 months old! He's so stinkin long. Most pants are capris on him and 3 month socks are too small. In fact most things that are 3 months old are too small because he is so long. He's having a hard time with naps but the Lord is giving me patience (most days ;) ) and friends that give me ideas on what to try next. He is so close to rolling over and he is sitting up in his bumbo without any help at all. He discovered Wyatt a couple weeks ago but can now focus on him and thinks he's very funny looking. He talks...a lot. I've started video taping and recording his sounds on my phone because it's pretty much non-stop. It keeps me giggling throughout the day and brings such joy to hear him so happy! He's very close to going from 10 pm - 7 am without waking up, but not quite there yet. About once a week he'll give me a 7pm - 7 am stretch which is incredible. I'm going to miss snuggling with him in the night :) Oh and he LOOOOVES music. Mostly classical??? Which typically puts me to sleep, but he loves it. He's also a fan of Steve Green's Hide Em In Your Heart, Baby Einstein soundtracks and Praise Baby. Billy is still traveling like crazy but we have lots to look forward to this summer - our 2 year anniversary in Charleston, visiting with his sister and brother in law in Georgia, a week camping with my grandma (yes you read that correctly), celebrating my other grandma's 90th birthday in florida, taking a trip to LA with him for business and a family beach trip with the Grimme's....phew, that's a lot! It's a challenge for me to have him gone so much because quite honestly, I miss my best friend! But, it makes our love for one another stronger each trip and we have such a sweet and fun time when he's home so it works...for now :)

As of late....

Wyatt is fooling you into thinking he can actually hunt. When really, animals fall out of trees in our back yard and he thinks he has accomplished something magnificent. True story.

Chillin on the dock

Seriously? This smile gets me every time...about a hundred times a day :)

Sittin in the shade on the dock

That's my boy :)

Many things to be thankful for...

a marriage FULL of laughter.

friends that are obedient to Christ.

over $1000 in the mail in one day - to pay off hospital bills and to remind us that He provides, always.

skype.

a sweet morning with friends and babies.

my Daniel Bible Study.

pastors that boldly proclaim the TRUTH.

sweet ladies in Bridge Kids that like to love on my son.

my sweet sweet friend, Janet, that tells me she loves me every time she talks to me and is always there with encouraging words and helpful tips in taking care of Luke. And her willingness to babysit him while we're at a wedding next weekend. What a blessing she is.

friends who speak truth to me, regardless of how it might sound.

luke's awesome sounds when he is playing by himself.

a baby that is content playing by himself at times.

hearing my husband talk to luke and seeing them interact. precious.

luke's grin and giggles (and the milk spewing out of his mouth) when I'm feeding him and he catches my eye.

energy from the Lord that sustains me the days after a rough night's sleep.

billy's job.

my dear in-laws that are probably the most mission focused and servant minded people I know.

brothers and sisters that are followers of Christ.

an afternoon with my whole family celebrating mother's day and my mom's birthday at the park.

delicious chocolate cake.

getting to stand up at church when they asked mom's to stand up. I love the gift of being a mom.

the smell of my sweet baby boy.

snuggles with Luke in the morning.

an evening of worship this Thursday night with some fantastic women!

His word piercing my heart.

beautiful weather the past few days and a chance to get out and enjoy it with my fellas.

the opportunity to travel with Billy and Luke this summer.

my friend Julianne coming over ... right now! :)

He restores my soul

The past 48 hours have been trying and rather emotional, to say the least. Nothing extravagant or traumatic has happened, really. But every now and then I reach my limit with Billy's traveling schedule. Every time Billy takes a trip, which is usually every week, God sustains me and meets me where I'm at each and every time. Every so often I hit my limit...where I just don't think I'm emotionally able to keep saying goodbye for a few days just to say hello for 24-48 hours, to then say goodbye again. It's not always this vigorous, but in those moments where I reach my limit you would think my husband is a soldier fighting in Afghanistan who has been gone for 18 months. Not so much the case.

I could write out the whole story, but I think that would put me back a few steps and keep me dwelling on the unfortunate. So we'll just start with this morning...this morning I was emotionally and physically drained. I was supposed to pick Billy up at 9:35 this morning. Shortly after I woke up, knowing that I was in a not so great emotional state I sent an e-mail to friends asking for prayers knowing that I was going to desperately need supernatural energy, patience, and and generosity to make it through today. A few minutes later I get a phone call that put icing on my already drained cake saying that Billy missed his connecting flight...so he will now be home for 24 hours to the minute. Now my sweet husband is emotionally and physically drained. After I got off the phone I found myself in tears again over the small stuff crying out to the Lord - about the very little stuff like my husband missing his flight. And I sat there playing with Luke as he's just giggling and cooing away totally avoiding the obvious. You know those moments when you know know know with everything in you that you should speak up to the Lord, but you just realllllly don't feel like it? Maybe it's just me. But today was one of those times. In my mind I'm thinking, "I don't want to talk about it and I don't want to deal with it. So I'll just mope about it, thank you very much." So in the midst of my tears I started pouring out my heart to Him, the only things coming to mind were thanks and praises to Him for all sorts of things. And then begging for strength and energy and for a glad and servant's heart to welcome my husband home and make the best of our short time together. And then praying for my husband, who is completely exhausted when all he wants to be doing is eating breakfast with us and soaking up some quality time instead of sitting in the airport drinking halfway decent coffee.

My very specific requests were as follows:

-pray that I would have supernatural energy to make it through this next day

-that I would have patience with Billy's schedule

-that I would stop dwelling on the crapiness of this situation

-that I would look for opportunities to serve Billy when he gets home

-And lastly that I would still find ways to praise Him in the midst of the tears

And would you believe it, just like He always does, He restored my soul. And I am singing songs of praise to my sustainer and creator on this beautiful day.

Thank you for....

#26 - letting my husband arrive safely in Chicago and get sleep on the plane.

#27 - my dear sisters in Christ that will lift me up in prayer

#28 - giving Billy a job that allows me the opportunity to stay home with Lucas

#29 - Billy's patience and hardworking attitude and desire to provide for us

#30 - for Luke's handsome smile and sweet excitement that greeted me this morning when I got him out of his crib

#31 - my generous mom that offered to fly Luke and I to New Mexico with Billy, even though it didn't work out

#32 - sleep for Luke and I this morning during nap time :)

#33 - a very healthy and happy baby

#34 - the gift of technology

#35 - restoring my soul this morning.

This verse spoke to me greatly this morning...

The LORD is my shepherd, I shall not want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, HE RESTORES MY SOUL....He guides me in paths of righteousness for HIS name's sake.

Psalm 23:1-3

Intentional Gratitude Post #2

I have much to be thankful for...and on days that I find myself getting frustrated or distracted from the many blessings He's given us, it is amazing how spending time praising Him turns things around so very quickly.

Lord, thank you so much for

#10 - The miracle of LIFE.

#11 - getting to watch Luke grab his blanket and pull it up to his cheeks on purpose.

#12 - Bringing my husband home safely from Missouri

#13 - Peanut M&M's that Billy picked up on his way home from the airport - and a husband who picks up on little things that make me smile, like a bag of peanut M&M's

#14 - Grandaddy Paul who is here to visit and who is so great with Luke. Another morning out to run errands was such a blessing.

#15 - fellow moms that make themselves available for my MANY questions throughout the day...and my other fellow moms that spend time venting with me as we figure out what the heck we're doing :)

#16 - the opportunity to stay at home and watch my son grow daily.

#17 - a weekend away on the coast with my family

#18 - Always meeting me where I'm at, no matter what. Your timing is perfect and Your Word speaks to me in fresh ways on a regular basis. And even not so regular when I put spending time with you last. Thank your for your patience with me.

#19 - My friend Julianne that spends the night with me when Billy is out of town, making me feel more safe and able to sleep better knowing someone else is in the house.

#20 - Our dog, Wyatt... Forgive me for losing patience with him on a regular basis.

#21 - A day with my brother and sister in law yesterday in Wilmington, and the BEAUTIFUL weather

#22 - the clouds today - I was needing some clouds.

#23 - a kitchen full of food...we are so thankful for Your provision.

#24 - Luke getting at least 1 good nap today instead through all of them.

#25 - Most of all, thanks for waiting on me. Thanks for sticking around when I find myself drained at the end of the day and not wanting to spend time with you. Thanks for not giving up when I wake up in the morning and put other things first. Thanks for choosing love all the time.

Lately we have been trying to conquer naps. Lucas - aka "Mr. No Nap" isn't too crazy about his daily naps. He loves to get in his crib and he loves to get snuggled in his blanket - preferably over his cheeks and up to his nose with his bear thingy covering his eyes - but about 45 min. into his nap, he wakes up. Not nicely, but instead screaming. Every nap we try something new. So far, today he's had a morning nap that halfway worked, an afternoon nap that halfway worked, and we'll see how this 2nd afternoon nap goes :) Despite the many guessing games we play on a daily basis, the poopy pants, cryfests during nap time, and the other various challenges that come with raising a child, I absolutely LOVE being a mom. I love the gift of being a parent and I love watching him change daily. I've learned to just laugh in the midst of my frustrations and roll with it. Every day is something new and God continues to generously give me wisdom, patience and understanding in this exciting adventure.

We are getting ready to go away for our first weekend as a family of 3 (4 if you count Wyatt. I can say with confidence that he thinks he is the center of this family). I'm very excited to get away and trying to wrap my mind around what all it takes to travel with a baby. Thankfully he's in the sleepy-car stage so driving won't be so bad, and I'm convinced I can fit all of the baby paraphernalia in one duffel bag. Am I crazy?? Probably.

I give up on iweb

I've been using Iweb to blog here and there, in the midst of adjusting to being a mom and all the responsibilities associated with that...but I'm new to macs and I have no idea how to work iweb when it comes to sharing it with others. So, I've given up for now and have posted them all to the old bloggaroo. Hope everyone had a happy Easter - here's the latest from our home to yours!

Easter family photo

The Pleasants come for a visit

Just smiling at my mommy

Aunt Nikki came to visit, too!

The Small Things

Since the dramatic (and slightly traumatic) birth of our son, Luke, we have been bombarded with hospital bills. I think every day we get a surprise in the mail. Thankfully, we have insurance, but I’m pretty sure we’re going to meet every out of pocket max for each member of the family by April 15. Because of the big bills we’ve really had to watch our money wisely, more carefully than before, which is especially hard for me. I like to buy things, namely clothes or baby items, but I’ve had to crack down on my spending habits. Lately I’ve really wanted to get Luke a different diaper bag. Doesn’t seem like a big deal, right? I don’t really like his and it makes me frustrated every time I have to use it - it folds up or I can’t find something in one of the 183 pockets on the inside. I’ve been looking very specifically and some LLBean totes with his name on it, but have been reminded by my dear husband that it wouldn’t be wise right now and hospital bills or getting out of debt might be higher on the list :) Tonight, some sweet friends came to visit Luke for the first time. And would you believe, that their gift to Luke happened to be the very LLBean bag I’ve been looking at for a month? And I can assure you that I did not tell them or anyone else about it. Even though it’s such a small thing, it reminded me that God cares even about the small day to day stuff...Praise Him. I can’t help but smile every time I see those little letters on Luke’s new bag :)

First day of intentional gratitude

I was challenged this week by a friend’s precious list to start living with intentional gratitude. So many times throughout the day my prayers to the Lord look like this:

“Lord, please let him sleep...”

“Lord, please bring him home safely...”

“Lord, give me patience.”

“Lord, help me to be a servant right now.”

“Lord, help me fall asleep.”

Yet He has given me SO much and I often forget to spend time thanking him throughout the day with intention. So here we go:

Lord, thank You for...

1-Luke’s first intentional sweet smiles this morning.

2-a hot, QUIET shower, without any crying in the background :)

3-grandparents so close and the my opportunity to go grocery shopping this morning knowing Luke was getting snuggled by a loved one.

4-friends that want to pray for us.

5-technology and being able to communicate with Billy in various ways while he is on the road traveling.

6-peace while Billy is traveling. And my sweet friends and family that take care of me while he is away.

7-the fabulous hot chocolate I had last night.

8-being there, always, and giving me energy in the middle of the night.

9-Your words the other night reminding me to long for you alone. And thank you for a message the next morning that hit that truth home even more. Your timing is perfect.