The Only Ship That Doesn't Sail...A Partnership

Most of our life is pretty predictable, but this week we received some news clear out of left field that has challenged us and also put us right where God wants us: total dependence on and trust in Him. At the end of last year, Jamie and his longtime business partner joined forces with a third person to expand our race timing business. Each partner owned 1/3 of a timing system, and this new partner specialized in developing large racing events throughout NC that we timed. Everybody was a winner! With these larger events, our profit margin went up significantly, and this new partner was now paying a timing company 1/3 less than he used to (because of his partial ownership in the system)! We have enjoyed this partnership so far and the opportunity it has afforded me to work part-time from home once our son is born.

Well, this week the deal started changing. Our newest partner backed out, then backed back in, changed terms and added stipulations. It's been ugly - we've been amazed at how business partners (and supposed friends) have treated each other with such little integrity and respect - but we've been determined to conduct ourselves in a way that honors God, even if we lose money. As part of that, we refused to borrow any money for the business. We don't believe that you can build debt and wealth at the same time (thanks to the wisdom of Dave Ramsey), so we refuse to have debt, even if it means that our business grows a little slower. We just sleep better at night that way. Unfortunately, these principles are not common in today's world, and so we're probably going to lose about 15% of our annual income when the partnership dissolves.

The awesome thing about all this, however, is the incredible peace that Jamie and I have both felt about how we have chosen to manage our resources. We feel that God is very much in the "timing" of this, and He has brought some information to light that has caused us to reconsider how we might have otherwise proceeded with this partnership. Furthermore, while this partnership has been a financial blessing to us these last few months, it did not exist a year ago, and something different, better and currently unknown to us could exist tomorrow. In the meantime, would you pray for us? Please pray that God will continue to provide for us as He has always done and that we would continue to make (sometimes tough) decisions for our family that honor Him.

In other news, we chose a special verse for Micah. I was reading 1 Samuel in my quiet time recently and really connected with something Hannah said when she birthed Samuel: I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord. - 1 Samuel 1:27-28

Whining

I've been sick this week, and it's really kicking my butt! I used to rebound from coughs and colds so easily, but not this time. I'm currently on day 5 of coughing, runny nose and the occasional low grade fever, and I can still hardly muster the energy to fold a load of laundry. And forget about cooking! Wednesday night I used some Christmas money to take us to Outback.

I went to the doctor Wednesday for my 34ish week check-up. Micah is doing great - still head down, moving a lot, weighing around 4.5 pounds. I still have a hard time thinking he's real. He likes to flex his arm in my abdomen, and when I feel that, he becomes more real to me than at any other time. We are so ready to meet our little fella!

I don't know if it's my cold or the culmination of our Expectant Parent's Class, but I'm getting really scared about labor. And weepy. The class really drove home for me how intense this process will be. I knew that, but until the class, I hadn't let myself think about it much. And now that I'm sick, I keep thinking, there is absolutely no way I could've pushed a baby out this week. No way. I'm praying through it and letting go of any ideas I had of doing labor au natural.

Last Hurrah Before Baby

We had a great weekend! Saturday I went to Raleigh with my mom to shop and see the musical, Jersey Boys, which is the story of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. We called it our Last Hurrah Before Baby. We ate lunch at my favorite restaurant, California Pizza Kitchen, and bought some clothes for ourselves and for Micah. The musical was great! I was surprised that I recognized almost all the songs. When we got home and started putting Micah's new things away, my mom declared a clothing freeze for him. Apparently he has more than enough for his first year and she forgot to tell me that my sister had bought him an entire wardrobe, which I would receive the next day. I actually thought he needed more...haha. Mom had to remind me that clothes are re-usable and he'll only be in them for a few months at a time.

I also have to add that while we were gone all day, Jamie did a load of housework. He power washed the house, mowed the grass, installed shelves in our shed, did some stuff to the boat and made dinner! I told him I'm going to skip town about one day a month from now on ;-)

Sunday we had a family shower at a friend's house. We made ice cream sundaes and hung out by the pool. It was the perfect day! My family and friends pretty much cleaned off our registries to the point that we only need 3-4 more things, and we received enough gift cards to cover that. We have been so blessed! Jamie tickles me asking the difference between receiving blankets and swaddle wraps and wanting me to "teach him how Micah works."

Tomorrow is our last Expectant Parent's Class. We'll do the hospital tour. Then Wednesday I have my almost 34-week appointment...Next Friday is Baby Day. I'm taking the day off to finish all things baby...installing the car seats, making sure all his gadgets have batteries, hanging a few more things on his wall, etc. We're down to the wire!

What Is A Jicama Anyway?

My weekly pregnancy email says that Micah is about the size of a jicama (3.75 pounds) this week. I'm continuing to measure a few days early, and he has a strong heartbeat and has been head-down for weeks. We have most things ready to go and one more shower this weekend - an ice cream sundae shower that's mostly for family.

I'm planning to work part-time from home once Micah is born and had anticipated getting 15-20 hours, but so far I've gotten a lousy eight. Things could change, but it's looking like eight is our number, so we re-did our budget yesterday. It wasn't as daunting as we had expected...we'll still eat and take warm showers...but the days of being DINKs (double income, no kids) are nearly over. I think the discipline will be good for us. In the past, our budget was more like a goal or a rough estimate of what we could (or should) spend each month. Now we'll actually have to live by it. This weekend I told my mom, "This will really be hard for Jamie because he's not used to telling himself no." And she came back with, "Well, neither are you." BUSTED. Oh well... Baby M (not to be confused with BM) is worth it. And God has always provided, and I know He'll continue to as we do our part to wisely manage our finances.

In these last eight weeks of pregnancy, I am...spending lots of QT with Jamie, pottying eight-ish times a night, outgrowing all my maternity clothes, taking classes on nursing and childbirth, staying wet (pool, river or beach), doing lots of "adult activities" (the kinds you don't take kids to, like going to see Jersey Boys this Saturday), assembling all of Micah's new trinkets, getting very excited about meeting my little boy!

Rain Showers and Baby Showers

Can we say that the summer is flying by? We started our July 4th weekend Saturday morning in Raleigh with the Great Raleigh Road Race. It was, dare I say it, cool outside when we started setting up at 6 am. We had a great time and got down to our river house by mid-afternoon to enjoy the annual July 4th cookout on Kilby Island. I ate my weight in desserts (not to mention barbecue and other things). We also got some new family pictures of the three of us (see some of the out-takes below), and we killed a water moccasin.

Camera Tricks: my father-in-law used a special lense to distort
this picture and make me appear about 72 weeks pregnant.

Eskimo Kissies

Feeling Micah

Sunday the weather was overcast all day. We sat around waiting for it to rain, and finally around 5, we decided it wasn't going to so we all went out for exercise (me walking, Jamie and his dad running). I heard thunder...I knew better...but I continued on my walk anyway. About that time the Heavens opened up and sent a rainy, thundery, lightning mess down on top of us. We all ran home...again, I know better...and after Jamie beat me home, he came back to get me with the golf cart. I climbed in just as a lightning bolt hit (what felt like) right beside me. It was scary for all involved (including Micah, I'm sure).

***

Yesterday, my office mates threw me a "surprise" baby shower by the pool. I had sorta figured it out, but it was awesome anyway. We got some great things for Micah and some homemade extras that I never expected. Brenda, my office mate who taught me to sew, made Micah a pair of booties. (I think she was concerned that I hadn't made him any myself.) My friend, Stephanie, and I have a running joke about that. She is a graphic designer and has painted tons of nurseries, but her own son's room is still not finished. Likewise, I've made baby booties for many of my friends, but Micah would be barefoot without Brenda! As if the booties weren't enough, Brenda's daughter decorates cakes and made us one featuring the booties that Brenda had sewn (see below). They are a crafty pair! I work with an incredible team, and Jamie and I were so blessed by their thoughtfulness and generosity. I will miss them once I start working at home when Micah's born.

Our cake and booties

Some of our goodies...check out the "M" painted with a
running theme. This was a special present from my good friend JJ with Jamie in mind.