Defining Moments of My Second Decade

t's hard to believe I've been on this Earth for 30 years. The last 10 years especially have felt like a lifetime of experiences. If you'd asked me before I turned 20 where I'd see myself at 30, you would have heard something far different and a bit grim. Thankfully, God has blessed me beyond measure, teaching me so much and giving me more than I could have imagined.

Without further ado, these are the major things that happened and what God taught me through each year of my 20s.

20: Listen to the Holy Spirit's Pull

There was one defining moment when I felt the Holy Spirit tell me 'no,' and I didn't listen. That led to a difficult 3-year relationship with many immediate and long-term consequences that took years to heal from. Because of that experience, and after the healing, I no longer recognize the person I once was. I won't regret the choice I made, however, because I saw—and still see—at least part of that relationship's purpose. I'm grateful God chose me to serve and bring him to Christ, even though I've since completely broken contact with him.

Trust in the LORD with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, And He shall direct your paths. - Proverbs 3:5-6

21: Life is Full of Hard Decisions and Mixed Results

Due to a number of things going on, I made a choice that had many consequences. It hurt numerous relationships, created a lot of friction in my soul, and left me feeling alone. Years 21-24 were definitely the darkest years of my life, and I'm glad God didn't give up on me. He protected me, walked with me out of that period, and helped me grow into the woman I am today.

You are my hiding place; you shall preserve me from trouble; you shall surround me with songs of deliverance - Psalm 32:7

22: Perseverance Pays Off When Relying on God

Despite very little sleep and food, I completed college in three years while working full-time or overtime. It was important for me to have very few loans and to create a niche degree that would help me stand out, much like the job I currently have. This was also the year I moved to the Seattle area with nothing lined up, but God provided exactly what I needed.

And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart. - Galatians 6:9

23: Healing is Hard But Worth It

I spent an entire year focusing on healing my soul from years of hurt and poor treatment from others. Through reading books on specific topics, much-needed biblical counseling, strong friendships, and confronting those who had deeply hurt me, I've learned to have a voice and speak up for myself. This journey has allowed me to minister to others in ways I never thought possible since that point.

He heals the brokenhearted and binds up their wounds - Psalm 147:3

24: Humility Even When Life Seems Unfair or Hard

I went on a missions trip to Liberia, which gave me a different perspective: my lifestyle—including a $20 monthly food budget, for example—made me seem rich compared to those in Liberia, even though in the U.S. I would be considered quite poor. It was exactly the perspective I needed before Covid changed the world.

Now godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out. And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content. But those who desire to be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and harmful lusts which drown men in destruction and perdition. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil, for which some have strayed from the faith in their greediness, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows. - 1 Timothy 6:6-10

25: Have a Plan but be Flexible for God

This was the year of COVID and getting married. While others struggled, this ended up being a complete 180 for me. I wasn't sure what God had in store, but there was a good chance I'd be homeless toward the end of the year, so I prayed for direction. I didn't feel the Holy Spirit pulling me in one direction or another, but I did feel a few choices emerge that were very much out of my comfort zone: buying a van to live in and travel the country, moving back home and getting my master's, and trying online dating. I thought online dating was the least likely and something I definitely didn't want to do, but I wasn't going to say 'no' to God. I'd learned that lesson and didn't want to repeat it. It turns out online dating was what worked, and I met Josh right before my 25th birthday, marrying him nine months later.

Commit your works to the Lord, and your thoughts will be established. - Proverbs 16:3

26: God's Timing is Perfect

I had been job searching for over three years and was very discouraged by not getting hired, despite reaching so many final interviews. However, God provided the perfect job for what we would need later in the year: Hyland Software hired me, and I started the day after I found out I was expecting Hailey. I feel my team looks past my relatively young age—I'm quite a bit younger than most—and values the experience I bring, treating me like the capable professional I've been since day one. They've also been incredibly flexible as I raise my child(ren) while working from home.

The Lord is good to those who wait for Him, to the soul who seeks Him. It is good that one should hope and wait quietly for the salvation of the Lord. - Lamentations 3:25-26

27: Surrender Control to God

This was the year we moved to Florida, a time when we prayed for wisdom, and also when we had Hailey. We didn't realize it until after she was born, but Hailey's name means 'Wise Little Mary.' It seems fitting that the year we fervently prayed for wisdom and peace during the major transition of moving away from family, Hailey's name perfectly reflected that.

Hailey's arrival has also taught me to surrender control to God. She made me wait extra long for her; her due date was moved 10 days past the original to one of her four other due dates, and she still arrived a week after that. Her labor was very hard and long. I'll never forget God using the midwife assistant who helped deliver Hailey to tell me to 'surrender' in that last hour before she was born. I was so exhausted and ready to quit after being in labor for 43 hours at that point, without the ability to sleep or eat.

Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. - 1 Peter 5:6-7

28: Contentment and Lamenting

With my first miscarriage, I learned how to be at peace and content with what God had currently blessed me with, while also celebrating with others who were able to carry and deliver their babies. With my second miscarriage, I learned how to lament the potential loss of a baby we were closely monitoring, as I received each call updating me on bloodwork and ultrasound results over a 6-week period.

And He said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My strength is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore most gladly I will rather boast in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in needs, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ’s sake. For when I am weak, then I am strong. - 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

29: God Always Provides No Matter What Happens

In this final year, we dealt with Josh losing his job and, just three days later, found out we were expecting Naomi, after two previous miscarriages. Despite Josh being jobless for most of the first trimester and the possibility of another miscarriage, God provided us with exactly what we needed. Josh now has a job that works even better for our family than his previous one, and Naomi, our 'Beautiful Gift from God,' was born perfectly for us. While I faced some health challenges at the beginning and end of that pregnancy, I've learned even more about my health. I continue to learn to the point where I've been feeling so much better these past five weeks after Naomi's birth than I have in years. For perspective, after Hailey was born, it took me nine months to a year to get back to my pre-Hailey weight, and then I immediately became pregnant again. After Naomi's birth, I've already returned to my previous weight (which is the same as my pre-Hailey weight) in about a month.

Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. - Isaiah 41:10

I look forward to what God has to teach me over this next decade and in the years that follow. I hope He uses me in amazing ways as He walks alongside me and my family.

His Plan is Always Perfect

As if this year has been not been hard for us already, God decided that we needed to be stretched more.

It has been a very busy summer (and then fall) for us. A lot has happened since I last posted in June, but I'll back up a little more to fill in some gaps before I get into the meat. This will get a bit science and health related. If you're not interested, feel free to skip to the section titled His Plan is Always Perfect. I think my PCOS friends might appreciate the findings I have in hopes that they can find healing as well. I am no doctor, but I'll always advocate for healthier living.

Listening, Reflecting, and Researching Health

The day before I found out I was pregnant in April before my latest loss, I heard someone share their experiences with their fertility struggles and how one of the tests they took was a gluten related test as they shared their testimony. That made me think of how my diet was before I was pregnant with Hailey and the start of my pregnancy with her. Before Hailey, I was struggling with some health concerns through my entire engagement and first 9 months of marriage with Josh, which is why I went gluten free. I figured out the partial cause of the biggest health concerns and thought that I resolved them about 6 months before I got pregnant with Hailey. I still stayed gluten free for a good portion of Hailey's pregnancy. It wasn't until I was encouraged to eat a little bit more when it comes to carbs and then after she was born that I stopped being gluten free. 

I'm not saying that being on gluten was the cause of both my miscarriages nor am I blaming myself for either, but going gluten free has been a healthier lifestyle that has made me feel better. A lot of people don't realize that when you become gluten free, it takes gluten about a month or so to have it completely removed from of your system. You might feel better but underlying issues might still be seen. Unfortunately, if this was at all a cause or factor in my miscarriage, I found out too late.

After my miscarriage in early June, we worked with a fertility clinic to make sure everything with our genes aren't the problem. Thankfully, I carry no genes that would cause miscarriages (which also meant Josh was in the clear) but we didn't get too many answers other than that. While going through testing, I kept reading and watching information about people with PCOS symptoms and how it's becoming more common with little known reason for why more women are dealing with these issues. After research, I learned that more recently it was understood that PCOS has been showing more of an insulin resistance response, which continued to prove my theory that gluten can be the cause of my infertility lately. I also follow a couple where the husband who helped reverse the wife's PCOS through cooking her meals that were gluten free and dairy free. Now they have 2 beautiful daughters, which is very inspiring. Although I am not dairy free yet, I already noticed going gluten free started reversing some previous pre-pregnancy symptoms that were even better than before Hailey so it made me think that I should be treating my body like it deals with PCOS symptoms.

His Plan is Always Perfect

If you stuck with me through the research rabbit trail and discoveries I made in the summer, I'm glad you stuck around. However, if you skipped ahead to here, I'm still glad you stayed because you get to hear what's been happening lately. There is still a little bit of medical talk but it's important to this part of the story.

The rest of the summer was pretty busy with working with a fertility clinic (mentioned in the last paragraph of the section above) and seeing things checking out in the event that there is a cause genetically. After checking all the boxes and given a clean bill of health in the genetic department on my side, the plan was for me to do a hybrid IUI treatment, which was daily blood thinner injections and then progesterone supplementation once I was pregnant. Although the daily blood thinner injections seemed uncomfortable, I was willing to go through it because we feel like God has been calling us to grow our family.

We were told that we'd start treatment once my next cycle started but I ended up finding out I was pregnant again before that at the beginning of September. Thankfully, we skipped the pre-pregnancy blood thinner injections (to provide more blood flow to the baby) and went straight into it along with a high dosage of progesterone supplementation because my body definitely needs help with progesterone.

Unfortunately, 3 days before finding out we were pregnant, Josh's company told him that they were laying him off and he would be unemployed at the start of November, which means we would also lose our health insurance at the end of November. It was definitely a lot of mixed feelings for both of us. Fear. Excitement. Frustration. Joy. The timing for both to happen at the same time weren't great, especially since we were expecting to have my sister living with us a few weeks later, but we were trusting that God will take care of all of us.

But God used both our situations to support each other. While I struggled with doubts that this baby will make it, Josh made sure to continuously encourage me and support me with the extra maintenance it required to give this baby the best chance it could have. While Josh grappled job loss and feeling betrayed by the company he supported for over 6 years, I was able to reassure him that God has something much better planned as he was already considering job hunting for the last 6 months.

We were purposely looking for the blessings amongst what felt like chaos. Melanie has been a blessing to have around as she has been really great at helping around the house but especially helpful loving on Hailey when I struggle with the energy to do very much since I've been on a high progesterone dosage. At around 6 weeks, we confirmed that there was an embryo. At around 7-8 weeks, we heard the heartbeat (bringing me nearly to tears) but we knew we weren't out of the woods yet, but having that heartbeat was a HUGE milestone for us.

I'll be officially 14 weeks on Monday, which means we made it to the second trimester! I've already graduated from the blood thinner injections and I have been working on weaning my body off the progesterone and should be off it completely in the beginning of December. I'm slowly getting energy back and look forward to feeling more normal. We also got to see our baby again a few days ago because he/she is great at playing hide and seek and refused to allow the midwives to get his/her heartbeat. This little one made us laugh because he/she is just as wiggly as much (if not more) than Hailey was. Plus, he/she has an obsession with his/her hands like big sister.

Soon after we heard the heartbeat, I ordered this onesie as the going home onesie for this little one. I felt it was the most appropriate because although this year has been hard for us and we may not know why we're going through everything that we have, God's plan is perfect and He deserves all the glory here.

This little one should be joining our crew in May 2025.

Lifting Up Lamentations

What is Lamenting?

Lament: A prayer expressing sorrow, pain, or confusion

Lamenting is not something talked about very much in the church despite there being an entire book in the Bible called Lamentations. I've grown up in the church and I don't even think I've ever done a sermon series in Lamentations. Job lamented. David lamented. Even Jesus lamented.

It has always felt like lamenting is not something that's seen as acceptable in the Church because it's often seen as not trusting God. I've even heard similar things said in the Christian community. I think to a certain level that's true but it's dangerous to not bring that pain, sorrow, and confusion to God even if it means tear stains on your cheeks. There have been points in my life in the past where lamenting would have been the healing I needed instead of feeling like I had to bottle up the sorrow, pain, and confusion because it felt like people would see it as not trusting God.

Lifting Up Lamentations

For me, I didn't truly understand lamenting until the past couple of months...

We found out in the first week of April that I was pregnant again. We weren't sure how far along I was, but we called the birthing center immediately since I had a miscarriage only 3 months prior. I was neither scared nor excited. I don't know exactly how to describe how I was feeling but I was very much erring on the side of caution, especially since this pregnancy felt off to me from the beginning. I guess you could call it mother's intuition.

We got a few orders of bloodwork, an ultrasound, and an appointment. Before our appointment, my bloodwork showed that my progesterone was low, which is often an indicator that I could miscarry. Without knowing what my progesterone was like in the initial pregnancies with both Hailey and my last miscarriage, we believed it was possible that my body normally functions on low progesterone and needed a little assistance of progesterone supplementation.

We were told that a recurrent miscarriage is also unlikely because most people tend to have a healthy pregnancy even after having a miscarriage, and I know many in that boat. Unfortunately, I was not.

Throughout all of April and May, I'd get a call from the midwives about 1-3 times a week updating me about the bloodwork or ultrasound results. Thankfully, I had about a half hour jump on seeing the results so I had time to prepare for their expert opinion. The best news I ever got was neutral and that didn't happen very often, and being asked if I feel pregnancy symptoms was honestly devastating, especially since this pregnancy had been pretty brutal on me from the beginning this time around. I knew the answer to the question and I was sad to admit that I was feeling less pregnant as each day went by.

Of course, I'd get these calls at the beginning of the work day so I've had to quickly learn how to let the news sink in, update Josh, and then lament in prayer before having to join a work meeting 10 minutes to an hour after finding out the news and acting like everything is going great.

The prayer I distinctly remember most and repeated often was, "I don't know why I'm going through this heartbreak again, but I know ultimately this child is Yours and I am a steward of this soul until you take him or her home. I will do everything to care and love on this child well while he or she is in my care." It was very freeing and helped me go through the grieving process this time around. I felt prepared for what was to come next whatever that ended up being.

After about 8 weeks of this new routine and seeing the obvious signs in my fourth/final ultrasound that our baby hasn't grown since the previous ultrasound a week prior, I knew what news the midwife would share over Memorial Day weekend. I was going to most likely lose my baby soon after getting off the progesterone supplementation I was on for 6 weeks. I chose to miscarry naturally and miscarried this baby a little over a week later. Instead of dwelling what I couldn't change or control, I focused my energy on what I currently had in the moment: God, my husband, my daughter, my church, and my job.

Healing from Another Loss

Although I'm sad I won't meet this baby on Earth as well, I'm grateful for the peace and comfort God has given me in this valley. For those who knew about this loss, we've felt very supported even though not much can really make this better other than prayer for healing. Even though I've had to fight off questions/statements blaming myself internally for not being able to carry these babies, I know I have done everything I possibly could to steward them well during my time with them. It's a daily reminder as I know God has a purpose for both losses and I don't know why yet, but I'm open to what He has in store for me and my family.

Pretty recently, Josh and I have become youth leaders at our church (Who thought that was a good idea?) But we seriously love it and can see the impact we're already having in just a few months. In my last small group time with my 7th and 8th grade girls, I have been able to explain lamenting (without sharing my own current circumstances) when I was asked a hard question from one of my youth girls about why bad things happen in this world. I gave them reasons why, but felt lead to explain that God wants you to bring up the things that cause pain, sadness, or confusion to Him. I told them that it's called lamenting and that's totally okay. I could tell there was some comfort and understanding in the room that God is right there with them no matter what they go through and I hope they take that simple explanation and apply that in their lives.

Before I finish off I wanted to add a song (and a picture below) that was sung as the last worship song about an hour before I got the official news from the midwife that this baby will most likely pass. Although tears rolled down my face (thankfully it was dark in the sanctuary during worship so few can see) while we sang this, it gave me a lot of comfort with the promises God has for me and my family as He has already so much for me so far.

After posting this on my blog and not sharing the link right away (it just didn't feel like it was time yet), we saw a double rainbow on the way home from the beach later this month (first one I've seen in a long while) and it was such a comfort. As God has shown Noah the rainbow as a promise, it felt like this double rainbow was very intentional and is a promise to me that He has everything under control and that I can trust in Him.

Walking Alongside Grief

It's been over a year since I've last posted and it's because it has been a crazy full year. I've finally had time off from work where I didn't have anything going on since maternity leave in January last year. As I've shared this before, I use this space to write what's on my mind, what God has been teaching me, and to help me sort out what I'm going through at the current time.

Unexpected Loss

Right now I'm/we're in a season of grieving while trying to find the joys through the grief.

A day after Hailey's first birthday, we found out that we were expecting our second. We were excited and looked forward to adding to our family in August 2024. We scheduled my first prenatal appointment at the birthing center (where we had Hailey) for early January once we returned from Washington after the holidays.

Fast forward a few weeks later, I was about 8 weeks so I was pretty safe since having a miscarriage was at a 1.5% chance. I was very much looking forward to getting out of my first trimester, which was the hardest part for me with Hailey's pregnancy. My heart hurt for those who had a miscarriage, but I never thought that miscarriage would happen to me (especially after having Hailey who was my first pregnancy) until it did. A couple days into our Washington trip, I knew something wasn't right and I ended up going to the ER for a few hours as I went through the worst of it. When I got the diagnosis, I was told that "You did all the right things, but these things just happen." Knowing this did little to stop the hurting in my heart and mind as I left the ER.

Despite how awful this experience was, I thank God the process of losing our baby was fast because I know some people have to endure through this process for a couple of weeks. I thank God for Josh's family who was able to take Hailey to the Christmas Eve service while we focused on taking care of my health. I'm thankful for the few family and friends who knew about what was going on and have been by our side (in person and virtually) making sure I was okay in those first few days (and beyond). I'm thankful God distracted me in the initial few weeks where He helped me stay busy caring for a sick Hailey the first week and working until both Josh and I can take off work at the same. I'm thankful that God gave us the entire week last week together to relax and process our grief appropriately.

Grieving in a Season of Joy

Since having the miscarriage, my body has bounced back pretty quickly and I have been fairly okay with keeping it together, only when I'm prepared to hear or see it. About 16 hours after I had my miscarriage, the Christmas Eve celebrations started and I knew staying back wouldn't be good for my mental health albeit a little tired and out of it. The ER doctor told us we could go but beware of any symptoms. At one of the gatherings, I knew that I'd see two very pregnant women at a family Christmas party, but I managed to keep it together and was able to have really uplifting conversations with them while sharing the joy they have coming their way as children are truly the best gifts from God.

Grief hits me like a train when I least expect it. Now that the holidays are over and normal life can start again, we tried to get back to what has become previously routine for us. One of those things is our Tuesday night Bible Study, and it's full of married couples in their 20's and 30's. As you would guess, many of these couples have kids while there are some that don't. It's been a really supportive group and we have enjoyed being plugged in. In typical fashion, before starting the material, we share prayer requests. We sat next to our church's pastor who leads our group so that meant we would go first, which I think was no coincidence. I felt the Lord prompting me not to share the news of losing our baby over Christmas break, and I think it was because the couple next to us needed the space to share that they were expecting their second and were about 12 weeks (I would've been about 1 week shy of that with our second). I sat in my chair for maybe 15-30 seconds trying to hold it together before I realized I was going to burst into tears. So before the tears came, I quickly and quietly got up from my chair and made it to the bathroom so I can allow myself the space I needed to grieve.

After Bible Study was over and before I left the building, I apologized to the mom for walking out after she just shared their great news. About 5 minutes later, another mom found out the news while Josh, her husband, and I were talking. She shared that she had gone through multiple miscarriages (but has healthy beautiful kids herself) in the past and noticed that I apologized for walking out and told me that I shouldn't be sorry for allowing myself to grieve during a time where people expect joy.

Don't get me wrong. I am finding joy in the grief and sorrow, but I'm learning it's okay to grieve and the balance between grief and joy in this season. I'm excited and joyful for the friends who are having healthy pregnancies as I know quite a few mommas-to-be, and I don't want people to be afraid to share their joy with me. Just don't be surprised if I need a few minutes to myself as I give myself the space to grieve even if I remove my presence for those few minutes. I'll come back and be genuinely excited for you as I talk to you about your baby.

Bringing Awareness for Those who Miscarry

As someone who has gone through grief in different stages of my life, I think there isn't enough awareness on how to handle this kind of loss and there doesn't seem to be a safe enough space to share this, which is why I think women quietly suffer in their loss while trying to protect others in the process. I think a lot of people don't know how to respond and say, "I'm sorry for your loss." I'm guilty of that or just being silent. Now coming from the other side of it, it personally hurts more sometimes to hear this because I feel bad for sharing what I'm going through and now I wish I protected you from my grief. 

In those moments, sometimes it's that hug, phone call, a meal offered, or time away from daily life (such as talking over coffee/tea), but it's especially Godly wisdom that needs to be reiterated, that helps heal that pain. I think it comes down to helping the woman know that they are seen and not focus on what they lost but help them see life's blessings while also still not forgetting that little one.

A Month of Walking Alongside Grief

Most of my days have been good, but I do have some where I am feeling grief's rollercoaster. It's forced me to learn how to allow others to know what I'm going through so that they can support me in this season. As our church is doing a sermon series on how we're anchored for eternity, it reminded me of the tattoo I have on my ankle that says, "You are the anchor for my soul" (Hebrews 6:19). It's a great reminder that Christ continues to ground me to this day even though this tattoo is 9 or 10 years old. Because of knowing this, I won't let grief swallow me like it has in the past or distract myself so I never face it and it ends up buried. I am walking alongside it instead as I allow God to guide me and heal my heart and mind.

December 23rd will probably be a hard day for me for a while, but I know I will never forget this baby that we never got to meet and will share one day with Hailey and any other future children we have that they have a brother or sister with the Lord watching over us until God chooses when we're to go home.

I also know God is using this for good even though it doesn't feel like it right now. God will probably call me to be that friend who offers that hug, chat over coffee/tea, a meal, and/or Godly wisdom when someone shares hard news with me. But right now, I'll allow my heart and mind to heal.

Here's a song that came on Spotify pretty recently that has stuck out to me and has brought me some peace during this season of grieving. It feels very fitting since it sounds like a lullaby you would sing a baby to sleep.

Reflection of 2022

This was a year I was a lot of changes but there was so much more change (mostly for the good) that we weren't expecting. I found greatness in ways I wasn't expecting.

This year was a pretty difficult year, but overall it was full of so much joy and perseverance. Here are the highlights:

• January - I really started to feel back to normal and stopped having frequent migraines after figuring out what was causing them and other health issues.
• February - I almost lost my dad to a pulmonary embolism but I'm grateful for the doctor's wisdom in making sure he got the care he needed. This year would have turned out very differently if we lost him, and I'm so very grateful that he's still around, especially since he's become a Pop-pop to my little girl.
• March - We had a lot to celebrate in March
• 
  
  Josh and I celebrated our first anniversary. It was pretty low key but we always have a great time with each other and somehow not want to kill each other since we both work all day in the same room.
• After 3 years of job hunting, I got hired by a software company in Ohio called Hyland. This was a change I was hoping for but wasn't expecting since I was interviewing for so long and made it to so many final interviews. I feel extremely valued, doubled my previous income to be at industry standards, and have the work-life balance I needed not only at the time but also for the future of my family. 
• We found out we were expecting our little Hailey a day before I started at Hyland, which seemed like uncanny timing since I knew working at my previous job didn't provide the greatest income or work-life balance.
• April/May - We road tripped to Arizona/Utah for a houseboat trip, which was an interesting experience, especially while in my first trimester and dealing with all the symptoms.
• June - I went back to North Carolina to celebrate Esther's wedding, which was a fun time and I missed her so much. It's so fun being mommas together to our little girls.
• July - We found out that we were having a girl. she showed a strong personality that we get to see more each day now. We also got to celebrate her upcoming arrival with a baby shower that we combined it with a goodbye party since we would move to Florida a couple of weeks later.  
• August - We moved to Florida for the journey to setting roots for our growing family. After this trip, I was able to mark off more states I've visited, and now I've been to 42 states.
• September - We visited Pennsylvania to visit my family and to celebrate my sister's Sweet 16 as well as little Hailey who's expected to show up a couple of months later. Little Hailey has also traveled 18 states in tandem with me.
• October - I joined a women's Bible Study and started a friendship with someone who relates pretty well with me. It had been a while since I've found a Bible Study, especially with one that challenges me. The lesson material made me feel so much more equipped to be a mom and an even better wife, daughter, sister, and friend.
• November - God made us be extra patient since Hailey decided she didn't want to show up when she was expected. Much to my disappointment and desire to have her in our arms.
• December - I feel like this entire year was a build up to Hailey's arrival. I had gone through several lessons that have given me the peace and strength I needed to give birth to her. We weren't sure if our plan to give birth at the birthing center would happen, but it did and it was one of the most empowering experience. Being able to give birth unmedicated after 44 hours of labor without sleep is the hardest thing I've physically had to endure. If I had to do it again over, I would 1000% do it. 

I don't have many expectations for 2023, but I know it'll be full of learning how to be the mom Hailey needs me to be as well as opportunities to see friends and family that we don't get to see.

So with that being said, bring it on 2023!

Enjoy the highlights of this year through pictures

My Birth Experience with Hailey

When a mom is expecting their first baby, they have no idea what labor actual looks and feels like, but they definitely think about it. A lot of soon-to-be moms are scared when it comes to labor because it's painful and a lot of work on their bodies.

My birth with Hailey probably be labeled as traumatic since it was 44 hours of unmedicated labor with no sleep. I had some plans of things I wanted to do with my labor and delivery with Hailey and a lot didn't go as I planned, but where it counted it did go as planned.

Before Hailey was born, there was concern about my platelet levels. They were fairly low in my last trimester. About a week before she was born, my platelet levels hit the bare minimum level for the birthing center to be comfortable having me give birth there since the risk of me hemorrhaging was very high. They did say they had Pitocin in case I do hemorrhage, but I need to be above 100. I got bloodwork done a couple of days later (the Thursday before she was born) after taking a prescription iron supplement in addition to the platelet level increasing juice concoction I'd been taking for a couple of months that was keeping my levels at bay. The results ended up being inconclusive because of it coagulating.

On the following Saturday at 4am, I started to go into labor, but it was difficult to tell. I didn't know what to expect when it came to labor pains or what exactly it would look like for me. I had a lot of prodromal labor where I'd get very nauseous in the beginning of November so I didn't want to get too excited. However, the pain was more intense than the prodromal labor. I spent the day counting time between contractions and distracting myself. We took my in-laws to a cute downtown area that was having a Christmas market. After we got home, the contractions never became consistent so I waited it out longer.

After about 16 hours of labor, I called the midwife line and the midwife on call thought it was too soon for me to come in since I'm a first time mom and it's normal for early labor to last this long or longer. I called another time in the middle of the night since I was getting no sleep and she told me to wait until the contractions were more consistent. I was told that the midwife for the next shift will show up at 8am so I tried to get more sleep but couldn't since the pain was pretty intense and had been the same intensity since the beginning.

I called the midwife line and the midwife I was hoping to get was the one who picked up the phone. I explained that I had been in labor for 28 hours already and couldn't get any sleep and couldn't keep any protein down. She prescribed me some medicine to help with both and advised me to take a bath before coming in at 2:30 that afternoon.

Josh and I weren't sure whether we'd be coming back or not. We were more in the camp that we'd be coming back home, but we already had our car packed weeks before already. The midwife checked me and said that I was 7cm and that Hailey was turning herself, which is why I was having prodromal-like labor. She also told me the baby should be born that day.

We followed her instructions and planned to go get some castor oil and orange juice as well as protein (Jersey Mike's was my request) to eat after the birth. Right as we were getting in the car, the midwife requested to get a blood draw for my platelet levels since the previous results didn't give results and there was still a chance I would need to go to the hospital even after giving birth. As my blood was getting drawn, the Lab Corp guy was picking up samples so we had to flag him down before he left. Quite comical despite how much pain I was in. Once that was over, we went to the grocery store, Jersey Mike's, and the mall to walk and drink the castor oil in the orange juice.

After an hour, we returned to the birthing center and went through the last of my labor. I finally started having more consistent contractions once my water broke as I hit transitional labor, which lasted 45 minutes and finally got even more painful. Despite having a high pain tolerance and able to go through all the early labor pain and still being very functional, transitional labor was not something I was expecting. The midwife's assistant noticed how I was reacting to it and advised that I needed to surrender, and I took that as I needed to surrender everything to God because I was trying to take control, which was making it more difficult for me.

That definitely made it so much easier, especially with Josh being the support I needed. I had Josh get the midwife and her assistant when I was ready to push. I was already 42-43 hours into labor at this point and I was beyond exhausted. I think the only things keeping me from giving up was my stubbornness with the fact that I didn't want a hospital birth and the strength God was giving me.

While I was in the process of pushing a couple things happened, first the results from my bloodwork showed up moments before Hailey was finally delivered into the world, which was not helpful but we were all relieved with the results. Thankfully, my levels went up to 110, but we had Pitocin on hand because I did end up hemorrhaging but it was manageable. The second thing that happened was there was another mom who decided to wait to come to the birthing center until she was pretty much ready to push. We jokingly all said that it's a race to see who would deliver first. I won apparently but she showed up minutes after I gave birth to Hailey. Because this mom showed up, it gave Josh and I special time with Hailey as we marveled at the beautiful work God created through our daughter.

I had my answers as to why Hailey wasn't coming when we thought she should have and why I was dealing with prodromal labor for so long. My body was trying to turn Hailey for an entire month and move her to where she needed to be, but was really struggling. Her cord was super short and it made it difficult for the both of us.

It was pretty obvious that Hailey was born pretty late compared to when she should have been born. She definitely showed signs of it, such as skin that was peeling (perfectly fine though since her newborn skin would show up soon after) and long fingernails that already needed to be clipped. We're just happy she is here and doing so well.

After everything was said and done, Josh asked me if I would do the birthing center and unmedicated labor route again. My response without hesitation is "Most definitely." God has given me a body that can do this and was really empowering despite how exhausted I was. The care I got at the birthing center was amazing and I felt very valued there.

The Meaning Behind Hailey Marissa's Name

When we came up with our daughter's name, it wasn't easy for us initially to pinpoint a girl name we both liked. Josh liked more common names while I liked more classic names. We had probably had 3 names that we could go with for a girl but had double that many for a boy.

Before we found out that we were having a girl, we had a girl name and boy name ready for whoever God decided to have us be parents to. I (and many family members on both sides) was pretty sure we were having a boy, but we ended up having a girl. The moment I saw her on the anatomy scan I fell in love with my little girl. She already showed quite the personality and always made us laugh at every appointment. That has definitely translated to how she interacts in the outside world. I'll just say she has some strong preferences and is very strong for someone so small.

The name we chose for our daughter is Hailey Marissa. I didn't look at the translations of her name until after we made the decision for her name. For her first name, it just seemed like it was a God thing because the Irish translation of her name means "Wise One." Wisdom is something that Josh and I have prayed for from the day we met each other and in almost every decision we make. From big decisions (getting married, when to have kids, and moving to Florida) to smaller decisions, we wanted to be led by faith then by selfish desires. God has blessed us immensely through this despite some of the trials we've gone through.

Having Hailey is a great reminder of how we need to be wise with how we act and say whether we're around her or not and I think it's by no accident that we chose a name that means "Wise" for our daughter.

Now for her middle name. Normally, on my mom's side of the family, all the women have names that start with "M." As you notice, we decided that Hailey's first name will not start with an "M" because there are too many people with "M" names in both my family and Josh's family. Instead, her middle name starts with an "M" and it's extra special because we named her after both our moms who are very special to us. I've heard that Marissa has many meanings, but my favorites are either the Egyptian meaning for "Beloved" or Latin for "Little Mary." Hailey has been beloved the moment we found out that she was going to be part of our family (and the moment God knew she would exist in this world) and we love her more and more each day. Also, I find it funny because I go by Mary to certain groups of people so if my daughter ends up being anything like me, I hope it's the best parts.

So there you have it. Hailey's name is special as she is very special to us. We hope she learns to be wise and knows how beloved she is.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 17 - Tree of Life Birthing Center and Midwives

It seemed fitting that today be given to the Tree of Life Birthing Center and the midwives that work there. Today is my due date and baby girl hasn't arrived yet, but the midwives have been really great to help educate my husband and I on everything for our daughter coming soon. They've been really focusing on whole health for both the baby and me using more natural methods, such as vitamins and diet. Plus, I'll be able to go home same day and have my baby by my side the entire time. From having low platelet levels and stabilizing them to getting us equipped with knowledge for when the baby does come, I'm grateful that I get to have been given this experience.

Even though my daughter managed to get herself stuck on my right side (preventing her from being born) whether out of stubbornness or accident, I've been given some exercises that should get her to move naturally in the position she needs to be so that we can finally meet her. It's only a matter of time before she'll make her appearance and all 3 of us can be home getting rest and plenty of snuggles.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 16 - My Job

Day 16 goes to my job as an instructional designer. Being an instructional designer is probably the best fit for me when it comes to work. The job is unique because I get to teach without having to do it in person. I may not see the immediate results but I know the things I create have a huge impact on those who take the training. I find that working for a global company in the software industry has been a challenge that I thrive in. As an instructional designer, I wear many hats and I'm always learning new ways to best represent information using images, cartoons, quizzes, and even games.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 15 - My Company

Day 15 goes to my company, Hyland. God has really blessed me with Hyland. It was exactly what we needed for my mental health, work-life balance, and for our growing family. The team I work with are really great and my boss trusts my judgement with my work. The fact that I can take 8 weeks of maternity leave is a blessing that I'm very grateful I'll get to use very soon.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 14 - Josh's Family

Day 14 goes to Josh's family. After meeting Josh, they accepted me in their family very quickly and it was a good fit. It's always a blast hanging out with them and teasing each one of them. I'm grateful that God put them in my life and I get to be a part of their family. Moving to Florida was hard leaving them but we look forward to at least seeing Josh's parents in a couple of weeks.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 13 - My Aunts, Uncles, and Cousins

Day 13 goes to all my aunts, uncles, and cousins. I have been blessed to have a large family that is pretty close knit. It's always a blast getting to spend time with each of them when we get to visit. Holidays have always been my favorite and I look forward to being able to celebrate with my family in the future with our little one.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 12 - My Grandparents

Day 12 goes to my grandparents. I've grown up only knowing what it's like to have only two grandparents and it has always seemed foreign to me thinking that I could have four, but my Mom-mom and Pop-Pop have easily made up for that with their love, care, and the things they have taught me over the years. Because of what they taught me, I can sew, garden, find ways to make an extra income, do small maintenance on my car, and have another great example of a Godly marriage. When it comes to grandparents, I have the best you can get! I look forward to giving them their first great-grandchild hopefully this week.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 11 - Modern Medicine

I thought modern medicine (that I'm currently allowed to take being pregnant) would be fitting for today because yesterday I woke up what I thought was a cold, but it turned out to be the flu by the afternoon. I also hit 39 weeks in my pregnancy so it wasn't the most opportune time for me to get the flu since I can go into labor at any point.

Although I was very achy and weak with a fever and a pounding headache yesterday, I was able to eventually get the sleep I need and control some of the symptoms so that I feel a million times better today. I can tell baby was also conserving energy, too, since she was being less active and allowing me to get the rest I needed in order for me to gain the energy I'll need to deliver her. I can tell my body is still a little tired from working hard to fight off this illness, but I'm grateful that I was able to break my fever overnight and the worst of the symptoms have gone away.

I have a feeling that I'll feel almost back to my normal self by the end of the weekend and I think baby will follow suit in being ready to make her appearance not too long after that.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 10 - My Sister

Day 10 goes to my sister. I'm thankful for my little sister, Mel. My sister has been a great blessing to my life. She has taught me so much in the 16 years that she's been around. She is fun to be around, very sassy and smart (sometimes it's scary how sassy and smart she is), and seems to do everything I did at her age but better. I'm so happy I was able to celebrate her sweet sixteen with her before she becomes an aunt. I'm excited to see where God takes you next since you've been doing quite a lot the past year or so.

I love you, Mel! Thanks for being the sister I never knew I needed in my life.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 9 - My Brother

Day 9 goes to my brother, Sam. Sam and I might not have gotten along very well growing up, but now it's pretty fun any time I get to hang out with you. You're funny, willing to help, and driven once you have a plan. You're also very good at keeping me on your feet since you have a knack for teasing those closest to you.

I'm excited to see where life takes you next as I've seen some really big life changes you've made this year. It's been a joy watching you pursue something you're really passionate about this past year and figuring out how you plan to make it work. I look forward to seeing you pursue your dream of international business and making the strides to get there.

I love you, Sambo! Thanks for being the brother you are, and I know you will be an awesome uncle to my daughter. You get the favorite uncle award by default, but I think it'll be pretty clear that she'll love you very much since you're good with kids and know how to make everyone around you laugh and have a good time.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 8 - The United States and My Rights

Day 8 goes to the country I live in and the rights I have. I'm thankful for a country that has given us freedoms in we are allowed to exercise, such as voting, and has written documentation created to protect those freedoms. Even though it seems like some are trying to take those rights away, there are still many who continue to fight so that US citizens can keep our rights. I'm also very grateful for those who fight for those freedoms that I take for granted every day.

30 Days of Thankfulness: Day 7 - My Dad

Day 7 goes to my dad. I'm thankful for my dad. My dad has encouraged me to do my best for God's glory in all I do. From my hobbies of reading and playing board games to my career as a mix of writer, designer, and teacher, I can see how my dad has been such an influence on me. But nothing tops your hugs and your jokes! I'm excited how you will grow into being a Pop-pop for my little girl. I think it might become one of your favorite roles.

I love you, Dad! Thanks for being a great dad and mentor. Just like mom, I wouldn't have turned out to be the person I am without you.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 6: My Church

Since today is Sunday, I thought today would be a good day to make the church we've been attending the last 3 months as Day 6. Once we first moved into Orlando area, it was really important to us to find a church that was a strong Bible teaching church that allowed us to connect as well as for any kids we do.

I discovered Discovery Church almost immediately after moving and we have been so encouraged and challenged by the pastors' teachings. We happened to start attending the first week they were "advertising" their groups to allow others to get connected, which was definitely something we both prayed we'd find in the church. Because I was already in my third trimester, it was important for me to get connected more quickly so I was able to join an evening women's Bible study group. The study we just finished has continued to be encouragement to me and allow me to feel more prepared for being a mom soon since it reaffirmed how God made women special with very specific roles that fit His purposes. We look forward to each Sunday and what the Lord uses in these messages to teach us more about Him.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 5: My Mom

Day 5 goes to my mom. I'm so very thankful for my mom. My mom and I used to butt heads a lot while I was growing up, but her kindness, gentleness, and servant's heart have always stuck with me. She has been such a great example of the wife I wanted to become and the mother I hope to be to my daughter and other future children.

She's one of my best friends after I started living on my own. I enjoy all of the conversations we have and the photos of the funny cats she sends. I look forward to having her visit and getting to meet her granddaughter as we share the joys of being mothers together.

I love you, Momma! Thanks for being a great mom and friend. I wouldn't have turned out to be the person I am without you.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 4: Healing

I feel like Day 2 (Esther) and Day 3 (Josh) were God's way to lead to me to the healing I needed in the last 5 years.

I was talking with Josh the other day and he mentioned to me that the smile that he sees on my face and how I carry myself is so different than when we first met. He further explained that the person he met over 2 years ago was a little broken who was still healing from some deep hurt but refused to let that stop her from growing. To hear this, it filled me with such gratitude because I never thought that I'd get to this place. It hasn't been an easy road but I knew in the long run after going through the healing process that it would be all worth working through all the pain.

No longer do I feel like the anxious mess I felt held captive by deep inside. Instead, I feel far more at peace and relaxed even when things seem difficult. Today, I can reflect on everything I've been through and pinpoint instances and the people in my life where God used what He has taught me through those trials. Through these trials, God has made me into a better daughter, sister, wife, friend, and soon a mom.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 3: Josh

Day 3 goes to Josh. People say your husband/wife should be like a best friend and I definitely have to say that Josh fits that for me. He has been such a blessing since he came into my life. It seems like we've known each other longer than 2.5 years. He is a great provider, husband, encourager, and my biggest advocate. He is wise, clever, and a great listener.

Even when I'm down or not feeling like myself, he sees what he could do to help me feel better or more comfortable. He encourages me in my faith, relationships, and work. He laughs along with me and handles my sass with grace and more jokes.

Whether we're home working remotely, watching something on our tv, traveling somewhere, or going out to try out a new restaurant in the area, every day seems like an adventure. It's hard to imagine life without him by my side now, and I'm excited to start a new adventure together as parents to our little girl we're eagerly waiting to arrive in these last few days.

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 2: Esther

Day 2 of giving thanks goes to Esther. God knew I needed a friend like Esther in my life, especially after moving across the country.  She has challenged and encouraged me in so many ways over the 5 years I've known her. She follows the Lord with such tenacity and it shows in the way she interacts with anyone she comes across.

God taught me through Esther the joys of being spontaneous and what a true friend is. When we both lived in Washington, we spent many nights past 2am driving to the local 24/7 Mexican drive thru and parking near the local park where we talked about everything in life. That included our desires to be wives and mothers and what we think that would look like. Fast forward a couple of years and the both of us get to walk those stages of life together. Even though we're a couple of states away, we continue to stay in touch and try to be a support each other. As I'm days away from welcoming my little Hailey, I'm blessed that I get to watch Esther grow into the mother she dreamed of being as she loves on her sweet little newborn daughter.

Once life as moms settles down for us, I look forward to reuniting with her and having our daughters play with each other. I look forward to the laughs we'll have, the things we'll do together, and teach our daughters along the way. 

Hope you have a happy birthday today! Love you, girly!

30 Days of Thankfulness - Day 1: God and My Relationship with Him

I feel like I've tried doing this multiple times and just have not had success being able to finish through to the end of the month. I feel like it's more possible this month but also a little daunting while I spend time writing this during the last few days of my pregnancy and first days as being a mom. As I feel the signs of labor coming in the next days or weeks, I've been definitely feeling a lot more rush of emotions of gratitude, peace, and excitement. 

Without further ado, I'll start with Day 1. For Day 1, I'm most thankful for God and my relationship with Him. I feel like this one is explanatory. I wouldn't be the person I am today if I didn't have a relationship with Christ that started at age 14. I'm forever grateful for the life God has given me and the opportunities I have to share His love with others. Tomorrow and the rest of November will be more in depth examples that stem from all that God has blessed me with the things and people I am thankful for. 

Oh the Places You Go

First day on the road (WA State)

People always ask us why we made a decision to move to Florida, which seems so drastic. I feel like now that Josh and I are a little bit settled down in Florida (and I have a day off work) I can share how God brought us to Florida.

This past year we celebrated our first year of marriage. In that year, God has allowed us to refine our family vision that we started talking about when we were dating and figuring out whether the life we hoped to live would match up. Thankfully, our visions were and still are the same. Because family is important to the both of us, we've been listening to God's call and felt his pull to move to Florida.

How the Idea of Moving Came to Us

Church with a huge cross in Texas we passed

The idea of moving to Florida wasn't a moment where we closed our eyes, spun ourselves in a circle, and then put our finger on a map. Our move to Florida is a work of God. God came to us individually about this and we both wrestled with this internally before we shared this with each other. Neither of us initially wanted to move because it would mean we would be leaving Josh's family and it didn't help that my cross country move to Washington was pretty traumatic even though I've never shared that publicly online.

We felt like God was calling us to move for many reasons one of those being the atrociously high costs of the Washington housing market. We wouldn't be able to afford buying a home for several years if we stayed and I would have to continue working despite our decision for me to homeschool our children. Florida has the potential for us to not only buy a home, but also build one that is a multi-generational home where we could end up taking care of our parents later in the future but also use our home as a ministry. 

Despite knowing this fact, we came to the conclusion that if God is truly calling us to move we would give time for the decision, continue being open to the idea that He wants us to move Florida, and seek counsel from our loved ones and others affected by this decision. Over the course of a year, God has given us some of the biggest signs that would be clear to us that He wants us to continue pursuing this move.

Family First

Red Cat Café menu board in Birmingham, AL

It was important for us that both our families were onboard with our plans. If they weren't onboard, we knew this was a clear sign that God did not want us to pursue the idea of moving away from family. We were honestly surprised with their responses. It turns out Josh's parents and grandmother want to move as well, but it'll probably take them about 3-5 years once Josh's dad is able to retire.

With living on the opposite side of the country from my family, it's hard to find affordable plane tickets from Washington to Pennsylvania. If we fly from Florida, it's a third of the cost on plane tickets, which makes it much easier to see my family. For visiting Washington, we can probably make it cheaper for us when Josh's company flies him out and pays for a hotel and car rental for us. All we'd have to pay is for my plane ticket (and "lap child" tax).

Work-Life Balance

One of the other concerns where we thought God might cause a red flag was our jobs. My job I was currently working at the time wouldn't have been a problem, but my new job was more than happy for me to be thinking about moving to the same time zone. It was Josh's job that we weren't sure would be on board with us moving to Florida. It turned out that Josh's company thought the move was beneficial for them since they needed IT presence in the east coast.

And Now We're in Florida

Made it to Florida!

Several other pieces aligned for us perfectly, too. With my new job, it doubled my income and allowed us to save exactly what we needed to get movers to ship our stuff across the country and to get us there. He has given us peace, especially for me, during a time that isn't easy. The road trip was as safe and easy as it can be, which was something I had wrestled with for weeks before this move. And despite being at the end of my second trimester, God has given me good health where I feel fairly normal and I am functioning during all these changes.

In front of our new home

God has blessed us immensely and has been reminding us in the last month with continued blessings through His provision. When we look out our windows in our living room, we have a clear view of a giant cross a few miles away, which gave us peace knowing that God has been with us and continues to be with us.

We've only tried one church out the past 2 weeks and the sermons series that the pastor is sharing is all about hearing and listening to God. It has been validating to us as we've had some moments of "Is this really God or is this our own selfish desires?" In yesterday's sermon, the pastor listed off how to determine if a decision is God inspired or if it's our selfishness, which included

• Your thinking aligns with God's Word (2 Corinthians 6:14-16)
• Your thinking aligns with Godly counsel
• Your thinking aligns with time - Don't be in a hurry
• Your thinking with God's purposes (Romans 8:28, 11:36, James 4:3)
• Your thinking aligns with peace (John 14:26-27, 16:33, Philippians 4:6-7)

As we listened, we both took in all that the pastor said and both felt comforted that what the Bible says we're following God's, and He wants us to know not to be downhearted about missing family and friends we left in Washington for this move since we'll still be able to see them again when we visit.

The birthing center where our daughter will be born

Finally, I was able to quickly get into the birthing center that I researched like crazy so that I could get the best care for me and our daughter during these last few months. It's honestly a God thing. Thankfully, it didn't cost a fortune for the rest of the care and labor and delivery fees, which are all paid. I know a lot of new moms are afraid of childbirth, but I walked out of my consultation with confidence and peace with our decision. I'm surprisingly at peace with the idea of childbirth and plan to use this experience as a way to thank God that He has given me a body that has cared so well for this baby despite how much my health suffered in the past. I'm enjoying every little kick and tickle this little girl gives me as we count down the weeks when we can finally meet our daughter and take her home with us.

The Start of My Golden Year

Golden Birthday (n.) - The birthday on which the numeral of one's age matches that of the day of the month. Example: Age 27 on June 27th

I only found out about a year ago that a golden birthday is a thing. You may think it's silly and it kind of is, but it really seems like it's going to be a golden year for me. I'm 27 today on the 27th and I'm thankful for the life God gave me.

Last year I wrote that I didn't feel any different than the year before, but this year I have to say I definitely do feel different. It could be all the pregnancy hormones and changes happening to my body. I may feel exhausted mentally and physically by the end of the day but my spirit feels rejuvenated. I think part of this could be from all the changes going on in both of Josh and my life.

Working for a new company has been a blessing and a challenge. Powering through in my first trimester while starting a new job has not been the most fun, but God really has provided for us and has paved the way for our future plans. My company is very good about promoting a life-work balance that allows me to focus on my health and making sure I get the rest and care I need. I also found out not too long ago that I'll be able to spend 11 weeks of paid time off with our baby, which is something I wouldn't have had working at my previous company. We're making plans for family visits and adjusting to life during the time I'll have available.

Our little bean is halfway to making his or her appearance since I'll be officially 20 weeks on Thursday. This pregnancy has been both fast and slow. We look forward to every appointment. This little one is very active and likes to remind me once in a while that they're still in there. It's funny watching my midwife trying to measure the baby's heart beat while the baby is moving around as if it knows that we're trying to check in on it. Josh and I are excited to find out whether our baby will be a boy or girl on July 6th.

Over the past month, we've been packing boxes and getting rid of furniture that we won't need right away and plan to replace eventually as we prepare for our cross country move. It's bittersweet for us. We'll miss our friends and family in Washington, but we know Florida is where God wants us to go and how we can provide a better future for our families. We also managed to buy our bed upgrade that we planned on buying so that we have a guest bed, and we'll have that delivered to us within our first week of living in our new place.