good-bye flip house!

I know that I posted last week about what I've been learning in the midst of God's good. I mentioned in that post that I've been super stressed about the flip house lately...

In His graciousness, this week God decided to sell the flip house. Within the span of 8 days, we got an offer, the people got the house inspected, they signed all the paperwork, we got our furniture out and we will close this afternoon. It has been a whirlwind to say the least.

I am completely humbled and more thankful than I can say to have this off of our plates. Thank you for your prayers for my stress level and for your prayers for the little things that seem to occupy so much of my thought time and emotional wellbeing.

Praise Jesus!

thankful again

I have been thanking the Lord for His goodness to us lately. We've been overwhelmed by the way that God has used His people to provide for us and bless us.

Specifically, I am SO thankful for all of the people that have given up their Saturdays and rearranged their evenings and weekends to help us work on the basement. Many of you have called Adam and said, "We're coming over... what time works for you?" I'm sure it delights the Lord to see his people serving each other. And it delights our hearts to have such caring, thoughtful, selfless friends. (The best part of these pictures is how much more has been finished since I took them... the rooms are now taped, textured, painted, and after a little cleaning, ready for carpet!!! WOOHOO!)

Megan, Heidi and I are all due within 2 weeks of each other.

Girl brunch at Heidi K's

Supercute cupcakes at my school shower

I also have been overwhelmed at people's generosity in giving us stuff for the Itsy Bitsy. There have been a couple more showers in the last week or so and Adam and I just look with disbelief at the pile of teeny clothes, bouncy seats, tummy time contraptions, nursery decor, travel beds, diapers and other tools that will surely make our lives easier in the next year or so. More than that, it has been so fantastic to spend some extra time with the girls that I love lately and such a blessing to see the care and planning that friends have put into these showers and their gifts. Y'all know that one of my love languages is giving and I feel extravagantly cared for.

thankful

The last couple of months have been very full- full of work, full of re-evaluating, full of preparation, full of list-making, full of prayer... and full of thankfulness to the Lord. In the midst of uncertainty and limbo, I have been reminded of so many areas that are sure and certain and bring more blessing than I can say to our life. One of those blessings is friendship. The Lord has given us such an incredible group of friends here in Denver and sprinkled across the globe!

On Saturday, the girls from our small group scheduled a day of "pre-baby pampering." It was incredible to have a day of pedicures, lunch, presents, onesie decorating, baby talk and relaxation. One of the other girls in our small group is due a week after me, which has been an amazing source of encouragement and support throughout this pregnancy. In the midst of the craziness and busyness lately, I am so thankful for a day to slow down and be well taken care of by good friends. Thank you Lord for friends and rest and taking such good care of us.

traditions

One of my mom's best qualities is her enthusiasm. She bubbles over with animation about small stuff and big stuff alike, and in so doing, passes her excitement on to everyone around her. It's what makes her such a fantastic teacher. Students can't help but think they are exploring the most fascinating subject matter in the world with mom as their teacher. This sense of joyful anticipation flowed over, of course, into our family life... which is probably why I remember my childhood as one great adventure. I know we didn't have much money when I was little, but my mom had a way of turning little treats into great memories.

Mom's talent for turning the ordinary into the extraordinary has been fodder for many of my late-night ponderings lately (I am six and a half months pregnant now, which translates into a couple of hours two or three times a week where I cannot sleep... leaving me with an abundance of 'thinking time' in the middle of the night). As Adam and I enter a season of student loans and stricter budgets, I have been wondering about the special traditions that make holidays and every day life memorable, and about how I can start building that into the fabric of our young family.

Incidentally, my favorite idea for a tradition-to-be that I've come up so far is "lovey bundles." This year for Valentines Day, I made Adam, the Itsy Bitsy and I bundles of felt and ribbon that will hopefully act as storehouses for little loves notes and treats in years to come. This time around, I filled Adam's with a kojo card, brownies, a Chick Fil A gift card, and a Gentry Family Cookbook with his favorite recipes. These lovey bundles are kind of like Christmas stockings... in February. And if you know how much I love stocking stuffers, you'll have a hint about how excited I am at the idea of a round two a month and a half after Christmas!

How about you??? What were the small ways that your family made holidays (or everyday!) special? How did your parents, or grandparents, or families that you babysat for, turn ordinary events into extraordinary adventures??? I can't wait to hear them (and have more to think about in the wee hours)!

***Several of you have emailed about not being able to comment becuase you don't have a google account... I changed that setting, so comment away! Or just keep emailing- I love that too! :)

what a week

I know that when I started this little blog, it was mostly to chronicle "life in the glorious middle," or that little stuff that happens day to day that makes life unique and great. And I know that it seems like I just keep posting "big news" (well, it doesn't seem like that, I DO keep posting big news)... dental school and trips to Costa Rica aren't every day for us. I promise, this string of excitement can't keep this pace for long (we'll be back to our normal glorious middle soon). But for now, it just keeps coming.

We got, and accepted, an offer on the flip house!

I don't think I've ever, in my life, had a week like this week... it feels like God is showering us with good news. It's extravagant really. And we are more thankful than I can say.

I'm posting all of this so that y'all can PRAISE THE LORD with us, and also join us in prayer that the inspection goes well Tuesday, that there are no little (or big) hangups, and that this offer goes through.

I wonder what next week will be like. :)

dr. g.- soon-to-be master of the platinum grill

I'll be honest... I just wasn't sure that I'd ever get to say this. But yep, it's true.

ADAM GOT INTO DENTAL SCHOOL AT CU!!!

This wild and crazy, swirly, twirly four year path has led to the dental campus three miles from our house.

And in the 'glorious middle' of this journey, the Lord has taught us about stewardship, surrender, patience, trusting Him, His provision, more about patience, and more about trusting Him. I can honestly say, I wouldn't trade the last four years of limbo for four years of control and our own way... not for anything! We are going into this next adventure with thankfulness and knowledge that, even though NONE of this 'makes sense' by worldly standards, the Lord shows His glory and His provision best in these circumstances that just don't line up with the way that seems most logical. We've seen it before, y'all. And we can't wait to see the Lord's hand in the next steps of this surprising, detour-filled journey.

And now the best news of all: if you have been waiting for the opportunity to get your very own diamond studded platinum grill, you can start your countdown. Dr. G., master of the platinum grill, will be making his grand entrance into the field of dentistry in a meer 4 years. It'll take you that long to finance one, so start saving your pennies.

double the fun

A first for us this weekend: we attended a double party. Not just a joint party where you celebrate two things (like a Jord/Kiji birthday celebration), but a party complete with two different honored guests, themes, decorations, everything. What fun! Kudos to Gwen and Heather for putting both of the parties together...

Party #1: Enchiladas, margaritas, taco bar, upstairs at Gwen and Tim's, a going away fiesta for Todd and Anna as they head to Atlanta (we'll miss y'all!!!)

Party #2: Pink cupcakes, downstairs, darts, win lose or draw (Josh's manatee udder was a sight to behold), surprise 30th birthday party for Jen, theme was "a few of her favorite things" complete with posters of her favorite food, restaurants, concert venues and even her favorite t-shirt hanging above one window.