Hallelujah!!!

It's official, no beating around the bush. WE ARE PREGNANT!!!!!!! We are officially 12 weeks 3 days and we are overwhelmed with emotion. Amazement, shock, THANKFUL, awe, nervous, excited! To this day I still stop and think, "Wow, I'm going to be a MOM!?!" The idea is so foreign to me, that it hasn't really sunk in yet. I am starting to get a bit of a baby bump, a BABY BUMP!! and it's feeling more real as the days go on. Our due date is July 2, 2011 and we are so looking forward to becoming parents.
            We had our FET on Oct 14 and all went really well. Both blasts made it through the thawing stage and they were graded at 3AB and 3BA. On Oct 24 we went in for blood work and my cell phone was burning a hole in my pocket all day. We couldn't focus at church, because we were so jittery waiting for that call. I had a different feeling this time around and I felt different. I've been asked, "How so?" and I couldn't explain, just different then the last cycle. The phone finally rang later that day around 4 and when the nurse said the test was positive my response was "You're serious?!?" it was surreal, I was so shocked on the phone that I could hardy listen to the rest. It was positive. I hung up the phone and Jeff and I cried and hugged out of the shear relief and happiness that overwhelmed us. We knew that it was just the beginning and we weren't 'out of the woods' yet, so to speak. The beta was only 87 which wasn't really high, but anything over 25 is positive. We were over the moon, and really just in shock. We sat and held my tummy and poured prayers of thanks to God and for Him to wrap His arms around the little miracle He created. About 15 min later my mom called just to chat and I cried out the news to her. We shared a cry over the phone and it all felt so surreal. We later called Jeff's mom and dad and they were ecstatic to hear the news. Funny thing is we were so wound up with excitement and jitters, that we couldn't stay in the house and we ended up going to Telus World of Science to watch an Imax about Mt. Everest!!! :) I'll never forget that day, it was amazing.
          It has been so great being able to share with all the wonderful people that have supported us through this wild journey. We are loving the pregnancy, and can't wait!! to meet our little miracle in just over 6 months!! I don't want to make this post too long, I could write forever, but now I can be free to write updates and share this new, and exciting chapter. Praise the Lord, and may He continue to mold and shape this little life He created.

remembering the real meaning of Christmas

It's so easy to get wrapped up (pardon the pun!) in all the Christmas festivities. Decorating, making lists, braving the malls, buying the perfect gifts, wrapping with bows and ribbons, then eagerly anticipating opening your own special presents. We take pride in what we have, what we can give, how many times we can say cheerfully, "Merry Christmas!" But amidst all the eggnogg, tinkling bells and lights, can we remember the small and humble beginnings of why we celebrate Christmas in the first place? A tiny little baby, a miracle born. We have turned this awe filled moment into an all month ordeal of fake tinsel and sugar cookies. Don't get me wrong, I'm no Scrooge, or Grinch. I love decorating my tree, buying something that says, "I love you", embracing warm hugs from family, and walking through winter wonderland. Yet while enjoying these wonderful times, I need to stop to marvel at the tiny, yet amazing gift God sent us. His small, precious Son. Without this tiny person, I would not be the saved, forgiven, and unconditionally loved person that I am today, taking for granted all that I've been blessed with. Think back to Mary and Joseph, they were without possessions, riding a donkey, and had nowhere to go. No warm home all decked out in lights and garland, with a fire crackling and hot chocolate steaming. Jesus was born in a barn, in a manger full of hay. Kings, shepherds, and wise men came in awe to see Him. This is what I need to celebrate this Christmas, the birth of my Lord and Savior, the only One who can bring full contentment and peace into my heart, this season and throughout my life.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SiRhFKpxHD8&feature=fvw