Welcome to the World

Ean Michael Kramer joined our family on March 12th at 12:34 pm. Weighing 6 pounds 15 ounces and measuring in at 20 1/4 inches... and the sweetest little bundle of baby you could imagine.

We kinda like him! *grin*

peace.

Michael, Abi and Ean

Order out of Chaos

• Slept in late. Love every other Saturday that my man doesn't have to work.

• Hubby made the bed... and beautifully.

• The porch got swept and cleaned. New folding chairs live there and are ready for any and all spring visitors.

• Pictures hang over baby K's crib.

• No piles.

• Dishes/Kitchen... all clean. Team effort. *heart my man*

• Sunbathing happens.

• Got to test the air conditioner in the car we took to Sam's Club (to obtain aforementioned chairs). Texas is warm.

• Michael gives daily pep talks to baby K. now... encouraging/urging him to come and meet us.

• Laughter and Love walk hand in hand.

Currently Reading, Listening and Watching

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller • I haven't finished yet, but I really cannot say anything about this book. You must read it yourself.


Lay Em Down by Need to Breathe • I first heard this song sung by a young(ish) man in our Bible study group after our Wednesday night discussion/meeting... and rather liked it. Need to Breathe does a very nice job and all, but there is always a part of me that longs for that simple hand clapping rhythm and the single baritone voice of that Wednesday night.


Random Harvest • This movie is unexpected. In many ways. And I would say... worth watching for that very reason!

Joys at Week 38

• The fact that it is week 38 ^_^

• On the odd chance I should catch sight of my feet I ignore my enormous ankles and admire my hubby's pedicurist skills... oh yes... he's amazing!

• A kick and a punch (though small can be slightly painful at times) let me know my little man is doing well.

• An enormous box of wildly colorful and delightful flowers from my mum!

• Packages full of goodies from all over the country... (I AM getting totally spoiled by the way ^_~)

• Sitting down/resting any time at all and not feeling a bit guilty.

• Little (and big) reminders of two lives soon changed by another i.e. a crib, a carseat (in MY car, peoples!!), an [already] orphan sock that fits nicely on Michael's big toe, those kicks and punches i mentioned earlier (imagine them aimed at YOUR bladder, ribs, or already bruised/loved tummy... *little sniffle of self pity*), a full set of drawers all his own (also such a reminder of how blessed we are, since we have bought very little and been given much!!), my own closet of lovely clothes has been narrowed down to a small drawers worth of things I can actually wear... etc, etc..

• My sister (the first of our March visitors) arrives in exactly a week! (color me ecstatic!!)

• The fact that our little man has a first name!... I'm sure you'd like to know and I'd like to tell you, but take comfort... you'll know it after he does! *grin*

• In my already narrowed closet, the clothes i can wear are narrowed even more because of the fact that although I have aprons and love to wear them, pregnancy makes them slip my mind and [almost] all my maternity shirts have stains at exactly counter/belly button level. Pretty classy folks... let me tell ya! (This counts as a joy, because I laugh about it!)

• The fact that my man puts my shoes on for me. (God gives grace.. I like to be so self sufficient, that absolutely not being able to do these things is very humbling and gives me more chances to appreciate and praise my wonderful wonderful husband who is so willing to serve!)

• My Michael. Who spells joy (and love, and blessing, and encouragement and everything) to me every day.

• Lotion! (Enough said.)

• The fact that although my body is a little more sluggish (I actually remind myself rather a lot of a beached whale... Michael doesn't like this comparison, but I think it fits!), my mind is as crazy as ever and I revel in it's pregnant absurdity through dreams, thoughts, doodles, plans, etc, etc..


Thought: etcetera comes in handy *grin*

Drink: water

Sound: rain pouring from the eaves outside my window

Feeling: pressure in an interesting area of my insides... and a growing pain in my lower back the longer i sit here... hair as it twirls between my fingers... hungry

A banana covered in peanut butter to the rescue!

Good Morning, World!

Abi

†

My "ankles" are the size of tree trunks.

It's been a very long (and very blessed) day!

Hubby is now massaging aforementioned tree trunks.

And I am blessed again.

†

February 2010 Artwork (So far...)

*heart*

Happy St. Valentines Day!

Abi

†

Books

The lofty bookshelves sag
Under thousands of sleeping souls
Silence, hopeful -
Everytime I open a book, a soul is awakened.

Xi Chuan, "Books"


FYI: I read/listened to more books the first month of this year than I did all last year!

Not sure if I should be proud of January or ashamed of 2009.

O_o

Abi

†

"Doing Nothing"

I think it's pretty safe to assume that for most of us, at some point in our childhood we had such a good time doing something (however mundane) that for the rest of our childhood and maybe the rest of our lives we are trying to recreate a part of that good/fun/exciting feeling we had while doing that certain activity...

Mine probably doesn't look like much to most people. I just remember one day my brother Michael and I (presumably after we had finished school for the day) decided to "do nothing"... which basically involved us talking (probably about the condition of our tree forts, or our next lego project, etc...) and walking around the poking things with sticks.

We certainly were not deprived children and did many wonderful and exciting things throughout the years at home, but I remember poignantly this "doing nothing"... we even discussed it after we were "done" doing it and realized what a good time we had had and sometimes we would even go out saying we were going to "do nothing" again, but somehow... it wasn't the same...

and may never be.

Wha?!

Wife, Mate, Mother, Me! • By Gayle Roper

Our proverbial (Proverbs 31) woman found her balance. Through her beautiful example we can begin to find ours.

• We are women - different but equal.
• We are wives - submissive but powerful.
• We are mothers - overwhelmed but ever hopeful.
• We are ourselves - bound but free.
• We are God's - sinners but forgiven children.

It's all in the balance.
______________________

AMEN!

I was greatly encouraged by this book. I recommend it to women at any stage in life.

Peace and love to you all!

Abi

†

A Fun Week

Art class tomorrow!

Abi

†

A Different Feel

Something a little different. though I seem to be stuck on trees ^_^

Love Tree

My Colors Awoke

*happiness*

Another Day

• Leftover chicken chili happens. Even better than the first time.

• New music fills my ears...

• 48º and rising. Will take a walk later.

• Got to see my man this morning, after he left for work! He accidentally left his tools in the back of my car so I had to take them to him. I like when this happens :-)

• I bought a potentially very ugly skirt this morning...

• Laundry WILL happen today. *determined*

• Also bought four skeins of yarn... I guess I plan on staying out of trouble...

• Baby K is active as ever.... but why always as soon as I get into bed?? *tired mommy*

• Received the gift of a fifty (or so) year old set of oil paints! O_o

Ok... laundry and Monsieur le Comte here I come!

peace and love.

Abi

†

Random Collection