We’re now less than 2 weeks from due date, and the most common question these days is, “Are you ready?” 

Ready? Is it possible to be ready for such a moment like this?

 

On a physical level, perhaps. We’ve installed a car seat (that’s not for a child I nanny!), packed a hospital bag, and prepared a nursery to bring our little one home to—overwhelmed with gratitude as we recognize that every single thing in this room has been given to us. THANK YOU.

But does this make us ready?

We’re certainly excited… growing daily in anticipation to meet the little one who will soon be a part of our family!

But, to be honest, we’re also terrified… terrified of the massive change that’s about to take place, the unknowns, the end of one season and the beginning of another so new and so… permanent.

I was recently thinking back on my life and realized that I have grieved at every major turning point—bawled my eyes out at high school graduation; called my mom shortly after college sobbing, “Is it all downhill from here?!”; wept before India; wept after India; even grieved the end of singleness before Danny & I were married—not knowing the JOY that awaited around every corner, a joy that would quickly make all those tears seem unnecessary and make me wonder, “What in the world was I so afraid of?!”

I trust that this new season will be no different. And while it doesn’t necessarily eradicate all fear, I do look forward with great anticipation to the JOY that awaits around this corner and to the day when I will hold our sweet child and wonder, “What in the world was I so afraid of?”

In the mean time, grateful to be held by the steadfast love of the Lord—a perfect love that casts out fear (1 John 4:18)—and for the promised ultimate joy of dwelling with Him forever (Ps. 23:6).

Ready or not, here we come!

Recent Developments...

"Many hands make light work!" --or so my beloved mother-in-law often says-- and our new, fixer-upper house has certainly proven this to be true. After two solid months of renovations and many, MANY helping hands, we are now moved in & (mostly) settled!

Here are a few before & afters...

Living Room

Tore down wood paneling - replaced with drywall. 

Ripped up linoleum - refinished original hardwoods.

Busted down top half of fireplace - built bookshelves and mantle.

A close up of the gorgeous fireplace bookshelves, whipped up in one weekend by the most talented wood-working/engineering duo I know-- my husband and my father!

Special thanks to my parents who exchanged their "Gatlinburg vacation" for 12-hour work days with us. Dad was especially helpful with those gorgeous bookshelves, while Mom painted trim and washed sawdust off every square inch of the house.

Dining Room/Kitchen

 Busted down walls. 

Ripped up linoleum - refinished original hardwoods.

Gutted old cabinets - installed new kitchen.

This is by far our favorite transformation of the house! We love the open space for hosting, and the brand new kitchen feels like a dream. HUGE thanks to the team at Counter Dimensions for their amazing work on our kitchen remodel! We couldn't be happier with how it all turned out.

A close up of the original butler's pantry, laboriously stripped and restored (layer, by layer, by layer, by layer...) by my determined mother-in-law, Martha.

Kitchen

One more look at the kitchen from the other direction...

Hallway

Guest Room

Mainly, I just want to show off the bed that MY HUSBAND BUILT in a week and a half's time... since we had guests coming, you know. :)

A big thanks to the many other hands that helped along the way... especially my father-in-law, who single-handedly primed every wall and ceiling, and our small group & friends, who had the whole house painted, taped, and cleaned in just one day!

We certainly couldn't have done it without you all!

We feel so blessed to live here and have enjoyed watching "one man's trash" turn into a home that we are truly proud to call our own. To me, these renovations reflect the creativity & imagination of our God, who made us from dust and daily turns ashes into things of beauty. I'm so glad He's not intimidated to take on such "fixer-uppers" like us.

Meanwhile, the house is not the only thing that's been changing these days...

We are now less than 3 weeks from due date (Jan. 23rd). Daily growing in anticipation to meet this little one! Nursery pictures to come. :)