Lessons Learned

A few things I've realized about myself or come to believe in the last year:

- Ability, not size, is what matters most to me when it comes to my own fitness. I will probably never be a size 4, but I'm happy being a healthy 8 or 10. After all, I was an 8/10 who ran a half-marathon and a triathlon (and have more in my future, Lord willing).

- Likewise, I have picked up on several of Chef Carolyn's beliefs about food. Shredded cheese tastes best freshly grated from the block. Pasta is a food group. And artificial stuff - sweeteners and other calorie-cutters - are just that, artificial, unnatural. Why would I want to put unnatural stuff into my body? Especially the body that created my darling son and feeds him directly? Give me the butter, the sugar, and the like. I'd rather eat it in moderation than eat the fake stuff.

- Breasts were not created to sell wings at Hooters or copies of Sports Illustrated's swimsuit edition. They were created for feeding babies. I'll be discreet about my nursing, but don't you dare look at me like I'm being indecent.

- I like bread. There's a story here, but it's one I will keep quiet for now. I'll just say that I'll never make everyone happy - oh well! :)

Here comes Chappy with a baby carriage

I have been meaning for some time to sit down and write the story of Little C's birth, so I don't lose details with time. So here goes, and then I'll transfer it to his journal at some point in the future...you know, once I'm feeling less like a sleep-deprived dairy cow. :)

Little C's due date was April 19th. I was absolutely convinced he would be early (as I was, as Mr. Chappy was, since we live at high altitude, etc.) but as the 18th arrived, I started to give up hope. In fact, I felt so good and he seemed so content to stay inside for another week or two, that I spent the day cleaning all the bathrooms, taking a 3 mile walk, and raking the back yard's thatch. Mr. Chappy and I had long debated with our family when the big day would be and we had several guesses. April's a sad month for our family, in some respects - my late grandmother's birthday is the 11th, the anniversary of my late father-in-law's death is the 15th, and my late grandfather passed away on the 18th several years ago. We suspected that baby would come on one of those days to honor our loved ones and, regardless of date, would turn April into a happy month. My husband wryly said that, as an Army baby, our kiddo would probably come right on time. Anyone who's been in the Army knows that "if you're on time, you're late" - you must show up 15 minutes early - so we jokingly said that he'd arrive at 11:45 pm on the 18th instead of right on his due date.

So the 18th came and nearly left, and I went to bed expecting another week or two of pregnancy. But I never fell asleep, since I started having contractions at...you guessed it...11:45. I tried waiting them out. I'd had similar contractions at bedtime before and they always went away, but these were more stubborn. I got out of bed and went to the nursery to read a little of my Dr. Sears book to see if I was having any more labor symptoms. Sometime after, my mom came into the room and we decided to start measuring the contractions. I quickly realized I'd better wake my husband up, so around 1am he started packing his bag as I was dealing with increasingly stronger and more frequent contractions.

We got to the hospital (about a 5 minute's drive away, thankfully) and were admitted immediately, around 2:30am. The nurse strapped me to a fetal monitor and the doctor checked me out - I was so grateful to hear I was at 7cm, as I'd been hanging out at about 75% effaced but only a few centimeters for several weeks at that point. They were going to move me from the triage room to a labor room, and I asked to sit down to handle a contraction. As soon as it was over my water broke - what a crazy feeling. It was like a water balloon exploded inside me. From then on, everything happened fast. I didn't even have time to take off my sports bra and tank top.

We moved to the other room and I was asked to use the bathroom. Then I got into the bed (since my contractions were coming pretty quickly and it was easier for me to sit - so much for attempting to squat during labor!). The doctor and nurse were hooking me up to the monitor when they asked me if I felt the need to push during contractions, and I replied, "No"...and then another contraction came and I felt the need to push...so all I could manage to say was "PUSH!". My mother and I laughed about this later. My labor wasn't too long, although I felt like I wasn't getting anywhere. I distinctly remember feeling like any moment they'd give up on me and send me to get a C-section. Eventually, though, I was able to see Little C's head crowning, via a mirror, and after a few more contractions and pushes he was out! What an awesome feeling. 4:15am on April 19, 2011, he made his arrival. He weighed in at 8 lbs, 4 oz, and 20.5" long.

My first glimpses of my little man - and so many prayers of praise going up at that moment.

They put him on my belly and started cleaning us both up. I ripped pretty badly (3rd degree perineal tear) so they spent about as much time stitching me up as I'd spent in the delivery room (actually they took longer!). Mr. Chappy and my mother took this time to help with bathing, weighing, diapering, etc, and I so enjoyed watching my husband in this new role. I expected to feel possessive, like I would need to have my son in my arms, but I had no such feeling. Seeing him in his daddy's arms was perfect - and after 9 months, I was happy to share.

I couldn't have asked for a better birth experience, overall. I had a birth plan, and the doctors and nurses were great about helping me achieve it. For example, I wanted a natural birth, and they never pushed me to get an epidural or pitocin. I wanted a squat bar, and although I couldn't use it for the intended purpose, I used it to brace my feet against. My doctor was amenable to it being on the bed, even though it meant she had to move her angle/position and it was likely less comfortable for her. While I was being stitched up afterwards, the nurse kept telling me positive things about how she healed - that it would hurt for awhile, but that it wouldn't last forever. Her calming influence was super. The quality of the hospital staff and facilities was outstanding.

On a more personal note, I felt right at home with some of the attending caregivers. The doctor graduated from the University of Virginia's Medical School - I was happy to be under the care of a fellow Wahoo! What a small world! My two favorite nurses (one from Labor & Delivery, and one from Mother-Baby Unit) attended Georgetown and James Madison University, respectively, so I felt like I was around friends. Pretty cool.

Other random tidbits I learned:

- The lamaze class was very helpful in the end - I didn't use the breathing techniques, and I was NOT comfortable with being touched (even though Mr. Chappy had learned some great massage techniques and my mother attempted to be helpful) - they mentioned in class that I might not want to be touched at all, and they were right. I needed all my attention on pushing and breathing. I had told Mr. Chappy during class that the thing I'd need the most help with would be a reminder to breathe and to be positive, and he was awesome at walking me through it. In fact, he would tell me, based on the external monitor, when my contractions were peaking. This was so helpful, since it gave me hope that I was over the worst of each contraction and that they'd be tapering down from that point on.

- My mother being in the room was likewise an enormous help. During delivery I felt so bossy/pushy, asking her to fan me (I went from being extremely hot to extremely cold and back again, constantly) or move the mirror so I could see it (and to quickly turn it away - once I saw baby's head crowning, I was motivated, but seeing it longer felt like an enormous distraction from the job at hand, and I cried out for her to turn it around so I wouldn't see him!) She also took videos and pictures that I could have only dreamed of having otherwise, like our first moments with Little C. I don't know if I'll ever be able to watch that video without crying my eyes out.

- We brought tons of things with us, in case I was laboring for a long time, and I needed almost none of it. So much for the iPod and speakers, meditative music mix from Military One Source, pictures of happy things in my world, etc. But I'm glad I had my own pillow to prop me up a bit more! We also brought containers of snack mix that I'd made for the nurses and doctors (as well as a few boxes of Girl Scout cookies) that seemed well-received. And one of my favorite things was an 8x8 stretched canvas that we put Little C's footprints on. I've long planned on doing similar with his handprints, but it's neat to have the footprints from his first moments of life, in an artsy way. For his first birthday I plan on painting a canvas black and putting his handprints in white ink/paint on it, for some contrast.

There are so many other little details, but I doubt that I'll be able to do them justice right now. So I'm off to watch the blessings of my life, my husband and son, as they play and wind down before bedtime.

Oh, as a final note, my kiddo's kidneys turned out to be perfectly healthy. We had been concerned, based on an ultrasound, about whether he'd have trouble or not, but a post-delivery ultrasound showed him to be just fine. Everything about him has been healthy, in fact. He was slightly jaundiced but didn't have any major issues with it (and apparently all babies born in Colorado are jaundiced to some extent due to the altitude/red blood cell count), his weight gain hasn't been great but hasn't been too little either, and he's taken to breastfeeding very well, despite an initial hiccup where we needed to use a nipple shield for the first week. Overall, he's wonderful. I add all this to say how grateful I am for the prayers I've received on his behalf. I am absolutely convinced that his health is due to the petitions of so many loved ones. I have years and years of praying for this little one ahead of me, so I'm grateful for the good start and assistance we've received thus far. There is no greater gift we can give or receive in life than the prayers and love of friends. :) Have a cHappy week...from all three of us!

Fun Surprises

I recently became a consultant for Thirty-One products and I have been pleasant surprised at almost every turn I've taken in the last two weeks with the company.

- It's a Christian company, named after Proverbs 31's virtuous woman - they aim to celebrate, encourage, and reward hard-working women. From what I can tell, their commitment to values extends strongly to their product line and their customer support, and I couldn't be more impressed. I had some tech-support issues at first (half of my starter didn't come embroidered as I requested due to some IT problems when I signed up) but the company was happy to replace these items for free. Way to go, Thirty-One! Likewise, when I had trouble placing an order, the Home Office was able to quickly fix it - no questions asked. I'm also impressed that they immediately adjust items if there are complaints about them - for example, they're removing the PVC lining of some of the thermal totes since they had results in the last month (they've only been out for a month or so) of being released. Ok, so these are silly details, but they have impressed me so far.

- In the consultant kit I purchased, there were a lot of things I didn't expect to use. Joke's on me. Backing up, the reason I joined Thirty-One is because there are a few items that I *adore* and love to share with friends. But those 3-4 items were small potatoes compared to what they offered. I've tried out a few things since then and here are my happy results:

The stuff I already loved:

- The Skirt Purse

I love that I can quickly and inexpensively change the look of my purse - and I love that I can personalize it! Having a unique name means I didn't have a lot of things with my name on it while growing up...I'm totally taking advantage of these things now!

- The Fold-n-Go Organizer

Oh goodness...this is my "mommy's dream item". I'm not a mom yet, but I can see a bunch of options for this. A few ideas:

(1) Diapers, travel wipes, disposable changing pad for a small and easy-to-grab option instead of a big diaper bag

(2) A Nintendo DS or PSP would fit great in here (and probably most e-readers) along with a stash of games.

(3) A notepad (which now comes with the Organizer!) fits great in the middle, as would kids' coloring/activity books (like you can find at the dollar store) - add a few crayons and pencils and you have a great way to keep the kids occupied on the go...or at church...or while waiting for dinner...etc.

(4) On the adult side, this is a great size to toss coupons, receipts, and a calculator, for shopping lists.

And while it's not waterproof, it's water-resistant and easily wipeable - perfect to toss in your purse or with your kids.

- The Organizing Utility Tote, Magazine Baskets, and About Town Blanket

These items have so many uses and are such a perfect size...the possibilities are endless. I need to purchase about 10 Organizing Utility Totes :)

Stuff I didn't realize I would love so much:

- Large Utility Tote

We have filled this to the brim on a few occasions - with gear for a photo shoot (blankets, pillows, dog treats, bubbles, kite, makeup bag, ...), with supplies for a youth group activity, with picnic/fundraising supplies and food...and I plan on leaving one in my car to keep grocery bags from floating around my trunk. It's big enough to hold pretty much anything imaginable, but easy to carry around.

- Wristlet

I didn't think I'd like this, honestly. I ended up liking it enough to carry it around for over a week now instead of a purse, though! Compared with other brands (like my much-loved Vera Bradley), it is actually big enough to hold my Blackberry...plus all the necessities (a few cards - like ID, driver's license, debit card; cash; chapstick) and I even am able to put a granola bar in the outer pocket for when I need a quick pick-me-up. I have to remember to undo the strap and put my keychain through it, so I don't have to carry my keys separately or in my pocket, but that's a quick issue. I love not having the weight of something on my shoulder (since I have a belly-full-of-growing-baby on my front anyway) and I love only carrying the things I need. I have a feeling that I'll love using this when bebe arrives too - to toss in his diaper bag instead of lugging around two bags. Cool!

Ok, shameless plugs for a company I love...but that's what we gals do. We share things that work great and hope that others can save time, effort, or money too.

Next up: back to cleaning house. I think I'll tackle the downstairs (a.k.a. "junk") closet. :) Have a happy week!

For now...

I've been avoiding the blog. I am not so in love with it any more, but I still have some random ideas floating around my noggin. Here are a few for tonight...mostly because I don't want to forget them next time I'm pregnant (if we're so blessed, Lord willing) Things that I've learned (and appreciated, big time) while pregnant:

Pregnancy stuff I love:

- Hollywood Beaty Cocoa Butter (see it here) - this is the same stuff I used at my mom's house and eventually found in the Post Exchange. My mom preferred Vitamin E oil, but I love how thick this is and that I feel like it's not soaking into my clothes. (my mom has zero stretch marks on her belly...it might just be genetic, but I'll take whatever I can get!)

- Bella Bands. I bought mine at the factory/outlet (e.g. they were tried on once…totally unnoticeable to me!) at doulashop.com. They come in tons of colors and you can even get them with lace. They look like a camisole sneaking out from your top, but they served me with a few great purposes. Early on, it covered my unbuttoned pants, so that I could delay buying maternity clothes. Later, it helped hold up maternity clothes that were way too big. As I continue to grow, it's nice to feel supported all over. I almost never use my white one, but my black one is vital. If I'm blessed with another baby in the future, I'll get a brown one to round out my wardrobe.

- Happiest Baby on the Block. I just watched this (at about the 6 month mark) and am amazed. It's not a long video, and I've seen a lot of the info before (Oprah?) but Netflix hooked me up with the film. Dr. Harvey Karp gives several great tips on calming fussy babies. I feel more confident knowing this is in my "kit bag" (to use an Army term)

- Ginger gum or chews. The Army hospital I frequent provided the gum, and I ordered spicy ginger apple chews from doulashop.com - and they were fantastic at calming my morning sickness! I never threw up from the nausea (although I did once or twice from migraines) since I immediately popped one of these in my mouth. (It also helped for me to take my vitamins immediately before bed intend of during the day)

- Clementines, peaches, apples; fruit strips, granola bars - e.g. anything portable, yummy, relatively healthy, and filling! I was already eating mini-meals or snacks during the day when I trained for my triathlon, but this definitely helped keep me energized.

- An online baby growth site. I use babycenter.com but there are plenty of them. It is fun to see how big Colin grows each week.

- Dr. Sears books - specifically the ones on Pregnancy, Breastfeeding, and Birth. My friend Karla shared these with me and I was thrilled! Actually, at first I was skeptical (maybe I was thinking of Dr. Spock?). I intend to go pretty natural, though (no epidural, exclusively breast-feeding for the first six months, cloth diapers) and these books gave me some great tools. A few takeaways I gleaned: go into labor and breastfeeding with a positive, can-do attitude. Don't feel like you can't do those things - you're made to do it! I also feel okay with changing the plan if I have to. If labor's not as smooth as I expect, I won't beat myself up about taking an epidural. (although, on the flip side, I intend to keep attempting to breastfeed unless a doctor tells me that it's useless - I don't want to give up too early!) These methods may not work for everyone, but I'm excited about them.

- Coupons from Old Navy and Gap. These folks have sales all the time via their email lists, and their maternity clothes aren't too expensive. It also helped for me to network with my other pregnant friends - I was clued into free slings and breastfeeding covers (only paid shipping - Seven Slings and Udder Covers, by the way), clothes sales, and LOTS of reviews of what was working and what wasn't.

Let's see…other things that were vital for me…

- I ran until I was about 18 weeks. I would've probably continued for longer if I wasn't working late hours and it hadn't gotten so dark and cold by the time I was off work. I completed a sprint triathlon at 6 weeks. This isn't be for everyone, but working out kept me sane. I did slow down considerably once I found out I was pregnant (for example, 10 minute miles instead of 8:45, no more biking on trails, etc.) but I felt healthy and baby continues to do well.

- I am learning to nap. It comes in waves for me - some weeks I need a nap (or two) every day, and some weeks I can press through without any. I used to be very averse to naps, as they gave me headaches, but I recognize now that I need them. Now that I'm not working, I anticipate many more Chappy Nappies. :)

- I'm getting ideas of what *I* want (or what Mr. Chappy and I want). For example, we're not big on "stuff" - and I firmly believe that babies don't require a lot. I never have liked the idea of an infant carseat and carrier, for example. I may later change my mind, but for now, I don't intend to use those strollers/travel systems but on using a sling instead. It's a personal choice, but it's something I've thought about for years. Same with cloth diapers - I want to use those instead of disposable ones. It's a personal decision but one I want to do. People are quick about nay-saying these decisions, because parenting involves not only a ton of big personal decisions, but also because every parent thinks his or her way is best. I'm working on letting these negative comments roll off my back :)

- I continue to make lists. Granted, I've made lists my whole life, but if I didn't make them while pregnant, I'd forget to screw my head on in the morning, as my high school calculus teacher used to say. For groceries my husband and I use the Blackberry application OurGroceries - it's free, and we can both update the list via our smartphones and it updates the other person's list automatically. This is great, for example, when I'm at the story and he remembers that we need Tostitos. I also desperately need lists to remember what questions I have for my doctor. Good thing I learned that one early!

- Drinking water. A lot. I think this is self-explanatory (and I'm glad I learned it earlier through running races) but still a good reminder. I had trouble drinking just water, but I was pretty tight on myself - I have pretty much entirely avoided caffeine (not that I consumed much before) and I didn't want to consume too many artificial sweeteners (again, I didn't use them much before - I'd rather stick to nature's goodness) but it still got old drinking water all the time. A splash of lemon juice helped, or I brought small bottles of juice to the office to keep myself drinking. It's not necessary to be as crazy as me, haha, but it's totally doable.

Ok, I'm finish with my rambling. Hopefully I'll remember this stuff next time around, thanks to jotting it down here, and maybe it'll help someone else. Happy 2011!

Just because

I think...

...it's incredible how much more work I can accomplish from home than from the office some days.

...ColdStone's Birthday Cake Remix is the best ice cream, hands-down. Apparently it saves well in the freezer too. :)

...Fig Newtons really do taste like dried figs. Until I ate dried figs (growing up I only ate them fresh off the tree) I didn't really understand where Newton got off calling his cookies fig cookies, but now I understand.

...I'm ready for the IronGirl triathlon to be over. It's time for a new goal! This one's exhausting! *laugh* I do believe yoga is the next activity in the chute.

...today in Colorado feels like most of the country apparently has felt all summer. Way too hot. (hence the ice cream, that did survive the freezer, but did not survive my spoon's reach)

...it's great that one of my security questions that pops up from the Army has to do with my childhood best friend. It always makes me smile to think of her. We have directly opposite political views, but otherwise if we were to meet today for the first time, I think we'd still become as great of friends as we did at 6 years old.

...my Reserve training makes me miss my stay-at-home days. Just a few months left in my current job and then back to that. My dad refers to that as my "eating bonbons and watching soap operas" gig (but I really do neither, believe me)

...I'm ready for some travels. Andileigh, get ready!

Men vs. Women

Gals...am I alone on this one?

My husband (and my temporary roommate - one of our close pals is staying with us before moving into his new house) has a remarkable way of forgetting things in the fridge and pantry, or simply not noticing them.

I cleaned things out when I returned from Chicago and found the following:

- two separate containers of cut-up limes (these boys are fond of Coronas)

- at least three items that had turned moldy and were in full view when the door was first opened

- the food that I'd left them, expecting them to eat? Still waiting to be cooked. (this one always baffles me...what does my husband eat when I'm not here?? I'm pretty sure it's all pizza and hot wings......please don't tell his mother!)

- leftovers from three weeks ago. I thought he said he "loved it" the first time. Hmm.

- four different bags of chips, opened (and some mostly ignored from a past camping trip...I chucked 'em)

Remarkable. :) What would they do without us women keeping them on track?

I do love my husband, and I wouldn't trade my friend George, either, but this one really made me laugh.

Also, we don't drink very often, but occasionally we do...so I decided it was time to take out the tequila and margarita mix that has been sitting completely untouched for 6 months and move it to a cabinet. The multiple bottles of wine? (because honestly we usually just want to taste it to see if we like it) Those are still lining the back of the fridge - I'll need to use them in a recipe soon...risotto? Anyway, it drove me a little crazy.

I'm ready for a clean fridge!

While I'm at it, I think I'm ready to move again, just so I can clear my whole house of things we don't really need.... :) The spring cleaning bug apparently caught up with me, finally!

[in retrospect, my husband probably wonders why I have 3 different types of shampoo, 2 facial lotions, 4 perfumes, and soooo many shoes and purses... Guess I should cut him some slack] ;)

Oh, that's right

Just a short thought from me...mostly because I have so many buzzing around in my head that it's hard to nail any of them down for long.

I've been bad this week - I have become so caught up in my thoughts and emotions and life that I've forgotten a few really big things. Like my prayer partner! I have a sticky on my desk at work, so usually I pray for her throughout the day, but not working (playing Reservist instead) I've been delinquent. I have a lot of built up prayers for her :)

I also have been anxious about a lot of things in my life. I am not so much a worry-wort as I am someone who overthinks a lot of things. This week has taken the cake.

I got a rush of calm today, though, when I remembered two of my favorite old verses.

For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.

- 2 Timothy 1:7

(Some other translations use "fear" instead of "timidity".)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

- Romans 8:28

As always, God knew just what I needed. Now let's see if I can commit these verses to my thoughts and actions!

Hope you're having the sort of week where God shows you He's in control too. I know I needed the reminder big time!

Daughters of the King

Last weekend I was blessed to participate in a Lock-In with the teen girls from the church youth group. A Lock-In is basically an organized slumber party, with food, activities, devotionals, etc.

Now, it's been 9 years since I graduated high school...being surrounded by teen girls was a surprising change of pace for me! First, these girls are loud. Not in a bad way, just that their chatter and laughter filled whatever room they were in. Second, these girls are insightful. Getting a glimpse at their hearts was such a blessing to me!

The focus of our devotional was purity. The two other adult planners, Brittney and Jen, and I offered a few different parts to this. I started with a devo that MY mom used when I was in the youth group. She had a vase full of roses and pulled one out. She touched its petals, smelled it, admired it thoroughly, and passed it around the room for each of us girls to do. After its trip around the room, she replaced it and asked each gal to pick their own rose. No one chose that sad rose that had been admired by everyone for its beauty and scent and soft feel. The girls in my group appreciated this too. Brittney then talked about outer purity - clothes and flirting and so forth, and Jen brought it home with inner purity - thinking of the young men in their lives as their brothers/Christian brothers and modesty as a source of power. We don't have any real issues with this topic that I know of - it was not a "targeted" lesson - but something we and the elders agreed was a pretty important topic for the age group.

Our next activity had to do with sharing kind things about each other. Each of us (even we "big kids") had an index card that we wrote our name on and then passed around the room for others to write nice things on. On the back we wrote, "I am a Daughter of the King" and then detailed in sentences things that had been written on the front. This exercise was so touching to me! The girls were so perceptive and loving towards each other and us. Some of the comments were downright funny, but others were really heartfelt. For someone who hasn't worked with this age of youth in awhile, it literally made me get teary-eyed to realize how much of a role model I could be (and had developed into through a course of getting to know these gals)

Lastly, we talked about prayer partners. Each teen girl is now paired with an adult woman in the congregation as a prayer partner - they pray for each other, get together when they can, and hopefully develop some good friendships and resources through it all! I'm excited about committing my gal's Christian walk to prayer. Her name is Tara - and I'd be happy if you said a prayer for her too! She's a beautiful young woman. One of the reasons I requested her is that she often is helping with the 2-3 year old Sunday School class or helping in the nursery or VBS. I remember always being involved with the little children growing up - and it grew into a love of babysitting and helping children. I think she has a similar heart.

I unfortunately had to leave our Lock-In early since I had Reserve drill early the next morning, but I wanted to share one of the recent happiest highlights of my week. I hope you have had a similarly wonderful week!

And on the topic of prayer partners - I'd love to know who you're praying for and join you in petitioning our Lord!

Religious Preference

I've been entering a lot of family data lately, and there's a sad trend I've noticed. One of the questions on the family data sheet asks what the Soldier and spouse's religious preferences are, and it then proceeds to ask what church they attend and who the minister is. This is all optional info, but it's helpful in case of an emergency (serious illness or death) to have the right folks available.

I have noticed time and time again how families will list something on the religious preference (Christian, Baptist, Catholic, Methodist, Lutheran, you name it) and then the next part is filled in with a "N/A" or "none" or something similar.

It breaks my heart, every time.

On the flip side, each time I see a sheet with both parts filled out, I jump with joy a little inside, regardless of the "flavor" of their faith. As I see it, they HAVE faith, and they PRACTICE it! Amen!

I hope I always can show the world that I love the Lord and am eternally grateful for the sacrifice of His Son.

I want my heavenly Father to jump with joy a little to know that His daughter down here is sticking with Him. :) Have a very happy week, friends.

Milestones

Tomorrow I mark another milestone on the calendar. It seems that the more I see these milestones, the more acutely aware I am of how I have changed and grown since the last passing. In general, I am happy to say, those changes have been positive and the growth significant.

This week I celebrated with simple pleasures - watching Jane Austen stories on film, running in the park, and realizing how important several of my closest friends have been, especially in the wake of people who have left me disappointed. Team Chappy headed to the mountains to surround ourselves with a bit of God's glory...I can think of few things more glorious to celebrate!

Tonight, I am less interested in celebrating than I am in praying. I have so many prayers on my heart. As a gift for this next milestone, perhaps you could send a prayer up as well.

- One of my dear friends is traveling across the country this week to reunite her children and her husband before he heads off to yet another deployment. She is incredibly strong - I pray that she realizes her own abilities but especially remembers the strength she's always found in God.

- Another sisterly friend is embarking soon on one of earth's greatest joys - marriage. I pray for health and happiness and faith for her and her beloved as they prepare for this. I pray for her beau's safety as he heads back to war, and for her brother as he likewise returns to combat.

- An old Army pal and his wife will welcome a bundle of joy tomorrow, starting a new set of milestones for their family. With this, their 4th daughter, they will certainly find new challenges and joys. I pray for their health and joy.

- Another friend we know from the past is struggling with a great deal of pain from the nature of the Army and war. This deployment isn't her first, but isn't easy, either. I pray that the time flies for these close friends of ours, so that they may be reunited. In the meantime, I pray for her to be surrounded by friends and happiness and God's love, to help ease the burdens she faces. She does so much for others, it's hard to see her hurting.

- Several family members (both naturally and practically family) are ill. Mr. Chappy's grandfather has been declining for years and is hardly himself. I saw my own grandfather, whom I was extremely close to, decline to the point I barely recognized him - so I know how hard this is on Mr. Chappy's mom and family. I pray for comfort.

- Likewise, one of the few men still alive who knew my mother's father is dying. 93-year-old Floyd attends church with us here in Colorado, and I was stunned when I found out he knew my grandfather's family back in the '20s...he and my great-aunt remembered going to school together. My mother's father died when she was 6 - so I have a hard time knowing that a man so faithful to God who has close ties to my family is ready to leave this world. It almost seems unfair...but with such a rich life, I simply pray for his peace. He's ready to join that angel band.

- A friend of Mr. Chappy's mom has been seriously ill this week with no known cause. I pray for his health and the wisdom of the doctors attending to him.

- Another friend of mine confided in me today that she thinks she has cancer. The doctors are continuing with a battery of tests, but the preliminary symptoms are honestly scary. She is a wonderful, truly giving woman, and her family is one of my favorites - her husband is one of the best people I've ever worked with. I pray for her to remain calm as the doctors examine these issues, and I pray that they swiftly and securely deal with whatever it is that's causing her so much pain.

- I pray for those who have recently miscarried - the sweet young couple back home, and the daughter of a church friend - who was 5 months along when she lost her child.

- I pray for my brother and his wife as they embark upon their first move with the Navy. I rejoice with the selection - I think they'll do great things in their next duty station and grow exponentially in their marriage...I pray that I'm right about all this :)

There are so many other prayers on my heart, but those are the big ones.

Thanks for your time, and your prayers. I'd better head to bed so I can get my beauty sleep! Have a very happy week, friends.