Me 40 weeks 5 Days

Me 40 weeks 5 Days
Originally uploaded by SpamanthaB

This is the last pregnant picture of me. I will be going to the hospital tomorrow at 4pm to start the induction. Hopefully it won't be too long before she's here!

40 Weeks and 1 day

Still no baby.  We are patiently waiting....hopefully soon!

37 weeks

37 weeks
Originally uploaded by SpamanthaB

THis is me at 37 weeks. My hair is bad because of bed rest.

28 Weeks

28 Weeks
Originally uploaded by SpamanthaB

Well that was my picture at 28 weeks. I am more round right now. We are really behind on the whole picture thing. I should take another picture soon. I am now at 35 weeks. We are getting closer!

Sam's Belly at 20 Weeks

Sam's Belly at 20 Weeks
Originally uploaded by SpamanthaB

I'm trying this out

Ouch!

Yesterday I had the glucose screening and then also the shot for the RH factor stuff. So I had to get a bunch of blood drawn and then stabbed and what not. Not to mention that the drink for the glucose stuff was gross. Today my back is a little sore but I'm doing ok. Now we wait to find out the results. Well really the Dr's office goes on no news is good news. So I will most likely end up calling Thursday or so. It was a long day of waiting yesterday. And now today I have to make cookies for the LWML cookie sale.

I Don't Normally Do This

I'm shocked by this article. I found it while searching online at other things and I guess in the D.C. area busses are going to have ads from the American Humanist Association on them that say "Why believe in a god? Just be good for goodness sake." They claim that its a way of advertising to "non-theists" because they are lonely during the Christmas season. 

Well yeah, I mean what's the point of celebrating a day of the year that is all about the birth of Jesus? Oh and the AHA also adds that they are "trying to plant a seed of rational thought and critical thinking and questioning in people's minds." So because I believe in God that means I'm stupid?  I don't have critical thinking skills???  Also that got me thinking too...because I'm not a "humanist" does that mean I'm against humans? How can humanists be all about humans but yet slam humans who believe in God and call them stupid. Thats not showing "responsibility to lead ethical lives of value to self and humanity."

All this talk reminds me of Expelled. Its frustrating.... GAH.

Silly Kitties

This is just too funny.... enjoy

Ordination

Nick's ordination was about 3 weeks ago now.  I was just able to edit and post the video of the sermon preached by Pastor Shoup.  So its in three parts down below.  The total length of the sermon is about 23 min.  But because of youtubes rules I had to split it up.  I made sure that you wouldn't miss anything so it should all be there for you.  Just start with the video on top and work your way down.

Brace Yourselves We've Got A Lot Of News

Sorry for the hiatus.  We had a very busy summer.  So Nick got a call sometime in July and then ordination was two weeks ago.  We moved just this past friday and installation is this sunday.  We are in Cleveland, OH.  Nick got a call to Our Savior Lutheran Church.  He's the sole pastor and has a lot of work coming up but I know that God will take care of Nick, the congregation and me.   We are working on getting settled so far we have found the grocery store and target. 

In other news, our family will be growing!  We found out in June that I was pregnant and baby is due in Feb.  So far things are going good.  Its been an interesting experience.  I'm past the morning sickness and now I'm just kinda tired most of the time.  I think that some of that has to do with moving and stuff.  I'll include pictures once we get everything settled.    

We're Baaack.

We are back from our vacation. It was crazy. Nick ended up having a phone interview and we went only to Kings Island and Cedar Point. We had a car problem as we were driving from OH to IL. We just passed Gary, IN and when I push the gas pedal the battery light goes on. I let off the gas and then it goes off. So we stop in Hammond, IN and stop at a garage and they look at it and it turns out to be the alternator. Stupid car. But they were able to fix it in an hour and its back to new.

Now its back to work. The weather has cooled down a bunch and its pretty nice. We don't need to run the air yet. I'm not sure whats going on with the flooding here. They are predicting some for St. Louis but we are far enough away to not have to worry. I hope its not as bad as they are saying.

That's pretty much all thats going on here. I would put up some pictures but the camera isn't working with the computer right now. I need to work on that.

Vacation!

That's right folks we are offically on vacation! We are going to Kings Island, Cedar Point, and maybe Great America. So we'll be MIA for a while. Check back later.

Congraduations!

Its official. Nick is a graduate from Concordia Seminary. We are still waiting for a call. At least he's done with school now! YEAH!!!

This Pretty Much Sums Up My Feelings Right Now

Waiting it out....

I wish I had some big news but I don't. Still no word about a call...we'll still be getting one but we have to be patient. I think that is what God is teaching me right now. Patience...not my best virtue but I am trying my best. Last night we had the 4th year banquet which was a lot of fun. Its surreal to think that graduation is in two weeks from Friday and then its a matter of time before people are leaving to go their separate ways to start their ministries. Its an exciting time but bittersweet too. Its so comfortable to be here and in the seminary community. We won't have that anymore and there are some wonderful people here that I will miss. But until then we wait to hear God's plans for us and try to enjoy the time left with our friends.

Today's the day....sort of.

Well today is Call Day. About a year ago I put up the countdown and today we won't have a call. Nick will be "Call Pending." Its not the end of the world or anything. A little disappointing to not have a call on call day but it won't be taking away anything from the call that he does receive. We will be joyful when we do get one. We've heard that there is one district that with in the next few weeks that will have 11 calls to it. And then a smattering of other places across the country. Nick is not the only person who will be call pending. There are 17 other guys from St. Louis and 13 from Fort Wayne. So we are not alone which is also a nice feeling. We find comfort in Jeremiah 29:11 “I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord . . . plans to give you hope and a future.” As soon as we hear anything we will let you all know. Please keep the other 30 candidates in your prayers and I am hopeful to have us all placed by graduation.

He's Certifiable...wait no CERTIFIED!!!

Its official. Nick is certified!

Dear Nicholas, Brother in Christ:

I am very happy to let you know that the faculty of Concordia Seminary has ( to use the formal language) now expressed its satisfaction that you will meet all personal, professional, and theological requirements for the office of ordained minister, declare you to be of entry level competency and qualified for a first call, and recommend you, subject to the satisfactory completion of the appropriate course of studies, your receipt of a Theological Diploma or Certificate, and your receipt and acceptance of a call assigned to you by the Board of Assignments.

We praise God for his work in your life, and we rejoice with you as you move closer to service as a pastor in our church. May the Lord keep you safe and joyful as you complete your studies and prepare to serve.

Cordially in the Risen Christ,

Dr. Jeff Gibbs

Only 4 more days till call day. Still no word on a call or even if we'll still be call pending. Its an exciting time though either way. We can't wait to find out God's plan for our ministry!

I'm Starting to Think St. Louis Wants Us to Leave!

Back in July of 2006...actually on July 19th 2006 there was a bad storm that came through St. Louis and knocked the power out for like the entire city and some people were with out power for a week. There were a number of tornadoes. Then on my birthday(July 20th) it was like 103 (before the heat index) and not having power made for a crappy birthday. So we fled to Chicago for that weekend.


This winter in St. Louis was more active than the other winter we spent here. LHM closed a total of 3 days and most schools in the area used all their snow days and have to stay later into the summer this year. Very unexpected for us since the winter of 06 was very mild...and maybe it snowed once that year.

I am starting to suspect that St. Louis wants us out.

So at 4:30 this morning I woke up. Initially I thought it was just because the last 3 days I've been opening at Starbucks but then I heard the windows rattling and the bed was moving. An earthquake wasn't the thought on my mind. I thought a train was going by. But what is funny about that is that we don't live anywhere near a train track. The windows have never rattled before because of a "train." What was I thinking? Meanwhile Nick is snoring away unaware that anything had occurred.

So if anything goes wrong today or in the next couple days the entire city of St. Louis has the earthquake to blame it on. I also hope that we don't get a call to St. Louis because I would hate to see what the city would do next. It must know that I'm a Cubs fan.

You Know You're a Seminarian If..

This was one of the articles in the seminary's student paper. Some of them were pretty funny and I thought I'd share.

* You ask for your vicarage location to be based on where you want to go on vacation.
* You used vicarage to justify a new car purchase
* You have more than three brands of beer in your refrigerator.
* You do not complete you assigned readings but you pick up free books by the mail boxes
* Last year, you read thousands of pages, memorized hundreds of facts, wrote dozens of papers, translated ancient Greek and Hebrew text, and you still feel dumb.
* You know at least ten couple expecting a baby this year.
* Part of your attraction to your wife/girlfriend is the fact that she knows how to differentiate between the two types of righteousness.
* You think a leather-bound copy of Luther's Small Catechism would make a great gift.
And my most favorite....
* Conception suddenly becomes a result of "something in the water."

Well with knowing AT LEAST 10 couples expecting this year there must be!

I've Got Something For You!

Well it must be Eagle Man. This is a commercial from my childhood. This makes me laugh still.